GLEANINGS FROM THE PAPERS.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 115, 13 December 1879, Page 3

GLEANINGS FROM THE PAPERS.

It may not he generally known that the wool sorters of this country and the Continent sutler frequently from a very painful diseaso which is engendered by badly got up wool. Dr. , Rahaglioti, in commenting upon this , subject, says: —"Tho simplest and must ; effectual, as it would also he found probably to be the most practicable, measure preventing this disease would be the exercise of greater care and cleanliness in the making up of the bales in Foreign parts. Fallen fleeces, of dead animals, ought to be previously washed with soap and water, or some disinfectant. All the rest of tho wool, sound or otherwise, ought also to be subjected to the same process, in order that the scab, parasites ami other filth might be removed before decomposition has rendered them poisonous. We may hope for better results to the health of our ( home operatives, who are compelled to work in these wools,- when the foreign collecting trade is taken by Europeans out 01 the hands of the Indians, or when tho Peruvian Government obtains more control over its lawless subjects. The same remark? apply, when the necessary changes are made, to the cleaning and collecting or the Van mohair ami other wools df Asia .Minor. At any rate, when • the use of such simple remedies pro- J raises such beneficial results, no time ; ought to lie lost in attempting to put r them into execution. Perhaps, too, the dav may yet conic when our Government i may order its consular agents to attend to some of these matters—not the ( least, it may then be thought of British in- ( terests." A curious case came some days ago before a provincial law court. A lady, tho owner of a property in the llevglihourhod of Moulins, in the Department of 'Allicr, whose son had hitherto been in the habit of receiving her rents, was obliged, owing to bis absence, to receive them herself: .She happened, however to be a blind and deaf mute. A tenant who was not aware of this before- ] hand, refused her acknowledgment of re- • ceipt, and declined to psiy except in the ( presence of a legal witness, lest the lady , should turn out to be incapable in the | eyes the law. A police officer was se- , cured, but he was afraid to act as witness ; lest he should be called to account. Ap- ' plication was, therefore, made to the law, : and after some disputing, on appeal to a higher court, it has been decided that the lady is perfectly capable: of transacting her business herself. She was in her , youth a distinguished pupil of the Paris j)eaf and Dumb School, and is described as I'oinaknhly clever and well educated, and as being, notwithstanding her age and physical imlirmities, in full possession of all bei mental faculties. The ITnmo News says that Lieutenant Carey's soldierly character has thus far been irreproachable, his career distinguished, and his family antecedents arcimt such as to make one think that he is likely to plav the part m a coward. The grandson of Sir.lahleol lireuton, who on board the Cesar, at tlibraltar, in INOI, and at many other places afterwards, did splendid service, and the brother of a man who wears the medical of the Humane Society for thrice saving the lives of drown'hi" men. Lieutenant Curacy was educated at a French Eyeeo, and was selected from all the officers at the front as best qualified to accompany the Prince. He gained a free commissi.in in 1.505, was in sole command of the Fort of Accra, on the African coast, when only eighteen went to Jamaica; volunieeiol for the Honduras war, during which he shewed eipiul capacity and pluck ; volunteered lor the English ambulance, in the Franco-German war, during which he was thrice taken prisoner while engaged on duty. He left England for South Africa'in March Jusl, and has shewn throughout the campaign great ability the power of rendering many and valuable services. Ho has examined roads, marked out camping-grounds, and, as a member of Lord Chelmsford slut!', surveyed and mapped out the path to Cl'undi. Even the Daily Telegraph admits that the young ollicer who has done all this'"cannot well be a poltroon, while his military dictinctioiis shew that ho is not a dunce.' 1 A sharp-looking youth walked up quickly to tho counter of tho post olllce in 11 town not 100 miles from Newcastle, in England, and emptying a bag of coppers thereon, asked the clerk wdio was aitemling to other customers for live shillings' worth of penny stamps. "•Hi, you he bothered I" was the answer. '" That's not a legal tender; it is all copper." " What is a legal tender, then!'" asked the Imy. " Why, one penny is a legal lender for a penny stump." 'Oh,'" exclaimed the youth, "It is is it," Come on, then " —passing i u coin from the heap—" A penny stamp please." The clerk gave him one. i "Another please." A second was i givon him. " Ami—" " Here stop I that," the clerk Haid; "Give me the i money. It will be the shortest way to get i rid of you." After counting the money i he gave the value thereof in stumps to t tho lad, who whs heard to mutter; i " Au thowt tia would tho him out!'