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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1980, 12 May 1875, Page 2

It is stated that a plaint is about to be, or has been laid against the Ohinomuri prospectors for forfeiture of ground, on the plea that the claim has not been properly worked in terms of the Act.

Those favorite artistes Mr and Mrs George Case will open at the Academy of Music on Saturday night for a short season, in one of their popular entertainments, and with a change of programme for each evening.

Furthee accounts from Fiji state tha 1 the measles epidemic is still making fearful havoc amongst the native population, and children of the whites. The evils have been, aggravated by other causes, one being starvation. The picture of distress conveyed by the telegram in today's paper is inexpressibly sad.

Fbom Ohinemuri we learn that -'matters' are daily becoming more . quiet at Macfcaytown, while Paeroa is only Riving the appearance of life occasionally by people passing through from the Puke; yet many of the miners who left Ohinemuri for Tairua have returned. Waitekauri has been attracting attention, and yesterday there was little else talked of at Maekaytown.'- ■ * -^'

A cobbbspondent of the Melbourne Medical Record states that he is acquainted with a person who has been cured of epilepsy by taking three teaspoonsful of rum in which the. heads and necks of black snakes had been infused for ten days. The influence of imagination is so great that the remedy might be worthy of a trial in nervous epilepsy, and many other nervous affections. The proportions were a pint of strong rum— \ any other spirit would do as well—to the heads of three full-grown snakes^ i

In France, according to the Herald, the nuisance of ladies head-dresses in theatres is got rid of by the following simple manner adopted by the functionary of a French provincial theatre. He made no boisterous observations ; he gave no stern orders; not he. He merely printed in large letters on his play bills this masterpiece of genius:—" The manager begs that all good-looking ladies will remove their hats for the accommodation of the rest of the audience. The aged, tho bald, and the plain are not expected to comply with this request." From that auspicious night the soaring bonnet and mountainous hat were invisible at that wise man's theatre.

The Melbourne correspondent of the Ballarat Star notices the arrival of a new invention in the following terms: —There has just arrived in the colony to the Anglo-Australian Press Agency a wonderful little instrument called "The Papyrograph." It is a recent invention of a clever Italian named Zaceati. By means of this little instrument, and an ordinary copying press,- a manuscript, whether of letter, drawing, or music, may "be reproduced to the extent of from three hundred to five hundred copies. The principle consists in two chemicals coming; into combination, reproduce what, is written upon a prepared paper. Tha process is quite as simple as copying letters by an ordinary press. I saw an admirablyexecuted plan and section of a mining claim drawn to-day and a hundred copies run off within half an hour. The papyrograplrhaa been adopted, I understand, in all the British banks, and in several of the government department, at home, and I have no doubt that it will be largely used here. !

Theatre-goers will regret to hear, says the Melbourne correspondent of the Ballarat Star; that the wife of Mr Stuart O'Brien, the well-known and conscientious actor, passed away this morning. ' Mrs O'Brien was acquainted with the boards, and in the old days was accounted an excellent •' old woman." Her day was when the legitimate drama flourished in Melbourne, and lately when " legs," burlesque and sensation : hare been in the ascendant she has been rarely seen. Tho present generation of theatre haunters will scarcely miss her, but their seniors will remember that she: was associated with that past time in which the national theatre was a better educative institution than it is now.