MISCELLANEOUS.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 368, 22 September 1874, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

The enterprising individual known throughout the three kingdoms as " Steeplo Jack," was engaged on the 23i'd May on the top of the tfill column in the works of the Edinburgh Gas Company, examiu ing the structure with a view to its immediate repair. It seems that part of the stalk near the top has been split in several places by lightning, and it Avill be necessary to make good the damage by encircling the brickwork with iron hoops. " Steeplo Jack," in order to reach the summit, had recourse to his usual method of flying a kite over the column, winch is upwards of 320 feet in height, and then drawing himself up by a rope, to the free end of which a couple of 561b. weights were attached. The during character of the feat excited considerable interest among knots of people in the vicinity of the stalk. The three days of "Handel Festival" at the Crystal Palace was a stupendous siflnir. With Sir Michael Costa ac leader — with all the best artists for this kind of work as solo singers (Sims Keevcs, Santley, Titiens, Trobelli-Bettini, Agnes, and a host of others), with thousands of most carefully trained chorus-bingers, and with faultless orchestras — what w.is to prevent the ovatovis from being rendered magnificently? In the orchestra at this Handel Festival were ninety-five first violins, sixty-two violas, sixty-two violincellos, sixty-nine doublebasses, and a due proportion of other instruments. When a Cincinnati woman shoots at her drunken husband and inissca him, the newspapers bay, 11 Another bullet wasted." A v

It would seem that the salmon has been successfully acclimatised in New Zealand waters. Tffi following passage in the annual report of the Otago Acclimatisation Society adopted at a meeting of members held on the 7th September, fully proves that time alone is required to make salmon plentiful in New Zealand rivers. The paragraph is as follows: — "Salmon Trout. In December, 1870, 134^^ young sea or salmon trout were liberated in one of^ Mr Young's ponds at Palraerston, and towards the end of the following year it having become apparent that the instincts of these fish led them to seek salt water, they were allowed to visit the sea. Since that time fish have; been seen in the Shag River by Mr Young and others, which bore the appearance and were seemingly of the habits of salmon trout ; but it was not until the autumn of the present year t'mt the Society has had supplied to it undoubted evidence that the acclimatisation of the salmon trout has been successful. A few months ago one of these fiah was taken in a net by some fishermen near Otago Heads, and about a week after the date of this capture another was obtained in Otago Harbour. Last week a female [salmon trout, weighing about 3 lbs, and filled with roe, was taken in a net at Pelichet Bay. There has been absolute proof, therefore, that the salmon trout will tlnive in th^-' waters. Looking, however, to the small number of the original stock of these fish, the Council is of opinion that steps should be taken to prevent netting near the mouths of creeks in Otago Harbour and along the Northern seaboard during the spawning i season." The following copy of "Minute of the Board of Treasury on contributions to Local Rates in Respect of Property in the Occupation of her Majesty's Government " was issued on Saturday last : — " The Chancellor of the Exchequer brings before the board the engagement given by him to Parliament on tho occasion of proposing las Budget for the year 187W 5, that property in the occupation of the Government, including property under the control of her Majesty's Commissioners of "Woods, <te, and not in the occupation of any other occupier, should, throughout the United Kingdom, bear its due share of all local burdens ; and he submits that, for this purpose, the valuations of such property as are now acted upon be ordered to be corrected (so far as they require it) up to the present time ; that valuations of such property in respect of which contributions to the local rates are not now paid ; and thatAs soon as possible, a return be completed, and laid before Parliament, setting forth :—l.: — 1. The name of each pai'ish in which the Government occupies pioperty. 2. The rateable value of snch parish, exclusive of the said property. 3. The extent and character of such property. 4. The valuation put upon such property xor local rating. 5. Special Acts of Parliament (if any) applicable to the case. My Lord's approve." An audacious trick was lately played by a " sneak thief "at a London Club. He entered the hall without attracting the notice of the porter, and proceeded to empty the pockets of the greatcoats he found ranged in a corridor. While selecting a few of the best, he was interrupted by a member, who, in astonishment, asked what he was doing. " Oh, this is my regular business," he said ; "I am engaged te clean the gentlemen's coats in several clubs. I take all the grease out of their collars." " Indeed," stiV the gentleman, interested, thinking he had got ho* of one he could turn to account. " How long d< you take?' "Why, I will be back in an hour.' " If so, you may as well take mine," said the gentle man, adding Ins coat to a heap, and escorting thi "sneak thief" past the porter. " Wh.it great con venience you have in London, "remarked this count rj gentleman to a group of friends. I have just grvci my corrt to a man I found in the coiridor, who clean coats for the club." "To whom did you say 1" crie< two or three. "The man I found canning co.it out. Wait — I have his card." But the knoA\ i^ ones did not wait; they hurried out to find M pockets of some gieatcoats empty, and other coat altogether gone. Mr Herbert Munday, tho son of a deceasei general oflicr, has appeared in tfie London Bank ruptcy Court. The young gentlemen — he is onl 22 years of age — has contrived to run into debt t the extent of .£15,000. This amount which would b< otherwise remarkable, ceases to be so when we con sider some of the items of which it is composed. I " West End Florist is a ci editor for the snm o £350. It appears that Mr Munday has a taste fo flowers, and the florist whom he patronised cliai^ei him 10s. Cd. each for moss roses, and "10 guinea for lilies of the valley." %