MISCELLANEOUS,

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 95, 28 March 1885, Page 6

MISCELLANEOUS,

The Claimant's prison life has spoiled his proficiency at pigeon-shooting. Gerald Massey (says the "Wellington Times ") believes that there is existent a ruling providence governing the earth by fixed laws of cause and effect. He does not. however, believe in the Deity spoken of and represented in Bible. The Melbourne "Age" is being boycotted by the publicans because it said: — " There are fifty houses within a mile of the Post Office that might have been closed any time in the last ten years on the simple ground that they are brothels." The annual meeting of the New Zealand Beekeepers' Association was held at the Park Hotel lately afternoon, Mr J. Newland in the chair. The annual report and balance-sheet, a synopsis of which wo published yesterday, was read and adopted. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Mulvaney, "That the Secretary be author* ised to prepare voting papers for the election of a new committee, the present names of the Committee to be taken as nominated, any two members to have the power to nominate any other names on or before 20th April, names to be sent to the Secretary before that date. Then the full list to be sent round with voting papers, and such voting papers to be returned to the Secretary on June 19th." The rules passed at the November meeting were confirmed. GordUl votes of thanks were passed to Messrs J* Newland and E. Parsons for acting as judge; at the show. In the evening the meeting was resumed at the Park Hotel* Mr L. J. Bagnall presiding. Discussions took place on a variety of matters of interest to apiarists, and the Committee was in* strutted to ascertain the names of the retailers and the probable quantity of honey available, the Committee to consult with the retailer, with a view to fixing a proportion to be paid to the producer. The meet* ing expressed its opinion that the beekeeper should receive 75 per cent, of the price paid by the consumer. For the sake of England, it is gratifying to learn that her " only General" is not, after all, likely to lose his eyesight in Egypt. Like his illustrious namesake, the Cardinal, the General has only one eye, so that its value is doubled. The other he lost long ago, at the siege of Sebastopol. For some time after that occurrence, it was indeed doubtful whether his remaining optic had not been fatally injured also, ft is possible to conjecture that the latent weakness may have been developed by the peculiarly trying conditions of the country in which he now is. The very strongest eyes have often suffered fatally from the effects of an Egyptian sun. In the campaign of the first Napoleon, and in that of the English army which drove the French from Egypt, ophthalmia made numerous victims. A patriotic Northern soldier in the American Civil War, having been rendered sightless during an engagement, is said to have proffered an earnest request to his comrades to permit him "to go it blind." But if Lord Wolseley were labouring under a similar deprivation, the chances of his being able " to go it "against the Mahdi are exceedingly small. Marshal Saxe, it is true, borne in a litter, and afflicted with a malady which not long after carried him off, nevertheless directed the operations of the French troops at the famous battle of Fontenoy ; and "Blind old Dandolo," the Venetian doge, at the age of eighty odd, led the galleys of the republic to a victorious encounter with the Turkish fleet. The great sculling match between Hanlan and Boach,for the championship of the world and £500 a-side, takes place on the Parramatta River at Sydney on Saturday next. A telegram states that the intending contestants are doing good training for th« forthcoming match. Both men are showing fine form, and the betting is about even. The correspondent of the Sydney " Sportsman," writing last week, says : — "Hanlan, lam informed, has enjoyed a trip up the Hawkesbury, the long, smooth stretches of water and beautiful scenery of which pleased him immensely. He has also had a long pull and a strong pull from his training quarters right up the harbour, rounding the light-ship inside the Heads, accompanied by his faithful mentor (Elias Laycock). He has also done some very fast rowing, and there is not the least doubt in the world that he will row a different man altogether to that when he rowed against Beach when they met before. No man can be doing better than the Canadian at present, and it is pleasing to his numerous Sydney admirers who support him to observe this change in his method from that distinguishing his former course of training for his match with Beach. The latter has been down in Sydney once or twice for a change, but has once more gone into active and close work, in which he has been rather unfortunate, having had two mishaps to his boat that caused him some trouble, and a slight injury to himself, and it is very fortunate indeed there is a clear fortnight elapsing before the race, or the injury to his right arm might have very easily lost him the proud title of champion oarsman of the world and the stake, and his supporters their bets. As it is, he may be all right in a day or two. The hot weather has had a great effect on his boats, the Emma and Jack Smith, both of them being warped very much, so it may be seen how a great contest may be seriously jeopardised by these unforeseen accidents both prior to and in the actual ccatest.

&»rlan<t over £7000 has betfu raise*! f<>r simili^^i^oSes., Aiul thes<> artfv^v-a few instates of the nobio efforts w!iieh charity^ airtkmir t6 withstand t.»-e ijtar-vati-(«l x)f the masses.