NEWS & NOTES.

Waikato Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1500, 6 March 1903, Page 4

NEWS & NOTES.

TIIE School Board of London propose to exchange lists with school school agents in the colonies so as to enable boys and girls of tho upper standards to correspond with colonial scholars.

In an Adelaide case recently, in which a jockey alleged that his employer thrashed him, tiie information was dismissed, on the ground that the plaintiffs contract included liability to corporal punishment. It is stated—on very good authority—that a well known West Coast boniface, who was supposed to have been drowned by falling between a steamer and the wharf at Nelson, is now alive, well, and hearty in Kriseo.

The Ilev. Leonard [site, interviewed at Home, expressed the belief that so great had been New Zealand's prosperity and progress made that ' it was almost too much to hope for a continuance of the same high level, aud that recent advices received from the colony mentioned signs of an approaching period of depression.'

An extraordinary scene is reported from the Florida orange plantations on a recent Sunday. To save the trees from a frost, which is almost unprecedented, the trunks of tho trees were wrapped ill blankets, ' aud many ' —so runs the description—' were enveloped in canvas and heated with small stoves.' It is really a blessing that colonial fruitgrowers are spared this sort of thing. To have to run out on a Sunday afternoon to put hot-water bottles to the feet of the gooseberry bushes would be hardly tolerable. According to a London paper, M. Groscollas, an accountant, living in the Eue de la Folie Eegnault, has been summoned for causing a nuisance to his neighbours by installing a young calf in his apartment. The defendant exclaimed that he was almost driven frantic by his fellow tenants, the lady in the Hat above practising the piano for eight hours a day, and two students below playing on the flute and bassoon. He, therefore, in revenge b.iought a calf into his rooms, and by the aid of a pin made it bellow out to put a stop to the rehearsals. The calf is now dead. Whether its death is due to the lady's piano playing or to the bassoon is not stated, but it clears'' the situation and the action lias been withdrawn.

Regarding the reported discovery of associations in New York for the protection of criminals against the law, tho New York World states that there are eight societies of the kind. One association trains boys to become thieves, the youths graduating from pickpockets to burglars. Lawyers hired by the association defend them when arrested, and a large benefit fund for convicts is also maintained. A lady shoplifters' association protects women shop thieves. Similar organisations protect gamblers, confidence men, and racecourse swindlers. Ona association has an international scope. On a recent occasion a notorious American swindler who was arrested in Paris cabled to New York for help, and the association immediately sent a leading lawyer with a large sum of money and effected his release. Police otlicials and several magistrates largely confirm the World revelations.

A charming story ig told about Mr John Scott-Montagu, the champion motor-rider of the House of Commons. Some time ago he visited Ireland, taking with him a costly car, embodying all the latest improvements of the new industry. He modestly thought hewould rather out a dash in Ireland and was to the full extent gratified as far as Dublin was eoncerned. On tour westward he came to a very small town, with an inn, in respect of size and accommodation, built to scale. Having obtained a frugal meal he returned to his motorcar, which, as he expected was surrounded by a gaping crowd But the landlord was equal to the oucrsion. Conducting the Englishman to his vehicle he quizzically regarded it, and observed, ' Bedad, it's forty year since I had at me door an outside car of that build.' AVhatevcr a presumptuous Englishman might think, there is nothing new to Skibbereen. The circulation of Tub Waikato Aliens is admittedly 50 per cent greater than that of any other publication in the four counties—RaglaD, Piako, Waipu and "Waikato.