MISCELLANEOUS.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 10 May 1920, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS.

There was only one case of bankruptcy in Wellington for the month just ended, making a total of three since the commencement of the present year. During April, 1919, two persons were adjudged bankrupt, while for the whole of 1919 there were only, three filings.

Dr. W. Fox, medical superintendent at the Christchurch Hospital, placed before the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board a few weeks ago a scheme for the establishment of travelling scholarships for nurses, and gave a donation of £IOO for the fund. The finance committee has now reported U the board that it could not give a sub sidy on the sum, and could not go on with the scheme. Dr. Fox is to In. asked to accept a refund of his dona tiou.

A Masterlun nuttier had a somewha' unique experience in a northern tow n ship at the end ol last week. He wa driving through in ail up-to-date eawith a young man, resembling tin Prince of Males in appearance, win was leaving lor a trip to the Old Ooun try. lie pulled up in front ot a hotel

and behind him was a car containing : large quantity of luggage. People be gait to flock out from the hotel and b grasp the hand of t lie young man, am soon there was an excited crowd o

severn 1 hundred people in the locality The young man who was the centre o so much attention blushed profusely ail'd explained that it was a case oi mis taken identity, lie was merely a tour Ist en route for America. The crow ] enjoyed the joke almost as much as tin j stranger, and the barmaid who inn | given the rumour a start collected limn; j sixpences.—“ Age.” An amn Tug -iury of Parliament wu •' In--All- G. Smith, M.P.. nr tlf. South African vi tenuis’ reunion i New Plymouth. .V man who was i; trout the depths of the backbloeks wa taken by a Pnliumentary friend l" sc the Houses of Parliament. As a great f treat permission was obtained tor hit' In take a seat cm the floor of the House . When the House ro e the member ask ■ ed tire man from the country what lr j thought of Parliament. ‘‘They’re : i| queer looking lot,” lie replied I ‘‘There’s one intelligent looking mat amongst them.” He pointed out tin i| muu he meant, it wasn’t a member o ■Parliament; it was the sergeant at

arms! —Taranaki ‘ ‘ Herald. ’ ’ • A New Zealander who recently wen to America writes that the men win arc or were in Uncle tram s army at wearing buttons tlrit t carry the modes legend, “We won the war.” Anothc

New Zealander who fought in Prance found hr: entry into the States blocked because of some slight omission with regard to lus par port. Eventually _ lie mt access to some official in high authoi'ity. and in the conversation out e.-.-soldier asked if a sight of his army discharge would serve the purpose. “What army.’” inquired the official. “The New Zealand army,” was the answer. On which the Yankee retort ed “Never heard of it: there'., only one army, the Auerkan.’’-Dunedin “'.star.' ’ Save a “Bulletin” writer:—Plenty of the lads will remember when the Prince of Wales played two-up with the Diggers in France. When Ned took the kip the push started laying their bets. “Pet ’em go, Prince.” “Give ’em ally. Ptii.ec,” and so forth. But one rougli-neck struck a new note when he bawled. “Five francs he don’t turn his old man’s head up!” The ratepayers of the borough ot Palmerston North were asked on Med nesdny to decide whether or not they would agree to the proposal to expend .CIOU.UOU for the purpose ol installing elect rie lighting and power for the borough. Although the question of having a more modern system ot lighting had been kept steadily before the ratepayers for a long time past, they displuycd a great indifference to a matter of sikh vital importance to the

progress of the town. Evidence of the apatliv prevalent among the ratepayers is dearlv indicated by the proportionately small number of votes that were recorded, in all only CCS ratepayers exercised their franchise, hut nevertheless the proposal was carried by the substantial majority of 256.

The Prime Minister :;ave a hint in rtplvm"' to the Post and Telegraph deputation of impending increases in postal and railway rates. “lam satislied.” he said, “that we cannot go on without arranging for additional revenue from the revenue departments of the State- I have not said that before, because I though* it could be avoided. ’ ’ TUev nui.-t puv the- men according to the advance in the cost of living, and he was afraid that in the iutre they must arrange for more revenue front the Postal Department and the bail wav Department. It was not fair that these increases should come from Consolidated Fund to bo paid oy the general taxpayer, though, or course, the money came from the taxpayer m the long run in any case.