MISCELLANEOUS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 86, 2 October 1869, Page 5

MISCELLANEOUS.

,The "Argus" says: — "The criminal prosecution of Me. David Syme, (proprietor of the ' Age ' and 'Leader' newspapers, for maliciously publishing defamatory libels in those journals against Dr. Jordanj of the Anthropological Museum, was resumed at the City Court yesterday. The Bench 'without hearing the evidence for the defence;" dismissed the Case, thinking the writer of the articles had only discharged his duty to the public. Next op Kin to Lord Clyde. — At the present moment a tiller of the soil is about to, proceed to Europe to enforce his claim as next of kin to the 'late Lord Clyde, better known as Sir Colin Campbell. M'Liver, the free selector on Boneo, in the disti'ict of Tootgarook, who for some time has been content to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow, bursts suddenly upon us as the heir presumptive to the •son of Mr. John M'Liver, of Grlasgow, and who entered the army as Ensign Campbell in 1808, and who in 1858, "was created a peer by the title of Lord Clyde. From what we hear it seems probable that the Amstralian M'Liver, who until now has been satisfied with the benefits conferred upon him under the 42nd clause of the Land Act, will be able to substantiate his claim to the accumulated prize-money of the hero of Chillian-wallah, Alma, and Lucknow. — " Melbourne Herald." Exciting Scene ts> a Menagerie. — An unrehearsed scene, very nearly ending in a tragedy, was enacted at Bradford. Amongst the incidents which at present appear to be regarded ( as essential accompaniments of a menagerie are foolish and dangerous performances described in the inflated'language of the proprietors as lion hunts. This portion of the programme was being gone through, when a performing lioness, instead of responding to the order of its keeper to leap over his' shoulder, seized and dragged the man down, and attempted to seize his throat. At this critical moment, amidst the alarm of the spectators, the male lion rushed upon his companion, and the fight that succeeded between the two undoubtedly saved the life of the keeper. TJie latter having regained his confidence and control over the lions, with a union of bravery and folly which are, at least, remarkable, continued and finished his performance whilst the blood flowed from his wounds.

Protoplasm. — The following advertisement of an Eating^ House is from a Melbourne paper :—": — " The Physical Basis of Life. Huxley's celebrated essay on this subject is lectui'ed on daily by , who has made the matter a life study. It is also illustrated daily at his tables, where the c physical basis ' can be laid in from 11 till 3, in the best cooked and most varied hot luncheon in the city. Some choice Tasmanian meat, lately arrived, will be found out of the common, with fish that will do till the salmon come — and even afterwards."

The Kearsage.— The "Wellington correspondent of the " Wairarapa Mercury" states that "TheU.S.S. Kearsage came into harbour (Wellington) on Wednesday evening, 15th ult., and of course all the ladies were on the gui vive to have a ball for the officers. This would no doubt have been done if the Kearsage could have waited, but, greatly to everyone's disappointment — notably to that of the officers themselves — she was under imperative orders to lose no time in sailing for Callao, en route for Cuba, and only put in here to coal. It had been at first intended that she should visit Port Chalmers and stay a 'week or two, but the last mail brought orders to sail at once for Cuba, where the Spanish insurrection rendered it desirable that the States should have as much force on the spot as possible. So instead of going to Otago on pleasure, she came here to coal, and- sailed aa soon as that end was accomplished on Friday morning. Captain Thorton, who was her first lieutenant at the time of the fight with the Alabama, threw his ship open to the public on Thursday iorenoon, and up to the moment of weighing anchor, she was crowded with visitors. The G-overner and suite went on board and were most hospitably received, as, indeed, were all the visitors. To anyone accustomed to the discipline, and apple-pie order, and cleanliness of an English man-of-war, the Kearsage was a great disappointment, and suffered greatly by comparison. The officers and men, however, were a very fine set of young -fellows,, and would be quite able to give a good account of themselves if it came to blows.. The big Dalhgren and Parrot guns were worth seeing, and were greatly admired. ■ She yet bears a few marks of her engagement with the Alabama, but it is wonderful how little impression the 120 shot received in the fight made on her." A Perilous Billet. — A conductor's duty on the Pacific Eailroad' involves certain personal risks peculiar to the far West. ' A gentleman who has recently passed aver, the road^relates a scene he •witnessed on the train. The conductor told a rough looking traveller that he wanted his fare. The d 1 you do." was the answer. The conductor persisted' "Wall here's my pass" said the traveller, presenting a heavy revolver'at the official's head. Another huge fellow interposed at this point, presenting a pistol at his fellow-pas-senger's temple, with a rather menacing look. "" none -of that , stranger ; fair play, shell out." This settled the matter, :a#d '.the :f&ro. v^ P&& '

; Mr.- Lamont's Polar Expedition. — -The ,new steamship Diana, equipped for- geographical explorations and scientific research in the Polar Seas, which started a few weeks ago from Glasgow, is now reported at Hammerfest, near the North Cape of Norway. Her owner, Mr. James Lamonfc (late M.P.), author of, " Seasons Avith the Sea Horses" (in Spitzbergen), accompanies the , expedition, and hopes to be able to approach nearer to the North Pole than any previous explorer. All on board were in excellent health and spirits at the last account. Mr. Lamont has secured the services of Captain Iverson, an experienced whaler, as navigator, and is accompanied by an artist, Mr. Livesay, and by Dr. Charles E. Smith of Kelvedou, who is well known throughout the whaling service as the- surgeon of the old steamer Diana, which was icebound in the Greenland seas for nearly foui'teen months. The new Diana is fully provisioned for twelve months at least. In case of further detention, an abundant supply of game at Spitzbergen and Nova-Zembla can be safely reckoned on. In his former expedition to Spitzbergen, Mr. Lamont shot sixty-one reindeer, weighing on the average 150 lb. each. Fuel may also be supplied by the immense accumulations of drift-wood with which the shores of those regions are encumbered through the agency of the Gulf Stream. A novel race took place at Boston on the 11th May, at which about 1500 persons were present. The race took place at the Eiversido Park, between Walter Brown on a velocipede, and the horse John Stewart ; Brown on top of a velocipede, five miles, and the horse, in harness, ten. The race was Avon by Brown, avlio completed his five miles in 26.20, the horse doing nine miles in 26.35. Brown's best raile was done in 4.29, and the horse's in 2.475.