ENGLISH MAIL ITEMS.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1594, 21 September 1882, Page 4

ENGLISH MAIL ITEMS.

Small-pox is reported to be spreading at Capetown in an alarming manner. A farmer, named Leahy, was shot by a mob near Killarney, on the 31st. The leader of the party called on No. 1 to fife ; lie did so, and b.ully wounded Leahy. The le uler then ordered No. 10 to fiie. Tins shot also took effect. No. 14 was then summoned to give the coup dc grace. Leahy remained alive ha-lf-iui-hour after being shot.' Five young men, sons of farmers, have been arrested on suspicion of complicity in the innrder. Eye-witnesses to the massacre of the Joyce family have been found, and are now under police protection. Patrick Walsh, the mnrdoier of Martin Rnyder, is sentenced to be hanged on September 2nd. San Fraxcisco, August 27. Reports from the various parts of New England are very unfavorable regarding the crops, owing to the lack of rain. Tiqhlen, a town in Texas, was swept away by a flood on the 26th August. Forty lives were lost. De Lesseps has waited upon the Duke of Edinburgh, and assured him that he (de Lesseps) feels friendly towards the British Government. The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland has declined to interfere with Judge Lawsons course in regard to the case of Sheriff Gray. The corporation of Limerick has voted the freedom of that city to Sheriff E. Dwyer Gray, at present in a Dublin gaol. Wright and Sons, worsted spinners, of Bradford, England, have failed for £170,000. The police have searched the house of Captain Dugmore, a prominent Land Leaguer, at Frankfort, King's County, Ireland, and found a number of arms and documents. Charles J. Kirkham, a Fenian leader, is dying in Dublin of paralysis. A bust of Longfellow will soon be placed in Westminster Abbey. A week's stoppage of the mills has been advised by the Oldliam spinners. The trade was never at such a low ebb. Over one hundred women are on trial at Gross Beckserek, Hungary) charged with poisoning their husbands. The guilt of thirty-five of the accused has been proved. General Sherman has announced his intention of resigning the command of the United States army, and retiring to private life. It is asserted that a mining locator named Chapin has discovered in Lake Erie, by means of a magnetic rod, the whereabouts of a schooner] sunk fifty years ago with a cargo of copper ingots, valued at 150,000 dollars. The wreck was in fifty feet of water. A fifty pounds ingot was brought to the surface. The shipjoiners of Glasgow struck on the 25th.

Central Asia. — Reviewing Mr Charles Marvin's book, "The Russian Advance Towards India, "(the Athenaeum observes : — "Its contents will help to remind the public that the arena of the Central Asian game has shifted from Turkistan to the trans-Caspian region, that the great scheme of a railway to India may soon come 'within the range of practical politics.' We have alieady indicated that the idea of a deliberate invasion of India in the event of hostilities between the countries does not appear to be favoured by the Russian strategists, but that the great aim of their policy is to take up such a dominant position on the confines of India as shall render England incapable of being hostile to Russia in Europe. This may be .accepted as the chief lesson to be derived from Mr Marvin's book. It is of course not new, for the danger has been indicated at various times by Anglo-Indian politicians with more or less emphasis ; but it gains point and reality from the fact that an advance is gradually beinsr made along a line of country which natiuo shows to be the only really feasible route. Whether the railway is prolonged in this obvious direction now or a year hence, or whether it is at present adapted for the conveyance of troops, is a question of minor moment. Sjuch increased facility of communication cannot but have an important bearing on the relation of the two countries." Ax Honest Max.— An insurance agent who started out from Chicago to do a little businebs in the counlty, came along to an old tumble-down fiirmhou&e, anil staitcd in for a risk. Thr tanner seemed to take kindly to the idea, but wanted to learn all the particulars at first. "Do you mean to say that I can get the old house insured for five hundred dollais?" he asked. Yes I guess so." "And the company is bound ?" "Sound as a dollar." ''And they pay piomptly ?'' "Right on the nail.' 1 "And you mean to say that if 1 injure my house for live hundred dollars and she bums down the company will pay her the .sum ?" "That's it." "Than go ahead and insure, and If you come back this way to-moirow you might as well stop and \iew the 1 uins, and repoi t to the company that .1 defective flue curried her oiF while the family was at piayer meeting."— Wall sheet Daily News. Mr May. mu due, the well-known American " instantaneous photographer' of horses, will contribute to the new number of " Nature' another curious suggestion in regard to " dead heats'' in races. He maintains that there is no such thing as a " de.ul heat,' and proposes that an invisible thread across the com se of a i ace at the winning post. Whichever horse should cut the tlnead across would of course be the winner. He suggests, at the same time, that steps should be taken for instantaneously photographing the scene at the winning post. The plate produced would be the real arbiter of the race in case of dispute. A Clkvkr Parody. — \ ollie had a little ram as black as n rubber shoe, and everywhere that Mollie went lie emigrated too. He went with her to church one day ; the iolks hilaiious grew, to see him w.alk demurely into Deacon Allens pew. The worthy Deacon qrickly let his angry passion rise, and gave it an unchristian kick between the sad brown eyes. This landed rain my in the aisle ; the Deacon followed fast and laised his foot again. Alas ! that first kick was his la&t ; for Mr Sheep walked slowly b.vck about a rod, 'tis said, and eie the Deacon could retreat it stood him on his head. The congregation then arose and went for that 'ere sheep.Several well-dnected butts just piled 'em in a heap. Then rushed they etraitway for the door with curses long and loud, while rainmy shuck the hindmost man, and shot him through the crowd. The minister had often heard that kindness would subdue the fiercest beast. •' Aha !" he fcays, " I'll try that gams on you." And as lie kindly, gentle called, " Come, rammy, ram ; to see the folks abuse you so, I grieved and sorry am." With kind and gentle words he came from that tall pulpit down, saying, '• Rammy, rammy,rauimy, ram — best sheepy in the town." The ram quite dropped its humble air, and rose from off his feet, and when the person lit he was beneath the hindmost seat. An old couple were walking down a street the other day reading signs, when they ran across one which theold man read thus :— « 'Johnson's Shirt Store. " • 'Well, I declare !" exclaimed the old lady. I ponder how he tore it ?"'