GENERAL ITEMS.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1529, 22 April 1882, Page 4

GENERAL ITEMS.

'A young man who was- 1 " arrested in New York, and signed his name with a "cross," was asked by , tho^ magistrate why Ite'didn't goto school and learp something." The 'youth of I "mark* pi'omptfy leplied that he was ' •afraid of dying from over-study.",.' •. *. • \'' ' 'Youmay.talkaboutyou'rmeanmeii.'said one rustic to another 911 thefercy boat the other day, ' hut we've "got a wb'man over in Alanieda who beats all. 'Kinder close — is she?' 'Close? Why, last month her husband died— fourth husband, mind — and I'm blamed if _she. didn't take the door plate oft" the front door, had his age added, and then nailed it on to his coffin. .Said she guessed likely she'd be 'wanting a new jiamc on the door soon" anyway.*'Tiik Sydney' Mail says :— "This colony still suffers from that -dire 'too much fine weather.' The general rainfall so anxiously expected has not yet arrived, but several localities have been favored by showers. The coast districts have been fortunate in this respect. Along the south fringe of the Pacific the dairy farms look considerably fresher thau they did some weeks back, and in the north the autumn may be passed through successfully. It is in the south-west that rain is most required. In these quarters' pasture is very bare and water rather scant. Bourke is an agreeable exception. In this important district grass and water are plentiful. Armidale, Glen Innea, Maitland, and other districts in the north are in first-class condition. Yass and Young furnish the most unpleasing reports. Pastures are bare andstot-k dying in these districts. The vintage proceeds show, as predicted, ' a small yield but 11 good quality must. '. Ploughing is being cariicd out in districts which have been foitunate enough to secure mm. Stock arc, despite all drawbacks, healthy ; but if frosts set in before good rains have had time to assert their power the losses of stockowners will be rather heavy." Pkogkkss of the Insukrkction in Bosnia. — The correspondent of the Slumlord reports that three of the leaders of the insurgents, including To ma Byclieh, have been executed at Tusla. These men, \\ ith forty -two confedei ates, including two popes, were captured icccntly at Byelma, between the livcrb Sa\o and liiina, close to the Servian frontier. The popes or priests connected ■with the Revolutionists are said to be mostly Servian, and they are accused not only of arousing rebellion, but also of supplying arms, ammunition, and leaders to the rebels. Two popes who had been sentenced to be hanged have, owing to the infcen ention of the Belgrade Patiijireh, had their .sentences commuted, to twenty years' imprisonment. The capture of the above-mentioned insurgents is the first affair that has yet occurred in Noith Bosnia. The facts are regarded by the Austrian authoiities as showing that assistance is being sent to the insurgents by parties m Servia. The passage of the troops over the southern frontier' into Bosnia lias been going on for seveial wqeks past, and is now nearly completed. Much delay has been caused by the desti action of a .small bridge over the Bosnia River near Dcboy, which lias caused the troops to make a long detour on their way to Serajevo, where they have been lestiug for a few days previous to their march to Fotcha. 'There has been a great amount of sickness in all the regiments sent to the south, especially among the reserve men, owing to the eveessive cold during the nights and mornings. From forty to sixty men of each battalion have been left behiml. J< Many of the soldiers have been laid up ' with fever, owing chiefly to bad water, Others have been disabled by the regulation boots and the long forced marches. Si-vERAii men lately swam the Mississippi River above New Orleans on a wager. A reporter of the race says, " None of them seemed to be putting forth much effort till it was disco\ered that an alligator had struck out from the shore as a competitor ; and then — well, every man did his best to keep the alligator from carrying off the stakes." "TntOTHY Bunker," iv the ''American Agriculturalist,' says that " brain manure is about the best thing on the farm and the best place to take in iresh supplies is the 'average' agricultural, fair (or "show.") Such institutions, he says, " help to get farmers out of the ruts," and check them from becoming too conservative. Farmers, he thinks, lead a very secluded life, cultivate muscle more than brain, and, from being so intent upon their daily task, come to the evening hour too weary to icad or think much. By attending the show they have .111 agiec.vble change, and see a large number oE new things — tools, seeds, vegetables, fruit, cattle, swi/ic, &c. — as a\ ell as new people to talk with. This being .so, ho is of opinion that "one must bo -\ ci y stupid indeed hose mind is not forced into new channels, and who does not eauy away ficm the show many piactical suggestions that will help him in tiie future. These suggestions are not money, but in many days will save money, and help tojnake money."