Page 4 Advertisements Column 1

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3760, 15 January 1881, Page 4

The heat and drought are complained of throughout . New South Wales and Queensland. In Sydney the water supply is found insufficient, although three anda half million gallons are daily available, and economy ia insisted on. The Government are meanwhile taking steps to provide an additional supply. A telegram from Gunnedab, New South Wales, says:"—" The weather continues intensely warm, and the effect of this long spell ef heat is becoming painfully apparent. The Nanoi is very low, and may at any moment cease running altogether. Sickness is prevalent. The thermometer registered 110 in the shade today. Hot dust storms'are common." A Brisbane, telegram says :—" Yesterday was the hottest day experienced duriug the last 21 years. The thermometer stood at lOSdegs. in the sun, with a scorching westerly wind."

Near Damfries lived a pious family who bad adopted an orphan who was regarded as half witted. He bad imbibed strict vi«ws on religious matters, however, 1 and once asked his adopted mother if she did not think it wrong for the, people 'to come to church and fall asleep, paying no better regard to the service. She replied she did. Accordingly, before going to church next Sunday, he filled his pockets with apples. One baldheaded old man who invariably went to sleep during the sermon, particularly attracted his attention. Seeing him at at last nodding and giving nasal evidence of being in the ".land of dreams," he struck the astounded sleeper a blow with an apple on the top of his bald pate. The minister and aroused congregation at once turned round and indignantly gazed at the boy, and merely said to the preacher, at he took another apple in his hand, with a sober, honest expression of countenance, "You preacb; I'll keep 'em awak«."