MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume IX, Issue 1474, 24 November 1884, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

A Mr Brown, oi South Melbourne, •wrote to one of the Melbourne papers lately as follows: — "I have just returned from Sydney, where I was a witness in the case on September 25. I picked Orton out of a number of others (whom I had not seen for thirty years), and upon examination of his left hand I found the same large scar there as 1 had left it in 1853, aud I am prepared to state, without the slightest fear of contradiction, being so certain, so sure, and so positive that he (the lunatic now in Pairauiatta Asylum under the name of Ciesswell) is the real Arthur Orton who brought the Shefland ponies out from England to Hob:wt in the ship Middluton in the beginning of the year 1853, and I will challenge the whole world to deny lny identification."

A very narrow escape from a serious railway accident occurred on November 4. Tlte 'No t!i Ot-iao Times' reports that a little child, wh..se parents reside close to the railway line near the north town boundary, wandered on to the line, and as tho train from Timaru approached was in actual danger of being run over. The enginedriver did all in his power to atop the train before reaching the child, bu was nnaiile to do so. Fortunately, however, the child fell between the rails, and managed to escape through the cow-catcher passing over it. and was picked up uninjured. The es<-ape •was a narrow one and bnt for the fuet that the child lei! between the rails there wonitl have been a fatal accident.

Miss Minnie Palmer, an American actress, who has been playing in London and the provinces, has, on her return home, been interviewed by a reporter of the " Morning Journal." The account is ushered in by two head lines — " Hearts atMinnie'sFeet" *nd "An American girl who befuddled English Lords." The interview took place in the evening, and " Miss Pal mer was elegantly attired in a pale blue satin dress trimmed with white duchesse lace, with slippers and hose to match, and a hat which lovingly set off her dainty blonde beauty. Around her neck she wove a most exquisite necklace, composed oi a double row of

a- very large diamonds numbering 175 ie gems. This was presented to her by ■«• one of the nobility of England. A a lovely bracelet of turquoise, rubies and ir pearls (the American colors) encircled ig : her da'nty sviist, and huge solitairo^ c ' glistened in her ears," Mr Astor's Mtnv \atchu the Nonrma- *' hal, • l Pall Mai! G.iz-tte" (in a recent '" issue) says, is Avort-hy a millionaire. H Externally the Noimnahal is said o he a yacht of grand proportions and '» rakisii beauty, capable of a!l-:ou:id-tho--1 World expioiutio.s, ami of .strength "suifisicnt to laivgli at the fi.ful nviods ' ,)f tho ocean.'' Internally thse is a l " iVo;-|(.l of roO !1, Supplied With eVi»rV c k:iown novelty of ao ; >:o\vd excellence, ■ while the finish, filtings, and decora- : tious ure of <-t Vo'i'y cu-">tiy nature, and ' '• magMiiiivnt in their exquisite, simV plicity." The. main siloon is finished f in wiiito mahogany throughout in the 'i .\IiXK-ish style. Tuore is Boi>>et!iing 1 / regal about the linings of this aparl ■ i menr. The. ceiling; and bairns are 1 ii lished in white ni.iliog.viy, with ' ! a::ritctive frescoed pair-Is. In the ■ uontie of tiio lui'iti! arched skylight ' tilere liangs >\ massive :i.:id elaborately - constructed Morrish chandelier, finish ' ed in gold bronze and oxidised silver, 1 lolilmg four oil lamps and eigiit 1 electric lamps. Mirrors are lilted ■ over the mantel and between the side 1 lights, a:id also on either side of the large doors. The room will be up- • holsti-red in blue plush and tiinnued \ with old gold p;isseineiir.erie. The cur tains aiv mide to match the furniture, ; and th • H >or carpeted with a haudsoine Dutcli rug and l»I:ie Axminister lilting to nvitch the covering. Mr 1 Astor's privritp apartments rtre fitted no in tho most sumptuous fish.on, and ill the art of the decorator has been 1 lavished on th« ladies' quarters. The Noivnmhal is 250 ft long, slie spreads, 700Jft of canvas, and her engines 1 ire 1-100 horse power. Mr Sam Mendel, who for more than 20 years was one of the merchant prinresof Manrhaster, died recently nt Balham, aged 72. At the height of his prosperity Mr Mendel is said to have p-iid income tax ou £300,000 a year. He retired from business in 1875, when his collection of pictures, which was regarded as one of the finest in the North of E-'gland, was sold at Christie's for £97,997. He is stated to have expended in the purchase of his pictures and statuary, and in building and furnishing his mansion, Manely Mall, Whalley Range, a sum of £250,000. After retiring from the Manchester j i-iiuK- Mr Mendel is understood to have •vi-raged in sp.' dilations, some of which were successful, but others so disastrous as to leave him nt his death poor in comparison with his former . state Every one of these, and other moneyed jumbos whom I might men tiou, have a score of little millionaires ridinjj on their backs, and who have gone under the waves with them. The big bonanza farmers of the Northw«><t.ern States are breaking up their monster aggregations, and are selling I them out to smaller men who do not i have to plough by trustee. With ! steel vails at L's 2s per ton, the luxuriant prosperity of the once geldplated rail combination has departed. . From across the st-a the same cry is heard, that wealth, which has lapped . 1 generations in ea«e, is leaking away. ! The London 'Economist' tells us; that not one-fifth of the property put j I up at auction is sold ; that agricultural ; land in England is practically unsaleable, and that the lords of Great Britain who have been its landlords \ are liPeoming bmknipt. The American homestead laws have tapped their i monopoly. One thing seems clear, viz., that human gre-eel has overleaped itself along the line of millionaires fro n the railway kings of America to the land barons of Great Britain, and that covetus fingers have grabbed fortunes too large to be kept. The American apples per Zealandia were allowed to be landed at Sydney. Importers pointed out that the codlin moth had been in the colony 25 or 30 ! yeors, and only existed iv neglected i orchards. Skinny Men.— "Wells' I'ealth Renewer, " restores health and vigor cures Dysppesia, I.npotence, Debility. At druggists. K» inpthorn ■, Prosser k Co., Agents, Christrhu -ch. The only safe and sure cine for Gravel or Urinary troubles, is Hop .Bitters. Prove it. Read.