Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, JULY 16, 1898.

Manawatu Herald, 16 July 1898, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, JULY 16, 1898.

The next English and European mail, via San Francisco, will close at the local office on Wednesday, the 3rd day of August, at 3 p.m. Fifty years ago the population of Europe was about 250 millions ; it is to-day considerably over 360 millions. An Atlantic Ocean travel'er calculates that in large steamers more than 3,000 articles of glass and china are broken on every voyage. How is this ? Canada is said to be the only civilised country in the world without a divorce court. At the "At Home " of the Countess of Ranfurly on Wednesday, the following humble flower was much in evidence — gorse with its yellow bloom and honey scent was massed in the fireplaces and at one end of the further room. The afternoon tea-table had no other colour upon it than the rich clusters of this wild flower. The wife of Li Hung Chang is said to possess 2,000 frocks, and has ha l ! that number of waiting-women in attendance upon her. About three years ago a numbdr of young date trees were obtained by the New South Wales Department of Agriculture, through the French Government, from the choicest groves of Algeria. These, which were the finest known variety of the date palm, were planted by the Agricultural Department at suitable places in the west, chiefly at artesian bore farms, and though these have only been planted at Pera Bore for about three years, they are already bearing fine fruit. A German has invented paper bottles especially for use on board ship, as they will not break if tossed about. It is officiary announced that the Postal Conference has established a penny postage between Great Britain, Canada, Newfoundland, Cape Colony and Natal and any Crown colony willing to accept it. India is not mentioned. Afc the Racing Conference, speaking of the desire to free the turf of abuses, Sir George Clifford said that it would be the fau't of the administrators if racing in this colony was not to be a recreation which no man need be ashamed to participate in. He believed that at present for every ounce of evil-doing on the turf there were many pounds of wanton slander. It was, however, the duty of the Conference to remove the fraction of disease, which might threaten the health of the whole body. The type of owners who best provided the sport were those who would breed horses and race them if there were no stakes to be won and no bets to be made. — Post. During the enforced stay in port of so many steamers at the beginning of this week, Mr J. Walsh took some photographs of the scene of the wharf, the first proofs of which he has allowed us to see. Though the day the photo's were taken was not anything that could be wished for thei work, yet some capital pictures were obtained which will necessarily be highly prized. The most northern post-office in the world has lately been established by the Norwegian Government on the island of Spitzbergen, some 400 miles off the north coast of Norway. There are practically no inhabitants to be benefited, but the postoffice is a convenience to excursionists who go there during the summer months. Tremendous as is the price we pay (says a Home paper) to have our battleships and cruisers built, their refit at the end of a commission is also very great. One of our cruisers just home from Australia is to be refitted for a new cruise at a oost of nearly £30,000. This is not at all a large sum to j be spent for the purpose, and many vessels undergo 3 or 4 refits. The British public spends £16,000,000 annually on tobacco. In the House on Wednesday the Liquidation Reform Bill and the Mortgages Bill were read a second time on the voices. The Licensing Act Amendment Bill was read a second time by 45 to 16. The Divorce Bill was put through its committee stage, and the Deceased Husband's Brother Marriage Bill was put through its final .tages. ) The Borough Council invite tenders for I removing trees and other works in the Foxton Cemetery. Tenders close 6 p.m. Ist. August. The death of Sir Francis Dillon Bell was announced to the House yesterday afternoon, and the following resolution moved by the Premier was carried and then tbe House at once adjourned :— " That this House desires to place on record its high sense of the distinguished services tendered to the colony by the late Sir Francis Dillon Bell, and respectfully tenders to the mem bers of his fami'y the assurance of its sympathy with thera in their irreparable loss."