Equal To The Occasion.

An unusual situation was promptly and efficiently met by the Railway Department and St. John Ambulance at the Auckland railway station recently. An invalid was travelling south by the Limited, and it was found impossible for the bed to be taken into the sleeper in the ordinary way. Quickly the railway officials removed a car window to make it possible for the passenger to be taken on the train. With great care the St. John Ambulance representatives lifted the invalid through the open space right on to the bed. The care and ease with which the officials carried out their job excited the admiration of the spectators on the station platform.

“Don't you ever smoke cigarettes?” asked the tobacconist. “Precious seldom,” replied the customer. “Cigarettes have their points, but as the farmer said about the claret. ‘I don't seem to get no forrader’ with them. No, me for the pipe-and toasted Cut Plug No. 10 every time! If you know of anything better, tip us the wink!” “'Twixt you and me and the bedpost,” said the tobacconist, “I dont think there is anything better. Most of my ‘regulars’ smoke toasted, anyhow.” “About how many brands are there?” asked the customer. “Only five—Cut No. 10 (Bullshead), Cavendish, and Navy Cut No. 3 (Bulldog) are for the pipe. Then there's Riverhead Gold and Desert Gold. They make really top-hole cigarettes.” “By the way,” said the customer, “I hear these toasted brands are being imitated.” “That's right,” said the tobacconist. “What some folks will do for money! Not that I think there's much money in sham toasted! Nobody's going to buy it twice. Once is plenty!” “It's a wicked world!” laughed the customer, “so long!”^*