GENERAL NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2157, 13 August 1907, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS.

The “Liverpool Courier,” of May 29, states that the nmber of emigrants from Liverpool during April was 45,192, of whom 26,672 went to the United States, 17,473 to British North America and 156 to Australasia.

Among modern cant terms few are more ridiculous than that of “comrade,” indiscriminately used by the extreme Socialists of both sexes in addressing each other. As familarly used by soldiers in camp or barracks it has a perfect fitness; in its perverted sense it is grotesque. A “comrade” is one who shares one’s sleeping' apartment.

The Pope has received from the Roman Catholics of Brazil, ais a mark of gratitude for the appointment of a Brazilian as the first South American Cardinal, an album with precious stones. It is adorned with a medallion portrait of the Pope, surrounded by ninety diamonds of the purest 1 water, and bears the Papal monogram ill diamonds and emeralds.

“Tho Maoris wore far ahead of us in the way of carrying out tho regulations of acclimatisation,” said Mr. A. Hamilton, curator of the Colonial Musourn, spoaking of tho olden times in a lecture at Wellington recently. “There was no poaching out of season in those days. I 1 ol'est, fish, and fowl wore secured against tho vandal by tho law of tapu, which usually no ono was hold enough to break.”

M. Domarque, a French professor, who has made a series of successful experiments with trained seagulls at. Toulon, stntos, according to the ■ Ex-’ press,” that theso birds are far superior to homing pigeonß for taking messages across tho sea. Tho seagull is more intelligent, and will faco tho most terrific' hurricane, whereas homing pigeons do not rise in stormy weather.

“Time-limit” tens is a novel idea evolved by two ladies who arranged the service of afternoon tea at tho Mansion House on tho occasion of tho Queen’s foto, which was opened by her Majesty on 13th Juno. No guest was allowed to sit at tho table for longer than fifteen minutes. Any guest who did so was called upon to pay again. Tho charge for tea was 2s, and tho waitresses accepted gratuities. The proceeds were added to the Lord Mayor’s cripples’ fund.

English* clergy certainly appear to b? moving with the times. At a clerical “coon” concert given at Yarmouth two vicars and cloven-curates took part in the chorus. The vicar of Gorleston was an efficient stage manager, and his sister figured in a skirt dance. A long programme was entirely supplied by clerics, their wives, sons, and daughters. Another clergyman (and a. vicar in Dorsetshire) to assist in paying off a church debt decided to let his residence furnished at £3OO n. year.

There has been some correspondence in the Scottish newspapers regarding the delay about the proposed Carlyle memorial in Edinburgh, tho idea of which originated as far back as December, 1905. The appeal brought a response of only £199 from ninetytwo subscribers; while the suggested bronze replica of tlio Boehm statue at Chelsea would cost about £550. There was an alternative proposal for a medallion in St. Giles’ Cathedral, but over, for that the subscriptions are short by at least £IOO A meeting in the late autumn will probably be held with a. view to giving the necessary stimulus “to tho movement.

During his trip to tho Northern Territory, Mr. Samuel Mauger, Hon. Federal Minister, had the benefit of an interview at different places with the Customs officials. One of the subjects that aroused interest was tho contrabrand trade in opuim, and many stories reached bis ears of the methods of smugglers. He had a report sent ti him by the sub-collector of Customs at Port Darwin, in which it is stated that notwithstanding the efforts to prevent opuim coming into the country, it was being got ashore from the various steamers that touch that part of tho coast, at an amount that would amount to about three hundred pounds in a year. The most common way of getting it ashore is said to bo simply that of dropping overboard tins filled so that they easily float.. They are then picked up by arrangement by Chinese in their junks an(l sampans, or when they drift on the beaches.