MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Waikato Argus, Volume X, Issue 888, 25 February 1901, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

The largest cabbage ever grown m the Carterton district was brought to that town on a wheelbarrow. The vegetable weighed Sslb and had a circumference; of 4ft.

Magna Cliarta was ratified four llnin by Henry 111. (the son and successor of Kin« John), twice by Edward 1., fifteen tin.es by Edward 111., seven times by Richard 11., six ■times by Henry IV., and ouce by Henry V. It a related that one Sir Rober Cotton was at bis tailor's one day, and discovered that the man was holding in his hand ready to cut up for measures an original Magna Charta, with all its appendages of teals and signatures. There was in the Cuttouian library ot the British Museum some years ago an original Magna Chata exhibiting marks of ill-use, which is supposed to have been the one in the hands of the tailor. • In reply to a question put by a representative of a leading Loudon daily paper, " a British officer of high rank said : —"The colonial is not going to be driven mad by a sprig of a subaltern trained in the traditions of the British Aririy. But, by George ! give him an ofllcer who understands human nature ; give him a man who hns travelled, and knocked agaiust ali sorts and condition? of men, nn« there isn't a better soldier on the face «.f the eaith. Heaven grant," he continued quietly, " that we have the colonials on our side when Armageddon comes. I tell you, they are the best fighting men under Heaven. Mai kmy words now—they have uo equal, no soldier who can compare with them. If you d—d scribblers would let the colonies know that the best sort of British officer thinks that you would be doing some good." Tne newspapers publish daily articles strongly condemning _ the brutality and license which have reigned for months in China. Serious reflections are cast upon Christianity, which the Japanese claim does not withhold the Eussiaus from committing crimes which

the pacran Japanese are ashamed even to witness. One paper at Tokio says: '• The Russians have become devils, and the voice of God is drowned by the thunder of artillery." In many shops are pictures showing Europeans murdering children, knocking down women, and assaulting old men, while the Japanese are represented bestowing gifts and benedictions upon the kneeling Chinese people. Horrihle details of the crimes of the Russians and French are published, and it is claimed that the Japanese troops behaved best, with the English and Americans next. The English were well disciplined, except some Indians, who were unaole to resist the temptation to loot. Of the few veterans who have

seen three centuries, perhaps the most notable is Jane. Lady drew, widow of the first Lord Carew, who, by the way, is a relation of Mr J. D Buys, formerly of Castle Hill Station. Canterbury (remarks the London correspondent of the Dunedin Star). Lady Carew was born in J 70S, so that she is in her 103rd year, and is the daughter of Major Anthony Cliffe, an officer who served with considerable distinction under Wellington in the Peninsula. She was at the famous ball at Brussels on the eve of Quatre Bras, and had as a companion, considerably youDger than herself, Lady Sophia Cecil. These are now the only two ladies living who were present on that memorable occasion. In ihe following year—1816—Miss Cliffe married Mr ltobert Shapland Carew, who was subrequently raised to the peerage, first of Ireland, and then (in 1838) of the United Kingdom. The present Lord Carew is her grandson. Lady Carew, who is quite one of the courtly Udies of the old school, retains her faculties wonderfully, and not long ago, when her nurse was laid up, offered to reverse their usual positions, and to read to the latter.

A private letter recently received in Melbourne from Cavite throws a fewsidelights on the situation. So serious is the state of affairs 'here that the American Government, like the English authorities in South Africa, will not allow war correspondents to write truth. Says the writer :—" The condition of affairs here is curious. file Yankee forces are sick to death of the continual fever and sniping, but the commissariat authorities being in good odour with the wire-pullets in Washington, stir all hell with a pole to keep the affair on. Need- . Jess to say they are rapidly piling up their dollar heaps, and if it lasts another six months it will be independence and a seat in Congress for most of ev<:ry Hiram M'lsa-'os orrougst them. Even the lowest in rank of them has a No. 10 fist in the pie. so you may be sure they will shove along on the war ticket. The Yanks have Most 15,<!<K> men to date, and about 30 per cent, of the remainder are unfit for duty. Fever simply rages wherever the earth is turned up for trenches—or graves. A steamer left the other day with '250 corpses_ on board, smbalmed, of course. Curious industry it is, this embalming. The American Government allows relatives to cable out free of charge if they wint -the body brought home. Then it is em'balmed—Government pays—and consequently there is quite a little colony of embalmers in rattling business, while every boat takes away a load of preserved Yankees."

The Shipping World has (say.s a Loudon correspondent) unearthed a curiosity in the shipping law. A master mariner, who was born in Sweden, has bought a ship in this country. We consider him a Swede, and the ship ceases to be British. But a score of years ago he left Sweden and settled for a time in New Zealand, though he waß not naturalised there. He finds now that Sweden declioes to recognise him as a subjest. He holds a master's certificate in the merchant service ; but Swedish born, and long living in Norway, the Norwegians also " decline to recognise him as a subject." He is unable to send his ship to sea. as the nation cannot or will not grant him a certificate of ownership or registry, without which the vessel runs the risk of seizure. The question is, " What nationality is the master, and to what nation does the vessel belong ?" Even if the mariner had been naturalised in New Zealand it is an open question whether he would be recognised by the English authorities as an Englishman. At any rate, when a German who took out his naturalisation papers in South Australia came Home some years ago, and desired to reside for a time on the Continent, raised the question, he was told at the Foreigu Olliee that thougq the authorities would treat him as an Englishman whilst he was abroad, they did not recognise him as such whilst he remained in England. As he remarked to me : " It seems I vos something of what you call an anomaly. .1 am English in South Australia and in Germany, but ven I come to London I finds myself into a German once more turned " A great deal of interest has been excited at Home and on the Continent througn luvestigations.reeeiitly made by the London Society of Antiquities into the matter of the discovery of Printing. As a lesult of their researches the Society have discovered that the Chinese \\eie not, as is generally believed, the inventors of the graphic art— in fact the first printer being none other than Adam when he imprinted the first kiss upon the air chunk of Eve. and, we are given to

nnderttund. rondo a K°<» l impression. I.hi'tin tin- kinil of printing which is done at tin; Waikaio Anccs Office, pood priming. Our plaDt is the most np-to-daru in the district, ami most suitable for artistic work- Uivc ua a trial and you will be an well pleuaed uii live was. Colonisl AdveitisiD" Aiiency, 'lOl Hereford - ttreet, Chn-I'.huroh, _ for everything connected with AdvprtisiDg throughout the Colony. Christchurch Advertising Agonts for tlii.s paper.