LASSO DUELLING.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 2, Issue 129, 24 July 1895, Page 3

LASSO DUELLING.

Of all the curious weapons used in a duel that of tho Hispano-Indian cowboys in the valley of tho Bio Grand del Norte seems the most strange. These wild folks lead a half-savage life among their herds, living on maize and beans and eternal beef, Cjueuching their thirst with the fermented, juices of tho Maguey plant. The Yaqueroß carry a long lasso, and. their skill with it is almost miraculous in the eye of a chanco spectator. All are extraordinarily clover, but the man with a real genius in lasso throwing is as much dreaded by his neighbours as tho noted pistol shot of somo more civilised community. Por duels in Bio Grand del Norte are fought with the lasso, and it is seldom indeed that they end with less than death to one of the combatants. In a battle illustrated by 1 Black and White ' both men have found their mark, but one has dropped his lasso too wide and it has fallen to the others waist, whereas the victor has caught his foe fairly by the neck. In another moment the doomed man will be off his horse, and if his neck is not broken by the fall ho will bo dragged across the plain at a gallop till the life leaves him, while his conqueror spurs his snorting steed and ecroams like a devil. Then tho incident will bo closed, and tho great cavalcade moves onward upon its dusty way.

GOLD MINING IN SCOTLAND. The County Council of Sutherlandshire is just now making a very interesting experiment. In May it selected sixteen men for the purpose of finally testing the so-called goliiiields of Kildonan. Twenty diggers were advertised for, but seemingly there is to be no 'rush,' and it is curious that only one local man applied for a claim, the rest hailing from Edinburgh, Glasgow, and London. Operations are to be carried on for three months, each digger having a claim of foity feet square. The experiment will be watched with interest, for while tho existence of gold in the district has been proved, doubts prevail as to the quantity. It was in 1869 that the metal was first discovered in the district. A nativo of tho county, who had spent a long timo in Australia, found some in tho Kiidonan Burn. Further search was made with the result that gold was discovered in most of the burns about the place, Suisgill being the richest. The usual 'fever' at once broke out, and even the fishwives with their creels on their backs might be seen at the diggings. The present Duke of Sutherland, in a communication to tho County Council, stated that 'during 1809-70-71 thegold fields were systematically worked both by men skilled in mining, and also by some hundreds of residents in the country, at one timo as many as 500 people being engaged in tho work.' It did not, he add?, pruve remunerative to the workers. The County Council, however, decline to admit the fairness of the trial, nor do they admit that tho official returns give the correct amount of gold obtained. The then Duke of Sutherland charged a license fee of £1 per month, aud the Government exacted a royalty of 10 per cent, A NEW BILLET FOE TH B PREMIES.

An amusing incident is told by the West Coast Times The Premier has a variety of duties thrunt upon him, but one he was called upou to perform at Kuuiara recently fairly "takes the cake." He was accosted by a man engaged breaking road metal for the Survey Department, who said—"Mr Seddon, I know you are a fair man, I want you to measure some stones for me.'' ' The Premlr did not deny the tribute of praise, but demurred to the task. Tue man explained his reason. "Jones has been measuring the stones for the Sur/ey Department aud makes the quantity too little ; if he measures the timber for royalty the fame way the Government are losing thousands of pounds in royalties every year. I know you are a fair man, and will see justice done to me." Even a Premier is human, and consequently he could not retist the appeal. A party then set out far the Bcene of opeiations, consisting of the Premier, the resident engineer, the overßeer, and au interesting public Arriving at the head of bioken metal the tape was used, and sure enough, it was found the man was not allowed full measure. This put the others on the thorns of doubt, and they insisted theirs should be measured also. The tape was again requisitioned, and all were found to have been correctly measured except one man, who had been allowed too much. Mr Seddon says it is his most singular experience since he has been Premier, aud he doubts if any other Premier haß a similar taie to tell.

NEW BOAT-LOWERING APPARATUS.

Mr George Holford, second officer of the Union Company's steamer Ovalau, has invented and patented a boat-lowering apparatus, which he has named "The Non-lifting, selftipping chocks for Bhips' boats." From the working inodol which Mr Holford has constructed, the invention appears to be of great value, the whole of the arrangements being free from the complications which are the great troub'6- with inventions of this character. The boat rests upon "chocks" in the usual way way, but the chocks are so constructed that they tie up, and the davits (which are also fitted in the usual way,) are further apart than the length of boat, allow free action when the boat, is swung out. The inventor claims that boats fitted with his patent can be swung out, and lowered into the water in 10 seconds. The invention has been inspected by a large nnmber of gentlemen interested in shipping, and it is agreed that the new invention is one worthy of trial by the larger shipping companies trading in these w titers.