INTER-PROVINCIAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 106, 19 February 1870, Page 6

INTER-PROVINCIAL.

The "Thames Advertiser" states that Mrs. Robert Heir, the tragedienne, was married at St. George's Church, to Mr. George Darrel, of the Theatre Royal, and late of Dunedin and Melbourne.

On the morning of Feb. 2 a boat laden with wood was observed coming slowly down the Hospital Creek; when opposite the Hospital the man in the boat was seen to unship his oar and fall down, at the same time singing out for help. Assistance was at once rendered, as he had been seen by some of the patients. A boat was sent off to him, and he was conveyed to the Hospital. Very fortunately Dr. Garland was in attendance at the time in his capacity of Honorary Surgeon to the Institution, and consulted with the Surgeon-Superintendent on the case, which on examination proved to be sun-stroke. — " West Coast Times. "

The Whareama correspondent of the "Wairarapa" "Mercury" speaking of a good shot says: — " The captain of the militia here acted wisely in offering a prize for the best shot in his company. The other day some members, when practising, shot one of the telegraph wires which cross the practice ground, severing it completely. The telegraph authorities naturally considered that such wide practice should be stopped, and another has consequently been issued to remove the target to some spot more removed from telegraph property. It is no joke to have to send a man all the way from Greytown to repair damages done by militiamen. „

Wanganui seems to be introducing some fine racing stock from Canterbury. After the races there, Mr A. Daniell purchased Flying Jib, the second horse in the Canterbury Cup and also placed in the Criterion Stakes, price £150 ; and Maid of the Mist, for £80 guineas. Beyond these purchases, however, was another of more importance, adding to the stock of the district, the famous horse, Traducer, bought it is said ,for 400 guineas. The horses were brought up to Wellington under the care of Mr Walker, in the ss. Wellington last week and Traducer, a superb animal, and a perfect picture of strength and symmetry, arrived in Wanganui overland three days ago. The others are gone to Hawke's Bay for the forthcoming races. — While on .this subject we may mention that among the conspicuous winners at the Canterbury races was a promising filly the progeny of Peter Flat and known as "Miss Flat," who won the Free Handicap, was adjudged winner of the Grand Stand Handicap, and ran a dead heat for second place for the Eailway Stakes? — ' t; Winigzsnui Chronicle, Fob ruary 3.

A favourite Scottish song commences " There's my thumb, I'll ne'er beguile Thee." The pressure of moistened thumbs, as the solemn ratification of an engagement, was used in other contracts. The practice, as confirmatory of an agreement, existed both among the Celts, and the Goths. The records of the Scottish Courts contain examples of sales being confiirmed by the Judges, on the production of evidence that the parties had licked and pressed their thumbs on the occasion of the bargain. The Highlander and the Lowland schollboy still lick thumbs in bargain-making. At the close of the eighteenth century another method of betrothal was adopted. When the damsel had accepted her lover's offer, the pair proceeded to the nearest stream, and there, washing their hands in the current vowed constancy with their hands clasped across the brook. A ceremony of this description took place between Burns and " Highland Mary."— Eev C. Eogers's " Scotland."

The " Press " (Canterbury is responsible for the following : — One of the divers engaged in getting wool out of the Lightning has been enjoying a submarine " forty winks." The day before yesterday the men engaged in the operations above, thinking their mate was rather longer than usual in sending anything to the surface, made the usual signals in such cases, without getting any reply, and having exhausted all means of communication from above, began to feel somewhat alarmed lest some serious accident had occurred to the man below. They accordingly equipped another diver whom they sent down to see what was the matter. Judge the surprise of the last-named when he found his mate fast asleep, dreaming the happy hours away as comfortable as if he had been lying in a bed of down. The story of the men who played cards in the diving-bell at Westminster bridge, or Shakspeare's ship boy whose eyes were sealed upon the high and giddy mast, are very ordinary tales compared to this. The man was quite sober at the time. It is necessary to state this, as some persons have circulated a report that he was half-seas over.

The news from the " Front," a place of whose exact position no one seems to be cognizant, continues to be unsatisfactory in the extreme. The ever reappearing, disappearing, Te Kooti, attacked Colonel M'Donnell's camp on the 25 th ; a skirmish ensued, and Te Kooti, with the loss of three men, was defeated. This, remember, is the Government account ! We hear that M'Donnell and four men were wounded and two killed, and that the troops overslept themselves ! The next piece of news is that M'Donnell has lost Te Kooti, and that officers not unnaturally don't like serving under Mr. Brannigan,

whose whereabouts are as indistinct as the "'Front." In fact, as every one anticipated, the " demilitarized " force is useless : all the best men are leaving, tired of the perpetual faice of dressing with such martinet's regularity. — " Wairarapa Mercury."

We witnessed the first mail coach leave for Patea this morning. The journey will take three days at present, but when some improvements are rn^de in the road, Messrs. Shepherd and Co. hope to do it in two. Tenders are also advertised for the erection of a telegraph station and post office at Patea, so that affairs look better on the West Coast now than they did ; and one would imagine the Native rebellion could be settled easily when the Government can concentrate their forces in one place. Patea is 93 miles from New Plymouth, and 34 miles beyond Wanganui. — " Wairarapa Mercury."