NEWS AND NOTES.

Western Star, Issue 1292, 27 February 1897, Page 3

NEWS AND NOTES.

The New Zealander has 300 different patterns of bicycles to select from. One English railway company alone issues over a ton of tickets weekly. Messrs W. 11. Cook, Walter Guthrie, W. H. Brent, and J. Collins still engaged telling each other “ you’re another.”

Mr C. Wilson, one of the Government candidates for the Wellington city at the last election, announces himself for the Suburbs seat. The licensed victuallers ip the Rangitikei and theMauawatu electoral districts are combining to conserve their interests in all matters affecting the trade. Three towl names of competitors at the recent Rifle Association meeting —Chicken, Crow, and Raven! Wheat-growing has been resumed in the Pambula districts of Now South Wales after a lapse of 10 years, when it was abandoned owing to rust.

Penguins are ver}' numerous on the coast from Green. Island to Taieri Mouth just now. Grass-seed lifting is the latest thief phrase, some 40 sacks of cocksfoot having been stolen at Stratford the other evening. The most quarrelsome creature in the world is a scorpion. Two placed in the same box will always sting each other to death. The health officer at Merthyr Tydvil in Wales, has instituted proceedings against a local firm for having Melbourne chilled butler treated with preservitas. It is alleged on behalf of the prosecution that preservitas is injurious to health. It is perfectly clear, according to the Tuapeka Times, that the need of irrigation is very much more urgent in Central Otago than the railway which is being so loudly clamored for. The Daily Times recommends the Southland Frozen Meat Company to earrv out the expressed determination of again petitioning Parliament, and to persist in demanding equitable treatment as to railway freights. In laying off towns from this date municipal reserves of one acre to every ten must be made, also one or two school sites of two acres each, and sufficient inside or outside the town for nightsoil and uibbish. A horse in a box on the Manawatu railway kicked his box open, and jumped out, tho train going at full speed at the time. When if: landed ! it quietly started grazing in the paddock alongside, and was all right when found in the morning. /

How’s this for high? The inspectors say that the hoys in the Bleuheim public school were the most advanced of any school in the provincial district in needlework! A mistake somewhere, surely. A very powerful electric search light is to be erected at the fort overlooking the entrance to Wellington harbour, and tenders are being invited for the construction of an engine and boiler of 70 horse-power to drive the plant. It is said that the horses of German cavalry regiments are to be entirely shod with paper shoes, recent experiments as to their durability and lightness having proved very satisfac-

tory. The Hon. Mr Seddon, writing to the Argus, estimates the New Zealand surplus for this financial year at £300,000, made up as follows: £IOO,OOO from customs, £BO,OOO from railways, and 130,000 from stamps, post and telegraph, territorial revenue and land and income tax. A French doctor is said to have discovered a means of injecting courage into men by meamsof a syringe. The material ho uses is a mixture of sea water and pheuic acid. A man who has tried it says that two or three dandelion leaves chewed before going to bed will always induce sleep, no matter how nervous or worried a man may be. / A man was brought before the Fitzroy Court the other day, charged with stealing a pair of handcuffs. He had been arrested, and had made his escape with the “mittens” on him. -Next Ave shall hear that somebody is arrested on a charge of embezzling a policeman.