Manawatu Herald. [Established Aug. 27, 1878.] TUESDAY, DEC. 20, 1904. The Annual “ Break-up.”

Manawatu Herald, 20 December 1904, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. [Established Aug. 27, 1878.] TUESDAY, DEC. 20, 1904. The Annual “ Break-up.”

Throughout the Colony we hear of nothing else the past week but the “ breaking*up ” of schools, colleges, and universities for the Christmas vaeation. There can be nothing more tiring co the young mind than school life, and it is with delight the average Colonial casts aside the arithmetic book for at least a few weeks annually. Teachers, too, are pleased to take advantage of the spell and leave the instruction of the rising generation to parental heads, and rightly so, for were there no such break in the dull monotony of school-life, we fear that advantage would not be taken of our free education to such an extent as at present. Without a lengthy holiday of this description, during which interval the brain is allowed to rest, we fear human beings would find it difficult to stand the strain of the teaching profession. Therefore, we support the present mode of holidays allotted the educational institutions throughout the Colony, for without this wall-deserved rest, the successes we continually hear of by New Zealanders would be a thing of the past. We wish all teachers of education and tbeir pupils a joyous holiday.

The Xmas services of All Saints Church will be found above our leader to-day. Appeal of a very young ,aw_. x: “ Gentlemen of the jury, I bes- : you, acquit my client for my sake, .for this is my first case." We are sorry to learn that Bro. Fox has been confined to his bed the past few days. May bis cheery countenance soon be seen again in Main street I Last year 605 more males than females were born in New Zealand. The male gain during the last ten years was at the rate, approximately, of 500 per annum, “ On Shopping Bent ” will form the heading of an article tor Thursday’s issue. It will certainly be of interest to advertisers and those who go a shopping in search of Xmas wares. The Seddon—Taylor case still occupies the atttention of Judge Denniston at Christchurch. On Saturday last, Mr Taylor opened his case for the defence, and the examination of his witnesses is expected to last some days. Again we have the Christmas advertiser making use of the Herald columns. Look up their advertisement and satisfy yourselves where the best Xmas bargains are offered. Messrs Cunimerfield & Spring we refer to. Says the Glasgow Weekly Herald:— The talk in the town concerns the announcement of a newspaper that it offers £IOOO to anyone who can prove that Sir Hector Macdonald is dead and is not General Kuroki.

The Agent-General cables:—“ Hemp market quiet with tendency in favour of buyers; price of New Zealand hemp good fair Wellington grade on spot today is £3l per ton; April to June shipments 4*30 igg," We are in receipt of the sports programme of the Manawatu Public Schools Amateur Athletic Association, to be held at Palmerston North on March xst next. Boys and girls are well catered for in the matter of events.

A Russian news correspondent in Manchuria telegraphed to his wife on the anniversary of the wedding day: “ Dearest Maria, I kiss you devotedly.” It was duly delivered, after the censor, had marked it, 11 Allowed. Senior Lieutenant B

One of the papers complains of the lack ot statues in London, and especially that there is not one to any Arch bishop of Canterbury. Why should there be ? asks the “ Rock.” Has there been a genius on the Archiepiscopal roll ? In another column, the United Friendly Sports Committee advertise their programme tor January and. They are arranging races, games, etc., for old and young, and there should be a jovial time in store for all who propose paying a visit to the Foxton Victoria Park.

It intending visitors to Wellington will take the trouble to look up C. F. johnston’s advertisement, they will nqd that a special coach leaves Foxton qn Sunday morning next at 3 o'clock fpr Levin, where they will be able to connect with a special train for Wellington. At a meeting ot the Borough Brass Bjjnd members last evening, Mr McKinney forwarded his resignation as conductor, and Mr T. Betty was elected to fill the vacancy. The matter of uniforms came up for consideration, aud it was decided to purchase four new outfits, when the Band will be fully equipped as regards*dress. It la reported that a farmer at Nalangil (Vic.) is now milking a cow which is giving an extraordinary quantity of milk, her yield for 24 hours being golb, or 9 gallons. On one occasion she gave gxlb. The cow is milked by tbe milking machine, and the milk was weighed by the manager of the creamery. Mr IsaaCstein (to school teacher): “ How vas dat leetle Jacob getting on mit arithmetic ?” School teacher: “ He is doing splendidly, Mr Isaacstein. He is in percentage now." Mr Issacstein; “ Vas dat so ? Veil, don’t you teach dat poy noddings less than von hundert per cent. He was too young yet to study very hard."

Mr John Higginson died at Paris on October 85th, and his body is to be taken to New Caledonia for burial. He was by birth an Irishman, but about 40 years ago emigrated to New Caledonia, where he practically invented nickel, the great product of the island, and was known as the “ Nickel King." He was a naturalised Frenchman. A professional diver says that one or the strange effects of diviogls the Invariable bad temper felt while working at the bottom of the sea. As this usually passes away as soon as the surface is reached it is probably due to pressure of the air affecting the lungs, and through them the brain. The ex hilaration and good temper of the mountain climber are contrary feelings, from an opposite cause. Down in Sussex, says the London ««Express,” there lives a gentleman whose generosity and public spirit have endeared him to the countryside. He gives large shooting parties and owns a fine motor-car. His horses are all thoroughbreds. He retired from the head-waitership of one of the bestknown restaurants in Regent-srreet seven or eight years ago after the death of the proprietor. In these days he used to “ take ” between £SO and £6O a week as tips.

A crash in clubs is (says the London correspondent of the “ Birmingham Gazette and Express”) amongst the portentous events of the near future. It has an odd sound, but for some years, and notably during the past five years, the club has steadily ceased to be a necessity of modern mankind. The new rule of life, which is to leave town on Friday until the following Monday or Tuesday, has seriously affected the revenues of the West End clubs. The big political houses are fairly safe, but even these have to mourn the week-end distraction, coupled with the consequent diminution of table money. Finally, as a further prelude to disaster, there is everywhere to be noted a fall in the roll of membership.

.A marvellous adventure, which fortunately resulted without accident injury to the principal, was experienced by a little girl at Belmont the other day. Above the house where her parents reside is a steep hill, with a sheer descent to the house. Seeing her father’s bicycle at the top of the hill, the girl conceived the idea of testing the feat known as “ looping the loop," and mounted the machine to go down hill. The pair rushed down at a terrific rate, through the orchard to the house, and right through a bedroom window, and landed on the bed, to the astonishment of the chief actor's mother, who was carrying on her household work. Strange to say, neither the bicycle nor the experimentalist suffered any injury. Miss Mary Stanton, a pretty English girl, recently arrived in Philadelphia by the steamer Westernland, with her uncle and aunt (Mr and Mrs Fay), who live in New York. Before leaving England a mutual friend, Mr Hugh Stanton, who bears the same name but is no relation, arranged to sail by the same vessel. Wishing to keep the party together, Mrs Fay suggested that her neice should represent herself as Mr Stanton’s wife, and thus enable him to secure quarters in the same part of the ship. During the voyage, Mrs Fay and her neice occupied one state room, and Mr Stanton and Mr Fay shared another. When the vessel reached Philadelphia the party made no secret of the Innocent deception, but the immigration officials immediately detained Mr Fay’s neice and Mr Stanton, threatening to deport them unless they were married immediately. As the girl was engaged to a young man in England, and Mr Stanton was engaged to another girl, the suggestion was promptly rejected. After many futile arguments the case was referred to Washington.