MISCELLANEOUS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7287, 15 August 1893, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

Mr B. H. Francis, chairman of the Victorian Railway Commissioners, giving evidence in the great libel case Speight v. The Age was nicely caught the other day. Mr Ooldham inveigled him into a little arithmetical problem which must have revived memories of the witness’s school days. “How much," asked Mr Ooldham, “is four times 33 ?” This is a little sum with which the witness could, doubtless, easily grapple under ordinary circumstances, but in the absence of slate and pencil ho fell into the unfortunate error of rashly grappling with the mysteries of mental arithmetic, and, after a couple of minutes’ thought, replied, “ 120.” “Do you work these things out by logarithms P” Mr Coldbam went on. “ No." “ 1 suppose you can always do a little thing like that in your head ?" “ Yes," replied the witness quite innocently, while the court roared with laughter.

Tho St. John's Lodge members a?e sum* moned to attend the funeral of the late Bro, T. Henderson, at 1 30 p.m. to morrow.

The House Steward at tho hospital desirt s to acknowledge the receipt of a bundle of illustrated papers from the South Canterbury Club. The Temuka school has been closed for another week, owing to the poor attendance through the prevalence of measles and sub* sequent complications. On Monday, out of a total roll of 360, only 76 turned up. Members of the Caledonian Lodge of Freemasons are summoned to attend tho funeral of their late Bro. Thomas Henderson. They are to assemble at the lodge at 12,30 p.m.

One practical result Mr Tisoh brings back from a visit to Chicago is the opinion that New Zealand had better not enter into competition with the States in the pork trade ; we have not got the style of animal that is required. Some of the Chicago "porkers'* taro the scale at 6501b5.

Sydney, Suez, Naples, Some, Florence, Milan, Lausanne, Basle, Heidelberg, Manheim, down the Rhine, Bruasells, Paris, London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Chicago, San Francisco, Chicago, San Francisco, Auckland.—These names indicate the route by which Mr P Tisch, of North Canterbury, made a extending over exactly fire months, to “ see the world."

On Saturday last Ashburton farmers and others discussed at the saleyards the advisableness of protesting against the proposed compulsory closing of places of business on Saturday afternoon, and the following resolution was carried unanimously :—“ That this meeting is of opinion that great inconvenience and loss would be inflicted upon the farmers and others resident in this district should Saturday as market dsy bo abolished, and trusts that some other day may be appointed upon which the half-holiday may be held-’* Our luoal farmers might with advantage follow this load.

We have received from Sidney a note that Fitzgerald Bros’ Circus-claiming to be the largest circus and menagerie travelling Australia—is coming this way. They have lions and a lion-tamer,who, on one occasion at less?, changed places. On June 21st, one of the lions put the tamer through a new perfo • mance, using a good deal of force (which he would, of course, argue was unavoidable) ; the man’s clothes were torn a bit, and his right arm ripped in three places. He did not seem to mind it, and now no doubt he will say from experience that it does not really hurt for lions and lion-tamers to put one anothtr through tbair facings. A friend at Home sends us a copy of “ Tay Pay’s ” now evening paper The Sun, the second number. The first number appeared on June 27th, and the next day’e issue con*

fained nearly a column of notices on the first, the circulation of which reached the enormous number of 277.543, The I mdon “ evening” paper nowadays begins its publication in the morning and sends out fresh editions during the day. In this case the first edition numbered 120,000. The Sun is a small four’ page salmon-pink paper- It does not take to report any public or other proceeding at length, but gives concise summaries of them. Mr T. P. O’Connor is editor, and he has joined the as yet small class of editors who are content —proud perhaps—to rely upon their single individuality to enforce their opinions. The old editirial “we” is discarded, and he uses the more forcible, upstanding “ I.”