NOTABILIA!

Observer, Volume 4, Issue 85, 29 April 1882, Page 101

NOTABILIA!

There was a large display of ornamental glass and chinaware at the Society of Arts Exhibition, but the selection exhibited by Mr Edward Lewis was acknowledged to be the best, as undoubtedly it was. On Tuesday next, May 2nd, Messrs Tonks & Co. will sell by auction at their rooms, Queen-street, a ■number of pianos ; also on the same date and at the same place, a large quantity of new English f urniture and oil paintings. A person who at one time was defunct and in due course went down below warm and comfortable. Communicating with a spirit friend he informed him that the growth of hair down below was very abundant owing, doubtless, to the sulphurous surroundings. Persons who wish for abundant locks need not go below Eccle's Sulphur Hair Restorer will do the business. Mr A. W. Gardner, the chemist, of Queenstreet, has now a branch establishment at the North Shore, supplying a want long felt in that neighbourhood, and it is to be hoped that Mr Gardner's enterprise in starting an expensive establishment will be fully recognised by the inhabitants of Devonpprt. Mr Gardner can be seen at the Forth Shore before 11 a.m., and after 6 p.m. Mr F. Prime, who has lately opened an Ironmongery establishment in the Karangahape Road, has already made himself known on account of his reasonable charges. Unlike some places, he imports his goods direct from Home, which enables him to present the public with articles at a fair market price, while other houses who obtain goods through agents are compelled to charge higher prices. " Lost ! lost ! Gkme for ever," I heard an old man say, "and thank God for it." Now as it is not usual for a man to be thankful for having lost anything, I naturally felt curious and asked the old man why he was so grateful for a loss. "Grateful!" he exclaimed, " Grateful ! By the immortal flea that bit Moses on the nose when he was about to cross the Red Sea, I guess you'd feel grateful if you had lost your crutches that you had been using for years, and only through taking some of Professor Gusscott's herbal medicine." I looked at that old man, and decided if I felt like getting bad or thin to pay Professor Guscott a visit. Taking the census of the persons attending divine service seems to have excited considerable commotion amongst some of the community, and the persons who have been deputed to carry out the work have been subjected to some amount of chaff. For instance, the other evening at one of the churches a stout, jollylooking gentleman was observed walking up and down outside one of the doors, when some ladies, accompanied by a gentleman, came along. " Oh," said one of the fair sex, " I suppose he is taking the census." "Nonsense!" exclaimed the male wretch. "Don't you see how well his coat fits him ? He is advertising Munro and Milligan's well-fitting garments, made on the deferred payment system." Nice that for the party in question, who was really taking the census.

An amusing burglary episode occurred last week. A family, leaving their home in street for a few days, asked a neighbour to keep an eye upon it. After they had been absent for a few days, a young member of the neighbour's family recollected having seen one of the windows open during the day, and went round to shut it. While closing the window, he heard someone strike a match inside the house, and at once, imagining that the house was in the possession of burglars, ran off for assistance. The first person he went to had a family dependent on him for support, was afraid of getting wet, had a bad throat, etc., etc., and wouldn't go. After trying two or three more, he at last found someone willing to risk their life in ousting and capturing the burglar. After arming themselves to the teeth, they went to the house, and, unlocking and opening the door, knocked and stood on one side, ready to pounce on the robber as he attempted to escape. Presently they saw someone coming cautiously along, candle in hand. The watchers felt their arms and waited breathlessly. He came unsuspectingly into their midst ; and just as they were about to seize him, he was recognised as the rightful occupant of the premises! Mutual explanations followed, from which it seemed that the innocent cause of all the excitement having arrived that day, and not having the key, entered through a back window, which he had forgotten to close. He had been lying down ever since, and was only aroused by the noise of the window being shut, which he had in turn mistaken for an attempted burglary. After indulging in a hearty laugh, the strangely collected assembly separated. The long-talked-of six days' and nights' contest between Edwards, the Champion long-distance walker, and the horse Conquering Hero, for £100 a-side, commenced on the Agricultural Show Ground, G-eelong, on Monday, 10th instant. Two tracks had been prepared for Edwards, one in the pavillion, of 30 laps to the mile, and the other in the open of 16 laps. The horse's tracks in the grounds is some two laps four chains to the mile, but another, to be used in case of wet weather, is much smaller, being only some twenty -four laps. Exactly at fixe minutes past midnight on Sunday Edwards, who looked in capital form, went away with a vigorous, confident air, covering the first five niiles in 55 minutes. At ten minutes past tpelve Conquering Hero was sent off, and in 50 minutes accomplished 8 miles. Edwards kept going stead ily^ stopping for a little while for breakfast and a bath, and at five in the afternoon for a little spell. Just before the " lamps were lighted " he had covered 79 miles 17 laps. The horse, on the contrary, had had some seven and three-quarters hours' rest out of 17£ hours, and had only done 72 miles 14 chains. At eight o'clock the scores were — Edwards, 87 niiles 13 laps ; Conquering Hera, 82 miles. Twenty-four hours after the start the latter's scoring-board showed the same distance, while Edwards had put together 105 miles. They kept hard at it all Tuesday in the 'presence of a fair number of spectators, Edwards keeping a good lead. There is

the more credit in this inasmuch as the man is confined to walking, while the horse can go as it pleases. At twelve o'clock last night the board showed : — Edwards 190 miles ; Conquering Hero, 170 miles. Edwards' distance beats all previous performances, and is the fastest on colonial records for forty-eight hours' walking.