Items.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 6792, 18 January 1897, Page 3

Items.

Remember that raw potatoes grated and applied as a poultice are a quick and sure relief for scalds and burns. Patriotism pure and simple does not appear to be a paying commodity in the British Army (says The World). If rumor is correct, all the officers who volunteered for service in the Soudan have been put to very great expense, and neither the British nor the Egyptian Treasury has come ti their assistance. When Parliament meets it is to be hoped this question will be raised, and the rumor, if incorrect, contradicted. To restrict volunteering for special service to the rich men in the army, and to debar the poorer ones from doing it on the score of expense, would be a serious matter for the country.

During the Trafalgar Day celebrations the London street hawkers reaped a rare harvest in Trafalgar Square. The newsboys had a great time, 3nd those who vended The Times, which issued a special edition containg the report of Nelson's death and an account of the famous battle made 33 much as LI a day, while many made 10s clear. One hawker, who appeared on the scene with only 2d in his pockets, so invested his coppers that he left off with 12s to the good. The St. James* Gazette of Oc'ober 23 added : "The news of thi3 success soon spread, and many laborers left their work to come west hoping to make their 4 pile.' ( >uite respectable boy 3 were selling photographs, and it is a long time since so much money has been taken from the sight-seeing public in so short a time." Another addition to the many good stories told of and by Dn Maurier is made by a correspondent of Lloyd's, and it not only shows the humor of the lamented artist and story-teller, but also his generous nature. There was some years ago in Hampstead road a pavement artist, now dead. Du Maurier often dropped a coin into the poor man's h3t. One cold day the author of "Trilby"'' told him to leave his " pitch " and go to the model soup kitchen in Euston road to get some food. Da Maurier, as a joke, consented to take charge of the hat. When the man was out of sight he proceeded to wipe out the pictures of battle scenes, faithful dogs, etc., and commenced drawing portraits in chalks of the society ladies and gentlemen made famous by him in Punch. Passers-by stopped to look, and remunerated the deputy, and, when an hour later, the man returned, he was pleased to find so much in his hat, but regretted that his work had been destroyed. " This may attract some people, but it ain't art," he said to tho amused Du Maurier, as he commenced wiping out the society males and females. "Now, ! this pleases everybody," he continued, drawing the picture of a soldier. ! Dr Gilmour, the Central Prison Warden of Vancouver, 8.C., is about to introduce a number of reforms in the prison. The keystone of the Warden's plan is to have the prison 3 penal, but a reformative, institution. To this end prisoners who are in the institution for the first time, who are there through a lapse from rectitude, induced, perhaps, through cruel circumstances, will be segregated in a wing of their own. They will not be barbered so ignominiously, and will have somewhat better food. More than that, they will be clad In a neat grey suit, hardly distinguishable from the dress of an ordinary citizen. A case with an amusing side to it was heard on Friday (says the Southland Times), when Mr It. M'Nab, ex-M.H.R. for Mataura, after making a solemn affidavit of the bona fides of his position before the presiding justices, prayed that he might be allowed to pay half a crown he owed to a debtor. According to the Corrupt Practices Act allexpenses incurred in connection with an election have to be paid within a month after the polling day, after which time the sanction of a magisterial bench is required to placß the candidate outside the penalties of the Act. Mr M'Nab had done all that lay in his power to get his accounts in and paid within the statutory time, but a few small items came in late, the 2s 6d being one of them. His petition was granted, and the ex-M.H.R. is now searching for his creditor to pay the munificent sum. This having been accomplished, he will no doubt leave Invercargill on his trip to the old countiy with the clear conscience any man is entitled to who ba3 striven so hard to be permitted to pay his just debts. Guided by X rays provided Thomas A. Edison, a lancet operated by Drs W. C. Bailey and A. S. Wendall has probably restored the sight of 10-year-old Mary Shoeliner, Newark, N.J. (says a New York telegram dated Bth December). Two years ago the girl fell on her head. When picked up her skull was apparently uninjured and the scalp wound promptly healed. A few months ago she complained of a mist before her eyes, and in a week was totally blind. After consultation it was decided to try the X rays. The girl was taken to the Edison laboratory, Orange, and the X rays focussed against the side of the child's head. Dr Bailey could see a bone pressing down on the little girl's brain, and a dark shadow between the convolutions. It was a blood clot. A plate was held before the child's eyes while the rays were still being thrown on the head. She was able to see a shadow. The operation was performed, and it was found that the X rays told the truth. It was a piece of bone pressing upon the anterior portion of the brain, and the blood clot extending down, pressed upon the optic commissure, causing blindness in both eyes. Bit by bit" the clot was carefully cut away, and the skull trepanned. Two or three large buttons of bone were taken out. " Unless the nerve fibres become atrophied," says Dr Bailey, "there Is no reason why the child's eyesight should not be fully restored."