FROM THE “STAR” SIXTY YEARS AGO.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18614, 16 November 1928, Page 9

FROM THE “STAR” SIXTY YEARS AGO.

ADVERTISEMENTS AND NEWS OF NOV. 17, 1868,

Wanted, Single Men, under thirty years of age, for the Armed Constabulary Force in the North Island. Rate of pay 3s 6d a day, with rations and clothing. K K SC Wanted a Married Man, accustomed to Farm Work; must be a good milker. Cottage provided. Also a Boy to assist in milking. Will live in the house. Apply to Mr F. H. Brittan, Linwood, Avonside. :: Mirage.—A remarkable mirage was lately witnessed at Dover, England, whereby the dome of the Cathedral at Boulogne, France, was made distinctly visible to the naked eye, and by means of a telescope, the entrance to the port, its lighthouse, shipping, the hills surrounding the town, and neighbouring farm houses, with their windows illuminated by the setting sun, were plainly distinguished. Even a locomotive and train were seen leaving the city, and travelling towards Calais. The distance from Dover to Boulogne is about thirty miles. SC SC SC A New Omnibus.—By direction of the Home Secretary, a trial was recently made of a curious style of conveyance, which, from the description, would seem to be a cross between a Hansom cab or doctor's gig and an omnibus; and an official report will soon be forthcoming. The chief peculiarity of the omnibus consists of its having only two wheels, and in being drawn by three horses attached to the coach by means of four shafts. For the preventing of noise, the shafting and framework of the running frame are put together as one piece, and are composed entirely of angle and bar iron. The carriage body rests on the top of the iron frame on four indiarubber cylindrical buffer springs, and swings entirely free of the axle; the construction preventing the ordinary *harp rattle experienced in omnibuses, and allowing conversation to be carried on freely between the passengers. For the latter sixteen inside and twenty outside seats are provided. These are arranged like the teeth of a saw, each presenting a corner to the one on the opposite side, so that the occupants sit at about an angle of 60 degrees with the side of the omnibus, and are not obliged to make such extended observations of vacancy on each other's faces during a prolonged journey. The new vehicle is pronounced as a public carriage, superior in every respect to any conveyance now in use.