CLIPPINGS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8588, 15 September 1893, Page 4

CLIPPINGS.

Major-General Simon Fiaser, who is I hereditary chief ot the Fraser clan, is (ifc is stated) about to present a petition to the Queen to restore to him the title of Earl of Ros3, which was forfeited by his ancestor duiinsr the Jacobite troubles. General Fraser i partly bases his case upon his military service. The Frasers were nearly related to King Robert Bruce.

The largest salmon exposed for sale in London of recent years lately reached the metropolis. The fiah weighed 681b, and is 53in in length, and 30£ in in girth. The record salrncn, " The King of Scots," was taken in 1870, and weighed 70lb, its length being 53in, and its girth 31£iru Both fish came from the Tay.

The shrinkage of trade through the seaport of Melbourne is significautly illustrated by a comparison of the wharfage and pilotage rates collected daring the past two years. In 1891-92 the wharfage came to £183,157, bat in 1892-93 it fell to £124,465; and the pilotage in those two periods was £30,225 and £24,294 respectively. The total receipts were £213,382 in 1891-92 and £144,759 in 1892-93, a decrease of £68,623. Of the people who talk about local Indus- j

i tries (says the Sydney Daily Telegraph) j probably very few know that one of the very biggest industries in Australia is that of "Messrs Williamson and Masgrove. Hundreds of people are employed, and hundreds of pounds go to ihem weekly when the traditional ghost enjoys his heb- ; domadal promenade. A month or «g-s j the output of the firm in salaries and ot!v-r ■ expenses was over £3000 per week—ail in cash, too, which is almost as rare as the amount paid.

The sale of the Onslow heirlooms was (s»ys the World) oue of the best of a good season. The picture of Napoleon crossing the Alps fetched only 750 guineas. It was painted for the late Lord Onslow by Delaroche, in consequence of a discussion respecting the historical accuracy of David's picture of the same subject, representing Napoleon on a fiery steed among the Alpine passes. Lord Onslow thereupon commissioned Delaroche to go to the locus in quo, and secure as models the mule and muleteer whose services were actually employed. The two Ruysdaels fetched 2500 guineas ; a pair of cabinets, £24,152; a pair of 20in silver fire dogs, close upon £500. The porcelain was also disposed of for high prices.

Oddly enough (says the Daily Neics, adverting to the crisis in Siam), the Siamese j Commodore's name is more French tlian the j French Admiral's. It is Arniand Duplessia de Richelieu—the same as that of the great Cardinal, who also by a strange coincidence was himself au Admiral at the siege of La Rochelle. The only known representative of the Cardinal's family is the Duchess of Monaco, who does not recognise the Siamese Admiral as related to her. The Admiral believes himself to be a descendant of a Richelieu who emigrated after the edict of Nante3. He is described as being fair, with reddish j hair, aud of a distinctly German type of j face, and he speaks French, German, and English. Twenty years ago he appeared in Siam, and got into Government employment as master of a small cutter. Since then his rise has been rapid, and he has the reputa- | tion of being an excellent seaman. He has been a Minister. j

As at present constituted, the Russian hierarchy is composed of sixty-three bishops and thirty-four diocesan vicars-general. Oα an average each bishop has the spiritual jurisdiction of 550 parishes and 900 churches. The distribution of the hierarchal authority is consequently considered inadequate, more especially as new eparchiatea are continually being created. The Holy Synod is therefore drawing up a scheme for considerably increasing the number of diocesans and coadjutor vicars. His Majesty gives particularly close attention to the religious requirements of his subjects, and any ecclesiastical reform elaborated under the aegis of M. Fobedonostzeff, Moderator of the Russian Propaganda, is always readily accepted and confirmed by the Czar.

A pannikin of "illicit" beer is said to have rendered a Victorian constable insensible for several hours, and this alarmiug circumstance being reported to the permanent head of the .Customs department, he immediately despatched one of his experts to inquire into the circumstances. The report from this gentleman (says the Age) satisfactorily explains the mystery. It is cot unusual to find illicit traffic in alcoholic liquors where large numbers of working men are congregated, especially in the country, and the Customs officers take care to exercise a little supervision in such cases. In this way two casks of beer were seized in the country and placed at the house of the local constable for safe keeping. The police officer, on his return from a long ride, feeling hot and thirsty, was tempted to help himself to a pannikin of the liquor. He'managed to stable his horse, and then fell down insensible, and was found lying in the stable in that condition by his wife. The Customs expert opened the cask from which the beer was taken, and discovered six plugs of dark tobacco nailed to the head, but the beer in the other cask appeared to be unadulterated. It is stated that the heartless villaiu who carrisd on the illicit traffic always allayed his customers' thirst with a mixture consisting of the two beers, so that it took more than one drink to lay them out.