ODDS AND ENDS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1029, 2 April 1884, Page 6

ODDS AND ENDS.

The wife of Major Barker, the head of the Salvation Army in Melbourne, recently presented her husband with a daughter, and the fact is thus chronicled by the "War Cry": Recent event: On Thursday, February 7th, a bonnie hallelujah lass was born at 17 Georgestreet, Fitzroy. Major Barker is the happy father. Our dear friend, Mrs Barker, is happy and comfortable. The baby — well, it is a fine baby, a picture for parents and grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins, a model Salvation Army baby ! Hallelujah !"

Judge Ward (observes the "Southland Times") has a reputation for epigrammatic replies and observations, and there is scarcely a sitting of his Court during which something good does not fall from his lips. On Monday Mr Finn was advancing the extraordinary argument that when a man's character is at stake he is not legally or morally bound to tell the truth, when His Honor, remarked; "If a man has to tell a lie to defend his character, he can have but little character to defend."

The Melbourne " Age " reports that & party of American trappers recently arrived at Harrow in the Western district, having with them eleven horseß, eighty ferrets, and about a mile and a-half of netting. Their plan of operations is to spread their netting and drive all the animals into it, forming, of course, with netting, men and horses, a large circle, working towards the netting, They capture the animals alive and send them to the Melbourne market. To land owners troubled with rabbits their terms are very reasonable, and they ask nothing for taking the rabbits off the ground but grass for their horses free, and to purchase meat at a reasonable price.

A painful sensation was caused at the Leicester Skating-rink, on January 31st, by Captain Austin, a performer, shooting his wife in the head with a rifle in front of a large number of spectators.- Captain Austin, who is a noted shot, fired at a potato on his wife's forehead in the ordinary position with success. He next i attempted to shoot a potato while lying on his back. As soon as the rifle was fired the woman uttered a scream and fell on the stage, the blood streaming from her forehead. The audienoo sprang to their feot, uttering a loud cry, while Captain Austin ran to his wife, and carried her into the retiring-room. A doctor who was present found that she was suffering from a wound in the head three inches long, but he does not consider it of a dangerous character. The audience soon afterwards dispersed. A correspondent from Panama writes to a London weekly : Eyer .since the cutting of the new canal was commenced the effect has been most marked on the inhabitants of this country. From habits of great apathy, they seem to have acquired much ef the enterprise of the illustrious engineer. Old mines have been re-opened and worked with more or less success, and it is confidently expected that the outting will disclose new and vory rich ones. Another industry, tho pearl fishery, has been most energetically, pushed,- and with creat success. A monster pearl was found the other day, which rivals in siae moat of the historic ones. It is named the " Lease ps, "'.and takes its place, < amongst the largest known to the -world. I believe it has been sent to London, to Banson's, the jeweller. Trade has received a wonderful impetus, and the country owes much to enterprising Frenchmen.

As Clear as Mud. — Tourist to Highland porter : " Is the mid-day train generally up to time 1" Porter : ' ' Well you'll see; sometimes she wass sooner, ant sometimes she wass earlier, ant sometimes she was pefore that too ?"