Notes and Events.

Manawatu Herald, 28 April 1892, Page 2

Notes and Events.

# The Londou correspondent of the Auckland Star writes : - A sanguine New Zealander has sent Home to an agent in London a huge case of pampas grass which he wishes to be disposed of here, and I suppose expects to reap a profit in his venture. Now, it is far from my mind to damp the ardour of any patriotic colonist in worthy endeavours to open up fresh avenues whereby some of the gold sent Home yearly to enrich the British invester in New Zealand scrip may return to his country, but in this instance, methinks, the only persons benefited will be the shareholders of the shipping company, which carried the grass at the rate 4 of 45s (or more) per ton measurement. We are already well supplied with ornamental grasses from Continental sources, and moreover such decoration is not particularly in vogue just now, and even if it were most people would be quite satisfied with two stems of the New Zea'and article, which is, in the words of the old song, " very fine and large." I'm much afraid the exporter of the stuff has not " struck oil." The Duke of Argyll has received 4 a new honour. Hitherto he has been but a Scotch duke ; now he has received from the Queen the dignity of a dukedom of the United Kingdom. The duke has hitherto sat in a House of Lords as Baron Sundridge and Hamilton, the former of these titles, Baron Sundridge, of Coomb Bank, Kent, having been conferred upon John the fifth duke, in 1 766, during the lifetime of his father ; while the second was the title bestowed in 1776 upon his grace's wife — one of the greatest beauties of the Court of George 111. — who was created a peeress of Great Britain as Baroness Hamilton.