GENERAL NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 208, 9 December 1879, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

(From our Exchanges.)

A dog belonging to a Dunedin lawyer took a nice piece of beet out of a butcher's shop a few days ago. The butcher followed the thief to the lawyer's office, when the following dialogue ensued :—" Supposing, Mr , that a dog was to come into my shop and run away with a piece of meat, and before it was i-egained rendered it perfectly useless, could I claim damages of the person to whom the dog belonged?" " Certainly," was the prompt reply ; •" you could claim the amount of what the beef was worth." " Then," said 'fjt'_ our butcher friend, "your dog came into my shop and stile a piece of to day." " What was it worth?" asked the lawyer. " Five shillings," was the reply. " Here you are, then," said the legal gentleman, handing him that amount ; and now you will oblige me by paying 6s 8d for the legal advice you have just received." Of course there was a protest, but it was of no avail. / There was no getting out of it; the lawyer would have his pound of flech and our butcher friend was obliged to stump the desired amount or—the usual process ; that butcher came away a wiser though a poorer man, and with a fixed determination to shy clear of " those lawyers " for the future. Last week Mr T. A. Fr&ser, of Lake Wanaka, left for our (Cromwell Argus) inspection the horn of a deer which he found in the course of his travels through tJre country adjacent to his run. The horn is about 15in. in length, and appears to be a cast une. The deer were originally turned out a number of years since at Morven Hills, and now appear te have increased considerably. Mr Fraser informs us that there is every indication that herds of the animals pass and repass between the Timaru and Dingle forests,, and it was on this track the horn left at this office was picked up Deer-stalking will soon be an additional attractive inducement for tourists to the grand Wanaka Lake district. The young New Zealand Party have completed their organization, and the following platform is to be adopted:— The party to support all movements for Liberal reform, as may be agreed upon from time to time ; members to be admitted by approval of the majority ; Chairman, Secretary, and Whip to be elected at the beginning of each session The } resent officers are : —Chairman, Mr DeLatour: Secretary, Mr Hislop ; Whip Mr Lundun. The aim of the party will be to force on Liberal Eeforms whatever Ministry may be in power. They will strongly oppose the property Ttx Bill, and endeavour to get personal property and improvements exempted. It is believed that the party will be strongly supported both by members of the House and the public generally, and that the eventual result will be the formation of a strong Liberal Government Captain Warner has devised a little apparatus which may be carried in the crown of a hat, sufficieut for keeping afloat an adult in case of shipwreck. It is only an ounce in weight ?nd may be packed in a space no bigger than an ordinary nutshell. A well dressed man entered a jrweller's Shop and asked if he could see " those ***\,ups in the window," pointing, as he spoke to some silver cups lined with gold in the window. "These," said \ the jeweller, handing him one, " are race cups. " " Race cups—what are race cups?" "Why," replied the jeweller, " they are cups I had ordered to be made for prizes to the best racer." " Well, if that's so, suppose you and I race for one, " and with cup in hand he started and the jeweller after him.