NEWS AND NOTES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXIII, Issue 239, 23 October 1899, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

i^K/oni Vanons Sources). The " Giey Hi trer Argus " cf Saturday list records the following int3resting incident :— -A clucking hen had been sitting on a china egg, nud bating left the nest a cat v ent iuto it and gave birth to three kit.ene. Tbo hen on returning, drove tha cit away, tnd nppropii&ted the Mine ycungters. taking timm under wing the same as abo wuull cbickeni-. Altera wbil?. norfever, tho cat and hen seemed to become reconciled, and thnt night the hen had tho kittens nnder her Hing while the cat was lying alongside in the neat. Tbia noold be a good subject for a photograph. By a skilful manipulation of the transmitters by Mr .7. K. Logsn, Superintendent of Klectiio Lines, tha Governor, at Mr Elder's hooae at Waikanae, thi*yseven miles away, and tbe Premier, in hia room at Parliamentary Buildings, were able to listen to the performance of the Federal Band of the Salvation Army at tho Wellington Opera House. Mr T. S. Lambert's patiiotio ode, entitled " The British in the Transvaal," compose.! and set t_ musio by himself, was what Lord Banfurly and Mr Seddtn desired moet to hear the Federal Band play, but through a detention at Greymouth tio band had not had time ta giro the piece sufficient practice in crder to perform it satisfactorily. The piece is now, however, under rehearsal by the band. The New South Wales telephone authorities hare issued tho following notice, which may well be applied to some Naw Zealand Exchanges :— ■• To facilitate busiaess. subscribers are respectf nllyrequested not to indulge in unnecessary or frivolous conversation* bet ween the hoaraof t) a m, snd 5 p.m. .The business of the Exchange cannot be carried on in a satisfact.ry manner owing to the abuse referred to, and tha co-operation of subscriber* j B ie■jnekted with a view to preveot a continuance of this annoyance, and to as.i.t the Depaitment in efficiently working the service." IVe ehail be glad to laarn what tbe autbo* ities call " lrivoloua " conversations. A most despicable act waacommittedjat .he Criterion Hotel, Napier, a. day or two iigo. a_.ya the " Herald." Someone e.i.itmtly harbouring a deep grievance against the hostelry began to hack thb .property of the propiietor about. Start,ng iv thu comiuer. ial room, he cut the furniture, stioking tho knile inlo a conple of valuable oil pamitngs, wbich ho nearly ripped in twain, and then d-voted hia attention ot couches aud ousbioue.l chairs, which were likewise badly cut. Then. *he culprit devoted his attention to the room occupied by the Hawkes Bay Jockey Club, where cushioned chairs Were also viciously hacked about. Altogether the propietor estimates that about £20 worth of damage has been dene.