NEWS ITEMS.

Colonist, Volume XXXII, Issue 5429, 25 January 1889, Page 4

NEWS ITEMS.

The Indiana on the banks of the Orinoco assert tint previously to an alligator goinrr in search of prey it always swallows a large atone, that it may acquire additional weight to aid it in diving aad dragging its victims under water. A traveller being somewhais incr<?dnlottß on this point, Bolivar, ta convince him, shot several with his rifle, and in all of them were found atoaea varying in weight according to the siza of the animal. The largest killed was about 17 feet in length, aad had \vithin him a stone weighing about 60 or 70.pounds. 1A gentleman ofnotoriety in Victoria' recently commenced to build a " splen did place '» on the strength of a bubble rise in the syndicate valno of certain acres of land held by him. He refused a first offer' of £80,000, and put the ancestral hall in hand while be sat Waiting for further unearned increment. Bang went the boom, the freeholder suddenly became involved in troubles with hia " paper," aud v.t the present moment that crushed sptcnla tor is living in tho two-roomed lo3ge intahded for the gatekeeper of ilia stately edfioe which will never bo reared.

A Big Claim.—lt will be remembered (says the " Napier Telegraph " of Friday) that on the night of the fire on board the barque Langstono, the "Weka took off the Spit manual engine, and remained alongside the vessel while the fire was being got under. Msssora Kinross and Co. were offered and'accepted £20 for similar service done by their steamer, the Ahuriri, but Messers Itichardsoa and Co., owners of the Weka, demand £2000, and have issued a writ lor that amount. Yesterday Mr Birch, the Registrar, went cut to the Langatone in the Weka to put a man " in possession " of the vessel, but on getting alongside Captain Tonkin declined to allow anyone on board, and Mr Birch had to return to the shora without effecting his purpose. The matter is sure to be the subject of a lengthy lawsuit. Dr. Parker, the em nent London Congregational divine, in the course of an interview, has expressed the opinion that some theatres are like chnrohes in the moral and educational influences they exert; while on the other hand, some are intolerable. He said that tome of the actors now on the stage, or who had so performed, were among the best Christians who had ever lived.

The late John Hunter, of Stoneyflat, was one of the principal Bupporters of an Episcopal chapel in a corn tain town in the north of Scotland. An old woman of Calvioistio proclivities was once induced to attend the service, al the close of which eho re inarkei to a friend • •' What awfu' idolatry! to think of having the initials of John Hunter, of Stoneyflat (I.H.S), on the corner 0' the altarcloth!"

Babbit Skins.—lt is an ill wind that blows no one any good, so it is gratifying to learn (says a London correspondent) that rabbit skins from the Antipodes now form quite a trade in the London market, and are useel for lining cloaks, trimming hafs and are also dyed ia various colors ; but at the moment tho markot is dragged, tho stock on band being enough to last a'year at lea&t. New Zealand alone is said to have exported 70,000,----000 skins iv ten years valued gat £780,000, and Victoria has exported 29,000,000 in the earre period. Coney wool is Eaid to be worth 7s 0 pound. It is isdeed gratifying, satiricrUy obseivre3 an English journal, to compare tho speeds of the Et)glish V.nrl German vessels that are at the present morrsenk blockading the African Coast, The Germans have not only the fastest ships in the two squadrons, but they have five ships of 13 knots and upwards against one on our side (the Boadicea, 135). The average epaed of tbe seven English ships is 10-9 knots; that of the seven Germans, 12-9. The fastest ships in tbe blockading squadrons is the Ita'ian Dogali, which is put down at 18*5 knota. Even tbo Portuguese have* two gun-boats several taots faster than anything we can show The worst point about it is that the German superiority in point of speed ia supported by a corresponding advantage of men and guns. In tonnage alone we have the superiority, and I don't know what that goes for when it comes to fightinj.

In a certain Highland pariafe, wbero drnnkenoesg extensively prevailed, a vacancy occnred, several years ago, owing to the death of the minister. His successor in the pulpit resolved to preach a sermon againtt the evil habit; and, after alluding to its prevalence, he earnestly said, " And noo, ma friends, this tram-tramming and trink trinking most not, and shall not, conteenue. Not that I object to a sma' glass of a morning, when an acquaintance conies to see you—bnt this tram-tramming, &c." He then indicated a number of other exceptions ; the specification of each being always followed by the " tram-tramming and trink-trinking " as a refrain, a*.u a very liberal allowance of whisky being allowed before the discourse was concluded.