ITEMS OF INTEREST.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43080, 11 April 1907, Page 1

ITEMS OF INTEREST.

In time of peace Russia spends 30 millions a year on her army. / in the case brought (by a Christ(church publican against the Woodville THemd for "removing 'to another hotel after engaging roofs at his establishment, plaintiff was non-suited. We understand / that an Auckland syndicate has purchased the New land Paint and Varnish works at the Thames, and has 'appointed Mir W. K Paterson ‘(one' of the syndicate) as manager.; f v ' King, Alfonso of Spain, when quite a little fellow, was guilty of eating with his fingers. His mother reproved him, saying: “Why, my dear, kings don’t eat that way!” “Well, this King does,” her smilingly replied 1 , and proceeded with his meal as he hiad begun it. “The religious play,” Miss Ada Ward!,the,converted,actress, says, “is a curse. '“The Sign of the Crossi” made ‘£l (501000 for Wilson Barrett, hut nothing for God, while it lured many (boys, egged, on (by the mistaken advice of clergymen too,, from Sunday School to the pursuit of worldly pleasures.” 1 . ~ ‘ George Abraham Cheotham, a youth, was Charged at the Penirth Court (New South Wales) on February 25 th with attempting suicide. This was the result of “penny dreadful” lite Tar ture. The 'accused was so impressed withi a certain passage where a man held <a revolver to his heart without flinching, that he purchased a revolver for. 5s 6d and did likewise to experience the sensation. He alleged it then accidentally went off. - Cheietham was discharged; ■Otoe of the features of the Salvation

Army progress has been not merely

an improvement in the musical- abilities- of its-bandsmen, but the grea) growths in their numbers. It is stated that 10 vears ago General Booth’s or ganiisaitdon had in, Great Britain 9700 ■bandsmen, and that now there air close upon 1 : 3(,500. It may be added that- these bandsmen do not receive pay, but, on the contrary, have v contribute towards the expenses o r the Airtny. Dr. iNild", interviewed at Melbourne regarding the physical degeneracy o Australians, attributed it do excessivi smoking. He says that during fiffa years’ experience, over, and over agair h© had 1 seen broken health in mer caused by excessive toibaooo smoking Taken as a whole tobacco was a mot; j at routs and grievious evil. Wfien the industrial census wa taken last year there were 3,191,60 poultry in New Zealand, almos equally divided between the North I? I land and the South Island. The figuirI for 1906 in respect of each class o' I poultry were as under: Fowls 2,784 1269, ducks 281,999, turkeys 77,101 Igeese 44,300, other poultry, includin' 152 ostriches, 3935. I “We read English better than w< I speak,” remarked a, Japanese officer i? I Wellington. “'English Very difficult '' IHe spoke very distinctly, but somehow Ifelt that he must honorably apologise Ifor any deficiencies. “You spec:iFrench, perhaps,” he added, address ling a reporter. “But you don’t speb Iso well as read.” The pressman hast ■ ■ened to assure the officer that his logic was right, anl then the Japanese looked much relieved. I Once there was a man who thought Ihe late Russell Sage ought to stop IvorkL He spoke to him about it ■Why get together-any more money Kr 'Sage? -Yon can’t eat it; you oan’ r Brink it. (What good will it do you ?’’ ■Ever play marbles?” Uncle Russell ■sked. '(Yes, wben I was a boy.” BCouldn’t eat ’em, couldiyou? Couldn’t Brink’em, could you? No use to-you Bert? they? What did you play marlies for?” ■ While thb Melbourne detectives, laded by. Sergeant-Detective Mac■anamny, were, raiding the Tasmania Pateels.Express Delivery Co., (deHils. .of .which appeared by cable) a Hrl Walked in boldly to the oountler, Bidently unaware of the- latest deve■pment., “I want a ticket,” she said : Hit just then a Voice from the door Hterjected, “Look out, missy. That’s Hacmanamny. You’ll do six months.” a moment the girl was gone. A: small shop .at Waihi, owned by H H. Parkinson, of Mt. Eden, was Hstroyed by'fire. The shop Was adHnimg Morgan’s store (late McGill’s) Hrry road. A portion of McGill’s furHiure was stored in the ship, which Bs also destroyed. Thei circumstatnces ■rounding, the fire somewhat ■usual. lit is repealed that efforts made to ring the Elast end fire ■l,.hut without avail, the bell and eyidentlv out of order., Gonißbie Woodley attempted to ring tlie ■ n town, fire bell, but-failed, though ■ was ultimately successful in his at tHipt, which was made when the |Hies had burst from the building. |H mine whistles ; gave a. general 'but owing to .lack of immeBo notice bv the Elast end 'bell the ■ 'was fiercely burning some fifteen |Hiutes t.t p brigade arrived, store building by this time |H exceedingly hot, the brigade arriv|H in time to prevent a mlore serious The origin is a mystery.

Mr Rockefeller has during hlis lifetime distributed £18,500,000' for educational or 1 charitable purposes. Dr. Mason is of. opinion that when the Various-Hospital Board® have fixed Up shelters for their sick, thlait : no consumptive case capable of being’ treated-will lack room. ' : Our Waihi ■correspondent writes: — “A meeting d£ Itihe Miners’ Union Was held for the purpose of revising; the demands to foe laid before the Arbitration Court 'on the occasion of its next sitting in Waiha. " There Were several important alterations agreed to in the rates of pay for various callings. It is understood that ■ Mr. Poland's'Bill> sefcuring- time and a half for_ holidays and (Sundays, will over-ride the appeal for double time allowance on Miners’ Union Day. Correspondence has been passing between the officials on the subject, and the outcome tends to that Conclusion. For the. future, however, the Union has decided to insist on the employment on that dav' of those only Concerned in pumping, or' the cyanide process.”