GENERAL NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 205, 29 November 1879, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

(Prom our Exchanges.)

At Dunedin lately a Miss Jane Bowes was charged with having ’ libelled one John Winton. Complainant’s solicitor in opening the case said that the accused went to the police officer and made complaint that the prosecutor had made a criminal assult upon her. The facts of the assault were taken down by the policeman, at the dictation of the accused. The matter was placed in the hands of the police and the detectives were sent to make enquiries and the libel was spread throughout the district where the prosecutor resides. He would be in a position to prove Mat the woman was confined of a child, and that it was found under a tub three days after, also that she was a mendicant. The defendant accused the prosecutor of the paternity of the child.- She also stated that before the child was begotten the prosecutor had criminally assulted her, and this was the result.. The police would not believe her. The case was remanded. The heart of Africa contains a great chief, whose praises have been sounded by Livingstone, Stanley, and other travellers who have visited his country. This person is Mtesa, the Kabakah or Emperor of the territory of Uganda, a vast region to the northward of lake Yictoria Nyanza, with its capital on the lake. The reader has read how, within the present year, by proclamation of impern'll authority, he liberated half a roilliorkcf slaves. He is remarkable for the gentleness of his nature. He bad had so much intercourse with white explorers that he has caught the spirit of civilisation, Stanley speaks of Mtesa as “ the foremost man of Central Africa,” and much inclined to adopt the Christian faith. Stanley adds : philanthropists, will do more for C< ntral Africa than fifty years of Gospel teaching unaided by such authority can do.” The example of Mtesa in freeing his slaves and in encouraging the visits of white men, it is believed will exercise potent influence in breaking up the slave trade. Per this reason, and because his friendship will go toward the opening up of a lucrative trade in Africa, white people are anxious to cultivate his acquaintance, and if possible elevate his condition. It will not be many years before the old king will find himself surrounded by a white population. All the “ signs of the times ” encourage the belief, and it is fortunate that he invites immigration.

The Danbury horse has a reputation above all other animals of the field. The chief claim of the Danbury horse to public favour and notice is the facility with which he will run away. He is always ready to run away. He will get up in the night from a ‘refreshing sleep to run away. He will leave a meal of cream cakes and quail on ; toast to run away. And when he gets started nobody ever thinks of getting in front of him. Once in a while a stranger attempts it, bnt there is a fund to furnish ice to pack his body with until his friends can come on, so there is no harm done. A Danbury horse is neither a respecter of occasions. He will run away from a'post or. an agricultural debate, or. a funeral, and, in a tight pinch, would run away from a position in the "New York custom house. A Danbury boy whose imagination had become di a easod by too close devotion to dim novels, started off yesterday to seek fame as a slayer of boars and Indians. He took all his toys, including a hand sled and a snare drum, bade his little brothers and sisters an affectionate farewell and was gone nearly two hours. Pom - bnt dishonest young boys fasten wrought nails to the end of strings, and harpoon sweet potatoes and apples from their abiding places in front of the stores. This may be considered sport, but it is the first step in the downward road to Congress. ’The father of a boy whose veracity is not as marked as his back, asked the J||acher why it was his son didn’t have awetter acquaintance with figures, and w%a considerably electrified when the teacher tenderly observed,“ I really don’t know, unless it is because figures won’t lie.” T'> • ■ cason an nr n hin gave for being