Notes and Events.

Manawatu Herald, 23 January 1894, Page 3

Notes and Events.

■ ■ ♦ At the far end of Naples lies the little church of Santa Maria Anunsiata, which oncj a year, on the "Day of bur Lady,"' wakes up into a brief life and excitement. In a silent row before the high altar kneel thirty girls, all in black garments with folded hands and eyes fixed on the pioture of Madonna before them. These are orphans from the neighboring foundling asylum ; and once a year all thOße who have reached the age of eighteen are brought here, to the church, and may be chosen in marriage by any honest man whose paper* are in good order and whose character is good. At. the door leading to the Baoristy Jeans a grey headed priest, the head of the asylum Bjr-and-by a young man makes hi=i way from the back of the church, and hands a little packet of papers. These the priests reads carefully, and being evidently satisfied, he hands baok the papers and leads the cand - date toward the row of girls. All J tbeir^eyes are fixed more steadfastly | thAn ewr^jDiT'the ; altai", all their hj|tn ; d8 < .ar^ ( ,claßped, tighter together, their faces turn a shade paler, their hearts*, beat quicker, as the young man walks slowly along the row At last he stops. His choice is .-made. He stretches out his hand with a little smile. The girl rises, casts a long look half thanks, half entreaty — at the picture of the Madonna, puts her hand into that of the stranger, and together they disappear into the pacristry. interesting message from New York states that the American warshjps San Francisco and Kearsage haantftnade a successful trial of anew method of coaling while in motion. Fifteen tons per hour were rejulily passed from the Kearsage to the San Jteineisco while steaming at the 4 lßte of four knots or more, and 300 ft &P!s in the seaway. The system is a^ojtjof inclined cable and trolley. The cable is kept constantly tight by a, variable ; ,couptprpai?e to com I pensate for the difference in speed .and distance apart of the two vessels. . the ' UHint^ of fuel transferred by means of a, plant. The invention wiU^^btivuseful in -peace, but invaluable in time of war, as it obviates ihi nwatlity for eitabliehing coaling !

stations. la a paper read before the Colonial Institute, Miss bhaw, who recently travelled through the Australian colonies on behalf of the Times, referred to temperate and tropical Australia as two continents, the former being destined to represent democratic and the latter the aristocratic forces of life. In commerce, labor, and politics the two divisions were of necessity different. The tropical portion of the colony must be developed through the service of labor and then tlvre would be no limit to production of wealth. The general wealth of the continent was prodigeous, and it seemed destined to be a fruitful mother of wealth of half the world. She was sanguine as to results of new schemes for settlement of lands and with Government assistance these settlements would probably attract the most intelligent workmen in England. The radical and democratic ideal and much of the native liberal thought in Australia favored separation from the Mother Country, but a much stronger collective body of opinion favored the retention of the Imperial tie. . Among the vessels which the Brazilian Government have just purchased in the United States for use again dt the rebel fleet is the Destroyer, a remarkable craft, the invention of the famous Captain Ericsson. Until now the vessel has been retained on lease from her owners by the United State 3 Admiralty. She is not a very new .vessel, and depends for means of offence on a submarine gun placed in her bows, which discharges a pro* jectile or torpedo to a distance of 100 yards or so. The gun is nearly 10ft below the suifuce, and is built of gun metal strengthened by steel rings, tt is loaded at the breech, the valve which closes the muzzle being opened by a serious of levers just before the moment of discharge, and closing automatically as the pro* jectile leaves the gun. The latter is fi steel, torpedo, 80ft in length, Containing in its head a charge of 8001bs of.gucotton, which explodes on impact. The Destroyer is 180 ft long, and built of iron, her stem and stern being of a similar form. She tian therefore go asteru almost as

well as ahead, and is of great length '■ in proportion to her, breadth. Tn hor fighting trim she exposes but n row inches of her sides above wak-v