THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3028, 29 October 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1878.

When it became known that the 13th November had been proclaimed a holiday, Major Murray telegraphed to Colonel Header informing him that the 11th had been fixed upon for celebrating the Prince of Wales' Birthday here, and also calling attention to the fact that the 13th was the County Council elections day. In reply a telegram has been received stating that the County Elections were not overlooked, but the 13th was declared a bank holiday at the request of the Mayor of Auckland. Just so, but why not confine the holiday to Auckland P

The " Man at the Corner" reports that Dr Kilgour held a meeting of his friends in the Mayor's room this morning, and, including the Mayor, there were quite five persons present, including his Fidus Achates. The object of the meeting is supposed to have been to concert measures for the forthcoming Mayoral election campaign.

Me J. M. Eobsok, of Paeroa, is, wo understand, likely to be a candidate for the representation of the Ohinemuri Biding in the County Council.

Me Edison's very latest invention, nays an American paper, is so simple and of such immense utility, that it is strange that it has not been thought of before. It consists in making an ink which leaves a raised mark on paper, with which the blind can easily communicate with each other. It is in the form of a powder, which becomes fit for use on dissolution in water. When this flows from the pen it leaves elevated letters on paper, which can be readily traced by the sensitive fingers of the blind. It is singular that sanded letters have not suggested this even to the blind themselves. It certainly promises to prove a great blessing and joy to the hundreds of thousands to whom are denied the light 01 day.

An Englishman was boasting to a Yankee that they had a book in the British Museum which was once Owned by Cicero. "Oh, that ain't nothing'," retorted the Yankee; "in the museum in Boston they've got the lead-pencil that Noah used to check off the animals that went into" the ark." ;

"Cehtaub," in Fun, is responsible for the following:—" A London Magazine says that a light of British science was lately visited by a Kentuckian admirer, who said: " Sir, we admire your writings, and have shown it. We have do acudamistic distinctions to confer on you, having no university ; but we have done our best. We are a racing people, and have named our best stallion after you." .

Says a writer in Truth:—Apropos of Sabbatarian muddle headedness and want of logical consistency, I was travelling on the Underground Railway last Sunday evening, and at one of the stations there entered the carnage a bishop—apparently a colonial or a Pan-Anglican—and another gentleman. " No," said the Bishop, in an audible voice, resuming what appeared to be an interrupted conversation; •• No, we must oppose the Sunday opening of museums. It has an interest for us as well as you. Once let them get in the thin end of the wedge, and the sacrednesa of the Christian Sunday will be gone for ever.'' And the Bishop who said this was travelling in a railway carriage on a Sunday evening, and never thought of the 41 thin end of the wedge" argument in connection with that circumstance. '

Mabvels of marine locomotion, says the Home News, hare become as familiar in the Ions; Vacation as gigantic gooseberries and reappearances of the sea serpent. The Atlantic has just been navigated by diminutive craft like the Nautilus and the City of Ragusa. Not long ago the English Channel was crossed by a beau sabreur in a Thames canoe. Then came (Jaytain Boyton and his famous swimming apparatus. To him succeeded Captain Webb. The same channel has now been walked across. AMr Fowler —an American, it is needless to say—has constructed on the model of the twin ship Castalia apodoscaphe —a twin canoe which inflated, supports the propeller on hit legs, and which when not inflated packs up into the size of an ordinary carpet-bag. Upon this Mr Fowler has actually succeeded in walking, or more correctly in paddling, in a perpendicular position from Boulogne to Sandgate. He did the distance in something less that twelve hours, .was accompanied by a boat, and arrived not a little fatigued. '

Hot alum water is a recent suggestion as an insecticide. It will destroy red and black ants, cockroaches, spiders, chinch bugs, and all the crawling pests which infest our houses. Take two pounds of alum and dissolve it in two or three quarts of boiling water; let it stand on the fire till the alum disappears; then apply it with a brush, while nearly boiling hot, to every joint and crevice in your closet, bedstead, pantry shelves and the. like. Brush the crevices in the floor of the skirting or mop boards, if you suspect that they harbor vermin. If, in whitewashing a ceiling, plenty of alum is added to the lime, it will also serve to keep insects at a distance. Cockroaches will flee the paint which has been washed in cool alum water. Sugar barrels and boxes can be freed from ants by drawing a chalk mark just around the edge of the top of them. The mark must be unbroken, or they will creep over it; but a continuous chalk mark half an inch in width will set their depredations at naught. Powered alum or borax will keep the chinch bug at a respectable distance, and travellers should always carry a package in their handbags, to scatter over and under their pillows, in places where they have reason to suspect the presence of such bed-fellows.—-Ex.

A good thing (when about to buy a watch or any article of jewellery), is to hay c a large assortment to select from. To realise the above go to Wllkes, the old established Watch-Hanker and Jeweller, Shortland. Oustomeis wanted for watches, clocks, and jewel*' lery. Established, 1867.—|.Advt.];