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Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 346, 25 December 1902, Page 2

Bwou know 9[ 7011 I telling came, naturally to Uiß." j ' Now you have someone else who has a Dearer and higher claim to yonr confidence/ said Garard, who was certainly less appreciative of the privilege of that confidence than he bad been two years ago. ' Yes; it seems so strange and new to me as yet,' she murmured coyly, with drooping head. ' You'll soon get used to it,' he assured her with cheerful practicality. I ' Yes. D j you know,' added thfc fiancee, *ho had sot yet said all she Ranted to say, with winning confidence, i"I fancy Sir Henry has some reason for not liking the Hamilfcone. It may be 'only a fancy of mine, hut see how I trust my friend and brother with even my passing fancies! I see, or rather I feel, with that intuition we were speaking of just now, that there is some sort of distance between them. He doesn't say anything, but he seems to avoid them. I can't help thinking that perhaps he may have known something about them before. Nobody knows much about them here. I have a feeling that he would not wish me to be intimate with Miss Hamilton.'

'Why not?' demanded Gerard, shortly, with a secret and ungallant inclination to shake the clinging hand off his arm. ' I cannot imagine !' as if in innocent meditation. * I have heard that men are very particular about a girl's friends, but I leaJly don't know any reasou why h* should not approve of the Hamiltons. Can you form any idea?' with charmingly trustful appeal, which failed to charm. 'Not the slightest. I'm not a clairvoyant or a thought-reader. As far as I know, they appear an extremely nice family.' It was not by an intention or desire of Gerard's that he and his fair companion had strolled further and further from the house, and now found themselves alone in a secluded part of the garden. Were they alone though ? The path, sh'ded by h"ch shrubberies and trees, was lonely, but they caught a murmur of vcice3—a low murmur which sank cautiously lower as their steps drew near to a turn in the path, ■Bhc.T'i the bushy woodrd b rder, curvirg back, left a semi-cireular nook, usually occupied by a rustic bench and table, had for this "occasion been moved to a place of more popular resort nearer the house. This nook would have been in deep shade but for a ray of moonlight striking acro3a it, and in this secluded corner two people stoad—two people at whom the other pair, coming across them in the remotest part of the garden, could not choose but cast a casual glance as they approached and passed. The moonlight gleamed on a light dress, and both Gerard and Emily recognised C'arice Hamilton, and both had an impression that the man by her side had steppad a pac! b<wjk as they drew near. Was it to move out of the betraying bar of moonlight, or to set a space, however slight, between himself and Clarice? They seemed to have been standing close together, talking low and earnestly j indeed their mere attitude revealed so much. People may sit down to rest, saunter to cool off linger to chat, but to stop and stand still is as a rule a sign of being earnestly absorbed in conversatisn Who, then, was the man who was Clarics'e companion ? Gerard's eyes were keen, his observation quick; hereco/nised in a moment the tall slightly-built figure in the overcoat as that of the stranger who had helped him to tear down the Airing lanterns. CHAPTER VIII. Neither of the parties, thus unex pectedly moetin r, made any advance to disturb the tete-a-te r e of the other. G>rard Onelov and Eoady Dam pier disci e tly passed oi withiut a pause, as if unobservant of the other couple in their leafy recess. Emily however, wa3 sharpersighted than Gerard had thought or desired her to be. 1 1 think wt ware de trop !' she remarked when a'aß \ie distance. ' That s no >tc is evidently a place for love? s and for lovers only! But the happy man was not Mr. Frayne. Poor fellow I It seems to be ' out of sight' out of mind,' with his fair lady ! She nan evidently got another victim at her chariot wheels And did you ohservp, it's very odd, but he did sot seem to be in evening dress ?' (To be continued.)

It is semi-fitting and has bell-sleeves aad shoulder-capes, the trimming throughout consisting of machine-stitching, which develops into a handsome width at the bottom and takes a Vandyke shape sver the bust. Such a coat as this would very easy to make at home It fastens visibly with a large pearl or oxydised button, but' should also be secured invisibly by means of a fly-lap and buttons and buttonholes beneath the stitching which runs down the front opening. This model is. of course, suitable for alpaca, or any cloth other than rain-proof material, and would be a most useful wrap to have by one, sinci if storm turned to sunshine there would be no distress in appearing in so elegant a coat.

SUMMER HATS. Fruits are used a good deal on summer hats—cherries in particular; but apples and grapes and plums are also pressed into tbe service of milliners. A rich effect is> gained by a hat of cherry-coloured and yellow mixed straw, -with branches of cherries and cherry-coloured or dull greea ribbon bows by way of trimming Again, in our search for rich effects, wisdom bids us turn to a hat of burnt straw, wreathed with shaded red and pink roses, which hat is vastly-becoming to brunettes. Simple but charmingly pretty for general summer wear is a hat of goldcol' ured straw, of the American sailor shape, wreathed round with small pink ' China' roses, and the crown banded with black velvet ribbon, a bow of ribbonvelvet to match trimming the under-brim at the back and falling on to the hair. Another pretty hat is of French-grey satin straw, trimmed with a scarf of pale blue satin and a couple of large choux of the same, the hat being of the toque shape.

SHIRTS AND ELOUSES. Fascy flannels for shirts and blouses have never been Been in daintier variety than at the present moment. Cream flannels sprigged with flowerets in mauve or in rod or in blue, and sometimes havinr. in addition, a pin-line in black, are among the ntweafc fancies, and crave immediate attention. Tnere is nothing like good funnels for hard-wearing shirts, and the cyclist and the tennis player should fiippiy themselves liberally with shirts ot the kind before the holidays begin. Some of the season's flannels are striped, without being flowered, very cool-lookinar being a mauve flannel striped with white or a blue flannel similarly patterned. One of the figures in my group-sketch represents an every day shirt made of fancy flannel. It is tuofted at the top and mounted into an American yoke, a single box-pleat running from the throat to the waist down the Centre-front, Tbe slerves are of the ordinary shirt pattern, and are gathered into small cuffs. The other sketch suggests a slip blouse of chiffon or muslin with one of. the new rounded yokes, composed of lace insertion threaded through with black bebe velvet, and decorated with a rosette of the same. The lace cuffs, to carry out the scheme of ti ings, should also be run through with velvet. The waistband, pointed in front, should ba of lace or gold ealon. The blouse might, of course, be carried out entirely in err am-coloured chiffon, the laca matching; on the other hand the chiffon might ba black. A black muslin

blouse, copied from my model, would also have gie.it charms. No lining ;is rei quired, as it is a slip bloese, to be worn over an independent foundation. Other ideas that occur for the making up of the blouse are that it should ba of pale blue or pink or yellow mousseline, or cambric, either of which would look charming agiinst the lace and velvet-trimmed yoke. There ia something vary youthful-looking about this blouse—whicb, 1 should add, fastens up at the back—ana it would come in over and over again for various oocaßi as during the summer. p TO BEMOVE INK FEOM A TABLE CLOTH. feoak the seikd spot at once in milk, squeezing out the strain gently with the band. If the ink has been allowed to ' settle,' it will be more difficult to remove, and salts of lemon should be us6d. After the salts hf.vo been applied put them: away carefully, out of the ieach of children.

s§Kta PEftt'until HRTof Trade/ five ye*rs rngpSmmved of the ComBWrand Statistical DepartSPmg his journalistic career Sir SfjWw brought into intimate conS»with the late Walter Ba?ehot, of mJßJgz> economical ideas he has always BBTrded himself as the inheritor in part. Hr is an author of considerable repute, Kaong his best known published works Reing his ' Essays in Finance,' ' The Progrfias of the Working Classes in the Last Growth of Capital,' Eid '• The Case Against Bi-metallism.' W± PABSON PEER. Hna is new another addition to the PfjPurHon Pners. The Hon. and Rev. KSuner J?Tiville,s who becomes Baron BraybrooVe, makes!; the.' seventh. It \e curl us that the ttoo latest additions to the peerage—the Eafl of Chichester and Baron Braybrroko be of this class. Most of thes? ipus-m Peers begin life witb a some what remote chanco of bearing the title; theVesent Lord Bray, brooke, for instance, a ) the third and younuest of three brlmers who have Sossessed the peerage. * Lord Devon was rother to his predecessor in the title, as were the other reverend Earls, Bessborough ana Chiohesttw and; Strafford, while the Rov. Lords Saarsdale was nephew te his predecessor, being, himself a parson, the son of a pawon who did not live to enjoy the digniijgf of a barony. The new..-Baron, however: is interesting as having held a headship at Cambridge for close on fifty years. He became ■ Master of Magdalene College in 1853, and .will thus, all being well, celebrate his jubilee next year.

LADY LANSDOWNE. Her Ladyship has lately come a good deal to the front, as one of the hostesses who entertains ' for the party.' She is one of the late Duke of Abercorn's many daughters, and a hostess with whom the world of London has to count; indeed, she is among the very few hostesses who can achieve an almost entirely political party that escapes the reproach of dulness. Lady Lansdowne has much of the good looks and the incomparable distinction of the Hamiltons. In India she was quite as great a success at the Viceregal Court as sho bad previously been in tha mimic Court at Ottawa. Her husband (Lord Lansdowne) writes twenty-four letters after his name, beginning with the coveted KG.

TAMMANY'S CHIEFTAIN. Mr. Lewis Nixon, who has retired from his nominal chieftaincy of Tammany Hall b cauee he finds that he, like the entire Tammany organisation, is really managed by 'Boss' Crot-er from his rustio retreat in Wantage, took office under the impression that he would be able to effect, reforms. Mr. Nixon differs from the chiefs of the wigwam in that he is|a gentleman. It was, indeed, theposi'ion beheld outside of politics that decided Mr. Cr ker to yub him in charge of sffiirs after the defeat of last November. Tammany defeated is Tammany respectable ; Mr. Croker ' resigned,' and Mr. Nixon stepped into his shoes Ha had ; been in politics for a number of years, and was already prominent among a number of young men of education and repute who hrped to reform Tammany from within. But his chief fame was won as a designer of warships. Mr. Nixon was born forty years ago in Virginia, the son of a rural Judge and Colonel of Militia. Educated in the United States Naval Academy, he left the Navy to take charge ;of Messrs. Cramp's famous ship yard, and since 1895 has been building big ships on his own account. He has designed and built some of the best ships in the United States Navy.

SIE GORDON SPRIGG, .- ; The Premier and Treasurer of Cape Colony, Sir Gordon Sprigg, resembles the late Cecil Rhodes in two respects. He is the son of a Church cf Englaud clergyman, and reasons of health compelled him to emigrate to South Africa. He is the second son of tbe ■ Rev. James Sprigg, of Ipswich, and it was in the town of Dickensian memories he received his education. It was in the office of a shipbroker that the Cape Premier commenced the battle- of life, but he was soon appointed a member of Gurney's shorthand staff as a Parliamentary reporter. He practiced stenography until 'his health broke down, when he sailed for the Cape, and settled down to journalism in East London, the district he has continuously represented since 1873 our ' Parliamentary Companion' confines itself to bald facts supplied by the Memters themeelv* s, but that of the Cape is breezy, critical, and independent in its style. Th)s is hosv it summarises the career of Sir Gordon Sprigg:—.'Far more respected than of yore, have learned to prune down the impulsive egotism, which got him into' bis earlier political trouble?. Devotion to public business exemplary. A practical and effective Parliamentary debater, scrupulously correct in diction, but hard and narrow in his range of ideas.' He is a Btaunch abstainer. MAHARAJAH OF JAIPUR. One cf the leading Indian Princes, the head of the Kachwaha branch of the great Rahtoi dynasty, the Maharajah of Jaipur, has a lineage that date3'back 1,000 years in the history of India, and a succession of 105 generations from the founder cf the Kingdom of Jaipur. More thanthat in popular, legends. Together with" Jodhpur and Undaipur, his desoent is traced from Kama, thehero of antiquity, whose deeds were recorded in the ' Ramayana,' the national epic of India,;when' Troy was not built, when Tyre and Carthage were yet unknown—when Israel still wept in bondage by the waters of Babylon. Born in 1861, he ascended the throne of his forefathers in 1880, and re-: ceived full governing powers on attaining his majority in 1882, *

Possibly BBPuotivo development BP*We» however mistaken, the injustice of comBut it requires assofflSlrcn and force of numbers to bring TOese things b • a successful issue. Only through capibie representatives ban markets be explored and new opportunities pointed out. If producers followed up these matters more carefully, by mjans of efficient organisation and thorough study of the conditions by competent agents of their own selection, it would, quickly tell favorably on the degree of prosperity arising from improved relations with the markets. The transportation problem cannot, however, be wholly controllod through the efforts of rural producers. In some parts there is need of men in railway management who have minds of sufficient foresight to see the effects of a given policy toward.rural interests. There is need of men in our Federal Parliament who have the vision to see t hat in the , long run any unjust policy tends to ruin rather than prosperity. Recently New Zealand offered turnips at twelve shillings and Bixpence per ton, a nutritious feed for our starving stocky but it cann"t be utilised unless a duty of J>2 6s per ton be paid. It should bo possible, at a time of such stress, to utilise this crop for our starving flocks and herds. The statesmanship which tauU out cheap fosd, leaving sheep and cattle to-starve, is a perversion-of true Australian policy.

NECESSITY OF CHANGING POTATO ..- . - , ■ SEED..

Potatoes may be grown fairly well on nearly all kinds of soil. On a field of drifting sand, on which neither mortgage nor deed could be obtained because it was considered so unprofitable, potatoes were, grown to the value of more than twenty pounds per acre in a single season. The potato thrives best on a light loamy . soil, neither too dry nor too moist. The most agreeably flavoured potatoes are, almost always obtained from newly broken pasture ground not manured, or from any new land where th 9 soil is suitable; also potatoes luxuriate by means of frequent showers of rain*. No amount of skill can produce heavy, crops without plenty of water, but. the soil must be well drained. The potato plant properly belongs to a mild climate, but in warm climates it degenerates rapidly and soon fails.; Seeds of all cultivated plants are kn~.wn to fail so frequently that the necessity of a change occasionally is now recognised almost everywhere. These tubers grown in a cool climate seem to produce plants of the greatest vigour. Those of the saihe variety grown in a warm district produce plants on which their crop, of tubers mature earlier, but tiree plants are weaker- and shorter lived*, because the parent plaathas striven tb mature within to-* short a season, and the habit of^e|Ryripening is carried over into several succeeding crops. :Besfc authorities seem to agree that there are considerable difference in potatoes of the. same varieties grown on different soils in the same neighbourhood/and that varieties, most advantagoou3'y cultivated in certain particular soils which degenerate slowly,, if at all, often degenerate rapidly in different soils not far distant. Naturalists say that one of the principal causes of the exhaustion of ;-the -ve&etajtive powers of the pl&ht 'to propagation "from, tubers or cuttings of tubers, since this process is not properly reproduction, fcut one plant is divided and into, a multitude. The whole analogy of nature seems to show tbat by changing from one soil to'another year by year, the potato may livd longer and mere healthfully than if grown c nrinuously in the same spot where the seed first grew from the seed ball. Naturalists also say that the species can only be.preserved by reproduction from the seed ball. While farmers must plant tubers, in order to supply their wants, trusting that like may produce like or nearly bo, the stock seed will vigour. It is hoped that some means may soon be found by means of which,the vigour of , tbe plant may be maintained, and, if possible, increased.