MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1196, 17 November 1882, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Velbourne detectives have been engaged during the last few weeks collecting evidence for the purpose of making another attempt to put down the " sweep " system, which has grown to such enormous extent in connection with the Melbourne Cup meeting during the last years. They have succeeded in about 12 cases in collecting evidence upon which it is proposed to institute proceedings at an early date. ■ he matter is now under the consideration of the Crown I aw department, but owing to the interference of the ' olice Commission with the Detective department, it is impossible (according to the Argus) that anything further will be done until after the Cup meeting. The following circular has recently been received in I unedin: — "Headquarters of alvation Army, London, August 30, 1882.— You will be glad to hear that we are fully resolved to send officers to ew Zealand as soon as possible. We have just sent off a major and a large number of officers and soldiers to Australia, and he is instructed as quickly as possible to establish at least one central station in each of the colonies, so that we hope before the year is over you may hear of th ? Salvation Army in New Zealand. We are always thankful for kind letters and promises of help, although we do not rely on them entirely, as we have almost always found that where a good soul-saving work is done the means are very soon forthcoming to support it on the spot — . Wilton." Philadelphia!! advised his son to aim high in life, and the lad went out and shot a cow. Beef was about the highest tiling he could find to aim at. A clever escape was recently madu from the Birmingham county gaol. A young man named Andrew Konyon, was sentened last July to three months hard labor, and was set to work painting the Governor's house. During the temporary absence of his guard the prisoner went into the house, put on a black coat, in place of the one supplied him by the prison regulations, changed his hat for a smoking-cap, and taking up a silk umbrella, left the house. Thus attired, he sauntered through the yard to the prison gate and after wishing the sentry " Good day," made the best of his way toward town. The heirs of Pius IX, have commenced a suit against the Italian Government to recover the sum of £600,000 the annuity for the last Jiva years of the Pope's life, which the Government set apart for his Holiness in exchange for the revenues that he formerly enjoyed from Pontifical property. The fastest time ever made in the United States by a train of three pas senger cars was made recently, when a party of journalists from Philadelphia, Baltimore, and other places, were whirled to Cape May over the West Jersey Railroad. The trip of 81 £ miles was accomplished in 83, V minutes, the run to Millville of 41 "miles was made in 42 minutes. Many of the miles, especially after Millville ha 4

been passed, were covered in less than 50 seconds. Speaking of Mr Wickesnew venture the Westport Times says.— Mr Wickes, whose name is a household word on the Coast, and who may fairly claim to have been one of the founders of the -<eefton mining district, and has since beou known as the apostle of the overland railway— is the Manager of the Mining Kxchange. With characteristic shewdness he has had made a pyramid, «*- ----hibiting, in tangible form, the amount of golfl produced by twenty R-v.*--n mines during a period of ten years, from March, 1872, when quartz-mining on the Coast was initiated, until March, 1882. Themassofthepyraraed represents a total of 16,667 pounds troy, of the value of £860,000. The actual capital called up by the companies amounted to tfnly £36,209 6s Bd, and the net results already paid to shareholders in dividends was £273, 144 16s. or nearly eight times the capital invested, while the value of the minirjf property renaining in the hands of the shareholders is incalculable. It is no wonder that results such as these excitp the interest of investors, and will lead to the plentiful capital of the colony being applied to the development of our immense mining riches, and create a production of wealth undreamed of at present. We have thus referred at some length to the Western Mini; g 1 xchange, as we look upon the institution as an important one from a local point of view. It is calculated to serve as the means for bringing the Buller quartz mines prominently before the notice of Canterbury capitalists, and inducing an interest in them which cannot fail to be profitable to.all concerned.