MISCELLANEOUS.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 272, 29 May 1860, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

Sympathy with Taranakl—We are glad to learn, that in addition to the £1000 voted by the Provincial Council, for the relief of those who have suffered from the outbreak at Taranaki, subscription lists have been opened at the Union and Oriental Banks. This will afford to the inhabitants of this Province individually an opportunity of giving tangible proof of their sympathy with their fellow colonists who, after years of patient toil, now find themselves in many in instances, it is to be feared, thrown destitute and pennilessron the world. We feel confident that tha subscriptions will prove worthy the prestige of the oldest Province of the Colony.— Wellington Paper.

Attempted Prison Breach.—On Thursday night, in going his rounds in the prison, the master of the gaol had his intention directed by some suspicious circumstances to a particular cell, which induced him to order the outer as well as the inner door of each cell to be locked for the night. The next morning on examining carefully the cells, it was found that in that of Shields alias Weston, a hole had been cut through the door post by the prisoner, so as to allow him, by inserting his finger, to push back the lower bolt of the door; the hole had afterwards been carefully filled up with soap. In order to remove the upper bolt, which was fastened by a padlock, he had cut a piece out Of the side of the door post, and had commenced loosening the brickwork, so as to allow him to get at the screws by which the bolt was fastened to the door. The wood was afterwards replaced, and ;the joints carefully filled with soap. If (Shields had effected his escape, it was his intention to overpower the turnkey, take from him the keys of the prison, and set the other priioners free. Fortunately the attempt was discovered in time to prevent its success.— lbid. A lady who had very recently married perceiving her husband enter, stole secretly behind him and gave him a kiss. The husband was—silly man!—very angry, and said she offended common decency, when the young lady unwittingly exclaimed, „ Pardon me, I did not know it was you."

Two centuries ago not one in a hundred wore stockings. Fifty years ago not a boy in a thousand was allowed to run at large at night. Fifty years ago not; a girl in a thousand made a waiting-maid of her mother. Wonderful improvements in, this age! - .

A cow, belonging to Mr. Cullaraore, of Henley, has lately given birth to a calf with two heads, two bodies, and, six legs. It was born alive, but did not survive.

30,000 salmon ova were forwarded from Liverpool to Melbourne on the 25th. Victor Emmanuel's Daughter.*-—A Paris correspondent says that at the late ball at the Tuileries the Empress wore at once a peculiar and beautiful dress. " Over the familiar skirt of tulle houillonne was thrown a short upper skirt of white watered silk, festooned up on both sides with white bands of black velvet embroidered with gold. Upon her head was placed a high crown of polished gold, upon which were imprinted in black enamed some Egyptian hieroglyphics. She wore a necklace and bracelet to match. The Princess Clothilde was present. Her. imperial highness is far from pretty, but a distinguished French political economist, speaking of her at the ball, declared he considered her the most extraordinarily endowed lady. in Europe. She speaks fluently five languages, and is a thorough Greek and Latin scholar; is well acquainted with the works of all the ancient and modern poets, and is particularly fond of quoting Shakespere. Her character, in spite of her extreme youth, "is very firm—this her face indicates. The Empress is very fond of this her young relative."

Somersetshire Owls.—A correspondent of the Meld says the owls of Somersetshire rather effect flying by day. "On the flat marshes in the of Highbridge I have repeatedly seen them flying at mid-day, even when the sun was bright and high in the heavens. A day or two ago I came from Exeter eastwards by an afternoon train, and was amused by the number of these cherub-looking birds I observed from the window of my carriage as we passed the Sometshire levels. The Somersetshire mice must be astir betimes, or

else the Somersetshire owls are gourmands, and add dainties only to be- obtained by day-light to the ordinary fare of their solemn family." : ' y■,: [ : . Government Emigration.—Free Passages to Australia. Her Majesty's Emigration Commissioners having taken up the Jessie Munn, to sail from Birkenhead to Melbourne, on the 14th April next, have requested their agent, Mr, James B. Wilcock, to select a number of single female domestic servants, and a few married laborers, to whom free passages, including provisions, will be given by that ship. Emigration to New Zealand.—We observe that Mr. Wilcock has made arrangements for the fine passenger uteamship Chapman, to embark passenger* at Plymouth, in. April, for Canterbury, New Zealand. Such opportunities do not oftea occur; and as this vessel forms one of the the oldest established and well known line of Messrs. Willis, Gann, and Co., we hart no doubt that persons about to proceed to the rapidly rising settlement of Canterbury will gladly avail themselves of the opportunity of embarking at Plymouth, and thus avoid the discomfort, risk, and annoyance of the down channel passage. Charley Mathews and the Voters' Deputation.—Messrs. Charles Mathews, Joseph Harding, and Lawless were a deputation to the ChancellorOf the Exchequer, on the evils which the budget wduld inflict on the vinters and vitlers. They joined a various lot from all parts of England. Charles came right under the glare of the the Chancellor's eye, and shook in his very shoes; for when they began to, talk or their grievances the' Chancellor, in a. sort of a private and confidential way, put a few corkscrew questions touching the secrets of the business, which penetrated the souls of many a one. Charley, in writing home, said he thought for a moment that it was the day of judgment. " The Chancellor knew all tha dodges of the wine trade" * * * * if he had been in the cellar * * * and seen it all * *' * he could not have asked cuter questions. The whole of the deputation were flabbergasted. Some answered " yes," to his questions, some " no." " Gentlemen," said he, looking into their souls—"go and confer together, ascertain what your case really is, come in fewer numbers and with clearer heads, and then I'll talk to you—good morning." Thui were the vinters and vitlers bowed out.

Abmstrong Guns outdone.—The experiments with Mr. Whitworth's rifled can"non were continued on the Southporfc coast. The practice with the three-pounder at long range gave results most astonishing. Six shots were fired at an elevation of 35 deg. When it is remembered that this gun weighs only 208 lbs., and that not only a range of above five miles and a half was attained (greater than has been recorded of any gun ever made), but that good practice was made at that enormous distance, the epithet 'astounding' as applied to the results is fully justified.— Times.

Sand for.House's BEDS.r-Mr. Small of Dundalk, a veterinary surgeon, of considerable experience, states sand is not only an excellent substitute for straw for horses' beds, but superior to straw, as the sand does not heat, and saves the hoofs of the horses. He says that sand is exclusively used for horses' beds in his, repository. .Now that straw is so scarce and dear, Mr. Small's suggestion merits notice.

Salt for Horses' Feet.—Common salt absorbs moisture from the atmosphere; hence it has been, in some" instances, applied with jreat success fof .keeping the hard-bound hoofs of horses moist. The hoofs of some horses become dry, and oftentimes crack, thereby* rendering them lame, if the anjmals are driven on hard roads. By bathing the hoof and fetlock joint with salt brine, three times a day, lameness from the above cause will be avoided. It is a common practice with some blacksmiths to. rasp cracked hoofs in order Jo render them more tough, but salt brin©. h far superior to rasping for effecting this object. Scientific American.

The Leaden AaE.—The Age of Chivalry, we know, is dead, and with it much of the poetry of existence has faded into gloom. Sentiment is conventional and self-con-tained ; life has grown horribly unromantic, a chilling shade of monotony hangi over its incidents from first to last.; Dulness marks our manhood as its own, accompanies us through all the tedious journey, and leads us at last to a prosaic grave. The empire of business has fairly commenced; profit and loss reign supreme over mankind, and banish every less tangible consideration. Wood-nymphs that haunted the forest glades have their innocent revelries broken in upon by the saws and axes of advancing civilization; the genius of each solitary spot is startled from his repose by the clatter of wheels, or the hum of busy voices; the laborer plods home through the twilight without a thought of the supernatural. Nature has been disenchanted, and our views about her, if more literally accurate, are confessedly far less interesting and picturesque.—Saturday Review*

In 1858, 71,000,000 newspapers were delivered in the United Kingdom, and 7,250,000 book packets passed through the post. The average weight of book packets was SJ? oz. each, and of newspaper! 2£oz. The average postage on book packkets was 2Jd. each. When the newspaperstamp is abolished, all newspapers wilipasi through the post as book packets.

On inquiries being made at Vienna by the representatives of some foreign powers, the Austrian government is stated to bava replied that, its interests not being directly affected by the annexation of Savoy to France, it would observe, on this question, the same passive ooa« duct which the great Powers exhibited at the time of the last war in Lombardy; and that Austria will not protest agtinit the annexation of Savoy. r