General News.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3882, 8 June 1881, Page 2

General News.

A comparative statement recently published in Sydney discloses a wonderful diversity of opinion among colonial Governments as to the value of their pastoral lands. In New South Wales the average annual rental per square mile paid bj pastoral tenants is 15s 7|d ; South Australia and Qneensland show much beloir this at 4s 9f d and 7s 10§d respectively; Tasmania and Victoria charge higher. rentals than New South Wales, their" rates being respectively £2 12s lOfd and £3 18s Id ; while New Zealand comei next (longo intervallo) at £5 8s 9f d per square mile.

A giant of world-wide renown has lately been laid low. " Old Moses," one of the mightiest sylvan patriarchs of California, was mercilessly cut down a few weeks ago, and the greater portion of his a venerable remains have already been sold I to the timber merchants ot San Francisco. This colossal tree judging by the number of rings contained in a sound section of its trunk, had attained the amazing age;: of 4,841 years, when the fell fiat was issued for its distraction. The hollow portion of its huge and massive stem afforded standing room for nearly 300 full grown men. It must have been a " brave greet: tree " when £Tqah built his ark.

Sir William Harcourt, on March 23rd, was the object of an offensive, if not an alarming, practical joke. A package, which afterwards turned out to be a card- . board haberdasher's box,, about a foot square and a couple of inches deep, tied up securely in brown paper, and addressed to " the Right Hon. Sir William Harcourt M.P., House of Commons," had .been- - delivered at the Parliamentary post-office, ; and was forwarded : to ; the Home Secretary's residence, when Sir William Harcourt, noticing that the parcel was heavy, resolved to have it opened by the' police. When the string was cut and the box opened it was found to contain a ' rusty percussion pistol apparently loaded^' but uncapped, with a broken lock, and accompanying it a sheet of paper bearing' the words: " The first instalment of the/ Arms Act.-^From an Admirer ( of jbttirj [ Policy." It! is needless to iaj that every effort will be made to discbrer the perpetrators of this mischievous affront.