NEWS AND NOTES.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 9 August 1901, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

Lady Minto proposes to have a tablet erected over the grave of each Canadian soldier buried in South Afrioa.

The "War Office has formerly approved a machine rifle for the British Infantry. It is a Bijou Maxim, and literally belches lead in streams.

A petroleum motor fishing boat, capa-1 ble of doing nine knots an hour is the latest addition to the Ostend fishing fleet. Every big hotel in New York suffers from the souvenir spoon mania. Many a fair guest, with no thought of petit larcency, will appropriate a bit of silver "as the memento of a very pleasant evening. ' Lecturing in London, Mr Pett Eidge said he remembered on one occasion remonatraiing with an East End mother for giving a baby pork and bitter beer, but the reply he got was:—''Bless you, sir, she always takes the same as ourselves, the little dear."

A rural postman in the Boston district of Lincolnshire, named George Kobert Thompson, who has just retired owing to age and infirmity, has established a remarkable record. During the last 24 years he has carried letters to the localities of Langrick, Frith Bank, and Gipsy Bridge, covering on an avorage 16 miles a day. Altogether, allowing for holidays, ho has walked 125,000 miles.

The Fox of Munden, near "Watford, a public-house said to have been the worst of its kind in the neighborhood, has been bought and " reformed " by the Hon. A. HollondHibbert, Sir Wilfrid Lawson's son-in law, says a correspondent of the Westminister. Gazette. He has turned it into a coffee tavern without making any structural alterations, and has reehristened it "The Fox with his Teeth Drawn."

Some time ago the Customs authorities seized a box of skittles that arrived in Constantinople, on the plea that the balls were hard and heavy and might be used as cannon balls, which would be exceedingly dangerous. It was not till one of the Embassies had taken a lot of trouble that the balls were given up. Mr Fahrni and Mdlle, Urweider, accompanied by two guides, have accomplished a Uuly magniflcient performance in climbing the Simellstock, the deathtrap of many an experienced Alpinist. This peak is among the six most difficult aad dangerous summits to ascend in the Alps, and the achievement of the tourists, especially that of the lady, is warmly eulogised in Alpine circles.

The Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society, at the annual meeting the other day, re-elected Mr B. A. Gorel), the oldest dirootor of any public company in England, and, we should think, in the world. Mr Gorell will be a centenarian before his nt'W triennial term of office runs out ; and now, at 97, he is a regular attendant and constant worker at the board, which manages a business dealing with over a million in premiums yearly.

Mrs Hamar Bass's marriage to Mr. Shaw, the curate at St. Paul s Knightsbridge has caused (the World says), no end of excitement, She loses her jointure some £20,000 a year, and only keeps £I2OO, under the terms of her husband's will; and unless the trustees can get the consent of her son, nothing can be done to increase the allowance. It is a great sacrifice ; but, judging from all one hears, Mr Shaw is a very atlractive person. For using obscene language in Wanganui, Mr Kettie, S.M., fined a man £5 and costs (£1125.) It is not generally known that as the Fifth Contingent was leaving Capetown each man was presented, on behalf of the citizens of Capetown, with a hand-somely-got-up souvenir card. The card contains an engraving of Table Bay, with Table Mountain in the background, and on eachsido there is a list of the diffieront engagements in which the colonials took part.

< A resident of Masterton sent a bank

note as a Christmas present to his mother in Australia last year, writing an affectionate uiesrsage on the back of the note. Strange to say, the note has found its way back to Masterton, where it is once more in circulation.

Mr Leo. Norfcbcroft, Westland County Chairman, on behalf of the inhabitants of the Westlaud County, sent a telegram of sympathy and condolence yesterday to Lady McKenzio and family.