MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1588, 17 August 1885, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

♦- The old question about the exhibition -of the nude in our picture galleries has •(writes tho Lonclou correspondent of a contemporary) been reopened in the 4 Times' by the proverbial " British Matron." She writes as if young women ought to be taught that men, at all events, come into the world with their clothes on. Of course she Las been answered and ridiculed, and -equally of course, a "Clericus"haapnt in his spoke applauding the matron. 'This sort of subject lias always great attraction for clsi-gymon. Mr John Butt, the eminent soa-painter, has answered the" British Matron," making it rather •• hot " for that respectable person. He says: "It is dith'cnll, indeed, to account for her letter, unless it emanates from a convent, for no "* British Matron ' enn be supposed to he unaccustomed to the spectacle of undressed humanity, and we do not hear that the real article excites any auch revolting experience as she derives from the picture." The Home coirespondent of tho Dunedin Star, writing from London on June 18, says: — Sol>er-minded people who have l»een hoping against hope that one of these days the sun of the Salvation Army would sink into darkness, and be found to have l>een no more than a tallow dip, have been startled by the disclosures of General Booth at a recent meeting it Exeter Hall. Not only (according to the General) is the Army increasing in numbers and influence ; not only have they sent out " H msehold Brigades" and •• Cavalry Brigades, all in mock campaigning umforui — pike, helmets and the like ; but they are about to organise a Nivy to carry salvation to the end 3of the earth, but first to 4< The lost sheep of the house of Israel," to wit, the remote parts of the British colonies. The nucleus of this " airy " navy is a steam yacht presented by a Salvation gentleman, which will forthwith try its sailing powers along the English coast and the missionary ■capacities of its crew among onr benighted fishermen. So that after all New Zealand may have to wait some time before it be blessed with the vision of Admiral Booth's flUgship in Pacific waters, flaming its red eusum and its piratical -sounding motto of " Blood and Fire ! " Another expedition to New Guinea from Victoria is projected, the originator being Captain Strahan, who had charge of a previous expedition. The present scheme is to run on practical lines, the expedition being partly for purposes of geographical discovery, but chiefly as a business speculation. To ensure bone fide and united action, the members of theexpedition, numbering about 20, a^e to commit themselves to the extent of about £1000 each. By this rmans it is expected a sufficient sum will be obtained to charter a steamer, provide all requisites, and pay all expenses. The plan is to proceed up the Myacussa River, which offers plenty of depth for navigation, and ascertain whether, as Captain Strahan believes, it connects with the Fly River, and whether it does not form the best channel for gaining access to the interior. A writer in Society, referring to thf f>;l,,vp r>f Mr Saia's le^'ires in Mcl b->urije, remarks : —"In one sense thi< fiasco docs not surprise us. Everyone who know* anything of the Colonies and colonists is well aware that Mcl bournians are notoriously 'uppish.

Their great characteristic in an intense patriotism of the most egotistical description, which, as it generally takeg the form of vast ' blowing' a>>out their great city find great country, and the despisal of any other great city or country, renders the Melbournian oftentimes a most objectionable com panion. His conviction is that there 19 no city in the world to compare with Melbourne, no street like Collins street no pnMic building; like the Melbourne Post ufflce, House of Parliament, and Government House (the most nnsightl v building in Australia !) and no people like the Victorians. And so Melbourne has come to the conclusion that G. A. S. is but a penny a-liner compared with some of its own pressmen. Nothing could be more gratifying, howevpr than the great journalist's reception by Australians of culture and position ; and, putting the pocket out of the question, Mr Sala can, under the cir* cumstances, well afford to dispense with the appreciation of the Antipodean mob. The brilliant panegyric accorded to him by the Hon. VV. B. Palley at a dinner upon his arrival in Sydney will not soon be forgotten, particularly as the panegyrist is known and ac knowledge^ to be the most cultured man in Australia. We believe Mr Sala's Sydney season has been in every respt'et a snecess." A aged negro sat on one of th»* wharve<? at Salem, Mass, fishing. A colored boy was sitting beside him, eagerly watching the bob as it danced up and down. Suddenly the bob went under. The boy in his excitement leaned so far over the edge of the wharf that he lost his balance and fV-11 into the water. Instantly the old man rlmpped his fishing pole and jumped into the water for the boy, and after a good deal of splashing and spluttering, with the help of several men on the wharf, both wore hauled out gasping for breath. One of the men who had helped them expressed his admiration of the negro's co'uage. "That was a brace deed of yours, my man," said he " What dat ?"" asked 'the disciple of Walton, as he went to pick np his rod. " Why, you jumping in to save that boy." "Dat boy ! I doan' keer nnffin for him ? But he got all de bait in his pocket 1 " Woman holds the balance of power, and it iz a lucky thing for the world that she don't know it. Mr Farnell, the New South Wales i Minister of Lands, in the course of a banquet recently, referred to the ] education question. He said that people might go too far with a system of education. While he thoroughly concurred in imparting a proper system 1 of education, ho thought that too much \ was made of it at the present time. A ] I man could do hard work although he was an educated man, but the great danger was that they were educating a number of young men and women who would by-and-byt? be drones upon society. Tlieir yonng people thought it degrading to labour, and the aim of every yonng woman was to marry someone who would be able - to kn'p her in affluence. The object of young men was to pass the civil } service examination in order to gain . employment under the Government. , Tb«*y had no desire whatever to till the soil. ! Flies and Bugs. — Beetles, insects, roaches, ants, bedbugs, rats, mice, gophers, jack-raobits, cleared out I y "Bough on Rats." The New Zealand Drug Co., Sydney, General Agents.