MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, 30 September 1881, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

Frogs' legs, a dozen on a skewer, are now hawked about the streets of Paris The frogs are obtained by hunters armed with Bmall bows, the arrows of which are attached to a string, and thus performs the office of a harpoon. Miss Ferguson, of Cooni, Queensland, is said to have trained a large cockroach, which performs numerous curious feats, including the manipulation of a small top dram, with which tbe insect keeps time to Miss Fer* gusson on the piano. — It is a pity the insect could not be taught the more useful art of mending and making articles of female wear tojrepay Miss Ferguson for the time and trouble taken in training. The Bradlaugh case has presented another aspect. In tbe proceedings instituted nominally by Clarke against Bradlaugh for illegally sitting and voting in the House of Commons withoat having first taken the oaths prescribed by tbe Act of 1866 and on -which he recovered heavy penalities, it was freely stated that Mr Newdigate, the member for North Warwickshire, was tbe real promoter, and found necessary expenses. Bradlaugh acting und_r legal advice; has now insti- '■ tuted an action against Mr Newdigate, charging him with maintenance, hay ing guaranteed Mr Clarke costs, Tbe summons is returnable at an early day, and the case is exciting interests. •Atlas/ in the World, ~ says j— "l was inclined to be sceptical about Indian goldmines ; but when a Cabinet Minister— noted too, for the soundness of his judgment — rushes in and takes a j thousand Bhares in one of the most recently brought out undertakings in that way my scepticism vanishes; Besides, the astounding results telegraphed to the Glasgow Company of four ounces yield to the ton have since been substantiated ; so that, after all. India may turn out to be the El Dorado one imagined it to be in the clays of one's boyhood. There was laid on the table of the House last week, a statement showing the apportionment between the several Provincial districts from amount expended out of loan from tbe com* mencement of the Public Works policy, to 1881, as follows : —Auckland, £2,680,900. Hawke's Bay £817,325 Wellington £2,620,606; Taranaki, £604,006; Nelson 640,030; Marlborough, £257,206; Canterbury £3, 008,536; Westland, £11,064; Otago £4,714,872 ; general, £1,349,715; total £17,765,134. j A young Irishman named Patrick Trafibrd Aickie has just been tried at the Central Criminal Court for sending a threatening letter to Mr Forster. Counsel for the Crown j exonerated the. accused of any intent j tion to harm tbe Irish Secretary, and it was stated in evidence tbat tbe prisoner was * a -lightly sort of person, found of notoriety.' For the defence! counsel submitted that the matter was an absurdity from beginning to end. Mr Justite Lindely, however declined to regard the threat as a joke, and said it was particulariy serious when addressed to a person holding high position as it was calculated to disturb him in the performance -of his duty. The jury found the prisoner guilty, and he was sen* tenced to eighteen months' imprisonment. After a lapse of several years tbe Lady Godiva procession was revived this year in Coventry, in presence of : nearly 20*000 pensons, many of whom came long distances to witness the pageant. Lady Godiya was personated by Mademoiselle Minnie Seymor, who clad in a tight fitting flesh colored suit with short mus) ing petticoat, was mounted on a handsome grey charger. A number of historical characters were representsd in the procession, There were also children! on horseback and representatives of friendly institutions, the whole pre-* Beating an interesing spectale.