NEWS AND NOTES.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 16 April 1901, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

The Suez Canal is to be deepened and widened, if Mi- Linden W. Bates, the London hydraulic engineer, reports that th 9 work can be dor:o within a reasonable figure. The Canal Company hopes that the great waterway can bo enlarged by the use of dredges, which arc comparatively inexpensive. There is great need of more room in the channel, for ships have been growing ever greater, while the canal has remained unchanged. The Federal elections, which have been proceeding on the oilier side, have furnished material for a largo collection of good stories. One of the best relates to rather a bald candidate, who addressed an open-air audience in a Sydney park. "You will excuse me, gentlemen," he began, "If Ido not remove my artificial covering, seeing that the natural covering of my head has disappeared," and he raised his boll-topper to convince the audience. "That's all right," shouted a man in the crowd, "we don't expect hair to grow on wood.'' A young man named TJpjohn met with a severe accident on Saturday night whilst riding on his bicycle down Beck's bill to Kanieri. The night (according to the "Times") was very dark and by some means ho was heavily thrown off, and badly cut about the head. He was driven to his home by his friends who attended him. The Parisian laundries have, it is said, discovered a novel use for the balloon. Instead of hanging clothes out to dry in the open on the ordinary clothes-line, and thus offending the eyesight of the fastiduous, bamboo frames are attached to a captive balloon, and the linen to be dried is attached to them. The balloon is then allowed to ascend to a height of 100 ft, and the clothes are very soon thoroughly dried and aired. The new Money-Lenders Act has just come into operation In the United Kingdom. It makes money-lenders who fraudulently induce their clients to borrow, liable to two years' imprisonment or aline not exceeding £SOO, or both ; gives the Court power to re-open any transaction which may be deemed "harsh and unconscionable;" and renders any money-lender who docs not register himself in his own name liable tea fine of £IOO. W. M'Kay and Son, having opened up their autumn and winter goods, are now showing an unrivalled assortment of drapery and clothing. Navy and black serges from Is Gd per yard. Heavy British dress stuff lOd, Is, Is Bdperjd. Splendid goods for winter wear—a lovely range of black fancy dress stuffs and costume lengths—at undeniably low prices. Furs and tippets, a big range, from 2s 6d each. Kid gloves, lined and unlined, and fur tops, ribbons, laces and velvet in endless variety.—Advt.