MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 2 November 1881, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

A bombshell, doubtless fired by the Federals during the late American civil war, was recently found in a log at a sawmill at Birmingham, United fctatea. The circular saw was ploughing through a large white oak log, wben it struck a hard substance, which broke tbe teelb and suddenly stopped its progress. Upon examination they found buried in the stock to tbe depth of at least pifibt inches a large percussion bombshell well in the growth of timber had been there sixteen or senenteen yerrs, and the tree had grown over it until there was but a light scar left. Fortunately the saw stuck the shell, which still contained its load, so as to cause no explosion. Prom a reliable autbority I have received the following particulars with regard to Skuthorpe^ alleged discovery of tbe Leichardt relics. Sknthorpe asserts that be has the diary of Leichardt, containing full particulars of every day's transactions and the bearings of every camp visited for a period of twelve months from starting on bis jonrney, in 1847. At the end of ■ the year an entry shows that Classen was sent to a place 100 miles distant where it was expected water was and returned, but did not find Leichardt. He found, however his dairy, and from that date he kept a dairy of his own. Entries in th : s dairy (which Skuthorpe says is now in his pos* session) show that Classen liver) many years with the blacks ; that he tried on three occasions to escape, but was each time captured and floerge^, -theJloggiog-beiDg-seye/en every.- tome, antil Classen abandoned all idea of any fu f ure attempt, seeing that be on no occasion succeeded in getting more than thirty miles away before he was caught. At one time he thought he was dying, and he then buried Lei 4 cbardt's diary. Skutborpe says he was taken by two black gins to the place where Classen's body was and be describes tbe remains as consisting of tbe skelton of a man with a long black beard. He says be found a pouch in the grave, which had contained papers but the action of the atmosphere had rendtred them useless. The black then took him to a placp 100 miles to tbe westward, and showed him a tree on which the word 'dig* had been cut, but the word was very indistinct. After dig* ging unsuccessfully on the first day he unearthed a tin box hermetically sealed, it is supposed, by the blacks This contaiced the relics. Skuthorpe says he was afraid to make known the whereabouts of the articles, for fear he would be compelled to give them up Having satisfied Mr Kirfc, a Queesland squatter of his boua fides in tbe matter that gentleman has interviewed Sir Henry Parkes, who it is understood, had agreed to give reward asked for in the event of the relics on examination proving genuine. As corroborative testimony, it may be mentioned that Skuthorpp, in conversation with tbe Queensland squatters referred to said, • The writing in Leichardt'9 diary is very much like yours.' The gentleman in question, on visiting Sydney was shown some of Leicbardt ' writing and was at on 'c stuck with the similarity to bis ovrn. Sir Heury Parkes has nrransed to cause the necessary inquiries to be made forthwith.