MISCELLANEOUS.

Waikato Times, Volume V, Issue 287, 14 March 1874, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

The following u an extract from a letter received by the Dunedin Acclimatization Society. Wo should think that the American Lako fish mentioned would thrive in the lakes of this district. Now that the San .Francisco mail sorvice is established, there would bo very little difficulty in obtaining an ample supply of ova in a healthy condition. The matter is worthy the attention of the Waikato. settlers-: — " lam sure the trout and other fish from Dormer Lake and Lako Tahoe in Nevada, would succeed admirably in tho lakes of Otago. Donnor Lako Uea on the other Bido of the Siorra Nevada, close against tho range, and not very far from tho summit. It U some 6000 feet above the level of the sea, and no bottom has been found at 2500 feet. The lake is full of fish, including maglnficent trout running up to 301bs. Theso trout are extremely flolicato in flaror, indeed, I found, tho further west, tho better tho trout in America. In themiddle of June there was a deep snow in patches closo to the lako, and it was extremely cold early in tho morning The station nearest to it (Ttuckre), is only about fifteen hours ride from San Francisco by rail. Indians eatoh trrut and 1 sell them to passengers — half a dollar for six or eight largo fish. It would not be hard to bring ova down to this country by tho new route. I should bo wrny 60 see Californian salmon in our waters until it is demonstrated that English will not do. They are coarse and greasy — so I found I them — and will not rise to tho fly. However, they must bo prolific, for tho quantities obtainable theroaro almost fabulous. Lako Toboo is larger than Dormer Lako. Tbo latter is 1 three miles long and one broad." | Old Mr Watson, of Nelson-street, has got a nioc little bill to pay. Ho sent a man down for a pot of paint, and then wont to a lumber yard for a ladder. Then ho tied tho paint pot on tho end of the ladder, and put tho ladder on his shoulder. This was a very smart arrangement, and the man himself admired it very much. lie started for home this way, and didn't find any trouble in getting along tho first block, because people had an impression that a long ladder with n pot of yellow paint dangling at the end of it wasn't exactly the tluug to tritto with, so they balanced along tho ierbstonc and rubbed up against buildings. Pretty soon the man caw somebody he knew in a store and turned round to speak to. him, and drove ono end into a millinery case and knocked tho crown out of an eighteen dollar bunnot. Then ho backed off in affright, and knockod down two »e\> nig-niachino ageuts with the otlitr. Then bo started io turn round, and au old gentloman who was desperately cudcavoiu-ing to pull his wifo out of danger, saw tho peril, and shouted out, ' lh, there!' But it was tooJate. The pot struck against an awning post to one tide, and the entire contents went over tho nged couple. This so startled (ho man that he whirled completely round, smashing an entire store front, frightening a milkman's team and knoekin>' over thirteen persona \*lio were uctnely dodging to get out of the \>uy. Then ho dropped tho ladder and fled into the couutrj , üboutmg' murder 1 and 'fire' at every jump. A regular ordained painter is uon engaged on Mr Watson s The Waiareka correspondent of tho North Otago Times, in doßcnbin" the estate of Mr John Reid, of Eldershe, mentions that ' lastsunson 30 ncrcs were planted with Californian pines and English forest treos, and there arc now rsady in tho nurseries, for transplanting, upwards of 100,000 of those trees. We understand that it is Mr Reids intenticn to plant no less thun 500 acres of f.n-ost in blocks of 10 acres each, 111 different parts of tho ostate, thus at the same time beautifying tho scenery, and laying lip, what must in tho future provo & largo louree of revenue.' An Otago contemporary says that contracts for the construction of several lines of railway ia that province will be let about the beginning of next, month. The following are among the linos referred to :— Riverton to Orepuki, Riverton to Otautau, Riverton to Wallacetown, and Oamaru to Waiareka. The total distance will be a little over sixty miles, and the undertakings will open up some excellent country of a pastoral, agricultural, aud auriferous character.

The arrival of the bng Wolverine from Inuuceston, t Bird Island, ha=i placed us m possession of Lho particult of what Ins, no doubt, been a moat foul murder, which, t singular m moro th.in one respect. In the ymir 1871, \ Australian G-uano Company ol tins cicy sent John Wi*| a much trusted servant of tho company, accompanies Patrick Nolan, who was to act m the capacity of his co< to Bird Island, to look after tho interests of the compa there. After some tune Nolan was found alone on the lslai lie stated tliat Wright had been drowned whilst * corallm and that ho himself had been alone for threo months. was brought to Hcbart Town, there being no reason i parcntly for suspecting tho truthfulness of his statemei and much sympathy was felt for him on account af the j culiar hardships ho had undergone, and his Ions; sohta occupation on so unattractive a place. Lately the Wolveri left La,unceston for Bird Island, arriving here on Tucsd evening last. It brought tho skeleton of a murdered ma with tho back part of tho jaw smashed, a largo wound tho back part of the liead, aud another in the forehead, ai there seems to bo no rca9an to doubt that the remains n thoso of Wright. Tho discovery of the skeleton was ma in a most remarkable manner. The people who visit t island for guano keep boats there. These they sink in t sand, and leave a mark in order to be able to find the again. For some reason or other tho captain of tho Woh rine did not deposit his boats in tho place ho usual W p them, but commenced digging in another spot, and in don so the workmen came upon the skeleton which is now liei 1 There were no romainsof clothing, except a piece of materi that had been round the murdered man's waist. The r covery of the body is unquestionably another corrobontic of tho old saying that ' murder will out.' In the prcsc: case the circumstances are more extraordinary, inasmuch Nolan, who was the only person on tho island at the far besides Wright, was a prisoner in the Hobavt Town gaiA a charge of lelony when the skeleton of his lato cooipanK was brought to this port. — JL. T. Mercury.