NEWS BY MAIL

Hokitika Guardian, 19 October 1925, Page 1

NEWS BY MAIL

AI.-1.-XK.iHT FAIRS . LONDON, Aug. 1-1. At 92 years of age Mrs “Grannie” Bird, wlio clfiiins to be tlu> oldest “slu>wmnn” in England. is Inking part ill Mitcham Fair, which .slic has attended annually for 83 years. Mrs Bird told a reporter yesterday that she has been “on the road” since she was nine years old. “There is hardly a village in England T haven’tbeen in.” she declared, “and scarcely a road T haven’t travelled over.” "Fairs aren't what they were 70 years ago. Wo used to open all night, and at dawn the roundabouts were still going ami everybody was still dancing.” The fair on Mitcham Common is a curious mixture of old-fashioned sideshows and the latest amusement devices. The influence of the Amusement Park at- Wembley is apparent everywhere. and a numher of the shows exhibit notices saying, “As performed at Wembley.” WORK GIVEN UP. LONDON. Sept. 3. When William C’oppin, Great Peter-st-reet. Westminster, appeared at Tower Bridge Court yesterday, his wife, who sought a. maintenance order, said he was working; at a jam factory and earned 5<V. a week and also had a pension of 28s. a week. Mr Waddy (to Coppin) : Are you in work l —No: I threw it up because it was too hard. Mr Waddy: I suppose you are one of those men I read about in the papers, who are content to draw a pension, although they could earn AOs a week, i have hard work to control my tongue in such cases.

Coppin offered to pay his wife 25s a week. Mr Waddv (to the wife) : How have you been living since your husband left you?—l get 4f>s a week from i 1 guardians and 7s a week from the pension office on behalf of my child. An order was made for 28s a week WOMEX RAT-CATCHERS. LONDON, September 4. Women have invaded most professions and trades; but are there now any who devote themselves to ratcatching ? In the middle of the 17th century, at any rate, women were equal to this rather unsavoury job. According to a warrant signed by the Master-General of the Ordnance to Charles IT., one held the position of rat-catcher to the Tower. The warrant reads as follows: “Whereas Elizabeth Wic-fcley is implored in killing of Rattes and other Vermins in and about his Ma’t's stores and houses in ye Tower of London, I have therefore thought fitt to allow her ye Sum of Eight Poundes, p. annum.—Tho. Chicheley, 30th March, 1672.