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Western Star, Issue 139, 6 May 1876, Page 5

A will case, arising from the sudden death in Melbourne of an old Dunedin celebrity, “Scotch Jock,” is likely to afford a bone of contention. The estate is said to be worth £17,000, and there are said to be not only two wills but two “relicts!” In the first will the whole of the deceased’s property was left to his wife, but in the second will; it is shown that he had changed his mind, and left his valuable horses to Mr Morley, of Sandridge,. and the remainder of his property to the later friend of his bosom. At present the case, has not advanced beyond the stage of the “ reading of the wills.” .

The ‘Thames Advertiser,’ referring to- Mr Macandrew’s letters to the Premier, says }—“ The Colony may go to perdition, but Otago must do as she pleases. Otago is New Zealand in Mr Macandrew’s eyes, and it is useless to reason further. Such silly bounce as this shows how desperately men like Mr James Macandrew cling to their bread and butter. Ho will, however, have to be made to obey the law 1 of the land like o thercitizens, and must really make up his mind to give up the loaves and fishes.”

The West Coast|Times of 25th ult. says“ Thera is some possibility of the southern parts of the Province being more favored by Celestial visiters than they have hitherto been, and perhaps in no part are there superior opportunities for an exercise of their systemised industry, in working auriferous beaches and', river beds. It is understood that Several Chinese diggers are on theirway westward from Otago by the steamer Maori, and from a correspondent at the Okure we learn that the hermit of that locality, Mr J. Collyer, has lately been the host of a weather-bound Celestial, who had been deputed by 200 of his countrymen working at Cardrona to proceed to the West Coast, and who,had made his way overland from Lake Wanaka. As we are informed by our correspondent, this possible fore-runner of a number of his countrymen was to proceed as •faikas Jackson’s Bay, to spy out the possibilities of-proenring a livelihood there, or on any portions.of the country between the. Bay and the Haasb.” We have -been -shown a- private letter, says the Q-rey Eiver Argus, from' a late, resident of Grey - mouth, who is "now at the Cape'of Geod Hope. He states that ’tire Cape goldfields are being gradually deserted by the' European miners, the ground bong too poor, and the cost of provisions, &C-, owing to the charges, leaving no margin for (he miners. He, advises that no New Zealand miners should leave for this field, as only bitter disappointment would be the result, . . "

“ The.sharps and flats of the musical world,’ snT9 the San Francisco News letter, “ are afflicted vG 'i acute enthusiasm bacause a singing woman has reached a note hitherto deemed unattainable. What particular advantage is to flow from this ability to squeal we know enough'about-jausic to be unable to say. If this creature’s vocation were the convening of pigs she might iind herjjqVrer of sharp sliricking useful in her calling, bdf as she only aspires to the entertainment of man and beast she will profit by giving them soi.-.ethingTpw.” T'he Dubbo Dispatch says;—Our'friehil, the axe, stands in danger of being supersede:! by a now invention, which promises to clear ou poorest lands by the use of gun-cotton. Thiel process is simple, and it is said net expensive?* Gun-cot-ton is conipressed into discs, which are placed around the t ree to bo operated on in a continuous, band, the edge of each disc touching that of tho. discs adjacent. This band is exploded or detonated by means of a si voke from a spring hammer, so arranged as to admit of all p rsons concerned reachim>’ a safe distance before the detonation is effected. The Engineer, which recounts the experiments by tin's system of gun-cotton- discs, says that a band of these discs was placed round (lie trunk of a very large tree at Upuor,’ and detonated; the result being' that the’ tree was severed instantaneously, as though felled by out}, blow from an axe.