GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4893, 27 November 1876, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

This year the declared value of petroleum imported into England was £523,310 ; last year, £334,114. It is stated that the Chinese are about to introduce silver coinage. The new Thames subway at Woolwich will cost £70,000. The Morgmpost of Vienna says that the Prince Imperial of Austria will begin next autumn a tour through Europe and America. The journey is to last two years. The importation of clocks into England increased in number for the first seven months of last year from 295,508 to 360,871 this year. The declared value in 1875 was £212,918, and this year £244,631. In a city where unlicensed dogs are rapidly being disposed of by the revolvers of the police, a little girl who had heard of the frequent deaths and their cause, asked her mother,when a gentleman died next door, “ What made Mr. die ? Wasn’t he licensed

Mr. .Robert Kennedy, Wigtown, has in his: possession a green parrot of the unprecedented age of .fifty-one years. It was brought from the Brazils m the year, 1825, and can speak: and eat.w.ell. .. ; !

The Salt Lake. Tribune asserts that when; the Mormon Bishops of San Pete heard that; General Custer and hie gallant soldiers had 1 been massacred by the Sioux, they sent a band of music to serenade a few lodges of Indians camped hear by., , - ; _ 1 Writing to Mr.,,A. M. Stewart, Virginia Buildings, Glasgow, from Carlisle, on his way home, Mr. Spurgeon. sends the following characteristic note Dear friend,—l have returned to England. I had eleven clear week days in Scotland, and was asked to preach; more than'fifty times.. That when I came for rest, and in a Christian country too ! A merciful man, &c. God speed you.—Yours truly, C. H. Spdkgeon. , : ‘

The Pall Mall Gazette's Chatham correspondent says that so greatly have the service companies of the 74th Higlauders been reduced below their proper strength, that volunteering has been opened for that regiment from the 76th, at Chatham garrison. Service in India does not, however, now present the attraction it, formerly did, and very few men have offered themselves., The required number to complete the strength of the regiment will have to be made up from the brigade depot in Scotland. Several guns are preserved at the Royal Arsenal on account of their curious history, and another has just been added. It is a 7-in. breechloading Armstrong wrought-iron gun, made some years ago at the Royal Arsenal and sent out to India. For some defect it was condemned by the Indian Government, sent home, and sold‘by auction at the Belvidere Road, Lambeth, to a dealer for £lO, with breech screw, vent, sights, and fittings complete. The dealer subsequently sold it at a moderate profit, as scrap iron, to the Royal Gun Factories, and, being found repairable, it will be again rendered fit for service, in which state it will be worth upwards of £3OO.