Local and General.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXXI, Issue 4, 17 January 1905, Page 3

Local and General.

_____ — A— — — — Evangelist Todd reckons he'd be bddked straight for Hades if he went to a dance. People who talk like that are in a fair way to get there in any case, so Todd might as, well enjoy himself, while he has the chance. One of the surprises- the Beyond has in store for us may be the discovery that hell is the thought of the pleasures we have missed this side of the Styx under fear of an absurd bogey. — The Worker. Lord Milner has informed General Louis Botba that the exiled Cape rebels may return if they sign an acknowcdgm.ent of their guilt. Thereafter they will be deprived of the^parliamentary franchise for five years. " \To do the "work accomplished by machinery in the, United States last year'2i,ooOjOOO men would have been required if hand labour only fiad been used, The number actually employed was \,000,000. There was a fun on the State Bank of Nevt York owing to an unjustifiable panic among thousands of Jewish'decpsitors'. excitement was

> ■ ■ . . .^ displayed. ' A crowd of womerifightirigand screaming made "desperate attempts to enter the building. The bank paid many iri silver only, and refused to reaccept their deposits while the run lasts. Several policemen and women were injured. There was" this singular announcement to be seen recently outside a country place bf worship :--" This evening the Rev. Mr X will preach liis farewell sermon, and the choir will render a thanksgiving specially composed foitlfe occasion." A German statistician says that, the entire cost Of the : Bber War to England works out at 14s per man per. day. The latest report in connection with the Seddon slander action is that an application on behalf of the plaintiff has been filed in Christchurch for a new trial, with a change of venue, also alleging irregularities with reference to the jury in the previous trial and in the jury room. Mr.C.-G.' Gidden,. of Boston, United States, who has undertaken a round-the-world tour on a motor car, arrived at Auckland from Fiji on Friday. He Bis accompanied by Mr C. Thomas, of London. They set out y in July, 1902, and have now covered some '21,000 miles. They left for Rotorua on Sunday, and then go on to, Wellington and the' South Island.' In fixing Wednesday as the halfholiday under the Shops and Offices Act. 1904, the Westland County Council did so under protest, and denounced* legislation ot this description as a deliberate attempt to interfere. with the--1 liberty of the subject.' . " A man put liis head out of one of the windows of his house and used bad language. Pie pleaded to MrPlowden, 'the witty London magistrate, that he was in his own -house, ; .Mr Plo.wden in fining him, said it would have been different if his legs had been outside and his head inside. A queer charge is 'made against a dairy maid employed on a farm at , Alvesse, Brunswick. The girl had adopted the custom of bathing herself j daily in milkj which she had read was good for the cbmplexipn. Thie milk was afterwards sold to the public. Suspicion was aroused owing to the complaints about the bad color of the milk. The girl has been arrested. The North Sea Commission will be open to the public when the Commissioners and agents announce their conclusions. The British agent willfirst''submit his written facts, and then the Russian agent, and thereafter witnesses may tesify in their own languages. The written translation will be preserved. M. . JDelcasse's (the Foreign Minister) representative. Pr posed that the Commission be entirely public.* Admiral Dubassoff, the Russian Commissioner, resolutely opposed^ this course, while "Admiral Beaumont insisted on publicity: On Admiral Fdurnier's suggestion a middle course, was adopted. Bush fires have swept the country for 50 miles aiound BallaiaL Great' damage has been done to-xrops in the Clarendon, Wallah, Smeaton; Clunes, and Maeedon districts. Thiee deaths from heat apoplexy have' occurred at Bendigo. 'I'he thermometer registered ii4deg in the shade. The fires are causing much devastation. Reports of intense heat and of bush fires" continue to come to - hand. Several more deaths fiom the 'excessive heat are reported. A. number of bridges on.the Trewella property, and the Streatan, BJythevalej and Emn Stations have been burnt Fires have swept 1 the grass, and hundreds of sheep and miles of fencing hnve been destroyed.