MISCELLNEOUS

Temuka Leader, Issue 3471, 27 July 1899, Page 3

MISCELLNEOUS

The Otago Central Railway is blocked by snow drifts. , „ . The Ofcuo-o Harbor Board s finances snow an improvement of £4GSO compared with a similar period last year. A branch of the Liberty League has been established at New Plymouth under favorable auspices on similar lines to the Christchurch League. . Macintosh and party, who are working with a Priestman grab at Lake Mahinapua, West Coast, cleaned up last week 360 z of gold for ten days’ work. Alexander Joss, 28 years of age, a draper employed by Mr Talboys, at Alexandra, Otago, died suddenly of inflammation of the lungs. Deceased was well known in Eeefton. . Two human skeletons were found m the sandhills, near Chaney’s corner, Christchurch, the skull of one being detache 1. They are supposed to be the remains of Maoris. ' Three youths were brought up at Dunedin charged with having burgh.rs tools in their poaession, and remanded. The police are charging them with the series of burglaries which have occurred during the past few weeks. F. Furze, late clerk to the Clifton County Council, was charged with the theft of £75, the moneys of the Council, and was remanded to Monday next. His alleged defalcations are said to total over £IOO. Bail was allowed, himself in £looand two sureties of £IOO each.

Iu connection with the shop breaking cases at Stratford, the police arrested Richard J. Keunahan, clerk at the Bank of New Zealand ; John P. Honan, cltrk at the Post and Telegiaph Office; and John B Pope, butcher. They were brought before aJ P. and remanded till Friday. Bail was allowed. The arrests created profound astonishment.

The Board of Inquiry appointed to investigate the charges of cowardice made against Colonel Downs, Lieut.-Golonel Smith, and Major Whittle, of the 71st New York Volunteeers, has sustained the charge. The Board found that the officers did not follow their regiments in the San Juan fight, and that they were fearful of the fire of the enemy. The annual 20-mile road race of the employees of the Victorian Post and Telegraph Offices was run off on Saturday last over the Campbelllield course on the Sydney road, and, as usual, a large number of interested spectators were at hand to see the competitors stare on their long journey. Young McGuiuness, of the Postal Cycle Corps, mounted on a Massey-Harris, after a hard-fought struggle over heavy road, and through mud and rain, was first homo, securing the premier prize—a Swift roadracing bicycle. The other Massey-Harris riders who secured prominent positions were —Roberts, second place; Maxwell, third place, also of the Cycle Corps ; and Clarris Bowen, holder of the 25-mile record, the fastest time—G4 minutes—a remarkably good performance considering the state of the roads.

Dr Bra, the discoverer of the microbe of cancer, has been interviewed by the Morning Post Paris correspondent. The learned doctor was very cautious, and insisted that it was too soon to speak of the discovery of a cure. Matters had, nevertheless, he su'd, got so far that studies were being made in several hospitals, and favourable results had been attained, which raised hopes; but it would be months yet before any definite announcement could be made. The bacilli of tuberculosis were discovered seven years ago, but the serum bad not been found yet. It was possible, however, that oncer lymph might be easier to find. “What I have succeeded in doing, ” said Dr Bra, “is to issolate and cultivate a parasite from cancerous tumours, and with the result thereof to produce cancer in animals. The parasite is of the fungus family, and is certainly the specific agent in cancer. ” Dr Bra, who is a man 50 years of age, has made a special study of bacteriology. A few evenings ago Mr T. Hix, mail carrier in the Mount Somers district (says the Ashburton Mail), was doing his usual trip when he got off the track owing to the ground being covered with snow. The poor old man, who is reported to be about sixty-five years of age, drove on, vainly trying to pick up some known landmark, when at last in the darkness his horse got bogged, and the unfortunate man being unable to get him out was perforce compelled to spend the night in the snow, with nothing to protect him from the bitter weather but an old sack. When found nest day he was of course in a pitiable plight, and almost dead from cold and exposure. Kind neighbours did all they could to relieve his sufferings, but as he did not rally lie was brought down to the hospital, where he now lies in a critical condition. The horse must have had a bad time too, as it remained stuck in the bog all night, and was only extricated with difficulty.

When Lord Charles Beresford was in China he complained of the audacious manner in which pirates were allowed to plunder vessels on the rivers. In corroboration of his remarks a missionary, writing to Sydney friends, says, in a very interesting letter : “ Notwithstanding the fact that H.M.S. Sandpiper and three Chinese torpedo boats are patrolling the West River, piracy is rampant. Only last Monday afternoon (May 29) Messrs Banker and Co.’s steamer Wo On was stripped and her passengers robbed of 7000 dollars. A Chinese torpedo boat passed the plundered steamer shortly after the piracy. The Union Jack at the time was flying npside down as a signal for assistance. The boat took no notice whatever of the signal. Traders ou the river inform mo that the torpedo boats are utilised for towing junks up the river, and as the Chinese Government pay for the maintenance of the supposed fighting ships the captains of the latter find that towing is a more lucrative occupation than hunting up pirate?. At night no attempt at all is made to patrol the West River. The gunboats anchor in some creek or other, where the crews spend the night in debauchery,”