NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2081, 24 January 1920, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES.

Schoolboys with long willow wands played a prominent part at Tiverton, Devon, in a water-bailing ceremony recently. This observance has taken place every seven years for the past seven centuries, in commemoration of the gift to the town of a stream of water by Isabella de Fortibus, a former Countess 6i Devon. Following the boys, who whipped the stream incessantly, came workmen with spades, axes, and picks, for the removal of any obstacle found in the stream. Behind them walked the Mayor, members of the town council, and residents of the town and district. Arrived at the source of the stream at Norwood Common, seven miles from-the town, free refreshments were the order of the day, followed by sports and races. They have found in Mexico fossils of a man who was 32ft, lOin in height. It was found by workmen near a little village called Natmcampilpa, in the State of Vera Cruz. The natives who still cling to the traditions of their Indian ancestors, declare Hint the giant was related to the gods of (heir forefathers. They erected a catafalque in the plaza, upon which the giant rested in state for many days, covered with (lowers, and at night carefully guarded. The finding of this mammoth fossil has aroused the Mexican scientists, but a professor of the National Museum thinks he will find it is that of a pro-historic vertebrate not of the human race. Some queer haters have readied .Miss Dorothy Evans, of the British Association of Women Clerks and Secretaries, on the efforts no,w being made to “unionise" the 'bankgirls. One boy, aged IK. wrote that the reason for the agitation was “sex equality, or the swell-headcd-uess prevalent among women.” Miss Evans says the girls chiefly complain of the general attitude of the. men —not all whom screed in the wtii —towards I hem. Jl is frosty, to say the least.' They realise that exservice men have the lirst right, but they are finding strung prejudice a - gainst their holding any position involving more than routine work, even though they have risen through experience and ability. Some men they say, are even advocating the expulsion of all women except typists and tilers,'

An inquest was held al the London Hospital recently on' Asher Levy, ageil s(i. formerly a fruit merchant. The evidence showed that the old man went out to purchase cat’s meat for his dog. Having done so, he attempted to cross Roman Road, which at the time was crowded with people, when he was knocked down by a motor ’bus, sustaining’a fractured skull and other injuries, from the effects of which he died the same day in the hospital. Deceased is reputed to have been a wealthy man. A press representative was informed that, after his death a sum of about £B,OOO in gold was found in a safe at his residence, and that the safe was removed bodily to a banking establishment, under the direction of a firm of solicitors, who were consulted by various relatives. After the death the news that considerable wealth was in the house rapidly spread throughout the neighbourhood, and ■several police constables remained in the house all night to guard the gold. The removal of Hie safe was witnessed by a crowd of several hundred persons. It is stated that search for a will has up to the present proved unavailing.

All that is'required is a bunch of watercress. This must be well washed, any faded parts removed and a good deal of the stem cut away. It must he placed in a china basin and boiling water poured over it. The basin must then be covered Avilh a plate and let stand for half an hour, after which the mixture must be strained through muslin. Half a pint of boiling water is required for aboijgt twelve pieces of watercress. One or two tablespoonfuls should he taken twice a day. This infusion should only be used when quite freshly made; it-should not tic kept for more than two days, and then only in a cool, dark spot. After it has been taken regularly for a week it should be discontinued for about ten days, and then, if necessary, taken . for another week. So curious was the story of a burglary in Pent on, Twickenham, told at Brentford, that tin; a it#,* led .. . W man was remanded for inquiries as to Ids mental <‘011(1111011. Early one Sunday morning Mr (.1. S>-iUair beard the smashing of glass, and. going down towards the drawingroom, heard a man calling for someone to come and let him out. He repeated the-request quite politely when Mr Mair entered the room. It was found that the man had smashed the glass door and had cups and saucers in Ids pocket=.

There is h great amount of gold and silver coinage in Peshawur, on the borders of Afghanistan. The Afghans do not understand paper money, and insist on receiving payment for their skins and grain in either gold or silver. A gold sovereign is at a premium of from 20 to 30 per cent, in India. The hoarding proclivities of the natives, which have existed for ages in India, have recently been discovered by bands of Budmashes, who have an organised intelligence service, and raid villages and' make the hoarders give up their wealth. This is driving the native to believe that between the banks and Budmashes, the banks are the lesser of the two evils.