GENERAL NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8057, 1 March 1906, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS.

In southern California there ii a basin of lwd Mmn 200 tnd SOOfeet below Mi-level About 1,000 acree of the depressed area are ooveMi with* deposit iMI, which is one of the uUs of California. The tall is first thrown into ridges by a peculiarly shaped plough, drawn by as engine with cables, and il then piled into conical heaps before being carried to the drying-house and crushing-mill The expanse looks like a field of snow. About 2,000 toni of Hit we removed each year. Th* caretaker of some residential flats at Balaam found a profitable'use for his cat by letting it out on hire to those tenants whose rooms were infested with mice. The charge for pussy's services waa two shillings a week, *nd as there were twenty-four occupants of the block under the * caretaker's charge, and apparently plenty of mice, the cat was kept constantly employed. This novel idea opens np a new vocation for oats, especially for oarettkers' cats, if they happen to be good mousers. • •" • In «om* parts of the Tyrol a beautiful though curious oustom prevails. When a gitl is going to be married, and just' before . she leaves (or the church, her mother gives her a hindkerohief which is called a tear kerchief. It is made of newly-spun and unused lines, and with it theglrl dries the natural : teart she sheds on leaving home. The •leaikerchief is flever used alter the marriage ' iaj, but is folded np ud placed in the linen oloaeVwhere it remains till its owner's death when it is taken from lie place and spread over Jhei^eadface. i A vary clever method of remitting money from far o# Alaska has been discovered by a gold digger, Be Apt the following letter to > a Leatfon firm recently: L . " Gentlemen,—Enclosed you will find an envelope, which you will tear up in small pieces and place in (glass of water. Let :stand for an hour, then stir and drain off slowlii add more water, and<diain, and you willed 30 grains of gold, forWeh you will send me a etjlogrtphio pen wrapped up in late newspaper." The gold thus obtained realised-5|., and the stylo was duly forwarded. A sewing machine, more necessary every day. The beautiful al needlewofk which is fashionable n ow " adays Would be prohibited ill price to most people, yet with the Singer 'Sewing Machine, the most arlistif designs are simply atld easily worked, at a very small cost. Mr F: McCarthy and Mr Waugbt are conducting a "special art needlework eihibition at -tlie Singer Depot here, cordially iuvitiug Singer users and others to free tuition iii tlieir graceful and elegant art.—Advt.

Fur reliable boots and shoes ot all sorts, at bedrock prices .go toDockrill's, Devon Street Central, who lias earned the reputation for.thc last 25 years of selling the aboTc class of boots at the lowest prices. Postal orders always receive extra attention, as I'guarqntco «o giro every satisfaction in fit and trie.—Aprr. * Thefre 'is a " house of Ball " in Bamont street, qu&e of the Continent il plan. At the Arcadia Cigar Store, aiman can enjoys his cigarette or pipe n a cosy sitting-room, write a letter or two,' play liis game of chess or draughts, and I hen continue his business. Here, the 'morning paper, the "Daily; News," and' the' "Wellington " Times " can be purchased with the early morning smoke, E. Van" Dcldea, the proprietor, has a smoke ti) uit anybody. Call in.—Advt. As shewing the .attractiveness of shares in the Equitable Building Society of New Plymouth, successful drawers of appropriations at the last ballot in both the first and second groups have been able to dispose of same at a profit of £SO, the owners still retaining original shares, which are eligible for future ballots. The secretary'of the Society Ims fl f tMV shares for disposal, and intending purchasers wishing to secure same should make early application at the Secretary's office, Currie street.—Advt.