The Weather.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3404, 8 January 1890, Page 2

The Weather.

, Welukgton, Wednesday, It baa been raining heavily all nigbt a~.d this morning. Plain was very badly wanted for grass, and was all tbo more welcome, "as yesterday it wiß bright and sunny, and ■ tbo hottest day : this summer, andgayo no promise of a wet evening,

The Flax Industry- . Tholatesfcommunication from the Agent' General to .tho Colonial Secretary contains tho following information: —Since I last wrote to you on the subject of hemp, I bavo had a letter from Governor Sir Ambrose Shea respecting the sisal fibro now bein? produced in tho Bahamas with a hank of tho fibre and part of the leaf attacked, showing tbo great amount of fibre on a single leaf; and ho tells me that his most sanguine anticipations are being realised, The fibre seems to me not only cf'oxcellent quality, but oapable of being easily dressed; and I have asked Sir Ambrose to Bend me some leaves dressed and undressed, which I will forward you." "Enclosedare extracts of afui'tlierletter from Messrs Robinson, Fleming'and Co., forward-

ing three samples of cordage made from Now Zealand hemp in America, which lam sending to you. You will see how.the .trade.-is developing now, tho hemp being extensively used in the States for cordago purposes as distinct from binder twine. Merchants here, are anxious to get regular and authentic information of the actual shipments mado of the hemp from New Zealand to (a) England, (b) the United States, and (o) any other country, If you could have them put into tabulated form and sent to me by each mail, it would be of great value. A largo part of the increased importation during the present year to this country represents orders for transhipment to America where the consumption is dearly increasing niuch beyond what was expected by the trade a few months ago. It it supposed now that 15,000 tons will be:,exported from New Zealand this year, and the prospect of such a sudden augmentation of estimated svpples, as.tb which very imporfocu details are known here beforehand, makes it very essential that there should be some authentio and regular information available, to keep the market steady,

A Picturesque SceneA London correspondent of the Bradford Observer Budget was dining the other night at the officers' mess at the tower, and was privileged to, witness a sceno not included in the programme of an ordinary visit to that.pUce, It was! the dramatic and pioturesqho.business of tho sentry on guard challenging the chief warder who was carrying the keys of the Tower to the Governor. This happens every night as the. olock strikes eleven, and has happened every night at the saine hour baok to the day&of the Plantagcnets. The sceno takes. place before the gate of tho Bloody. .Tower, immediately facing the traitor's Gate, through which Sir Thomas More, marched on bis way hack-to tho. condemned cell, the reversed axe carried before him being the sign of his sentence. From a little portico on the .right-hand side of tho Bloody Tower tho sentry turns out and stands on guard. From the Traitor's. Gate there presently appear two or three men, one, dressed, in a soarl'et robe and carrying a lighted lantern, Tho sentry, bringing his rifle with a sharp click to his. shoulder, calls, out 11 Halt I who goes there ?" The man in the soarlot gown answers, .'"Tho keys," "Whose hoys I" says tho Btern sentry, . " Queen > Victoria's keys," says the mollified sentry, and the wardor moves on a pace. Then he 1 halts, aud, holding up his lantern, ,cries aloud " God.bless .Queen Yio-' toria I" The sentry, presents arms, the men 1 with the chief warder chant "Amen" three times, and the warder resumes his journey, carrying the keys to "the;; Governor of: the Tower. About this 1 .timo all the theatres in London are reaching or. have passed ,tlie, climax ol their dramatic pieces, But there is nothing in the world sb; finely dramatic as thin' ielio of old English history, played here nigiit;' after night, with only the .grim, \yalls ;6f the Tower looking on; 'Centuries ago thisyery gateway heard .the samechallenge, "Whose keys?" only the answer waSi " King Stephen's, keys," or. " Henry the Third's kV kß^B'*'.' ; o> ''Edwardlhe'Secohdykeys'i'Vdowh to Elizabeth, and through the dreary :me4l(Mrityo{th,eOeorgßß, :