BRIEF MENTION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXV, Issue 85, 16 April 1901, Page 3

BRIEF MENTION.

HoBTicuLTDKAii schedules published. Weather very dry for gardens. Probably come just hi time to spoil the best of the " munis." There are 798 specimens of roses known, and 448 of chrysanthemums. In a London match for the billiard championship, 9000 up, Dawson beat Stevenson by 3024.

The Island-of Kerguelen, which the Federal Cabinet request should be taken over by Britain, was, discovered by a Breton sailor of that name in 1772.

It was visited by Capt. Cook in 1776, who it Desolation Island. The climate is stated to be raw, and storms are constant.

In 1874 it was visited by H.M. surveying ship Challenger, and by English, American, and German expeditions to observe the transit of Venus. France annexed the island in 1892.

From Greymonth comes word that J. C. Bain is playing to record houses, and that never before has money rolled in with such ease as at the present time.

'Holland has notified the Powers that a permanent Court of Arbitration has been constituted at The Hague.

Let New Zealand follow Tier own path, yet possessing our best wishes. She may rest assured that there are many oil this Continent who sympathise with her noble aspirations, and hope for complete fulfilment. —Sydney Sunday Times.

. A "townie" who recently bought a cow at auction "very cheap," has been chewing the cud of bitter reflection ever since. She had three blind teats.

An honest man is the noblest work of God, bnt it is a piece of workmanship one seldom sees complete in these degenerate days. The Wairarapa Racing Club made a profit of over £200 at the recent Easter meeting. The biggest lake which has vanished in the shortest time is Lob Hor, in Central Asia. Forty years ago it Avas the size of Lincolnshire.

Stratford is on the rise all the time. The bakers announce that the price of bread will be Cd cash and 7d booked per 41b loaf. In Blenheim the butchers are doing the " rising."

A lady asked her gardener why the weeds always outgrew and covered the flowers. "Madam," ans>yered he, " the soil is mother to the weeds, but only step-mother to the flowers?'

On a recent, municipal election day in "Wurtemberg only one person—a police sergeant—took the trouble to vote, anil lie elected the whole municipal council.

An electrical horsewhip that has been invented gives the animal a shock instead of a cut. A small battery is embedded in the handle, and this is controlled by a push-button.

Corrected.—Lady Tourist (doing the cathedrals of Scotland): "This is 'Gothic,' isn't it John?" Juvenile Vendors of ' Guides' (severely): " No, mem; this is ' Presbyterian.'"

A disease which threatens to do much damage among the bean crop has made its appearance in the Onrimbah district, New South Wales. It first appears in the roots in the form of mildew, and the plant turns yellow, and rots off at the surface. Beds badly affected leave very few plants alive.

In China.—"ln this country," said one mandarin, " a man cannot get an office unless lie knows all the proverbs of Confucius and other writers who have sought to inculcate principles of honesty." "Yes," answered the other, " and after he gets appointed he can't hold his job unless he immediately forgets all about them,"

The Inspector-General of Police, chairman of the Board for the Protection of Aboriginals, New South "Wales, states that " the nuuibsr of fullblooded aborigines in that State in 1899, was 3203, and the number of halfcastes 3689; total, 6892."

Could She Afford It.—On the road to a country market place a youth was trying to get a cart of vegetables along ; but his donhey was stubborn, and ■would not move. A crowd of people gathered round him, some sympathising and others jeering. At last a man in crowd shouted: "Hi, boy ! how much do you want for your donkey ?'' The witty youth answered: " Before you think of buying my donkey you had better go and ask your mother if she can afford to keep two."