RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS. [BY TELEGRAPH, PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Saturday.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1257, 20 July 1880, Page 3

RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS. [BY TELEGRAPH , PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Saturday.

Subjoined are the Railway traffic returns for the four weeks ending the 20th May last: —

Totals ... £^,453 8 ° 3M 8 9 »* 2 sVoi Crand totals £67,840 10 o 42,741 2 6 58-98

There is at present confined in the Maine State Prison, at Thomastown, a young French Canadian, who is there incarcerated for the murder of a woman. During his leisure time, with nothing less that a pocket and shoe knife, a file and whetstone, this prisoner has manufactured a clock which keeps accurate time, and which is a great mechanical curiosity. It has a rooster on top," who flaps his wings on the hour being reached. There are also figures showing the day of the week and month. Underneath is a glass case 3ft. high, and 2ft. wide, containing 242 figures of men, birds, animals, &c. These objects go through various performances, as small springs are touched, and a musicbox plays tunes at the same time. A mouse is made to run from its hidingplace, and is quickly caught by a cat. A beggar approaches a man for money, is impudent, and after a tussle, is knocked down. A snake glides stealthily over the floor, and at the door a sentinel stands with a small tin cup in his hand, who takes off his hat and bows pclitely when a coin is dropped into his cup. Among the objects are full companies of cavalry and infantry, which come out and go through the various manuals of arms very finely. The clock is exhibited by the prisoner while in his cell, and many are the odd dimes he receives from visitors.

Clergyman (to pupil: "How many things are necessary in the rite of baptism?" Boy : •"Three." Clergyman: "No, stupid, only two — the prayer-book and the water." Boy.* "Then how about ths baby ?" Parson Collapses.

Without decision of character no man ov woman is worth a straw, or ever can be. Without it a man becomes a goodnatured nobody. The poverty-stricken possessor of but one solitary principle — that of obliging everybody under the sun, merely for the asking.

Borax. — Borax has yielded good results in an investigation into its merits as antesiptic. A solution destroys the vapours of paresetic plants, as the minute fungis on grapes, &c, and also has a remarkable power of arresting the lower forms of animal life. A satui'ated solution of boracic acid with a small quantity of borax, salt, and saltpetre, makes a 'brine' in which fresh meat is treated with so much success, that it can be preserved untainted even in the hottest parts of the earth.

A New Way to Secure Old Debts. — The late Baron Rothschild, dining once at his club in Paris, heard some one say, "Horrible Lore! Lent X 10,000 franos —have not even got an acknowledgment, and he's gone to Constantinople." " Write to him,'' said the Baron. "I have done so, and it does not answer — he does not answer me." (l Then tnon cher, write to him thus : — ' Dear M. X., when the Turks and. Turkesaes leave you a little leisure time' eend me the 20,000 francs I lent you. "But he only owes me 10,000, " • ' Precisely, he will probably write and say so, and theu there's your acknowledgment. ' '

The English Way. — Perhaps few stories of battle so thoroughly illustrate what we are pleased to consider the true English spiiit and way of doing things as the little inoi J ent at a reconassiance before the battle of TJlindi, of which Lord William Beresford was the hero. The English were almost led into a terrible trap, a,nd discovered the danger only just in time. They turned to retreat, and the Zulus poured in a Volley which brought down the gallant grey horse of a mounted in-fantry-man ; his rider fell head- foremost. The correspondent of the Standard was where there was most to be seen. '• I thought both man and horse were killed at first, "he says, "but the former soon struggled to his feet, with his fact?f act? covered with blood, and dazed with his fall. Lord William Beresford seeing what had happened, pulled up, and, in the face of advancing hosts and yelling savages within easy range, quietly trotted back, and told the man to mount behind him. With a cool courage scarcely second to Lord William's the man refused, noble fellow that he was, preferring the certain sacrifice of his own life to the probability of destroying kis preserver. The reply was admirably terse and telling. The savages swarmed close, and bullets rattled round them ; the two who lingered were almost within reach of the assegais, and Lord William returned. ' Get up or I'll punch your head !' The man obeyed, and preserver and preserved escaped." The new Pure Cash System now being initiated by G. and C. will certainly prove a benefit to the public. It has been a great success in Sjdney and Melbourne, and when strictly carried out the customer who buys at an establishment where the poods arc marked low to ensure a rapid sale must be a great gainer. G. and C. sell their drapery, millinary, and clothing at such prices for cash as gives the bujcr the advantages of a shareholder in a co-opcrati\e society, without the risk of being called upon to bear a portion of the loss should the year's business pro\c unsatisfactory. Garlick and Cranwell will aim to retain the confidence which the public ha\e hitherto shown them, and are detirmined to give the pure cash system a fair trial ; whether they gain or lose the first year. Country bu\ers on remitting cash with order will be supplied with goods at to-opcratne prices; just the same as though they made a per>on.il selection. Furnishing goods such as carpets, floor cloths, bedsteads, bedding, and general house furniture, the largest portion ot which is turned out at our own factory, will be marked at the lowest remunerate c prkes and a discount of five per cent, will be allowed to those who pay at the time of purchase. G. &C. ha\ing realised the entire value of their stock during their late cash sale, the present stock is nhw and chi-.U'LY hourht. An inspection is invited. — Garlick avd CranwiiU., City Hall Furnishing Arcade, Queenstreet, Auckland.

Section. Receipts ECaipani . £373 18 o \ut-kland . 1,620 15 1 S T .ipier . i,T59 9 1 Wellington... 2,272 11 10 iV.-injr.inui . 2,524 8 3 Sfcw I'lj - mouth . 5^6 7 9 Lvpcniliturc 3.291 '8 1.575 13 2,142 4 2,i5 6 7 614 x 9x 9 V.rercipt! to date t 102 o( 0 6q'4< 1 8.^.4: 7 486 « 75 3< 5 81-7.

north: island.

J',\pen- 7. receipts Section Receipts diture to date \. m 1) c r 1 y Kingston ..£53,770 12 9 £30,000 12 o 54^0 jrejmouth . 603 12 4 3^7 2 10 4691 A'estport ... 132 10 it 206 it 5 14291 kelson ... 261 19 5 523 17 11 66-96 Picton ... 324 5 II 411 7 o 115*13

Totals . . £12,287 2 o 10,251 11 4 77 3$ MIDDLK ISLVND.