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Southland Times, Issue 1538, 16 February 1872, Page 3

The British .Possessioits. — The " Statistical Abstracts for the Colonies," published by the Board of Trade, have reached their seventh annual issue, and bring down to 1869 the record of the progress of British possessions beyond the seas. They comprise no Btnall share of the earth. The area of British India is stated to be 910,853 square miles ; of Ceylon 24,454 square miles. Australia far exceeds this measure, and counts within its territory 2,582,070 square miles ; British North America is set^ down as only 632,418 " square ; the accounts in 1869 not including Manitoba and the vast North- West territory. The Cape of G-ood Hope had its 200,618, and Natal its 16,145 square miles. The West Indian Islands have an area of 12,683 miles ; British Guiana, 76,000; Honduras, 13,500; our West African settlements, 6489 ; and our possessions bring the total up to 4,485,020 square miles, without (as already stated) the great North-Western territory of British North America, now to be opened to colonisation. Trappinga.it Audience. — Some years ago an eccentric genius, the Rev. Thomas P. Hunt, used to give temperance lectures in America. One night he announced that he would lecture in Easton. Now temperance was not in favor amongst the male portion of that burgh. The women, however, were all for the pledge, and consequently on Hunt's first night not a man showed himself. The benches were pretty well filled with women though, and Hunt commenced ; but instead of temperance he took them to task on the vanities of dress, &c. They wore great stuffed sleeves then. They — the sleeves — caught it, then their tight lacings, and so on through the whole catalogue of female follies, but not a word about intemperance ; and the ladios went home nearly mad, told their husbands . about it, and voted old Hunt a regular muff. He had announced that he would lecture at the same place the next night. Long before the time appointed they began to arrive, and when Hunt hobbled down the aisle the building was completely filled with men. The old man looked about, chuckled, and muttered, " Hogs, I've got you now." The audience started. " Aha, hogs, I've got you now !" he repeated. After the crowd had got quiet a little, the lecturer said, " Friends, you wanted to know what I meant by saying, ' Hogs, I've got you now,' and I'll tell you. Out West the hogs run wild, and when folks get out of meat they catch a young pig, put a strap under his body, and hitch him up to a young sapling that will just-swing him up from the ground nice. Of course he squeaks and raises a rumpus, when the old hogs gather round to see what's the matter, and they shoot them at their leisure. Last night I hung a pig up. I hurt it a little, and it squealed. The old hogs have turned out to see the fun, and I'll roast you." And so he did, pitching into their favorite vice with evident relish and gusto.