RANDOM GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4341, 23 March 1882, Page 3

RANDOM GOSSIP.

[Bx Vebgbs.] " A good old man, sir : he toill he talking-." — SnAKKSPICAEB. Bank notes, both in the abstract and aggregate, are very delightful things to con-t-iupiate— eßpocially to thoßO who possess them. And in Knglaisd the plain, crisp, white " fivers," with Mr May's signature in the corner, ar_ very pleasant to handle. Thoy are sweet withal, and fair to vi«?w as tha Sunday damaak table-cloth, or a gentleman's drees necktie. Here in this Colony we have changed all that. What might bo tho aim and end of tho dirty black pieces of papor with, "we promise to pay " inscribed upon thorn, which circulate throughout the length and breadth of these happy islands, it were hard to say. From tho filthy appearance of some of them one would feel inclined to think that our banks had formed themselves into a society for tho more rapid spreading of skin diseases, and the furtherance of tho noble cause of typhoid fever. But as such an association would inevitably tend to thin the ranks of what I believe are known as " old and valued clients," one is driven to seek some more plausible explanation of the phenomenon.

Why people in other respects harmless and respectable, and who have no more inherent villany in their composition than falls to the common lot of each poor descendant of Adam and Eve, should be ao regardless of the feelings, eight, and noaes of their victims, " the valued clients" above-mentioned, has long been'a myatery to me. In like-wise the long-suffering of these latter has much exercised my mind. But a friend has lately been kind enough to throw some light on one part of the myatery.

He had been paying a large number of olerks their " Bcrows," and some of the notes sent him from the Bank of — names need not be mentioned — were so filthy, that he was obliged to return them and asked that they might be exchanged for cleaner ones. This, I presume, caused him to ponder on the matter, for he explains that tho dirt is a protection against forgery. A forger, ho says, might poasibly counterfeit paper, watermarks, printing, colour, »nd even tho signature upon them. But the disgusting effluvium— never ! I should bo glad to know if bankers feel inclined to accept tho oxplanation. It is at least ingenious, and I fancy novel, if not complimentary.

January the 18th Beems to be a marked day in England. On that date in 1881 occurred that terrible snowstorm which ushered in a season of Arctic severity ; and that particular Tuesday went down in the records of the year, if not in thoßO of what Sir Gorgo Grey is pleased to call " all time," aB Black Tuesday. This year the 18th has signalised itself in a very different way. The weather was mildness itself, pnd frost was far from the thoughts of that fickle and crotchety being, the Clerk ot tho Weather. But he had evidently determined to keop the day fresh in people's minds, so he ran up the barometer till thero seemed somo danger of the mercury slipping past the soalo.

It is very rarely indeed that tho barometer rises abovo 30.7 inchos at London ; and during the last 23 years only six instances of its having done so are on record.

As far as I can gather these instances of extreme pressure alwaya 03cur in tho winter months. The exact reading for London this time was 30*935. To find an equal meteorologists have to go baok to 1778, when Sir George Schukburgh ia Baid to have recorded exactly the came elevation. Between 1778 and 1882 this has only been exceeded once, viz. : — On Jan. 9, 1825. The sea level pressure then ro e to SO^S, or 0 026 above that just experienced. In a home paper I find it mentioned that a Mr J, T. Hat?h, of Lanbam, near Maidstone, reported a reading of 31 05. Whether that is to be relied on as correct, the paper referred to does not say. It would be interesting to know what are the highest authentic readings that have been marked in New Zealand.

Note. — Tbe reading 30*935 is jrst an inch above the normal for January. Dense fogs with little or no wind were expeuencsdat the same time.

Tbat I'ttJe adventure of the two fishermen at Flea Kay, where they nearly rpn on to a sleeping whale, reminds me of a Title story I heard once. For the (ruth of it I cannot vouch, ufany residents of fcho Peivneula. considered the name of tho Bay to be an objectionable one. A meeting of the JKoad Board magnafas was held to consider what steps Bhould bo taken to have it changed. After Borne discussion, a surveyor, woll known at that timo on tho Peninsula as an incorrigible punßtor, rose and suprorted the proposal for alteration. But the whole thing was totally spoilt whon he wound up by proposing, with tho gravest of faces, that a respectful petition be presented to It's Excellency tho Governor, asking tint ci tho present name wa3 found to be inappropriate, it might be changed to Flea Bigld ! Tableau, aud rage of the reformers.