GLEANINGS FROM THEPAPERS.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 89, 14 June 1879, Page 3

GLEANINGS FROM THEPAPERS.

A sorrowful occurrence, arising out of larrikinism, occurred at Melbourne recently. A gang of larrikins were brought to Court to answer for tlieir misdeeds, amongst them being one named Afaher. His mother was palled on to attest to his former good conduct, and was «< affected by her position that she fainted in the box. She was hastily removed to her home, and then, upon examination, it was found she was dead. The steamer Alice arrived at (looktowu on Tuesday evening, the (ithof May, and reports the natives quiet at Duke of York Island. The Bev. George Brown, Wesleyan missionary ai that place, is a passenger. He is ill bad health, and proceeds to Sydney.

Count Mocenigo has, according to La Nature, been applying the microphone to detect earthquake vibrations intheground. Tho microphone has more recently been applied by M, Rossi at the Solfatara de l'o/ziioli, when the internal workings of Vesuvius were beard with terrible distinctness.

According to the London correspondent of the Argus, a flying squadron is to bo formed this year probably under the command of Bear-Admiral Algernon Lyons. The vessels designated are the Shah (as flag-ship), the Inconstant, Bacchante, Yolage, and Newcastle. A voyage round the world will be made, and the Australian ports probably visited.

i'he Kmpnror and Empress of Austria are preparing to celebrate their silver wedding, but, appreciating the fact that the Empire, like other countries, is suffering from severe depression, they have declared that all costiy pomp is to be avoided.

The Deal magistrate sentenced a seaman named (ieorgc Wylds, to two mouths' imprisonment *" r refusing to proceed to sea in the barque Utuzinto, on a voyage from London to Port Natal. The man told the magistrates that he was satisfied With the ship, otlieers and food ; hut he' had a dream that the ship would be lost, and ho would not go to sea in herforany amount of' money. Onco before he hail dreamt thai a vessel in which lie mu> sailing would be lost and it was lost.

Bismarck's immense dog lias hgahi been doing uiischicf, this limq killing the pot dog of a railway employee at Kriodrichsrub. Bismarck expressed his regrets, ami told the railroad man to go to Hamburg and, at his own expense, select any dog there that might please him. The man repljori that it was not worth while; he had only been keeping the animal for his jhildren to play with. Bismarck sent the children a hand-organ to replace their d< ig.

Lord Duffcriiii upon being invited to dinner at the Uoforin Ulub, called .a, the Premier to explain' the circumstances under which he bad accepted the invitation, [teplied the Premier: " I really don't cure where you dine ; we all must dine soinewiieic." At a previous interview Lord DuMoriu drew attention to the circumstance thai ho differed in polities from her Majesty's Government. Answered the Premier: "VoojWhigs have already almost everything amongst you ; there is Gdo ltussell, Layard, and Lyons, so one more does not signify." Lawyer and Editor.—A lawyer, thinking to take a rise out of a journalist lately sent him the following lines for the poets coiner of his—

1 slept in mi editor's bed last night, \\ ben no other chanced to he nigh. How 1 thought m I tumbled the editor's bed, How easily editors lie!

The editor, however, was a match for his correspondent, end appended the following:—; If a lawyer slept in (he editor's bod WJion no other chanced to bo nigh, And though as abovo hu lias naively said How easily editors lie : Ho must then admit as ha lay on that bed. '

And slept to his heart's desire, Whate'or be may say of the editor** bed "i'was the lawyer himself was the lier

l'coplo often complain of hard times from b mere tendency to growl, but u darkie, the other day, said, " Nebor seed :-e ii times since i been born. Work all day and nteal all night, and blest if I can hardly make a living." " I >ipi" d into a week solution of ac-

I once ln*f.>tn alluded to a member of our Parliament (I don't iiay to which branch of the Legislature he adorns) who is scarcely second to the late Rol*rt. Heller as a conjuror. Travelling in India, h<! was one evening after dinner, looking with some acquaintances on the verandah of tho Jtycullu Club at—. Some native jugglara went through a clever ]ierforniauce, and then the chief man presiicted a little vase-shaped basket for coppers. An anna or two wa» the usual contrhiution, but the Australian took from his jiockct a rupee, which he apparently dropped into the receptacle. Ihe jugglers eyes glistened, and the donor's neighbour remonstrated with him for spoiling Ihe market by over-generos-ity. In | few minutes the juggler returned speaking somewhat excitedly in Hindustani. The Australian visitor inirrirod what the imui said. " Uh," said Colonel —, " he says there is no rupee in the basket: but those fellows are all liars i—don't heed him.,' Once more the Australian (apparently) dropped a rupee into the basket, and once more that bewildered native returned with staring eyes and an alarmed expression. What does ho say now 't inquired, Sir. —. '' Say," said his neighbour, "ho says you know more than he does." Now, this is the stamp of man to put in the Treasury, and leave to deal with hungry deputations.—Aegles, in The Australasian