MISCELLANEOUS.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 988, 24 January 1883, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS.

The United States Land Office report shows that 14,309,126 acres were disposed of last year, three millions over the previous year. The amount of property destroyed by fire annually in Eussia is quite appalling, it being estimated that the whole Empire is burnt out more than once a century. The munificent legacy of £20,000 has been bequeathed to the Salop infirmary by the late Mr Henry Spence, merchant, of Shrewsbury, who died recently. Strong reinforcements have been sent to Southern Tunis, with the object of carrying on further operations on a large scale against the insurgents during the cold season. A fire was discovered in the hold of the Allan Line steamer Phoenician when she was 400 miles from Cape Eace. Considerable damage was done to the cargo. The fire, which was got under in about an hour, is supposed to have been due to spontaneous combustion. An American and Englishman were discussing the relative sizes of the Thames and the Mississippi. The American finally clenched the argument thusly “ Why, sir* there ain’t enough water in the Thames to make a gargle for the mouth of the Mississippi.” Judge Johnston gave a curious piece of information, at Timaru a few days ago. Ah Sin, a Chinese witness, being called upon, His Honor observed that, as '• Ah ’ meant bachelor, or unmarried man, the witness was Bachelor Sin. The Paris municipality have decided to follow the example of London, and to lay down wooden pavement in some of the leading streets in the metropolis. The avenue between the Place de la • Concorde and the Palais de Plndustrie is already closed, and the laying of the pavement will soon comemnee.