GENERAL ITEMS

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 548, 14 October 1881, Page 2

GENERAL ITEMS

Mr .11 Dobson, the well-known brewer, has announced himself a candidate for the Wairau, and Mr John llayhurst is another for Goraldine.

For tbe whole of England and Wales tbe density of tho population is now about 440 persons to the square mile. At the last census it was only about 390 to tiie square mile. England is rapidly becoming a congeries of towns. The population is drifting from the rural districts to the industiral centres, and in these is becoming so vast arid dense that the average area for each head of tho population is little greater than in many foreign towns.

Had Enough of Strife.—Conversation turned on a late marriage between Decern ber and May, come of the gentlemen poohpooing the match. But the lady stoutly championed the frost-bitten Benedict. "JWhy," said she, " every man ought to keep himself married as long as he lives. Now, here's my husband ! What would be be good for without a wife ? If I should die to night ho would get another wife to-morrow, I hope. Wouldn't you, Josiah ?" Josiah breathed heavily, and seemed to sum up the connubial torments uf a lifetime in Ids calm response: "No, my dear, I think I should take a rest!"'

A country post-mistress in New South Wales is in tbe habit of allowing her fowls to roam at will through the office. It happened a short time since that a man called for bis Utters at a time when tbe " speckled hen " had taken possession of the letter-box. Upon becoming aware of the state of affairs, tbe postmistress informed him that he would have to wait awhile, as the hen was on no account to be disturbed. The inquirer, of course, became exasperated, but he had to cool his heels in the verandah till a loud and continuous cackling acquainted him with tbe fact that the bird had vacated the particular box in which bis letter had been placed.

fhe population of London is 3,814,571, exceeding that of the whole of Scotland by 80,000. The New Zealand Times notes that there has just been invented a patent seed and iruit protector, in the shape ot a metal representation of a bird of prey on the wing, for suspension in fields and gardens, shaped ami oolorud in oloso imitation of a hawk hovering over its prey. By means of an elastic spring or wire carried from one tree to another, or from achiminey to a tree, it responds readily to the motion of the wind, and so increases the likeness of the effigy. The device is said to be extraordinarily efficacious in scaring birds.

It is a fact (says the Sydney Bulletin) that at Gunning, recently, a man advertised for a wife and got 50 applications. Out of these he made his selection, be it understood by latter only ; but when he wished to consummate his happiness the lady of his choice declined to come to time, ami sent him word that if he was in a hurry she was not, but that she bad a sister who would have him. Accordingly the sister was sent and the happy pair who now for the first time were united in the bond! of wedlock. The bride was evidently not without her doubts on the matter, for shortly before the knot was tied her future husband left her for a moment, when bhe inquired anxiously of a young man standing near " what cort of a chap " the bridegrooiu was.

A new and most ingenious speaking machine haa lately been exhibited by Hen* Faber before the Physical Society, London. It is designed to more perfsctfly imitate, mechanically, tne utterances of the hum m voice by means of artificial organs of articaiution made on the human model, and it is worked by keys like a musical instrument. A bellows made of wood and indiarubber serves for lungs ; a small windmill is placed in front of the bellows to give thrilling sounds ; the larynx is made of a single membrane of hippopotamus hide and indiarubber; and a mouth with two lips and a tongue, and an indiarubber nose, complete the organs of the apparatus. Fourteen distinct sounds are uttured by it, and by combining these any word in a:;y language can be produced—also laughing and whispering.