Miscellaneous Extracts.

Hastings Standard, Issue 478, 17 November 1897, Page 4

Miscellaneous Extracts.

HATPINS. The accident tbafc recently took place at Liverpool, by which a young man was deprived of the of an eye through coming in contact with a hatpin, might suggest the advisability of tempering the length of pin to the dimensions of the headgear. It is not at all unusual to see the bristling points of three or four inch pins protruding a full two inches beyond the hat or bonnet. This is wholly unnecessary, and the wonder is that there are not more numerous accidents from this cause. The thoughtful woman never neglects to thrust the pin well back after having secured her hat or bonnet with it. Hatpins, like paraffin lamps with glass reservoirs, are much too cheap. The usual prices range, according to locality, from six to ten for a penny. Inventors of safety hatpins have this deterrent cheapness to face. Otherwise a good sale might be prophesied for an ornamental steel pin provided with a short scabbard Well secured. It would be an act of humanity to invent such an article. The dangers of a crowd are increased at least threefold by the rampant and irresponsible hatpin. CO-OPERATIVE LABORERS. With reference to a question asked in the House by Mr T. E. Taylor, a correspondent Mr C. 13. Willis, says the Post, sends us a detailed account of his experiences as an employee on the Government co-operative works at Waikaremoana, Hawke's Bay. According to his story he netted 5s 4d per day for 22 days out of the first month (the remaining days being too wet for work), and 4s 8d per diem the second month. " The Government," be says, " charged passage by railway and steamer, board and lodging at Napier while waiting for the coastal steamer, cost of transport by land and water to work, tools, tents, gunpowder and accessories, all of which was deducted from our earnings. On enquiry at Napier I was informed that the blasting powder costs 7£d per lb and freight to works a halfpenny extra, which was sold to us at 25s per keg of 251b, netting the Government 8s 4d profit, and the price of rockblasted in numerous instances did not cover price of powder and fuse. Rations were 200 per cent, above town prices—potatoes, 18s per bag ; flour 18s per 1001b."

A LADY MINER

A West Coast paper has it that quite a boom has taken place in Reefton tailings in consequence of the arrival of Mr and Mrs McDonald from Johannesburg. This 'worthy couple purchased the tailings of the Big River mine for 8s per ton, and from all accounts are making fully 15s per ton over the purchase price. Some years ago the Cassels Company established a branch in Reefton, and treated tailings by the cyanide process. Whether from the excessive royalty, or to a strict adherence to a rule of thumb formula heedless of the mineral matters contained in the stone, the experience was not a success. Mrs M'Donald, a lady of about 22 years of age, conducts the tests, and after several trials of the residue a purchase was effected. The means adopted for gold-saving represent some modification of the chlorination process, and vats capable of holding 80 tons of sand have been built. The returns for the first month were about £ll6. The secret of the analysis is, it is said, only known to the lady, who, during the recent Arctic weather, worked a whole day in the snow, and walked from the claim to Reefton after the day's toil had been finished.

A NOTABLE CELEBRATION

Forty-five years ago last Friday (says the Otago Daily Times) news reached Dunedin that the Act of Parliament granting a Constitution to New Zealand had received the Royal assent, and great was the rejoicing among those who declaimed against what they considered the tyranny of the north. Turning to the Otago Witness of November 13, 1853, we find that a crier was sent throught the town calling upon the people to illuminate, an appeal which was heartily responded to. An attempt was made to fire the gun on the jetty, but failed temporarily owing to want of sufficient powder. But, despite torrents of rain, a boat's crew set off for Port Chalmers to bring up a supply. A bonfire was lighted on Bell Hill, where First Church now stands, and two impromptu bonfires on a smaller scale blazed in the main street. Burning tar barrels were set afloat in the harbor, and there was an incessant rattle of small arms in addition to the booming of the cannon after the powder arrived. A fiddler paraded the streets playing Scotch reels, but as the mud proved too much for the dancers they turned the jetty into a ballroom, and there kept the fun going until 1 a.m. on the 6th, when " God Save tha Queen" was sung, and the more sedate portion of the community retired to rest. The Witness records the pleasing fact that there were no accidents and no drunkenness when the people of Otago rejoiced over their Constitution. It only remains to be said that it took nearly five months for the news to reach the colony. THE CONDITION OF IRISH LABORERS. Mr F. Bailey, an assistant Irish Land Commissioner, has been letting a little light into the subject of how the Irish laborers live, says the N.Z. Times. In evidence before the Land Commission, he showed how the position of these people had improved since 1880. What the lot of the laborer has been may be judged by the facts as presented, From a table of Wijea,

Mr Bailey found that in 1880 a laborer for the half-year got £8 10s, with board; in 1890, £9 10s ; and this year the wages have run up to £ll. This rate of wages applied to the best class of laborers. The wages of the avarage laborer in 1880 was £7 15s ; in 1890, £8 10s ; and in 1807, £9 10s. The wages of boys of 15 hi'd ri en from £1 10s for the half-year in 1880 to £5 in 1890 and £6 in 1897. There had been a progressive increase in the standard of living also. In 1880 the hours of work were 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. ; four meals were supplied daily. The morning meal, at 6 o'clock, consisted of cold buttermilk and oatcake ; breakfast, at 9 o'clock, of oatmeal porridge and sweet milk ; dinner, at noon, of potatoes and buttermilk ; and supper, at 7, of porridge or potatoes and milk. In 1897 the hours of labor are shortened by two hours, from 6 to 6. Breakfast is given, at 7 o'clock, of tea, bread, butter and bacon ; dinner, at 12 o'clock, of potatoes, buttermilk, bread and fried bacon or soup; and fresh meat and tea in the afternoon ; then supper at*7 o'clock, consisting of porridge and sweet milk. HEROISM. Of the mauy striking incidents of the present Avar on the north-west frontier of India, none perhaps stands out more brightly than the story of the rescue of Lieutenant Greaves's body from the tribesmen at the action at Landikai, in the Swat Valley. It is all the more noteworthy because one or two of the chief actors in it were " dandy " officers, whose experience of actual grim warfare had hitherto been exceedingly small. Practically they were " carpet soldiers " who had not hitherto had an opportunity of showing that they were the stuff of which heroes are made. When Lieut. Greaves dropped badly wounded Colonel Adams and Lord Fincastle dashed in to save him from the tribesmen, who, after the manner of their kind, were hacking at him as he lay unconscious. They retreated as the two British officers rode up and began to tire at them from a short distance, while a body of the enemy situated up a hiU concentrated their fire in the same direction. Lord Fincastle's horse was at once killed, his saddle pierced in several places, and his scabbard shattered. He tried to raise his comrade's body on to the colonel's saddle, but could not manage it, and at that moment a number of the enemy rushed down the hill. Colonel Adams rode forward a few yards to intercept them, and Lord Fincastle, laying the body down again, stood over it until two sowars, or native soldiers, came to their assistance. While the men were helping to raise Lieutenant Greaves, the latter was struck by a bullet in the chest and killed. " All this time," says jthe special correspondent of The Times, " Colonel Adams sat quietly on his horse, guarding the others as far as he could from the hot fire kept up by the enemy, which now killed one of the sowars' horses. Meanwhile Lieutenant M'Lean dashed out to the rescue with three sowars. Two horses were at once shot; Lieut. M'Lean dismounted, and with his help Lieut. Greaves's body was at length raised on to a sowar's saddle and borne safely away. All now made off towards the trees. Lieut. M'Lean and Lord Fincastle on foot, and on the way the former was shot through both thighs, w T as helped under cover, butdied almost at once from loss of blood." The whole affair was over in a few minutes, but it cost the force the lives of two British officers, while Colonel Adams was wounded by a sword cut, and four horses were killed. The loss of officers in these frontier wars is always out of proportion to that of the rank and file, especially in the case of those commanding native regiments. Their white helmets make them easy marks for the enemy's fire, while the British officer's way of saying " Come on " to his men instead of " Go on," places him in the forefront of the battle.