MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

West Coast Times, Issue 1289, 9 November 1869, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

The following bit of information will be of interest the world over : — At a distance of less than a three days' voyage from Valparaiso, in Chili, and nearly in the same latitude with this important port on the Western Coast of South America, is the island of Juan Fernandez, where once upon a time Alexander Selkirk, during a solitary banishment of four years, gathered the material for Defoe's " Robinson Crusoe." This island, little thought of by the inhabitants of the Chilian coastland, ha., lately become of some interest by the fact that in December, 1868, it was ceeded to a society of Germans, under the guidance of Robert Wehrhan, an engineer, from Saxony, Germany, for the purpose of colonisation. The entrepreneur of this expedition, Robert Wehrhau, left Germany eleven years since passed several years in England, served as major through the Avar o; the republic against secession, and was subsequently engaged as engineer with the Ceropasoo Rail, in South America. He and his society, about 69 or 70 individuals, have taken possession ot" the island, which is described as being a most fertile and lovely spot. They found there countless herds of goats ; some 30 half- wild horses, and 60 donkeys, the latter animals proving to be 'exceedingly shy. They brought with them cows and other cattle, swine, numerous fowls, and all the various kinds of agricultural implements, with boats and fishing apparatus, to engage in different pursuits and occupations. The grotto, made famous as Robinson's abode, situated in a spacious valley, covered with large fields of wild turnips— a desirable food for swine — has been assigned to the hopeful young Chilian gentleman, to whom the care of the porcine part of the society's stock has been

entrusted, and he and his proteges are doing very well in their new quarters. Juan Fernandez is one of the stations where whaling vessels take in water and wood.

A Belgian journal, the Flandre.. of Ghnt, says that in consequence of the number of clerical scandals which are constantly recurring throughout Europe, it has not space enough, as a mere weekly paper, to report them. It considers, however, that they ought to be reported, and under these circumstances, it announces that it shall henceforth publish a supplement every week devoted entirely to this subject, but intended only for men to read. It will take care, it adds, to give someofthe reports in Latin, as a language which is privileged in such matters. An extraordinary fairy piece has been brought out at the Gaiete, Paris, entitled •• The White Cat." About £10,000 is said to have been spent in getting it up. The principal character is played by Mdlle. Therese, the ex-goddess of the concertroom, who is supposed to be transformed into a variety of bipeds and quadrupeds, and finally into a magnificent tabitha, under wiiich guise she sings appropriate songs. Her imitations of the cat are said, by competent judges, to be very touching. The shocking occurrence which was recently brought to light in the Carmelite convent at Cracow has already been dramatised for two of the Florence theatres. It is also said to be in preparation at a third. At the Prince Humbert Theatre in Fioreiice, one of the pieces founded on this subject was to be produced for the first time on Saturday evening, August 14, under the title of '• La Monacc;i di Cracovia ovverro Venti Anni murata in una cella."