MISCELLANEOUS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 144, 16 December 1846, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS.

Adelaide. — The gentlemen composing the expedition to the head of the Gulf of Spencer have all returned. Captain Elder journeyed back by land, but Captain Hart and Mr. Grey returned in the Governor Gawler, all being much gratified with the interesting and highly useful discoveries and information ivhich have resulted from their maritime and inland explorations. Port Germain, otherwise Port Pirie, was found to be a harbour much resembling that of Adelaide, with two fathoms over the bar at half tide. From the harbour to the mineral Special Suivey of Mount Remarkable, the distance, in a northerly direction, has been found to be 25, miles, including an easy road of six or seven miles to and over the ranges, and a gentle declivity thence to the Special Survey District. The newly-discovered harbour, to which the name of Port Fergusson has been given, is 45 miles further up the Gulf, the intermediate passage being found to afford eight, nine, and ten fathoms, and to be free from rocks or reefs. The first, and most prominent, appearance about Port Fergusson is that of insularity, but the harbour is mainly protected by a semicircular mud bank, inside which there is no sea, and a fine and ample roadstead with four to five fathoms, in which latter depth a ship may safely bring up as soon as she is within the range of the bank. At the landing* 1

place used by the party they coald step ashore from five feet depth of water. It will easily be comprehended that the northern port will be more distant from the Mount Remarkable Special Survey than Port Germain, but such a harbour as Port Fergusson cannot fail to become very valuable to the important interests existing, or expectant, in that part of the Province ; and its vicinity may certainly be regarded as the site of a future populous and extensive township. — Adelaide Observer.

American Breeding. — That good manners do exist in America there can be no doubt ; but they are rather to be met with in the retirement of private life than in the bustling scenes of commercial activity. When thrown into collision with manners which are extraordinary and even disgusting, there is nothing for it but to take all in good humour. With that determination we had started and found amusement instead of anuoyance in every strange associate ; and of the extraordinary " lengths" to which they will proceed, | the following anecdote will prove. I had ' heard that a brother officer of mine, than whom no one was fonder of a joke, and whose dimensions were some nine-and-a-half inches above the " average height of man," had actually been measured by a Yankee. I wrote to him to enquire the truth, and received the following, which I give verbatim : — " The story you want is as follows. Scene, Lockport. I was standing, as most Englishmen do, with my back to the stove one cruel cold morning in October. I observed a Yankee eyeing me from head to foot, which he conti- ' nued to do for some minutes without having come, as I could see, to a satisfactory conclusion. At length he got up from his seat, pulled a two-foot rule out of his pocket, and proceeded to measure me. When he had done he looked me in the face. ' I guess, mister, you're just six feet five-and-a-half V I kept my temper, but remarked he was a d — d cool fellow. ' And pray, Mr. Britisher, what is the meaning of cool V I was done, and burst out laughing." — Colbwrris Mag.

The London Morning Papers. — The Stirling Observer, in noticing the London morning journals, has the following: — The Morning 'Chronicle, which is the oldest of the family, has existed for 77 years, and is yet in the vigour of manhood ; the Morning Post, 75 ; Herald, 63 ; Times* 61 ; and the Advertiser, 51 years.

The " Costs" of Justice. — " The majesty of offended justice" is pretty well a stereotyped phrase : like many other phrases, there is a bouncing sound in it that makes it acceptable to the world at large. No phrase, however, can be more at variance with truth. It should run "the majesty of offended costs." Justice is oft-times moderate and placable enough ; easily and reasonably satisfied. It is the man-eating officials about her who are all stomach ; rapacious, omnivorous. Justice mulcts an offender in the fine of one shilling, hut justice's clerk (to make it even money) demands nineteen shillings for costs. Wounded justice may be healed by the salve of twelvepence, but the sufferings of the clerk, consequent — 'by sympathy we presume — upon the wound, cannot be allayed by any anodyne costing nineteen times less than that amount. Practice does much; butwe certainly do marvel at the gravity of the magistrates who, on such convictions, in the name of justice, do not roar a laugh in every prisoner's face. — Punch.

Wanted a Young Man. — How frequent a heading is this to advertisements ! How numerous are the reflections which it engenders ! For how many purposes a young man may be wanted ! Policemen occasionally want a certain sort of young man. Recruiting Serjeants are continually in want of young men. But the young man assumes a more interesting character when we consider how often he is wanted to go shopping, to escort to exhibitions, to do the agreeable at pic nics. In what request is the young man, if nice, for the small tea party! How often is the young man in request for the Polka ! How frequently, if rich, is he wanted for a partner in a commercial house ! How much more often, — and if rich, even yet more so, — as a partner of another description ! From the area to the drawing-room, the young man is constantly wanted. Sir Robert Peel wants young men to attend Railway Committees. We thus see that young men are wanted everywhere ; and yet the guardian, the uncle, the parent, are constantly complaining that young men have nothing to do ! — Punch.