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Lyttelton Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1322, 24 November 1864, Page 3

Two Mayors.—A late Australian exchange contains the following morceau :—" The long-standing dispute about the mayoralty of Footscray (near Melbourne) appears at length to have called for some interference on the part of the authorities. For some time past, the borough has been governed, or rather misgoverned, by two councils, one body ranking themselves under Mr. Stevens, who. they contend, is the rightful mayor, and the other body following the standard of Mr. Francis Brown, about whose title to the coveted position they have no doubt whatever. Of late these two councils have been in the habit of meeting under their respective mayors, and of enacting measures of an antagonistic kind. In accordance with this practice, a meeting was advertised to be held last night by Mr. Stephen's council, for the purpose of striking a rate ; but when burgesses arrived at the usual meeting house, which is Government property, being also used as a court of petty sessions, they were informed by the constable in charge that he had received authoritative instructionß to permit neither of the councils until such time M the dispute had been settled and he had received further instructions, to enter the building. The farce has thus been brought to a close, and active steps will no doubt be taken to re-establish our municipal council upon a legal and proper footing." To Prevent Cattle from Jumping Fences.— We lately learned a curious remedy te prevent steers from jumping fences which is so easy of application and appears so effectual that we give it to the public. It is simply to clip off the eyelashes of the upper lids with a pair of scissors, and the ability or disposition to jump is as effectually destroyed M Sampson's power was by the loss of his locks. The animal will not attempt a fence ■until the eyelashes are grown again. Of this we are informed by Samuel Thome, the great breeder of Duchess County, who assured us that he had tested it upon a pair of very breachy oxen. As it was of great value to him he hopes it will be tried by others.—New York Tribune.

How to Plough an Orchard.—There was a man who said that he objected to have horses among his fruit trees, on account of the single-tree barking them. If he will do as Ido he will have no trouble. First, a gentle horse with chain harness. Hitch the trace chain direct; then take an old scytheanath and cutoff about 2-J feet of.the crookedest part; sharpen both ends so that it will go into one of the traces, then put it under the horse just forward his hind legs, and stick each end into the chains, then get a stretcher about eight inches, and put it as close to the plough as he can; this will give the horse plenty of room for his hind feet, and He can walk right against the trees or bushes and never injure them. ~ ■ Increased Growth of Plants in Moonlight.— J B. Cressineer, Sullivan, Ashland County,expresses his conviction that the growth of plants is considerably ereater in moonlight nights than during tu6 moon's dark period. This he proves by marking time and space at the ends of growing vines of vanous sorts.