Notes and Events.

Manawatu Herald, 20 July 1893, Page 3

Notes and Events.

" One million one hundred and eighty-eight thousand lead pencils sounds a pretty large ordei, y.3fc this •is the number^of \ ordinary cedar blacklead pencils bought by the English Stationery Office during last .year. The price paid was five shillings and threepence a gross and which, in this colony, purchasing retail, you would obtain twenty one only, It was brought out. in dis cussion in Parliament ; that the , pencils used by Her Majesty's Ministers had stamped upon them " V.R.i Civil Service, Bavaria."

Some newspaper property in London increases apace. In April some • Graphic, shares, were sold by auction and realised £62 a share,' whereas the original price was £7 and were never fully paid up. London sparrows are supposed to be models of impudence, but there is a member of the family down at Brighton which surpasses even an Asiatic crow in cheek. A resident at London-super- Mare reports that when a large detachment of a local Volunteer corps were .lately practising at the rifle ranges, of course with ball ammunition, a sparrow flew up, and coolly perched itself on the barrel of the sergeant-major's piece. That this rather disarranged the gallant warrior's aim, .can readily be believed. Entomologists tell us that the smallest insect is the Alaptus excisus. Viewed Under the microsoope it is seen to be- a slightly-built i slender oroature of such diminutive proportions that it would. :take over 0,000 jofitb^em/plaoedetid to end to itretoh one inch.

Meant to Imitate Both Parents.— CalleuL; So you ineanto be an M.P. when' you grow _J>ig, Tommy? — Fdlifio^aiFir TdmigeaV:? : '-'Yei|' \ -v like P aM^r. :. 'l^eti Vjfovi've 1 ittia^e' yotti^ind ; tb 'do a %reat deal^of talking -P.-r-. Politician's ., l r 6ungdßt : Yes ; Jilrenift.;^^ ;- : <. ... The General : I have been in engagements without number, my dear. — She : Oh, general ! And nut a single breach of promise case ?