MISCELLANEOUS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7062, 7 February 1893, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

“ Were you drunk when you committed the assault ?” “ I must have been, yer honour, ’cause t’other feller'e twice my eize.” On Deo. 13th the fat stock for Christmas, fed upon the Boyal farms at Windsor Park were shown at the Slough cattle show, and sold there by auction. Buyers came from ail parts of the country to compete for them. Her Majesty’s Devon bullocks (16) were sold at from £4O to £3O each; Hampshire Down sheep (40) from £6 6s to £7 each, and pigs (21) from £6 10s to £8 15s each. The total amount realised by the royal stock was £1339 ss. France is just now despatching a number of troops into West Africa to engage in what will probably be the most sanguinary operations she has yet undertaken in that quarter. This expedition is directed against the great Mabommedan chief Samadou, the most powerful chief of the Western Soudan. For the past eight years France has been sending expeditions against Samadou, but each year has had to give up without mading much, if any, headway. Although a large loss of life on both sides has been the result, France has now decided to make a coup-de-main this year, and has just despatched a fairly large army of both white and black troops. These men will now have to meet not only the forces of Samadou, who can put 10,000 horsemen and 12,000 infantry in the field, but also the followers of Abmadu and Kehbah, both of which chiefs are reported to have combined with Samadou, and whose combined forces will now swell the army to oppose France. Samadou is a strategical warrior,and those who know his power believe that France is now entering upon a campaign the gigantic extent and seriousness of which cannot be reckoned.

We learn that Mr IT. B. Flatman baa been returned, unopposed, as a member of (he Timaru Harbour Board for the Geraldine Eoad District.

Owing to a break ;ge in tbe gearing (he Post Office deck will not be heard for a few days, till new parts are obtained from Wei* lington. The hands bare rot gone on strike. Another fine day for the hirveat. The bad weather at the outset may prove a good thing for the grain production after all, as it wil 1 certainly have tbe effect of making the far* mere hurry up now they have fine weather, to get up their crops before more wet comes.

Pastor Birch, preaching at Christchurch lately, dealt with the prominence given to athletic sports in this colony, and to the severity of tbe competion in games and sports which has grown np. To run or row for exercise and wholesome play is a good thing ; but to train severely for either is a voluntary slavery • and “ for men to slave with palpitating heart at the oar, or to run with blood almost bursting throngh tbe pores, or to purposely risk a fatal accident at foot* ball, and to do it merely for the sake of beat* ing one’s brothers or for the ‘ gate money,’ is barbarous and idiotic competition.” Why not, he asked, establish clubs for true play—for simple recreation, without any seeking for the ephemeral glory of winning a match, or the unreoreative business of working hard for prizes ?