Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, AUG. 27, 1898.

Manawatu Herald, 27 August 1898, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, AUG. 27, 1898.

The American flag was hoisted at Hawaii on the 13th. The natives displayed a. despondent attitude, and abstained from taking part in the function. T!,ie first steam trawler built in New Zealand, of 30 tons, was launched at Auckland on Wednesday. She is intended for the trawling trade at Napier, and is fitted with all the necessary appliances. The population of England at the time of the Conquest did not exceed 2,000,000. Experiments have demonstrated that refuse water from wool-scouring works is effective as a preventive and destroyer of ticks. An English glass firm lately received an order for 500 glass fence posts, to be of the usual size, and grooved for the reception of wire. Defence estimates provide for engagement of 50 extra constables. Herr Eugen Wolff, traveller and correspondent of a German newspaper, declares that the accusations against him of having entered the Court at Kiao-chau and tried and acquitted persons charged with murder, under the pretence that he was a special German envoy, is a clumsy invention. Extremely probable. Tramps who visit the Mutford and Lothmgland workhouse at Oulton are to have a cold bath in future. The guardians think that this will keep the tramps away. There are 308 telegraph messengers in New Zealand. The conference for the adjustment of the differences between Canada and the United States has opened at Quebec. Great interest is being taken in the proceedings. Lord Herschell has been appointed President of the Anglo-American Commission on the American and Canadian disputes. The heat wave continues. In England the temperature has reached nearly 80 degrees. Many cases of sunstroke have occurred in the London parks and streets, and a few of them nave produced fatal results. The finest tomb in great Britain is undoubtedly that of the Duke of Hamilton, in the grounds of the duke's seat. It cost over £200,000. A case of eucalyptus poisoning was recently brought under the notice of the surgeon of Horsham (Victoria) Hospital. A lad named Looney got hold of a bottle of eucalyptus oil, to which he helped himself freely, making himself for a time seriously Ul. The symptoms of eucalyptus poisoning are almost identical with those of intoxication by alcohol, and the boy was quite unable to walk, whilst his utterance was thick and indistinct, like that of a person under the influence of drink. He is now fully recovered. Forest fires are raging in the south of France. The departure of the lonio for Londonfrom Lyttelton last Thursday was the occasion of a somewhat hilarious I exhibition of affection between the ! firemen of that steamer and those of H.M.S. Tauranga. An interchange of caps was thought appropriate as the steamer moved away, ana one of these falling into the water was promptly dived for by one of the lonic's men, [ who would probably have been drowned but for the fourth officer, who jumped overboard to his assistance, promptly followed by one of the quarter-masters. The latter between them managed to support the fireman until all were picked up by a boat which had been launched for the purpose. The annual report of the N.S. Wales Railway Commissioner shows that the net profit for the year was £1,413,000, representing £3 15s per cent on the capital invested. The tramways returned a profit of £54,000, or £3 14s gd per cent on the capital invested. Rabbits are taking the phosphorous eagerly, and Mr J. Whyte informs us he counted 15 dead rabbits on a clearing in the Government land adjoining him, whilst the number that might be in the lupins were not looked for. The Messrs Barber's and Strang Bros, have also sent in tor larger supplies;

A lighthouse of bamboo has just been built in Japan. It is said to have greater power of resisting the waves than any other kind of wood, and does not rot like ordinary wood. Earthquake shocks have been experienced in Perthshire. A trial of paper shoes for horses is shortly to be made in London. The new horse shoe is made of compressed papc • ; it requires no nails to secure it to tha hoof, and, whilst lighter than the most fragile of racing plates, it is claimed to be nearly as durable as the solid iron shoes which have hitherto secured to horses immunity from the effects of constant travelling over rough country. The " Standard rt says that the German Chauvinists are reviving the project for the partition of Samoa, Britain to have Savau, America Tutuila, and Germany Opolu. Another blunder. The Manawatu Times says, a number of cases against parents charged with neglecting to send their childrej^io school were on the Court list to-day (Wednesday), but owing to the non-appearance of the Truant Inspector when they were called on, the presiding justices, Messrs Snelson and Mowlem, struck the cases out. Mr Easther appeared later, and asked the Court if the cases could not be re-instated, but owing to the persons charged having left for their home this could not be done. Mr W. B. Rhodes, who has been staying at Wanganui the last few weeks, is expected back on Tuesday night. The new boat shed for the Rowing Club should be well built, unless the old adage is again verified as to too many cooks, for the contractor* has a paid clerk to supervise him, and the paid clerk has three members of the committee to look after him ! The President of an American bank is reported to have recently made an extraordinary use of the long-distance telephone. While at Minneapolis, Minnesota, he presided over a meeting of the bank Directors at Lowell, Massachusetts, using tor the purpose the long-distance wires. The President called the meeting to order by the telephone, and transacted the business in the usual fashion. It is said that he readily recognised the voice of each Director when one spoke into the instrument. The line was made up of eight copper metallic circuits, and was over 1,500 miles in length. This is believed to be the first business meeting ever held by the use of a telephone over so great a length. There are 33 sawmills at work in Southland, and the quantity of timber cut last yeßr totalled nearly 30,000,000 feet. The estimates provide a sum of £150 for the compilation of the early history of New Zealand.