MISCELLANEOUS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 810, 9 September 1887, Page 20

MISCELLANEOUS.

It is in contemplation to resume mining operations at Terawhiti at an early date. It is probable, we understand, that a oompany will be formed to work the claim of the Albion Company. ";£? The first edition of 2250- volumes of “White’s History of the Ancient Maori” has been purchased by Messrs Lyon and Blair, with the stipulation that the Government is not to issue another edition till the first is disposed of. A triangular rifle match has been-arranged to take place at the Polhill. Gully Range on Saturday, the 24th September, between the City Rides, D Battery, and Carterton Rifles. We understand the Wellington Rifles have decided to enter a team for the sword bayonet contest next month. The Distriot Musketry Instructor having reported two members of the Guards to the Officer Commanding the District for practis. ing at the rifle range without a noncommissioned officer being in charge, a district order has been issued—“ Tfiat any Volunteer firing contrary to instructions contained in par. 22S of the Volunteer Regulations of 18S7 will be severely punished.’ Rich gold mines have been found in Eastern Siberia, some few miles from Yakutsk, extending over a district hitherto unexplored. It is declared that the region is a perfect new California. Bull fighting in Spain has received a severe check. It is all very well looking on at the struggle in the ring from-a comfortable seat, but when the bull jumps over the barrier, and executes a plan of campaign on the bodies of the spectators, as happened at Saragossa recently, it becomes a serious business. It was not until he had received three bullets from a revolver and two sword thrusts that this enterprising bull expired. From the German: Four sportsmen (who have just fired simultaneously at a rabbit and failed to hit) : “ Well, I wonder who missed that time ? ” A lawyer engaged in a. case tormented a witness so much with questions that the poor fellow at last cried for water? “ There,” said the Judge, 1 ‘ I thought you would pump him dry.” Petted Bride: “Here is the bill for that fur cloak I told you about. It’s lovely.” Indulgent Husband (looking at bill) : “ Great Scott! you said you could get that cloak for a mere song.” “So I did.” “Do you say that amount represents a mere song?” “Yes; a Patti song.” Mistress (to new servant) : “We have breakfast generally about 8 o’clook.” New servant: “ Well, mum, if I ain’t down to it, don’t wait.” According to Mr R. A. Proctor, in 16,000,000 years not a drop of water will remain on the surface of the earth. This looks bad for the teetotallers. Young lady (to brother) : “Bob, what is the most fashionable color for a bride ? ” Bob: “Well, sis, I don’t know about fashion, but for me, I should prefer a white one.” A Russian, one Osig Fildmann, is just now astonishing the Parisians with thought-read-ing feats. He does not lead his subject by the hand. All he requires is to have his eyes bandaged, and to stand in front of the person selected for experiment, without touching him. Fildmann then goes to seek the article thought of, wherever it may be, and concludes hia feat.

Lawyer: “You say that the prisoner accidentally shot himself in the leg ?” Witness : “I did.” Lawyer: “Was the gun loaded?” Witness: “I don’t know.” Lawyer : “Now, then, will you please state to the jury how he shot himself ?” Witness : “Well, I suppose that the blamed old gun was like a lawyer’s mouth went off whether there was anything in it or not.” First Bon Vivant ; “’Pon my word, old man, I don’t know which is the greatest joy—wine or woman. Both sparkle, but intoxicate.” Second do : “But wine has this advantage, it improves with age; woman doesn’t.” First do : “ Well, I don’t know—she often gets just as crusty.” At an electoral meeting held at St.. Beliers, Jersey, the Mayor, advocating the adoption of the ballot, stated that in the recent election shoes had been bought from voters at £35 a pair, and eggs at £5 each. One man received £2O from each opposing candidate, and on the morning of the election sent a medical certificate to both to excuse hia absence from the poll. “ Hello ! Hello ! Is this the gas company’s office?” “Yes; what is it?” “When do the entries for the next races open ?” , “We don’t know anything about the races ; this is the gas office.” “Correct; but I thought you could tell me.” “Why; what do you want to know for?” “Oh, nothing particular ; I have a gas meter I would like to enter, that’s all.” It is said that the Church Army of the Church of Eugland has brought 3000 recruits to the Church, and has 1000 more ready for confirmation. They were mostly gathered out of saloons and the streets. The Government engineers of the Province of Quebec have completed designs for an immense cantilever bridge over the St Lawrence at Quebec. Dr Henry D. Cogswell, the San Francisco millionaire, has given 1,000,000 dols for the endowment of a school in San Francisco whore trades will be taught to any girl or boy who is qualified to be admitted as a student. . ... An autograph history of Corsica, written at Ajaccio in 1790 by Napoleon 1., has just been sold for 5500 francs. There ,is much in it which shows that the future Emperor was then a disciple of Robespierre. He speaks with the fervor of an enthnsiast of the social contract in referring to the action of the Jacobins in Corsica. He writes in an involved style and in the orthography of an uneducated person. .Professor Thorold Rogers, in tne Contemporary Review, says : “ I have no doubt that human energy has been aidod by cheap artificial light, but it may be doubted whether human health lias been bettered. In tlie’days of tallow candles —not so very long ago—people went to bed early ; in the days of gas some people seem hardly to go to bed at all.” Experiments made in Germany prove that beets and other vegetables grown in rows running north and south contain more saccharine matter than those raised in rows rh.fV’ \ ning ea3t and west.