GENERAL NEWS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 166, 13 April 1871, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

It is not often a youngster is met with who possesses the presence of mind and pluck shown by a lad named Alfred Ash+on, living in the neighbourhood of the Moorabool Falls. He was out (says tbe Ballarat "Evening Post") in the forest with a number of woodcutters, and was playing a few yards distance from them, lately, when he was bitten on tbe extreme end of the second linger of the left hand by a snake, which he mistook for a piece of rhanwl wood. The youngster at oneo rail fj uiu men, and, laying his finger upon a log near at hand, asked one of the number to cut it off" at the first joint. This was demurred to at first, but, upon the brave little fello\v saying that if they did not do as he wished he would do it himself, one of the men severed the poisoned portion. The lad bore the operation with great firmness, merely ejaculating "Oh, my!" as the axe's edge passed through the member. The little sufferer is t progressing as nicely as any one could wish.

The value of gun-cotton has at length been recognised. It has, however, had an uphill fight. Years ago, when Mr. Hall buried quantities of it as the surest method of getting rid of "that terribly treacherous and viciously explosive compound," he little thought, says the " Globe," that its manufacture by a thoroughly safe method would ultimately be adopted at tho Government mills of Waltham Abbey. By the "wet-process," the invention of Mr. Abel, chemist of the War Department, guu-eotton can now be made with considerably less danger than attends the manufacture of gunpowder, [t will, in all probability, be used exclusively for torpedo purposes, and may before long be largely employed in ordinary mining operation*. As a propelling agent for firearms it has hitherto been only partially successful, except in the case of sporting shot guns. With the latter it gives excellent results, so much so that many of those who have used it declare they will never shoot with anything else. Prentice's gun-cotton cartridges are highly spoken of. The recoil is considerably less than that due to gunpowder, the killing force is greater, there is an almost total absence of smoke, and the sportsman is enabled not only to see his first bird drop, but to make pretty sure of his second barrel.

Winnings of the English Turf — Tbe individual gains of 218 principal winning owners of racehorses during IS7O varied from £14,890 to £200— Mr Merry representing one extreme and Mr Viekors the other. The most triumphant champion of the peerage was Lord Falmouth, who stands next but one on the list to Mr Merry as the accredited winner of £11,130. Mr Jos. Dawson netted the sum of £8168; Mr J. Day only £874. Lord Zetland achieved sucesses to the extent of £3802 ; Sir J. Hawloy th that of £3600. Mr Chaplin was the winner of £3160 ; Prince Batlhyany of £2810 ; and General Peel of £1350. The Dukes were not so fortunate as other less exalted members of the peerage. The Duke of Hamilton carried oif £1180, the Duke of Beaufort only £950; Lord Vivian £870 ; and Sir George Chetwynd £350.