HERE AND THERE

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4384, 15 June 1901, Page 5 (Supplement)

HERE AND THERE

In tiio Post Office returns for 1001-2, recently laid on th" table of the 11 oust) of Commons, tlio post;aa-Isalaries in tin; groat towns stand, with one exception, at the -nine respective amounts as last year. The exception is Birmingham, where the figure is raised from t'.HH) to £IOOO, placing the city now on an. Bquality with Gla-gow, Manchester, and Liverpool. The other offices where largest salaries are paid arc Brighton, £.7U; -Bournemouth, .0000; .Bristol, £800; Leeds, £800: -Newcastle, £800; Noftingiia m, 0700; Norwich, £025; Bertsmout h £OSO : Plymouth. £OSO ; Bellas!, 0700. 'liie total of postmasters’ salaries in the linked Kingdom, leaving out th" capitals of the three countries, part icnlars ol which arc not given in the return, is £21,132, and £12,822 is divided between 2002 subpo.Amasters.

All the forces employed l.y science in lighting tuberculosis wid come under review at a great Bril ill medical fungi-.);, te he opened in London on 22nd July. New Zealand is asked to send delegates, and a similar request lias b.en issued to oilier parts of the iimpire. 'ldle Go verumen is of foreign countries are invited to send representative men, who will he made honorary members of tho congress. By increased sanitary precautions and the adoption of liiii open air treatment the mortality from tuberculosis lias been, substantially reduced m recent years, hut there is still room for a large increase in this improvement, in the United Kingdom alone some CO,OUU persons dio annually from tlie disease, and it is estimated that at least twice that number are constantly suffering from some form of it.

Tho last Official Hot urn, dated April gave the tuimhor of British casualties iu tho bouth.Ainoaii war as 60,0-o until tiic end ol February. The total casual ties then stand thus : Officially admitted, GO,Odd; in hospitals in South Africa. 20,000; colonial invalids, 5000; civilian deaths. 2000; casualties since March 01, 1000; total, 88,025. In addition, the Honrs have captured and released about 20,000 British prisoners.

Tho facts and consequences of the financial situation created by the British Budget are thus set forth by the “Daily Nows” :—l. The national debt lias again leapt up to over seven hundred millions. 2. Tho limit of profitable taxation has been reached on must artieks subject to Customs and Excise duties. 0. A reversion lias been made to the obsolete system—widen Tree Trade and the French Treaty killed —of export duties. 4. A great article of universal popular consumption, which has been free of duty for more than a generation, ha.s buoii subjected to a heavy duty. u. Th e Transvaal War is admitted to have cost more than double the Crimean War, and an attempt to subdue two little farming Republics has imposed a heavier strain than the final effort to smash Napoleon in Spam. 6. No limit can bo placed cither to the cost or the duration of the war. 7. No approximate or likely contribution to that war can be obtained from, the goldfields of tho Transvaal.

The following facts about the opinion of soldiers as to the utility of helmets versus felt hats for tho soldier may be interesting. I was lately present at a lecture (says a ‘‘Times” correspondent) at which some 70 South African returned soldiers were present. Tho lecturer referred to tho question of helmets versus hats, and asked what was tho opinion of the many fcjouth Africans present on tho question. Like a volley of musketry the men cried ‘‘Hats.” The lecturer said—“ls there not one man present who lias a good word for the helmet? If there is one such man present, let him hold up his hand.” Not a single hand was held up. WureK- tnis unanimity means much.

A man who had done good work in South Africa went into the country some time ago bearing a letter of introduction to a well-known novelist who .sometimes docs a certain amount of journalism. "I like that man,” lie said when he got back to town. "We did not talk about his blessed books, and he asked me no questions about the war.” And it was then that someone handed him a newspaper containing an article of two columns containing all that had been coaxed out of him by the man who asked no questions with regard to that part of his experience in South Africa which he had nob chosen on his own account. Ho was considerably astonished. He is still certain that ho was never questioned.

A frequent grievance with English travellers on Italian railways is the rifling of their luggage in transit. Paradoxical as it sounds, to refrain from locking the trunk or portmanteau is the most effective method of circumventing tho railway thief. This necessitates the cording and sealing of the portmanteau by tho bacehini when regis. taring it. This is willingly done, too, because of the tip invariably given by the passenger, in addition to tho official charge (50 cents). As seasoned travellers in Italy well know (says a contributor to "Travel”), such luggage is regarded as sacred by tho luggage officials, and is never tampered with. A painstaking meteorologist (says ‘■Science Siftings”) has undertaken the laborious task of measuring the dimensions of rain drops. He finds that the largest are about one-sixth of an inch, tho smallest one 500th of an inch, in diameter. They aro larger in summer than in winter, and larger in hot than in cold climates. The size of tho drop when it reaches the earth depends on tho height from which it has fallen. In summer the lower strata of air aro warmer than in winter, and therefore clouds aro formed at a greater height. The drops falling from these clouds, therefore, are larger than the winter drops.

The map of France, in precious stones, presented by the Russian Government to the French Republic as a souvenir of the French. Exhibition, is now (states the “Journal dos Debats”) deposited in the Louvre. It is placed in the hall containing a portrait of Louis XIII. and rests upon a massive base of carved oak, while upon two copper plaques are respectively the inscriptions;—“Don du gouvernoment Russo, 1900,” and “Carte do France exccutee par lo soins la direction de S. E. I’ingcnieurdeMostovenko, a la manufacture imperial© de taill© do pierres dures d’Ekaterttabcurg (Russie).”

The Special Research Committee of the Society for the Study of Inebriety, which has been sitting for 18 month,s has decided that drunkenness is not transmissible from parent to child, it seems, but only the capacity for enjoying the sensations evoked by indulgence in alcohol. Alcohol is a poison, and eliminates those who indulge in it most, hence those nations which were formerly most drunken are now the most sober, owing to this ‘'alcoholic selection.’’ The committee are of opinion that the continued use or rather abuse of alcohol tends to render a race loss innately prone to excessive indulgence than it would otherwise have been, and that this result is brought about by the elimination of those with a strong tendency to alcoholic indulgence, and the survival of )hose with a weak tendency to alcoholic indulgence. There is strong evidence in favour of this conclusion in

tho history of tho groat iVT,v:.cns of the world. This broad-minded viow of the subjoot is of great valuo at tho pro-sent rnomont, and iikoly to oauso some perturbation in o*-:M'orru* temperance circle^.

AVo an; glad 1:0 find (remarks •‘Health”; that of late years a good deal more attention than formerly appears to ho paid to the question of the effect of vocal music a.s a preventive of phthisis. It may, wo think, be stated as a fact that those nations which are devoted to t!i 0 culture of vocal music are strong, vigorous races with broad expansive chests. If an hour were daily given in our public schools to the development of vocal music there would bo less .seen of drooping, withered, hollow-chested, and round-shouldered children. At present, there appears too great a disposition to sacrifice physical health upon the altar of learning. Vocal music is a gymnastic exercise, of the lungs by development of the lung tissue. Phthisis begins at the apices of the lungs, because these parts are more inactive, and because the bronchial tubes are so arranged that they carry the inspired air with greater facility to the liases than to the apices. During inactivity a person would ordinarily breathe aliout 480 cubic Inches ot air in a minute. If lie walked at the rate of six miles an hour ho would breathe 3620 cubic inche.s. In singing this is increased more than tn walking, as to sing well-requires all the capacity of the lungs.

An “Express” correspondent, telegraphing from New York, says: —“From Dawson City there crimes a letter which describes the killing of a big mastodon at tho Forks, after lie had demolished an hotel and several houses, tossed dogs and horses in the air, and caused men to rim for their lives. He was at last killed by an electric; wire which lie tried to pull down. His skin alone weighed 11001 b. The si ieton ; which is loft high, is now on exhibition. One tusk weighed 2171 h. Tho town in which no was killed looked a.s if it had been visited by an earthquake.

It is beyond the limit ol any merely human descriptive powers to do justice to tho timber wealth of the Pacific coast. It has baan calculated with reference to British Columbia alone that at tho present rate of consumption it would take 700 years to exhaust the more available supplies of timber; and as, under the husbandry of Nature, forests will renew themselves in less time than 700 years, tho calculation is merely a way of indicating that the timber resources ol the Pacific (Hast are practically inexhaustible. It is not too much to" .say, then, that for all trade and commerce into which wood and the products of wood enter, and lor all manufactures in which wood and tho products of wood are consumed, the Pacific Coast possesses resources incalculably greater than any other portion of the globe, civilised or uncivilised. As regards the products of the mines, tile territory' under consideration already produces no inconsiderable proportion of the world’s annual supply of gold, of which its stores are hardly vet comprehended, much less utilised. And what Known of all its mineral resources is as nothing in comparison with what is net known.—David B. Bogle, in the “Engineering Magazine.

A college newspaper reprints the following exact copy cf a letter which was recently addressed to a London merchant by a German clerk:—“Gentlemen —Herewith allow me tho devoted enquiry whether is vacant a position in your warehouse. I am twenty-one years of ago, and am also mighty in the French language. Two years I was appronting a firm, Breslau, well known to you, where I still remainder farther three years as clerk, and in the last time as attorney. There had 1 occasion to exercise mo in the book-keep-ing, the correspondence, and in all the office business; also I was incumbent upon the visit of the exchange and on the expedition. In consequence of a heavv and incurable sickness of the chief, the business was loosen, and the personnel discharged. I should bo glad in case you would consider my petition, and I would be endeavoured by my diligence and conscientiousness to acquire mo your trust, and to make me a continued position in your esteemed house.”

Mr Reeves, the Agent-General for New Zealand, told a humorous but rather sad story to the junior engineers recently. The colony wanted some locomotives, and ordered them in England of an eminent firm. The eminent firm said it would be happy to supply them of a certain pattern and weight. The railway authorities thereupon pointed out that the weight was too much for the bridges, which wer e already constructed. The eminent firm said that they were sorry, and recommended that tho bridges should bo rebuilt. Mr Beeves vouched for the truth of this Story, and added that British engineering work was still the best in the world —when you could get it.

Sir Michael Hicks Beach has had many gratuitous suggestions made to him lor raising additional revenue, among them being the proposal to tax bachelors. Something of the kind is being attempted just now in real earnest in Pennsylvania, where a Bill has been brought forward in the Legislature to place a tax of 100 dollars on all bachelors over forty years of age. The Bill proposes to devote the tax to the maintenance of three homos for ladies over forty years of ag R who, in consequence of not having had a suitable offer, of marriage, are unable to keep themselves. The last provision of tho Bill declares that th e Act can be repealed only by the consent of a majority of the ladies who have been admitted to the homes.'

The love affairs of two Chelsea boys were recently revealed when at Westminster Police Court Frederick Catling (17), of Dartney road Chelsea, and Frank Albert Sowden (19) of Bramber road, were charged with pointing a pistol at Joseph Lee, with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm. Lee, who lives in Flood street. Chelsea, and formerly a friend of the Sowdens, said a year ago they quarrelled over a girl. Ho did not know whether the girl over whom he quarrel with Sowden preferred the latter to himself. He had challenged Sowden to fight, but he had refused—except with knives. * * * » *

Why do accident companies refuse to insure women (asks the London “Free Lance”). The actuarial bogey is—that women would always be meeting with an accident in order to obtain a weekly allowance! Considering the large number of women now employed, it is unfair they are refused by the accident companies on account of suggested fraud. The companies only issue accident policies to women for accidental death, as the actuaries argue that if a woman is dead she cannot cheat them. And as accidental deaths are very rare, these restricted policies aro a source of profit to the companies. Surely women should be entitled to the same benefit as men. If not, why not? '** * * *

The sorrows of an American schoolbov are pathetically set forth in the following letter recently received by a

school teacher: —“Sir —Will Jv v please for the future give my sun easier somes to do at nights. This is what he’s brought lionm to or three nites back: Tf fore bottles of here will fil thirty to pint bottles, how many pints and half booties will nine gallins of bcrefil?’ Wei we tried and could make nothing out of it at all and my ho}- cried and said he dident dare to go back in the rnornins without doin’ it. So I had to go and buy a nine-gnllin keg of hero, which I could ill afford to do and then he went ami borrowed a lot of wine and brandy bottles, and then counted them, and there were 10, and my boy put the number down for an answer. I don’t know whether it is rite or not, as we spilt some while doing it. P.S.—mease let the next som P be in water, a.s I am not able to buy any mere hero.”

Some weeks hack -dark Twain (so “M.A.P.” says) went to consult a wellknown West End dentist, noted for keeping his patients waiting a long time, and for indifference to the age of the magazines and papers left on his waiting room table to beguile the tedium. Mr Clemens was kept waiting for a solid hour, and wtien his turn came his patience had given out. But he contented himself, as he entered the consulting room, with the caustic remark--“I see, by your papers, that there is a prospect of war with the Transvaal.”

If you wish to study method, system, work, go to the library of the British Museum. Look round. Mon and women of all nationalities, of all ages, aro eagerly devouring their books, and the silence—Low death-like, save for krcceh, krcech of the goose-quill sliding rapidly over foolscap. There is tho budding politician, carefully taking down some quotations to he employed in his next speech ; there is the laborious historian consulting old chronicles; there is tho young author plodding wearily amidst a pile of books; there

is the contributor to magazines and reviews collecting information; there is the aged professor clearing his doubts by unceasing references; there is the scientist, the mathematician, the philosopher; there is tho Englishman, the Spaniard, the negro. What a variety of human facesj a.nd what a* variety of tastes! « ' .

Mr Chamberlain’s splendid memory for faces is frequently a subject of comment in the House of Commons. Recently he was passing the lobby and heartily greeted a new member whom he had only met once before, some years ■ go, at a political meeting. The legislator, highly flattered, boasted of this distinction to a friend in the -smoking room. “Wonderful memory Chamoeriain has got!” he murmured. “Yes,” remarked his friend, dryly. “Ho asked me who you were yesterday 1 ’

A remarkable story comes from New York—namelv, the description of a marriage in a convent, the first event of its kind known to history. The bride was a Miss Oryan, and the groom was Dr Tascehreau. who is a cousin of the Cardinal of that name, and a member of one of the old French Canadian families. Miss Oryan had entered the convent intending to take the veil, but the romance, ot which the public have learned only meagre details, developed before she haa done so. The ceremony, for which Archbishop Corrigan gave a special dispensati n, was witnessed by the mother superior and fifty nuns of the order of St. Ursula. *****

When the Imperial troops who attended the inauguration of the Australian Commonwealth, were subsequently visiting New Zealand, they were, observes a Home paper, “billeted” on the householders of Dunedin, Where the inhabitants have the reputation of being unco’ Scotch and nnco’ gnid. One of the soldiers relates his experience. I

was put up, he says, with a middleaged couple and their two big sons. The dad savs: “I must tell you that this is’ a*prohobition house, and w e have no strong drink on the premises.” I bore un and said it was all right. After tea the dad asked mo if I’d like to look over the house. I went, and as soon as we were in a quiet corner the dad pulls out a bottle and asks me to have a nip; but he told me not to mention it to mother and the hoys. V, e went back, and mother said she’d show me my room. When we got in th e passage, mother wliispered, “Don’t let dad and the bovs know, hut I’ve got a wee drappie put by for you, and you can have a nip whenever you want it.” After a short yarn with the family again, tho boys* said, “Perhaps you’d like to have a look at our workshop in the yard.” “I would that,” says 1, and out w e goes. Blest if the boys didn’t sneak me into their room, make me swear I ■wouldn’t tell dad or mother, and then I had another one. * * * * «

It has been said that many stories from th e war are absolutely untrue. T!i 0 following beautiful concoction from the pages of an American daily possibly readies high-water mark. It is the story of tlie “best shot in the Transvaal”:—“lie is now fifty-five years old, and never, it is claimed, has h 0 missed an object at which he fired. Two years since he had a productive gold mine and a flourishing family, but h e lost his mine recent!'- and soon after his two sons were slain a.s they were fighting against the British. The loss of his mine troubled him little, hut when he learned that his stalwart sons were no more a great change came over him. H e took his old flintlock rifle, which ho calls Lohengula, anil with a hag of golden indicts he went to the front to fight the foes of ids country. And it is said that during the recent battles, when tho ambulances removed each day those who had fallen in battle,

the physicians could readily pick out the officers who had been killed by Van Bosboom, for instead of two ounces of lead or steel they had two ounces of gold either in the heart or in the forehead.”