Miscellaneous.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume XII, Issue 1284, 21 November 1857, Page 4

Miscellaneous.

Terrific Storm at Scarborough.—During! the whole of Thursday, the 6ih instant, the ruin fell in torrents, causing the becks and streams rapidly to fill with water, and (he drains not being sufficient to carry it off, the roads were soon in a flood, running at every descent with irresistible force, and tearing up stones', trees, &c., obstructing its course. In many parts of the town tbe streets were deluged with water, which filled the houses, and causad considerable damage. In Merchant’s row, a breach was made through the Britannia Inn by the rushing water, which, taking its course down by the Leeds Hotel, tore up the pavement and foundations of the homes, In Abeideen-terrace the gardens ana walks resembled a river; the kitchens of these homes' were filled to the depth of seven feet. Large masses of earth cf several tons weight were forced from tbe Castle Cliff land, adjoining Peasbolm, Victoria-road, Aberdeen-walk, and the Plantation. Mr. Godfrey Knight, brewei, by the water rushing into his cellar had about 2000 gallons of ale and porter destroyed. The North Sands presented a deplorable aspect — broken bathing maclrnes, large trees, and quantities of wood being strewed iu all directions. In New Queeu-ctreet a large portion of the new housofs erecting there was washed down, and in other parts of the town there were similar disasters. In the outer vicinity also considerable damage was caused by the flooc. The bridge crossing the road to Eurniston was torn away, together with a portion of ti.e mill adjoining. At Scalby, Mr. William Thompson, junior, near the church, had his house waehed down, and not a vestige of it is to be seen. His furniture was also lost, Mrs. Thompson escaped with her two children not a minute before the house fell. Mrs. Carlisle also had her house and furniture washed away. Jba two bridges near tbe church were washed down ; and Mr. S. Stonehouse bad the contents of his garden, pig-stye, and pig, washed away io a considerable distance. The mill at Newby was washed down, and the family escaped to the village. The Scalby mill, on the North Sands, was partly washed down, the front wall aloue waa left standing. The family escaped to Burniston, The second Sculby mill from die sea sustained great damage, and the inmates had a narrow escape with their lives. The houses'in Merchant-row are so undermined by the tremendous force of the water, that it is feared they tfill have to be taken down.— Leeds Mercury, 1

An Aft Illustration of Farming.—TJie proverb tells us that “gold may be 100 dear.” In pushing agricultural improvement there must be some time beyond which an increase of outlay will not produce a corresponding return of profits; in other words, where it will cease to ie remunerative. (Hear, bear.) 1 will make njy meaning plain by an illustration from Ak|-

aider Mackay’s admirable book of Travels in tie United States, which I was reading not long fince. Having taken his passage on some occasion in one of the large river steamboats which py on the Mississippi, he was very much struck ly the terror of an old lady who would not emlark with her winter stock of bacon which she ( v’as carrying for sale to some distant market, • mil she was ossured over and over again by 'he deceitful captain that he was a steady and >afe man, who never, on any account, would even hink of endangering bis vessel and passengers ay racing with the boats of the opposition line. 'Laughter.) On the strength of this pledge she it last trusted herelf and her merchandise on board. But hardly had they started, when another steamer, bound for the same place, shot out of a neighbouring port, and with a shout of defiance from her crew, dartd them to a trial of I their speed. Flesh and blood and the safe and steady captain could not resist the temptation. Tbe race began amidst the alarm of the passengers in general, and the shrieksand scerams of the eld lady aforesaid in particular. (Laughter.) The race and its accompaniments were positively terrific. For a moment the boats would be alongside of each other, neck and neck ia their firespurred speed. The one would draw a liitle ahead, then tbe other. The captain seemed to have gone fairly mad, and the mate was as mad as the Captain, while the black sailors were frantic, and yelled, and howled, and danced about like so many imps of darkness, and piled up the fiery furnace with more and more fuel, burling at tbe same lime all the beauties of language hack upon the crew of the rival boat. As the anticipated explosion did not lake place, the passengers gradually cooled down, and began rather to enjoy the situation. Even the old lady herself became calm, then interested, then excited, then enthusiastic, and at last as mad as the captain, and tbe male, and as frantic as the black sailors. (Laughter.) It was announced that the stock of coals was exhausted. But what of that ? All the loose spars on board were cut up without hesitation, and thrown into the fire. Oars, chairs, benches, tables, everything that would burn and blaze, followed. And now their vessel was decidedly taking the lead, when all at once a cry of despair was heard from the captain. “ Here we are within a mile of our port, and we shall lose the race after all. Everything is burnt up; there is not an atom of fuel left to throw into tbe fire.” “Yes ! there is, captain,” here screamed the old lady, now excited to a white heat state of phrenzy ; “ yes, there is. There is my bacon. In with it.” —(Loud laughter.) And in it went. And the furnace crackled and blazed and glowed more fiercely and furiously than ever. And the steam power increased in strength and force, and the race was wun. (Loud laughter and cheers.) And uow you see my meaning in the moral of this little itory. The old lady was successful in her experiment as tu the speed of the two boats, but ’hen, gentlemen, she did not save her bacon. (Laughter.) And, even so, as I said before, it may happen in experimental farming. The return of profits may not correspond with the increased outlay. And then, like the old lady, you will ia one point of view have succeeded, but will not have saved your bacon. Instead of {,oit!g into the frying-pan, it will with hers have leaped into the fite, and bring back no more profit than a speculative fanrei’s potatoes held until the dog days. (Laughter and cheers.) — Speech of the rlev. Janies Aspinall at the Axholme Agricultural Association.

'lTie Wesleyan Association Assembly. —The 22nd annual assembly of the Wesleyan Asscciaiiun is now sitting at Rochdale. An unusual interest attaches to the assembly this year on account of tbe proposition io admit the Wesleyan Reformers and constitute the two bodies into one, under a new name. The Rev, Jjs. Everett was chosen president, and the Rev. R. Eckeit secretary. After a whole day spent in debate, “ The United Siethodisl Free Churches” was adopted as tbe name, style, aud title of tbe amalgamated body.

How a Sun-Stroke Affects Man.—The general impression is that death by sun-stroke is very painful, but the contrary would seem to be the Let, judging from tbe following account of the effect ot such a visitation, given by General Sir Charles J. Napier, He experienced an attack while in Scinde, where the thermometer, according to General Napier himself, was of as much use to him as it would have been to a boiling lobster, and wrote as follows co one of bis daughters : “The sun-stroke was a staggerer; yet my hope is to die by one, for never can death come iu an easier shape. I was just deadly sleepy ; it was deadly had I been left alone ; but the only feeling of tbe transition would have been a tiredness, like that expetienced at being suddenly waked up before time. This was to a degree almost to be called painful, then came a pleasant drowsiness, with anger that the doctors would not let me sleep. Were it not for others, would that n y horn had then soui d;J ; so easy, so delightful, I may say, was the approach of death.” This resembles the accounts that have been given by men who have been saved from freezing to death, after having got far down into the dark valley ; so that the excess of heat and excess of cold produce precisely the same effects.

The renowned Lola Montes is now spending a few days at Niagara Falls. She has appeared a: the Buffalo Theatre as a sort of interlude to her season of pleasure. One morning Lola took the train for Buffalo, and without advice from any one source, she seated herself in the baggage car to quietly puff her cigarette. While thus cosily throwing off from her lips the curling smoke, she was discovered by the conductor, and informed that passengers were not permitted to ride in the baggage car. She paid no attention to the intimation, but continued to smoke as if no one had aldressed her. AssistantSapt. Collatner was at the station, and was informed what Lola was doing. He said she must do as other passengers did, and that she could not be permitted io ride in the baggage car. The conductor called upon her, and politely told her that she must take a seat in one of the cais designed for passengers, Lola drew herself up into an attitude uf defiance, and told the .conductor that she had travelled all over the world, and had always rode where she had a mind to, and proposed to do so in this case. The conductor further expostulated with her, and assured her that be was but executing the orders of the superintendent and the rules of the company, Lola replied that she had “horsewhipped bigger mcf» than he,” This settled the mutter. The conductor withdrew and Lola was not again disturbed. She rode t Buffalo in the baggage car and had no occjs'ioh to use the whip. Tbe railroad men did not care to further disturb the tigress.