Page 3 Advertisements Column 2

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 30, 18 January 1912, Page 3

A letter that has , had a long journey was cast ashore in a bottle at Port Waikato, Auckland, on Boxing Day, Claude Deed being the finder. Tire letter’ was addressed to Lieutenant Hubert Groynne Smith, sth Imperial Yeomanry, Lord Methuen’s column, South African Field Force, South Africa. According to the enclosure the letter was thrown overboard in the Ihdian Ocean, from the White Star liner Moravian, by R. W. Read, of the “Daily Mail” office, London, on December 30th, 1901. The bottle containing the missive must therefore have been tossed about at the mercy of the waves for over ten years. The writing, although somewhat faded, was quite clear and readable. “Just a line to wish you a Happy New Year,” proceeds the missive. “This letter goes by ocean post. It will be thrown overboard to-day. We are making a wide circle, and are about ten days outside Australia.” A further enclosure in the envelope directed the finder, after placing his name, the place where 'found, and date on the envelope, to forward it on to the person it was addressed to. It will be interesting to know whether the lieutenant will finally receive the letter thus posted in such a novel way. One of the signs or popular ecucation is the rapidly diminishing number of persons who sign the marriage register with a mark instead of in writing (says the Melbourne “Age”). Since 1875 the Victorian records show a marked improvement in this respect. In that year, of the persons who were married, 7.46 per cent could not sign their names. By the year 1890 the percentage had fallen to 1.52 per cent, and since theri there has been a gradual reduction, until the latest records show the percentage to be .29. The percentage of persons in England and Wales who sign their marriage register with a mark is 1.22. In Scotland it is 1.31, and in Ireland 5.75. The progress of elementary education is shown in a marked manner by the marriage records. During the five-year, period from 1851-45 about 49 women in every 100 who married in England and Wales could not write, out in 1909, the proportion of illiterates was only a little more than lin every 100 marriages. In the case of men the proportion was 33 in every 100 in the early period, and slightly over 1 in 100 in the latter. In Victoria the improvement is also very striking. During the period 1853-55 about 27 women and 12 men in every 100 signed with marks, as compared with about 1 in 300 in 1910.

FOUR GREAT PIANOS. fhe Broadwood! The Ronisch I The Lippi The Steiuwayl The Dresden Piano Company has just received a big shipment of those famous pianos, all now instruments, in brilliant condition and tone. Time payments if desired. The Dresden system of deferred payment is so reasonable that dints scarcely nii?s the instalments. Moreover, those who buy in this way are only charged legitimate catalogue prices. This linn carries the hugest stock of Pianos in New Zealand, and has instruments from the lowest to the highest price, so that all can ho readily suited. Intending purchasers can be assured that they will receive courteous consideration and every possible attention. The Dresden Piano Co., ' Ltd., Wellington. North Island Manager: M. J. Brookes. Full particulars from the local representative. G. Mills (late W. C. Cargill). BEE OINTMENT IS THE SAFEST AND SPEEDIEST C (If. Gverywhtr*—High teen pc nc i. I & jpHAT SUMMER COLD. It s Dangerous. Take LANE’S EMULSION. 2,6 and 4/6. ' 88 Don’t Waote Tlmo Over Cuts and Brula 09 i