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Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8407, 8 November 1912, Page 6

It is said that the original inventor of the aeroplane is at present 1 an inmate of a London workhouse. This man lodged a patent for the construction of flying machines many years ago, and his specification still lies in the Government archives for want of monetary support; but experts to whom the inventor has explained his patent have expressed the opinion that it embodies many of the ideas on which aeroplanes of to-rday are constructed.'

Indecent ornaments, mostly china.ware, liave -been seized in considerable quantities by the Sydney Customs authorities. Mr Lockyer, Federal Comptroller-General of Customs, states that these are found in small consignments amongst large import orders, and that the firms receiving them say that they have not been ordered, and that the exporter has put them in on his own authority. Mr Lockyer describes some of these as shockingly indecent, and he has had them smashed up. The instructions of officers at the wharves are to the effect that they are to allow nothing into the country that they would not, as respectable family! men, have in their own homes.

A passenger from Wellington to Greymouth by the Arah'ura last week says the experience off Wellington Heads was of a sensational character. For about half an hour the vessel was swept by seas, being practically under water for that time. Finally she was borne _ on the crest of a wave in ■ the direction /of the reefs, a second one carrying her on to within a stone's throw of that danger zone. Fortunately, there was not a third handy, and Captain Lambert, one of the most experienced seamen in the Union S.S. Company's service, speedily got the vessel away to safe quarters, and finally returned to port until the weather moderated.

Excitement of the keenest reigns at the little village of Gordon (in Berwickshire), where two Scotch servant lassies, Isabella and Eliza Shillinglaw, have been notified that an uncle who emigrated to New Zeaand as a shepherd, and later became a sheep farmer, has died and left them £36,000— £19,000 and £17,000 respectively.