MISCELLANEOUS.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 990, 29 January 1883, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

London Truth says “At the recent examination for clerkships in the there were 1600 female candidates.” The Russian Government is compelled to adopt precautionary measures, in consequence of a large concentration of Chinese troops on the Amur, The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows now numbers 517,999, and the total capital of the order on the Ist January last was £5,291,89 1, nearly £9 15s per member. London 'Truth says that if the masses could be persuaded to eit fruit after their meals drunkenness would cease to be the reproach of Britain as a nation. The annual consumption of wool in France is estimated to be 200,000,000 kilos. \ or, roughly speaking, 200,000 tons. No less than two-thirds of this quantity is imported. It is stated on good authority that the dissolution of the Berlin Town Council has been decided upon by the Prussian Ministry, and definitely sanctioned by the Emperor. According to the Bishop of Lincoln, England is suffering by ;; the retributive law of God’s righteous 1 Government-” for her sin in separating the Irish Church from the State. The competition of girls to obtain appointments in the post office telegraphs in England is increasing. An examination was held lately at which there were no less than eight hundred candidates for thirty appointments, p The salary is small, commencing at ten shillings per week. The fourth Hygienic Congress, in session in Geneva, has unanimously passed a resolution favouring cremation, and especially calling the attention of governments to the advantage of having an established system of cremation in case of epidemics. An eye-witness (says the World) who was present at the Ranelagh Club to test the advantages of the . Ligowsky flying clay pigeons, and who witnessed some shooting at them, says they are, no doubt, a marvellous invention, and likely to try the best shots very highly. The pigeon is made of thin baked clay, in shape like a deep saucer. It is fixed into a kind of catapult or trap, which can he regulated to send the pigeon in any direction, so that out of five traps no two are adjusted to send the bird in the same due. The traps are pulled in the Same way pigeon traps were pulled, in old days, and great skill is required to hit the mark, pigeon or clay dish (call it as, you like). If hit the pigeon breaks to pieces, so there can be no doubt as to a hit or a miss. This invention will go a long way to supersede the live bird, as it is 109 per cent cheaper in all ways, and can be available at any moment for the amusement of a country-house party or club, and affords just as good sport as the live bird.

At about mid-day on Nov 17 a slight shock was felt in the neighbourhood of Barryport, and it speedily transpired that an explosion, terrible, in its effects, . had occurred at the Explosive Company’s works, killing some of the employees and injuring others. It seems that in one of the eighty sheds which comprise the works two girls were at work. By the rules which govern the establishment, no one else was-permitted to enter the shed, but at the time of the catastrophe this regulation had been infringed ; for in the shed there were six persons, and another was standing near the door in the act of passing in some water. Two of the party were girls who had left their own work in another shed, and had entered this one, probably for the purpose of a gossip. The other two were boys who were usually employed in carrying material outside, and had come into, the building for the, purpose of warming their hands. -■ Five of the party met with instant death, their remains being blown in all directions. The two others were severely injured, and some hours afterwards one of the two expired. The assigned for the explosion is that one tfche deceased hammered a piece of cold dyna '' mite until it exploded. A piece of., dynamite so hammered has' been found,' and gives rise to the theory mentioned. The folio-wring paragraph appears in a late Cape paper :—ln dismissing the jury at Grahamstown, Judge Sheppard expressed approval of every verdict, except that on one Bartle Bailey, a Peddle farmer, who had fired without'cause at a native found sitting in his unenclosed lands.-, The Judge said he. ;was ashamed of the verdict being received with applause by a crowded Court. He would not trust himself to ‘express what he thought of the verdict at the time, . but gave his opinion of it now; deliberately. He added : “It has now gone forth to the world that in the opinion of a highly intelligent jury any farmer in the Colony may, in broad daylight, at any, place or time, evenfwithout a pretext apprehend for theft and shoot any unarmed native found trespassing on his farm, precisely as if he were a wild beast. Every sincere well-wisher of the country must feel regret at su'ch a result.” He would be wanting in his duty to the Queen, and the true interests of his country, were he to shrink from condemning so rare a miscarriage of justice. On the morning of the intended attack at Tel-el-Kebir (an English paper says)—it being above all things necessary that the surprise should be effected before dawn—Sir Garnet Wolseley, while waiting the completion of preparations, held in his hand a repeating chronometer, given him by the late Lord Airey, which from time to time he kep, striking. It had warned him of half-past 4t and he thought he had yet an hour’s dark, when he saw a ray of light rise above the horizon. Turning to Major Butler, he said, in almost despairing tones, “We are done this time—there’s the dawn !” But the light did not increase ; on the contrary, in a few minutes it vanished. And Sir Garnet after- ' wards found that what he had seen was the tail of the new comet —its first appearance in Egypt! In India and Ceylon the missions were never so prosperous as now. The spirit of caste is less bitter, and converts of different castes, including the Brahmin and the Pariah, sit together at the Lord’s table. Thousands of small hooks are bought by. sugar refiners for ratting purposes. The hooks are baited with small pieces of beef on each, and then distributed about the building. The rats swallow beef and hook—the first is digested, the latter is not—death, of course, results. The remedy is said to be infallible.

A good story comes from the Honiara. Whm the Minister for Public Works was there jus! before Christmas, the local and comity authorities, headed by Mr Seddon, M.H.8., besought an interview, but on the Mayor consulting Mr Werry it was found that one could not be then arranged. Thereupon one of their number moved, another seconded, and it was duly carried that the deputation should have “ liquid refreshment” at the Minister’s expense. The innocent landlord furnished the drinks, and the deputation went on their way rejoicing. It is one thing to charge for drinks, and another to get the money. When the bill came to be paid, the eagle eye of the Under-Secretary discovered the intrusive half-crown, and ask what it meant. The landlord informed him that the Mayor and Council had been drinking the Minister’s health. Thef wrathful secretary thereupon drew his pen through the item, and requested Mr Bpindeler to tell the Council to be good enough to drink at their own expense. The only dissatisfied person is the landlord. The Wesleyan Conference was opened in Auckland on the 23rd in the presence of a large congregation. Forty ministers were present. The Rev. Mr Bavin was elected president, and the Rev. Mr Bull, secretary. Addresses were delivered by (ho cx-president and others. Notices of motion on Methodist union was given, and,a congratulatory address was passed to the Rev. James Wallis on attaining his ministerial jubilee. The first draft of stations has been prepared, and the following appointments for the year are recommended by the stationing committee ; Waitara, Fee ; Patea, Tattahor ; Hutt,‘ Desbury ; Grey town, Hudson ; Colorabo-roacl, Christchurch, ..Morlej’. and Jones ; Springslon, Oanwell ; Woodencl, P. Willis ; Temuka, Garlick; Morningfon, Murray ; Merto, Martin ; Oamaru, Rishworth ; Gore and Tapanui, Sul tie, Mr Carl Ekdahl has successfully grown some excellent canary seed in Hawera. The' Star says:—lt is fully thiee fee* long in the straw, well headed and very plump and heavy in the grain. The seed retail is sold as high as 7cl and 8d per lb, but it would probably be a very payable crop at one-fourth of that price. In appearance it is a grass similar to cocksfoot and Timothy. It will not generally ripen in Great Britain or Northern Europe we believe.

The first shipment of-frozen meat, consisting of 200 carcases of mutton per Lady Jocelyn, shipped by the Wellington Meat Export Company, was placed on board on Wednesday morning before 6 a.m., and notwithstanding the difficulties to be overcome in the first essay of this kind, everything we • learn from the Post, went smoothly, and the meat reached the ship in perfect condition, with what is known as the “ bloom” well preserved. The dressing of the sheep, branding, weighing, trucking, and shipment, were all done under the personal superintendence of the Secretary, Mr Henry Wright, who was at Petoni throughout the night, and "the company speak in terms of warm appreciation of the assistance rendered by the Railway Manager, Mr Ashcroft, who was early in attendance at the slaughter-yard ß to ensure the prompt departure of the special train by which the meat was conveyed to town. Every morning for the next three weeks or a month, there will be placed on board about 240 sheep long before most, of the citizens are well awake.

The Princess Beatrice has become an honorary member of (be Institute of Painters in Water Colours. Her sister, the Crown Princess of Germany, has already been a member for some years, and has sent pictures to more than one of the society’s exhibitions. Beyond the very beautiful Birthday Book, published from designs by the Princess Beatrice, her Royal Highness’ ability in ait is not known by the general public, but her work will now be shown at the forthcoming exhibitions of the Institute. Mr Louis Goss, of Ipswich, the most extensive cattle-dealer in the Eastern Counties, 'is ' dead'; The deceased ‘ was rather a remarkable man. He was unable to write, but, notwithstanding, ho was able to conduct with almost unprecedented success a business, the turnover of which amounted to fully £500,000 per annum. SHIP OAMARU ARRIVED. [special to .PRESS, ASSOCIATION, j DUNEDIN, This day. The ship'Oamaru, Captain Wright, has arrived from London, 83 dajcs out, all well. - HOUSE BURNED. (per press association.) ,:, iL :. WELLINGTON, This day. By a bush lire at Greytown the residence of James Tweedale, carpenter, was destroyed. The origin is attributed to children throwing lighted matches in the scrub. The premises were owned by Bidwell, runbolder, Tweedale, who estimates bis loss at £IOO. AUSTRALIAN NEWS. [REUTER. COPYRIGHT.] (Received Jan. 29th, 12-50 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Monday. Gibson, Town Clerk of Dunedin, has arrived here, and is enquiring into the alleged frauds in connection with municipal bonds. So far as is known there is no reason to believe that further frauds have beeu committed, beyond those already brought to light. SYDNEY, This day. Arrived, yesterday morning, Rotomahana, from Auckland. A Bill providing for the issue of subscribed stock has passed the Legislative Assembly. Very heavy rain foil hero during the whole of yesterday.