MISCELLANEOUS.

North Otago Times, Volume XV, Issue 595, 31 January 1871, Page 4

MISCEL LANEOUS.

A Wanganui paper states that a rhubarb leaf 20 feet 9 inches in circumference " was found in Mr Thurston's warden a few days ago." A ropewalk is about to be established at Raglan, Auckland. A fisherman at Wanganui has been fined 5s. and costs for mending a net on Sunday. Auckland, says the " Herald," " has fairly earned, in point of smells and pariah dogs, the name of the Constantinople of the Pacific." The following domestic announcement appeared in the " Wellington Evening Post" of the 9th ult: —" On the 8th inst., the wife of Mr Thomas Hitson, of a daughter. (21st child)." On Thursday last a picnic, got up by the teachers of the Sunday and week-day schools at the Kakanui, took place in a paddock belonging to Messrs Bromley and Beckingsale. The scholars, accompnnied by their teachers, and provided with flags, and a kerosene lin in lieu of a band, marched from the school-room to the place appointed for the picnic, " with their banners so gay," while many spectators crowded together to witness the procession. Milk and cake were served out on their arrival, after which the scholars entered with great spirit into the games, which, were both multitudinous and multifarious, racing, swinging, foot-ball, rounders, kiss-in-the-rmg, &c, &c. About 4 p.m. tea, buns, and cake were served round ; after tea the games were resumed for about two hours, when they marched home thoroughly delighted with the days' proceedings. Before leaving the children gave three cheers for Mrs Bromley, -and three more for Mr Blane, the teacher. The Warrego correspondent of the " Pastoral Times " says : —" A report which caused a sensation reached the Bulloo a short time ago. Some of the blacks from the westward, who visit the river occasionally, reported to Mr Sub-Inspector Grilmour that a white man had been recently seen with some blacks about 150 miles west of Cooper's Creek, They described him as an old man, quite decrepit, and that when the blacks he was with removed their camp he had to be carried, being doubled up, and quite unable to work. He is also said to have been a long time with the tribe. Mr Grilmour, with a party of native police under his command, went out to the locality described on hearing the report. He is now expected back. There is nothing known of any person being missing from this side, and the place spoken of being so far from the coast, the natural hone is that it may be a survivor from Leichardfc's party. Notwithstanding the many false reports, and the disappointments wo have already experienced, the mystery which involves the fate of that gallant explorer may yet be cleared up."

Colonial Manufactures —A prospectus appears io the Marlborough papers of the Alarlborough Wool and Flax Company, with a capital of L5000, m 5000 shares of LI each, for the purpose of setting up a manufactory in Blenheim of woollen cloths, and ropes, cordage, woolbales and sacking. Partrihges.—A Christchurch paper states that n, covey of partridges, numbering eight birds, has been re peatedly seen, recently, on the estate of Mr J. C. Wilson Cashmere. The Maerewhenua. Goldfield.—There is every reason to believe that this field will yet be the scene of great activity. If Government aid were given towards bringing in a sufficient water-supply, a thousand men could make good wages —so we are confidently told by some of the diggers. Four men juit come down for provisions have brought with them 21 ozs. of gold, obtained in seventeen "shifts" —say, eight days—and that, with insufficient water. The} say that with plenty of water they could earn L12 per week per man or a twelvemonth out of their present claim. Lusus ttATvnas. — A freak of nature in the shape of a five-headed lamb, is (according to the " Mortlake Dispatch") at preseut to be seen on the Muntham station, in the Coleraine district. Connecting the five heads with the main trunk there are five tubes, through each of which food passes into th.9 throat, and from thence into the stomach. The lamb with its mother has been separated from a flock of some thousands, with wbicli jfc was running for several weeks after its birth. An offer of I/IC0 was made for tlie lamb and ewe, but refused, in tlii» T?p-iirJent Msgistrate's Court.