Here and There.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue VIII, 21 February 1903, Page 496

Here and There.

The number of registered chemists in New Zealand, whose names appeared in last week’s Gazette, was 574, of whom 12 are ladies.

Mr A. M. T. Dunean, Fiji manager of the Union Steamship Company and Warden of Suva, is on a three months’ trip to the colonies.

The twelve-year old son of Mr John Cook, of Greenhit he. caught two sharks, each sft long, in the Waitemata River a few days ago.

Badges in the shape if a Maltese Cross are to be worn by members of the Veterans’ Association, and the Governor will present them.

The gross receipts from the band contest at Masterton amount to nearly £ 1000, and it is expected that there will be a surplus of about £2OO.

Several French actresses, whose ages are stated in a Paris theatrical directory, “Nos Artistes,” have brought lawsuits against the publisher on the ground that to print their real ages without their consent was defamatory.

The subscribers and habitues of the Municipal Theatre at Geneva, Switzerland, the fourth largest theatre in Europe, recently elected aetors for the ensuing season. The former first tenor, last year’s baritone, two soubrettes and the prima ballerina, who had made themselves unpopular, did not get votes enough, and lost their jobs.

Southern Italy has discovered that there is 50,000 horse-power going to waste in the streams in the neighbourhood of Naples, and men are planning to use it to produce electric power in Naples.

The Italian postal authorities have adopted a mourning postcard. The Italians have arrived at the conclusion that there is no sense in conveying the intelligence of the loss by death of their nearest and dearest relations to their sympathising friends through the penny post when a half-penny post will answer the same sad purpose.

The Paris Academic des Sciences is examining a remarkable theory to the effect that the key to human stature lies in the gland situated in the throat under the larynx. By artificially stimulating this gland it is claimed thaj any child can be made to grow to maximum height.

‘•How was the prisoner dressed?” asked Mr McLeod of a Dargaville witness in the Auckland Supreme Court. “Oh, he was stripped,” was the reply. “What! Naked?” “Nd, ho had his coat off.” “That would be how he was undressed,” commented the Dargaville lawver.

The following curious specimen of “English” is taken from the advertising columns of a British weekly:

Wonderful! Total payment after for unbelievers—ltalian gentleman teaches piano (20 lessons only) to play in any key (bass and treble); own special method; 2/6 .weekly, or 2 guineas after.

The latest invention is a combined umbrella and fan for the cycle. The canopy is made in the form of an ordinary umbrella, and i« fitted with blades, which, as the bicycle spins along, catch the air and rotate the apparatus. The contrivance may answer in summer, but at present the man who can devise the best form of blanket and hot-water bottles for the cyclist is the one who will earn heartiest gratitude.

The comparative value of autographs, judged by a recent sale at Sotheby’s auction rooms, London, is somewhat curious. Here are some prices realised for letters, etc., signed by well-known names: Leo X., £1 18/; Mirabeau, £1 !/• Louis XIV., £2 4/; Lord Byron, £4 15/; Thomas Hood, 13/; Frederic!: D. Maurice, 1/; Irving, 5/; Patti, 11/; TT. M. Stanley, 1/: Charles Koan, 2/; T.ord Nelson, £5; William Penn, £5 17/6.

The famous Sandow has a rival. The latest addition to the ranks of the world’s athletes is Mirano, who is appearing at the London music halls, and who claims to be the strongest man in the world. His great feat is holding up with one hand a quadruples bicycle on which four men are seated and carrying them round the stage.

At a depth of over 30Cft, in sinking the deep well at Kaiapoi (says the “Christchurch Press”) a vein of very hard stones of all colours, about the. size of" peas, was met with. The stones appeared to comprise quartz of different hues, and others looked like opals. It is intended to submit them to an expert for examination, and also to a lapidary, to be tested.

Questions having been raised on the subject of the decision of the French maritime authorities to allow women to act as sailors in the Channel fishing smacks, the Minister of Marine has addressed a circular to all the French port officials, in which he says: “Women cannot navigate as captains, but according to the French law they cannot be prevented from embarking as members of tlie crews.”

A letter received from an ex-officer of the New Zealand African Contingents now at Bulawayo, says Rhodes and Jamieson have acquiesced in the formation of a special regiment composed entirely of New Zealanders in Africa, for service in Rhodesia northwards, and that steps will be taken immediately towards the formation of a corps.

A professional diver says that one of the strange effects of diving is the invariable bad temper felt while working at the bottom of the sea. As this usually passes away as soon as the surface is reached, it is probably due to the pressure of the air affecting the lungs, and through them the brain. The exhilaration and good temper of the mountain elimber is a contrary feeling, and from an opposite cause.

Mr James Thomson describes the fall of a meteor at Kuaotunu on Sunday afternoon:—-“Even in the intense sunlight it appeared very bright, with the exception of the underside, which was a deep orange. It came into my vision high up in the heavens, increasing in size as it came down apparently vertically. Behind it was left a thin line of smoke, which gradually ascended and formed a small cloud visible for nearly twentv minutes.”

Collectors of butterfles have discovered a worse ill than the “breaking on the wheel” of their favourites.

Men with much ingenuity and no conscience make butterfles to order. That is to say, they take the commonest specimen, veneer him over with a thin paste and then so deftly apply delicate metallic powders of various colours that the mother of that same common. or garden, butterfly would not know it from a real and wonderful red admiral or other choice specimen. There is a great flutter among the museums and private collections.

A report has been prepared by the Local Government and Taxation Committee of the London County Council showing what action may be taken to request the Local Government Board to arrange that the rules and practice applying to sanitation, buildmg construction, and laying out of streets in the several districts bordering on the county of London should be framed on a common basis and made adequate, to prevent the construction of slum areas.

A strange discovery has been made in a French castle. The proprietress, a widow, ninety years old, and of ifoble family, died, and her heirs took possession. In a secret closet was found a beautiful coffin with the embalmed body of a girl about fifteen years old in it. Subsequent inquiries proved it to be the daughter, of whom the mother had been so passionately fond that she had adopted this way of keeping her near her.

In connection with the forthcoming election of the Wairau Licensing Committee, the licensed victuallers and temperance party have entered into a mutual agreement, with a view to saving the cost and heated feeling of a contested election. Under this arrangement the required number of members of committee are nominated, and should other candidates come forward the block votes of the parties to the agreement are pledged to this, nomination. Only one member of the present committee is included in the selection.

A «dory is told of a youth in one of the London Board Schools who as little appreciated the talents of his teacher as the tcaeher appreciated those of his pupil. The lesson was on the circulation of the blood. “If I stand on my head,” said tha teacher, by way of illustration, “the blood all rushes to my head, doesn’t it?” Nobody contradicted him.

“Now,” he continued, “when I stand on my feet why doesn’t the blood rush into my feet?”

“Because,” replied the daring youth aforesaid, “your feet ain’t empty.”

Judge Conolly was occupied all last week in trying a charge of false pretences brought by an Austrian against a very talkative Maori, who must have made His Honor’s head ache. The aid of two interpreters—Maori and Austrian —was .required, and the taking of the evidence was a very tedious process. At five o’clock, when the jurymen looked very drowsy, His Honor summed up, but he had not proceeded far before he stopped to remark, “I am afraid you are not listening to me. I shall not keep you longer than necessary, but I always wish the jury to pay me the compliment to listen to me.” “I would like to apologise,” replied the foreman (Mr W. J. W. Philson), “for any seeming inattention on my part, but I can assure Your Honor I was listening.” The other jurymen straightened themselves up, and His Honor finished his address.

The big reception given to Prinee Henry of Piussia by the United States makes it interesting to learn that the most economical Royal visitor a country can have is the King of Italy. The German Emperor is also an economical guest, as he does not care much for mere show. Give him some soldiers to look at and a review, and it is all he wants. It has been estimated that a private host can entertain the Emperor for a week in the very best style for the trifling sum of £ 1000. Leopold of Belgium is an expensive visitor. To entertain him and his suite for a week costs no less than £4OOO. The last time the Shah came to England it cost £20,000 to entertain him for a week, and there was not “much doing” at that.

In connection with the tidal wave reported in recent cables, it is interesting to note that, on January 13, from twenty-four minutes to two to seventeen minutes past five p.m., a large earthquake was being recorded at the Christchurch magnetic observatory. Bearing in mind that these times correspond roughly to four p.m. and half-past seven p.m. on January 13, at the Society Islands, it is probable that the devastating tidal wave reported in the cables was due to the earthquake. The centre of seismic disturbance is some 75 degrees from New Zealand, which, supposing it to be in the direction of these islands, would place the seat of the earthquake about five degrees north of the Equator, and about midway between the Society Islands and the coast of Mexico.

During last year a story went the rounds of the press about a man who pretended to be the champion smoker of the world. For twenty years he had smoked, he said, one and one-quarter pounds of tobacco a week, so that in the period named he had actually reduced to smoke an amount of the weed equal to ten times his own weight. A remarkable record, truly, but it must give way to that of the champion smoker of the British army, a private in the Third Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, who from his youth up regularly consumed one nnd one'-half pounds of tobacco every week, until his regiment was drafted out to South Africa. His supply then was curtailed,"which almost broke his heart.

A New Zealand Association has been formed in South Africa, with Colonel Bauchop as chairman, and a strong committee.

The crematorium at the Adelaide Cemetery has been subjected to a severe test, and is now ready for use. The process of incineration occupies less than half an hour.

The chances of New Zealand securing a good slice of South African trade — to judge by our Boel’ visitors’ views—are excellent. But we are warned that the Americans are “previous” there.

“He is one of a mob of thieves that put bags round their necks, and call themselves bookmakers or registered cash fielders,” said a Wellington detective of a prisoner in the Magistrate’s Court the other day.

Mr J. Pierpont Morgan, Mr Charles M. Schwab, and several friends were at Mr Morgan’s kennels looking over some of the prize hunting dogs recently, for, like his banking account, Mr Morgan’s kennels are counted among the largest in the world. Mr Schwab fell in love with a finelooking pointer, and asked Mr Morgan the dog’s name. “That dog’s name is 'Rothschild,’ ” said Mr Morgan. “And why do you call him Rothschild?” asked Mr Schwab. “Because,” said the great financier, “he never loses a scent.” I have had sent me a receipt for fast. talking (says the “Rangiora Advocate”) which I think might fill in a par in this column. If any of my Rangiora readers are afflicted with the complaint they might try this remedy. The only way to cure one’s self of fast talking is by continuous application of the whip of your will to the back of your nervous system; nervousness is usually the cause of rapid speaking—wants to take your tongue in its rapid control; the will must prevent it. There are no devices that I know of, excepting Counting time in musie, or repeating a few pages of some book; or verses of a poem aloud in measured tone daily. When you are not excited you have the best control of your speech; therefore, avoid excitement as much as possible. Whenever you speak, say to yourself, as if your will were the driver and your tongue the spirited horse, “Steady, now—slow, boy.”

A pretty little row appears to be brewing between Federal and S.A. authorities over the question of compensation to retiring Civil Servants. The military cases at present cited are evidently due to John Forrest’s administrative incapacity, and “Curly” Hutton’s impetuosity. Latter gentleman desires to rule the forces without the slightest reference to Acts of Parliament, and it is this despotic bearing that will probably result in his early return to the retired list in England. AttorneyGeneral Gordon has overlooked one important point. Federal Government may constitutionally retain a proportion of revenue; this sum is in excess of present requirements, and may be disbursed in such manner as Government directs. With this loophole for Federal Treasurer the trouble will probably end in Gordon having found another mare’s nest. Or, worse still, should the Federal policy be continued of paying retiring allowances to date of retirement, irrespective of State Acts, Gordon’s interference may result in expenditure being regarded as new, and the S.A. debit be materially increased.

Some curious experiences arc reported from Italy as to the effect of colours on the nerves of the sick and insane. In the hospital for the insane at Alessandria special rooms are arranged with red or blue glass in the windows, and also red ’or blue paint on the walls. A violent patient is suddenly brought into a blue room and left to the effects of that colour on his nerves. One maniac was cured in an hour; another was at peace in his mind after passing a day in a room of violet. The red room is used for the commonest form of dementia—melancholy—usually accompanied by a refusal to take food. After three hours in the red room a patient affected in this way began to bo cheerful and ask tor food. - ~ < ■

A theatrical company had travelled down the West Coast of New Zealand, and the local theatrical manager, who had been accustomed to a buck cloth, which served equally well for “Hamlet,” “The Lights of London,” or “The Gaiety Girl,’"' gazed with dismay as great piles of stage scenery were fished out of the hold of the steamer and thrown on the wharf. His face grew white with rage as the stack increased. One of the company, anxious to mollify him, said, as he pointed to Aorangi (Mount Cook) showing his snow eap above the surrounding peaks, “What magnificent scenery you have here, Mr Buskin.” “Yes,” snapped the angry manager, “and you don’t have to pay 5/ a ton to get it carted to the theatre.” j

Mr Clayton, Melbourne’s Town Clerk (says the S.A. “Critic”), has been acting in the capacity of an Australian abroad, collecting wrinkles and picking up points to assist the City Fathers in managing Yarropolis on up-to-date lines. After visiting Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield, Liverpool, Edinburgh, and London, Mr Clayton writes that in many respects Melbourne is ahead of them all:

We don’t thluk that Clayton Is speaking in fun; He’s too staid to indulge in a lark. Melbourne leads in some things, more especially in one; It possesses J.C. as Town Clerk.

“Heat wave” is a very poor definition of our late warm visitor (writes “Boyet” in the “Australasian”). It only gives the idea of a sudden rise, and then a disappearance. “Heat stretch” seems better, but still unsatisfactory. “Hot time,” perhaps, is an improvement on both. It is not, however, the heat citizens complain of, but the moistness. —the clammy feeling that creates stickiness and langour, and brings out those female mosquitoes in thousands. If we dressed for the hot weather it would not be half so bad. What can be said of an individual, who on the very hottest days wears a white duck suit, white boots, carries a white umbrella, and yet will persist in wearing a black bclltopper ? Side shows tell the story of unusual heat best. The man who takes charge of the dairy herd that feeds on the bare patches at suburban street corners, came out in a green veil, and carried. an umbrella. Sparrows, instead of sitting on the eaves, took shelter under them, and kept very quiet until evening. Puss, usually so anxious for soft cushions, slept all day on the eoolest tiles she could find. The butcher boy stopped whistling on his round, and the taps all over the house only gurgled when urged to do their best at any time of day. Even the blowfly took a spell at navigating the room, and hid under the window sill. Those were the days when I have envied the crayfish or bunch of flowers T have seen “walled up” in a block of ice in the fish shops.

Writing to a friend in Wellington, a Northern legislator who is branded with the Ministerial hallmark asserts that he and several of the Government party will not have Mr Guinness as Speaker in the Lower House at any price. He goes even so far as to say that were the Premier to make it a party question, they would not recede from their present attitude. He strongly declares in favour of Mr McNab, and predicts that if the tussle is confined to Messrs Guinness and McNab, the latter will carry the day, as he is assured of a solid Opposition vote, while plenty of the Government supporters will cast their votes for the elect of Mataura. The writer thinks it quite likely that, as Mr Seddon would be placed in a queer fix by the revolt of his followers should Mr Guinness be foisted on them, he will solve tho difficulty by allowing members a. free hand in choosing a successor to Sir Maurice O’Rorke. When dealing with the matter at the banquet to Mr Field On Tuesday, Mr Seddon diplomatically said it was customary and constitutional for the Government simply to nominate or submit to Parliament the name of some member to be Speaker, but they had as yet had no opportunity of consulting with their supporters in regard to the matter. Those who had been dealing with this matter wanted to know who would be nominated, and the moment they found out, they would try to give the Government a slap in the face, and say, “He a,hall not be the Speaker.” ~

The Russian Agricultural representative now in New Zealand is reported by an Australian journal to have met a settler from Western Riverina in the train, and in conversation M. Krukoll said, “I assume, from what I hear, that the principal interests in your district are the sheep raising interests,” to which the grim reply was, “No; the principal interests up our way arc the interests on the settlers’ overdrafts.”

Round about Dunedin, New Zealand, the Scot is still a Scot, both in his language and customs (says "Woomera,” in the “Australasian”). One of them was being taken home by his wife on a Saturday night, blundering along the track behind her, not at all sure of his whereabouts. Turning down the wrong track he came to the creek, in which the full moon was refleeted. As Rob stared at it stupidly his wife called to him from the crossing, “Whaur are ye, Robbie, man?” “I dinna ken quite waur I am, Maggie,” he said, solemnly, “but it’s somewhere abune the moon.”

Some time ago a number of members in the last Parliament expressed a desire to officially visit the Cook Islands, with a view to gaining by personal observation some information respecting their trade-producing capabilities and productions, and also to forming an opinion as to the best methods of fostering and encouraging their development. The Premier has issued a circular letter to members, inviting them to visit the Islands in the Tutanekai, leaving New Zealand about the middle of April, and spending about five weeks in all. On the journey it is also proposed to visit Fiji, Tonga, Tahiti, as a personal knowledge of the peculiarities and capabilities of these islands might, it is thought, help members in their views regarding our own annexations. It is understood that the proposed excursion will be solely confined to members of the stronger sex.

The Tacoma (Washington) “Evening News” states that a most important industrial enterprise has been located at Tacoma, and will eventually erect a great steel plant in that city, with a capital of £ 125,000. It is called the Australian-American Woollen Company, and the president and organiser of the company is Mr R. A. Alley, of Auckland, New Zealand, with whom a number of Tacoma’s wealthiest, most enterprising, and progressive business men have become associated. It is proposed to import direct from Australia and New Zealand, hitherto shipped via London, full freights being guaranteed to the colonies, while it is expected return freights on wool can be reduced one-half,

Important concessions have been made to the company by the city of Tacoma; The president of the company is a son of Mr Henry Alley, of Hikutaia, Tha mes.

The tremendous heat in Melbourne was re-ponsiblc for much promiscuous bathing in tho vicinity of St. Kilda shortly after darkness had come, and when it was possible to disrobe and robe again in a convenient vehicle. Just beyond the St. Hilda pier, in the direction of tho Bluff, adults of both sexes “paddled their tootsies in the sea” for hours together on Sunday night, and the costumes worn, though sufficient within the meaning of the Aet, were often of the flimsiest. One unfortunate matron, after revelling in the water for an hour or more, rose like another Venus from the sea clad in a flimsy neck to knee costume, and her delight was suddenly turned to wailing. So emphatic were the expressions of amazement and distress that she was presently surrounded by a mixed audience. “Whatever’s the matter, ma’am,” asked a sympathetic soul, “has somebody stolen your clothes?” “No,” wailed the lady in distress. “I eame down with my husband in the American waggon. My husband’s most absentminded. and he must have driven off home with my clothes. I can’t find him anywhere!” The loan of a few articles of dress and the hire of a hansom rescued the poor woman from her awful dilemma.

Mr Chamberlain (says the London “Daily Telegraph”) will’ be the first British statesman to travel on the wonderful railway from Mombasa, on the. East’ African eoast, to Lake Victoria Nyanzit, a distance of just under 600 miles. It traverses forests, steppes, swamps, rainy plateaux, and crumbly mountains, and its construction has been attended wit!? infinite difficulties. In the early history of the project, when the natives regarded the scheme with ill-disguised suspicion, labourers had to be brought from India, engineers and a clerical staff had to be obtained from various parts of the British Empire, and practically all tho material had to be conveyed by water from England to the coast, and thence taken to its destination by any cumbrous means which suggested itself. The work of actual construction began exactly seven years ago, and it is a year since the first locomotive ran through to the lake. In the past year parts of the line have had to be relaid and improved. By the railway a journey which occupied 70 days in the old caravan days can be accomplished in two days and ahalf to three days, and in much greater comfort and at far less expense.

It was in the gallery, and the view of the stage was blocked by the usual matinee hat—with feathers that had been grown in good country. “Tike orf yer ’at,” yelled a youth behind, but the wearer kept a straight back, a stiff neck, and all appeals were vain. As the lights went up at the interval she half turned to look indignation at the offenders. One of them, with mock alarm, burst out, “Oh Lor! Keep yer 'at on, mum, if ye loike. I’ve seen a;f yer face; I don’t want to see the rest of it.”

This week has seen the departure from this world of Wiremu Nahira, or more commonly known as William Tahoika, or more commonly known ar William Nahira, who died at St. Stephen’s Pah, Rangiora, last week. It is calculated that he was in his ninety-second year at the time of his decease. He was one of those who escaped from the old Kaiapohia Pah, at the time it was taken hy Rohulla. The funeral took place at St. Stephen’s Cemetery, the service at the grave being conducted by the Rev. W. Blathwayte, assisted bv Mr Tuitulia Hope, lay reader. Miss Blathwayte, the organist, played the Dead March while the coffin was in the church, and the hymn, “Now the Labourer’s Task is O’er 1 was sung by the choir. At the grave-side the choir and Natives sang a chant.

A correspondent writing from one of the up country districts of New South Wales reports the starting of a new local paper, but expresses the opinion that it is not destined to live very long. The local agricultural society held a meeting, which the members expected to find reported at length in the next issue, but the paper came out with the following:—-“We have sufficient notes in our pocket to fill several columns, but the utter ineptitude of the farming community of this locality that we have come up here to help incites the belief that we simply wasted three hours of our life attending their meeting, and to place a full report before them would be a still further waste of time. The indifference of the farmers of this district in matters of a progressive nature is absolutely incomprehensible to us. The farmers at the meeting, to our mind, resembled a ship-wrecked picnic party, deliberately sinking within a fathom of the shore, under the belief that their duty to the Almighty was to do nothing but keep on splashing.”

This is an Australian drought story, retailed in an Australian exchange. Hegan was farming in the mallee district, and a few good seasons had made him a substantial man. He was given to eloquence, and had an ambition to shine as a public personage. Then the big drought came, and gave Michael a pretty hard knock. As there was nothing to be done but wait fca - water, Hegan concluded that it was wise to do the -waiting within easy reach of eold drinks, so he took a trip to Melbourne, intending to remain there until the breaking of the arid spell; but he was back within a week, and a neighbour found him standing in his yard, admiring three fine peacocks strutting on the rail fence. “Hello, Mike!” said the neighbour, “what in the name of fortune made you bring peacocks into the mallee?” “Maybe ye think Michael He gan don’t know what he’s about,” said the farmer. “I was told by a rale scientific malm in Melbin’ that the scramin’ nv thim biirrds was a sure sign o’ cornin’ rain. Let me tell you I’ll have this drought broke in two days.” Rain fell that night, and Hegan insists it was “all along of” his beautiful peacocks.

An English girl, staying in Adelaide, told me (writes “Winifred”) that she was much amused by an elaborate proposal of marriage she had received. “I would like to have it framed.” she said, “to show it on my return to England; only, of course, I could not do such n. thing. Ho owns a station, and when he had finished telling me the usual things about myself, and my eharms, and his appreciation of them, he went on to enumerate the advantages his station possessed over the surrounding ones. *1 have water laid on through the house, and sufficient for a shower-bath daily. I have nn ice-chest and u splendid collar, where, to tell you the truth, I sleep on hot nights. There are fruit trees, and. given a good season or two. th'-y should soon bear. The thermometer

this summer has not got beyond HOdeg. in the shade.’ These are only extracts,” said the girl. “There were other allurements of the same sort, but 1 managed to resist them all, and refused.”

There is evidently no intention on the part of the Prenfer to accept the kindly advice tendered him to re-construet the Government. Replying to the toast of the Ministrv at r. banquet to Mr Field, M.H.R., at Levin last week, the Premier hit out straight from the shoulder, when he said some people would reconstruct the Ministry out of existence, but he did not believe in ’ lacing his Ministry in the hands of these undertakers. Ministers were his colleagues as long as they had the confidence of the people and gave satisfaction. It was for the people to judge. His Ministers were all working in accord. He believed, if the time came, the whole of them would hand in their resignations at the slightest hint that they would help him in strengthening his position in giving effect to the will of the people. It must be left at that. On the subject of the much-dis-cussed Speakership of the Lower House, the Premier said some people wanted to know who was to be Speaker, he would like to know himself.

Jurymen are often suspected of little tricks to escape service, but they seldom give themselves away so beautifully as did the foreman of a jury at the Auckland Supreme Court last -week. Judge Conolly was reproaching the jury for wishing to retire to consider their verdict in a case in which he said there was not the slightest doubt. The foreman of the jury, in evident embarrassment, replied, “Perhaps I have no right to mention it, Your Honor, but there is a feeling among the jury that if they do not retire they will be liable to be chosen on the next jury.” His Honor said the jury had no right to retire in order to avoid service, although he had no power to prevent them from doing so. The foreman’s confession was followed by the collapse of the jury, and a verdict forthwith. They were released from service

Lord Kitchener is in trouble by his frank declaration of his preference for bachelor over married officers as his comrades and subordinates. It has been pointed out that facts within his own knowledge and within his own circle are in contradiction with his theories. For instance, among those who were in his inner circle of friends and colleagues were General lan Hamilton, General French, and several others who are married men. And whenever you speak to anybody who has kno:m Lord Kitchener during all his life the old friend gives an enigmatic smile. Then comes a mysterious hint that if Lord Kitchener be still a bachelor it is not his fault, but the want of discrimination on the part of some fair one—unworthy to take up the proffered glove of the brave and obscure young lover that Kitchener once was. Be that as it may, Lord Kitchener is now a bachelor, and is loud in his praise, as we have seen, of the bachelor state. Which drives Mr G. R. Sims and me into the discussion of an old question. Is it good or is it bad for an ambitious man to be married? It is evidently a question to which there can be no single and satisfactory answer. It depends much on the man; it depends a little more on the woman. If anybody says to me that he has nev«r known any ambitious man who wr? lot helped by his wife I can cite many an instance to the contrary. If, on the other band, an equally self-confident person makes the statement that no ambitious man ever got on who was not a bachelor. I can give chapter and verse to the contrary and by the score. Dizzy would have ended in the Marshalsea if he had not found a wife who was able to pay his debts and help to make him a Buckinghamshire squire. It was through his wife that he could become an electioneer not frightened by sheriff’s fees and other such items in the career of the Parliamentarv asnirant.

Mr. George “Tattersall” Adams managed to Jiandle last year £350,000 of gamblers’ money, notwithstanding the Commonwealth Act, which prohibits his correspondence passing through the post. The Tasmanian State Government will levy £ 1500 by way of income tax on Adams’ gambling transactions in 1002.

The natives of the Hervey Islands are believed to be the most expert shark hunters in the world. On the island of Aitutaki —one of the Hervey group —the natives have a most daring method of trapping the monster. Around the island are numerous submarine caverns in which the sharks live and breed. The sharkcatcher dives down to these caverns carrying with him a slip knot attached to a strong cord, tne end of which is held by his companions in a boat above.

Selecting an unwary shark, the diver slips the noose over the creature’s tail, and then returns to the surface in order to assist his friends in hauling up the fish. The shark presently finds itself being dragged to the surface tail first. Before it has time to know just what has happened, however, it receives a blow from a hatchet that ends its career.

The most daring diver of Aitutaki, a man who had killed scores of sharks, passed through a thrilling adventure on one occasion. Diving down to one of the submarine caverns, and finding in it several sharks lazily resting themselves after feeding, he stepped inside and with lightning rapidity slipped his noose over the tail of the nearest shark.

He was about to quit the cavern when to his disgust the great fish moved right across the mouth of it. The diver, knowing the ways of sharks, immediately proceeded to stroke it on the side, and succeeded in inducing it to move so as to give him room to pass out. (Like various other animals, sharks enjoy being stroked, but the operation has to be very carefully performed.)

But' imagine the diver’s horror when just as he was about to emerge a great shark from without thrust its hideous head into the cavern, completely blocking the entrance. To get out was now impossible, for even an old shark hunter would not dare to stroke the head of a shark.

It was a frightful time for the diver, and he gave himself up for lost, as suffocation now appeared inevitable. But after two minutes’ delay, which appeared to the distressed diver like an hour, the shark passed quietly on and permitted him to escape. When he rose to the surface he was nearly unconscious, and the (blood spurted from his eyes, ears, and nostrils.

Yet the plucky fellow, after resting for a few hours, actually descended to the cavern again, and succeeded in capturing all its inmates one by one.

The State of Ohio has been witnessing a political fight conducted on a novel plan. Mr Johnston, a candidate for Congress, has been touring the State on a big red motor car. Behind it came ten large waggons carrying a huge circus tent to accommodate 6000 people, and behind the waggons is a brake in which sits a brass band. The cost of this novel electioneering campaign is said to be £5OO a day, but as Air Johnston is a millionaire he does not worry about the expense.

Society circles in Chicago were greatly amused lately (reports the “Daily Mail”) over an incident which occurred at the bouse of Miss Margaret Lord, one of the wealthiest residents. Mr Charles Sumner Pike, author and poet, made a wager that he could act as butler at her house for one evening without betraying himself. He dressed himself on Christmas eve in regulation butler’s costume and a powdered wig, and stood at table. None of the guests, with most of whom he was well acquainted, recognised him. At dinner he was kept busy serving the dishes, answering to the name of “James.” Miss Lord purposely led the conversation to Mr Pike’s literary work, which some of those present severely criticised. One guest finally asked. “Who is this Pike?” The hostess said. “James, step into the library and get Mr Pike’s photograph.” The supposed butler brought the photograph, and Mr Pike’s personal appearance was unfavourably commented on. Miss Lord then remarked, “We will now adjourn to the drawingroom, and I will introduce you to my butler.” The result was indescribable. It was then announced that Mr Pike had won his het.

Chinese is an ideographic language. It conveys the idea and not the word for a. thing, as the figure “8” represents the idea and not the word. The Chinese have invented more than 40,000 marks for their writing, but it requires only about 3000 marks for mercantile correspondence, and it is said to be easier to learn them than the words of an ordinary foreign language. Russian is more difficult for an Englishman than Chinese. It takes much longer to learn the spoken language because of the variety of dialects, but anyone can learn enough of the writings to answer ordinary purposes in a few months, and have his knowledge perfected by a linguist within about a year.

I have known plenty of cases of politicians who were ruined by their wives, or by other women (says T. T. O’Connor). Some of these tragedies became public property; others — and perhaps some of the most tragic — have passed unnoticed and unknown. I knew when I first entered the House of Commons a distinguished politician; he had been a Cabinet Minister once, and everybody expected that he would be a Cabinet Minister again. But somehow or other he fell into sudden obscurity; came seldom to the House of Commons; in a year or two grew suddenly old and more or less of an invalid; and in a short time had passed from the ranks of men who had to he counted with when a new Prime Minister had once more to make up his Cabinet.

The latest as to the Tasmanian trains is that a weeping widow made her way to the guard at a side station, and said, “Can’t you hurry up the train? I’ve made all arrangements to bury my husband, whose body is on the train, and I’ve sent an advertisement to the Hobart papers saying that the interment will take place at ten this morning. It’s now two in the afternoon.” ‘Well, mum,” said the guard, “you had no right to bring a dead man down by the ordinary. Why didn’t you take the expcsss?” “but he wasn’t dead when we started,” explained the doubly afflicted woman.