Notes and Events.

Manawatu Herald, 3 April 1894, Page 3

Notes and Events.

Advertising is necessary to let the world know where you are, that is its chief recommendation, but it has its drawbacks as it permits of other enterprising men " chipping in " and bidding for a share of the business you have invented. This our jeweller friend to whom we referred to lately has now discovered, for directly below his tempting offers, a stationer, of the name of Hawkins, hopes to do better, though he charges no less than £1. This is his advertisement : — Marriages Solemniaed by ordained clergymen of high standing anywhere, or at private parlour, city, £1. Mr Hawkins, stationer, 141 Queen-strec-t, will furnish full particulars and make all appointments." Mr Hawkins does not, it will be noticed, enter into quite so much detail as his rival, but he makes his start his chief point. Note, marriages are by clergymen of " high standing anywhere" being a considerable cut above " fully accredited " ministers. How all this can be effected at such a cheap outlay is what is so surprising, why t it costs more than this, paltry amount to get an ordinary post-master not of " high Btanding anywhere " to join two young people together in this colony. They manage these things better in Melbourne, so it would appear, but of course we are unable practically to test it. The Ministerial Wellington paper had an appreciative notice on some- | body's whisky, the maker's name being Walker, and the paper inquires " who has not heard of Walker's whisky ?" or something to that effect. We are not drawing attention to the whisky, as an ' ad,' or to the peculiarity of a Ministerial journal favouring the liquor trade, but to call attention to the unfortunate selection of a brand for whisky or anyother liquor as "Walker." "Walker, or Hookey Walker " is a slang ejaculation of incredulity uttered when a person tells a story which one believes to be false or " gammon." An instance of the familiar use of this expression is given in Dickens Christmas Carol "Go and buy it (a prize turkey)" •• fFalk-er !" exclaimed the boy. " No, no," said Bcvooge ; " I am in earnest,"

However we hope that the whisky may not have the ejaculation applied in any such sanse to it. Peculiar indeed are the many meanings attaching to the word '* walk," in addition to that generally accepted. Thus "to walk into " is understood to mean "to assault" also when applied to a meal it suggests that it has been heartily eaten of. To walk awry signifies to fall into error, and ot things, that they turn out wrong. Our military friends also use to " walk about " as a notice to sentinels that they waive, the ceremony of being saluted. Then we find to walk tall has nothing to do with rising but is the carrying of the head tall, going about proudly. It is some years since our boyish days, but there the expression to "walk Spanish" meant a very different means of progression. The sufferer was forced to walk on tip-toe, and was seized by the collar and by the seat of the trousers. It also suggests walking gingerly and at the dictation of another. Then "to walk one's chalks " is perhaps more familiar, meaning, to leave unceremoniously, after the style of those who do the " Pacific slope."