MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1057, 6 March 1882, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

A good deal has been written both for and against early marriages, but we think that there can be only one opinion about lads marrying upon wages which would hardly provide themselves with the bare necessaries of life. Lately, in a Devonshire village, an apprentice, 17 years of age, (says an English paper) led to the hymeneal alter a country beauty scarcely the same age, and the amount earned by him was only 9s per week. From Sheffiled, we hear of a still sadder case, where an "office boy" (over 20 years of age it is true) was not only a husband, but a father, and he had to keep house and home together on 6s per week ! Surely in these cases, if the men be only willing towork,a much better life is open to them in the colonies. The crew of one of the whaleboats of the Aladdin (says the Southland News) had recently a norrow escape from a fate similar to that which befel Jonah. They had, we are informed by a Stewart Island resident, " made fast " to a monster bull sperm whale,, and were hauling up to him to give finishing touches to his majesty, when he went for the boat, and seized its bow in his enormous jaws. His intention was evidently to " chaw it up right away." and as he took in or broke off the planking, the crew retreated to the other end, untill, in less time than it takes to tell it, they had to swim for it The mate, who was in charge was, it is said, once within the monster's jaws, and would have been crushed but for the splinters of the boat rendering it inconvenient for the while to close them just then. Fortunately a " pick-up " boat was close, by and although not without fears of sharing the treatment experienced by their comrades— her men quickely pulled to the rescue, and immediately took all on board safe and sound. The general belief among the men is that his whaleship would have gone for them too, had it not been that he was too much bothered at the time by splinters of the first boat sticking in his teeth, and rendering it inexpedient to follow up his victory.