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New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1670, 19 April 1862, Page 5

Laughable Occurrence—A Claim Jumped.— On Monday morning last, a well know miner on the Ovens River and his mate went to their claim to commence work, and when about half way down the shaft, Mac sung out at the top of bis voice, "Hold on, Wilson, I'll be blessed if some one hasn't jumped tha claim." Then, shouting down the shaft, " I say, mate, what do you want down there ? Clear out, if you don't want to be caught in squally weather." No answer was returned to the now half-enraged interrogator, who sang out to lower away, vowing all sorts of vengeance against the daring intruder, who had not only jumped his claim, but refused to answer a civil question. Another tremendous shout to "Hold hard," came thundering up the shaft. "What's the matter now?" bawled out the man from the windlass. "Why, the matter is this, I believe the devil has got into the drive, and means to keep possession.'' " What makes you think so V " Hoist me up." Mac, having now emerged to upper air, stated that a lire customer of some sort was in the drive, but he was not certain whether it was man, monkey, or " Old Scrag" himself. He was inclined to think that it was the latter, as the drive had an abominable smell of brimstone, and from a partial glimpse which he had obtained of the object, it was black, with a tail at least a yard long, and thick in proportion. The needed help was quickly obtained, and, armed to the teeth, the shaft was again descended, and it soon became evident that the drive was in possession of some party, who was called on to surrender at discretion—a sort of shuffling kind of noise and deep breathing was the only reply. Mustering a little more courage, an advance was made in the direction of the enemy, and there he was sure enough ; there was at least no exaggeration as to the size of the tail, which depended from a live kangaroo who had by some mischance tumbled down the shaft. The intruder was fairly cornered, securely tied, and hoisted up to the shatt. Some were in favour ol keeping him as a pet, but a majority of vo'.es was in favour of turning him loose again, which was done. This act of leniency, it is to be hoped, will act as a caution to him for the future, should he at any time feel inclined to jump another claim.— Wynyard Times. A teacher wishing to explain to a little girl the manner in which a lobster casts his shell when he has outgrown it, said, " What do you do when you have outgrown your clothes? You throw them aside, don't vou?" " Oh, no," replied the little girl, "we let out the twfki."