GENERAL NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2172, 30 August 1907, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS.

More is done for the comfort of the worker in Germany than most Britons are aware. “AA r e have a great deal to learn from our German kinsmen,” confessed one of the English editors who went over the Channel to improve their minds. “The system of national insurance, established by Bismarck, work® admirably. Endeavors are now being made to simplify 1 it. AVhatever its complexity, there can he no doubt of its beneficence to the workers. The German artisan is insured against every possible vicissitude of industrial life, from accident to old age. Both workmen and employers contribute to the old age pension and sickness funds, the State supplementing their contributions by a grant from the Imperial exchequer. No contribution is made by workmen to the accident fund.”

Details of the railway accident at Rotorua recall memories of about the only other parallel mishap in New Zealand’s history, the bolting of a train down the south side of the Rimutaka incline, after leaving K-ai-toke. About seven years ago an engine drawing fifty-five sheep trucks and two guards? vans developed great speed in gliding along the greasy rails. A truck in the middle of the train jumped the metals, and away went all the rolling stock, except the engine, down a steep embankment. Sheep were killed in great numbers, but the two guards escaped with their lives. One was miraculously preserved. He fell under a great quantity of wreckage, but the configuration of the ground on which he dropped kept the material from pressing on him. He was severely injured, but survived the shock.

One of the most interesting celebrations in. Greater New York in June was tho formal observance of tlie sixtieth anniversary of Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, which became so widely known through the pastorate of Henry Ward Beecher. Til's church figured prominently in the Civil IV ar days-. Mr. Beecher and the officers of the eliurcli took a leading part in financing and organising the secret routes by which slaves were shipped to the North. It was the “Grand Central Station” of the underground railway. One of the most striking incidents in the church’s history occurred on a Sunday morning in June, 1861, when Blr. Beecher led to the pulpit a negro slave girl, and told tlie congregation that lie needed £4OO to purchase her freedom. Tlie North was then at fever-heat over slavery. Blr. Beecher told her story with impassioned eloquence as the negro girl, dressed in. white, stood beside him. BVhen the collection rwas taken money was piled high on the plates, and many persons contributed their jewellery. A sum was raised far beyond what was required to purchase the girl’s freedom,

' Oil March Ist of this year u lottor was posted in New Zealand add reseed AV G. AVorguu, Tamar, Kingston road, Kingston, and it readied Mr. Alorgnn last Thursday, July I,lth (says tho “Sydney Alorning Herald” of the 15th inst.), after having travelled extensively, passing through several dead-letter oilices. Tlio envelope .showed a multiplicicity of specimens of cnligraphy. “Try Kingston •on Thames” was evidently the first entry; and it was initialled J. 0.8. Then appeared “Not at Kingston on Thames,” F.A.AV. having initialled the declaration. AVhy tho lottor caused so much anxioty to tho officials at Portsmouth is a mystery, but evidently tho postal people there were much concerned about tho missive. They wrote the word “Try” thrice, and ‘‘Not known” is the laconic announcement of failure by several postmen. “Not Now Malden, Surrey,” shows that the Portsmouth officials had decided to worry their neighbours with tho letter. Eventually somebody hit on tho idea that the Antipodes might locate the addressee, and no doubt it was gladly included in tho oversea mail-bag to this country. AA T hen'it reached hero it was soon despatched to the right locality. Hpw many postmen, clerks and other officers manipulated tho letter may bo merely conjectured, but it is certainly, a tribute to the perseverance of British postal officials that they eventually delivered the letter to Mr. Alorgan after four and a half months’ desperate trying.