MISCELLANEOUS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1243, 25 September 1875, Page 21

MISCELLANEOUS.

The London Times says it is difficult to perceive that from any point of view, discretion has been observed in the recent revival of Act of the reign of George 111. in order to close the Brighton Aquarium on Sunday. The unknown area to be explored in the direction of the North Pole, is three millions of miles in extent. Dr Joffroy says of alcohol as an aliment : It is not only useful as a source of warmth, but also as a substance yielding materials for assimilation and the removal of the tissues. Dr B. W. Richardson is of a contrary opinion. Who is to decide ?

The Black Hills Indians, tired of the dilatory .movements of the troops, have taken into their own hands the task of clearing their country of the intruding miners. A band of Uncapopa Sioux, in full war-paint, made two attacks on the mining camp lately, and killed seven in one and three in another party. The Archbishop of Toulouse has issued a pastoral letter against Spiritualism, the practice of which appears to be extending on the banks of the Garonne.

Yeast is now pressed and dried in cakes, which can be kept without deterioration for a 1 considerable time.

Nineteen American horses have been sold by auction at Liverpool, and realised about £20 each. They were imported from Texas, untrained, and were in low condition after the voyage. The union of the United Presbyterians' of England and the English Presbyterian Church is likely to be effected. Last year the Scottish United Presbyterian Church withheld its sanction ;' this -year its Synod has withdrawn all opposition. Three views are taken of human nature. The view of its essential depravity ; the view of its essential • nobility ; and the view of its creaturely imperfection. The Nelson Colonist says that spelling matches occasionally take the place of the ordinary singing, reciting, and speechmaking which goes under the head of " the good of the Order," in the Good Templar lodges of this colony, and the change is said to be a very agreeable one. The Rev. W. V. Wilson, pastor of the New Monmouth Baptist Church, lately preached a sermon on dishonesties in trade, and especially condemned farmers who topped their barrels with large potatoes and put exceedingly small ones below. In illustration, he drew from his pocket four diminutive potatoes, and exhibited them to the astonished gaze of his congregation.

Captain Webb, the master ,of a Liverpool ship, has performed the extraordinary feat of swimming from Blackwall to Gravesend, a distance of about 20 miles, in 4 hours and 53 minutes.

Mr George Henry Lewes, the great philosophical writer, and author of the new work, "Actors and ,the Art of Acting," is the husband of George Eliot, tie authoress.

Mr Tom Taylor, Editor of the London Punch, receives £1000 per annum, and Mr John Tennial has £1200 ■ for his cartoons. Another artist receives £800, and a page of literary matter costs three guineas. " "• All real knowledge must be baled on observation ; the inductive method, beginning from the facts of observation, .has supplanted the metaphysical method, which began with the facts of consciousness.'

On the 20th of July the delegates from the Presbyterian Churches throughout the world assembled inLondon, in order to perfect the scheme of Presbyterian confederation.

The Beecher ease is not ended.. In'iihe midst of the melodramatic slobberrngs and gushings which have been poured on him ad iiauseam, and his triumphal journey to the White Mountains with some score of relatives and toadies, a notice of new trial in September has been served upon his lawyers.