PROVINCIAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 222, 2 May 1872, Page 9

PROVINCIAL AND GENERAL.

G-ood news, too good to be true, comes from the " Anglo-Australian." The innocent chronicler writes : — " Something new in whiskey is reported* from Canada. An inhabitant of the township of Cayuga, after much thought on the question for what purpose thistles were created, came to the conclusion that it might be possible to extract whisjcey from them. The Cayuga experimentalist has got an article of cpirit by the distillation of the leaves and* stalks of the thistle which be calls whiskey, the alcoholic strength of which is declared to be about 35 per cent., the flavour being pleasant anJ aromatic; while the effect of the new drink on the system is said to be ' penetrating and exhilirating,' the sensation being the same as if a Jew's harp in full tune was attached to every nerve. As it generalty happens that wherever Scotchmen emigrate thistles are sure to spring up, I give the "foregoing in the hope that it may lead to the ' initiation of a new industry, It is better that thistles should be converted into whiskey than that they should be allowed to deteriorate the value of wool."

Commenting on the inauguration of the Saturday half-holiday in Dunedin, the " Echo " says: — We deeply regret to learn that some of those who supported this laudable movement did, on Saturday last, while ostensibly closing their front doors, push a roaring trade by admitting the public through the postern entrances of the premises Such double-dealing conduct is the height of hypocrisy, and those who practise it are not to be trusted. Some of these refractory Shylocks openly boasted that they had netted respectively in that afternoon sums ranging from £20 to £25^ and even to £4(X On the other hand, one firm in particular had sustained a falling off to the amount of £130. We trust next Monday this worthy house will be able to deposit largely in the bank; for such a sacrifice merits public sympat-

hy and indemnification. What became of the public pledges of wouldbe advocates of this great boon, on that day? Are pledges, like pie-crusts, made to be broken, 'greedily and "hurriedly ? Is Mammon euthroned as our j god, or must we worship him 313/ lays in the year? , Better let him have the other 52 days also, and inscribe on the portals of each door in the city, "No God but Mammon ; worship him every moment ! " A contributor to a Thames paper thus treats on national characteristics : — " Two days ago the names' of three drunkards were entered upon the charge sheet, the one English, the other Scotch, and the third Irish. The Englishman being called on to plead, became blatant, as is th~e habit of bis countrymen. He asserted that he had merely called the Italian policeman a 'bog-trotter,' and mentioned that no English would join the force ; and for this, he asked, 'was a free-born Briton to be condemned?' He did not get off. The Scotchman admitted that ' he had a wee drap ower muckle o' the whuskey,' and promised repentance and amendment. He did not get off. The Irishman was out on bail (215.), and, evidently considering the night's fun worth the money, did not turn up at all, but forfeited it. "Which of the three, I wonder, was the wisest in his generation." The census returns just published bring out very clearly, the surprising fact that one half of the present population of Victoria is native born. The Australians here number 358,000 out of a total of 729,000, and 329,000 of these Australians claim Victoria itself as a birth-place. A table giving the numerical particulars of the religions of the .people of Victoria shows that the Episcopalians number 251,328 ; the Presbyterians, 81,832 ; the Free Presbyterians, 20,160 ; the Wesleyan Methodists, 80,401; the Independents, 18,174; the Baptists, 16,311 ; and the Roman Catholics. 167,467. There are 17,616 pagans in the colony, and no less than 9,967 persons objected to state their religion from conscientious scruples. The total popjlation, according to the complete census, is 731,523.—" Melbourne Argus." Brigham Young atones for his crimes by refusing to be an accessory to an interview. A Yankee has written abook to prove that the United States are the kingdom of Heaven. A scientific American journal predicts that the sun will burn out in 44,389 years. No one is likely to live long enough to prove the prediction false.