LAWN TENNIS MATCH—A match was played on Saturday last between a set of the Higham Ferrers Wesleyans, and a set of Mrs. T. Patenall’s party, and resulted in a easy victory for the Wesleyans by five sets to one.

EXCELSIOR FOOTBALL CLUB—A meeting of the above club was held at the Coffee Tavern on Wednesday last, when the following officers were elected: H. Burgess, captain; A. Smith, vice-captain; F. Webb, treasurer; G. Allen, secretary, New Estate. The secretary will be glad to arrange matches with junior clubs, ages under 16 years.

EMPLOYEES PICNIC—The men in the employ of Mr. T. Sanders held their annual summer outing on Saturday last. They assembled in a field near the moors where a substantial cold collation was provided by a committee of the men. After the dinner the health of Mr. and Mrs. Sanders and family was duly honoured, and a capital programme of amusements was provided, including an assault-at-arms, in which the "young 'un" was too clever for "Ralph," and "Midget" proved himself, after a merry mill, too much for "Buck." The "Bermondsey Sprinter" was knocked out of time in the 120 yards, and the boys at the new warehouse proved themselves too good for the old 'uns at football. The "old man" beat all comers at quoits and played up to his old form. The lads from Irthlingborough were to the fore in music, but at knife and fork, pitcher and jug, the race was very even and given in to be a draw by the most competent judges. Harmony prevailed until dusk, when the party broke up, having passed one of the most pleasant of their summer holidays. So well had the commissariat been stored that another half-day on Monday was necessary to get through the perishables.

Interesting to Geologists—Some years ago we reported an interesting find of two elephant’s teeth in the Northampton sand of Mr G. Tailby’s drift gravel workings near Higham Ferrers. These teeth were shown at a number of geological exhibitions, and in consequence several well-known geologists visited and examined the beds from which they were taken. This week a similar find has been made near the same spot, and the teeth just discovered are probably the upper ones corresponding to the lower ones previously found.

Weights and Measures Act 1889—The Inspector of Weights and Measures under the above act attended the Town Hall on Wednesday and Thursday to stamp an adjust the weights &c., and his decisions caused some little consternation among the tradesmen, as whole sets of weights that were correct he refused to stamp as not being in accordance with the new law. As a sample, in one case, a new set of weights had recently been purchased, and so careful was the purchaser not to evade the law, that before he used them he sent them to be stamped. The Inspector to stamp them, drilled a hole in the side of the weights, thus making two adjusting plugs, as the original was underneath the weights. The act says there shall only be one such plug, and the Inspector disallowed them as not meeting the requirements of the Act, and the greatest dissatisfaction was expressed.

Higham Ferrers
NARROW ESCAPE—On Friday evening, between eight and nine o'clock, Mr. J. Ireson, carpenter, was at work in his shop, and, having occasion to leave the room for a few minutes, placed his lamp on a machine, not noticing some boards a few feet above the lamp. On his return he found the boards had ignited. He at once procured assistance, and Mr. D. Partridge was just in time in dashing a pail of water on the boards, just as they burst into flames. Thus was quenched what, in a very few minutes, would have been a serious conflagration. There was a considerable quantity of deal boards in the shop, in addition to other inflammable material. The premises are adjoined by thatched houses, and if these had caught the result might have been disastrous.

LITERARY INSTITUTE—At the weekly meeting on Monday, there was a good attendance. Rev. Jas. Dun presided, and a paper was read by Mr. O. Parker on the eight hours' question. The debate was taken up by Messrs. W. Spong, J. Lambert, W. Parker, junr., and others. An enjoyable evening was closed by the usual votes of thanks.