MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1053, 24 February 1882, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Taieri Advocate says that a splendid thing for the lawyers is likely to come before the Dunedin Courts shortly. It is a case of libel, and the damages will be laid at £20,000. A certain gentleman in Dunedin, who is supposed to know something about the law, is the representative of a wealthy English Company, and on their behalf deals with large amounts of money. Some time since the chairman of the board of directors of the company received an anonymous cautioning letter him <o keep his eye on the Dunedinite, for if too much confidence was reposed in him there might be a reason to repent it The penmanship of the anonymous correspondent has been closely compared with the writing of a Duncdir gentleman, who knows something about railways. Photographed copies of his letters have been sent Home, and experts have declared the writing to be identically the same. One of Dunedin's merchant princes is also said to be interested in the matter. Some disclosures are expected. An American, clergyman, alluding to the death of the late President, thus refers to the pistol and bowieknife nuisance : — This is not a land of peace ; it is a nation of armed men. The farmer has a revolver in his bedroom, the merest boy on the slightest provocation pulls out his pistol. Two hundred years have proved that in civil life at least, the Quaker is right. No Quaker ever slioots, and no Quaker consequently ever is shot. There should be a general disarm-

ament, and we should guard the sale of pistols as we guard the sale of poisons. It is brutality that comes from the possession of weapons that does harm. -_..,. • Spent hops are rich in fertilising qualities, and valuable for light lands. They should be rotted by letting them ferment in a heap over which liquid manure has been poured, and the heap turned over occasionally. , The following mysterious paragraph appears in a letter of the London correspondent of a West of England paper : " A statement has reached me in reference to the late mysterious murder of Lieutenant Roper, at Chatham Barracks; which indicates that we are on the eve of a disclosure in respect to that tragic event which will throw into the shade the sensations and romantic crimes of the last quarter of a century. I must, for the present, content myself by saying that the perpetrator of the deed is this moment consulting with his friends whether he will avow his part in the transaction, and deliver himself up for trial or quit his position in society and leave this country for ever. The Taranaki Hearld remarks that Te Whiti and Tohu do not manifest any signs of discontent with their prison life They are well cared for, being supplied with comforts which are not usually allowed to prisoners, and they have consequently no cause for complaint Their Parihaka friends do not appear to visit them very often. Te Whiti's relations have only visited him three or four times since his imprisonment The prisoners do not appear to be very anxious to know what is going on at Parihaka, and, indeed, their indifference on this subject is quite remarkable. The following particulars of the circumstances which led to the dismissal of Lieutenant Ponsonby from the navy, as reported lately by cable, are taken from the "Pall Mall Gazzette " :— " A really hideous story is reported this morning in connection with an inquest held at Paddington yesterday. The victim was a young woman who had been a barmaid at the Criterion. While in this position she was tempted to go away to live with a person who is described as a lieutenant in the Royal Navy. The lieutenant in the Royal Navy, at the end of three or four days,— deserted her, left her without any money, and, what is not the least atrocious feature in the story, left her in a physical condition which cannot be here described. The wretched woman took poison and died. The coroner's jury very property refused to close the inquiry until the evidence had been taken of the man who is incriminated. If the story proves true, it is to be hoped he will speedily be removed from her Majesty's service, and some people will even regret there are no lawful means of removing such a gentleman from the face of the earth." We have heard of a rather strange idea which the great Wiremu Kingi had just prior his death. It appears the' old chief had 100 sovereigns in his whare, 50 of which he distributed among his relations, and he kept the other 50 for the purpose of carrying him on his journey into the Land of Shades. After his death search was made for the money, but it could not be found. It is supposed the old chief buried the sovereigns, and, no doubt some day a native will " drop " upon Wiremu's " plant," and celebrate the event by a jolly spree. — Taranaki Herald. A contemporary says : — Many persons suppose that chamois skins are derived from the animals named the chamois. In fact, the skins so called are the flesh side of sheep skins soaked in lime water, and also in a solution of sulphuric acid. Fish oil is poured over them, and they are then carefully washed in a solution of potash.

and Colonial Manufactories^ Agents Head Office, 91 Little Collins street, East Melbourne; 67 King Williamstreet, Alelaide; Town Hall, Perth, Western Australia. A Permanent Branch has now been established in Hereford-street, Christchurch. All letters addressed to the above firm in Hereford-street, will receive prompt attention. Circulars sent on enquiry. — Albert 8. Manders & Co. — Advt.