MISCELLANEOUS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 211, 15 February 1872, Page 6

MISCELLANEOUS.

The " Lancet " has the following on morning hcadacher, : — "Some people, with the view of shutting out the noiss which makes "night hideous' in town, close every crevice and chink, forgetful that they exclude all fresh air at the same time ; and othei-s, from the small size and vicious construction of their bedrooms, can obtain nothing like sufficient ventilation. What fresh air they get has probably been used and warmed beloAy before it passes into the hall and up the stairs to be distributed to the various bedrooms. The consequence in any case is that sleep is either prevented altogether or perturbed by dreams, and the unfortunate occupant of the bedroom descends to his breakfast with a headache which he probably attributes to his 'biliousness.' The loweriug of the upper sash for an inch or two, or the provision of a ventilating pane.' with an opnn register to the grate, and ihe removal of all curtains from the bed, will often prove a more effectual remedy against what is called a bilious headache than any antibilious pill that was ever compjuuded."

A white-wash, as durable as paint, and well suited for out-buildings and rough work on a farm, may be made by dissolving at the rate of a pound of glue in three pints of water, and adding 2oz. of caustic soda ; then boil. After the mixture has cooled, stir in enough cxide of zinc to make the mixture of a proper consistency for painting. Two coats should be applied, and when dry a solution containing teh per cent, of chloride of zinc should be laid on, "which gives it a beautiful gloss and great durability. It is well suited for wood, metal or brick, Imt should be applied as soon as made, for it cannot be kept long in the proper state.

One- of the most curious things that strike ono in studying our social politics ia the manner in which the mass of tho • labouring peopte are de-

ceived in the matter of wages. If we take the sum which we have shown to be paid for drink and tobacco by the lower to the higher class it is considerably above £5 a-year for each person, young and old, male and female, in the ; entire population affected. If we take off £500,000, or, if you will, £ 1,000,000, for the really upper class, and leave £29,000.000 as the lower, the sum shows that £5 7s for each person is annually paid for worse than nothing, so far as social prosperity goes. That is £26 15s for every family of five souls, which is above ten shillings aweek from the winnings of every such family. If we look at those struggles that are now so common, in which workmen " strike " for higher wages, aud sometimes employers "lockout" t.eir workmen because of coenmuniea.tions for this and similar purposes, we cannot find any evidence of an idea that rises to a wage such as would cover the dreadful expenditure to which we are thus directing attention. A shilling a- week of advance is deemed worth many weeks of enarc loss of wages among workmen. Sixpence aday, that is. three shillings a-wcek, would be deemed something utterly extravagant if men were to stand out for such an advance. But here are ten shillings a-wcek, going at the rate of a shilling, and even two shillings, for a pennyworth of worse than useless stuff, without either strike or complaint on the part of those who pay it. — "Social Politics," oy Professor Kirk.