MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, 29 September 1880, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

Roturn (ickets overland from Sydney to Melbourne from 23rd September to Ist January, £'5 o _ The Governmpnt bare receired an intimation from Grant and Foster. Lincolnshire farmers, delegates, .that tbey have appointed an agent in New Zealand, with a view ifc is presumed of commencing operations for the settlement of English farmers in this Colony. A deputation of lhe unemployed waited on Berry recently, but met with a very cold reception. He told tbe men they must not come to the Government, but go to tbe Assembly. He finally declared that the Governmpnt bad done all witbin its power, and tbat it could not do more He would refuse fo receive any further deputations. The public feeling supports Berty, Tbe general belief is"tbat many men are preyiDg on Goyernment, who could find work to do. Some diggers on the Waiau assert that they"saw a live moa breaking down scrub. It was nine feet high, and on being disturbed fled, uttering a screech like an American locomotive. An Auckland telegram 'dated Septem* ber 23rd, states : — George Henry Sep* penson, the man lately before the Magistrate as baying three wives,""went .last night to Onebunga, where his third wife lives. He demanded admittance and was refused. She fled out of tbe back door ns he burst tbe front one in, and informed tbe police. On their arrival tbey found tbe doors fastened up, but on making an entrance'fo und him on the floor with his throat partly cut, Tbe wounds were sewn up by the .doctor, and be was sent to tbe hospital. He says he is weary of life and does not want to live. He kept a diary, which is in the hands of the police. In it ho states his two first wives wero spiritual and the third was veiled in tbe flesh but faulty. • Jewellers use a boiling bnth of acid in solution for brightening silver that is very much discolored, bnt tbis would be uns safe with an inexperienced person. A boiling bath of washing' Soda answers ju*t as well, and its harmlessness is vouched i .' for by silversmiths of established reputation. A correspondent?'of the Medical Times says that tbe popular prescription for spasmodic as'hma in certain parte of tbe country is to eat?h<>artly of water-cresses, nnd it i*» said that ' the rpmedy is successful. One of tbe household remedies tried in. Wellington for tbe cure of tbe troublesome conghs prevailing at present in nearly every household, is a decoction of watercress roots, a handful or more boiled in a quart of w-'ter nntil reduced fo a pint, and bqnor tben mixed with a quarter of a pounl of treacle, A sapphire at Berlin has been valued by a socitey of experts at £3,200,000. The Northern Argus; a paper pnMished at Rofkhampfon in Queensland tolls an amusing incident of a ' I<rne» Auction ' held in aid of (be br.ilding fund of St. Paul's Church. Ou? contemporary says : — ' A funny episode occurred that is worth mentioning. Tbe room was toler« ably well filled, and tbe collection of articles of all k : nds grouped together gave it veiy much the appearance of a fancy shop. Mr G. S. Curtis acted as auctioneer, and manage to get very g->od prices for most of the lots. Consid-'rable amusement was caused when announced that Mr William Pattison, who had just j then entered the room, offered, ' by way ' of putting a little more life into fhe thing, ' to sell the top-coat he was tben wearing. Amid much laughter Mr Pattison started the bidding him*elf at half»a-<sovereign, when there was a pause. "Go ahead, gentlemen," shouted the auctioneer, be is not likely to part with bis coat Hii".: a eight as tbis under a firer. Mind its casb on Ibe nail saia t_.C «" ai *e.r of the eoac and again the bids were ma le by sixpences till los was reached, at wbicb price the coat was knocked dowu amid considerable tdieers for Mr Pafti*on. •Oh c?' ti. think me, cried the latter, its ; Curtis' coat you Imve bpen buying !' and jso it turned out. Mr Pattison had found ' the auctioneer.? mo n Ue lying about and put it on ; nd started tbe auctioneer on a trip to sell liis own clothes*. When the sell tt,.. disclosed, tiie .aiiirhter was loud ar.d prolonged and it took Mr Curtis a little time to realise the situation.