MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume V, Issue 38, 20 March 1878, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

Tlio Alexandra correspondent of llio Wniknto Times describes n novel method of threshing corn. Ho writes:-- There hns not boon nny news of consequonco from llio King Country since tlio lalo mooting, All nro hnnl nt work securing their crops, nml somo are, threshing. To Ngnkau, not being nblo (o scotiro n machine, is threshing his with horse, Somo eight or nine boys nro- mounted, nnd rido round and round, trampling on tho wheat. ITo snys tho plnn answers nd» niirnbly. Wo notico ,by tho lutest Melbourne papers to hand, tlint n Conunitleo of the Donrd of MiDingemcnf; of tho Melbourne. Hospital hns reported most unfavorably on the utidiiO' consumption of extras nnd medical comforts in tho institution. Tho Committee, while disdaining tho slightest intention or desiro to interfere with the professional recommendations of either tho honorary or resident stnft', proceeds to point out a number of facts that go to provo that n wnsleful nnd cxlrnvngiint expenditure hns boon going on for iv long time pnfit- In short, the whole mnnngoment of the extra nnd medie.nl comfort branch of tho establishment appears to bo Inx in tho extreme. Tho Hoard nre now longing nbout greater economy in tiis ronpoct. , j^-l •... , i If (tto following, from liioUaily Times, o( lTebwury 28th, .is tit nil near the truth, the prosper!* of education in Otngo, so far as tho incoming Donrd will ;i fleet it, nro by no means good : "It is notorious," I says the Times, 'that intrigue b every* where rnmpnnt, and ' you help mo roll my log, nnd I will help you roll yours ' is tho watchword of the coming frny. We havo strongly censure;! tho old Hoard of Education, but give us Green Gillies and Shnnd a thousand limes in prcfcrcnco to tho lot wo nro likely to get Irom this rough nnd tumble lus'iol. Whatever the faults in their uiothod of proooduvo, they nt least had the ability, tho knowledge^ nnd tho experience fitted to deal in* felligontly with what enmo beforo tloui.. Hut the outlook nt tho present moment is of tho gloomiest hind, nnd unlffl? our forosight deceives us, tho highest nnd mo^fr snored interests: of the pcoplo t. to likely to voposo in bonds that hnvo been tho inosb dexterous in disreputable dodging. Town ngainst country nnd country agninst town, one district ngainst nnothcr, each seeking to win allies, nnd somo diatriots unknown to fame putting forward nnmes no less obscure, who in tho strange unties of electioneering nro as likely ns nny otiibr to bo found towards the head of tho poll.'' | Tho New Zbuinncl Herald snys tlint somo four nnd a half millions of gallons of water, which had boon pumped into th» rosorvoir which supplies tho City of Auckland, hnre just been nllowod to flow uselessly to tho sen. Tho wntor hns hnd to ruu seaward, bconuso, ns n corres" pondent points out; of vegetable growths springing up in nbundaneo in tho shape of <io>\fcrvm, which render water unwholesome, nnd bconuso nlso of tho cx« istenco of somo living orgnnisms which hnvo mndo their nppenrnucc. In conscquouco of thoso products of standing wntor,. tho City Council hna been compelled to ompty tho rosorvoirs. Tho Kon Mr Stafford's parting ad' dross to his Timaru constituents is rcry brief, nnd contains no roforonro what over to current political questions. After stating that for family reasons ho is nbout, to go -to England, nnd that it is thoroforo ncccssnry for him to resign his scat in tho irbiiso 6f* Itoprosontntircs, tho nddross goes on to sny :— •• At tho termination of a somewhat extonded public career— during which nn amount of generous eonfidonco and support hns boon.' given to mo, for which I shall ever bo grateful—l can, though conscious of many mistakes, honoslly claim that whatovcr may bavo seemed amiss in my political notion, should bo doomed nn error of judgment, nud that as au old settler, warmly attached ta>

New Zealand, i hive throughout' boon infl'ueneed but by a single-minded consittafntimi for whit I boHevcd at t!»o timeto he for the puldie. HdvuritHtfe."

T'i" ivtluralisMte o' Ohinnmen i.^hcinu; f «n w idjjd lni'4l ly in Qiieeu<<lnn ', au«l this i> how it is done; — 'The Queensland Government raised lln» price of miners' rights from lOj t,o £.) per nnniint for Aciatie nlions." J-dm hns discovered «■ wny of evndinj? a tax by becom'Ui? nnturnlisod, which ho can do after throe years' rosidenee if married. The resulf, is a very considerable in tho number of mnrriaijcs John- finds litllo diflt'Mdfy in iv partner to lake him tor " belter or worse," especially if he has a ijood claim.

Watcher