MAIL ITEMS

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2261, 16 June 1880, Page 2

MAIL ITEMS

SECOND EDITION

A startling surprise, after the fashion of the story of the Grinevra, was experienced somo days ago by a party of Styrian wood-cutters in the forest of Drommling, They began to fell a valuable oak, which they soon discovered to be quite hollow. Being half decayed, it speedily came to the ground with a crash, disclosing a skeleton in excellent preservation. Even the boots, which came about the knee, were almost perfect. By its side was a powder horn, a porcelain pipebowl, and a silver watch, on which was engraved the name “ 11. von Krackowitz, 1812.” The teeth were perfect. It would seem to be the skeleton of a man between thirty and forty years of age. It is conjectured that, while engaged in hunting, ho climbed the tree for some purpose, and slipped incautiously into the hollow trunk, from which there was no release, and he probably died of starvation. A publican named Gore Frood, of Phillip street, Hoxton, ‘.was lined on April 21, L2OO at the Worship street Police-court for having on his premises a solution of sugar which is used as a substitute for malt. The prosecution was undertaken by the Excise, and it was proved that the solution would be very injurious to the health of those who took it. The prisoner, not being prepared to pay the line, was remanded to await the result of a distress being levied on his goods. Alice Lewis, 04, was on April 12 at the Durham Quarter Sessions, committed to ten years’ penal servitude on the charge of stealing a chair, valued Gd. The prisoner had been previously convicted.

At the Lambeth Policc-cnnrt, on April 18, William Taylor, described as the landlord of the Marquis of Wellington, Lambeth, was fined £oo for having on his premises a solution of sugar. The defendant, it was stated, admitted that he put half-a-pound of sugar in two gallons of water to every barrel of beer.

How to prevent plants running to seed.—litinning to seed can be avoided by drawing a knife through one-half of -

the stem to which the head is attached. The sap, or, as they say in Germany, the milk—will How, and rob the head of the power to open ; yet enough sap will remain to keep it fresh and growing for another week or so.