MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1215, 3 January 1883, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

Mr William Elder, of Port Chalmers, manager of a company which fitted out the whaling barque Spjendid, now lying at Lyttelton, visned that vessel on Friday, when he received from Captain Earle 884lbs of ambergris, extracted from one whale. Mr Elder estimates the value of the ambergris at £45,000, and as it is stated that commodity sells at £4 10s an ounce, his estimate does not appear to be excessive. The Splendid is said to be " a full ship," so that her owners must have done well with her this

voyage,

Spain (says an English paper 1 ) continues to afford a secure refuge for fraudulent English debtors. A north country lawyer, who formerly occupied a large mansion near a great Yorkshire borough, some time ago fled from the country, leaving behind him numerous creditors, who have just heard that their fugitive debtor is living in Barcelona at ease and in luxury. He calls himself " Senor," though he is ignorant of Spanish and speaks no language but English. Here, with his wife, an infant child, a couple of dogs, and several servants, he is living in perfect safety owing to the absence of a treaty providing for extradition of such offenders between England and Spain.

One of the difficulties of manipulating the Naval Brigade on shore is to get them to understand military words of command. I can sypathize with the staff officer who tried, but in vain, to get a battalion of sailors to manoeuvre round the corner of a house. He gave all the orthodox, and regulation words of command — "right wheel," " bring the left shoulder forward," etc. — but Jack remained obstinately fixed. At last a naval officer who solved the question. " Get them round that hourse 1 Is that all you want ? Here ! Blaejackets," he cried, " luff, and weather that house." The sailors were round the corner in a twinking. — London World.

'Is it a fact,' asked one young lady of another Austin young lady,' ' that you have consented to marry young Spooney and are going to be mai'ried right off?' 'Yes, we are engaged.' ' Why, he has not got any money ; he is ugly and he's dying with consumption ;he won't live two months. ' ( That's the very reason I marry him. Black is so becoming to me that I ought to have been a widow years and years ago.'