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Temuka Leader, Issue 169, 13 August 1879, Page 3

The Bulwark of St Petersburg.— The fortress of Peter and Paul at St Petersburg promises to play a prominent part in connection with the revolutionary movement in Russia. Founded by

Peter the Great, it early began an evil career as the State Prison of the unfortunate Czarewitch Alexis, whom rightly or wrongly, posterity believes to have been put to death by the hands of his despotic parent. Afterwards it became the regular place of detention for prisoners of State, and perhaps, for one hundred and fifty years the cells have never been without their complement of inmates. In Catherine’s reign the dungeons were more than once so overcrowded that whole batches had to be removed by boat to the Schilusselberg fortress, higher up the Neva, just as at the present moment swarms are nightly smuggled away from its grim interior and despatched in hooded carts to Siberia or Saghalien. As to the number on victims that have lived and died within its limits during the century and a half of its existence nothing with certainty is known, and probably the world will always remain in ignorance of the sufferings of the unfortunates who have rotted iu its noxious underground vaults or perished in the lower cells during the frequent inundations of the Neva. Random estimates have placed the number at 20,000 individuals, but'this can only bo a guess. In winter roads across theicc connect it with the winterpalace opposite, and in the summer a sloop-01-war is mostly anchored in the river to preserve comraujjication between the fortress and the imperial quay. While the army remains loyal to the Cxar the fortress will ahvays keep the city in subjection, as. from its portals could issue at any moment a force sufficient to quell the fiercest street revolt. — £ London Globe.’ The Rabbit Nuisance.— The ‘Post’ has been favored by the Hon. J. Martin with the following recipe for preparing wheat for poisoning rabbits. Captain Keene, of Kaikonra, is stated to have used the preparation with much success. Here is tire recipe :—Take 1001 b. of wheat, 11b. sugar, 11b. pliosporus, 9 gals, water, and lon. rhodium. Steep the wheat in hot water (but do not boil it), and add the other items. When the wheat is thoroughly saturated with the rhodium and phosphorus, take -it out and strew it about iu little heaps of 10 or 12 grains.-”

A Mauryino Man.—A. Dunedin paper says that a reverend-gentleman has officiated at no loss than 2040 marriages in that dry. If this clergyman is a bachelor Ik- v.-iil never more, when asked why lie docs not get married, be able to advance the stereotyped excuse that, lie in not a marrying man.