WEEKLY WHISPERS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 16 April 1910, Page 6

WEEKLY WHISPERS.

// there's a hole in a 1 your eoah, I rede ye tent it ; A chiePs amongyc taki/i' notes, And faith, helipad it, — Burni. The Corporation is making a good job at last of Trafalgar-street, city. l'or some vears it had stood as the muddle of a past administration. Many will remember when it was first asphalted, how it simply swam in tar, how the asphalt had to be made and re-made before it would dry, and how. subsequently, the street remained full of depressions, where the puddles lodged. Now, thanks to the road roller and some common sense, a good roughened but level surface is being put on. By the bye, the Orsman harrow proved of much value in the earlier excavations in preparation for the road roller. Some thought that the Corporation was about to sow lucerne for the water-cart geegees, and a well-known firm of seedsmen were after the contract to suply seed free from turnips or cocksfoot. But the illusion was removed as soon as the sounds of a glee told the public that the. fast and furious roller was prancing around and making things smooth generally. It is hoped that now the roller is in commission again, she will pay a visit to Hardystreet and Bridge-street, city, for both those highways need attention, the former in spite of the expensive asphalt laid down some months ago—and then carefully cut ur> in sections. •' # "# * « * Here is golf as she is spoke by the average uninformed onlooker:—On a recent bank holiday four men were playing in a four-ball foursome. A small crowd of the usual bank holiday description watched them strike off at one of the holes. The first player, after elaborately addressing his ball, sent it Into the bunker 50 yards in froht of the tee. and tried to look philosophical about it. No. 2 had equally bad luck, and the crowd grew interested. The third man took his stand on the tee, with apparent great confidence, but topped and was also in the sand. The fourth man now advanced, with no confidence at all, but, to his satisfaction, succeeded in just clearing the bunker. "Missed it, by Gum!" said one of the crowd.

In connection with the wreck of the Pericles, while all "went merry as a marriage, bell" during the "picnic" row to the shore and in the camp of the castaways, about a dozen of the thirdclass passengers had a grievance, and they did not forget to air it when they reached Perth. One of them, Charlrs Ryan, in a statement which he signed, made grave charges against the ship's crew with regard to events that preceded and followed the disaster. The manning of the boats was also criticised by this passenger, and by Mis. Fewster, who occupied a third-class berth. Incidentally it may be mentioned that Mrs. Fewster's husband has been particularly unfortunate in his Australian experiences. He was flooded out in the recent inundation at Tarnworth, New South Wales, and had received money from Home to take himself and his family 'back to England.

Regarding the complaints of the th'i'u. class passengers, Captain Simpson replies that it is quite untrue that equal consideration was not given to everybody aboard. "I gave orders," he said, "to lower away the boats, and the orders were carried out smartly. As far as possible the boats were equipped with representatives of the ship's company, trained in boat drill. Third-oflicei File, also answering the complaint, eaid the answer to any charge of reckl ss navigation of the vessel was that the Pericles was not miles out of her comse. As a matter of fact, the Pericles on previous voyages had been a great deal closer inshore. Even the Monaro, when she took the shipwrecked passengers aboard at Flinders Bay, was cnly four and a-half miles away from the scene of the wreck. "As to Wi,?. thirdclass passengers having to handle the boats themselves." lie added, "that is ridiculous. The passengers never handled a single, boat. The boats were all lowered and handled by the crew. It is unfair and untrue to say that the passengers were compelled to look after themselves. The* chief steward, to my own knowledge,, had £l2O of'his own property in his cabin, which could have been saved had he studied his own interests. He splendidly sacrificed it in order to take a number of lifebelts down to the third-class passengers to sec they were all ready to disembark. As to boat-drill, the crew were regularly exercised every Sunday morning. The complaint that the. boats were not accompanied by officers of the ship is easily answered. There are only five officers and 14 boats. Some, therefore, had to go without officers." * * » » « During the great crush at the Sydney Show several children were separated from their mothers one day, and a reporter in the "Telegraph" thus describes the scenes that ensued: This is a cruel world., So doubtless thought the seven young maidens ranged up iri the .police station at the Show Grounds yesterday the while they bitterly lamented the continued absence of "mother," who had carelessly lost them. They stood in beauty side "by side. Originally there were 21 of these temporary orphans, but strayed mothers who had turned up had depleted the ranks until now it was a case of "We are seven." As a reporter entered the station he was seized upon by a youthful constable. "Ah!" said the policeman, in a tone of relief, "which, one do you want?" But"the reporter, though possessed of bucolic aspirations, declined to start as a baby farmer. "Look here! Give a hand in keeping them quiet," implored the limb of the law, who looked utterly fagged out with his foster-motherly duties. It was then that the pressman hit upon the idea of a howling match. So the children were ranged up along th e wall at one end of the station. "Sixpence for the child who cries the loudest," announced the reporter, and he held up the silver coin, and howled as an examph. It was wonderful how the child-minds orasped the idea. It was a flying start—in fact, some started before the conditions were announced. "Howl, you beggars, howl!" urged the pressman, and they responded bravely. After five minutes the prize was handed over to the smallest childan easy first. The next was awarded 3d—well earned—and consolation prizes ?™ ? penny each to all the others - Whether it was the fact that they had money in their hands or that all the available "cry" had become exhausted, those children were dumb for a long while afterwards. "You're a wonder!" exclaimed the policeman, "I've been trying to pacify them all day. Wish you'd been here when there was 21 of 'em." ' * * * * * f As a direct outcome of th e acquisition oy the Government of the entire system of wireless telegraphy in th e United Kingdom (writes a London correspondent) a step of great importance to marine underwriters and shipowners has just been taken by Lloyd's! This corporation, under aii agreement with the Post Office, is now receiving reports of vessels' movements for the use of members. Indeed, the whole business of wireless telegraphy in shipping matters is moving forward very fast just now. Efforts are now being made." both in England and Ufa United States, to make the installation of the svstem compulsoi- on all ocean-going ste'amors that carry passengers. So far a l3 the North Atlantic is concerned, during the last sixmonths of last year of the 282 vessels which carried steerage passengers to and from United States ports, no fewer than 143 had wireless installations. Tho

Pacific Ocean connections are now receiving attention, and, apart from the Canadian and American coasts, whew there are few places of importance without the system, it is reported that the various islands in the Pacific are soon to be linked to Australia and New Zealand bv wireless. MOFUSSILITE.

A G.raymouth press win?, received this afternoon says that there is a strike of miners at raparoa, but no details are to hand. Mrs. Drummond, a well-known member of the Women's Social and Political Union, was recently the means of having the first "human letter" sent through the post in Glasgow. She was hi the city with her boy, and, desiring to send the child home, she resolved to "post" him. When she made her desire known to the officials at the Post Office they were surprised at the unusual request, and indicated that they had doubts as to whether such a transaction could be carried out. Mrs. Drummond, however, was able to convince them by a reference to the rules, and the officials undertook to despatch the boy. A form was filled up and given to a telegraph messenger, who took charge of the boy and conveyed him to the address given, the messenger obtaining a receipt on delivery.