LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 96, 6 December 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

7he now prison liouse of rest lor habitual prisonors near Parkhmst Prison is the last word in comfort. Even the Prison Commissioners speak enthusiastically of the situation. The canteen, at which table dainties can be had and consumed in companionship, is to be entirely run on the lOXT system ; for all work done the inmates will receive gratuities; lectures will lie given, and a reading room is to be provided. All that is required now are a strong football team and a weekly race meeting. Helium, the element first discovered in the sun, and, after the lapse of a number of years in certain terrestrial minerals, has been the last of the gases to be reduced to a liquid state. The honor of first liquifying helium blongs to Professor Kamerlingh Onnes, who has recently been making further experiments with the liquid gas. Its density at temperatures approaching closely to absolute zero has been determined, and this appears to be a maxiuum at about 2.2 degrees C. One of the important lines of investigation opened out by the liquefaction of the more refractory gases is the determination of the effects of extremely low temperatures; and Professor' Onnes has made use of liquid helium in pursuit of this special line of research.

There is living in Peterborough in humble circumstances a groom named Smith, who has recently, upon cue death of his father, come into the possession of an hereditary pension granted in 17Go by King Charles 11 to a man who assisted his escape from Mngland after the battle of Worcester. The pension which was voted by what is now known as the “Pensions Parliament,” because of its readiness to recompense the King’s iriends, on the expression of his Majesty’s desire amounts to 80s a week, and having been paid for 28G years, has already cost £IB,IOB. As'the pension was granted in perpetuity, only the dying out of his progeny can prevent the sum from eventually running into millions of pounds. lUr. Smith’s father sold his life interest in the pension many years helore lie died, hut his son had uo dilliculty in proving his title upon Ids fathers death, the documents being in the keeping of a firm of London solicitors. Mr. Smith who was previously a groom in .North London has a little son to whom ho hopes to hand down the fruits of his ancestor's loyalty.

Notice of land open for selection is given for Mr W. Armstrong, Commissioner of Crown bands, New Plymouth. To M. and Mine Limboloy, of Saint 3crihe Imy (France), wore recently given triplets. This lucky couple have already had three pairs of twins! Fact. A strange coincidence lias occurred at Cowling, a village in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Jesse Hoyle, a cotton operative, died at the age of 90. His father died on the same date 22 years ago, also aged 90. The ladies of the W.C.T.U. have changed their plans, and have taken -wo rooms in the old Co-op. Store, one being reserved for mothers and tho other for free refreshment for all workers, irrespective of party. A very good catcli of trout is repented from Lake Tarawera, where in one day 51 lish were taken by three rods. All the fish wore in good condition, and the average weight was

about four pounds. Some were over eight pounds, and many over six pounds.

Mr McAllister lias specially prepared some t wo-1 1 und rccl-a ncl-tifty portraits of candidates and local celebrities (from His Worship the Mayor to this Celestial Highness Jimmy Lee) to bo displayed with the election results at the “Stratford Post” display from the County Hotel balcony tomorrow night.

The very heavy rain last night destroyed the set pieces which the Crystal Palace Fireworks Company had intended to show in Stratford. The company have been particularly unfortunate in the matter of rain and rough .veather on each advertised night of their performances, and in consequence have decided to move on, and leave to-morrow for Marten.

The Secretary of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce has received a letter from the Manaia Town Clerk, stating that the Board supports Saturday half-holiday, provided it is made universal. Tho Manaia'Tradesmen’s Association has notified the Town Board that they are in favour of a universal half-holiday for Taranaki, and consider Saturday would be most satisfactory if it could be arranged. Mr. R. E. Hornblow had a strange experience at Umutoi, his political address being repeatedly interrupted by the loud crowing of a rooster. Every now and then its confident rote was heard, seeming to say “I L;td you so,” until it began to bo regarded as [.art of tho applause due to Mr. Hornblow’s more brilliant passages. At the close of the meeting search was made for the feathered claqueur, and it was found peacefully perched on the axle of a settler’s trap, by which it had been conveyed over eight miles after going to roost.

It gives one a shock to find that so useful a word as “international ’ was invented so recently as 1780; but there seems (says a “Daily Chronicle” gossip) to he no doubt about it. Contrasting “internal” with “international” law, Jeremy Bentnam apologises thus: “The word international, it must ha acknowledged, is a new one, though, it is hoped, sufficiently analogous and intelligible. It is calculated to express in a more significant way tile branch of law which goes under the name of the law of ha--2* j f i ■ 1 ■ 1 ■ 1 . I!0ns - i- ■ , i, a..nu ; • For a ,large section of those ; typo. v, ; i pay a visit to the A. and P. (Society’s summer, show, and more particularly - for country people, the sideshows form l i quite an attraction in themselves, says Friday’s “Dunedin Times;” At Ta•huna Park yesterday this form of entertainment was more strongly in evidence than usual. Showmen pro-, claimed lustily the merits of circus performers, cowboys, wrestling champions, strong men, and last, but not least, the delights of a ride on the “joy wheel,” which, it was announced,. ~ for the benefit of people .who .per-r.. chance were of a retiring disposition, had been patronised by the. clergy, die elite, and the aristocracy of ev- . cry civilised country in the world. At one of the sideshows a weighty man with a much show of muscle, mounted himself on a platform and loudly challenged all and sundry -fo come forward and engage him in a stenuous bout of wrestling. He accompanied his challenge with promises of monetary disbursements, for those who were strong or wily enough to stand against him for a specified period. A man in the crowd was bold enough to engage him in argument as to the probabilities of a contest, and the showman, by way of a guarantee that ho meant what he said, deposited a “fiver”.with one of the audience. The argument was pursued apparently towards the point of finality, but when the parties turned to find the man who had been holding the purse, they discovered, much to their- consternation, that he had disappeared completely. and that tho “fiver” had gone with liim. The aid of the police was immediately invoked, and amidst argument and assertion, particulars given of the individual who was alleged to have absconded with tho showman’s money. ■