Page 27 Advertisements Column 2

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1261, 30 April 1896, Page 27

Ono man filling up bis census paper described himself as a' “conductor of oxen,” which term lias certainly a liner ring than “ bullock driver.” A young lady’s occupation is given as “engaged to Tom.” Under the heading “ relation to head of the family,” paterfamilias in two cases out of three puts “husband”—accurately enough, no doubt. “ Tourist ” is the description attached to tho name of an individual who, if tlicro is any character in handwriting, might be fitly, if less politely, described as a “ swagger.” Tho Vogeltown householders are talking of having the school removed to Brooklyn, and a public mooting is to be hold. Few people have any idea of tho enormous expense of keeping tho ocean groyliounds sliip-shape. It; costs one company on an average T2OOO a month for repairs to the various vessels. They are thoroughly overhauled every month, and the amount oi small repairing necessary would astonish even the old voyager. In the shops ou the American side there is a duplicate of every bit of machinery used in the make-up of an ocean liner, from enormous pieces of shafting down to the smallest holt. The International Company lias to pay among its other expenses for a professional rat-catcher, wlio clears the ships of tho little pests. About 50 rats are caught at the end of oach voyage.