General News.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4427, 13 March 1883, Page 2

General News.

The following paragraph, culled from the Melbourne" Argus of the 10th ulfc., may possibly interest some of our readers: —Some information regarding the working of the diamond drills in the colony (Victoria) $»s been furnished by the Mining Department. It is to the effect that there are 14 of the machines in operation, one

being retained by* the Government for coal-boring purposes. The average annual cost of maintenance is £2,200, but the proprietors in whose interest they are working, recoup the department to the amount of £1.400 a-year, leaving a net outlay of £800 per annum. The cost of diamonds is an important item in the expenditure, as great difficulty is now experienced in procuring suitable stones, the avarage price being £4 4s per carat, but three or four years ago it did not rule higher than 303 a carat. This year the outlay under this head is estimated to be £9,000. The aggregate distance bored by the drills is very nearly nine miles. One of our 'cutest local haughty chieftains, Wi Haronga, expressed himself quaintly this morning regarding the Land Court proceedings. "Now, I think," said he, "that your Pakeha Judges are very iiku, and that they look at matters in a very proper light, when they refuse to go into the question of deceased owners' interests. It certainly would not be seemly and proper to interfere with and disturb the dead. Let Christ look after the dead, and I myself will look after the interests of the living." Those familiar with the Maori and his mode of speech will understand that there was not the smallest approach to irreverence in the worthy Wi's remark.—P. B. Herald.

Our Chinese friends.(writes "iEgles." in the Australasian) have their own views about matrimony. They think, and in this they are not singular, that a woman may be too much married. Here is an interesting advertisement from a Gripps~ land journal: —" Caution : I, Thomas Sing, of Sale, cook, certify that I am lawfully married to my wife, Sarah Sing. Any person marrying her after this date will be prosecuted. Thomas Sing, 6th. February, 1883." As to the past, Mr Sing gracefully waives the point; but "after this date" let those who marry Mrs Sing take the consequences. A young gentleman in Scotland has declined to support his mother Jfob the ground of his having 32 brothers and sisters who have evaded the responsibility. If they would each contribute but a penny a week, there would be 2s Bd. His mamma admitted in Court that she had on three occasions given birth to twins, twice to tripiets, and on one occasion to four children at a birth, but that the defendant was born all by himself, and so far, was under an individual obligation.

A teaspoonful of charcoal in half a glass of water often relieves a sick-headache. It absorbs the gases, and relieves the distended stomach, pressing against the nerves that extend from the stomach to the head. Charcoal forms an unrivalled poultice for wounds and old sores. It is also invaluable for what is called proud flesh. It is a great disinfectant. It sweetens the air if placed in shallow dishes around the apartment, and foul water is also purified by its use. M. Victor Hugo has authorised ML. Massenet to compose an opera- on his "Notre Dame de Paris." - Two librettos have already been written; .from that Romance: one by the author himself, that was intended for Mdlle. Louise Bertin ; the other, by MM. DenneVy and Bresil, was intended for the Opera, but" has not yet been put to music. One of the pillars of a Wisconsin Baptist church has been tried on the charge of irreligious conduct in attending a negro minstrel performance. He was let ofi with a reprimand, as he started for a temperance lecture, got into the wrong hall, and his carnal delight overcame his moral scruples. • ■