MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1186, 29 September 1882, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Wellington correspondent of the " Auckland Star," gives the following items: — Poor Theophilus Daniels was made the victim of several practical jokes last night Three or four members who were up to a bit of fun sent the New Zealand Plimsoll— as he is called — a lady's card, with a memo that she was waiting for him in the gallery. The member for Wallace never showed such activity in the House before. In a minute he was in the ladies gallery, but which of the fair occupants wished to see him he could not tell. He asked the messenger who, seeing it was ajoke, told him that the lady in question had just leiL^ Mr Daniels returned- to his sSSI Ul'ttwi*""

fallen, paired, and went home. — There was high jinks in Bellamy's last night, singing being tho order of the night, The principal performance were Messrs Pyke and Sheehan. The former insisted on continually singing "The Wearing of the Green," and getting excited dashed his hat on the floor, and kicked a hole through it. Mr Sheehan went in more for sentiment and sang a number of well-known melodies. The concert ended by the two singing a duet, which was suddenly brought to a close by the divison bel] -ringing.

An invention for separting gold from sand has been recently devised for ua&4n-ihe__jplacier regions of West Mexico and Central America, where gold-bearing sand are found at too great a distance from water to make hydraulic mining profitable. The machine is about sft in diameter, and is arranged to throw the sand by centrifugal force against a " wall " of mercury, maintained in position by centrifugal action. In this way, it is claimed, every particle of gold is brought into contact with the mercury, and thus amalgamated while the sand is blown away by means of an air blast, The machine is said to treat a ton of sand in twenty minutes, and to be so certain in its operation as to make it possible to wash over, with profit tho tailings of mines worked by other systems.

At the Rangiora Court lately a witness who informed the Bench he was an expert and had given grea* attention to race-horses vouchsafed the gratutions information that a horses was unless as a racer unless it was thorough-bred. The 'presiding Magistrate wished to know if a non-thorough-bred was unless he won a race. The witness was nonplussed for a moment but came'up again by informing the Court that, having made a study of it ho had neverknown a full mauthed horse to win a race, a remark which was received with some amount of merriment

The " Lyttelton Times "tells a ghost story : " A mysterious circumtances occurred; in an hotel in Christchurch recently, just about the time when it changed hands. The houses was empty, a thorough clear-out having taken | place. The landlord, on the first night I of the occurrence, was the only sleeper in the house, and he was disturbed j about midnight by hearing a man's heavy footfalls along the passage. They were slow and distinct, and the landlord thought at first that a policeman had found a door open, and was going through the house to Bee that all was safe. He got up to see who it was, but through he followed the footsteps all over the house, along passages, up and down staircases, and at times appeared to almost come up to them, no person was to be seen. Mystified, the host examined the doors and windows, but as they were all properly fastened, the mystery was only made deeper by the examination. The next night the same footfalls were' heard, and the same unavailing chase after them all through the building took place., Thoroughly roused on the third day, the landlord had new locks put on all the doors, and new fastenings on all the windows, determined to keep out the intruder By this time his wife, some women servants, and a "boots" were in the house. Surely, thought he, if it was fancy, I wotft hear the marching about to-night But shortly after midnight his wife woke him, saying a man was walking about the house, and, at the same time, the , boots' was roused, by the frightened servants, for the house, not having been yet refurnished, or got into order no lodgers had been taken in. This time there could be no mistake about it. Both 'boots' and landlord chasH the steps, but through thsy dodged and rati, and, at times, seemed to be

close to them, that saw nothing, nor has the mystery ever been solved. The footsteps have not been heard since the house was refurnished, and business resumed.

Tasmania is progressing with rapid Strides, consequent upon the developement of its natural resources. It was stated in Parliament the other day that carpenters were getting 1 2s 6d per day, and agrictural laborers were not to be had. Three or four years ago carpenters and other mechanics could only command 7s or 8s a day, and laborers were as plentiful as blackberries at a little more than half the wages. A Good all-round farm hand could readily be obtained at £1 a week, or 12s and found. The "tight little island' owes its present prosperity to the opening up of tin deposits, and the discovery of rich quarts reefs.

Murdoch, the Australian cricketer (says the Home News), has totalled upwards of 1000 runs in 17 matches. Once he made 289 not out, and 107 rot out ; his average is now over 42. Massie has done well, so has Bannerman, all with the ball, the first named having nearly 60 wickets to his credit, and the latter upwards of 70. The only batsman that has approached Murdoch's total from English players is Mr 0. T. Studd, and he is fast approaching the 1000 runs for some 16 matches. Mr Studd, it will be recollected, is the only man who has made two century scores against any Australian team visiting this country. These were the 118 made at Cambridge Jn May, and the 114 made at Lord's for M. 0.0. He is the only English batsman who has made a century against them this visit.

A newly-married man appealed to the civil jurisdiction of the District Court at Carcoar, a few days ago, for compensation for the annoyance of being " tin-kettled." 'I he Bathurst Free Press reports that Barrington Rothery brought an action against John Livington, claiming £10 damages. •From the evidence it appears that the paintiff lately married, and hearing the defendant intended to take part in the ceremony of tin-kettling," went to defendant and cautioned him against coming near the house. Notwithstanding the caution, defendant went to plaintiff's house and acted in an ofl'eu sive manner. The plaintiff was much annoyed, and his wife very much frightened. The Bench throught a stop should be put to such proceeding as " tin-kettling," by which respectable people were annoyed and insulted. They therefore gave a verdict in favor of tho plaintiff for £10 and costs.

A Victorian Judge had a rather singular point to settle the other day. A woman, named Williams, was complainant in an assult case. Mr Purves was the lawyer who appeared for the defendant, and after tho case had been heard, the charge was dismissed at the Police Court. After that Mrs Williams commenced a civil actio i for damages against the defendant. A retainer to appear for her in the Supreme Court was sent to Mr Purves, and was received by his clerk in the usual way. Shortly afterwards the defendant's attorney sentMr Purves a retainer to appear for him. The plaintiff, however, insisted that Mr Purves was bound to receive a brief for her in the Supreme Court, and could not appear for the defendant Mr Purves said he would abide by the rule of Justice Williams, if his Honor would take the trouble to'pronounce an opinion on the matter. His I'onor has given tho following opinion on the question : — ■' As the retainer has been offered to Mr Purves on behalf of the plaintiff in a different proceeding from that in which he formerly acted for the defendant, and in another Court and as the retainer has been accepted by Mr Purves before one on behalf of the defandant was proffered, I think that the plaintiff, if she insists upon it, is entitled to claim the right to Mr Purves' services as her counsel, and consequently that Mr Purves cannot now, without the consent of the plaintiff, return her retainer has been accept one from the defendant. Of course, this opinion is based upon the existing rules on retainers."

The terrible Tay Bridge disaster was recalled to mind by an extraordinary discovery on the coast of Norway. There has just been picked up at Trondhjew what is supposed to be a door from one of the carriages forming pari oT^the ill-fated tiain that fell from the bridge. It is described as being half covered with blue satin and paped with horeshair. It is provided ■with brass handles and lock, and bears on the inside the number 414" The door has been sold by public auction as wreckage, but it is still in the possesion of the purchaseis, who think it probable that somebody in Britain may like to possess it

'•The late Lean ' Backhaus, of Sandhurst left property worth £150,000 to the church, making no provision for his relatives, some of whom are in comparatively humble circumstances.