AMERICAN NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 151, 26 June 1907, Page 6

AMERICAN NOTES.

(From Onr Special Correspondent) [ NEW YORE,*l_ayia,. . THE MAMMOTH ADRIAI_G.'> The biggest thing afloat to. .arrree':_* i New York is the new WlfitaJ.Starhnec - ; Adriatic, which reached hart, on Tiinrs- • day on ■ her maiden voyag&iwiih 709 cabin and 1802 steerage "passengers; besides 492 of a crew. She. averaged'pnin a fraction more than 17per'tidi_- : __iots :- on the trip, but the White Stat, line have been going in for this class of,_aer v one 1 that makes the run in a week horn News York to England, and' affords** greatel comfort to passengers than one steam" ing at more than 20 knots per-hour, ; The Adriatic is 725 feet-9 inches Jong, 75 feet 6 inches beam, and about 50 feet deep; gross tonnage nearly 25,000,' and displacement over 40,000 * tons.*'-* Tha* double bottom, extending: -the '.whota length of the ship, is a special element of safety. The "Adriatic has nine steel decks, and is divided into twelve*water. . tight compartments. . total "num.- "\ ber of steel plates used in the construe- '--\ tion of the hull is close on, 20.000, ahd. . the rivets are estimated at 2.500,----000. The cables are 3 3-8 inched in dia- . deter, and weigh about 90 tons;, the anchors weigh about 8 .tonsie.ciit.rHei appointments are m_anifi_<»_ t t -.hyp frit*. inw ; ieleavtors, ;T*iir.*rii***l • baths* Ani >?})' l_t_HV-_<-'ho. fo ___•-"'_ -In^_l'»|j. ihgtelij'i

THE ITALIANS'- -PRIVATE ~ ; * V --■ ARSENAL ~,--".'?•*.

A curious development in "regard .*.to' Italian immigrants at tWs. port has been the discovery that they almost in-" variably bring with them, one or mors .. concealed weapons: The"-crimes petrated with these weapons after get* ting ashore* became so frequent thatrth* police began to rigidly enforce the Umi. against cany ing a weapoh "without"; i. . permit, and the result has-beeh the confiscation of a marvellous assortment'of pistols and knives, the possession *.oI which one could only attribute to th*; . veriest brigands. A command to Si ship-load of Italian inrmigrants to disarm themselves before landing" alway« results now in the. production of addi-;'. tional evidences of precautions for self-defence-—or offence. Much more peace* able are the Norwegian immigrants, some 9000 of whom have domesticated themselves in a section of Brooklyn, an<i enjoy their own churches, societies, etc. They ma__e fine citizens, but keep modi to themselves socially.

JOTTINGS.

The New YorjPstate Legistafcure has passed a bill empowering the Eire, Police, and Street-Cleaning tax transfer to the American Sodety for th* Prevention of Cruelty to ■Ann_«"'- all horses unfit for their uses, instead ol selling them. at public auction. Seytaai tracts of land on Long Island are injoea consideration as prospective'sites fa? * farai upon which the society may pastor* its charges. It is improbable that any; use will be made ol the aahnals other than to allow them to .grow, fat *t pasture or light farm work. For years junk dealers, truckmen, and pedlars have been buying these horses. The body reached here this week ol Mr. George W. Roosevelt, U-te American, Consul-General at Brussels, Belgium, ytboi died there recently. Deceased, who was a distant relative of the President, waa a medal of honour man of the Civil War. He lost his left leg. at Gettysburg,, ha. afterwards raised another company which he offered under President Lincoln's second call, having been chosen, captain, but his lost leg operated, to prevent his, appointment. The deceased had been-in the consular service since 1878, having served at Auckland, New ZeaJandr Mata. nzas, Cuba; Bordeaux, France, and Brussels, in which latter place he died. An extraordinary development in tha care of pet animals has come about ill Ohio, the Cleveland Cat Club having decided to establish a manicuring parlour for their felines. The members will employ a competent veterinaryj surgeon to take charge of the parlour. "We believe that disease is spread der cats' naik," says Mrs Buhrer, president of the club, who is a society lead-; er, "and that often much damage .is done by unkempt claws. Our manicuring parlour will keep our pet felines in a clean, healthy condition. Dr. Fair will work out the details of the plan." One of the latest things shown i"* the stores for the benefit of the sum. mer traveller is a baby's crib that -.ran be packed in a trunk. It is said-to be one of the cleverest of devices lot the comfort of infants on a journey. There are four simple wooden standards, between which swings a canvas body, and by simple arrangements it is possible to turn this bed into a safety chair or a walking device. The wbo'B apparatus is so light that it can. - * moved anywhere. It is very stress* and should last for years. It can hi covered with mosquito,netting or PT#** tily draped with a caaopx. . _____ ef 2ri<* is S2-9& % ■