MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 13, 22 April 1871, Page 16

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

'•'Father Thomas," of St. Georges, Southward (Romanist) Church, in acknowledging the receipt of half a crown for a charitable purpose, takes the opportunity to indulge in a little abuse of Gambetta and Garibaldi, charitably remarking, " the DiabU be with them and all that crew !"—"The Rock." It is thought that there will be a grand muster this summer of all the* military force in the kingdom, and that at least half a million men will be got together. The spot will be Cannock Chase.—" Court Journal." The " Levant Herald" contradicts on authority the statement recently telegraphed to London of a concentration of Turkish troops on the Danube. Not a single regiment (says the " Herald") has yet moved. Three carriages in a train running between Colne and Manchester on Sunday morning were thrown off the line near Rosegrove owing to the accumulation of'snowdrift under the footboards. No personal injury is reported. The " Movimento/' of Genoa, says: A despatch from the Minister of Marine has arrived here, ordering all. the ironclads in this port to be armed and got ready for sea with all possible In Meath, on Monday, a gentleman named Kecran, who was driving home from Kells, was stopped by four men, who produced a revolver and a bible, and compelled him to swear that he relinquished all thought of taking a certain farm. He was then released. The magistrates have held a meeting on the subject. .No arrests have been made. Sir Roderick Murchison has greatly improved in health during the last few days. At a meeting of the steel fork forgers in Sheffield it was resolved to strike unless the full statement was paid by the j masters. The " Liverpool Mercury" says : ?' It is a fact not generally known that j Sir Watkin married the sister of the j Countess Bismarck/' We are in a ] position to state that the Count Bismarck who nidrried'Lady Wyuu's sister is not Count Bismarck of Prussia, but a gentleman who resides entirely in England, and . very frequently visits Wynn-stay. This .con fusion arises, no doubt, through the similarity of names, and is decidedly incorrect.—"Wrexham Guardian." !I : " . . The " Manchester Guardian" is informed that Mr Bright has received an

autograph letter from the Queen, expressing her Majesty's regret at receiving his resignation as a member of the Cabinet, condoling with him on the state of his health, and expressing her Majesty's hope that she may see the right hon. gentleman erelong as a guest at one of the Roval palaces. - Father Hyacinthe, says the "■ Globe," has been staying with Dean Stanley, at the Deanery, Westminster. "Herapath" hears that the oldest railway in England, the Stockton and Darlington—now part of the NorthEastern system—has never kiiled a passenger, except one, and he had jumped, while drunk, from a train. The downfall of Louis Napoleon recalls the cutting repartee which he is said to have received from Lady Blessington. The Countess had befriended him when he was a poor adventurer in London, and went to Paris to be near liim after he had become prosperous. Much to her chagrin, he paid her no attentions; but one day, when their carriages were abreast in a thronged street, Napoleon said, " Countess, how long do you expect to remain in Paris?" She answered, with dignified and ominous wit, " Only a short time. How long do you expect to stay here ?" The Toronto Legislature has voted 30,000 dollars to assist and encourage emigration, and 20,000 dollars to erect houses and clear free grant lots for settlers.