MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, 20 September 1880, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

In eonnechon with the writs nnveA upon the Queensland Premier and - Colonial Secretary at the instance of Mr W. Miles., M.L.A., the Courier of a recent , date says :-It was stated some days ago by the leader of the Opposition that as soon as the Committee of Election, and Qualifications was appointed it would at once be petitioned as lo the right of the Premier and Colonial Secretary to retain their seats, in consequence of their holct. ing an interest in certain ships under contract to the Queensland Government. Subsequently, however, Mr Griffith and his frieuds resolved on another course ol action, testing the position of Messrs M'llwraith and Palmer in a different way and before a different tribunal, and yes« terday writs, in the nature of a quo - warranto, were served upon both of these gentlamen at the suit of the hon. member for Darling Downs, Mr William Action is taken under the 6:h and 7th clauses of the Constitution Act, and the questions to be determined arefirst, whether the Premier and the Colon* ial Secretary aro registered owners of shares in the ship Scottish Hero? This, we believe, is admitted by both gentle«men, and will not be a mitler|of dispute. Second, whether the registered owners oi tb.3 Scottish Hevo are more than twenty in number? This will be the turning point of the ndion, as. if they are more than'Uwenty, the parliamentary position of Messrs M'll wraith and Palmer is nol effected by their holding shares in the vessel; while if the owners are only twenty, or less than that number, those gentleman may be brought within scope of the 9th clause of the Consti'ution Act, and their seats be declared vpid. 1^ is further sought to bring them under the of the 7th clause of that Act, which, supposing the charge proven, renders them liable to a fine of £500 a duy for each sitting, to be recovered by any person who may sue for the same in the Supreme Court of Queensland. They are now sued at that rate— namely, £3000 for sis sitting. We".wonder |how much "would Mr Miles take, cash down, for his chance of recovering the amount claimed. At a party given ia Bucyrus, Ohio, 25 years ago, Edward Merriman, the dis» slpatei son of a local banker, surprised the assembly by bringing in ou his own arm a beautiful stranger. She was a f~ Miss Emma Butlerfield, of Mel rose, a ' neighbouring village, and daughter of the Lutheran pastor or that town. Her beauty was of rare type— classic features, creamy complexion, rosy cheeks, aburn hair and large violet eyes. On March of the same year she became the wife of Merriman, who' had reformed. Bncyrus \ society, at first' neglectful, ended by " tv*orshipping the bride. In less than six months she became broken-hearted ; her husband was again in the gutter. A change of scene was desirable. She look him lo New York, where for a time 1 e was employed as a salesman. His . father Ifad disowned him. The passion for drink revived, and he pr.on afler died from iis effects. Mrs Merrimao returned ■to Bucyrus with her baby boy. Friends assisted her into a successful millinery business. But she had a soul above ribbons. After a few years she returned to JTow York, and by assiduous study became an accomplished correspondent and s f ory writer, as well as proficient in German and French. When her income was sufficient she went to Paris to con' tinue her studies, where she became a favourite with her resident; countrymen. In the summer of 1869 Catholic France was startled and nhoclced by the liberal and unorthodox utterances of a brilliant young priest of Notre Dame. Mrs Merriroan became interested in him bv listening to his gprmons. Acquaintance nnd mutual lilnnp; fo'lowed. In 1872 H delivered a serins of famous sermons defending the right of the clergy U< warrv- E^rly the snvw year lie married Mrs Merriman. He h')B been chistened Charles Loyson, but w**» belter known as Pere Hayacinthe. AlPthe world knows of him since! He is now one of the three paßtors of the old catholic denomination in Geneva, and has P?any followers. — Exchange. The AustrnHnn Frozon Meat Export Corapnny being unable to obtain definite \ information from the Orient Company .' rolative lo their arrangements for conveyance of meat, bnve chartered the s^eamber Proctus which now being fitted with refegria'i/mg apparatus, and will sail for Londan in October with the first shipment of frozen meat.