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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 7, Issue 461, 3 February 1864, Page 3

A Snake m a Church. — On Sunday afternoon last, during the performance of divine worship at St. Luke's Church, Albertoa, just as the reader wa3 commencing the creed, a young boy who was sitting in one of the front pews, suddenly exclaimed, " a snake 1 a snake 1 " at the same time pointing with his hand in the direction of the communion table. The reader paused, and turning towards the spot to which the boy pointed, said, " Yes, there is a snake." Upon which two young men (sons of Mr. E. T. Newton, of Alberton) left the pew in which they were sitting and proceeded to the place indicated. On reaching the communion table, one of them (Mr. E. Newton) removed the chair on the north side of the table and perceived the snake twining its way between the table and the wall, and, with admirable coolness and courage, he seized the reptile by the tail, and dragged it from its hiding place, while his brother, with equal coolness, planted his heel firmly on the head of the snake, and bruised it so that it died. The intruder was then removed from the church and the service was resumed. Few persons, perhaps, would have the temerity to grapple with so venomous and dangerous an antagonist, and great credit is due to them both for their prompt and energetic action. The reptile was of the diamond species, and was nearly three feet long. A bystander on looking* at the snake afterwards outside the church, perhaps irreverently (however, for this once we forgive him) expressed re,gretthat the "old" serpent could not be as effectually disposed oi.—Gifpg Land Guardian. Genuine cross-readings from newspapers are oftentimes more bizarre than any made up ones. Here is an example from a country contemporary : — " A number of gentlemen, amongst whom were Messrs. Ryan, Cutt, Gardiner, Alex. Walker, E. Goldsbrough and Co. Ambrose Kyte, W. T. D. Irvine, and others, have signed a certificate that when they were dipped they .were in a moat emaciated and diseased condition, and that now they are perfectly healthy and the wool growing equal to that on sheep that had never, been diseased. — Melbourne Paper. In Tasmania half-crown postage stamps have been lately issued ; the following description of the engraving given in the Launceaton Examiner will whet the desire of stamp collectors to possess themselves of specimens :—" The design of these stamps is remarkably ugly and inappropriate. It appears to represent the Colonial Treasurer nn&Q mounted on a wretched nag," —