THE POLLUTION OF RIVERS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 333, 23 July 1875, Page 3

THE POLLUTION O F RIVERS.

DIOPOSED BRITISH liBQISI/A.TI(SN.

Action has been taken in Parliament to put a stop to the pollution of rivers. Oti i.he 31st of April Lord Salisbui-y brought unde.c notice the state of the law with reference to the pollution of rivers, and introduced a biU the objeft of which is to remedy the filthy and unhealthy condition of various rivers throughout the country. It is proposed to refer all cases under the pro ; visions of the bill to the county courts, to prohibit in future the pouring of noxious matters into rivers, to compel tliose who were now exercising a right to do so in such a way as to . render such matters innocuous, and to empower the Local Government Board to sue the local sanitary authority in cases of neglect to enforce the law. ; Lord JPorlescue congratulated the Government on their attempt to deal with the diibjeet, and the bill was read _a third time.

Hotel Keepers' Eesponsibimties' —A question of especial interest to travellers on the Continent has just bee3i decided by a provincial judge. Ts your hotel keeper' bound to wake you up in the event of your wishing to leave by a certain night train ? 'J he answer has been given in the affirmative. The judge held that,it was not only tho duty of the hotel keeper to do so, but that ho was liable to damages if ho refused or neglected. In the case before the Court the hotel keeper was let off with a fine of 30 francs, it being his first offence of the kind. — ' Standard.' A Cook's Letter.—Talking of servants, the following letter is said to have been received by a lady who was engaging a new took :—Medem, plese mum, i musjt decline your sitywation understanding ass I doo you tak lessins on. coking at the- cokng- schol." It is ti be hoped this domestic treasure's kno'vledge of cookiug is not on a par with' her composition.- I —London Correspondent. ■

'" Abetudeei-j Scotch.' An English clergymen and a Lowland Scotchman : visited'one .of the best schools in Aberdeen. They were strangers, y but the master reeoived them civilly and inquired, " Would you prefer that I should speer these boys, or that you should' speer them yourselves ? " The English clergyman having ascertained that to speer meant to -question, desired the master to proceed. He did so with great success, and the boys answered satisfactorily numerous interrogatories as to the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. The clergyman then said he would be glad in his turn to speer the boys, and at once began, ' " How did Pharaoh die ? " There was a dead silence. In this 'dilemma) the Lowland gentleman interposed. ' I think, sir, the boys are not accustomed ' to your English.accent; let me- try what I can make of them." " And he inquired in broad Scotch, " Hoo did -Phawraoh dee ? " Again there was a dead silence ; upon which the master said, "I think, gentlemen, you can't speer these boys ; I'll show you how to doit." And he proceeded, "Eat cam to Phawraoh athia hinner end ? " The boys with one voice answered, "He was drooned," and a smart laddie ad- | ded, " Ony lassie could hae told you , ■you'that." i