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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 1013, 17 December 1881, Page 2

Pocket-handkerchiefs should no longer be embroidered with the name or initials of their owners, for Parisian fashionables have adopted a flower and motto to ornament the corners of their dainty mouchoirs. Thus one beauty chooses a rose with the device “lam all heart”—another a poppy with the inscription “ Beauty dwells in the heart and not in the face”; about a sprig of mignonette is the modest remark, “My qualities surpass my charms ”; “ I cling or I die ” surmount an ivy leaf; “ Purity and nobility’’ is wrttten over a lily ; while some sentimental damsel inscribes above a primrose “ I am misunderstood.”

The Grand Jury room recently, says the New Zealand Timesof the 30th, was the arena in which the respective merits of the totalisator machines of Mr Siegfried Franks and Messrs Hobbs and Goodwin werecriticised and tested, the Jury being their Honors the four nisi prius judges of the colony. The machines differ materially in size, if not in the intricacy or the simplicity, as the case may be, of interiors. Handles were turned by their Honors, and bells were rung, and indicated numerals were explained by learned counsel, but apparently the result was scarcely so satis actoay as could be desired. Their Honors, closely scrutinised the machines, and indulged in little pleasantries at the-4 expense of the Gaming and Lottries Act. Mr Frank’s totalisater is a compact little machine, and occupies but little space, whereas Messers Hobbs and Goodwin’s machine is a most pretentious and elaborate specimen of the cabbitmaker’s and mechanician’s art.

Few people are aware of the extent to which women are employed in the service of the Government of the United States. In the Treasury department alone there are 1283 female clerks. One of these—she is in the office of the Commissioner of Internal Bevenue—receives a salary of 1800dols. per annum ; another, in the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, 1600dols. There are fourteen female clerks whose salaries are 1400dols. each, fifty-six draw 1200dols. each, forty-six lOOOdols. each, four hundred and thirty-five 900dols. each, two 720 each, thirty-eight 660d015. each one 600d015., three 480dols. each, seven 240d015. each, and eighty-five 180dols. each ; these last are the sweepers, cleaners, &c. There are 377 engaged on piece work ; the rest are employed by the day at sdols. to 75c. each. All the departments of the Government X employ women as clerks ; the Treasury, however, affords more opportunities than the others. During the time of the pressure of work on the Census Bureau, the superintendent had 1286 persons attached to his office, and of these no less than 577 were women. As far as regards clerical labor generally, such as correspondence, the tabulation of figures, and all matters requiring pains-taking and patience, woman clerks have proved themselves quite equal to those of the other sex ; it is only when engaged in steady routine operations which involve great mental and bodily fatigue that they exhibit less endurance than men, and this is not to be wondered at.