THE GATHERER.

Waipawa Mail, Volume I, Issue 11, 19 October 1878, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE GATHERER.

ONE WAY, CERTAINLY. Mr. Whyte Melville, in his new book, entitled 44 Riding Recollections,” tells the following rather amusing story : “ A valorous M. F. H. bade a farmer construct such a fence for him as should eventually prevent the held getting away in too close proximity to the pack. On the yeoman asking what the squire himself would do ; — 4 Never mind me,’ was the answer 4 you do what I ask you. I never saw a fence in this country I couldn’t get over irith a fall T And sure enough, the first day the hounds found a fox in that well-known covert, Tom Smith was seen striding along in the wake of his darlings, having tumbled neck and crop over the obstacle he had demanded, in perfect g<»od humour and content.” AN ICE SHIP ON FIRE. A very remarkable incident occurred on the voyage of one of the ice ships lately arrived at Bombay from America. The vessel was struck by lightniug, and the electric fluid, passing into the body of the ship through the foremast, pierced a hole some ten feet in diameter through the ice, melting about thirty tons, and setting fire to and slightly burning some of the beams of the ship in its passage. It is seldom we hear of ships being struck in this way. This the more remarkable as thunderstorms at sea are frequently of intense violence, and the tall masts of an iron vessel would appear to offer a great attraction to the lightning. It is possible, however, that such catastropliies are more frequent than is imagined, mid that ships the loss of which has never been explained have been struck and have been so seriously injured as to have gone down in deep water without warning. Lightning conductors are not as generally used on board ship as they should be, probably from a mistaken idea which largely prevails that they afford an additional attraction to the electricity, and so endanger the safety of the vessel. —The Colonies and India. A GRAND MARE. The Hungarian mare Kincsem (says 44 Augur” in the Australasian ), winner of the Goodwood Cup, appears to be a perfect wonder, for previous to winning the great English event she carried off thirty-six races in succession in her own country. Although a foreigner by birth, she is of purely English origin, as she is by Cambuscan from Water Nymph, by Cotswold from Mermaid, by Melbourne from Seaweed, by Slane ; consequently she possess a combination of the Touchstone, Melbourne, Pantaloon, and Sir Hercules blood, with two strains of the stout Slane line to further strengthen her pedigree. She is described as a very grand mare, standing nearly 16 hands lAin., and is a very lengthy animal, with long, sweeping, machine-like action. In colour she is a dark chestnut, slightly dappled. She was bred at Taipo St. Marton, south of Pesth, and up to the Goodwt»od Cup possessed an unbeaten certificate. Lord Falmouth was anxious to become the owner of so fine an animal, but the price—£lo,ooo—stopped him. English-bred horses do not shine nowadays in the great cup races, for at Ascot the Frenchman once more defeated them with Vemeuil, who won the Cup and Alexandra Plate ; and now the Hungarian mare steps in and deprives the old country of another laurel. The system of short snurts so long in vogue in England probably has something to do with the deterioration of the English-bred horse.

ADVICE TO BATHERS. Now that what the Lancet calls the “ drowning season," has commenced the following hints to bathers will be worth perusal. Mr Lamb ton Young, the secretary of the Royal Humane Society, has issued and circulated the following advice to bathers :—“ Avoid bathing within two hours after a meal, or when exhausted by fatigue or from any other cause, or when the body is cooling after perspiration. Avoid bathing altogether in the open air if, after having been a short time in the water, there is a sense of chilliness with numbness of the hands and feet ; but bathe when the body is warm, provided no time is lost in getting into the water. Avoid chilling the body by sitting or standing undressed on the banks or in boats after having been in the water, and leave the water immediately there is the slightest feeling of chilliness. The vigorous and strong may bathe early in the morning on an empty stomach ; the young and those who are weak had better bathe two or three hours after a meal ; the best time for such is from two or three hours after breakfast. Those who are subject to giddiness or faintness I or suffer from palpitation and other sense of discomfort at the heart, should not bathe without first consulting their medical adviser." SCENE IN A LONDON POLICE COURT. A good-looking young woman, with a profusion of long hair, who refused her name, address, or occupation, was charged with being drunk and disorderly, and using bad language.—Mr. Stafford to prisoner : What is your name ?—Prisoner ; I shan’t give it you ; what do you think of that ? —Mr. Stafford : Be quiet; I only want to know your name ?—Prisoner : I shan’t let you know it.—Constable : I found the prisoner drunk and disorderly in the Buckingham Palace Road.— Prisoner : Why the man’s not right! did you ever hear such abominable lies in your life ?—Mr. D’Eyncourt: If you go on in this way I shall have to send you out of Court while the evidence is being taken.—Prisoner : Oh ! thank you. I’ll give you half a minute.—Constable : I sent her away and went round on my beat, and then found her on the pavement. She had been fighting with some other women ; she made use of the most disgusting language I ever heard in my life.—Prisoner : Did I l Oh, dear ; how disgusting.—Sergeant Davis, gaoler : I think she only came out of prison the day before for six months.—Prisoner : It was for trying to make away with myself, and I’ll kill somebody for a change.— Sergeant Davis : Her language has been abominable in the yard, and I’ve had to put her in a cell to prevent the women and children about hearing it.—Mr. D’Eyncourt; What have you got to say to the charge i —Prisoner : Shut up.—Mr. D’Eyncourt: You’re sentenced to 21 days’ hard labor.—Prisoner ; Thank you —that’s a fat lot.—Davis, the gaoler, then removed her, singing, to the prison.

WHAT IS A WHITE PERSON. An important legal decision was given the other day in the New York law courts as to the naturalisation in the United States of Chinamen. Judge Choate decided that a Chinaman cannot be naturalised under the laws in the United States. An application for naturalisation was made by a Chinaman, who has lived in New York 28 years. Judge Choate, was guided by the decision of Judge Sawyer, of California, in a case known as the “ Ah-Yup case,” who held that there are two questions to be determined, namely, “ What is meant by a white person ?” and “Is a person of the Mongolian race a white person ?” To these questions the Court answered that “ a Mongolian is not a white person.” The point was then raised. “ Are those persons excluded who are not either white persons or negroes ? ” To this query the Court answered “ Yes.” Judge Sawer accordingly decided that the constitutional amendment admitting the African race did not admit any other than white races. From this it seems that naturalisation in the United States can only be obtained in the case of persons with “ muddy ” complexions by the use of cosmetics.