GENERAL NEWS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1179, 12 September 1885, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

A curious marriage took place in Melbourne a few days ago. A gentleman, almost on the eve of his wedding day, wag called away up country to settle some important business. There was no help for it. so commending his fair jianccc to the care of his own particular friend, who was to act as best man, he departed for the scene of action. His business transacted in little less than three days, he returned to town, full of joy at the prospect of again beholding his sweetheart. Impatiently pulling the bell at the fair one's house, he was admitted and greeted by his future mamma-in-law, who informed him that her daughter had been married to the best man on the previous day. " Frailty, thy name is woman ! "

A very simple remedy is claimed to have been discovered by the French Faculty for croup and other diphtheritic complaints. It consists iti lighting, at the foot of the bed occupied by the child who has been seized with the malady, a morsel of tar steeped in essence of turpentino, placing it first in an earthen vessel, isolated from the floor. By keeping the room well closed, it is presently rilled with a vapor, which the little patient generally inhales with pleasure. Very soon after the fumes have entered the reapiratory organs of the child, the false membranes detach themselves and are speedily expectorated, and the feeling of suffocation is exchanged for a sense of relief. If new membranes present themselves the process has to he repeated, and it is recommended that the throat should be afterwards moistened with a sponge dipped in water tinctured with the chlorate of potash. The remedy has been tried in several of the hospitals of Paris with a generally favorable result.

A properly-conducted printing-office is as much a secret as a Masonic Lodge. The printers are not under oath or secrecy, but always feel themselves as truly honor bound to keep office secrets as though triple-oathed. An employe in a printingoffice who willingly disregarded this rule in regard to printing-office secrets, would not only be scorned by his brethren of the craft, but would lose his position at once. We make this statement because it sometimes happens that a communication appears in a newspaper under an assumed signature, which excites comment, and various parties try to find out who is the author. Let all be saved the trouble of questioning the employes of the printingoffice. They are "know-nothings" on such points as these. On such matters they have eyes and ears, but no mouth ; if any fail to observe this rule, let them be put down as dishonorable members of the craft. It is the same job in printing. If anything is to be printed and kept secret, lot proper notice be given of the desire for secrecy, and you might as well question the Sphinx as one of the printers. — " Singleton Argus " Intelligence has been received of the death, at the age of 76, of Colonel Bridge, who formerly commanded in the '58th Regiment, and served in this Colony in the first war with the Natives, then led by Hongi Heke. Colonel (then Major) Bridge was in command of a detachment of the 58th stationed at Parramatta, N.S.W., when orders were received on the 4th April, 1845, to be ready to embark for New Zealand, in order to assist in quelling an outbreak amongst the Maoris. This order wag carried out on the 10th April, 1845, and from the time of their arrival in this Colony to the termination of the war Major Bridge served with his regiment, and took parfc in some nine engagements, notably that of the attack on Heke's pah, where he led one of the storming parties, being several times mentioned in dispatches for distinguished ability and conduct in the field. At the close of the war, Major Bridge was appointed, in addition to his military command, Resident Magistrate and Agent of Government at Wahapu, Bay of Islands, where he remained about three years, leaving there eventually to take command of the 2nd battalion of the regiment iv England. On his arrival at Home he received his promotion as Lieut. -Colonel. He maintained his connection with the 68th until he sold out in 1864, having then the rank of colonel. Colonel Bridge leaves two sons, both of them now resident in the Colony.

For continuation vj News, see Fowth Page.