Poverty Bay Standard. Published Every Evening. GISBORNE: THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1888.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1294, 9 March 1883, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. Published Every Evening. GISBORNE: THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1888.

At the Argyll Hotel there may be seen a triplicate cucumber and a twin walnut. They ere certainly extraordinary examples of the deviations of nature from its usual course.

The pressure on our space in consequence of the crush of telegraphic news, and our necessary report of the murder case has compelled us to hold over several matters of interest. Through the courtesy of Mr A. D. Fraser, of the U.S 8. Company, we have had forwarded to us a brochure published by Messrs Thomas Cook and Sons who have made arrangements with the Orient line of steamers for a special tour to Europe. Every possible advantage to induce those residents in the Australian Colonies to travel is offered. There is simply nothing to do but to secure a ticket and make a start. You are received at the principal cities of the world by Messrs Thomas Cook and Sons’ salaried representstivesfand are supplied with all necessary information. The best berths are secured for your luggage and the forwarding of letters secured thus saving trouble. Interpreters, guides, couriers, conductors are also employed for the benefit of their patrons, and in fact this enterprising firm supply or at any rate offer facilities to the traveller hitherto unknown. The address of the firm is Ludgate Circus, London ; the agents for New Zealand being the Union Steamship Company. The Melbourne “ Leader ” is hitting around at the taste displayed by the Melbourne public for legs and thin dresses, as exhibited on the stage. Time to, as the economy displayed in dress by some actresses is very great, and approaches, occasionally to that of the figleaved days.

An admirer of Mr Michael Davitt re cently took a queer method of showing his admiration. He placed a handsome diamond ring on the finger of Mr Davitt's model in Tussauds exhibition in London. Sir W. J. Clarke, Bart., is the happy possessor of an income of about £lBO,OOO a year or, say £5OO a day; and his brother Joe is just as rich. Yet fifty years ago, their father, “ Big " Clarke, who made nearly all the money, was a butcher in Hobart town. At Murrurundl, in New South Wales, a lunatic named O’Brien created a panic in the Police Court. He was brought before the Bench charged with being a dangerous lunatic unfit to be at large, Suddenly, in a paroxysm of anger, the lunatic upset the books on the lawyers’ table, sent the statuties of New South Wales flying in all directions and making straight to the Bench, demanded to know from the alarmed magistrate what they were doing there, ■' Am I a murderer !" ho shouted in a frenzy of passion; " I’ll soon see all about this.’, He then seized a heavy Inkstand, and hurled it furiously at the head of one of the magistrates (Mr Evans) who ducked and avoided the blow. The inkstand and contents hit the chair in which the gentleman sat, making an indentation in it, and scattering the ink all round. Mr Evan's face Was besmered all over. The other Magistrate fled from the Bench. The police seized the unfortunate man and conveyed him struggling from the Court, which was a scene of uproar and confusion."

Who's right ? The following is a copy of the letter written by Professor Wiggins, to the Sydney Municipal Council i—‘ ’Ottawa, Canada, 23rd December,. 1882. To His Worship the Mayor of Sydney, New South Wales. Dear Sir,—l take the liberty to inform you that one of the most extensive and violent storms of the present century will pass over your continent and adjacent sea on the 10th March. It will be much greater than the one which you will experience on February Bth. No vessel, whatever her seaworthiness and tonnage, will be safe in the March tempest. Please infoim me by letter of its effects when it is past, giving the wind's velocity, direction, etc., and the increased height of the tides. Trusting you will make this public, I am yours truly (signed) E. Stone Wiggins, LL.D., Astronomer." Now Baptaln Edwin states that from observations lie has made lhe can find no 11 traces "of the storm predicted. We certainly do not think he could.

A Mr Bacon writes to the ' Western Star ’ that a strong solution of common washing soda is a perfect cure for burns and scalds. He says :—I have tried several experiments with soda ; one by dipping my bare arms in boiling water, and afterwards immersing them in a basin of washing soda in solution. The hot water had no more effect upon the arm than a blister would upon a wooden leg.” In the District Court at Timaru the other day, Mr Clemente, a Waimate lawyer, brought an action against Mr Raper, a blacksmith of the same town, for £75 damages. The alleged damages consisted in the fact that the defendant had erected a smithy close to the plaintiff’s office, whereby he created a nuisance by reason of the smoke smell, and noise. Judge Ward, gave plaintiff damages to the extent of 40 shillings. The case seems to have created much feeling in Waimate, for on Friday evening an effigy of the plaintiff was dragged through the principal street, followed by a large crowd, and strung up on a gibbet erected on the dividing fence between the parties. While in that position the Dead March was played by a party of brass instrumentalists, after which the effigy was cut down and torn to prices in the street. The latest freak of the " green-eyed monster ” is in Oakleigh, Victoria, where a man of 84 years of age is charged with the murder of another, whom he conceived to be to familiar with his wife, aged 60. The Melbourne Age declares that a more sensational innings than that of Bonnor in the late English-Australian match has never been seen. When he had made only 5 runs Steel missed him off Barlow, and again when he had made 17- At 24 the same field dropped the easiest of catches, off Morley. C. T. Studd missed him off Barlow at 30, and Bligh should have caught him off Morley at 31. Tylecote allowed him a life off Barnes at 52 ; Barlow missed him off Bates at 61 ; and when he had made 82 he sent Barlow into thelongfield, where Steel judged the catch well enough, but dropped it. Of Murdoch, the Argus says he has lost his form in batting entirely.