SIR R. C. MUSGRAVE, Bart., has, with the usual liberality manifested at Eden
Hall, sent £10 to the Vicar of Kirkoswald, to be distributed among the poor
of that parish.
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HUNTING APPOINTMENTS.

The CUMBERLAND FOX HOUNDS will meet on Monday, January 4th, at Lamonby, at
10.30.

The ASKEM HARRIERS will meet on Saturday, January 3rd, at the Kennels;  and
on Wednesday, 7th, at Little Strickland, - each morning at 10 o'clock.

The ULLSWATER FOX HOUNDS will meet on Monday, January 5th, at Grisedale
Tarn;  and on Friday, 9th, at Dockray, Matterdale, for Black Cragg, - at
10.30 o'clock.
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, PENRITH.

On New Year's Day, the usual social tea meeting was held in the School Room,
Duke Street.  The attendance was good.  A public meeting was afterwards held
in the chapel, the Rev. W. H. BASSETT presiding.  Addresses were delivered
by the Chairman, by the REV. J. TANNAHILL,  Mr. CRONE,  Mr. MCDOUGALL,  Mr.
LEE,  Mr. J. CAMPBELL,  and  Mr. T. GOODFELLOW.  Several sweet melodies,
with appropriate gospel words, were sung by the choir, Mr. SCOTT presiding
at the organ.
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OTTERS IN THE EDEN.

Some short time ago a son of Mr. WM. THWAITES, of Crackenthorpe Hall, and a
son of Mrs. HORN, of the same village, gave chase to an otter, which they
found a considerable distance from the river.  The animal succeeded for a
short time in eluding the pursuit by taking refuge in the water.
    The lads tied a knife to the end of a stick, and on its appearance on
the river bank attacked it, and, with the assistance of a terrier dog, for a
short time they appeared to have gained the advantage;  but the blade which
they had attached to the stick, and which they had most vigorously used in
attempting the capture, gave way, and the otter, when about making his
escape, was assailed by one of the pursuers who, launching a stone, broke
its back.
    Several others have been lately seen near the same spot, and again above
Hill Holmes, near to Warcop.  This may be interesting to sportsmen.
__________________

SALMON POACHING FINES.

The magistrates in several of the counties of England, Ireland, and Scotland
have, since the annual close season for salmon set in, been busily engaged
in hearing various cases of illegally taking the fish, brought before them
at the instance of different fishery boards of our inland waters.  It is
curious to mark the different punishments which have been inflicted for
offences of this description.  Most of the offenders lately summoned have
met with substantial fines, while others have unfortunately been dealt with
in so lenient a manner as to offer little or no encouragement to salmon
preservers, who spend both time and money in preserving the spawning fish,
an essential improvement of our rivers as fish producers.
    At the Jedburgh court, some days ago, four men were convicted of having
four salmon each in their possession;  one of them, an old offender, was
fined £7 10s. and the others £3 12s. each.  Again, a poacher on the River
Derwent, in Cumberland, who had on three previous occasions been before the
magistrates for illegally taking salmon, was fined £11 16s. for having on
one occasion in his possession, and on another using illegally, a certain
instrument called a "click hook."  While in Ireland two men were fined £5
each for disturbing and injuring salmon on the spawning beds of the River
Suir.
    As a contrast to the above wholesome punishments we learn that at the
Morpeth court lately two men were found in illegal possession of four salmon
and trout and were let off with the nominal fine of 1s. for each fish.
Three of the fish taken were, we are told, "full of ripe ova, ready to
spawn," and would have in a day or two deposited several thousands of eggs,
which would have in time produced probably hundreds of salmon.  Unless this
wanton and destructive system of killing spawning fish is put down we can
never expect our salmon rivers to produce anything like their full
complement of fish. - "Pall Mall Gazette".

UNIONISTS AND NON-UNIONISTS. - A northern collier, JOHN PYLE, who has
incurred the displeasure of the Durham County Miners' Association, was so
exasperated by the annoyance he suffered from unionists in the pit where he
worked that at last he threatened to murder one of his tormentors.  He was
charged with threatening, but the magistrates, in consideration of the
provocation he had expeerienced, simply bound him over to keep the peace.

HARD LINES. - A young widow in the Scotch Court of Session gained a verdict
with damages to the extent of £500 in an action for a breach of promise of
marriage against a spirit merchant living in Edinburgh.  The defendant had
thrown up his engagement rather than submit to the widow's mother residing
with them after marriage.  It is rather "hard lines" to be compelled to pay
£500 because one has an objection to being saddled with the company of a
mother-in-law.  Mothers-in-law are often very worthy persons, but it is
difficult to force an affection for one, when a liking has not sprung up
naturally.

SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO FLORA MACDONALD's CROSS. - A very serious disaster has
occured to the splendid Iona cross erected two years ago over the grave of
FLORA MACDONALD.  During the fearful gale of the night of the 15th December,
which blew full upon the face of the monument, the cross fell upon the
ledger, and broke into three pieces.  The shaft snapped just below the
cross, and again near the middle, and the connection with the pedestal was
also severed.  The monument was a monolith, one of the largest and most
perfect in the kingdom.  The pedestal was 10 feet in height, and the cross,
one stone, was 18 feet 6 inches high.

QUEENSLAND EMIGRATION. - The ship 'Alexandra', 891 tons register, 1500 tons
burden, MESSRS. TAYLOR,  BETHELL,  and  ROBERTS, 110, Fenchurch-street,
London, sailed from Gravesend on the 20th ult. bound for Brisbane,
Queensland;  captain, MR. BULMAN;  surgeon superintendent, MR. R. H.
STEVENSON;  matron, MISS NEILL.
    The Alexandria is the 126th vessel which has sailed under the land order
system of emigration, and under the immediate direction of the Queensland
Government Office, 32, Charing-cross, London.  She carried 391 souls,
divided into full-paying, remittance, assisted, and free passengers, and
consisting of 220 members of families, 113 single men, and 59 single
females.