General News.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4360, 21 December 1882, Page 1

General News.

A panic occurred at a theatre at Gross Bechkerk, in Banata. Austria. A petroleum. lamp in (he lobby fell, and a cry wh at | once raised. People jumped from the galleries to the pit and stalls, and very many were severely injured, but no one was killed. The theatre was partly destroyed. , Kossutb, in a letter to tbn leader of the Radical party in Hungary, declares the rery .existence of the anti- Jewish agitation 10 be a national shame and disgrace, and it is inconceivable to - him how anyone professing democratic principles could be possessed of such a craze.- It is not the Jews, but bad economic policy that ha* reduced the poorer classes to rain. It is related ot the late Bishop of Winchester as an illustration of his ready wit, that some years ago when visiting at the country seat of a well known nobleman, the bishop allowed himself to be persuaded to join a shooting party. On his return, his noble host meutioued that his came* keeper was a dissenter, and although he did not wish to interfere in the religious opinions of his employes, still as all rest of the servants went to church bo nhould like this man to go. Would tne bishop speak to him ? If he used his well known persuasive powe s, doubtless he would overcome the scruples of the keeper as to entering the church. The bishop ex* pressed his delight at the request, and proceeded at once to the keeper's cottage. Entering with his usual frank and kindly greeting wiiich few could resist, he soon established himself in the good graces of his bumble host, arid gradually led the conversation to spiritual matters. At length, when he thought he bad sufficiently gained the confidence of the man, his lordship said : " By the way, how is it I don't see yon at church? You know .there is nothing in the Bible against your going. to church.*' •■ No, my lord, neither is there anything in the Bible to warrant a preacher of the gospel going out shooting—the Apostles never did." "No," replied the readywitted bishop, "true, they had no. game in Palestine in those days, they went ont fishing instead.'' Of all the frraks of the telegraph, the following is one of the most laughable :— A young man, when about to start for hi« new parish, was unexpectedly detained by the incapacity of his presbytery to ordain him. In order to explain his non-arrival at the appointed time, he sent the follow* ing telegram to the deacons of the church: " Presbytery lacked a quorum to ordain." Id the course of its journey the message got strangely metamorphosed, and reached the estonished . deacons 'in this shape : " Presbytery tacked a worm on to Adam." The sober church officers were sorely discomposed and mys?ified, but, after grave consultation, concluded it was the minis* ler's facetious way of announcing that he lihcl got married, Bnd accordingly proceeded. to 'provide lodgings for twoicsteadof one. The Timaru Herald rep rts a carious accident from Waimatr. A plasterer „ named Hawkey, who* is working at the new school buildings there, was at work on the scaffold, when something gave way and he fell. It happened that imme* diately beneath him was a well 35ft deep, and he tumbled down t' is in addition to falling from the scaffold. Some boards and tools accompanied or followed him, so that it appeared inevitable that he'must suffer serious injury. There was only about a foot of water in the well, not enough to drown him, nor enough, on the other hand, to break hi* fall. He was immediately helped out, when, to everyone's astonishment, he declared himself none the worse for his fall.