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Observer, Volume 7, Issue 337, 23 May 1885, Page 3

"In this connection," as our American cousins put ifc, I am reminded or a rather good story told by Lady Barker. When the chatty author of "Station Life in JNew Zealand" and other interesting works on the colony was living on a Canterbury station •with her husband, the family went one fine Sunday morning- to attend service at a distant church, leaving an Irish girl (a recent importation from the Old Country) in charge of the kitchen. The dinner was a very simple affair; experience had taught the lady at the head of the household to be chary of trusting too much to untried cooks. On the return of the party from church a visit was paid to the lower regions, where the mutton turning "before the fire proved to be scorched black on one side and perfectly raw on the other. " Why, Mary Jane, how is this?" asked Lady Barker, looking reprovingly ab the handmaiden ; " you have had ample time in which to roast that meat." " Faiihan'oidon't rightly understhand yer new-fangled clock in the hall ; and that's whur it is," said the younglady addressed, tossing her head ominously. " Show me the clock," said Lady Barker. The 'Hielp ".led the way to the hall, in sulky silenceN and indicated the " new-fangled clock "-'with a backward jerk of her thumb. It proved to be. the barometer.