CHRISTCHURCH EXHIBITION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3733, 20 December 1906, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH EXHIBITION.

Intending visitors to the Exhibition would do well by visiting Watchoen Stiles & Co, and inspecting their magnificent range of men's tailor-made suits “ ready to wear.” Each garment is cut separately by expert tailors, coats have the latest improved shoulder pads and good hair c oth fronts. We guarantee them to keep shape and style. Prices from 425. A fine range of panama hats at all prices.*

We have received the first number of Defence, the Official organ of the National League of New Zealand, whose headquarters are in Auckland. The publication’s opening article is entitled “In a Fool’s Paradise,” and its sixteen pages of reading matter deal with the defencelessness of New Zealand in the event of an attack by an Asiatic or other power. The League is a patriotic body which should be supported by every New Zealander. A story is told by an explorer of a large and fierce South American spider which chases men if they come too near its lurking places. On one occasion he was pursued by one. " Riding at an easy trot over the dry grass,” he writes, “ I observed a spider pursuing me, leaping swiftly along and keeping up with my beast. I aimed a blow with my whip, and the point of the lash struck the ground close to it, when it instantly leaped upon and ran up the lash, and was actually within three or four inches of my hand when I flung the whip from me.” A Bulletin correspondent relates that in a burlesque peice of melodrama in one ot the London “ halls ” the hero rushes on just in time to see the tail end of the contents of a tin of canned meat disappearing down the heroine's throat. She has been forced to eat it by the viliian. Latter sneaks off with a triumphant "Hal ha!” Hero sits down to *await the end, when a bright idea strikes him. He seizes the tin and examines the label. “ Saved I saved I Thank Heaven 1 Saved It’s New Zealand!" are the last words heard by the audience as the curtain comes down.

The Roman emperor who fed hie steed with gilded oats has found a modern parallel in Mr. H. S. Ladew, a New York multi-millionaire, who invited forty guests to a “pony dinner” to celebrate the many victories of two of his horses. The animals were accommodated at the table with oats, which they ate from silver buckets, and with water supplied in gold-bound buckets. Other horses were led through the banqueting-room, and were fed with sugar-plums, The dining table was in the form of a horseshoe the salt cellars were silver models of food bins, whilst the celery holders resembled hayracks. Favours consisting of gold-mounted crops and silver stirrups were distributed to the guests. A Corsican brigand named Paoli, who had a remarkable career, has just been arrested near Ajaccio. Several years ago he was betrayed by a comrade and sent to New Caledonia . for ten years. A year or two afterwards the man who betrayed him was mysteriously murdered near Ajaccio, and the police arrested Paoli’s two brothers on suspicion. A few days later the Prefect of Corsica was held up by Paoli himself, and the brigand confessed that he had long ago escaped from New Caledonia and had murdered his betrayer. He demanded that his brothers ba set free. This was the first the Corsican authorities had heard of the convict’s escape and the police have ever since been hunting for him in vain. His arrest has now been effected owing to information supplied by a jealous woman. Quite recently Mr Keir Hardie surprised the House of Commons by invading its sacred precincts in sandals. Such a thing had never been known, and many of the constables on duty were uncertain whether they ought to have barred his entrance. Mr Hardie laughed at his questioners, and complained that in deference to their views he was obliged to wear socks. In the country he discarded these. He is a great lover of animals, and often surprises his friends by stopping in the London streets and “ talking ” to a horse. When he was a pit boy there was always a complete understanding between him and his ponies. One intelligent pony, who rejoiced in the name ot Punch, followed Hardie about like a dog, and his whistle was sufficient to attract it from the farthest corners of the pit.