AUSTRALIAN SCRAPS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 172, 4 June 1862, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN SCRAPS.

The body of Sir William Don has been exhumed »nd forwarded by the Harrowby to England for iute.inent. in the family vault.

A monster snake of the kind known as the carpet snake, was lately killed near a dwelling' house on the Lower Arnhten." It measured eight feet six inches in lensth, and when opened a large kaugaroo rat was found in it« inside.

An accident occurred a few days ago to the Clyde Coach, whilst in mute to Nelligen. One of tiie horses became restive, and hurried the others into a mad gallop, duiing which a Chinaman jumped oft'tLe coach and was killed on the spot. A Singulau Ca.se.—An unfortunate Chinaman was Admitted into (he Hospital, fivm Yiickauciandiih, a day or P.vo airo, whose ca«e deserves notice for its singularity. The poor creature had, Dysoiiip, nieiins or other, actually pot his neck t^Kt^^ht: falling' in of tin1 claim upon which he waa^HpWiiiif He was not, hnwewr. killed iusti.ntnne^ray, but his whole body is paralysed, aud the only part of him where the vital functions retain their activity is the hoad. The state of the patient may ea-ily In"; conceived from this drsnription. When brought to the Hospital he had been neglected f r several days, and the passive portion of him, that i>, his whole body, as distinguished from the head, was in a plight ne^aiiiijr description.— Constitution. MisitEl'tiKSUNTATiON I.—The Hon. William Fox, Chief Secretary ot New Zealand, writes to the Neio Ziinlnniler tlir following in reference to the reports of the .-1 njus on native alfairs in that, colony:- " Sir,— I do not consider it any business of mine to contradict the very numerous mis-statements in reference (o the sayings and doings of tha Governor, the ministry, and the na'ives, which appear from time to time m some of the colonial newspapers; but there is in your paper of the 26'tli April, a statement, quoted from the Melbourne Argun, which I consider, it my duty to notice. The Argus telis its readers that "At a late Waikato gathering1. Governor Grey saluted the King's flay, three times taking-off his lint." From the context, the statement, would seem to be made on the authority of ide Southern Cvokk, though I do not remember to have seen it there. The Argus, however, states it as a fact. I was with Sir George the whole time that he was in Waikato, and on every occasion when he was within sight of a King flag, I ■was at his side. The statement of the Argun, whether it rests on its own authority or that of the Southern Cross, is simply untrue, and without the shadow of a foundation."

Proposed Naval Review.—We hear a grand naval review in contemplation at no distant date, in which her Majesty's ships Miranda, Pioneer, find Victoria, will kike part on one side, and the naval brigades and short batteries on the other. The operations will probably consist of an attempt at landing, and bombardment of the batteries. The mere announcement of the fact will no doubt create a lively interest, since nothing so exciting or so novel as a naval engagement has yet taken place in these colonies. The following volunteer notice refers to this affair ;—" Commanding officers to hold their corps in readiness for certain operation* contemplated for the 24th instant, in conjunction with, her Majesty's naval forces, further orders will be issued ou the 20th inst." — AyyuJ, May 19. An Aiustocbatic Guardsman Amusing Himself. —A citcum tance an.se lately in one if the battalions of Guar Is ordered to Canada, which was no:ir originating- a serious question, in which the privileges ot the House of Commons and tho maintenance of military discipline might have been brought into antagonism. It appears that Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. Hiu-h Anucslcy, of the Scots Fusilier Guards, and M.P-.forCavan,demanded, and asamatter of right obtained, leave from his battalion while it was on its way up.to Montreal, from St. John's, New Brunswick. The battalion was on service, and very arduous and trying service, and leaving it at the moment with a pdlitieal truce between the two sides of the House ol Commons, was not, peWiaps, strictly in harmony with the usajre of the Ainiy. However, standing on his cws-jtutiunal right as a member of Parliament, Lieutenant-Colonel Anuesley took his leave of absence about the time of the meelinj: of Parliament, for the purpose- of attending: to his duties as a knight of the shire. But, instead of repairing- to Westnnusie.", ho seems to have yielded to the attractions which the locality holds forth to a sportsman, and to have devoted himself to moose shooting. This was rather too much for the officer in command of the Cfuards, wh>, 'though obliged to allow an officer away for Parliamentary duty, did not conceive that it was dealing- fairly by the "other oliicers to make them do his duty while he was amusing" himself in the primeval forests of Canada. Accordingly, Lieutenant-Colonel Annesloy was pulled up, and a long investigation would, r.o doubt, have taken place had not the errant Fusilier accepted the option given him of retiring from the service. This was, on the whole, perhaps the easiest ■vyay of terminating an affair that might have brought ptymt much complication and unpleasantness.— .[riiiy and Xdiif Gnzctte. At the St. Kilda Police Court, a reporter named Sfciythejjae^baen brought up charged with forging a cheque for £4 4s. PkiMUfaction.—A singular discovery has keen made by a person in the employ of Mr. Amos Swift, at Cooradigbee. Observing the mouth of a eaye, which it is believed had never previously been dis r cpvered, he entered the subterranean passage, and piercing the limestone chamber for some distance, }ip,tieed in tlje ceiling the'petijficd head and paw of a'fiative dogi the body baing concealed in the lime, stone formation. He succeeded in breaking it off, It proved to be a complete patrifaetiou. As there would not be much difficulty in the way cf separating tl)e body from the limestone, by which it is at present surrounded, we Imps t'lilt so!ne person in the neigl:« bqu'rliOQ 1 will undertake the task. The entire animal would form an interesting addition to the curiosities }i{ .•syijnev J^useum.— Vciss Courier.