MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1105, 26 June 1882, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

Jumbo is the universal topic in New York. The newspapers devote columns to him, and each contains the following advertisement, displayed in the biggest type : — " The Colossus of elephants is now here — Jumbo. The people of two hemispheres excited over the purchase. Just arrived from the Royal Zoological Gardens, costing thirty thousands dollars. The mighty monarch of beasts landed amid the enthusiastic shouts of half a million of people ! All England against its departure. All America bound to have him. Brought here against the regrets of Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales, and despite the injunctions of the law and the voice of united Europe. Ridden upon by the Queen and Royal Family and by over a million children ; its loss mourned by every child in Great Britian. Now on exhibition every afternoon and evening in connection with the greatest show on earth." Sixteen horses dragged, and two ele phants occasionally pushed, the box containing Jumbo from the dock to the gardens during the night without accident.

Defying the Law. — Four members of au Odfellows' lodge in Birmingham

were recently arreste:l for a very serious offence and lodged in goal. The arrested parties were the trustees of a lodge of Oddfellows, and had concluded to divide the funds of the lodge amounting to £5,000, among the members. A restraining order from the court was issued and served upon them, which they disobeyed, aud immediately thereafter resigned their office as trustees, thinking that the court would thus be prevented from taking legal action against them. The matter soon became known to the judge and warrants for their arrest were issued. When the deputy-sheriff and posse had captured their men and were about to take them to Holloway prison several hundreds of the Oddfellows' lodge among whom the money had been divided, appeared at the railroad station for the purposes of liberating the prisoners, but the police were too strong for them, and succeeded in beating into the thick skulls of the would-be rescuers tliat the court had the law and the Hgnum-vitae clubs on its side to inforce its orders, and the disobedient trustees are now languishing in the Holloway prison, although they aye very popular in Birmingham. Mr Archibald Forbes, publishes an article in the Argus on colonial defences. He considers the only danger to the colonies would be a sudden raid by a small force. He recommends the forts to be manned by regular artillerymen, and armed with the latest guns. He believes it advisable to localise calonial forces in maritime towns only. Mr Forbes lectured at Ballarat on. the sth.

Mrs Mackey, who is familiary known as the "Big Bonanza's" wife publicly denies that her daughter is engaged to that scion of royalty in exile, Prince Phileppe de Bourbon. Alphonse Daudet drew no imaginative picture when he sketched with such a powerful pen his wonderful " Kings in Exile." The great are indeed fallen, and even princes may now sue in vain for the hand of a rich man's daughter.

At the Magistrate's Court, Lyttelton a lad of sixteen or seventeen years of age, against whom where two previous convictions, was fined £5 or one month's imprisonment, for using indecent language in a public thoroughfare. Mr Olliver and Mr J. W. SmUh were on the bench, and the R.M. expressed hi s intention of severely punishing any offenders that might come before him on similar charges, as he considered the larrikin element was attaining such proportions that extreme measures were required to stamp it out The Lucky James, a small craft of 29 tons, from Pelorus Sound, put into Wellington yesterday for shelter. The master, Captain Holdest, reports that when within 15 miles of the Heads the waves threatened to overwhelm the vessel, and considerable fears were entertained for her safety. In this extremity, the master having a quantity of colza oil on board, determined to try its effect on the troubled waters. The result was in the highest degree .satisfactory. The seas where at once kept from breaking, and the vessel rode out the gale famously. — Post