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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5272, 4 January 1879, Page 3

Major Smith, the Victorian Minister of Education, hopes before next session to be able to»give practical effect to the ideaof establishing penny savings banks in connection with State schools. A Queensland paper, referring to the power of the telephone, tells a curious story of a married lady living near Toowoomba, who had been completely deaf since childhood, and has been enabled to hear by means of a simple string-tele-phone being placed with its one end on the forehead — thus, it is contended, communicating the sound direct to her brain, independently of the ear. This fact, it is agreed, shows (says the writer) that " the organ of hearing may be actually closed, and still a sensation of hearing, of a delicate nature, be made known to the brain." / i One of the greatest curiosities in -the world was lately been exhibited in San It is the section of the tree in the world, called " Old "-' Moses." It was 240 feet in height, and at onp time was much Jiigher. The section now on exhibition measures 100 feet in circumference. The age of this tree is estimated at 4824 years, and over 200 persons can be admitted within the interior. It will be exhibited in the Eastern States, and then taken to Europe. Such a curiosity as this should attract a crowd of visitors, but it is doubtful if its equal will ever be found again. Recently, at a social gathering, Bishop Harris was invited to sing. He declined, but told the following incident as illustrative of his talent in that line. During his journey through Palestine, one evening, after he ard Mr Spencer, wlho occupied the tent with him, had gone to bed, the Bishop began humming; a tune of the olden time, called N-ew Durham. Mr Spencer joined in, and -the two began singing a verso of one of our familiar hymns. Before the vorse was finished a donkey just outside the -< - tont brayed as only a donkey in the ISast can bray. While the hills of Judea were sending back the echoes of 'Jbhis most extraordinary and untimely performance of the donkey, the Arab dragoman put his head inside the tent, and, .apoligising for his donkey, said, "Ha, you sing one tune he think he know j" [ At a festival of lawyers and editors, a . (lawyer gave a toast : — " The Editor — lie obeys the call of the devil." An editdr responded : — " The Editor and the Lawyer— the devil is satisfied with the copy of the former, but requires the original of the latter." A colored preacher in Norwich a while ago gave out the following announcement: — "Brothers and sisters, next Sunday, the Lord willing, there will be baptising in this place, the candidates beinsr four adults and three adultresses."