GENERAL NEWS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 11 May 1901, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS.

One of Victoria’s first batch of old age pensioners at Stawcll invested part of his pension in a kit of miner’s tools, went ont prospecting and dropped on a patch of gold. The other day the local Clerk of Courts gat a letter from the old fellow saying that, as the old-age pensions were moot fer those who were in need, and as I have come on ‘a bit of a patch.’ I don’t want to draw mine any more, at present Australia’s most sturdy and manly class, says the Bulletin, is the instinctive prospector, the man who never works for

wages it he sees tho remotest chaceo of going on his own. The Railways Department has decided to issue tourist excursion tickets from Auckland, 'Onehunga, Rotorua, Thames, Napier, Hastings Woodviile, Wanganui, Masterton, New Plymouth, Wellington, Lyttelton, Christchurch, Ashburton, Timaru, Oamaru, Palmerston Soul - ’, Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Mosgiel, Milton, Lawrence, Clinton, Invercargill and Bluff.

Firewood carters at Manaia arc having a boom in their business. Orders booked seven and eight months ago arc not yet completed. It is quite a favour to get one load out of, say, six ordered last spring.

Arrivals of grain into stores in Ashburton have been exceptionally heavy during the past few weeks, and some of warehouses arc being taxed to find tho necessary accommodation. The pressure on space is being intensified by the shortage of trucks to transfer the grain.

The fuss that has been raised over the housing and general accomodation of the Duka and Duchess of York and their suite in Chtistchurcli docs not (in the opinion of the Timaru Herald) say much for tho common sense of those deputed by the Government to make tho necessary arrangements.

A little Gore lady, named Blanche Gibbs, has been successful in obtaining the autographs of a number of the leading generals in South Africa, and amongst the number she has now secured that of the hero of Mafeking, who wrote her a very hearty letter. The residents in Dunrobin, Roxburgh i and the surrounding districts (Otago) are petitioning tho Government to extend the Heriot-Roxburgh railway by way of the Moa Flat Estate, which they ask should bo purchased for close settlement purposes.

All over the colony where the burgesses take an interest in municipal matters, says the Taieri Advocate, stops are being taken to introduce the system of rating upon unimproved values, Mosgiel will yet take up the same question. There will be strong opposition to it, but it will be no use : the system must come.

The Manukau Tinst Hoard’s scheme of water supply for the districts between Auckland and the Manukau will shortly bo started; £lO 000 worth of pipes and £OOOO worth of machinery arc expected to arrive hero in June. Next summer should see the work completed. The building of trusts still goes on in U.'f.A. In the beginning of last month the Pcnnysylvania, the Bethlehem, and the Cambria iron companies consolidated with an aggregate capital of £12,000,000 A Bouthorn combination in the stool and iron trade was reported to bo in course of formation, throe companies putting up a capital of £18,000,000.

T 1 to Norwegian ship Theodora had a strange experience on (ho passage from Norway to Sydney. While in latitude Odeg north, longitude 27dcg west, and sailing with a fine breeze, a cyclonic squall suddenly hurst upon her. It was of short duration and was weathered without damage ; but, after it had passed, the vessel, both aloft and on deck, was found to be covered with a fine red dust that had evidently been carried olf the land by the fury of the gale. In reply to an enquiry made by the Victorian Government, Air Chamberlain has stated that in all cases where soldiers who served in South Africa die before receiving medals to which they would have been enlisted, the medals will be forwarded to their next of kin, whenever the latter can be traced.

The Governor-General has notified that, by special request of the Duke of York, the procession on the day of the official landing in Melbourne (May oth) will con-

sist only of their Royal Highnesses and suite, outriders and escorts. This comes as a great disappointment to those who had expected a brilliant pageant.

The husband of a woman at Haiisworth (South Australia) who has given birth to triplets has applied for the King’s bounty. To save time in forwarding the application to England, Lord Tennyson himself advanced the £3. Lieutenant AVark, whose release from prison is announced, was formerley in 1 lie Royal Artillery, and had a distinguished record, Ho was trial at Liverpool Assizes in December, 1898, for lire murder of Miss -Jane Yates, a woman of independent means, whose acquaintance he formed while adjutant of a volunteer regiment. 1 i.e was sentenced to death, hut this was subsequently commuted to three years’ penal servitude. On one day recently London received 27 tons of flowers from ihc Scillv Islands.

It is now quite probable (says Truth) that the King will cease to bo an owner of racehorses.

The Washington correspondent of the Morning Post says:—Shuyo Senoda, a Buddhist priest from Japan, lias just rt ached Washington from Mexico with what he considers conclusive evidence that the Buddhists discovered America in the fifth century. On 2nd March Leo. Kill, completed his ‘.llst year, and thus becomes the fourth of all the Popes in point of age. The oldest Pope was St. A gal bus, who died in 082 at the phenomenal age of 107. Is ext to him comes Gregory IX., who died in 1211, aged SI!I, and is memorable in .English history for his irritating exaction of a tithe of all property. The iliird oldest was Celestino 111., who died in 1 ISIS, just one year older than the present Pope.

There is a splendid class of farm labourers in Sweden, who are given so mmy acres of land for their own use in consideration of so many days’ labour during the year for the owner of the farm. They are a sort of fixture to an estate, and their like exists in no other country.

The British Government keeps eleven vessels at work sounding and charting the ocean beds, to find out where dangers lurk, Last year 10,000 square miles were carefully charted in different parts of the world.

Victor Hugo’s eldest daughter, Mile. Adele Hugo, is now nearly seventy-seven years of age. She was engaged to be married to an English officer who died in India. On learning of her loss her mind became affected, and she is still ignorant of her father’s death.

Great indignation is manifested in the German Press concerning a speech delivered some time ago before the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce by Mr C. W. Kayser, a naturalised German. He said, inter alia, that although German commercial assistants were better linguists than their English colleagues, yet in the matter of good solid work the English employees under him had always accomplished more than the Germans. The Kolnischo Keitung declares :—“ Wc scarcely believe it possible that even in the darkest days of Germany’s history a German declared himself with such effrontery. Mr Kayser, horn and bred in the Solingen neighbourhood of the Rhineland, lias long been naturalised in England. Ho now appears unable any longer to bear with the idea that lie was born in Germany, and feels bimsclt called on to come forward as a menial of the English—as their boot-cleaner.”

Stories arc leaking ont (says M.A.P.) that illustrate this kingly transformation. A lady, more celebrated for her hospitality than for her tact, wrote a note to King Edward, inviting him to dinner, and asking him to fix a day. She received a courteous reply enough, but it referred very definitely to a- change of circumstances as a reason for declining the somewhat indiscreet invitation. And it is predicted alteration in tone and bearing will become more evident as Court mourning gradually disappears, and the King and Queen once again take their place in London Society.

It is necessary now that the Barber has made it appearance, for ladies to sec that tho blankets are in good order, otherwise they wiU have to call in tho doctor and you a'd know what his charges arc one visit, one pair of blankets. All we say is go to Christopher Smith, our “up-to-date” Cash Draper, and see his exceptional bargains in blankets; only 5/11, 10/6,15/6 20/-, 27/6 a pair.— Advt.

WADE’S WORM FIGS arc more effective and not unpleasant; ch most thrive after taking them. Price lildrcn.

Having secured the services of a lady who lias gained her experience in some of tho best houses in Melbourne, Messrs McKay and Son have much pleasure in drawing attention to their millinery department, which is now one of the most complete in Grcymonlh. We guarantee all orders entrusted to this department to give satisfaction. A complete stock of Mackintoshes, Jackets, Capes, Underclothing and Corsets, just to hand. — Advt.

WADE’S TEETHING POWDERS for babies arc soothing, reduce fever and prevent blotches. Price 1/How docs a man get in a funk, And take himself right off to bunk, Just when a pain with symptoms vague, Will make him think he’s caught the plague. How often does a cough or cold Make cowards of the brave and bold, Until they find the remedy sure— W. E. Wood’s Great Peppermint Cure.