General News.

Western Star, Issue 282, 1 February 1879, Page 6

General News.

To bury a man alive with a view to an avoidance o£ bloodshed is rather a grim method of doing him to death. There is a story tcld by Sir George Grey about 'it Whangarei Chief named Tirarua, which affords an illustration of this. Many' years ago, when Sir George Grey was Governor, a murder was committed .by one of Tirarua s people, and he - (Sir George) wrote to Tirarua, asking what he intended to do. Tirarua answered—- “ That it was written in Scripture that whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by mart shall his blood be shed, and to avoid shedding blood he had buried the murderer alive ” Sir George said the murderer was first buried up to the shoulders, and was then asked if he required anything. The, victim asked, and obtained soma water, and after that his head waa covered up, and so he died. Sir George only heard of the affair after its occurrence.

The Eeward of Columbus. When Columbus after having discovered the Western Hemisphere, was by order of the King of Spain brought home front America in chains, the captain of the ship, who was intimately acquainted with his character, his knowledge and hie talents, offered to free him from hie chains, and make his passage as agreeable as possible. Columbus rejected his friendly offer, saying, “Sir, l thank you: but these chains are the rewards and honours for my services from my King, whom I have served as faithfully as my God: and as such will carry them with me to the grave.” Somtf interesting particulars regarding the cricketer, Lord Harms, are supplied by the Melbourne correspondent of a Victorian country paper: —Sir George Eobort Canning Harris, who is now nearly 28 years of age; succeeded to, the title of Baron Harris of Seringapatam and Mysore just five years ago, and espoused in July, 1874, his present wife the Hon. Lucy Ada Jervis, the second daughter of Viscount St. Vincent, with whose name and title is associated one of the most brilliant of English naval victories. The family seat is at Belmont, in the county of Kent, and the peerage is one of honor and of recent date, the first Baron George Harris, born 1746, having been originally the son of a clergyman, who entered the army, and advanced per gradi passuum until he became' Colonel of the 73rd Foot. Subsequently the progress of tim» and the merit of honorable deeds'found him, as

General Harris, Commander-in-Chref at Seringapatam, and upon its capture he was, for hi* gallant conduct elevated to the peerage. Since this time the Harrises have proved themselves a, fighting race, several o£ the tough old soldier'sdescendants having died in battle, while the daughtera have married distinguished officers.. Long time of peace leaves for the present representative of the title the chance of seeking distinction in a less dangerous arena, and it isprobably to the combative instincts of his race wo owe his appearance here.” Women Equestrians.—The Elaberville Bepublican says — Tl>ere are two women in this city who have lately been practising the art of riding on horseback astride and one of them afr least —we have not witnessed the performance' of the other—does it very gracefully,, and look* quite bewitching in her jockey habit. Her ad- ; vent, of course, created something of a sensation* If the ladies by common consent would adopt that mode d riding horseback, we think it would be. a sensible departure. The question now is r will women in male attire be permitted to compete at the fair for premiums offered tot best

lady riders ? The following are some of the utterances of Professor Winched, of Syracuse University, f U.S.A., in a recent address ‘‘That Education : > is the most valuable which best qualifies * man to f aid' in the world’s progress. How many devices , f have the schools to shut out knowledge tropa the r boy’s mind. At the age when every active powef is ready to spring forth and seize the living truth,■ we try to satisfy him with syntax and alist of names from Siberia. When a boy, is aching to take a locomotive to pieces, we set him to dissert* ing a verb. Let him gratify his curiosity • lethim entertain himself with chemical re-agents; give him means to make a telephone or * steamengine; allow him to drive nails and a jackplane ; give him a geological hammer. With these thirgs he will unite hand-work with headwork in a most fruitful alliance, and when he becomes a man he may be either a mechanically exv pert, scholar, or a scholarly mechanic. A» » scholar be will understand affairs, and possess the 1 common sense which will l turn every situation to account. As a mechanic he will understand his, business, and make a ‘ boss ’ who may be trustedwithout misgiving.’.’ Among the Bills, says a contemporary, passed, by the late Legislature of Oregon, and lias since become law, is an act relating to property of married women, which 1 provides that property owned by a woman at tire time of marriage, or acquired thereafter by gift, devise or inheritance, shall not be subject to debts or contracts-of the

husband, and tba wife may manage, sell, convoy, and devise the same as-the husband can life property. The property of either husband <x wife shall not be liable to debts or contracts- ef the of the other. Action may be maintained by husband or wife against the other for the recovery of property of which the other has obtained possession, the same as if they were unmarried.. For civil injuries committed by the- wife, damages can be recovered of her alone, except, in cases where he is jointly responsible.. Conveyances or liens from on- to another shall be validOne may constitute the other his or her attorney t«> act for mutual benefit or atorney i»' fact— The wife may recover the wages of her personal labor in her own name. Neither is liable for the other incurred before marriage. Expensesof family, and education of children shall be chargeable on property of both husband and wife, or of either of theta. Wehave here an Act which, seems to be pretty well up to the advanced claims of those who have* been laboring for a law. which would give- woman, control of her ova property and earnings «)s,■. putjher on. an cqtxlitj in this respect with. man.