BY THE WAY.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 1140, 24 January 1903, Page 2

BY THE WAY.

The appointment of John Buchanan Nichol (formerly of Gore) to bo lieutenant of the North Otago Mounted Hides Volunteers is gazetted.

A diminutive negro named Samuel Gray, whom the police records of Washington show to have been drunk for forty years, has been sent to the workhouse as a vagrant. Grayboasted that he would remain drunk as long as tho world's supply of whisky held out. Three million women have already contributed about £OO,OOO to the women's memorial to Queen Victoria. . A Hawke's Bay visitor states that the pastures there are all burnt up owing to the dryness of the weather being experienced in that district.

Water is so scarce in Poverty Bay that the local Hospital Trustees had to obtain a supply (of water) from a brewery. Begging in tho streets appears to be growing in Auckland. Within the last few davs several cases have been hoard of. In each each instance (says the ' Star ') the mendicants were strongly-built young men, who should be well able to earn a living. A lady spectator has written to the Manawatu • Times' as follows :—I should like to suggest that a working bee should be promoted in Palmerston to make pinafores for our cricketers to field tho balls in.. Such a provision would result in a great saving of shoe leather. The Millers' Association has reduced the price of Hour £1 per ton. The quotations now are £l2 to £l3. The Colonial Secretary has given instructions that the game season shall open in Olapo on April 1.

At the Christehurch bowling tournament yesterday Brackenridge (Victoria) won the singles. In the doubles, Thorndon won. In the Consolation, Oamaru beat Kaituna. Walter Smith has boon committed for trial on a charge of murdering George Thomas Inee by setting tire to his tent at Moluroa some weeks ago. An early bird! Mr Will. Toomath, of Greytown, states that be is fully determined to contest the Wairarapa seat for the House of Kepresentatives in the interest of the present Government at the next general election.

A Mastcrton poultry-keeper, during the last year, obtained some 3500 eggs from 20 fowls. According to the market price of eggs he cleared Ss on each fowl.

Mr Walter Barllctt, of Paraekaretu Flat, Silverhope (says the Hunterville 'Express') has just clipped 21701b of wool from 123 sheep, an average of 171b lOoz. This is about the record for the colony. As the service of the Nowra Presbyterian Church was being brought to a conclusion the other Sunday night, a great sensation was caused by a large tiger snake being discovered on the door under the seats. The reptile was captured and killed.

Mr Seddon, in the course of some remarks at a •' social" given in bis honor at Hokitika, stated that he considered the Legislative Council should be an elective body, the same as the House of Representatives.

Robert Maekley is the name of an infant lightning calculator at Kansas City, Missouri. He is only five years old, has never attended school, and when asked to multiply 11,072,357 by 13 answered correctly without a moment's hesitation.

During a discussion at the Leyton Phrenological Society's meeting the Rev. 11. Maulson expressed his opinion that dogs had souls, although, of course, of a different essence to the human soul.