MISCELLANEOUS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1900, 4 June 1889, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Eev. R. M. MeKinnery, Presbyterian clergyman, has written to the Irish Delegates Reception Committee, Auckland, accepting an invitation to co-operate, and approving heartily of Home Rule, and expressing a firm conviction in Parnell’s innocence. The Southland News says 1 “ They were holding an inquest the other day in a remote place in Southland on a poor fellow who had been found dead in the river. Coroner to constable: “Was anything done to resuscitate him ? ” Constable: “ Oh, yes, Your Worship, the usual means were adopted.” Coroner : “ Well, will you tell the jury what was done first?” Constable: “Indeed I will, Your Worship. The first thing we did was to turn him on his back and search his pockets.” A strange story is going the round of the Continental papers to the effect that some 20 years ago the present Czar, at that time heir-apparent to the Russian throne, was told by a gipsy woman many wonderful things ■—amongst others, that he should not outlive his 46th birthday. It is stated that all her other forecasts have been realised, one after another, greatly to the disquietude of Alexander Alexandrovich, who is notoriously superstitious. The Czar entered upon his 45th year on the 10th ult., and has appeared to suffer from a more than usually severe depression of spirits since. The other day the Emperor of Germany, busy in his own room, heard a violent disturbance in the nursery, and speedily made his way to the scene of tumult. When he entered, the Crown Prince and Prince Eitel drew themselves up and saluted their father in the military fashion, as is their wont, “ What is all this noise about ? ” asked the Emperor. “A slight dispute, sire,” said his eldest son, “ and I was obliged to let my brother know who is Crown Prince in this establishment.” “ Good,” said His Majesty, “ I see what you mean, and now I think it will be as well if I let you know in the same way who is Emperor in this particular family! ” and he forthwith administered a punishment which impressed itself on the mind and also on the body of the Crown Prince in a manner highly suggestive of the possibilities of the situation.

Writing of a recent football match up North an exchange relates that one of the Puhoi men had been collared and grassed by an Aucklander. when an old lady, who seemed to take great interest in the game, beckoned to the latter to come oyer to her, and when he did so she gave him a backhanded slap in the face, saying: “ Don’t you knock down my son like that again, or I’ll bash your nose.” Later on in the game another old lady marched straight out into the field while the game was raging fast, and “ landing ” one of the visitors a sharp emaek on the back of his head with an umbrella, remarked: “Take that, you brute, for trying to break my boy’s back.” The Aucklanders were very careful after this, and won bv eight goals to nil, but they wont go bask. Tho financial straits in which the Italian Government find itself, and tho impossibility of imposing additional taxes, will compel it, it is said, to confiscate the immense possessions which are now held by the various monastic and religious orders. These are valued at £120,000,000 sterling, yielding an income of £6.080,000. Ihere is a deficit of £M.000.000 in the national revenue, which wiil hnvo to be met by extraordinary means 5 independently of which the perfecting of the defences of the country will involve an outloy of £20.000,000, which it is proposed to spread over the text three years. Signor Crispi asserts, m justification of the extreme measure to which he proposes to have recourse, that twc-lhirds of the ecclesiastical revenues are absorbed by tho expenses of management, and that the other third is employed to purposes which are hostile to the civil government,