MISCELLANEOUS.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1055, 14 February 1878, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

An English clergyman and a Lowland Scotsman visited one of the best schools in Aberdeen. They were strangers, but the master received them civilly and inquired,' Would you prefer that I should sneer these boys, or that you should speer them yourselves?" The English clergyman, having ascertained that to "speer" meant to question, desired the master to proceed, lie did so with great success, and the boys answered satisfactorily numerous interrogations as to the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. The clergyman then said he would be glad in his turn to ''speer', the boys, and at once began, '■ How did Pharoah die ?" There was a dead silence. In this dilemma the Lowland gentleman interposed. " I think, sir, the boys are not accustomed to your English accent; let me try what [ can make of them." And he inquired in his broad Scotch 1100 did Phawroah dee ?" Again there was a dead silence ; upon which the master said, " I think, gentlemen, you can't speer these boys : I'll show you how to do it." And he proceeded : " Fat cam to Phawroah at his hinder end I" The boys answered promptly, "He was droonedand, in addition, a smart fellow commented, " Ony lassie could hae teld you that." Melbourne opinion does not consider that the result of the late cricket match between the Australian Eleven and the Combined Fifteen of Canterbury placed the former at any disadvantage. A great compliment is paid to the New Zealanders in the following from the Daily Tela graph: —" There can be no question that the ('ombined Fifteen is by far a stronger team than was ever opposed to Lillywhite's men, and the conclusion is, therefore, inevitable that the Australian Eleven is superior to the last All-England team that honored us with its presence. This being so, we can view their departure for England as representatives of Australia with every confidence that the cricketing reputation of the colonies will not suffer in their hands. They have placed a large number of matches already against longer odds than the Englishmen, and it is a significant fact that they have not yet lost a single game.—The ChrLstchurch Press, speaking of the defeat of the Australian Eleven says : —As this is the first time that they have been beaten, it is a victory of which our players may well feel proud. In Sydney they played the next Fifteen and won by four wickets. Besides these matches they have played several twenty-twos and have never been defeated, and was left to the good fortune of Canterbury to have the first honor. Before the match was commenced much was said about the self-conceit of some of the Canterbury players in deciding to play a Fifteen instead of an Eighteen, but the result has certainly justified the decision of those who had to settle this question. The play throughout the match has been superior to any yet shown in matches against this province, and the public of Canterbury have had an opportunity of seeing some superior play on both sides. The fielding of both teams was grand, and was well worth seeing. The Southland Times says—That the proposed line of railway from Core to the Elbow has found some favor in the eyes of the Government, we may state that before leaving Invercargill, Mr Carruthers, engineer-in-chief, instructed Mr John Aitken, surveyor of this town, to make a flying survey of the proposed line, after that a working survey. Other countries (says the Southland Xeics) have their "religious difficulty"in the matter of education, as well as New Zealacd. lor instance, the Indian journals are already discussing in what religion the thousands of children who have been made orphans by the famine are to be brought up ? The question is curious one. If these children are to be brought up by the State ought they to be taught a religion other than that professed by their parents ? If not, is the State to recognise Siva and Vishnu as legitimate gods? Apparently, neither the authorities nor the people care much for "secular" education, which, one would think

would just suit the position. Between being well paid while at work, and posthumous honours afterwards, newspaper writers are getting recogni od in the Old Country. A Home paper remarks that au unusual honour is about to be paid a journalist. A memorial to the late Alexander Kussel has been set 011 foot by way of acknowledging his service as editor of the Scotsman, to the Liberal cause. It lias not yet been decided what form the memorial shall take, but already about £2OOO has been subscribed by a large number of our most distinguished politicians (including Lord Hartington), in sums from £6O to one guinea.

A most extraordinary freak of nature is now being exhibited in Melbourne, in the shape of a dwarf only thirty inches high. He is a native of Geelong, is 25 years of age, weighs 45lbs, and has lost the use of one of his tiny legs.