General Intelligence.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXVII, Issue 1361, 21 May 1895, Page 3

General Intelligence.

The rate of interest paid by the Government through the Post Office Savings Bank, which is having the effect of diverting deposits from the banks, and keeping money relatively dear, continues to be the subject of adverse comment. Some of the Government broadsheets (s.ys Truth) have ventured to suggest the country should subscribe a piece of heavy plate or a first class halo for Treasurer Ward, by whose brilliant financing our public debt is increased. Some persons are too comical. They nearly provoke us to smile. Great amusement (says the Southern Standard) was caused during the hearing of an assault case between the Chinamen at Waikai last week. Each one, when asked how he would be sworn, said, nonchalantly “Oh, killnm cock, smellum book, allee same, no matter.” The Christchurch Press suggests that candidates for the position of M.H.R. should pass an examination for the degree of M.H.R. This would prevent a constituency being represented entirely by thickheadedness, What would the qualifications require to be? A. good Hard week’s work at some occupation requiring brains would weed out a large number of ineligibles. The Minister for Education will, I am told (says the Wellington correspondent of the Daily Times), introduce during the coming session a Teacher’s Appeal Court Bill. Hitherto, the teachers in the employ of the State have had no recourse excepting at common law, against wrongful dismissal or other injuries affecting their position in the service. The proposed bill will set up the tribunal that will deal wiili all such sases, and ensure redress if injustice has been inflicted^ The Journal de VRorlogerie declares that a new amalgam has been discovered which is a wonderful substitute for gold. It consists of ninety-lour parts of copper and six parts of antimony. The copper is melted and antimony is then added. Once the two metals are sufficiently fused together, a little magnesium and carbonate of lime are added to increase the density of the material. The product can be drawn, wrought, and soldered just like gold, which it almost exactly resembles on being polished. Even when exposed to the action ot aramoniacal salts or nitrous vapors it preserves its color. The cost of making it is about Is pound avoirdupois. It is said that the New Zealand Estates Company has approached Ministers with a proposal to legalise a gigantic lottery for the purpose of disposing of £850,000 worth of the Bank of New Zealand assets. The bill to authorise this is repotted to be in an advanced stage of preparation, and although Ministers may not dare to introduce it as a Ministerial measure, they are inclined, it is believed, to look favorably on the project. If such an amount of assets could, in this or any other manner, be realised it would, of course, relieve the Government, as well as the bank and the Estates Company, of some difficulty. What Parliament will have to say to the proposal remains, however, to be seen, it is sure to meet with raucli opposition as well as with considerable support. The son of a Melbourne clergyman was sent up to a station to obtain colonial experience, and they found him the very mildest son of a clergyman who ever handled a tarpot. (Jn his first mastering experience he was directed to ride along a fence and drive all the sheep he met to a certain point, and there wait till the other men joined him. Very soon he was seen riding rapidly over to the manager, who was about half a mile distant. When he reached him he asked—- “ There is a ewe with a lamb asleep over there, sir ; shall I wake them up ?” ’< Certainly,” replied the genial manager. Wake them by all means and bring them along. If the ewe makes any complaint, tell her it was by my orders, and that I take all “ responsibility.” Ah, if all managers were like that, how much happier would the life of colonial experience men be.