MISCELLANEOUS.

Southland Times, Issue 690, 1 July 1867, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

Newly Disooyebed Dangebs ok the Nobtk Coast of Australia.— The following statement, communicated by Commander Nares, of H.M.S. Salamander, of " newly discovered dangers on the north-east coast of Australia," which has been furnished to Has Excellency the G-overnor, by the captain and senior officer of H.M.S. Bsk, is published for general information in yesterday's " Government G-azette " : — Blue Bell Eocks.— ln Weymouth Bay, latitude 12deg. 31min. south, and longitude 143deg. 22min. 30see. east, are two detached rocks, one and a half mile west of the middle reefj the two patches together occupy a space half a mile north, and Bouth. The norths rock has three feet of water on it, and is- easily seen from the masthead, but the south patch with nine- feet of water does not show distinctly. There is deep water between the rocks and middle reef. Pascoe River empties itself into Weymouth Bay, in latitude 12deg. 20min. south ; shallow sandbanks fill up the mouth, but three miles inland the water is fresh, with a depth of two fathoms. The natives in the neighbourhood are not to be trusted. Satellite Bock, in latitude 16deg. 26min. 30sec. south, and longitude 145deg. 43min. east, is a sunken coral reef extending for three-quarters of a mile N.W. and S.B. It has several rocks with only two fathoms water on them ; and from a wash of very lightly discolored water which appears to be constantly flowing over the reef, is not easily distinguished from the masthead. From the reef 'the low wooded island bears W.N.W. eight-and-a-half milea. Ditto, Round Hill bears S. 36deg. W. The Beacon on D Reef in Princess Charlotte Bay", latitude 14deg. 7min. 3Osec. S., and longitude 144deg. 2min. 40sec. E., has been blown down during a heavy gale from the westward. The sand on. all the neighbouring reefs has shifted considerably, the banks being all lower than when seen at former times. The wreck of the Conqueror is in nine fathoms water, in latitude lOdeg. 9min. S., longitude 142deg. 45min. 30sec. E. From the wreck Let. lsland bears £. i N. three and three quarter miles. Do., south extreme of Saddle Island, W.S.W. .four and three quartermiles. The sandbank and rooks between Bet Island and luoxHg Island extend half a mile further to the eastward than is marked on the charts^and" are ' very dangerous if ships are allowed to get too far to leeward with the S.E. trade. — Sydney Morning JTerald, June sth. HOW TO FOEBTEIiL THE WeATHEB.— -Get ft glass tube about twelve inches high and three incheß round, filled nearly to the top with twoparts camphor, one of nitrate of potash, and one of salammoniac in pure spirits of wine, slightly modified by distilled water. This tube may be kept open or closed, but always at perfect rest, and gives the following prophetic indications :— l. In fine weather the upper part of the liquid is perfectly clear. 2. As rain approaches the crystals begin to move about in the upper part of the liquid. 3. About twenty-four hours before storms the composition rises to the surface as if in a state* of fermentation. 4. The direction from which the wind will come is indicated by the direction and the height of the crystals, which are always attached to the aide of the glass from which the wind will blow. 5. Snow and frost are indicated by the height of the composition, as well as by the floating stars.of Crystals. 6. When dry and hot weather approaches, the- liquid portion becomes greater than usual. 7. Finally, the number of particular crystallisations indicates the number of atmospheric disturbances. Two gentlemen having a difference, one went to the other's door and wrote •'Scoundrel!" upon it. The other called upon his neighbor, and was answered by a servant that his master. was not at home. "No matter," was the reply ; " I only wished to return his visit, as he left his name at my door in the morning." Vanity of Actobs. — When Heywood, on his return from banishment, presented himself before his royal mistress — " What wind has blown you hither? asked Queen Mary. " Two especial ones," replied the comedian ; "- one of them to see your Majesty." fl We thank you for that," aaid Mary, " but pray for what purpose was the other?" '* That yOUE MJy«a*y»J<xl>fc «ao toial* -• Redme me This. — " Sambo, can you tell me in what building people are most h"kely to catch, cold?" " Why, no; me strange in de town and can't tell dat." "Well, I will tell you— it is de bank." "How is dat?" "Because dare are so many drafts in it." " Dat is good ; but can you tell me, sah, what makes dere be so many drafts in it " " No." " Because so many go dere to raise dewind. Yah, Yay, yah." An Irishman, who was near-sighted, was about to fight a duel, and insisted that he should &ta'nd six paces nearer to his antagonist than the latter did to him, and they were both to fire fit the same time. A Young Fellow once offered to kiss a. Quakeress. " Friend," said she, " thee must not do it." "Oh, by Jove, but I must," said the youth. " Well, friend, as thee hast sworn, thee may do it, but thee must not make a practice of it." A StrG&ESTiON.— -After dinner conversation is sometimes called post-prandial talk. Considering the spirituous character of much of the wine wa consume would it not be more correct to say postbrandiaL — JPttnch. " Have your cabbages tender hearts ?" asked a. duteous wife of a costermonger. " They carn't have anything else mar'm," was the reply, "for they've been with me crying about the streets all the morning." It is a singular thing, but yefc very true, that the best going Mud of business is a stationery one. ; To .whom should those apply who wish for dignity and rank ? — Station-va&stexs. ' ■ ; Mes Partington wishes to know if tb<e man who " fell into a tram of thought" *MTerj»usX