GENERAL NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 186, 15 October 1879, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

(From our Exchanges.)

The recent earthquake at the Virginia City, says the Virginia (Nev.) Enterprise was not noticed at all in mining depths, but only by lire people on the surface Their famous earthquake of some year? ago, which shook down chimneys, fire walls, cracked brick buildings, and did other damage, was merely noticed by some of the miners working in the upper levels but did no damage, not even shaking down loose stones and earth. The station men in the various shafts felt it t.ie strongest, and the deepest point where it was noticed was by the station-tender at the 900-foot level, at the Imperial Empire shaft—--900 feet below the surface. He said it felt like a sudden faint throb or pulsation of the air, as though a blast had been let off somewhere at a distance above, below, or in some indefinite

direction. In some of the mini's the shock waa not noticed at all, even by E:" -ntativn m n.

Another qi-Vlportant fact lias been disco v red ysiologists—namely, that the saliva of an infant, bef ire the infant has its teeth, is ineapaclc of converting starcli into sugar. Tliis explains at at once why ali attempts at substituting farinaceous food in place of mother’s .milk, in the case of infants invariably fail. Such children cannot digest starch, and are underfed, of even starved, dying' finally of marasmus. Such children cannot digest starch, and arc umleifed, or even starved, dying finally of marasmus. Starch, arrowroot, sago, tapioca, &c., arc useless, because indigestible, for children before they have cut their teeth. Sir John Herschel has declared that, if he wore to pray for a taste which should stand in every variety of circumstance and be a source of happiness and cheerfulness to him dirough life, it would bo a taste of reading. Give a man, he affirms that taste, and the means of gratifying it, and you cannot fail of making him good and happy ; foi you bring him m contract whir the best 'society in aii ages, with the tendeicst, the bravest, and the purest men _ who have adorned humanity, making him a denizen of all nations, a contemporary of all times.

It is strange but true that at the present moment there is no really popular song of the day, “-Grandfather’s Clock” may he regarded .as having stopped—thanks to a beneficicnt Providence—and little boys do not know what to whistkv It is a long time since such a state of things has ruled. “Turn about and wheel about, and jump Jim Crow,” was succeeded b} r “ Pop goes tne Weasel, which in turn gave place to the -Katcatcher’s Daughter” and “"V illikens and his dinah ” which Mr Robson used to explain was not a comic song - . “ xhe Dark girl dressed in Blue ” was. curren. everywhere during’ the 67 lOxhibition. Then came “ Pretty Polly Perkins of Paddington Green, ” and that specially vu’gar "and idiotic ditty “Champagne Charley, ” which shared favouritsm with “ Kafoozelum. ” Bo we went on till “We don’t want to fight” was vanquished hv “ Grandfather’s .Clock and now, it has been finally settled —let us hope the old man has really and truly died—there is no successor ready. There is a chance for composers. —‘‘Rabies in the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News.

The member for Dun start saw and took advantage of the opportunity for a little theatrical effect at Wellington last week. By hanging hack till the last moment his presence and his vote became doubly valuable, and it can scarcely be wondered at that he was besieged by both parties on landing in the Empire City and was recognised as currying the fate" of the Ministry in his hands. This is an old trick of Mr Fyke’s, and he apparently likes to feed his vanity byhaving Cabinet Ministers waiting with broughams ready to spirit him away to snug queers and minister with lavish hospitality to his various wants. About the dignity of the position, however the less said the better, and Mr Fyke may be forgiven his amiable little weakness in consideration of his having voted “ straight, ” notwithstanding the fraternal blandishments of the Ministerial big-wigs. It was after the opera, and they were in a rendezvous for material refreshments. The usual talk about the singing, and the artists sebsiding, he, as a souvenir of the evening, offered his button-hole hoquet. She accepting, said, “ How lovely 1” He added, “ What fragrence too !” And then she sniffing the savoury odour of the incoming oysters, echoed, “ Yes, what fragrant stew !” Then he became involved in thought,