MISCELLANEOUS.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 426, 22 November 1861, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS.

Civilisation. —A horrible case of exterminatipg the aborigines by the alleged poisoning of a whole tribe of black natives, by a squatter in the Clarence River district is commonly reported to bave taken place a good many years ago. Tho blacks had been rather troublesome for Borne time previous, and the substance employed to accomplish the work of death, on a regular wholesale scale, was arsenic; wbich was carefully mixed up for the purpose with a quantity of flour, wbich bad been given ostensibly as a present to the unfortunate aborigines, for some service they had rendered'to the squatter—

For wild as tbe accents of lover's farewell,

Are the deeds that they do, and the tales that they tell. I was told by a party I believe worthy of credit that not fewer than twenty-four of the dead bodies had actually been seen where the poisoning had taken place, and that the requisite evidence to establish the charge had beeu forwarded to Sydney at tbe time. Why, tben, was there nothing more beard of it ? I presume the Clareuce River was too far off from Sydney to inquire into such matters (sic), if so, here is another cause for separation.— Dr. Lang's Queensland.

Liberty of the Subjects.—At tbe Hyde police court a man named Thomas Carter was imprisoned for three weeks with hard labor, for being louud asleep by the roadside. The poor fellow said tbat Le tried to get a bed in Ryde, but could not under sixpence, aud tben determined to return to Landowu, where he bad work. luun came on, and he went under a tree and feel asleep, when one of the rustic police found him and brought him before Thomas Thorpe Fowke, and Le Marchant Thomas, Esq-.. Cubt, Rot., &.0., &a., who committed him to Wiiicl--. ster jail. No wonder the poor fellow looked 'dumbfounded.'

A IJisT.— An editor ' out west' thus talks to liis uon-pjying subscribers and patrons :—' Hear us for our debts, and get ready tbat you may pay ; trust 113, we are in need, and bave regard for our need, for you have been loug trusted ; acknowledge your indebtedness and dive into your pockets, that you may promptly fork over. If there be any among you, one single patron, that don't owe us something, then to him we gay—step aside ; consider yourself a gentleman. If the rest want to know why we dun them, this is our answer—Not that wo care about cash ourselves, but our creditors do. "Would you rather that 'We ' go to gaol, and yon free, tban you pay your delta, and we ail moviug ? As we agreed we have worked fur you ; as we contracted, we have furnished our paper to you ; as we promised, we have waited upon you ; but, as you don't pay, we dun you. Here ure agreements for job-woik ; contracts for subscription"; promises for long credit; and duns for deferred payment. Who is there ao mean that be don't take a paper? If any, be needn't speak—we don't moan him. Who is there so green tbat be don't advertise ? If any, let him slide—he ain't the chap either. Who is there so bad that lie don't pay the printer ? If any, let him shout —for he's the man we're after. Hi 3 name is Legion, and he's been owing us for one, two, tlwee, futir, five, six, seven, aud eight \ears — lung enough to make us poor, aud himself rich at our expense, if the above appeal to his conscience doesn't awake him to a sense of justice, we shall bave to try the law, and see wbat virtue there is in wiits and constables.

A Marine Shot by Volunteers —Mr. Carttar. coroner for West Kent, bas opened an inquiry into tbe circumstances attending tbe death of Benjamin Bradshuw, a private of tbe Woolwich division of Riyal Maiine Light Infantry, wbo was killed by a rifle shot, wbile acting us marker to volunteeis, at target practice, in Plumstead marshes. No evidence was taken as to the facts, and tho inquest was adjourned for a post-mortem examination of tbe body. This lias been carried out, and it was found tbat death resulted from the fragment of a bullet, about tbe size of a pea, which entered tbe lungs. In accordance with instructions from tbe War Department, an investigation bas been made by Capt. Jacson, Adjutant ol the Ist Battalion Kent Rifles, and Sergeant Rigon, rifle instructor Royal Marines, wbo have reported that the bullet by which the deceased was struck was fired at a range of GOO yards, from a considerable angle ; and there is a maik on tbe inside of the mantlet roof, which the shot hud evideutly struck, and from it bad rebounded and bit the deceased. An order has been issued by the Bjard of Admiralty forbidding any of tbe Royal Marines in future to act as maiker3 for the volunteers.— Times.

Wishing to get lid of a scrong minded but plain-featured lady, who would remain at table wbile tbo gentlemen were at tbeir wive, a bonvivant gaye tbe old toast of ' Honest men and bonny lasses.' The toast was drunk with all houor, wben the dame rose fiora her seat, gave tbe proposer a poke in the ribs, and baying said ' Mr. , that toast neither applies to vow nor »c,' left the room,

American Habits.—All classes are well dressed. When operatives have finished tho labors of the day they generally change their garments, and are as neatly attired as those in higher stations. Mechanics in good employment occupy better houses, pay higher rents, and dress better than is usual in England or Scotland; iv short, they aim at living in greater respectability, and in doing so naturally avoid such indulgences as would improperly absorb their means. The English language is everywhere spoken well. I heard no patois, no local dialect. The tone of speech was uniform though more nasal ia some parts of New England than in others. The spectacle of well-educated, thoughtful, independent America, enabled me to see through the fallacy of first disabling a man from thinking and acting for himself, aud then trying to satisfy him byasystemof well-meant but really enervating patronage. It is something to haveltosayof the United States that the mechanics and rural laborers of that country do not require to be patronised. — Chambers' America as it is.

Railways, &c—On a former occasion, I requested you to bear in mind, when you were devising plans for securing to this, colony railroads, harbors, or efficient frontier defence, that every one of these advantages would necessarily follow from a large increase to your European population,—that almost every other means that you could devise for obtaining any one of these advantages would be uncertain, and might be only temporary in its results, —but that a largely increased European population would infallibly and permanently secure every one of them, as well as many other advantages for you; aud I would again earnestly press these same remarks upon your consideration.— Sir George Greg. The Alpaca.—ln a private letter recently received from Mr. Ledger, says the M. Argus a further most gratifying assurance is given of the perfect adaptability of Australia to tbis valuable animal. He says:—' A point of vital importance has lately been settled beyond dispute—l allude to the native grasses suiting the alpaca much better than artificial fodder. Seventeen months ago I separated the animals, for the purpose of cross-breeding, &c. ; one flock of 46 males I have had in lucerne paddocks, one of pure female alpacas in a clover paddock, and one of female llamas and crossbreeds ranging at large in the natural grasses. Without a question, the latter are by a very long way in much better condition, and livelier than the other two flocks. A female llama (to be stuffed for Exhibition) will fully come up to four hundred weight iv carcase. I shall show fleeces over twenty pounds weight/

Divorce.—lv Berne there was a novel method of settling matrimonial disputants. Divorces were freely granted, but the first applicant must go through with the following test: —' A small room was prepared in which husband and wife were put—the door being then closed, to remain so for six wetks, except it should be set in motion at the urgent aud united request of the wedded pair. There were in the room one stool, one plate, one spoon, a unity of all requisites, and the solitary bed was of dimensions that if they chose to use it they must needs lie very close together: of one thing, and one thing only, was there a duplicate, and tbat was a little treatise on the duties of husbands and wives towards each otber. No visitor was permitted to go near them;and they had only a glimpse at intervals of the grim face of the janitor as he pushed their food through a hole iv the door.' The test was attended by the most wholesome results. Iv most cases the parties were excellent friends in a few duj-s; and very few could stand out for more thau a fortnight. Another very gratifying circumstance was, that they had scarcely on record a case in which a second application was made by persons who had already gone through the ordeal.— Bishop Burnett.

Burke the Explorer.—Tbe Southern Courier says :—Mr. Burkes greatest suffering —for the writer of this bas known bim personally for many years—has been in the consciousness of failure ! He belongs to a family tbat has given several heroes to their country; and not among the least of these is to be mentioned the name of bis brother, who fell fighting for his country, in the Crimea—single banded, against 'fearful odds,' pierced with upwards of thirty wounds. We mean the young officer, who has been honored with the post mortem title of ' The Gallant Burke.' Robert O'Hara Burke may bave achieved equal deeds of daring and obstinate courage ; but he bas this disadvantage —that be returns unsuccessful, and witb but one companion to bear witness to tbe exteut of their mutual iria's. .

Shocking ' Old Tom.'—An inquesfwas held at Inverloigh on tbe body of Wibiam Saunders, who was accidentally killed by falling from his wagon, tbo wheels of which passed over bis body. The deceased, in company with two others, had called just previous to the accident at the Frieud-in-band public-bouse, where be had a nobbier. These men were called as witnesses, and deposed tbat the drink supplied tbem was so bad that they threw theirs away. Deceased drank his, and complained shortly afterwards of feeling stupid. Tbe liquor was old torn, and the witnesses stated their belief tbat thete was turpentine in it. The deceased lingered for a day or so after the accident, and died on Sunday, the 29th September. A post mortem examination showed that, besides other injuries, the bladder was ruptured, and tbe jury returned a verdict of accidental death arising from the circumstances detailed, and attached us a rider, * The jury dtsire to express their opinion that the quality of tbe liquor supplied to the deceased must have been very bad to produce within so short a time the stupefying effect sworn to by tbe witnesses.'— Geelong Advertiser.