MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume IX, Issue 1439, 3 September 1884, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Melbourne Age says : — ° A "German named William Poppens, who in July last absconded from Wellington, New Zealand, in which city he carried on, business as a hotelkeeper, was arrested by Detectives Ward and Mahoney on a provisional warrant under the new Fugitive Offenders Act It was very evident that the absconder — who filed his schedule and left the Colony whilst his examination ■was pending — intended proceeding to Europe, as, when he was searched at the detective office, passage tickets for himself, his wife, and two children by the steamer John Elder, which sailed yesterday, were found upon him, to gether, with 53 sovereigns, and a bank •draft for a large snin besides. The ticket, for which he had paid £78, was made out in the name of George Wallace, that being his wife's maiden "name. Upon searching Mr Poppen's "boxes at the hotel at which he was staying, a valuable discovery was made by the detectives, who despite the assurance of Mrs Poppens that there was no money in her husband's boxes, found two v.ol.gold coin, pne, of -which contained 50Q and jjhe other 1 00 ■sovereigns. When arrested, and asked whether he had any money in his possession, Poppens stated that he had only about £200 altogether, but nearly -£700 was found, of which the police have taken charge. Poppens, who came to this city on Wednesday evening, from Sydney overland, has been identified, by one of his creditors who came over from New Zealand to make inquiries about him." A Hungarian highwayman named Favanyu Joszi, who has for some time past levied a regular blackmail from the farmers, and for whose head a large sum had been offered, has finally been captured. He used to live like * gentleman at fashionable bathingplaces, and nobody dared to denounce him. When Madame Edward Adam recently travelled in his province, one •of her friends announced that she wished the robber to send her his photograph, whereupon she received a postcard .with the polite promise that *he should have it in Paris. We are informed that the following important petition has. been forwarded to the Deacons' Court of Knox Church Dunedin : — " Your hum'.le servant, Ah Sam, is extremely desirous of giving the benefits of hia superior skill and peculiar foot shampoo to the halt and maimed, the deaf and blind of those of your poor people suffering from divers ailments among you. Your servant was born near Sevenhwafoo, which is near eight league to the northwest of the truly great wall — not far from that ancient caravan entrepot, Tsohangkia Eeaon, the avenue through which what little you ovalheads know of medicine came to you. I do hot wish to praise the charms of my powers, but Ido desire to obtain from you the use of your building known as the old Knox Church on the same terms as you have given it to my oval headed brother Mister Milner Stehnn — that is, you grant me free use of the building, the great shadow and patronage of your presence ; and in return I will give the poor my free advice, but make a small collection at the door for my elixir of poecillia Kamtschatkjensis and my Mongolian lubricator. Yours in all brotherly affection, A§ Sam Winkeyb, the great Chinese charmer and electrical extractor." — Evening Star. * The keas have found a rival in the seagulls who are rapidly, " evolving" in irttrtton eaters. The Lake Wanaka Correspondent of the Wakatipu Mail

writes : — The gulls may frequently be seen flying the mountain tops iv. flocks of about 12 or 20 strong, driving keas away from the carcass of they (the keas) have killed — sometimes tearing at them before life has left the bodies. Between the three pests — rabbits, keas, and gulls — the sheep are having a trying time of it." The Mormon hierarchy had iv the field last year more missionaries tban the American board. .Elaborate preparations are being made for another Maid of the Mist voyage through the whirlpool rapids at the Fulls of Nigara. the trip was proposed for some iay during the present month. It will excite great interest, from the fact that a man will make the voyage on the boat in full sight of spectators. A paddle-box Sbcurity, which will be fastened on her deck, and reaching up to a man's waist is now being constructed. Around the top of the box an iron railing of gas-pipe will be fastened to serve as a hold for the dauntless passenger. He will be dressed hi blue tights, so that he can be readily distinguish throughout the trip. This reckless voyager is a Buffalo mechanic of powerful frame and an excellent swimmer. His name is withheld for family reasons. A purse of 500 dollars will be made up for him; and propositions have been already made to various railways in relation i to the enterprise, on the condition that this man shall receive a percentage on the Niagara Falls business on the roads for that day. — New York exchange.