MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 15 July 1881, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

There is now plying at the mouth of tbe Sacramento, in California, a steam ferry-boat, which is probably the largest in the world, The locality is in the Bay of Carquinex, which penetrates deeply into interior, forming a prolongation of tbe two united bays of San Paolo and San Francisco. The steamer, which is named tbe Solano, carries over trains of the Grand Cen« tral Pacific Railway form Benicia to Fort Costa, on the most direct line from Sacramento to San Francisco. She can carry several trains at oncp, without detachment of locomotives. On the deck are four lines of railwayabreast, and these are capable of receiving forty-eight goods* waggons with their locotive3, or twenty-four pas* senger -cars of the American type (each supported on two jountcd trucks). The length of ike deck is stated by La Nature to be 129*23 metres ; the width of the platform, 33 35 metres. The draught of water (with load) is about two metres, and tonnage is 3600, These dimensions are considerably above those of the railway ferry>boat of the Lake of Con* stance, which is the largest in Europe fit is 70 metres long by 12 metres wide) , Tbe Solano has two paddle* wheels 9.14 metres in diameter. They are independent of each other, anJ each is actuated by a vertical beam** engine of 2000 horsepower, These engines are placed one behind the other in the longitude axis of the wheel. 80 as to give on either side, the space necessary for two lines. The vessel is steered either way by means of four balanced rudders, worked by hydraulic apparatus, which is actuated by independent steam engines. This system is said to work with prefect regularity. A recent Syuney telegram says : — The efforts to Christianize the Chinese of Sydney was referred to by Archdeacon King at the Synod yesterday. He said the ruffianism which had lately deyoloped, not only among larrikins, but other classes was degrading the Chinese who daily met in the streets oaths and were turned out of steamboats and oinibusses, pushed into gutters and ejected with indignity from tram-can. May, the Chinese catecbist, had 62 of bis country men at his Sunday services, but last Sunday the attendance had fallen to 20. He believed it would take ten years to re« gain the influence which the Church had lost Christiauisiug the Chinese residents of the colony. The Dean of Sydney stated that he had received a message from Chinese catecbist to the effect that many Chinese were auxious he should tell the congregation they were wrong in treating the Chinese in the way they were doing. A Wanganui journal says tbe col*

lection of portaits of old identies is rapidly increasing, and it is believed that upwards of .200 persona will figure in it. Every individual male or ft male who has been on thie coast for thirty years is to be pho I graphed* la the group wbich included alimentary products Mr Vaughan-Jones, London, presented an excellent collection of spirits, liqueurs, and cordials. The spirts shown by the exhibitor are known as the 'Standard 'and are becoming 13 popular here as at the clubs of London. Already the ' Standard ' have secured the highest award— first, degree of merit— and, as all the vari* eties have not been pronounced upon, it is not too much to say that nnre honors will bo bestowed on Mr Vaaohan-Jon9B. The Standard Scotch whisky is from the beat barley malt it is carefully blended rofined and matured, qualities which the Austra* Hans so much like, ami which might with advantage, be followed by others in this line, of business. The 'fine old Jamaica ' Standard ' run will lake the highest precedence here will in all probability be awarded the gold medal On the same *how case are also sample bottles of the 'Standard 'cheery brandy, ginger brandy, ginger wine, orange bitters and Old Tom gin. The latter has been awarded first degree of merit. At the Sydney International Exhibition Mr Vaugban Jones obi* tained first special award, the highest distinction, for bis old Jamaica ram, first award for cherry brandy, first award for Old Tom and second for whisky. — ' British Mercantle Gazette ' Cairo has recently been p'uged into profound consternation by the dis« covery of an appalling crime — or rather series of crimes— prepetrated in that city by a religious recluse, Sheikh Hamunda Buada, hitherto, enjoying a high reputation for sanctity, and even popularly credited witb supernatural powers of extraordinary efficaciousness in the way of curing female patients by holy spells, imparted to him by the prophet, Women were wont to make pilgrimages from all parts of Lower Egypt to the house of this supposed saint*, in order to solicit the intercession with Allah on their behalf, A few weeks ago the wife of an Egyptain officer betook herself to the Sheikh's residence for thid purpose. When, however several hour*} had elapsed, without anything having been seeu or heard or her since she entered Hamuda's doors her husband applied to tbe Cario police of assistance to discover her whereabouts, and a rigid search i was forthwith instituted in the holy man's domicile. To the horror of the unfortunate officer his wife's body was found, with several other female corpses, trust into a huge cistern stnnding in the Sheikh's garden. This cistern in fact, was brimful of murdered women. Hamuda Burda, arrestel on the spot and conveyed to prison, subsequently confessed to the Cadi that it had been his practice for some time past, whenever consulted by a female possessed of rich jewels or other portable pro*, perty of value, to invite his visitor to take a turn with him in his garden where he would then proceed to strangle her, despoil her remains and fl;n» them into the cistern Egyptnin justice has probably by this time mada an example of this saintly personage by hanging him up in front of his own house door. — London Telegraph.