Notes and Events.

Manawatu Herald, 6 April 1895, Page 3

Notes and Events.

At the end of January a banquet was held in London, the PostmasterGeneral presiding, to celebrate the silver wedding of the telegraphs and the State, the powers of the Post Office over the telegraphs having come into operation on fißth January, 1870.

In the old days the tariff varied according to distance with a minimum for twenty words for one shilling for 100 miles. A message of that length cost from London to Ireland six shillings, now it coste tenpence 1 The average coat of a private telegram was in 1869 two shillings and twopence, it is now only sevenpence threeifarthings.

Under the old companies the highest number of messages 6ent in one year was no more than six and a half millions. It now exceeds seventy millions. The Government took over 3000 offices and now there are over 9000. The old companies possessed 60,000 miles of wire, the Post Office now has 200,000 miles. The Press messages of the present day total in a year to the value of five and a half millions, representing sis hundred million words telegraphed.

The London Central Office receive nearly 100,000 messages a day, The battery- room contains three and a half-miles of shelves packed with nests of Fuller's bichromate. Darnell's and Leclanche's batteries, working always and consuming tons of " blue vitriol," bichromate, and sal ammoniac in the silent creation of current.

The case heard last Saturday fortunately ended differently than the public talk led one to expect. So far so well. In case the charge had been substantiated it may be of use as a caution to point out that everyone is liable to imprisonment with bard labour for life, and if under sixteen years to be once whipped, who, with inteut to maim, disfigure, disable, or do any grievous bodily harm to any one, wound;

does actual bodily harm to any pei'Bon.

To those who have looked over " Ihe Criminal Code Act 1898 " it may be useful to mention that there is an amending Act of last year relating to the further provision for the protection of girls whereby the " age of consent " is raised to fifteen years.