MISCELLANEOUS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7068, 14 February 1893, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS.

* The region about the Dead Sea ts one of the hottest places on the globe, and the sea is said to lose a million tons of water a day by evaporation. Ben Jonson, appointed in 1619, was the first to bold the post of Poet Laureate in England. From his time there has been an uninterrupted succession of State poets. The Law Gazette is responsible for the following forensic anecdote in the eh ape of a dialogue which, some time since, took place between a learned Queen's Counsel and a witness (a former client): —Counsel—This is not the first action you have had, I think P Witness—No, it is not. I have had one before this. Counsel—l think yon lost that, didn’t you ? Witness—No, I did not. Counsel—Are yon quite sure? Witness— Quite. Counsel —What ? Will you swear you did not lose the action? Witness—l will swear I did not lose it. You lost it for me.

“ M-B." writes to the British Medical Journal that he has just returned from Australia after some years’ practice there. He would strongly advise (hose thinking of such a step to take better advice than the information to be gained from” Government offices, colonial newspapers, directories. and emigration handbooks.'' " Up-country " practice is a very hard life, the expanses are very heavy, and the majority of people very poor, pearly .everything being in the hands of the banks. The majority of the poorer classes are club patients, and com* petition for the latter is so keen tfcactn many cases they pay lower rates than are to be obtained in England. Wages are very heavy } a good groom can get 80s a week, and found in everything, and female serrants corresponding amounts. House rent is very heavy, and other expenses on the rise. Some years ego “ up-country ” practice was certainly remunerative, but such is not the case now. There are three medical schools in Australia, and one in New Zealand, and the cry " Australia for the Australians ” is now beginning. Quacks abound! i Q every district, and also any foreign diploma is registerable. He therefore advises great caution to intending emigrants. Every steamer brings borne disappointed and unsuccessful men. By a singular freak of fortune a Lambeth pauper named Sheridan has become the heir to real and personal property valued in the aggregate at £800,(XK). For the past few years Sheridan, who is a man well advanced in years, has been an inmate of the Lambeth Workhouse, oblivions of the fact that at the time he entered its doors a fortune was awaiting him. It is only daring the past few weeks that he has become aware o! bis ‘good luck through the efforts of a firm of lawyers, who discovered his whereabouts after considerable trouble. The facts, so far as can be ascertained, appear to be that in 1883 Mrs Blake, a sister of Sheridan’s father, died intestate, leaving personalty valued at £140,000, and a considerable amount of property in the West End, particularly in St. George’s, Hanover Square, valued at £160,000. Sheridan, it seems, is the next of kin. Ho has two sons whom he has not seen tor some years, and believes them to be in America. Sheridan is a well conducted man, and the officials of the workhouse speak very highly of bis good behaviour during the time he has been under their charge. Detective Grace, now stationed at Auckland, had a curious experience last week. In the middle of January a man was found dead in Albert Park, a case of suicide : was identified as one Thomas."Ohenell,” inquested and buried. Last week Thomas “ Ohenell ” called upon the detective, and assured him that he had never done so mean a thing as hong himself; he' came of a respectable family, and would not do it. The 1 assured him that he did not believe he bad ever done such a thing. No, said the mao, " I tell yon I am not dead j you can see that. Oliver (the identifying witness) told a lie; I don’t know him." Ohenell then used some strong language to the detriment of Oliver's character, and said that he would like to eeo Oliver, if only for the purpose of thrashing him for saying such things about him. Suicide was a thing hs never (bought of. The detective explained that Oliver had since been put in gaol for larceny. Ohenell replied : “ A good job too* iteerves him right." " How did you come to know that yon were supposed to be dead ?" “ Yon see I had been harvesting at Mangere, and just came into Auckland the other day. I went into an hotel to have a drink, when some old ocqasintinde said, * Hera is the dead man ; yon are.supposed to be hung.* They explained the ifiStfer to me, and so I thought I would call upon yon. I I would like to see the man that dared to say that I was dead."