MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, 9 May 1881, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

The authorities of Paris baying resolved to teach the young idea how to shoot practically as well as figuratively, are actively carrying out the patriotic idea. The boys of the national schools are to be grouped into battalions of C-60, divided into four companies. Tbe equipment will consist of a small rtfld, a belt with bayonet, loose j tcket, cap, and striped trousers They will be drilled once a week and reviewed once a mmth. The experiment will be confined at first to boys of from eleven to thirteen years, of whom there are 23,000 in the schools. Tho following official terms of peace nre taken from the Cape Times of the fc 2Bth March, date Fort Amiel, March 26,— Aa transmitted by telegram from Sir Evelyn Wood to the Governor of Capetown : -The terras Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Empress of India has been graciously pleased to accord to the Boers recently in arms, who dispersed to tbeir homes on the 25 h March, are— The Trans* vaal, subject to the suzerain right of Great Britain, is to have entire selfgovernment as regards interor affairs ; in respect to frontier affairs and control { oyer foreign relations, both are reserved to the suzerainty, and also the right of moving troops through the country in the time of war. The transfer of the Government is to be carried out within a period of six months. A harrowing account of the suffer" ings of a jury locked up at Pa tea recently because they were unable to agree on their verdict, is given by the local paper which says :— * ftio refresh' ment came from the Judge's, order it being nobody's business to attend to it as usual. Some jurors begged of the constable to fetch them a loaf or a live sucking pig or anything eatable, for which they tendered money, they begged to have overcoats fetched from the hotel but that offi :er would not budge from the door for any thing less than an earthquake There were twelve men cooped up in a very small room wibh three chairs and a small table. They could net all sit at once or lie on the floor at once they could stand and were closely packed at that. Hat pegs were few else they might have hung themselves up. One juror fell asleep on the table and when he woke found he had been sitting in the gum and war. fast. Another got near tbe window and awoke with a stiff neck. A third tried to sit on cold fire but found a light had just beei applied, The coal box served him. Four squatted on the floor playing cards and when they had been eucherd they stood up to make room for another card party. | So the jurors had to squat down or stand up in relief parties, there not being enough room for all to lie on tha floor at once. At daylight the constable entered and threw water on | the fire which luxury was contrary fo the statute in that ca<*e made and provided. Jurors implored him for a drink of water but be only remarked they ought to have agreed on tbeir verdict and not stand out on a trifle like that Such was the treatment of these jurors and such was the sumptuous arrangements of this model jury room. We learn however from the same paper that the judge on the matter being brought under his notice the next day said that he ordered re* fresh ments to be supplied to the jury and this ought to have been done. It appeared there had been some mis* management which he hoped would not occur again. Ah Yu, the Coromanflel Chinaman started on Saturday evening through tha ti-tree to get some beef steak for Sunday's dinner. While walking alone be was astonished to observe a brace of pheasants banging from a branch of tutree. Ah Tv is no fool. He knew they bad not grown there, and thought he bad heard guns discharged he knew also that this is not shooting season, and he being an economical young man lately out from China, and having left a comely damsel in the Celestial City, is saving as many pennies as possible, with an eye no {Jojjbt to matrimony. The birds were

m^^^^m^mg^ m^^^ m^^^^^^ mm^^^mf^gg^l l^imnt%%%---Ws^nt%%tm% m t%%%%%%9mm clearly as much his property as any one else's, and were therefore appropriated without the slighest hesita* tion, and without another thought of Lynch's celebrated beef steak. Ah Yu, with a smiling countenance, w;nt he in triumph, with his brace of pheasants. Out of consideration to the feelings of tbe disappointed young man wbo shot the gamp, we draw a veil over tbe sumptuous Sunday dinner. Tbe erring sportsman can, however, have the tail feathers to stick in his hat on applying to Ah Tv ; or if he likes to apply to Sergeant McMahon instand, can haye tbe option of a month's residence in amount Eden, or a five pound fine. Later intelligence slates that, with a view to separating the Transvaal from the great native districts lying to the east, the determination of the eastely boundaries of further territory will form a part of the work of the Royal Commission, which will as. s< mb'o. at once. Tbe Commission is also to take into consideration measures for the protectiou of the natives interested. Until the report of the Royal Commission is aproved by the Home Government the Transvaal will remain under the British rule. A British Eesident, wilh such functions as may herafter be approved, will be located in the further capital. Her Malesty's Government guaran'ee the Boer leaders, individually and collectively, and tbose acting under tbeir orders, immunity from civil process in respect of acts done in reference to the war, until self-government is accorded, Tbe question of compensation to either side for acts not justified by tbe necessities of war is to be remitted to the Royal Commission, which has to decide what acts come within the meaning of justification. There shall be no molestation for political opinion on either side, and the Boer leaders are to corporate with Her Majesty's government in bringing to justice those who committed or were directly responsible for acts contrary to rules of civilised warfare. Gold-mining is yet in its Infancy in the Nelson district. In the Takaka, Collingwood, Upper Buller, and Lyell districts there is much country known to be auriferous, bnt it cannot be worked owing to the absence of even tracks, whereby the necessaries of life could be conveyed to the toil and hardship*enduring miners, wbo are frcqnently tbe pioneers of new settlements, and give material aid in subduing the wilderness. A great deal of talk takes place within Parliament regarding aid being giyen to prospecting for gold, but some member should ask during the approaching session for a return showing how much money has been given for this object in each Provincial district up to the 31st of last month. We repeat, gold«mining is yet in its infancy in this Provincial District, and tbis opinion fa held by many experienced miners. The other day Mr Whitaker, M.H.E., somehow induced the Government to give nearly £700 for a road in an Auckland distriot, and cannot any of our representatives prevail on them to extend a helping hand in open* ing up new auriferous country in the Golden Bay, Upper Buller, and Lyell districts P— Nelson Colonist.