GLEANINGS FROM THE PAPERS

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 39, 29 June 1878, Page 3

GLEANINGS FROM THE PAPERS

How fond of tli» ladies those 11 us ,iims are (says" Figaro"). Not content with Sophia, they now want Bess-Arabia, an 1 would not object to M'lll-Davia diil they dure ask for Ear. Thoy can scarcely have the face to ask for Sal-Onica this time though. The following amusing seeno is reported to have taken place on hoard the Uhimborazo, at the time when she struck: —One gentleman was in the bathroom, out of which he ran. clad only in buH'. The stewards collared him. " You must go back and dress sir," The usuages of civilisation should be preserved, even in the presence of death. Heedless of what every one thought a pressing danger, the ladies shrieked at the breach of decorum. But our panic-striken passenger reeked naught of this. " Hang the dross," lie cried, "I am not going to be drowned in that hole." And clothed with the garment of fear he maintained his point, a compromise at last being made by tho aid of the saloon tablecloths. A court-martial has been held on board the Duke of Wellington for the trial of Herbert Edward lvudgc, As-sistant-Paymaster of the Shannon, who, it may bo remembered, was censured by the court at the end of the Bunaouta inquiry at Sheeruesn. Three charges wore preferred against him, namely: (Hrst) conduct unbecoming the character of ID oflicur, in having stated to the Paymaater that Lieut Charter had roqueeted him to receive his pay, well knowning that such a statement was false , usoooudj having, on January l. fraudulently ohtained from Mr. Uay, the, Paymaster, £ll i<;«. the property "f her Majeaty by

I fase-lv representing that he was autholiMil v.v [.'. ;;. <, i,t Pturtw to raoaivi the same, which was due to him ; and (thirdly having stated to the Paymaster that he bad forwarded the amuimt to Lieut. Charter knowing such statement to be false. The prisoner pleaded guilty to all the charges, and, as he produced lit certificates of character, he Wat adjudged Ito be imprisoned for six months in one , of Her Majesty's gaols, and afterwards to be dismissed with disgrace from tho service. Mr. fj. P. Martin officiated as Deputy Jud-e Advocate. The Secretory of State for War has approved a new method »f destroying guns, namely, by the DM of gun eottou. Professor Abel, t.8.. the chemist to the War Department, has for some months past been experimentally engaged upon this new plan at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. Classes are to be taught under Professor Abel's direction, the method of firing the gun cotton, and the quantity to he employed in different cases, it boing found that a few ounces are sufficient to blow of! the muzzle of a Held gun, and romler it unserviceable. It is proposed that the gunners of every field battory of iioyal Artillery shall carry small discs of gun cotton for this service during hostilities.

"Atlas," in the World, says that Patti went to Naples the other day " attended," and they refused her admission at the best hotel. She took a tiff in the consequence, sulked with the whole city, and would not rehearse for her performance at the San aWo. There was a very general impression that she was going to be biased on the first night from all parts of the house ; but she sang so superbly—it was the " Traviuta"—that they were ready to bear her in triumph. The next day the commute of the theatre went to the Nobifo to pay her the unusual honor of a visit in state. She refused to see the committee; she was still in the sulks, though Naples was out of them. Again there was a general expectation of a noisy scene in the theatre, and again Patti soothed the savage breast by the power of her song —this time in the " Barbiere." She dwelt so long on one note —in the scene in which Rosina spells her own name—that the unhappy baritone wdio accompanied her had to pause for breath three times. Naples has given up trying to sulk with her now, whilst she on on her part disdainfully levies about £<ioo in tribute from the captive j city every time she sing*.