MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 145, 14 May 1879, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

There arc 272 telephone stations multi' the direction of the German P"S!-office authorities. The instruments work perfectly over lines of 50 kilometres long say 32 miles. Thirty years ago the profession of miuinir engineer was almost unknown in the United States ; to-day the American Institute of Mining Engineers numbers over 700 members. A London newspaper man is so hard run for an opening in the ranks that he proposes to start a paper to be supported entirely from the rejected M.S.S. of other papers, and to call it the ££ Waste Paper ’ Basket.” There are now in Paris coiffeurs, who work exclusively on dolls’ heads, and there are specialist workmen for dolls’ ■linen, dresses, shoes, hats, furs, gloves, and stockings. It is proposed to introduce into the International Agricultural Exhibition of England a comparative museum of ancient and modern implements. Primitive forms of implements, such as wooden ploughs, &c., are being sought for. It is said that the Afghan war has cost about three millions so far, and the Viceroy has not even a decent butcher’s bill to show to John Bull for the money. Then there has been no ££ glory,” as there has been no slaughtering. The Chinese have arsenals ot Foochow and Shanghai, superintended by a French shipbuilder, where largo steamers and ships of war arc produced and fitted up with the latest improved armaments. A conference of leading clergymen has been held at Spracuse, and a committee appointed to report upon a practical method of proceeding against the communistic members of the Oneida Association. The contemplated exhibitions in Australia—at Sydney, 1879, and Melbourne, 1880—are attracting attention in Europe. The London £ Times’ enlarges upon the extraordinary developments of the colonies. Last week, through the personal exertions of D. K Fyfe, Esq., the sum of 300 dollars was collected from the citizens of Honolulu for the relief of the suffering ■poor in Scotland. The London 1 Times’ admits that a “ modification of the Victorian Constitution is acknowledged to be desirable, and a reasonable reform ought not to be im■possible.” Dr Slade, when lately in Auckland, on his way to America, held a very successful seance, and promised to return to the colonies in a year, and remain some time in New Zealand. The Wesleyans of England have determined to build, in various parts of the country, 100 chapels per year for the next ten years. Tim sum of 325,000c1015. has been subscribed for the purpose.