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Western Star, Issue 405, 29 December 1880, Page 2

The big cutting on the Orepuki railway—the only obstacle to ballasting and platelaying operations being commenced on the section at present in hand—was completed on the upper level on Friday last. The laying of the permanent wav will ho commenced about- the end of next month.

The Christmas holidays passed off with but moderate success. The weather on Saturday and Sunday was too boisterous to permit of any outdoor amusement. On Saturday a cricket match took place between membna of the Invercargill and Riverton juvenile chibs, which resulted in a draw. On Sunday the usual Christmas services were held in the Roman Catholic and Episcopalian Churches. The weather on Monday was but a slight improvement on that of the two preceding clays. Notwithstanding this drawback, however, a very large crowd found their way to the Caledonian Games. The bazaar in aid of the Presbyterian Church building fund was also well patronised, while those interested in the game of cricket found ample amusement in witnessing the contest between the Gladstone and Riverton Clubs. The special and ordinary trains from Invercargill conveyed more passengers perhaps than on any previous occasion. There is no doubt that the opportunity afforded by a late train of having an extended stay in this attractive locality, was the reason for this extensive patronage, and if the railwav authorities are alive to the interests of the department, and are desirous of acting in accordance with a wish so very decidedly expressed by the public, similar accommodation to that provided on Monday will be more frequently accorded. Ihe special train from Otautau was also weU patronised* Saturday and Monday were observed as close holidays by the.banks and all the business places, and a' halt-holiday was general yesterday. The weather on Tuesday was very fine, and the attraction of the day—which included the second day’s Caledonian sports, a match between the Riverton and Orcpuki cricket clubs, and the Presbyterian bazaar —if not so well patronised as on the previous day, were certainly more thoroughly enjoyed. It is gratifying to; report' that so far.as we have heard, the holidays have passed over without any circumstance occurring to mar their, enjoyment, and we hope that a similar immunity from accidents by “ flood or field will be enjoyed at the approaching New Year holidays, which commence on Saturday next.

A meeting of the Regatta Committee will be held at Locke’s Hotel, this evening, at eight o’clock. The Orapuki races take place to-morrow. We beg to draw attention to an alteration in the date of M'Ardell and Co.’s wool sale, from Thursday, 6th, to Tuesday, 4th January. The Temora Herald reports two cases of poisening from overdose of the potion known as painkiller, one of whiph proved fatal. In the first instance a youth named Averv, in the employment of Mr E. M’Evoy, of Middle Temora, succumbed to the effects of the drug, which he had taken in teaspoonfuls to relieve a pain in the : chest at noon Saturday last, when he was seen to fall asleep. In the evening the patient was found to be insensi.b'e, and Hr By ley was called in, who took every means to resuscitate him, but without success, as the patient never rallied; The s-coiid instance was chat of an aged man named W. Scott, who was found suffering from similar effects under a dray, and was at once taken to the hospital, where, under Dr Bylev’s care, he is gradually progressing towards recovery. *

One of the most fearful eases of hydrophobia known amongst the faculty terminated fatally at St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, on ■Saturday, 2nd October. it appears that at the latter end of July Mr James George Taylor, aged43.alaw stationer, residing at Southampton Villas, Aldham road, went out For a walk with his dog. Mr Taylor changed his mind as regards taking the dog with him, and ordered it to go home, saying, “ Back, go back.” The animal, instead of going away, snapped viciously at its master, and bit him rather severely. As the dog was a quiet animal, Air Taylor took no notice of the occurrence, and the wound healed, but five days afterwards the dog died with strong symptoms of hydrophobia. The fact had such an effect on Air Taylor that he fell into a very nervous, depiessed state, in which frame of mind he remained until the 30th of last month, when he grew worse, and was ultimately admitted into St, Thomas’ Hospital. He was there attended to by Drs Jones, McCormack, Pitt, and other eminent gentlemen, but notwithstanding the card and attention he received, the patients of the same ward were at 5 o’clock on'Saturday morning awakened by hearing fearful noises, similar to those of a dog barking. The nurses then discovered Air Taylor foaming at the mouth, and barking and struggling in a fearful manner. Mr Lunn and Mr Ballana, house surgeons, were immediately summoned, hut, after a scene of the most terrible nature, the patient died in great agony. Noticeable. —That the boy who is most afraid of the girls is the first to be corralled in matrimony. That the little buys prefer boys to girls. That they soon change never to go back to their early love. That the little girls love the girls best. That- they don’t get over their preference so soon as the boys do, some of them never. That women love the men because they love everything they have got to take care of. The men love the women because they can’t help it. That the wife loves her husband so well that she has no thoughts for other men. That the husband so loves his wife that he loves all women for her sake. That girls who have given over all hopes of matrimony, or who never had any, love to flirt with married men. That the married man is apt to think himself all-killing among the fair sex, simply because he has found one woman fool enough to marry him. That homelv husbands are the best; they never forget the compliment paid them by their wives in accepting them. That homely wives are the truest; they know how to make the most of what they have. That the woman who marries do,a well. That the women who does not marry does better, nine times out of ten. —“ Boston Transcript.” According to “ Land and Water ” I the Norwegian fishermen always carry with them on their expeditions a kind of telescope called a water telescope. This is a lube three or four feet long, f with an eyepiece at one end. The \ other end, which is open, is placed in 1 the water over the edge of the boat, and a little practice easily enables the observer to distinguish objects at a

depth of from ten to fifteen fathoms. The fishermen are thus enabled to discover shoals which would otherwise go unnoticed. They then give the signal, their comrades surround them with seines, and they frequently make wonderful hauls in places and under circumstances that would never have been suspected but for the use of the telescope. Mr Frank .Backhand recommends the instrument to the English aud Scotch herring fishers.