OMNIUM GATHERUM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9117, 16 May 1891, Page 4

OMNIUM GATHERUM.

NEWS, GOSSIP, AND ADS. Fine display of the Aurora Australia last ighfc. There are nearly 10,000 " professors of music " l London. Records show tbat December in London was bsolutely sunless. A new departure in cremation is reported. A latent has been taken out in France for sn lectric furnace for the rapid incineration of mman remains. Queen Marguerite of Italy, owing to the ;reat distress now existing in Rome, has ordered hat 200 soup tickets be daily distributed to the ioor in her name. The " big potato" season has set in. In Mr Pryor's window there are on view five potatoes [rown by Mr Aitken, of Athol place. They veigh 17$lb, the largest turning the scale at 51b. Caversham is not far behind, as in Mr Miller's !ruit store, in Princes street, there are on view ihree potatoes grown by Mr W. Baird which turn the scalo at 91b 14oz. The largest weighs lib soz. Whooping oough is a terrible soourge, particularly in households containing young ohildren, and mothers will be glad to learn that a certain speoifio has been discovered. Elixir Vrtte can be obtained at all grocers, and should be in every home. • Over a ton of grapes huve been grown this season by Mr W. H. Beetham, Masterton, from an eighth of an acre of land. At Hi per pound this would mean the receipt of £56. Not bad for the eighth of an acre. Mr Beetham, it may be stated, trains his vines so that the grapes are not more than from 4in to 6in from the ground, so that they get the full benefit of the heat radiated from the earth. Bibdie: " You are quite right; it was simply shocking. Next time buy a 'Wertheim'; this machine combines all the latest improvements." "No, certainly not; the wringer in greatest favour is the 'New Novelty.' It sannot ba beaten for family purposes. It would add 10 years to your mother's life." " Yes, yes, of course; but men don't understand these things. Tell your father that if he bnys a Lochhead Washer, he will get his dinner on wash-days same as other days; that will fetoh him at once. The Universal Supply Depot, Princes street (near Octagon), Bell all these conveniences for cash, or on easy deferred payments. Mr Locbhead, the proprietor, will answer all your other questions. He is an authority re double-prams." • Messrs F. Howell and Co., who have gained a reputation as local manufacturers of pianqs and orgaßS, appear to be beyond the reach of dull times. They have just opened commodions and central premises next to the City Hotel, Princes street, where they have facilities for the display of their goods to the beßt advantage. Of course the firm import as well as manufacture, and an inspection of their new premises and the stock therein will repay a visit. The Mutual Improvement Class in connection with the Linden Wesleyan Church opened their session on Thursday evening, the 14th May, with a social. There were about 70 members present, and a very enjoyable evening was spent. Several new members were admitted. The following were the office-bearers elected for the session:—President, Rev. L. Hudson; vice-presidents, Messrs Masters and Scott; secretary and treasurer, Mr' J. Coutts, jun.; assistant secretary, Mr D. Leslie; editor of journal and reporter, Mr Scott; organist, Miss Trezise; committee—Misses J. Bell, J. Hayward, and K. Harding, and Messrs W. Masters, W. Morrison, and Bagshaw. Surround the most commonplace matter with an air of mystery and observe how quickly it attains to worldwide celebrity. There is now in our midst a product of the recent fierce strife between the tea interests of China and Ceylon. No'doubt the struggle for supremacy by the opposing forces has resulted in a duo measure of public support^ being awarded each interest involved. So intent, however, were the combatants on the annihilation of their opponents, tbat it is scarcely conceivable the opposing forces have at last been blended in one harmonious and peaceful combination. More surprising still, we understand that no strike has resulted amongst the teapots against the intrusion within their strictly virtuous confines of Buch hitherto quarrelsome elements. Talk about gunpowder tea! An explosion, serious commotion, or at the least a decided fizz in the teapot might have reasonably been expected from such a combination; and it is indeed surprising to learn that, immersed in the family urn the Bungalow Blend produces a peculiarly soothiDg and exhilarating beverage. It is certainly a blend par excellence, and will be welcomed by those who have hitherto hesitated to take the seemingly perilous leap from China to Ceylon in one bound, as they will recognise in the Bungalow Blend a convenient halting place wherein they can recuperate for a while. It is supplied in two strengths—No. 1 at 2s, and No. 2at2s4dperlb.: A contributor to the Auckland Herald writes as follows:—"'What's in a name?' I was going home the other day in a tramcar when I noticed a Ponsonbyite carried in his hand a large bottle with the ostentatious label on it:—* Prohibition Antidote.' Some years ago I was travelling on a night train between Christchurch and Dunedin with a couple of Cabinet Ministers and a gold fields memher. The latter, in the intervals of playing out-throat euchre, drew forth from his breast packet a flask labelled, ' Bromide of Potassium; a dose to be taken as often as required.' On another occasion I was attached to a corps of cavals engaged in a boat attack, and landing from the Tamaki river, when in struggling through a mangrove swamp in the pelting rain, I saw an officer pull out a pocket pistol, on which was the legend, ' Cough Mixture; two tablespoonfuls when necessary.' I presume these diverse descriptions fully show the elasticity of the English language, but the spirit of the interpretation remains the same."