GENERAL NEWS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1158, 1 July 1885, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS.

Lovely Climes. — There are lovely climes and places in which tho evening zephyrs are loaded with malaria and the poison of fever and epidemics. To dwell there !in health is impossible, without a 1 supply of Hop Bitters at hand. These American Co.'s Bitters impart an equalizing strength to the system, and prevent the accumulation of deadly spores of contagion. Be s«re and see. Tho bone industry is an important one. The four feet of an ordinary ox will make a pint of neatsfoot oil. Not a bone of any animal is thrown away. Many cattle shin bones are shipped to Europe for the making of knife handles, where they bring L 8 per ton. Tho thigh bones are the most valuable, being worth Ll6 per ton, for cutting into tooth-brush handles. The fore-leg bonps are worth LG per ton, and are made into collar buttons, parasol handles, and jewellery, though sheep's legs are tho staple for parasol handles. The water in which the bones are boiled is reduced to glue, tho dust which comes from sawing the bones is fod to cattle and poultry, and all bones that cannot be used as noted, or for bone black used in refining the sugar wo eat, are made into fertilisers, and holp to enrich tho soil. A Fijian cannibal of fifty years ago would have felt himself disgraced by such disgusting brutality as was exhibited by a laborer named Thomas Chambers. The talc as unfolded before a London police magistrate gives a terrible picture of the sort of a life which many a poor woman] endures. Having met her husband coming from a public house they returned home together, whereupon, disdaining i the offer of the lady, the savage kicked in tho panels of the door. When the wife hal entered, the brute rushed in, and, having seized her, kepb knocking her down, lifting her up again each time by hor hair. lie also put his right foot on her chest, while with the left ho kicked her about tho ribs and body until she became insensible. When she recovered consciousness she got iin and dragged herself into the passage, where she met her husband coming from the kitchen. Without saying a word, he clutched her by both ears and drew her towards him. He then gnawed her nose clean ofF. 1 A new leader (says an exchange^ has sprung up in the House of Representatives in the purpose of the irrepressible Mayor of Wellington. It is usual in motions of a special nature, such as Sir George Grey's motion for an address to Her Majesty, for no debate to follow . A few graceful remarks from the leaders of both parties are all that should be spoken. Cn the occasion referred to, Sir George Grey, tho Premier, and tho Major each said their say, when ' to the astonishment of the IIOU3O, Mayor Fisher put h ; s foot in bo ;t; t by treating tho House lo a carefully prepared harangue. The roll of leaders is thus multiplied. We have the Premier for the Goveiamonfc, the Major for tao Opposition, and Sir George Grey (who may bo titled George tho First) for his own hand. We have now in Mr George Fisher, George tho Second. Amongst his recent notaole acts he informed the City Council on Thursday evening that he regretted the proceedings of that body had not been conducted lately as he could have wished. That is, he did not get it all his own way. He had endeavoured to make it a pattern to all local bodies, but not being supported in his efforts ho did not intend to enforce any rigid rules in tho future. The City Council will now be a pattern free and easy, and the members may pass the time pleasantly by onjoying all the ocncomitanrs of a smoke concert. Mr Service (says the "Age") has received from Sir Alexander Stuart, Premier of New South Wales, and Mr Griffith, head of the Queensland Government, despatches on the question of the united defonce cf the colonies. Sir Alexander Stuart's memorandum is occupied by a private letter, in which tl ehon. gentleman says ho is strongly of opinion that united action in this matter should bo, taken. He proposes that when Mr Griffith visits Sydney they should discuss the subject, and then, in company with the Queensland Premier, visit Melbourne and confer with M.r Service. Mr Griffith, in his memorandum suggests that a flcot of six fast cruisers should be raised, and maintained at the joint expense of the Australasian colonies in proportion to their population. If New Zealand declines to ynn, then the number should be reduced to four; the ships to be employed solely for the defences of the Australasian coasts, and protection of British interests in Australasian waters ; the ships to bo commissioned, and regarded in all respects as other ships in Her Majesty's N.wy, of which they would form au integral part, to fly the white ensign, aud to bo under tho command of the Admiral on the Australasian station. In concluding his proposals Mr Griffith acknowledges that he has followed to a large extent Admiral Tryon's suggestions. A Brooklyn shopkeeper advertises " Genuine cow butter and oilier novelties \\i tho grocery line." Ilia neighbor, v duakr iv milk, not to be ouldorio, has pointed a pump on his sign. *

(iilpin reading a papor that " facts are stubborn things," says there is no particle of doubt that his wife is a fact. We have heard lamentable talcs lately (says the " World ") about tho discomforts which "the nobility and gentry" are suffering in consequence of the "depression," and things must bo very bad when, at Christie and Manson's, the lato Lord Wilton's champagne realised only 2505, 300s, and 4103 per dozen ; whilo the claret was given away at IGOs aud 175s per dozen. Evidently we are living in very hard times. Steadily the \ise of New Zealand mutton is extending in England. From many parts of the country (says the "New Zealand Herald ") comes* the iutelli»onco that the frozen mutton is still obtaining a wider circle of customers. A private letter received by a gentleman In town tho other day contains the following : — Weston is feeding itself on New Zealand mutton, to the intense disgust of our English butchers, who, like the men of old, begin to fear that the hope of their gains is gone. It is certainly very good, but not quite so fat as our English meat ; and it is very convenient to small consumers like myself to bo able to get a tiny piece, and at a moderate price. It makes a difference, we hear, in the markets generally; so I supposo tho Colonies are finding the importation profitable. Mr Labouchere writes in " Truth " :—: — I have just seen a gentlemen from Russia who informs mo that the Czar's cook is dead. This may not seem very startling news, but this cook has been for yoava as well-known in Russia as was John Brown in Scotland. This extraordinary Italian, who for some time has been cuok in the Imperial kitchen of tho Czj,r's illustrious father, rose, under the present Emperor, to he head over all the Imperial servants. Then he became steward of Iho household, and confidential adviser to th« present Emperor, who it is said, consul ted him on all questions — even on th-so referring to the weightest matters of State. LI in loss to the Emperor will bo irreparable, as no one hail so much influence ovoi' his Majesty, or was so much in his confidence. His name was Ingano. What is butter ? Well, sometimes l.ird, sometimes "bosh," alias oleomargarine, but no one ever dreamt it was petroleum, in other words vaseline. Well, live and learn. Our American friends make very excellent champagne which never saw Ay, Verzenay, Bouzy, Epernay or Rhoiina, but which owes its parentage to the oil wells of Petroleum, Penno. It now seems that the pastry cooks of Paris use vasliue in their cakes in lieu of butter, as it docs not turn rancid. M. Riche has presented a report to the Council of Hygiene of tho Department of the Seine saying that " (or alimentary purposes it was injurious to health." We should rather think it was. The advance of chemical knowledge amongst traders can hardly be regarded aa an unmixed blessing. It will surprise many parents to have it suggested that they should treat their children courteously and respectfully. Yet it is the best education that can be imparted to them. Parents are apt to think that children should be subject lo authority, and are not to bo consulted. But why not ] It teaches them to exorcise judgement, and imparts self-respecl. The imitative quality in children leads them to reproduce what is most striking in thoir parents, unless they have a sufficient, positive individvality to map out characters for themselves. Thus ma?iy children re-produce the leading characteristics of the parent who commands mo^fc their regard. So, to treat them harshly, or even imperatively, is to create an autocratic disposition in them. Ifc is not a lovely trait. Self-respect and equipoise of character are very different from a domineering propensity, which arrogates authority everywhere — "North British Advertiser." The outlook of the wool growers of Queensland at the present time is reported by the " Qucenslander " to be the reverse of cheering. In addition to a drought of unprecedented length, they have now Lo face a serious decline in tho price of wool. The second series of L'mdou wool siik'«, which closed on tho 18th of April, shownl an unmistakable fall in prices as compared with the first series. Superior wools iv prime condition maintained their prices, but the demand wa3 slack, and consequently a large proportion has beeu held over for the third sories ; but for tho average, aud ?verage to inferior, the drop has been serious, and, unfortunately for us, a lanre proportion of the Queensland ciip is classed in this category. Wool in grease that was valued prior to the sales at lOd is quoted at the closing sale 3at 7§d and Bd. Crossbred wool, however, showed an advance of from Id to 2d per Ib. The demand for this class of wool (chiefly of Lincoln, partly of Leiceslur and Cotswold strains) has been remarkably iictivo of lato, prevailing fashions greatly favoring ifc. The closing prices for threequarter bred, in grease, was within from Id to 1 \d of superior quality. A strange coincidence has just occurred in connection with alluvial jjoldmining in Tasmania. Abou r. fi wonty ye.v a ago the late Andrew John Forbes, then manager of the celebrated Band of Hope mine, Ballarat, was travelling between Launceston and Uobart. It was in the old coaching days, and Mr Forb«s was on tho box-seat with a wealthy landowner of the "tight little island." The conversation turned on the probability of alluvial diggings in Tasmania. Having reached Mangana, Mr Forbes pointed to tlicj junction of that valley with the valley of the Esk River, and remarked, "Look up there, with the} range 3 behind and on either side. If ever a good alluvial load is found in Tasmania it will be there. The remarks were never forgotten. The first outcome of it was the discovery of the Blackboy diggings close by ; and since then efforts have been made to discover the deep ground, with the result that only the washes on the reef were discovered ; now, however, tho long - looked - for deep lead has been found. A party of Melbourne, Ballarat, and Tasmanian capitalists three years a (o arranged for the right to mine upon the ! Tullochgorum, South Esk, and Malahide estates, and three proprietary companies 'were formed. The two last-named recently amalgamated, and it is on the ground of the amalgamated company that this important discovery has been made, and it ia one which will probably be the making of tho island if it at all realises present prospects. The landowner to which Mr Forbes made the remark is still alive, and what is better still, holds a considerable interest; in the companies mentioned, never having forgotten the prophecy and Mr Forbes's earnest manner when hs uttered it. — Exchange. The following advertisement appears iv a French paper: — "Wanted— a, distinguished and healthy locking man to be "cured patient" in a doctor's waitiug room. Address, I ' &c. - -

together for that evening. The room was speedily cleared, and dancing commenced about eleven o'clock, to a capital band of violins, bass violin, flutes, and drum, and was kept up till three o'clock:, next morning. The amoun^j«aliSed' i was'*'£Xl lls 6d. No expense $ras jThcurred, jas the; Athenajum CojfiijSit^g^Ye the-room free jt and the midfijjps |p>^fhs jdarae-^esara Eeaton (2)lffKl ltK£nzie,*Smith, Penueij nd others Whose, fcames I 'didjilotget-l; gave thoirjlserviceßj gratuitously, soothe whole takings igo^to the' Institution.— fOccasioiYrt, Gfytcspottdei^ + '•>$$■;$%