Untitled

Manawatu Herald, 9 June 1892, Page 3

According to a Melbourne paper, tho largest tree in diametre in Victoria, of which correct measurements liavo been taken, is the one one known as the " Old Man " tree near Gardiuer's selection, Beach Forest, on ths niaiu Sabina Range, between the Aireand the Gellibrand. Near the ground the circumference is 90ft ; sft from the ground, 76ft ; Bffc from the ground, 69ft ; and Bft above the first branch, 40ft. There are several Other trees nearly as large in same group. Close to Whitelaw's track £in Gippsland there is a tree 71ft 6in in circumference 6ft from the ground At the township of Neerirn -.here is a tree 55ft 7in 6ft from tha ground. Trees from 30ft to 45ft in circumference are frequently met- with in Victorian forests. The diameter of the " Old Man " free will be about 30ft. A stationmaster in petticoats was the spectacle which presented itself to the gaze of the bewilded passengers as the train in which they were travelling steamed into the station of a small southern town in France recently. The Paris correspondent of the London Telegraph says that the stafcionmaster, with his silver-braided cap and uniform coat, but encircled, as to his waist with a voluminous jupe, which descended to his heels, had bounded on the platform, apparently unconscious of the odd figure which he was cutting, and it only when roars of laughter greeted his appearance that he became aware of the very unofficial and unma^cnline character of his nether habiliments. It was the lault of a refractory goat. His wife had been in the habit of going out early to milk this animal in provision of the children's breakfast. She had g- ue away on a visit, and her household duties had developed on her husband ; but there was the rub. The goat,, accustomed to a woman, would not let a man approach her. The stationmaster, however, was not to be baffled. Donning a petticoat left by his wife, he returned to the charge, this time with success ; but just as the milk can was full he heard a whistle, and remembering his professionrl avocations hurried back to the station oblivious of the queer costume in which he had disguised himself for the purpose of entering into the goat's good graces;