THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8064, 13 December 1892, Page 2

THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.

The near approach of the popularly-termed festive season bas naturally directed attention to the fact that Christmas Day this year falls on a Sunday, and as a consequence it is suggested that some combined action be at once taken by the business people as to tho days to be locally observed as holidays. To simply observe the Monday (Boxing Day) as a holiday would not, we surmise, fit in with a general idea running decidedly in the direction of also including tho Tuesday, thereby affording all an opportunity for rest and enjoyment, especially in the case of those goin,<» away for a trip. New Year's Day, of course, falls on a Sunday also, and no doubt the Monday, as heretofore, will be generally observed ; but it is with regard to the before-mentioned holidays that ooncerted action rsqnires to be at once taken, if only in the interest of those toilers who have but few chances of what may really be called a holiday once in the year.

Borough Council meeting to-night. The Hon. J. MoKenzie remains in Wei lington until the Christmas holidays.

Instructions hnvo boon given for a man-of-war to be present at the Lyttelton and Akaroa regattas.

A wire to day states that, after weeks oj interruption, through traffic on the Wuira> rapa line has been rosumed.

Tho Wairero, on her usual weekly up. river trip this morning, was more than usually crowded with tourists, amongst them a numbor of ladies.

Owners and trainers of horses aro re> minded that nominations for tbe Wanganui Cup, Stakes, Flying, Harrison Memorial, Nursery and Autumn Handicaps, close at tbe Secretary's oflice to-night (Tuesday) at 9 p.m.

The great discount salo,with special cash bonus, commences at Mr Peter Bell's establishment, Victoria House, to-morrow, and will last for one month, during which time immense bargains will be displayed in every department. Further particulars in tomorrow's issue.

We (Times) are glad'to be able to state that the Premier is steadily improving in health. He is still unable, however, to receive vititors, and the public) cannot show their sympathy with him in a more practical way than by abstaining from troubling him with matters of business.

At Sydney on Saturday the directors of the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand celebrated the rccomniisaioniog of the c.c. Oonab, which has undergone extensive repairs, by inviting 800 of the leading citizens to a trial trip to Broken Bay. Tho Oolonial Treasurer, in proposing the toast of tho Union Steamship Company, referred to the marvellous development of the company, and laid the- lucceisf ul management reflected credit on all concerned. The Oaaah averaged a speed of 15 knots.

Mr Lionel Hignold, ono of the foremost coinediaDS of the itngiiah stage, arrived in Sydney last week by the Otoys, under engagement to Mr George Rignoltl. The newcomer is the son of Mr Harry Rigoold, who began his stage career as far bacK as 1825, made for himself a name more especially as William in "Black Eyed Susan," and as Jack Adams in " Tho Mutiny of the Nore ;" and ended his days as late as 1573 during the Chatterton production of " Antony and Cleopatra " at Dury Lane, in which he was concerned with hia old- friend, Mr James Anderson, a Antony, and with Mils Wallis aa Cleopatra.

Mr John Belt, ooaohbnilder of Feilding, has just patented an ingenious and and improved fastening for bolts more especially applicable to the fish joints of railways and tramways. The invention is made of iron with steel key, and is certainly a great improvement on the old method Mr Belk's invention has been accepted by the Bail tray Commissioners, who have had a thorough trial made, and have sent a sample to England for an estimated price for large qunnti-

ties. Patents have been applied ior and granted in all parts of tbe world. Undorthe caption " The Biggest Swindler Living," Mr Labouchere, in Truth, October 27, calls attention to a man named Wells, who recently gained notoriety through his alleged big winnings at Monte Carlo. Undeterred by previous exposures Wells' latest coupi have been on a larger scale than be-

fore. Within a few months, under pretence that he was abovE to float patents that would yield enormous wealth to tho investors, he victimised one lady out of £18,000, another out of £5000, and a gentleman out ot £10,000. Meanwhile ho was sucking dry a number of smaller flies, ranging from a workman with a few jears' savings to aristocrats commanding thousands of pounds.

The Minister of Public Works adopted a very effective method of testing the real extent and character of the unemployed difficulty atChristchurch. He invited those who were clamouring for work to send in their names and he would find employment for them upon public worki in the North Island. Fifty men accordingly Sent in their names, and arrangements were at once made to transport them to Wellington, whence they wore to be despatched to the places where employment awaited them. Only 26, however, of the 50 answered to the muster-oall, and these men arrived by the Botorua on Sunday. — Times. Georgo Franois Train is still hanging around this city, says a letter from New York. He is describod nowadays as being as brown as a mulatto and with a snowwhite mustache and snowy white hair, bis face being close shaven otherwise, and a

high refcr^atiug forehood giving jjespecial

prominente to his facial features. He wears white duck clothing, white canvas shoos and a straw hat which is lined od the rim and covered almost entirely on the crown with white silk. The contrast be-

tween hia white garments and white hirsute adornments and his yellowish brawn skin makes him a conspiouous objoot of comment and notice. The installation of a 4,000 ton hydraulio preas in the SI. Jacques Iron Works afcllontlucon, Frunoe, serves to mark the progress of nn innovation in forging work. Tho substitution of hydraulio prestea for powerful steam hammers for the forging of large masses of steol ho* for some time bron steadily on the increase. It is found that the work of the press is more regular, homogeneous and rapid, and that tho press coats muoh lees to install than the steam hammer, finally, the difficulties mot with in tho installation of the foundations and anvil beds increases in such a measure when the woight of the hammers is increased that tho limit of power that can be given to them has been practically reached, while tho possibilities of press power cannot &s yet be accorded any limitations. A strange animal was recently killed in tho Wsllapai Mountains, and is now stuffed, and on exhibition in the office of the Mohave (Arizona) Miner. The body is ten inohes in circumference, and 18 inches in length. Tho tail, if such it may bs termed, is 4 inches. Its front feet are similar to those of a dog, only tho toes being missing, while its hind legs, someirhat longer than lU front, tcrn>irmto in cloven hoofs. Its head is of a bright rod colour, the hair on the body of a light blue. The upper jaw is equipped with 3 iramonse tusks curving downward, giving a ferocious expression. The tongue is forked and is used for catching ants. The snout is prolonged to a trunk, prohentilo, similar to the arm of an octopus. It was discovered clinging to the surface of a pino tree, about 50 feet from tho ground. The stomach contained a live toad, 2 horned toads, several thousaud ants, and a garter snake- Naturalists are puzzled. Tho Jubilee Singers olosed their season in Wellington Opera House Uit evening, whon tbo uudionce showed appreciation of the singors' efforts by applause, tbo like of which is seldom heard even in tho Opera House, no less than fourteon encores being given. Thero can be no doubt that the present combination it & very strong ono, no less than seven of the members being soloists of oxceptiouul morit. Both in Melbourne and Sydney, in spite of the general depression, they drow vory large audiences, and in tho latter city they gave a spHcs of twentv-twoeonsocutivo concerts, at the last of which money had to be refused for all parts of the homo, man; paying reserved scat prices to sit on the steps of tho platform. Tho box plan for the two concerts to he givon by them in tho Oddfollows' Hall on Friday and Saturday next is now open at Messrs H. I. Jones and Son's, When under examination at his first oreditors* meeting, Mr GK A. Preece, formerly of Napier, told tho Chiistchurch Official Assignee that ho had been twentyeight years in the Government service. The only debt he had inourred in Canterbury besides current household expenses was the oue of £200 to Mr Lynskey, which went to satisfy a claim of Mr Broughton's that was Very pressing. His salary as a resident Magistrate was £450 a year with £175 a, year travelling allowance, which had to provide for everything but railway faro. These expenses amounted, during tho yenr, to £125 to £150. Ho also received Coroner's fees, but these had been vory small lately, us tbo mileage had not boen allowed. Tho third mortgage to Mr Fulton, of Napier, had been oxecutod on November 2nd, and tho pioceeds would be used to satiety trust moneys duo to tho natives, 'Mr Brsughton, and others. Mr Lynskoy wai Olerk of the Court at Kaiapoi, over whioh he presided. When soliciting the loan of £2000, the debtor offered him no security, but showed him (I.ynjkey) that he had some security consisting of property in the north.