LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 173, 19 June 1884, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The motion given notice of by Mr Stevens t« reduce the honorarium to a Bum not exceeding one hundred and fifty guineas for members of the House, and one hundred guineas for Iho members of the Council, is, we (Post) believe, intended to apply specially to the present as well as to future sessions. Yet the Marton paper assailed hini m choice terms on the allegation that tho motion only referred to next session. This is so like the Marton paper. A singular accident happened at Fitzroy (Melbourne) a few days ago. A boy named Ronald Syme, aged three years, was playing with a whistle, and, with a strong inspiration, drew a portion of it into his throat. His mother became alarmed, and conveyed him to Dr Rudall who operated three times unsuccessfully, with a view to relieving the boy. The lad died suddenly on the night of the 25th ult. A verdict of death from b»ffocation, caused by a foreign body m the air passage, was returned. A novelty m advertising is thus described by a Wllington paper : — On the verandah of Messrs Francis Brothers' Labor Exchange a magic lantern was exhibited, the " views" being alternate pictures and advertisements. The exhibition, we understand, is to become a I a regular thing, and is to be shown two or three times a week. I The Auckland Star's speckl at the seat of Parliament says that during the | no-confidence debate a notable figure m the ladies' galleries was Mrs Batkin,who for many sessions has been a constant attendant. Near her was a young lady, note-book and pencil m hand, ready to take a shorthand report of the ensuiug debate. There is a place called Lepperton, near New Plymouth, which must be m a bad way just now, judging from the following paragraph m a correspondent's letter to the Taranaki Herald :— Dull times seem to be the general topic just now. The 'Man Trunk Line' or ' the chances of the Ministry keeping office,' are as nothing to us compared with the market price of butter, cheese, fungus, &c. Only let these get a little lower m the market, and " we'll have to leave the colony and go to M okau, where fern root and pork can be had free, gratis and for nothing." Au Auckland wag lately sent a letter •to Gisborne addressed "To an honest lawyer." The letter was returned to the sender with the endorsement " None here." _Tho Wopdyille Examiner thinks Mr Ark wright stands a small chance against Mr Stevens, who has. worked hard m the interests of his constituents, and the West Coast generally. A gentleman having playfully severed a lock of hair from the head of a young lady to whom he was attached, although he nail not made a formal declaration, received from her next day a letter, urgently requesting the restoration ; of the stolen lock. To this he replied as follows : — " By only one recompense can I be led with this ringlet to part. If I have to restore you the lock of your head you must.give me the key of your heart." The lady .immediately replied ':: — " Who forces locks cannot require a key, mamma is out to-day from twelve to three." Another opponent to the scheme for flooding the Sahara (a London paper says) has developed himself m calculation that it will take some thousands of years for the. water to flow and make the inland sea. Calculating the delivery through the canal 100 ft wide, and 25ft deep, and the flow of four miles an hour it seems tliat.it would require thousands of years to fill the Sahara. This consideration settles the question as to the probable change of climate, for obviously it would be a matter of indifference to us. As we hear that many eligible voters are still unregistered, we would urgeon them the necessity of having their names placed on the roll at once. All males over 21 who have been twelve mouths m this colony, and six months m. this district are entitled to vote. The forms are easily obtainable, and as these are furnished free there can be no need for neglect on the part of any.