GENERAL NEWS.

West Coast Times, Issue 2854, 27 May 1878, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS.

The exportation of bananas from Fiji to Sydtey is growing into au extensive trade. Prince Charles of Eoumania has ha- offered a piize of 1000 francs for the best history of the Turo-Eoumanian War.

Siguor Hidell, the fatuous lioM-tamer (who wai in Madrid with >us in: u.igerie dv ing the irmrrhgi: «>c the h'ingoi Spain; offered to lend ti^ht tame lions for o awing the ro};il cani'ifT-, "ut vis offer was " dot-H' id with thanks."

Nilsaon and Trebdli are sieging at Vienna at joint salaries of £315 i>tr night. Patti levies abo*t £l>oo in tribute from the captive city of .^aules every time sbe sings. The llobaitou . Mt-rcuo. states that the Government intends .it tnee t>» t .ke steps to raise a corps o< 300 r:n\a and 150 artillery in Hobartoi:, and 150 rifles and 50 artillery in Launceston. the Lanct-t, iv urging the importance of the phyaicii i-du-atiuL. of uirls, says that owing ro the want of functional activity o» ti:e muscular system, the muscles waste and dwindle, and the nutrition of the body become impaired George Moss ef dabfidd, near Sydney, has won the firs- prize oi £1,000 h the Sandhurst Masonic Art Utnon. He had two tickets, boch of which look prizes.

Some say we have just tseaped a great war which might have cos; us, as did that of the Crimea, £200,000,000 in money, in addition to 60,000 soldiers killed. But we are quite out of tbe wood ? It is said that £15,000 have been subscribed in Sydney to establish a morning paper in opposition to tbe illiberal, overgrown, Conservative Morning Herald. Tbe London Examiuer says that {Stanley has not opened up Africa ; he has closed it, and made the Congo and Lake Regions a future hell for Englishmen. Dr Bastian goes a step further back than Darwin. He contends that the initial point of life developed according to the Darwinian hypothesis is a life germ produced from inorgatrc substances. The ladies of liaimrat are going in for boating, and have tormed a crew. A writer in the Courier thus criticises the performances of this fair crew :—": — " The s'roke (although evidently only practising, as there was no other opponent to be seen in tbe field), kept her crew in fine style, pulling like a lioness, it the rate of about 52 to tbe minute, but No. 3 will require to get in a little better racing form, as she pulls too deep, and not coming forward quick enough, can't keep time with stroke. No. 2, taking advantage of the water being low, 1 think was trying very hard to catch some fish on her own hook, and successfully caught a crab oi two, but for all thrt rows with great judgment. No. 1, 1 would advise, if there is a race to came off, not to lace up so tightly ; as she soon showed signs of distress, evidently from no other reason, or not being in condition ; but with a little practice, I think she will row very well. Last, but not least, is the coxswain, who deserves great praise for the competent aud pluck way in which she shouted — • l»ot sn deep, two,* and ' Quicker forward three,' and so on."

Some clever swindling has been perpetrated recently upon various mercantile and auctioneering firms in Melbourne by a man about 35 years of age, giving the name H. Eckhouse. The offender's mode of operation was by obtaining advances en forged bills of lading, and he conducted the frauds so skilfully, that he has been able to pocket an aggregate amou-: of about £1,400. It appeared that he represented himself to be in the sugar and tea trade, and stated that he had ships freighted with that description of merchandise due this month at Sydney. Two warrants have been issued for his arrest, one of them being at the instance of Mes-r« Fraser and Co., auctioneers, who have been defrauded of £600.

The opening of the Sydney Public Library and Museum on Sunday meets with public approbation. On the first day 264 persons attended the Library, and the Museum was crowded, over 3,000 attending.

An order has been issued by the Governor of Malta requiring extra vigilance in preventing the admission of strange vs to the fortifications without a pass, because a spy in the pay of some foreign Power is known to be at Malta, endeavoring to make plans of the forts.

Fish must be scarce in Melbourne when fiatbeads and perch, less th n 3oz and 4oz in weight respectively, ate sold. Tne fishmongers who sold them committed, however, a breach of the Fisheries Act, and were called to account accordingly, and fined with costs.

Lady Florence Dixie appeared at the Queen's drawing-room in such a very low dress that Her Aiost Gracious Majesty remarked in a stage aside, " Who is that woman P" and the Lord Chamberlain has since been obliged to publish some regulations on the subject. Another case of the explosion of gas from spirits has occurred, A publicau named Bruce, at Sydney, entered bis spirit cellar, in which was a leaky rumcask, having a lighted candle in his hand. Immediately there was a great explosion and a conflagration ; but water being plentifully at band, all danger was soon past.

The number of deaths in Great Britain and Ireland among the Quakers during last year was 308 — 125 males and 183 females. As the number of Quakers in the kingdom may be rougbly stated at about 20,000, it will be seen at once that the mortality is considerably lesa than that of the population in general ; and an examination of the details shows conclusively that this is the case. Out of the 303 there were only nineteen deaths of children under one year. The total number of deaths under 20 years of age was only 49 : and out of the 308 the highest number in any 10 years of life was in that which included those whose ages were between 70 and 80. The next highest number, 55, died at ages between 80 and 90. Eight died whose ages were between 90 and 100, and the average age of the members of the body in the laet year, according to the official statement from which these figures are quoted, was over 53 years. To whatever cause this happy state of things may be referred, its existence (says the Phil Mall Gazette) is at any rate deserving of note.

Some live roots of shamrock, from the Hill of Tara, Meath, were brought out by the Ch'mborazo to Melbourne, and landed in healthy condition. A Victorian, who visited New South Wales to select land, says that the equatters have got it so surveyed that it is next to impossible to get more than one block of 640 acies in one place. The Queen has expressed herself very kindly with regard to Colonel Baker, and that his rehabilitation at Court is not impossible.