MISCELLANEOUS.

Waikato Times, Volume V, Issue 415, 12 January 1875, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

When you have a aerious misunderstanding with a follow (wya the "Loafer in the — a misunderstanding so •r^ous that you fool the world it a blank until you serve feVrn out— you should never let him know it. You should make much of him a keep on convincing him what a good B<Jrt he is, and how much you think of him j until you got a really eligible opportunity of jumping on him, and then put on your hobnailed boots and prance on his head. This is a far pleasanter way of doing things than to keep up an open warfare, which only makes it unpleasant for yourself and Other people. I had a few words with one of our fellowa the other day, and instead of making a regular row, I made friends and got him to go in for a boat race. First he knocked off smoking, and beer, and his misery began. Then he used to go down at six o clock in the morning to row ; and then he took to never oaring to sit down, and his hands got covered with blisters. I used to go down, and see him row sometimes; and tell him when he came in that he couldn't row in anything like form. So he got a coach who used to run up and down the bank, ami call him oh ! the wickedest words And when he came in exhausted I used to ait by him and tell him how Snooks said he'd never make an oarsman aB long as he lived, and how Blabbs said he •was sure a quarter of a mile would kill him. I used to cheer him like this, you know. And when the raoe came off I ran alongside and roared at him to pull harder, when the poor man's eyes were working round to his ears. When he oame : in I said he had done first-rate, considering, but as I didn't think rowing was his forte, 1 shouldn't advise him to go in for it again. He said he wouldn't. Still that man don't bear me any ill feeling, and says he likes rowing now. I have suggested bis going in for cricketing and getting Mr Sweet to bowl for him. Then he'Jl come h^me with a broken nose, and I'll have time to make a few plans in respect of his future amusements. The Manchester Examiner of a recent date narrates the following: — One of the oldest and best-known firms in the American provision trade in Liverpool has just been made the victim of Yankee "smartness." A short time ago a respectable looking man, who described himself as an American in business in New York, called on the firm in question, accompanied by a gentleman well-known in Liverpool. After being introduced by his friend, he stated to the head of the firm tha; he had about £2000 worth of goods in transit from New York, and exhibited a bill of lading for them, which appeared to be genuine. He also referred to the owners of the ship, and inquiries being made of them, they stated that the goods were in the ship, and daily expected. The American gentleman further stated that he was going off to London for about a week, and was in want of £500 to meet current expenses. The money was advanced by the firm on the security of the bills of lading, and the gentleman departed, arrd has never been heard of since. On the arrival of the vessel at Liverpool a few days afterwards the gcoda were examined, when the fact that the firm had been unmistakeably "sold" was apparent. The packages were ccv tainly there, and correct as to number, marks, and other particulars, but on being opened they were found to contain the most worthless rubbish, not of sufficient value even to cover the freight which the American bad requested the firm to pay for him. The gentleman who introduced the Yankee to the firm in tbe first instance states that he was also duped by him. " Perpetual motion " has been discovered by an old negro in Kentucky who has fallen a victim to his own invention. It appears from the account given by the FranMin (Kentucky) Patriot that the old negro some little time ago constructed a waggon so arranged that it runs by itself by virtue of the fact that the weight of gravitation is thrown forward of the centre of motion, and the machine is consequently compelled to run. It was his intention to exhibit, his waggon at the fair at Franklin on the 9tli ult., so that its value might be tested in the presence of the thousands of people there assembled, and on Wednesday, the 2nd ult., he mounted the machine, adjusted the bands, tipped the balance weight over the centre of motion, gave the driving wheel a shove and started for Franklin to report to Mr John B. Montague, secretary of the association, and have the machine regularly entered on the books. The waggon went hutnmng along the smooth sandy road at about the rate of fifteen miles an hour ; close behind it at a rattling pace came an ordinary vehicle containing Coroner Hartfield and a jury, who, anticipating some fatal accident, took the precaution to follow the waggon. This anticipation was mi fortunately realized, for on making a turn just near a noted point called " Eed Pond," at the forks of the Cross Plainand Springfield roads, the starboard front wheel " collided ' with a heavy set post sapling, and the rebound was so powerful that the old negro was thrown forward over the dashboard and was at the same time struck by the flange of the driving-wheel and precipitated with such violence against the fence panel on the opposite side of the road that he was lulled instantaneously. Tbe machine, after the accident, struck out with freedom, but near the residence of a Captain Lea its progress was arrested by a large leg, which tilted the balance weight back off the centre of motion, and when overtaken by tha coroner and his party the wild waggon was standing quietly at rest. Since the death of the luckless old negro no one has dared to mount the waggon, but it was exhibited at the fair, and a general impression prevailed that it was a wonderful machine, destined to play an imporiant part in the history of locomotion. — Pall Mall Gazette. The Berlin correspondent of the London Standard gives the following interesting particulars respecting the war treasure of. Germany, which is being hoarded up to provide abundance of ready money on the outbreak of the first European war in which that Power may be engaged. Writing on 12th of November last, he says : The official ceremony of inspecting the war treasure* took place for the first time a few days ago. As you will remember, this treasui c is a portion of the indemnity paid by France and consists of the sum of 40 millions of thalera or 120 millions of Imperial marks ("6,000. 000), set apart as reserve fund for the next war, and deposited for custody in the Julius Tower of the citadel at Spandan. When this measure came under discussion a great difference of opinion existed as to the expediency of withdrawing so large a sum from the general circulation. In fact, we calculate the interest upon 40 millions at two millions annually, and then suppose, a period of 20 years to elapse before the outbreak of another war; it is evident that the losa accruing to the community will be equal to the entire amount of the capital thus suffered to remain idle. But who as times go can believe in the possibility of twenty conseoutive yearo of peace ? And when the fatal moment arrives, everyone knows how difficult it is' even for the richest and most flourishing States, to provide the ways and means, and what heavy prices they have to pay for ready money. Tbe " buried treasure "is virtually an annual addition of two millions of tbalers to the 106 millions representing the normal military expenditure of the German Empire, and constitutes an item as justifiable as any other integral part of that expenditure. I recollect a caricature, in the Berliner Wespen, I think, in which a personified figure of the buried treasure is represented taking leave of tbe sorrowing friends who are consigning it to the grave, " Wepp not for me, my loved ones," cries the condemned victim, " we shall meet again whenever our dear Fatherland is in danger." It may interest your renders to know exactly of what coins the war treasure is composed and how it is stored ; for it is, of course, said to be " buried" only by a figure of speech. It is all in gold, and four-fifths consist of 20-mark and the remaining fifth of 10mark pieces. Seventy-five millions of the atr.ount, calculating by marKs, occupy one compartment of the tower, and forty-five milliuns another compartment on the floor below. Each million is divided into ten poitions of 100,000 marks each, and each portion has its separate chest, weighing, with its contents, 871b. Tho inspectors cauaed certain of the chests to be emptied, and the contents carefully counted piece by piece. This operation, which lasted several hours, was performed by a detachment of soldiers. How the poor fellows' fingers must have itched as one by one the yellow glittering discs slid between them. It was almost a cruelty to put them to such work. Tbe doora of the treasure house can be opened by two keys only, both brought into siction together. Ono of these keys is kept by the Prince Chancellor, and the other by the President of the Public Debt Oo^i mission."