PICKINGS FROM OUR EXCHANGES

Mataura Ensign, Volume 7, Issue 372, 8 July 1884, Page 5

PICKINGS FROM OUR EXCHANGES

«*— Great apathy is shown by Hearn's supporters in Wellington in the matter of raising his stakes- money, and unless the amount is subscribed by the end of this week it is probable thac the match with Han lan will fall through. Professor Webster Gillet, of Michigan, has been experimenting with a newly-devised telephone of his own construction, on the wires of the Postal Telegraph Company, and was able to keep up a conversation in spite of a heavy slorm raging and disturbing atmospherical conditions, over a length of 500 miles. He is sanguine of being able, eventually, to use the oceanic cables for telephonic purposes ; but for this purpose what may be called a more powerful telephone, on the same lines as the above, will have to be constructed. Ifc is, however, not au overstrained bit o£ imagination to anticipate that within a comparatively short space of time a person in London may be able to speak with one in Australia. If one may judge other suburban quarters by that of the Southeast, so far as the sprea<J of retail depots for New Zealand mutton is I concerned, that important enterprise id now on the h ; gh road to really magnificent results. Take one instance. Some time since it, was mentioned the obviously suspicious circumstance that a goodly number of New Zealand sheep went by rail to Penge, where there was not a single butcher who wuuld admit that he had ever seen the frozen mutton. Now this is sold freely there, and has effected quite a small revolution in the local trade. Take, again. Forest Hill. The retailing of New Zealand mutton first began there by the keeper of a small ham and beef shop hanging out a sheep or two, marked " From Canterbury, New Zealand." This was followed by a butcher improving the occasion on a 1c rger scale, and then a very large shop that had long been closed suddenly opened, and made a display of sone fifty New Zealand sheep, hung out in a row, and forming, as it was opposite the. new and enlarged railway station, a very effective and attractive advertisment. Other butchers then followed suit, and now, within quite a small area, there are no less than six or seven j shops where this fine mutton can be purchased. The Wanganui Market Square was recently the scene of. an unusual amount of noisy life. The Wanganui natives had determined, in return for the good things presented to them a few. weeks back, to give a quantity of.food|o the natives from other parts; About onie hundred of dve'mp ? s natives brought- down in. twelve canoes a large quantity of potatoes, beef, pork, pigeons (preserved in fat), and numerous other uYiaori delicacies. Durin^ the afternoon three tons of flour were ' procured, and the bags were placed on a number of kits oti potatoes, above these were bags of sugar, then came half-a-dbzen tubs of preserved pigeons, each tub being decorated with feathers. A number of whole pigs and a large quantity of beef, with dried fish, and pieces of greenstone, were also displayed on the top of the heap, while a live "porker was attached to the kits, by a rope. At the puck had been fixed up three poles, and on the one connecting these had been placed a number of nicely worked native mats or rugs, with a few white and colored blankets ; the whole was surmounted by three bundles of one pound notes, in each bundle of which there were £20. A procession waa then | formed, about thirty-six men and women, the former stripped to the buff, with only a shawl round the loins, and marching to the spot, under the guidance of a native bearing i red flag, they danced a few hakas. All of tjhe dancers had . adorned their: faces with patches of indigo blue, adding a peculiar expression to their countenances, us they ."went through the contortions, which form a great feature in the haka. Having performed several dances, they returned to their tents, apparently well satisfied with their exertions; About 800 or 400 Europeans and. Maoris were witnessing the whole affair, and to many the sight was a novelty. Professor Miller ooutinues to improve rapidly. A week ago, by the advice of his " medical attendant, he, for the first time in six weeks, was able to get up from his be.i< Miller, it will be remembered, broke his leg in an encounter with DoDald DJanJG at the Exhibition Building, and s}n,oe then has had it placed in a piaster of Paris bandage I Miller no doubt longs tar the day when he will be a.ble ta meet three m.Qn — Messrs Sullivan, Dinni?., and Etackibwa, Person who Uve, op whoso places of busiiness are in the. neighborhood of steam factories of any kind, are not unfrequontly driven to the verge of insanity by the unlimited use made of that engine of torment — the steam whistle. Many engine-i4s-}vers regard these whistles as playthings,: an <i amuse themselves with, $\ena * 3 much as any infant two yeps ' old with a .whistle in the end, &*a whip, thereby causing infinite annoyance and distraction of mind to everyone in their vicinity. The* Meibonpne Central Board "of Health have recognised the necessity for puttjqgf a stop to, this" kind' of nuisance, 8«d have framed a by-law on ttio subject by which a penalty of /from L 5 to LlO may be imposed upon Janyone who shall " use, cause to be used, or assist in nsfrg any steam whistle at any factory W other establishment so as to be ft to; any person ; and no persip^ who occupies, or has mana^erpen^ sufter or permit any steam wh^tje t'cfbe used thereat so as to be a nuis/. an'oe to any person." S»tne regulator* of the kind should be imposed upon. lowaaotive' engine drivers who inflict needless torture upon these whos& misfortune it is to be near a railway station.