GENERAL NEWS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1214, 16 January 1886, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

A Frenchman has invented a glass with which one can see the bottom of a river or a lake for 100 feet around him. The man who has fished all day without a bite can take his glass and discover that he has been angling among old boots and oyster cans. About 100,000 acres of pastoral land in Otago are to be thrown open for leasing in January under the perpetual leasing system ; the annual rental to be 21 per cent op the price bought at auction. About 60,000 acres in the North Island i will be similarly treated. One of the strangest uses for suails has been discovered by the London adulterator. Bruised in milk, and boiled, they are much used in the manufacture of cream, and a retired milkman pronounces them to be the most successful imitation known. Vegetarianism has spread and is spreading very rapidly in London. Ten years ago it was difficult to find an avowed vegetarian, but now more than 2,000 persons refresh themselves daily at vegetarian restaurants. Within the last few weeks two new places have been opened, pledged to provide a vegetarian dinner of three courses for a shilling — a price which is, of course, a very tempting one in the metropolis particularly— and the numoer of dinners served has increased until now it has reached about 800 daily. A member of the Victoria Racing Club, who is now on a viait to Europe, and takes special iuterest in all matters connected with racing, has written as follows from London to the Secretary as to the general condition and management of the Fleming- j ton course :— " 1 have been to nearly all ! the famous courses m England, Ireland, j and France, but not one can approach — i even at a long distance— Flemington. There is no such course in the world, and there are no such preparations even understood as we see in Melbourne, The facilities, conveniences, and luxuries one meets with there Bpoil his pleasure in going to a race this side. I don't say this to please or praise you, but everyone knows it who has seen both places. A correspondent writes :— Who will say that England is not the mosb liberal country, that she has not had the most liberally -minded people, the most liberal Government, and the most liberal-minded Sovereigns on earth. ? The " Echo " has the following paragraph : " The Royal plate at Windsor, of which an inventory has been taken, owing to the departure of Her Majesty the Queen for Italy, is stated to be of the value of £1,800,000. It includes a gold service ordered by George IV., which will dine 140 persons, and one of the finest wine-coolers in the world, added to the collection of plate by the same monarch ; a shield-formed snuff- box worth £9000, and thirty-dozen plates, worth £10,000. There aye also a variety of pieces brought from, abroad and India. The latter include a peacock of preoious stones of every description, worth £30,000, and Tippoo's footstool, a tiger's head, with crystal teeth, and a solid ingot of gold for his tongue." The Heir Apparent to thd British: throne pays* his farm laborers 32s 6d per week,, with 4. prospect of reduction ojf the same by 2s awoek.