Odds and Ends.

Western Star, Issue 346, 24 April 1880, Page 7

Odds and Ends.

Mr Henare Tomoaua, M.H.R., wrote to the “Napier Telegraph ” on the 30th ultimo in the following terms:—“ I am told that there was a paragraph in the morning paper of to day that Te Whiti’s religion was fast spreading amongst the Natives of Hawke’s Bay ; and also stating that in the event of hostilities breaking out on the Vfest Coast these new converts would enlist their services against the Europeans. I wish to let all the Europeans know that there never will be any war party go from amongst the Natives referred to in the paper. All the Natives of the hapus of Hawke’s Bay wifi remain by the side of their European friends. I regret to see the slightest doubt thrown upon the loyalty of our Maori friends. The Natives of this coast have seen enough of the evils of fighting, and will be guided by my advice.” The “Lancet” is often very good reading even to the folks who have nothing the matter with them, and are not looking for “ a parallel ease.” The last number describes a gentleman who swallowed his false teeth, and felt them in his pharynx (wherever that is; my own medical knowledge ends with larynx). A doctor was sent for who introduced a probang, which touched the teeth (so the patient said), but he was afraid to proceed to extremities with that instrument, because they were described to him “ as a complete set of molars.” He then “ bent a 10-inch miltary silver probe, and tried to hook the teeth up,” but tbe spasms of the larynx weie too severe, and the secretions from the parynx so excessive, that these ■ dredging operations had to be .suspended. The patient began to get in extremis ; so presently another doctor was telegraphed for, who found the missing teeth on the top of a chest of drawers. This gentleman reporting on the matter, very justly observes that this curious effe.-t of imagination upon a strong and healthy man throws light on many a case of supposed hydrophobia. “There are only two persons that we know of in the district (says the “ Waimate Times ”) who have 80,000 bushels of oats to dispose of, and neither of these have, we are informed, as yet marketed his crop. The only large sale we have heard of was a line of 11,000 bushels, purchased by Mr Leonard Price a few days ago aCTs 3d. We are aware that smaller parcels have been bought at a shilling, but are informed that the purchasers found their own bags and took delivery from the threshing mill —the price being thus equal to from lid to 15J delivered in town. The Dunedin message about the 80,000 bushels at B|d is ther foe, we fear, only a dodge on the part of some member of a corn ring to rig the market, and keep prices down, though the rates for oats this season is already so low that the trick is especially disgraceful. Banners are losing enough by their oat crop without being cheated into selling it for a rate which represents only about half the real market value.” The “ Athenseura ” states that its late editor, Mr Hep worth Dixon, died of a broken heart, owing to the accumulated misfortunes which befel him in bis coneluding years. These were tbe loss of his savings invested in Turkish stock, the damage caused to his house by the Regent’s Park explosion, and the death of his eldest son and daughter. A reliable informant (well known in Benalia) furnishes the “ Standard ” with what appears to be undoubted proof that Ned Kelly is not only in the district, but located somewhere near Gflenrowan. (* On Friday last,” says the informant, “as I was waiting at the Glenrowan station, I saw a young woman whom I thought I recognised as one of the Harts, and, to be certain, I asked a little girl, about six years of age, if she knew the young woman. ‘ Ye- I ,’ said the girl, ‘that is Miss Hart, Steve’s sister.’ Learning that my informant was a resident of the neighborhood; I inquired if ever she saw Ned Kelly. f Oh, yes,’ she replied, ‘ often ; he is at our place sometimes twice a week. He was there last Monday for provisions.’ She had no sooner uttered these words than a girl about 17, who was standing by, came forward and rudely took the little girl by the arm, and said, 1 Shut up. What are you talking about ?’ and dragged her away, scolding ber in the meantime. I afterwards learnt the elder girl was a servant in tbe family (of wh:ch the little girl was a member), residing at Glenrowan, and keeping a provision store there.” A cq.se of costs is reported which might serve as a text for a much-needed laysermon. A debtor was sued for 8s 6d, and the costs amounted to 7s. The Resident Magistrate refused to grant costs, saying it was a bad principle to encourage actions for such trifling sums. If persons would give credit for 3s 6d, they must not expect a court of law to assist them in recovering the debt at an expense equal to the debt twice over,