Odds and Ends.

Otago Witness, Issue 1466, 3 January 1880, Page 26

Odds and Ends.

(Compiled for (he Otago Witness.)

Within the past four years, fifteen banks in San Francisco have either retired, Buspended, or have gone into liquidation. Two of these have Battled up their business, and disappeared from the scene. The Italian government ia about to construct a large observatory on Mt. Etna. A site has been selected at a height of 9652 feet above the level of tho sea, near the Casa degl'lnglesi. A theatre ia to be opened in Calcutta under native auspices, and one-fourth of the proceeds are to be devoted to purposes of public and private charity, social reformation, and improvement of literature and art. The Common Council of Antwerp has agreed to bay M. Allemant's collection of Egyptian antiquities for 22,000 francs. This comprises 156 statuettes in bronze of animals, 131 ceramic statuettes, besides other examples illustrating manners, worship, and history on the banks of the Nile. A society of women painters has been formed at Manchester, where it is proposed to hold shortly an exhibition of the works of female artists. The tramway from Naples Observatory to the foot of the cone of Mount Vesuvius (says Nature), ia nearly completed, and will be opened early next year. A steam engine at the summit will draw the trams up by a windlass on Spielg's system. The smallest engine in the world ia said to be in the possession of Mr John Peun, of Greenwich. It stands on a three-penny piece, although it really covers less, for its baße only measures three-eighths of an inch by three-tenths.

The rural schoolmasters in Franoe are encouraged to acquire the rudiments of agricultural knowledge ; and as they are in a position peculiarly favourable for fostering a taato for farming among their pupils muoh good ia expected to result from this provision. Two work stations were Borne timo since opened in Glasgow to give temporary relief to the unemployed. The pay was la per day, and now the men demand more pay or refuse to work.

Before th') American war, negroes were practically » xerapt from yellow fever, now they are bu' ject to it almost as much as, the whites. Th > fact is accounted for by the giving up <>£ their simple habits and abstemious diet. The Popa has been confidentially asked if he will try to make peace between King Alfonso and Don Oarlos, and induce tho latter to resign his pretensions to the Ihrono of Spain. His Holiness replied he could not interfere, but would give advice and counsel, lie auggested Count de Ohambord as peacemaker.

Messrs Macmillan and Co. have in the pre's, and will shortly publish, a new work by Dr. B. W. Richardson, F.R.S., treating Ibo causes and prevention of diseases. It will make a volume of about 600 pages. A Berlin correspondent s.ays : The national d-ibt of Russia, bearing interest, is enormous. One billion one hundred and thirty-two million on© hundred, and sixty-five thousand. one hundred and twenty -five roubleQ in paper mpney is now in circulation,

In the old Banioal Garden at Home » now building a new edifice, to be called the Museo Tiberino, in order to contain the objects of art discovered in the river and on its banks; the conservatory of the garden has been converted into a gallery, to hold the fine frescoes lately discovered In the Farnesina. : ' , - r Mrs Thankful Taylor is a remarkable Ver. Mont lady, 70 yeara old. In her younger days, she thirsted for a thorough knowledge of English, Greek, and Latin, and being poor, Bhe worked for her books, and then studied them as she stood at her Bpmmngwheel. In this way she not only eduoated herself in the languages, Jbut she learned ecclesiastical and profane history, medioine, science, and general literature, If half the effort and energy were used by our States that the Mormons use to attraot immigration («ays an Amerioan contemporary), large numbers of skilled meohanioa andj capable farmers with small oapital would become worthy oitizens of the United States. The Debats states that the Foreign Office is considering tho expediency of creating French chambers of commerce abroad, of giving the niOßt important French consulates the assistance of commercial agents acquainted with details, and of giving consuls of tried capacity the same stability of tenure as ispraoiised by the British Government. Five of the City of Glasgow Bank Direotors, John Stewart, Robert Salmond, Wm, Taylor, Henry Inglis, and John Innes Wright, | were released on October Ist. The other directors, Robert Summer Stronaoh and Lewis Potter, convicted at the same time, have still ten months' imprisonment to serve. Under the new Michigan licensing law no intoxicating drinks are to be sold on Sunday, nor on week days between the hours of nine o'clock at night and six in the morning. It also prohibits their sale in any billiard-room lor other plaoe where games of chance are played. Robert Carlisle, a resident at St. Austell, who has gained some little celebrity as a pedestrian, has started from the Land's End on bis contemplated walk to John o' Groat's House and back. He drives a wheelbarrow weighing about 261b. He carries a logbook, which he gets stamped at the various postoffices en route. He is confident of succeed' ing in his task. A Portuguese gentleman has just submitted to the Portuguese Government a scheme for embanking the Tsgus 12 miles above Abrantes, so as to raise it to a sufficient' level for being oanalised and irrigating about 400,000 hectares of land on the banks, which would be enhanced in value to the extent of £24,000,000. The quantity of home-made spirits paying duty for consumption in the United Kingdom as beverage only was 14,540,097 gallons in the first half of 1877 ; 14,004,298 gallons in the first half of 1878 ; and 13,380,009 gallons in the first half of 1879— this laat quantity being above a million gallons less than in the corresponding period of 1877-

The Verdict of Half the World.— The entire western hemisphere pronounces Murray and Lanman'a FLORIDA WATER ihe mo6t delicious perfume for the boudoir, the ballroom, and the bath, that chemistry has yet succeeded in extracting f rom living 'flowew. A Mystery.— lt U indeed a mysttiry how Borne people, otherwise sensible, are so sbort-Blghted and foolish as to go on from day to day, and from month to month, guff erlDff with the stings and pains of disease, which by the use of a few bottles of BRISTOL'S SaRSaPABILL A and PILLS would, to a perfect certainty, bo radically cured. Do not stand in your own light ; try them ! adviok no Mothers '.—Are you broken In your rest by a sick child suffering with the pain of outting teeth? Go at once to a chemist and get a bottle of Urs WwsiiOw's fioOTHHfO Syrup.. It will relieve the oor sufferer immediately. It is perfectly harmless and pleasant to taste, it produces natural, quiet sleep, by relieving the child from pain, and the little cherub awakes "as bright as a button.' It soothes the child 1 it softens the gums, allays all pain, relieves wind, rogulates the bowels, and is the best known remedy for dysentery and diarrhoaa, whether arising from teethiDg or other causes. Mrs Winslow's Soothing Syrup is sold by medicine dealers everywhere at la ljd per bottle.— Manufactured at 493 Oxiord Btreet London.— | ABVT.I Valuable Discovery for ihb Hair —If your hair is turning grey or white, or falling off, use " Tne Mexican flair Eo newer. 'for it will positively restore in every case Grey or B .ute Hair to it 3 original oolour, without leaving the disagreeable smell of moßt " Restorers." It makes the hair charmingly benutifu', as well as promoting the growth of the hair on bald spots, where the glands are not decayed. Ask your Chemists for "Tub Mrxican Hair Bbnbwbr," prepared by Henry 0. Gallup, 493 Oxford atrost, LoudOD, and sold by Chemists and Perfumers everywhere at 8a 6d per bottle— [Advt 1 Florilinb !— For tub Tebth and Brkath.— A fe drops of the liquid " Fiorilino" sprinblod on a we tooth-brush produces a pleasant lathor, which thoroughly cleanses the teeth from all' parasites or impurities, hardens the gums, prevents tarUr, stopg dtcay, gives to the teeth a peculiar pearly-whitonosg, and a delightful fragrance to the breath. It removes all unpleasant odour arising from decayed teeth or tobacco smoke. "The Fragrant Florllme," being composed in pait of honey and sweet herbs, is delicious to the ta^te, and the greatest toilet discovery of the age. Price 2s 6d, of all Chemists and Perfumers. Prepared by Hbsry C. Gallup, 493 Oxiord street, London.— [Advt.]

Taylor Brother s'Maravilla Cocoa.— Taylo r Biotuurs, JLunuon, a*ving the exclusive supply of this unrivalled Cocoa, invite comparison with any other Cocoa for Purity— fine Aromar— Sanative, Nutritive, and Sustaining Power. One trial will establish it as » favourite Beverage for breakfast, luncheon, and a soothing refreshment after a lata evening. For favourable opinions, vide Standard, Morning Poet, British Medical Journal, &c, &v. Taylor Brothbrs* Homcbopathio Cocoa.— This original preparation, whiuh has attained such a world-wide reputation, is manufactured by Taylor Brothers, under tha ablest homosopathic advice, aided by the skill and experienos of the inventors, and will be found to combine in an eminent degree the purity, fine aroma, and nutritious property of the frosh nut. Tatwb. i-Jroxhbrs' SowjßbH OnoooliAtu is made iv one minute without boiling. Taylor Brothers' MarayiHiA Cocoa Ksshnob, or Purb SoiiUBLB Cocoa —This exquisite production will supply a want long felt by cocoa-drinkers, namely, a perfectly genuine article, free from admixture of any bind— nourishing, refreshing, and gratoful to the palate. la J-lb tins. Taylor Brothers' Ohioory.—Manufactured from the finest Belgian Root. In 28 and 60-lb tins. -K team Mills, Brick Lane, London; Export Chicory Miila.Bru.te3, Bftlaium. — [Apvr.j

28