The French in Africa.

Manawatu Herald, 30 June 1896, Page 2

The French in Africa.

The cablegrams about France trying to secure a town in Tripoli need not alarm anyone about its being a further complication as to Eiypt. Tripoli is a country in North. Africa having. the largest area touching the Mediterranean Sea, and lies between the French possessions of Algeria on the west and Egypt on the east. It is one of the Barbary States, and constitutes a " villayet " (or province) of the Turkish Empire. It . has an area of 899,000 square miles. '

It is noteworthy that there are no rivers in the country. The country in shape resembles the letter with the broad portion to the sea and the narrow portion stretching inland, which is mostly desert. The town, Ghadaines, which the French covet, lies on the boundary with Algeria, ana* appears the only place of any importance in that part of Africa for miles. Messrs Abraham and Williams hold a sale of stock at Palmerston on Thursday. An American firm are advertising paper flower pots. British coin is? now the only legal currency in the Cook Group. Pineapples are not worth more than two pence each in the Cook group. We remind carpenters that tenders for the addition to Mr Loveday's shop must be in by noon to morrow. Poultry in Wellington are quoted at fowls 2? 6d, ducks 3s to 3s 6d, geese 4s to 4s 6d, turkeys 7s to 8s per pair. The police have arrested near Tapanui a man named David Low, who had an illicit still in full process of distillation. Mr England, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, leaves to-day on hi3 annual holiday. Mr Hodgson, of Wellington, reieves him. The flood on the Motoa Swamp dislodged a great number of hares, and young "sports" have had a good time in filling their bags. We who have to pay one shilling a dozen for bananas would appreciate obtaining them at (he value set upon them for export from Baiatonga, viz., ninepence per bunch. The Colonial Office has decided to present sets of the reports of the voyage of Her Majesty's ship " Challenger " to various colonial Governments and institutions, including Otago University. To-morrow the adjourned meeting of the Otaki Licensing Committee will be held at Otaki to take the matter of the application for a license for the Post Oilice Hotel into consideration. •The Advocate says: — Mr C. Burgess, Rongotea, killed a pig early this week which weighed, when dressed, 41711)3.. It was but 18 months old. It was a Berkshire bred by Mr Burgess. A. Queen's gift. Be not too much puffed up _ 0 House of Representative*! by the Queen's gift from Baratonga of five cases of oranges, as they are only valued there at six shillings and three pence a case. for Goschen, in reply to a question in the House of Commons, explained that the explosion on board H.M.S. Blake was caused by a shortness of water iu the boiler. To-morrow Mr J. B. McMillan sells at Mr James Dudson's residence the household furniture and other items. This is a kind of sale which always attraets attention and a good gathering may ba looked for. It is said that in Johannesburg white men do not allow a Kaffir on the sidewalk with themselves, and that in the Orange Free State the Dutch will noi permit them to be taught to read, but rale them with the whip, as in the oJd slavery days. A Dr. Fischer advocates sleeping with one's feet higher than one's head. In this new position he says sleep " will always be intellectual, because more profound, the entire nervous system ameliorated, while people inclined to lung and kidney trouble will be vastly banefitted." The Oxford University has conferred the Dootorship of Laws on Mr Chamberlain, Secretary of State for the Colonies, the Bight Hon. John Morley, M.P., and the Hon. T. F. Bayard, United States Ambassador in London. Last year's flood was noted particularly for the enormous number of spiders who sought refuge on posts and flax- sticks. The present flood, being earlier in the season, does not present such an array of insects, but in their place appear thousands of mice. Two lads we met had knocked over forty in a very short time. A visitor, who, on Saturday morning made his bow in the Justioe's Court and promised to leave the town forthwith, passed the previous day in visiting hen-roosts and houses. He entered Mr Spring's house in the afternoon and notiomg an uncooked egg on the table, removed it and after sucking the contents, politely replaoed the shell. When arrested he had three eggs in his pookets, which, it is said, he had endeavoured to sell. The N.Z. L. & M. A. Co. report sheepskins are now in fair supply, and are eagerly competed for by local fellmongers. We quote — Butchers' green skins, early shorn, 33 lOd to 4s 6d ; medium, 3s 6d to 3s 9d. For country dry skins we quote — Prime well-woolled, s£d to s|d ; good, 4£d to sd ; fair to medium, B£d to 4|d; inferior and broken, l^d to 3£d per lb. How to save young tomatoes. A writer says :— Gathering as many tin baking powder boxes as I bad plants, I set them on the hot stove, to remove the bottoms ; this done-, I pressed, one over each plant, leaving quite two inches of it out of the soil, and thus rested in peace, never loeing one plant. In this way you can defy any out worm alive. Father Thames, which at the beginning of the century was only to be crossed by 6 bridges, is now spanned by no less than 12 between the Tower and Vauxhall, and the Blackball is the fourth tunnel under the river since Brunell made his experiment, as the City and Waterloo tunnel is practically oompleted, so far as the river portion of the work is concerned. We always look with pleasure into the Parliamentary papers relating to our dependencies in the Cook group. There is something so " childlike and bland " in the communications of the British Resident. In one of his papers he mentions a " second difficulty i* in beginning a new system of raising the requisite money." This only shows what a distance the venerable gentleman lives from New Zealand, otherwise be would have quickly learnt a wrinkle from our ex-Treasurer in bond warrants and oats. There is not always much fun in State papers, but in one that has passed between His Excellency the Governor and the Secretary of State for the Colonies, a point has been scored by the Marquis of Salisbury. Lord Glasgow, last November wrote, at the request of the Government that the United States Government should be urged to take stepa for the extradition of A. B. Worthington from the colony as he had " founded a gurun-religious sect called the " Students of Truth " to the detriment, as is believed by my Government, of public morality and well bsing. ... If all or •ven a part of what is alleged against him be true, it is the opinion of my Government that he should be brought to justice." A reply has been received from London to the above letter stating Lord Salisbury does not consider it advisable to make a formal complaint but will mention the matter, for he is " inclined to oonclude that the United States Government are probably contest ' tbat .Wortbiogtoo should remain abroad."

One who knows, says sweet corn is far better and sweeter if steamed, than any other way. Put the cars in a close steamer, set over a kettle of boiling water. If you boil the ears in the water, plungo into boiling water, keeping them at the boiling point no longer than twelve minutes. Steam from twenty minutes to half an hour. Treated in this way Corn, if just right when pulled, will be toothsome and wholesome. Certainly tho most effective medicine in the world is Sanders and Son's Eucalypti Extract. Test its eminently powerful effect in Coughs, Coldn, Influenea ; the relief instantaneous. In serious cases and accidents of all kinds, be they wounds, burns, scaldings, bruises, sprains, it is the safest remedy — no swellings— no inflammation. Like surprising effects produced in Croup, Diphtheria, Bronchitis. Inflammation of the Lungs, Swellings, do., Diarrhoea, Dysentery, Disease of the Kidneys and Urinary Organs. In use at all hospitals and medical olinics ; patronised by His Majesty the King of Italy ; crowned with medal and diploma at International Exhibition, Amsterdam. Trust in this approved article and eject all others. — [advt.] One of the drawbacks of country life, at least to the small settler, is undoubtedly the increased price he has to pay for any ortides of clothing or general drapery, by reason of the extra charges for freight or carriage. This drawback need exist no longer, for extra charges are done away with under the new parcel system which has been inaugurated at Te Aro House, Wellington. Under this system any of the parcels advertised will be sent to any address in New Zealand, post free, the prices charged being exactly the same as those at which the goods are sold over the counter in Wellington. As may be imagiued, however, this liberal offer is only extended to cash customers, and all orders for advertised parcels must be accompanied by cash for the amount, before the order can be executed at Te Aro House, Wellington. In illustration of the system we will give an examp'e. Take for instance No. 7 parcel, which contains 7 yards of double width stylish fancy check tweed ; 2 dozen buttons and silk and twist to match ; 2 yards of body lining and 4 yards of skirt lining. This complete parcel will be sent, post free, to any address on receipt of 15s 9d, from Te Aro House, Wellington.