GENERAL NEWS.

West Coast Times, Issue 2787, 8 March 1878, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

A Home paper states that, in what may be called domestic science, an Austrian doctor has discovered that the peel of apples and oranges is by no means to be eaten with impunity. The little black specks thereon are fungi, and the discoverer for the sake of experiment scraped a number together, and introduced them into his lungs, and was at once punished and rewarded with a violent attack of whooping cough. It is probable that 50 per cent of childreu, who suffer from this disease, owe it to the consumption of the apples and oranges after which the infantile mind so pertinaciously hungers.

Members of Parliament in Queensland, Victoria, and New youth Wale?, are having a hard time of it by reason of keen criticism from the pulpit, The " Vagabond," who is writing for the Sydney Morning Herald, says he had not thought anything " could be worse than the Legislative Assembly of Victoria." He declare 3 Sjdncy to be far worse than Melbourne. In Melbourne the Rev. Mr Potter, in a sermon, referred to the political crisis, and spoke m strong terms of the " indifference that had hitherto been shown to the characters of members of Parliament so long as they professed to uphold the opinion of electors. He did not refer to the present Parliament alone, but it was perfectly notorious that during the last ten or twelve years men had been elected who were drunkards, and guilty ot fraudulent dealings — men whom no sane man would think of employing to transact any private business of his own " That's Melbourne : Sydney i? woi se ; and if so, what must Queensland be? ' The Dean of Sydney Cathedral the other Sunday, preaching there, speaking of the New South Wales Parliament, says:—"Members of Parliament in every way seemed to show their utter contempt of Almighty God ; but in their case the saying of holy writ is carried out — ' He that despiseth Me shall be lightly esteemed.' " " I can, however, (remarks the " Vagabond"), s:iy this much for the credit of New South Wales, that its Parliament is far ahead of that of Queensland." We agree with the Rev. Mr Potter, who exhorted lus hearers " in future to vote only for men of honor, virtue, and

integrity, and said that if this was tbe outcome of the crisis, though much suffering would have to be endured, great good would follow."

It was recently stated the Berry Government had appointed tbe clerks of Petty Sessions as licensinc magistrates in place of the stipendiaries removed. Mr Justice Fellows, however, has refused to administer the oaths, assigning as his reason that stipendiary magistrates with restricted powers cannot be legally sworn in.

The unclaimed dividends now lying in the Bank of England amount to £3,506,956. Tbe six associated banks at Adelaide have taken £100,000 from the Savings Bank at 6 per cent; £150,000 was pieviously held at 4£ per cent. The Bank of New South Wales tendered at £5 12s 6d. The associated banks have raised the discount on 90 days' bills to 8 per cent.

The following curious advertisement appears in the Daylesford Mercury of the sth instant : — " Notice. — A meeting of the married ladies of Daylesford is convened for Friday afternoon, at four o'clock, at the Market House, for the purpose of forming a committeo to scour the town for information a* to the doings of their respective husbands, and for the further propagation, not of the Gospel — but of scandal, and to elect an honorary secretary."

A lady correspondent of Miss Anthony's " Woman's Rights " paper suggests that all married women shall strike — that, so much must be paid for every baby born. No fees, no more boys to carry on the great enterprises of the age.

Caution to eaters of unripe fruit is very necessary at this season of the year ; many and very serious evils result; from its use, as well as from many other foolish habits of every clay life. A timely dose of the Aperient Mixture of tC GnoiXAii's Gkkat Indian cukes " will often nip in he bud many a threatening serious disease. Mothers of families, sec to this ! You can get these ineiitorious medicines at G. Mcc, Chemists, Kcvell-street where get testimonials of their efficacy.