Misers.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2899, 15 May 1888, Page 2

Misers.

An eccentric old maiden lady named Vincer, lias just died at Meisham, England. She was thought to be indigent, but since her death it has transpired that she was possessed of considerable means. The love of hoarding inouey was 60 intense that she was never known to change gold coin when once alio obtained it, and she had coacealed seventy sovereigns in match boxes among a heap of rubbish. In addition, a bank book and securities were found. She lived alone, partly supporting herself with her needle, and ' would exist for a »veek on a half-quar-tern loaf, a quarter of a pound of treacle, and the same quantity of butter. Another case is of an a?ed man who was i'ouhd dea'd in bed. He was possessed of and lived in a garret at SaifM He used to say that 3s 6d per week was enough for any person to live upon. /■A, Postage Anomalies.

Some of the anomalies in the matter of postage mentioned by- Mr Henniker Heaton are ; curious enough, To give a few instances:—To send a letter from England to Japan costs sd, from Japan to England 2fd; to the Cape of Good Hope and Natal the British tariff is (Id, while the rate from Frauce and Germany is 2£d; the postage from England.to Australia ia Gd, to New Caledonia from four to. seven days' sail beyond Australia, it is 4d, With regard to Australia, France and Germany, both change Gd, as England does, for letters sent via Bnndisi; but letters can be sent between Australia and Germany wholly by sea at a minimum rate of 2|d. In fact (says the Press correspondent) several pages might be filled with curious facts concerning these eccentricitiogflf postal charges, but looking at Are matter broadly, there is considerable method in the whole process, considering that the English Government cle*tjiree millions a year on, the opersSwns of the Post Office, which sum is now. gravely confiscated for general putposes of wlmwistratiou,