THE INDIAN FAMINE—FEARFUL STATE OF AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 2211, 17 June 1874, Page 3

THE INDIAN FAMINE— FEARFUL STATE OF AFFAIRS.

The news from the famine districts in India continues gloomy. The Government is now thoroughly aroused to the magnitude of the calamity. The organisation for relief is being rapidly perfected, and all the European officials are labouring with untiring energy at their herculean task. Wherever possible native overseers have been superseded for robbing the starving people or withholding payment for days together. Several hundred deaths are reported from disease and hanger. The area of famine is extending, whole villages are abandoned by the natives, who flock long distances to relief works in search for food. In some districts the emaciation and weakness of the people increase the difficulty of feeding them. In Mudhobnnee, a quarter million personssare said to be upon the relief works. In Tyrhoot the distress is increasing. The transport bullocks are sick and dying, and 2,800 carters have fled. Sir Richard Temple estimates that injthe Patna, Bbagulpore, and Rayeshaye divisions, nearly 4,000,000 will require assistance for several months. There will be no lack of grain, but its transport to the perishing people strains all the resources of the Government. The mortality of the children is very great. Incendiary fires are increasing, and whole villages are being burned down and plundered, i Small-pox has broken ont at some relief works, and foot-and-mouth disease prevails among the cattle, while | the most terrible of all, water is failing in many quarters. The Mansion-house subscriptions amount to £100,000. — Sir John Tracey succeeds Sir William Muir as Governor of the North-west Provinces, and Sir Richard Temple assumes the Lieutenant-Governorship of Bengal, vice Sir G. Campbell, retired from ill-health.

The Newest Wat or Patiko a Bill that we have as yet heard of has been invented in a Viotorian country town. The Beaufort Chronicle voaohes for the troth of the following : — A few days ago, a resident of Beaufort was employed by the managers of a cemetery to do oertain neoosßary work. When the job was completed, payment waa applied for to the chairman of the board of management, and was met by the very irrevelant question, " Have yon selected yet ?" " Selected be hanged," exolaimed the presenter of the acoonnt, " what has that to do with my bill ?" " Well," said the chairman, " it has just thin much to do With it, that we haven't got' auy funds, bi\t you may take np a seleotion ; I'll see that you have a title, and you may occupy as Boon as you like." The speaker wan one of the trustees of the town cemetery, and tbo rosalt of the interview was that the unfortunate creditor had to " take it out" in the grave, which he did with some expletives hardly appropriate to so melanoholy a termination of a simple contract.

The Tbnth Don't Dance.— A good story comes from the ball-room. A oertain gallant major, resident in Napier, went ap to a lady at a ball and requested the pleasure of her band for a dance. The lady, whose husband was long conneoted with the 10th Hussars, and who is herself quite conversant with military affairs, replied, " My dear major, a gen* tleman so well acquainted with the service as you are ought to bo aware that the ' Tenth don't dance.'" Voltaire once praised another writer very heartily to a third person. " It is very strange," was the reply, "that yon speak so well of him, for he says you are a charlatan." " Oh," replied Voltaire, " I think it is very likoly that both of us are mistaken."