GENERAL NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2181, 10 September 1907, Page 1

GENERAL NEWS.

A piano polisher says that- the very best duster for polished wood is a good chamois skin, not too big. Dip it in clear water, hot or cold, wring very dry—so it feels merely da nip—and go over the dusty surfaces until the chamois looks dirty. Wash it fclean, and wring hard before going bn. A little ammonia in the water helps to remove finger marks. Change the water as it grows dirty, and be sure the chamois is clean and well wrung out.

Tlio thrifty Scotch authorities of Aberdeen do not believe in letting anything go to waste. It occurred to them that tho equipment of their electric tramways was necessarily idle Bart of the might, and they looked round to see how it could he utilised. As a result of their cogitations two large brushes belonging to tbe streets department were recently fitted to one of the corporation tramcars, and were arranged so that any width of street from 7ft to 14ft might be swept. The experiment is reported to have proved satisfactory.

London women are about to he freed from a trial which all women hate, though many indulge in it—haggling with the cabby about his fare. This innovation is to he brought about by the taximeter, or taxilcab, as it is called, a new vehicle (which has lately made its appearance •in London. It is an electric brougham, which comfortably holds four 'people, and with its luxuriously-pad-ded cushions lias a most opulent ap'perauce. But it is really very econohnical. On entering the carriage the ’.meter registers Bd, which is for the (first mile, and at each quarter of a (mile 2d more is registered, so that |at the end of th e journey the exact •fare is shown on the meter, and the •cabby has no chance to overcharge, nor the passenger to underpay. When this vehicle first appeared on the scene the London cabbies met to protest against it, but, as in most cases of electricity versus horseflesh, the latter loses and the taxicab has come to stay.

A new story of the laite Mr Gladstone has been told by Colonel Darbisliiro at Penmaenmawr. Once when the great statesman was taying at Penmaenmawr there was to be an autumn session, when “Mr Marriott’s Amendment”—a famous Parliamentary occasion—had to be dealt with. There was also staying in Penniaenmawr the' Solicitor-General for Ireland, Mr Gibson, who was on the other side of the House. These gentlemen were seen walking together on the ■promenade, and the visitors would whisper together and say, “Now Mr Marriott’s amendment is being settled.” “But,” said Colonel Darbishire, “my eldest son, then a little fellow, had been playing near where the great men were conversing and he said, “They were not talking about Mr Marriott’s amendment. Wliat I hear Mr. Gladstone say was, “I do not find the bathing of .this place quite . so interesting as that on the Continent, because the ladies wear such ugly bathing dresses.’ ”