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Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13757, 24 June 1913, Page 3

King Alfonso; after dinner at the Ely see, Paris, on May 8, asked his impression of the recent attempt which was made on his life at Madrid, said "When I saw the man in front of me, I understood. at once. * I looked him straight in the eyes, and our eyes met. He was frightened. What olse could you expect? It was an unusual experience for him—his first attempt at murder."

The sum of £1,750,000 a year is spont upon-the repair of British roads.

The nightingale's song can bo hoard at a distance of a mile.

Two women are now attached to the police force of Philadelphia. They wear a blue uniform, and carry revolvers and handcuffs just like ordinary constables, .but their special duty is to watch the interests of girls and women at the railway stations and places of public entertainment. They bavo eyes for the friendless or. reckless girls who stand in need of help or warning, and they are alert to deal with persons who molest or annoy any woman in public places. Mrs Diehl and Miss Gillespie; the two "lady patrols," have had experience of similar work as agents of tho Travellers' Protective Association, and their appointment is regarded as the first step towards the organisation of a corps of policewomen in Philadelphia..

There is in England a railway station which has only ono train each way a week. This, says the "Railway News," is the case at Blackwell Mill, situated midway between Miller's Dale and Buxton. Blackwell Mill consjsts of eight workmen's; cottages on the banks of the Wyo, surrounded by huge limestone rocks. There-' is scarcely a yard between Miller's Dale and Blackwell Mill but is impressively, grand or poetically.- picturesque. The cottages are occupied by railway workmen, and it is for the convenience of the housewives who wish -to journey to Buxton for marketing'that on Friday mornings tho 9.10 train-from Miller's Dale stops at Blaekwell Mill. The two uncovered platforms of the "station" aro of the length of a railway coach, and composed of rough stones and gravel. Tho "waiting room" . is a platelayer's hut, where, tho travellers are glad to shelter from tho keen wind on winter mornings. Tho train carries tho sta-, tionm'aster, who distributes the privilege.: tickets, to the weekly passengers. It is said that on a l-ecent occasion a driver > forgot to stop on the return journey, and had to set bacK,