HERE AND THERE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18338, 15 December 1927, Page 8

HERE AND THERE.

AN EYE FOR EVERYTHING. Quaint Funeral Custom. Well known as a fortune-teller at many show grounds, Mrs Sarah Pickles, otherwise “ Madame Boswell.” died at Portobello recently, aged 78. In accordance with the gipsy custom, Mrs. Pickles’ caravan, which had been situated at Portobello for over 30 years, was burned after the funeral. X K K Show for mongrel dogs. Dog owners of the village of Oachen. just outside Paris, have organised a show for mongrels. No dog that has any clear idea of his ancestry will be admitted. Spots and patches will be assets, not liabilities. Generous prizes are offered, and the judges include some well-known famriers of France. Snake In A Bunker The Governor of Assem, Sir Laurie Hammond, lately had a narrow escape from being bitten by a venomous snake when playing in a golf foursome with the house party of Shillong. He was by the eleventh green when the snake, came out of a bunker nearby and had raised itself to strike. It was seen and dispatched by Captain D’Arcy A D C., bv a blow from his mashie niblick, Vi VI 55 World’s Longest Roadway. The largest continuous stretch of concrete roadway in the world has just been completed in America. This road is 137 miles long and passes through 29 towns and villages. It is estimated that the new road will save thousands of pounds annually, since prior to its being constructed it was costing as much as £750 a mile to maintain as a gravel-surfaced road. k a A Disappointed Composer. Before the Great War near*’ every popular album of piano music contained Brinlcy Richards’ “ Warblings at Eve. ” and prolvably other of his delightful trifles. This assiduous composer really made his name, however, by writing the tune for “ God Bless the Prince of, Wales.” an anthem which achieved instantaneous recognition. Richarda and his friends thought that this loval “ chef d’oeuvre ” would be rewarded by at least, a knighthood. This hope was not fulfiled, but while the musicians intimates were loud in their ex-press-ions of disappointment, Brinley did not ventilate his feelings. The tune was rythlessly analysed by Dr. Gauntlett in a journal, long since defunct, known as the “The Orchestra” The doctor appeared to find little that was original or praiseworthy in Richards’ patriotic effusion. Stronger Than Oak. Foot-bridges in Morocco used for heavy traffic have been the subject of much concern to engineers. Elm p’.anks on oak string-pieces were employed, but these wore so rapidly that a return to the old style was proposed. This consisted of cables made from the tibre of the aloe. These cables are plaited and twisted from fibre, and are nearly two inches thick and eight and one-half inches wide. They are saturated with tar and firmly nailed to oak planking. The cables make admirable footpaths, and are very durable.