MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 14 December 1881, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

Tha Opotiki correspondent of the Bay of Plenty Times writes : — Aa incident of considerable interest to local archaeologists hai transpired bere. Some distance up Otara Gorge, on a portion of the estate of Mr Thomas Black, an enormous puketea tree, pro* bably many hundred years old, has been blown down, disclosing tbe astounding fact that in the whole of hollow interior, extending from the roots to the first fork, about forty-five feet, has been filled with human bodies. Since its fall these have burst out at the butt of the tree in the form of a confused heap of skeletons. A more extraordinary sight than -this monarch of the forest lying prone and discharging a perfect hecatomb of human skeletons can scarcely be conceived. Some are nearly perfect, while others are mixed up in a chaotic mqfib of heads, bands feet, arms, and legs indiscriminately. All the Maoris here seem to have been quite unaware of this natural charnel house, and declare that it must have happened long before their or their fathers, time. Indeed, the appearauce of the tree fully justified the supposition that it must have been some hundreds of years eiuce the novel family, vault was filled witb its ghastly occupants. The old controversy whether whitebait are a distinct SDecies, or are only the younger of a large fi*b ha** been often renewed. Mr Yarrell main* tamed tbat whitebait was a distinct species, md not, as had been supposed the young of some one of the wellknown species of the herring family. It was also believed that it did not exist elsewhere than in the Thames, where a fishery was carried on to supply an extensive demand from the people of London. In point of fact, the whitebait required to meet the large demand during the London season does include all manner of small fish, the true species of which is of little coose* quence to the consumer, a? they are seen cooked and disguised at the table But the following fact is worth the consideration of naturalists. Three years ago or more a quantity of the 60-called waitbait WBS caught at Brighton, where, as it had been year after year, it now is, very plentiful. To make sure it was tbe same kind caught every year ia the Thames, and formerly believed to be there only found, a quantity was specially forwarded to Mr G. Groves, of Charing Cross, the celebrated fishmonger and proprietor of whitebait smacks. He is supposed to be a good judge of the whitebait, and he pronounced the Brighton specimens to be without doubt the same fi-h* Some of these where placed in thank 32 at Aquarium and are now swimming about as unmistakeable full-grown herring, la company are a sbool of young ones • iu;hr. this -<unvn-r. — Leisure Hoar,' \ >::i_u ';•..' uftVir hp.s recured at the ! ';■;:':■:::! i : ii ! Uv M V S'ViMnn iii i"" irTQ ttl g-- . A 'i'i rge basket, was taken to the paroel office by two men, who stated that it contained boots and shoe***. The basket was adlressed; *Mr Green, York Station. Till called for/ The man ia charge put some questions, and was about to book the

address, when the two mea left the offi.e very hurriedly and ran off up the platform. This suspicious behavi* our led ihe ofl.;ia!s to open tbe basket. Inside it were found five tins of gunpowder, several boxes of per* cushion caps, and about two hundred cartridges. A care'ul investigation baa been made the result of which haa cleared up the mystery. It was lo Fenian plot, tub discloses a remarkable deception which is stated, i. almost daily practised at racecourses. Tie cartridges wera all huud to be blank ; and indended for the persons with shooting galleries who visit race • meeting. A shooting gallery proprietor i at racecourses jerks up glass balls bj i means of a string, and the bystanders . are allowed for a small fee to shoot at f them. It would not be profit.be to ; tbe proprietors if tbeslnoters iveie i good shots, inasmuch as tlieir break* ! ing tie glass would more than co£« ? surae tbe price which tbey pay. The ' confiding public, in the majority of ' iase.% shoot with blank cartridge., ' wbich gives tbem bat a very poor idea or tbeir skill as marksmen. All tbe cases of smail pox afc Sydney have occurred am ing the residents of the densel? crowded and badly drained portions of the city* | In connection with this matter the Government has had a conference with, or examination of, some fifteen , medical gentlemen oo the subject of small-pox and vaccination. The whole lot with one ex.eptiou agreed as to the desirability of a compulsory vac* cination law. Considerable sensation was caused iv , Hebrew circles in Sydney two weeks ago by the intelligence of the elopement ol the daughter aod heiress of the wealthiest Jewish citizjo witb a young teller in one of the principal banks in Sydney. Tbe affair was managed with great secrecy. The parlies wore as* si-ted by a gentleman connected witb tbe bank, who was also married undei similar circumstances. The lady hadH a disagreement with ber father respeclinjfl ber music lesson, and walked out. Nofl returning to the meal after a consider-^ able period, her parents became alarmedS knowing of the attachment, which wafl forbidden. They sentra messenger ;cH tbe bank, who returned with tbe new« tbat the teller had gone. Suspicion-fl were excited, and immediate inquirie^^ were instituted, resulting in the dis<H covery that the pair hai visited a disfl tant church, where they were marriedM A hitch ocoured respecting the bride'^J age, but after a (ew minutes' discussioi^J tbe. difficulty was surmounted by th^| best man asking the bride eXpetrta^H to give him her shoe, upon the sole ox^M wbicb be wrote tbe figures twenty*on^| when she declared she was over 2^l Then the pair were irrevocable unilec^fl After leaving the church, tbey proceede^H without hindrance, to an hotel, when^A they took apartments, and where painful scene occured upon the arrival <^M tbe indignant parents. A man named Alfred Nye was con^J veyed to the Hospital oa Saturda^H evening last, having been found i^H George street, on the previous evening! in an intoxicated state, when be w^H locked up. On Sunday he complaine^H of having tost the use of his legs, an^H was consequently removed to tne Hosp^H tal where be was prompt'y attended but without effect, as be died the^J oa Wednesday about midnight. — Chris^H church Press. Since thi year 1872 there has bee^f a steady decline in the economic pro^H perity of England. During tbe pr , '^| vions thirty years there had beeu l^H unprecedented growth. The Unit^H States levies a duty of from 40 to 2<^H per cent on English goods, and Englan^H admits United States products free. An Akaroa correspondent says th^H during the recent earthquake the groun^H was seen to wave.