Local and General.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11755, 4 October 1902, Page 4

Local and General.

The T.Y.M.I, first fifteen footballers are reminded of the important meeting to be held at the Institute this afternoon at 2 o'clock shaip.

The directors of the Freezing Company left by the Thistle yesterday for an excursion to D'Urville Island. The party will return on Thursday nest.

All member*) and .'intending members of the Christ Church ducket Club are requested to noil up to the pracEtice match on the Racecourse at 2 o'clock'this afternoon.

The College Cadets evidently do not intend to be beaten by the Irish'and Scotchmen in the forthcoming competition. The boys with the jerseys were yesterday practising, and! acquitted themselves veiy creditably.

A rather unusual sight was witnessed by residents of Oastlecliff yesterday afternoon, Avhen two whales were seen "playing" about a mile from the shore. The whales appeared to be between 50 and 60 feet in length, and were seen for about two hours.

Mr. John Burke O'Brien waited upon ue yesterday and! requested us to announce that he would be a candidate at the coming general election. The planks of Mr. O'Brien's platform will be—lndependent reform principle, political reform, increased duty on beer, State Bank, with uri'lmiited scrip, andi making Wanganui the Manchester of New Zealand.

It has been given to the women of our race to set the fashion in most thing*— the fashionable dopf, the fashionable novel, the fashionable scent, the fashionable theatre, the fashionable i*ose; all of these are prescribed each season by the ladies—but im games and politics it is man avlio sternly takes the lead.

There Ara® a fine turn-out at the Annual Horse Parade at Dunedin. Thirty-seven out of forty-four horses entered putting in an appearance in Clydesdale stallions, 4 years and upwards. Gardiner's Agitator was placed first, with the same owner's Sandy Erskine second, and Dalmair Prince third. Thp 3yeap-pld class included horses of merit, the order being, North Star, • Sir Hector, and Lord Derby. The light horses were of a useful class. The sales were disapipjointing. For Dalmair Prince 420 guineas were offered, but refused.

A strange scene was witnessed recently in the Favoriten District Court of Vienna, where a woman was accused of obtaining money by meains of fortune telling. TJippn her counsel declaring that she only answered questions by table rapping and demanded no fee in return, the judge ordered Uj.3 table to be brought into, eo.uii and to bo experimented upon before him. After some delay the woman asked confidentially. ''Are you there?" The table thereupon raised one of its three legs and then arqtber in reply, and when, after three women ha;' placed'their hands upon ii>. she desired it to count twenty, it tapped out that number. The judge declared himself convinced that no -swindling had been employed, and discharged the accused, win departed triumphantly with her table, after making several ineffectual endeavours to kiss-the juclgs s hand.

Most geologists are of opinion tbat the forces which pro-dace earthquakes and volcanic outbursts ffridually accumulate, until the earth's crust yields or collapses. It has been suggested that the yielding oi t,he crust may be due to the increased attraction of the moon at certain ,p:evioas, and tha* the greatest volcanic activity occurs when the moon is in perigee, that is to say. nearest to the earth. At its greatest distance our satellite is about 253,000 miles away, and at- its leas* 221,000. .As the attraction varies inversely as the. squares ot thaw numbers, the pull on the moon on the earth, when nearest to us, mu*t be heuiir one-t.hird greater than when farthest off: 'approximately the oropomou is 64 to 49 r consequently the difference in the luc ing oi- shearing effect must be very considerable. It £ noteworthy that the moowas ir. perigee, her distance being oiil* 222,000 mile*, on Bth May. when the luitinique eruption occurred, and her declina tion north brought her almost exactly o^ei Martinique and St. Vmcgnt.

The 1902 session of the Parliament of New Zealand closed at 10.35 last, evening.

We regret to announce blxe death of Mr. Mr. J. T. Moore, who passed away at his residence, Bushey Park, yesterday.

At a meeting of the directors of the Publia Library, held on Thursday night, it was decided to proceed at once with the proposed additions to the building.

According to the "Wheelman," there are

at present about nine motor cars and 20 motor bicycles in Canterbury. Three of the motor cars are owned by doctors.

A meeting of the Amalgamated. Society of Carpenters was neld om Thursday evening last. The next meeting, the date of which will be -advertised, will be an open meeting. As examples of over-crowding in Sydney, Mr T. A. Coghlan mentions two obardinghouse*-, one a three-roomed and the other a seven-roomed dwelling, accommodating 48 and 71 personl* respectively. A slight error occurred in our list of the Associated Board of E..A.M. and X.C.M- musical examination results published , jsterday. Violet Price, .singing, passed hi.gih'er divisioinr .with distinction; teacher, Mrs. Price; not lower division as stated. At the Police Court yesterday morning, James Smith was fined 20s for drukenness, and on a charge of stealing a- gold ring valued at £i ss, the ipjroperty of James Kenny, the same a,coused was .sentenced to seven days? imprisonment, a prohibition order was also issued against Smith. Two first offenders were fined 5s each. At Victoria P*arq this afternoon net practice will commence. The ground is in fins order, and good wickets have been prepared?. . Members and intending members of the club are requested to be in attendance, and are reminded that they niust get into form for the forthcoming Association matches. The teams—especially the junior teams*—will be picked from those showing most attention to practice. Earthquake shocks are frequently felt at sea. Usually they take the form "of large forced waves which often travel great distances. Professor John Maine has recorded a number of cases of this kind where the effect was felt like a series of sudden blows, sometimes accompanied by a noise, described as "a dull rattle tike thunder." ;In the region of North-East Japan 90 per cent, of the earthquakes originated under the sea. If the .case is remarkable with which ammate may be won from their distrust, of man by the exercise of a little kindness, much more wonderful is the keenness which enables them when his intentions are other than kind to scent the presence nf danger. The wild duck is so acute of scent that the

' decoy man of tha Eastern .counties has to I tak.3 with him when at his. work a piece of | burning turf in order to counteract the smell of his breath or clothes. This vracfciqa 1 seems to have had its origin in the fact

that in the fen districts turf'was a good

| deal used at one time, and it is supposed that the wild fowl are thus accustomed to its scent, in the air.

A meeting of the Librae- directors Mas held on Thursday evening, when there were present—Messrs H. Evre-Kenny (in the chair), Greig. Stewart., Bridge, Watson, Rev. T. B. Maclean, and Mrs Williamson. The hon. librarian reported that an order E for £70 worth of books had been sent. Mr Bridge moved that the resolution passed at laslh meeting postponing additions to building be rescinded, which was carried. A f committee consistnig of Messrs!" Bridge, Stewart, Dymock, and Mrs Williamson (Mr Stewart to be convenei") were appointed: to take steps to carry out the proposed additions to the subscribers' reading-room and to the public reading-room, and to submit tenders to next meeting of directors. Some interesting documents connected with the original founding of the Library were forwarded by Judge Kettle for deposit in the Library, "and a vote of thanks was passed to him for his attention in procuring these. Accounts amounting to £10 2s 3d were passed for ( p;ayment. With his usual concert enteijprise, Mr. J. L. Beck has sfceuped another good attraction for the vocail part of his programme for his orchestral concert which takes place on Friday, 17th instant. This year he|has succeeded in eugagng the leading soprano vocalist of the South Island, Mrs. Alice Gower Burnsi, who has been prominently associated witih. the Jean Gerardy and Belle Cole concerts, and all functions of an important object in the southern cities. As to the merits of this vocal artist, Mr. Beck is in positession of quite a bundle of flattering critiques of her singingl, which no doubt the public will get the fiil benefit of perusing previous to his concert here. Two handsome photographs of Mrs. Burns are on view at Messrs. '$, I. Jones and Son's), where a plan of seats" will be shortly prepared, ana at Messrs. Collier's! music shop.

The postal authorities request us to remind our reader's that the postage on ac-

cousts outside the town, boundary —except where correspondenca is' delivered by letter carriers—is one penny for every halfownce mi weight. We are informed' a number of the focal business peopiLe ■post their accounts in open envelopes and a8& halfpenny stamps. This }S not correct. Such correspondence is charged) dkmble the deficiency, and is very often refused! by addressee. We might also draw special attention to the rat© of postage on newspapers sent-beyond New Zealand, which is one penny each to Australia., except Queensland, and one genny for every 4 ounces, oa< fraction thereof, to all other places. Persons in doubt as td the correct amount to affix to their coTrespondence should inquire at the post office coun- > ter, or peruse the "Postal Guide."

According to a scientific paper published at Paris absinthe contains no fewer than seven poisonous essences

Mr Jubal Fleming has disposed of Ins Hallway Refreshment Rooms at Palmerston to Mr W Moore, late of Lawrence, Otago.

The Trades Council at Wellington on Thursday evening decided to take immediate steps towards the creation of one federation of labour for the whole colony.

At a City of London dinner, when sitting next to Generali Tarleton, a certain alderman jovially exclaimed, "Peg away at the grub, General. You eats; we pays. We remind those interested tha,t the Wangamei Garrison Band will play a programme of selected pieces in the grounds of the Jubilee Home, Aramoho, to-mor-row afternoon.

News from Cook Islands states that the Parliamentary ipiarty will be warmly welcomed by both natives and Europeans. Mr Gudgeon, a& Mangar.v, is fixing up some trouble with the native officials. The (nature of the trouble is not stated. Mr Gudgeon next visits Niua.

A bankrap|t inamedßroome, who failed to attend a meeting of his creditors a few days ago, was proceeded against at -Wellington yesterday morning for contempt of court, before^Judge Edwards. .His Honor declined to fine or commit him to gaol,, as notice to attend was insufficient, and the bankrupt had apologised.

A gigantic saiw fish was recently caught in the (Jarimata Sta-aifc, not1 far from Singapore, by the steamshiip, New Guinea. The fish was 27 feet in length, and the saw, which has been presented to the Melbourne Museum, was H feet lon- 1 foot in width, and armed with 34 teeth, varying from 1 inch to 2 iinches in lengitli.

Thinking to play a practical oke on the father, a Berlin schoolboy filled a table pepper mill with gunpowder. His father, who was very near-sighted, looked closely into his plate as he turned the handle There was an explosion, and the poor man was temporarily blinded, whilo the t:p o s his nose was blown cff. The .father will lose the tight of ona eye, but the piece blown from his nose lias, been, put on again by a young surgeon.

There is something (peculiarly absurd in the idea just came out at Leipeic of an undiraped statue of Beethoven. If nude fiKui.es of distinguished men are to be encouraged in public thoroughfares it will add a. new terror to eminence. The human mind almost reels at the thought of statues in Parliament-square of Lord Salisbury as Apollo, of Mr Chamberlain as Hercules, of any distinguished priina, donna as. Venus. and, let us say, of Lord Rosebery as Cupid.

Mr S. Bolton has definitely announced himself as a candidate for the Pahiatua seat. Mr D- Crewe is expected back from the Old Conutry at the end of this month., and it is thought in some quarters that he will be a candidate for this seat a,t the next election. 'Mr Crewe is one of Pahiatua's oldest settlers., and lias had considerable experience in local bodies, being Mayor of Pahiatua for one term. He has been absent on am extended visit to England and the States.

A Maori woman had an unpleasant experience at the end of the week while goin^ from Waikaremoana to Ruatahuna*, a distance of 14 miles. A heavy snowstorm set in. She had an infant with her. She made her way into the bush, where she remained nearly three days without fire or food. When she reached Ruatahuna she was almost dead with cold and exhaustion. She had shielded the baby so that it did not suffer. The woman has now recovered.

'Why do giite giggle? The giggling age begins at twelve and lasts till the girl is inariied. Ib generally stops then, an;i afterwards she does not always even smile so often as her husband would like. A young lady, inteiviewed on this theme, says that girls at their green age cannot make talk in company, so they giggle to fill in an awkward silence. She thinks, sometimes, too, the older ones among them do it to show that women have a sense of humor, whereof an enemy ha ssaid their sex is destitute.

A tailor has invented a safety pocket1 suitable for both ladies' and gentlemen's garments. It consists of a purse-like pocket inside aix ordinary pocket. The side and flap of the purse button inside, leaving the outer pocket to be utilised in the ordinary Avay. An ordinary pickpocket would hardly subject the existence of the purse, but even if he did, it would be impossible for him to unbutton the flap, and the side of its, without making his presence felt. " Twenty-four years ago a chemist in Paris named Panva-1 was sentenced to penal ser-

vitude for life upon circumstantial evidence _ that he had poisoned Ms wife. He strongly protested at the time that he was innocent, but--was. transported to New Caledonia. Lately evidence .came to light which pointed to the undoubted fact that Danyal was entirely innocent of the dreadful crime, and an agitation was got up which resulted in his obtaining his pardon. His sons and daughters were so convinced of their fath-

er's innocence that, after the prescribed de-

yX^la*1. they joined him in New Caledonia. P^Panval has arrived in Paris, an old, broken, but free, man.

The St. Petersburg correspondent of the "Sydney Morning Herald" says —The Russian meteorologist (Mr Demchiuski), editor of the journal "Climate," has acquired some celebrity here and abroad by his theories of lunar influence upon the weather. The weather forecasts have been hitherto remarkable for their . exactitude. Mr Demchniski himself openly avows that he is still seeking and has not yet found the means to predict the weather infallibly, nohas anyofaeelse found these means. Anyone would think that a man with such modest pretensions, together with an undeniable past of great success in his speciality, would meet with some support and sympathy from his countrymen. But, on the contrary, according to the fate of all innovators. and all prophets, this Russian weath«rpropiliet has met- with- opposition from almost all the meteorologists and astronomers of any note, and in general from all men of science, who declare him to be an amateur. Hi-grounded in the sciences, and doing most of what he does in the way of predicting by guess. Almost all the newspapers ridicule him and his theories, except tho ''Novoe Vremya," -which has assumed an expectant attitude. The fault of Mr Demehinski is to defend himself too much and too often, to talk too much about himself and his discoveries, and to treat hisopponents with too much disdain. Nevertheless, Demchinski is the hero of the day at present in Russia, for if men of science are leagued against him he has with him the people, the land-owners, and farmers of the. pi'ovinces, who have greatly profited by his weather forecasts and the advice with which the journal "Climate"- abounds concerning agriculture. The journal appeal's in four languages, and-haa many collaborators from France and Germany. Mr Demchinski receives hundreds of letters express; ing thanks, wonder, ami .admiration.. The "Climate" is read assiduously out of Russia. In France and Germany, The Americans have o^-^Jg^fe" ski a large sum of money to settle n,i New York and continue-his studies. But he declined, wishing, before all, to make.the -conquest of his own. country.