ITEMS FROM EXCHANGES.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1207, 1 September 1874, Page 4

ITEMS FROM EXCHANGES.

The Knobby Ranges in the vicinity of Alexandra, Otago, are swarming with rabbits and tame pigeous, who have taken up their residence among the rocks with which the ranges sire covered. Some excellent sport has been enjoyed by people in the vicinity during the late frosty weather. 140 rabbits were bagged by a party of six men there in one day. It is said in political circles that Mr Reynolds will not offer himself for reelection at next general elections. It is understood that at the close of next session he will go to the Upper House. The Otago Daily Times says:— Some queer importations are being made into the colony by Br Peatherstone and his numerous, if not efficient, staff of assistants, under the free and nominated system, but the queerest is a lawyer. As if we had not enough and to spare of them already. The gentleman of the long robe briugs out a family at the same rate as his own passage cost him, and will no doubt grumble if he does not fall into into an extensive practice as soon as he has resided in the colony for the probationary term required by the Supreme Court. The gentleman alluded to comes from Oxford, but whether from the University we know not.

The Wanganui Herald reports as follows: —One of the greatest'" finds " of frost fish ever made in the colony was made by the driver of Cobb's coach recently, between Otaki and Paikakarika. lie piched up no less than one hundred and sixty, and reports that Maoris had filled about fifty sacks and baskets. Some of the fish were cut or broken in two in a way that would lead to the conclusion that it must have been clone by a sharp knife The reason why this fish is not found except on frosty mornings is still a mystery, and that so many of them should be cut or broken is a thing that can only add to it. "We should suppose that they were broken by the severity of tho frost. " Making the most of it" may be well applied to the following literary effort of a reporter from the Bruce Herald. It is the description of a simple street incident in Tokomairiro : " Yesterday forenoon there was a pleasant break to the prevailing monotony by a sound of rushing wheels, clattering hoofs, and cries of ' runaway horse.' The compositors left their frames, and came out with fragments of precious literary matter in their sticks. The editor left off writing leading articles with a scissors and a bottle of gum mucilage. The thirsty soul at the hotel bar paused in the act of saying ' here's luck,' put down his glass, and ran to the door ; a select knot of politicians, who were arguing the State Forests and Water Supply questions in the middle of the road, adjourned hastily without declaring that Mr Vogcl was betraying his country and Mr Goodall his town ; a servaut-maid turned a perambulator with two rising colonists into a corse hedge, and said ' lor'; a gentleman carrying a hod of bricks deposited them temporarily en the foot of a personal friend, and gazed after the runaway; and finally the horse, after a career down tho Main South Road, turned into the yard of his owners." The force of the sea at Oauiaru lately was such as to move a block of concrete weighing 30 tons some four or five feet The block was not in situ on the breakwater, and to this latter work the sea did no harm.

Amusing stories abont the sayings and doings of newly-arrived immigrants arc quite the rage now, and wc should not like to vouch for the truth of a good many of them. The last is to the following effect: —A new arrival who bad been hired by a farmer confessed his total ignorance of the. kind of work required of him. AVhcn asked what occupation lie had followed at Home, he replied that he was "a glass-eye polisher." The following letter, to the editor of the Waka Maori (gazette), shows that the Maoris can teach their European neighbors how to abserve an oft forgotten rule for payment of newspaper subscriptions : " Whangapoua, 22nd June, 1573. Greeting. I hear that the 10s is the sum payable per year for the Waka Maori, and that you duly notify in the Waka that the money must be paid in advance, and that ihe Waka will afterwards be sent. You are a prudent and cautious man, my friend, but doubtless you are right; some of the young men might cheat you. Adhere to that principle, ' the money first, and the Waka afterwards, and you will be safe. It is certain the skids must be laid down before the canoe for it to slide upon ; therefore I send you in this letter 10s as skids for the Waka Maori to travel on to me here at Whangapoua. When it arrives, then -will ' Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.' This 10s is for year 1574 and I want the back numbers commencing from January last. It is a nuisance that my name, which I affix hereto, is so very long, but I give you the initials only of a portion of it. T. H. W. Tapitata Kiwi."

Members of Parliament arc not overburdened with modesty. What they want they don't mind aikimr for, and they know how to ,«isk. They have their private club at the Colony's expense, and they have their honorarium, (which in some instances amount to more than the income they derive from their ordinary avocations), and now they want to send and receive telegrams on private business at pn S3 rales. Whether this little concession will bo

granted remains to he seen. They might go a little further and claim fur themselves a right to send letters free of postage. There is nothing like plenty of cheek, and certainly lion, members seem to think so, for they lose nothing for want of asking. The Grey River Argus objects to the amendment in the Licensing Act, alter, ing the hours during which barmaids may be employed, and says : —This will be far from a boon to the girls themselves. Many, of them are highly respectable women, who are not physically able for household situations, and t'jpy often support relatives on the handsome wages they obtain as barmaids If the clause, as amended, pass, most of the barmaids will either find their occupation altogether gone or have to submit to a very considerable decrease in their wages. Instead of being protected they will be punished by the law." A writer in the Southern Cross has the following observations • —As a matter of fact there is no employee in the community so poorly paid as a policeman, in proportion to work performed. Eor a pittance, which any employer of labor would be ashamed to offer to an average mechanic, he surrenders personal liberty, domestic comfort, and civic rights. Jle is supposed to be on the spot at every street row, and arrest the brawlers. Jn doing so, he probably sustains the fracture of a rib, ecchymosis of an eye, and a damaged uniform, lie is expected to guard acres of furniture and effects during a fire, and to prevent rival superintendents of brigades from committing a breach of the peace. It is his duty to capture collarless dogs, regardless of bites and possible hydrophobia. While thus engaged, he neglects to salute some passing J.P., who, forthwith reports him for disrespect. He must keep a vigilant eye on transgressing perambulators, and be ever on the watch for Sunday liquor sellers. While preserving decorum at an election meeting, or Good Templars! soiree, his presence is required about half a mile off, and he is abused for not being übiquitous!