MISCELLANEOUS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2030, 8 April 1890, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

During 1889 the Crofters Commissioners have fixed rents in 3425 cases, making a total of 7377 cases during the three years they have been at work. In addition to these, seyeral hundred applications have been dismissed or withdrawn. The total rental has been reduced from £40,498 to £28,448, the crofters thus receiving an annual benefit of £12,050. The Commissioners have also wiped off arrears of rent to the amount of £51,373, The average reduction on all the crofts valued is 30 per cent., the reductions being highest in Caithness, and lowest in Sutherlandshire. Mr Angus Sutherland, M.P., speaking in Edinburgh a short time ago, declared that the Act of 1886, imperfect as he considered it to be, had already lessened the value of the landlords interest in the land to the extent of one million of money, which would go into the pockets of the people. They expected to take it down by two or three millions more. After that had gone on for nine or ten years they would begin to talk about purchasing the land, but not till then. These observations were greeted with applause by Mr Sutherland’s audience. We learn from Paris that it is now possible to be cremated for half-a-crown. This is the result of the new system adopted at the Pere Lachaise Cemetery in August last. Coke has been substituted for wood as fuel, and other improvements have been incorporated with the Siemens’ system, which have had the effect of greatly reducing both the time required for effectual combustion and the cost. The body of an adult can be reduced to ashes in the new furnace in an hour, and the cost of the operation has been brought down from thirtyfive francs to three.

“ Sunset-purple,” sajs a fashionable correspondent, is the fashionable shade of hair in select American circles this year. The example of Mdme. Adelina Patti has suggested the tint, which is described as resembling “ streng sunlight shining through a dark forest.” Golden hair is quite out of date now. Not so artificial dimples. Two young ladies have just had dimples arranged on their cheeks by means of courtplaster, and are to remain in the seclusion of their bedrooms for some days, under the useful but rather hackneyed plea of headache. When they re enter society they will display bewildering, delightful dimples, that will last three weeks or so. Professor Drummond, the author of “Natural Law in the Spiritual World,” intends to take a trip to Australia in his summer vacation. He desires to see something of Australia and New Zealand, and will probably lecture in the two places. Apropos of Professor Drummond, a friend of his tells a funny story. At a general meeting of some kind Mr Drummond was discussing with a friend the possibility of a pickpocket doing his work unobserved. It would need but slight dexterity to rob anyone in the room, he thought, and, his friend demurring, he volunteered to prove his point. “ I will get ——’s watch from him,” he suggested, in a sudden freak of humor. By a little manoeuvring this was done, and Professor Drummond then turned to , and asked him what time it was. felt for his watch, and then uttered a cry of horror, and at once shouted to the waiters to close the doors; he had been robbed. A great fuss ensued, and the excitement was considerable. The hapless Professor saw the dock and the gaol staring him in the face, and there was nothing for it but to make a clean breast of it all. Which he did, retiring a little doubtful of practical experiments.

The Fashionable Amusement.—Mildred (who hears that her aunt is going to take a fencing lesson) —“ Oh, Auntie do take me with you. I’d love to see you jump over the fences.” Papa (who has just been made magistrate, addressing his little daughter) —“ Lily, I can marry people now ; did you know that ?” Lily (anxiously) —“ But you won’t papa. Don’t you think mama’s enough ?”