MISCELLANEOUS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 299, 9 April 1877, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS.

THEY RAH AWAY. The official return respecting deserters from the army places* the number at 77- r >9 tEltrina the year IS7<>, and the PoHcc Oazdte contains the names of 254,749 deserters. The number of men who enlisted at Woolwich during the past three years were respectively 1205, «ilO, and 897. £IO,OOO AN* ACRE. A sixteenth of an acre of land immediately adjoining Mr. Fyfe's residence, having a frontage of -Ti feet, has just been purchased by the Isauk of New South Wales fc'nom Mr. Ormsby for £<»2.j, or at the rate of £ 10,000 an acre. This transaction atfords another proof of the confidence which exists as to the permanent prosperity of the town and district.— Timartl Tmnnhn >.rk. RATS I BATS f BATS ! It is always a matter of surprise (says the Auckland ItrmM) after the smoking of a vessel, where so many rats spring from. It will seem incredible that in a craft of the size of the schooner Coronet, now tying in the harbour, close upon four hundred of these vermin shonld have lived in the hold, and not have damaged the cargo to any great extent. Such, however, is the fact, for a few nights ago the schooner was smoked, and on the day following the Kanakas were successful in sending on deck no fewer than 3GO dead rata. Fruit and copra were the principal diet that these animate lived upon, and although no great deficiency in weight was apparent when the bulk was landed, yet we think that so many vermin living upon the cargo must have considerably reduced it, and the vessel will feel the benefit of having fewer mouths to feed. WSttAL. London has a large weekly newspaper catted Tlf Obituary, devoted, as its title shows, to obituary and mortuary proceedings. Undertakers- who get up funerals irv every variety, cremationists, embalmers, vault-makers. and gr»ve-digs*ers, a'l have their say in its columns, white the makers of humble tombstones and the sculptors of gorgeous monuments are ready to dec>vat l the last home of man. Crape-makers, manufacturers of alt sorts of funeral apptianc ■:> and especially mourning in tntuati.a crr.t, claim t te attention > f tae atlli-rted i'U tl.e'r spie'at advertisement. Wish of d stiugui* ied in dviduais arc given, and fust witi* advertised : the cards of attorneys drilled in probate matters, and adv« rtisements for absent heirs, make up a p->rtion of its patronage. The reading matter is all suited to the subject, while t v.- obituary notices form a staple item, and, if necessary, cho.cv iioticvs arc written by distinguished writer* for the afflicted friends and relations of iLceas.il persons. AN ARTFft, r>'->or;e. He who writes from the -•{/•• from " t'rotor tV» Verandah." relates t;»e fol-io-win ; incident in the experience of a thirsty j iTrnri.fi -—-Anti'-ipitin- a proloitd s.tring in the jurv-ro >w, he was rath r unhappy on leaving his house in tin morning. "" I'd take a £lask of brandy, ' sall ! e to ids uir- . "but the ot'ier men would- see tu- drink tt. and rep >rr. it ro t'i>-> jud Tae 16 Iv told him to vv;ii;: for tv'our three mtrvnfes, and at t'i" end of that time returned with two 'o :.le-.-s' b-'t"! s {'tlted with stiff brandy art-1 wat-r. " Put oue in each !-re;-s'- co it jo k t." -'he told him, •' and wliMt you want a drnii-i all you have to do is to quietly take on? the tube and havtr a draw. You can drink while the judge is looking at y»»n if you »lo it careJut ly." The jury were out much sooner than exp -cted—a little after seven o'clock in the evening—-but the lady assured me that when her husband returned there wasn't a drop left in either of the bottles, though she had calculated on their lasting tilt midnight. Tttß ENOMS If ♦'KICK KT Kiss. The Sydney correspondent of the Ihiihj Tl»w:<, speaking of the late cricket match between the All-England Eleven and the combined Australian team, has the following —The absence of Spot Forth, Allan, and Evans—three of the best of our Colonial bowlers—was not considered satisfactory, and instead of ths wefi-remembcred enthusiastic crowds wont to assemble on the occasions of the .Lockyer and Grace visits, there were but poor audiences, considering the magnitude of the event. Again, the Englishmen have not reached th-r standard «,-xpcctetl by tlie colonials. The general feeling seems to be that they display too much eagerness about gatemoney, and do too little honour to the game. Then, their many unexpected defeats. and the manner in which bookrn -kire,' on their play ha.;; been popularised, ■n cold water on the enthusiasm ottre and simple : and ' • >_'o down " half as '* *> ex p. cted. *-tociated in