LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 1477, 27 April 1911, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The freezing works at Timaru arc very btiDy, and it is as much as they can do to deal with the large number of animals that aro arriving to be slaughtered. The season is likely to exceed even that of last year, whicli was a record one for that district.

An Otaki fruitgrower has gone iv somewhat extensively for cucumbergrowing this -season. Tho cucumbers aro used by a New Zealand pickling firm, and aro ibought in large quantifies. During the season: lie has sold from 10 to 12 tons of cucumbers.

If there is anything in tho theory of the Maoris that Nature provides for the winged tribe in anticipation of times of stress, this coming winter will ho an unusually severe ono. All through the bush, and particularly tho heavy bush along the banks of the Mokau River, tho trees aro laden with all manner of berries.

In a man-eating shark recently captured in the straits of Juan de Fura, British Columbia, some fishermen found tho ronia.ins of a man and a camera. It is presumed that the photographer and the shark tried to snap each other, and tFiat the shark, whicli was 36ft long and weighed 15 tons, won. '•'Within twelve months of the installation of electric plant at Lake Coleridge," said Mr T. E. Taylor at an election address at Christchurch, "I do not think there will he a smokystack offending the qity." Mr Taylor added that Christchurch was destined to bo the garden city of New Zealand, and no other placo could hope to compete with it.

People who are fond of Auckland oysters can havo their taste gratified from May 1 onwards for a couple "t months or so. Tho beds of rock oysters about .Rangitoto, AVaihoke. Ponui, and Cabbage Bay aro then to be opened, under the supervision of the local inspector of fisheries, and it is estimated that between 4000 and 5000 sacks will be obtained during the season. Probably about 20 pickers will be employed.

The South Canterbury Education Board has appointed a sub-committeo to draw up a memorandum on the unequal treatment of High Schools and District High Schools, which receive a Government subsidy of £1 for £1 on voluntary subscription, and primary schools, whicli got nothing. The case of .the Timaru Main School was mentioned, which raised £500 ono year for teachers' Saturday classes.

Dr. George Lansolot Deschler a native of Inyorcargill, who at one time practised in Nolson as a dentist, is now Demonstrator in tho Dental Graduate School of tho University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States of America. Dr. Deschler graduated from tho latter institution in 1909 with the D.D.S. after a course of three years and is tlie first New Zealander to hold a position on the Faculty of the University of Pennsylvania.

"If there is one thing more than another that this census will emphasise, it will be tlie decline in the birth-rate." This is a remark made by a census official to a Wairarapa Daily Times reporter. He had studied his returns intelligently, and he declared that, if the figures were analysed properly, and the size of the family compared in every case with the position (or estimated earnings) of the head of the family _, the result would startle New Zealand.

Miss Ola Humphreys, the American actress who toured New Zealand recently, by her marriage, which occurred on Easter Saturday, gains the title of Her Royal Highness, her husband being one of the reigning house of Egypt. He is very wealthy, and he is a keen and well-respected husineses man, being connected with the largest cotton business in the world, and he speaks six languages. He is 32 years old, and fair, with. a red moustache. Their Royal Highnesses are going on the Continent for their wedding tour.

The Southland Times states that Mr W. Johnston, at a meeting of the Southland Acclimatisation Society on Thursday evening, stated that the mooso liberated at the Sounds had recently been seen. His informant had told him that tho animals were in such a poor condition that he could have hung his hat upon them anywhere. They were quite qiudot. Very little food was available, and there was overy indication that they could not have been liberated in a more unsuitable spot.

Wellington electors yesterday declared for the continuation of the Wednesday half-holiday. A big campaign was made on behalf of Saturday.

The Irish Home Rule delegation, Messrs Redmond and Haselden, now on their way from Australia to the Dominion, will, during their stay in Palmerston, be the guests of Mr R. McNab.

Although some £300,000 have been spent on straightening the railway line between Wellington and the Hutt, the new time-table shows that it now takes three minutes longer to get out to Trontham than it did hetore the line was straightened.

In pursuance of a policy recently inaugurated, some five or six contracts for railway formation havo been let to private contractors in connection with the construction of the Westport-In-angahua railway. The last contract, for a length of a niik> and three-quar-ters, has been let to Messrs Corby and Foster, of Wostport, at £3806.

The Acting Minister of Finance (Hon. J. A. Millar) does not intend to announce the revenue returns for the year ended March 31 last, now in his possession until he has received particulars of the expenditure. He will leave Wellington next Monday for Dunedin, where, during the course of the week, ho will address his constituonta and mako the figures public.

The Commissioner of Police (Mr F. Waldegrave) announces the promotion of the under-mentioned detectives to the new rank of sergeant: Detectives Campbell (Greymouth), McMahon and Mcllveuey (Auckland), Boddam (New Plymouth), Coonoy (Thames), and Siddells (Wanganui). The promotion takes place from next Monday.

The Labour Department has received over 3000 applications from all over the Dominion for workers' homes under the Act passed last sessiou. The Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister of Labour, says 20 or 30 letters daily are still coming in. For the purposes of economy, these houses must he built in groups of at least six. Applications from Wellington alone total 1200. The vote provided for the current year is £15,000, but Mr Millar says it looks as if £100,000 will be nearer the mark in future, and that that amount will be required annually for five or six years.

In the Wellington military district so far 1037 persons between the age of fourteen and twenty-one years have registered in accordance with the requirements of tho Defence Act. The period of registration is rapidly drawing to a close, and as it is ostimated that there aro about 4000 people within the age limit who have failed to register 'tip to the present time, it is necessary to point out that disregard of the Defence proclamation involves certain pains and penalties. It is hoped that registration will be accelerated during the next two Avceks.

At tho Adelaide Police Court recently two men were charged with being on licensed premises on a Sunday. In his evidence the police inspector stated that when ho knocked on the bathroom door a female voice replied, "You cannot come in; I am just going to have a shower." The officer said, "I'll wait." The landlord, seeing that there was no hope of escape, shouted through tho keyhole, "The gamo's up, Muriel; open tlie door." A moment later the daughter of the house emerged, fully dressed, with seven, men in her wake. The two defendants were fined.

The fabulous prices paid for leasehold township sections at Te Kuiti havo had no check on speculators, and more sections have recently changed hands. Tho majority of residents consider that speculation has run mad, and think that the speculators' profits, while personally benefiting themselves, will be a distinct loss to the community. Many consider -that if the land in the town is going to be rushed up until it gets beyond the means of moderate general settlement will be retarded and building crippled. Capable working men wishing to have homes of their own at reasonable rates are seeking more favourable fields.

In fining a bookmaker named McKonzio £50 at Christchurch., MiBishop, S.M., said: "I am going to put a stop to this as far as lies in my power, it is possible that I cannot stop bookmaking, but I am going to try." The magistrate added that he had nothing to do with the moral aspect of the matter. "As long as the .Legislature continues to legalise the totalisator aaid legislate againstbookmakers so long will I uphold the law," ho said. '"The only difference that will bo made will bo when there is an alteration in the point of the view taken of the whole matter by the Legislature." It is understood (telegraphs v Christchurch correspondent) that the defendant is unab.o to pay the fines inflicted, aggregating £50, and that he will spend some months in gaol as tho alternative.

Mr A. I>. Thomson, S.M., gave judgment in the case Herlihy (Mr Richmond) v. Thompson (Mi* Haggitt), an application under the Fencing Act, 19U8, section 22. It was alleged that the lands of the respective parties, on opposite sides of the Oroua river, were adjoining, and that Thompson should thereto re pay had' cost of a fence which Herlihy proposed to erect along the old river bed. In his judgment, the Magistrate said the real question was whether the defendant's title extended to the middle of the rivei and so adjoined tho plaintiff';; land. The plan of defendant's land showed the boundary went only to the -bank of the river, and in the Magistrate's opinion the terms of the grant from the Government clearly rebutted tlie presumption that any portion of the bed of the river was included. The defendant, therefore, was not an occupier of land adjoining that of plaintiff. Tho application was refused, with 21s against plaintiff.

"Every session thero is a lot of fool legislation brought down, and if it suits them they carry it out. If it doesn't they leave it alone"—the speaker was a member of the New Zealand Shopkeepers' Association, and the reference was made to the Labour Department at a meeting ;u Wellington. The comment arose out of an explanation by tho chairman (Mr H. 11. Scaton) of the clause of the Act relating to partnerships. This section of the Act stated that a partner in any shop was illegally on any nrcmises unless he roGeivcd a permit trom the Inspector of Factories, The shop must bo registered in the name of one partner. Tho other partner was classed as aai assistant. Various Chambers of Commerce throughout New Zealand had taken siuch strong exception to tliis that the Labour Department (it was caid) had decided to read the Act so that it was only when the shop was open for business that it was illegal for tho partner to be on tho promises. When the shop was closed ho could .bo there. "It is the duty o fthe department to carry out, not to interpret, the Act," remarked tho conruontator (Mr Wardell) quoted j in the beginning. j

Tho Brisbane Courier recounts the following instance of childish devotion : Mr A. T. Clerk, whose love for little children is well known, has received from Paterson, near Maitland, N.S.W., a full account of the sad death on Friday evening, March 10, in a paddock of Mrs Reinhardt, and the intensely pathetic love and devotion shown to her by a dear little girl of only five years old through a whole night of rain. The report says that Mrs Reinhardt, who was 64 years of age, had been on a visit to her daughter, Mrs Martin. About five o'clock she left her daughter's place to return home, being accompanied by her little granddaughter, Lorna Martin, aged five years, and while crossing through a large paddock, some distance from her home, she apparently became ill, sat down beside a log, and expired from heart failure, being found in a sitting position. Her little granddaughter remained beside her all night, which was a wet one, holding an -umbrella over her grandmother to keep off the" rain. About 6 o'clock on Saturday morning the little girl was seen by a neighbour walking about in the paddock, and when going oyer to her and speaking to her she pathetically looked up and asked for a cup of tea for grandma,, "who was sick and would not speak to her all night." M* Clerk, speaking at a large gathering on one occasion, said, "Little children and flowers appeal to me most, for they are the simplest, the purest, and tho sweetest of all earthly | things." Mr Clerk had sent little Lorna a fitting keepsake in memory 0 i her grandmother.

The Tarata School, says a Now Plymouth telegram, has resigned in a body owing to what it terms "the high-handed" action of the Board in appointing a toacher to the school against the expressed wish of the Committee.

The Paris printer of the Liberator, which published the libel on King George, has declined to print any further issue of that journal, having been warned by a numb or of his best customers that they would withdraw their business if he continued to have any connection with such a publication.

During the week ended Saturday last the amount of grain carried over tho Southland railways amounted to 58,091 sacks, an increase of more than 5000 sacks over the corresponding week of last year. So far this season the grain traffic (chiefly oats) has reached a total of 361,672 sacks, while up to the same date last year the total was 304,913 sacks.

Tho Levin Chronicle reports that serious bush fires occurred in that district on Sunday evening. There were exciting scenes near Bartholomew's mill', which was just saved after a hard fight with the flames. Fires raged throughout tho ViUage Settlement, and many of the settlers removed thoir furniture. Fires also occurred in tho Shannon district, if they havo had the grateful visitation of the last 24 hours in Manawatu fires would not have much chance.

That the longest way round is the shortest way home has heen demonstrated ihj* a Masterton resident on more than ono occasion. He is a frequent traveller between here and Auckland, and, having a season railway ticket, he proceeds all the way to Wellington when returning home, and comes to Masterton by tho evening train, reaching here fully an hour before ho would do were he to come through tho Forty Mile Bush.—Wairarapa Age.

In the Marokopa district large numbers of natives are congregating for the purpose of collecting the bones of those hiuiried in a ground across the Marokopa River during the troublesome times of Te Raupara-ha. (writes a Te Kuiti correspondent). Many battles have been fought and decided there, and day by day relics of those bloodthirsty days are being found in the lorm of stone axes, puriri spades, greenstone, and flint-lock guns. The gathering of these Maoris is, of coursei, a time for feasting, and pork, potatoes, kumaras, beef, mutton, fish, maize', and other articles of food are being cooked in native ovens.

Residents of Stoke Valley (between Upper and Lower Hutt, Wellington) concluded the householders' meeting on Monday night in a rather lively fashion. Mr T. Delaney occupied the chair. There was a tie between two of the candidates, Messrs H. Smith and Delaney, and it was decided to have a second ballot. The loser, Mr Smith, questioned the decision of the scrutineers, Messrs Chittick and Foetor. Uproar ensued, in which someone struck Mr Foster, whereupon a general scuffle took place, the lamp being upset and forms thrown about. An amusing aspect of the scene was the freo use of'her 'umbrella by one of the women voters present.

This is an interesting extract from a letter from a New Zealander in Los Angeles, and its apt sentiments might well be considered: ' 'The church here has a novel way of getting ladies to remove their hats during service. They have printed on the covers of ■the hymn books, ' Out of Christian consideration for others, ladies kindly remove your hats.' This method might be adopted with advantage in other places. It is impossible to follow a sermon when you are gazing into a miniature botanical garden, or a display of gaudy feathers that would gladden the heart of a Red Indian brave. Besides, it has its beneficial effects on the ladies themselves. Previous to. this innovation the study of millinery was as assiduously pursued during service as the ethics of the Bible."

One of the refuters of the Rev. Mr Lillingston's story of the lethargy of the Church of England in New Zealand, is tho Rev. James Muirhead, who was for ten years a minister of a dissenting church in the Dominion, and is now in holy _ orders in the Church of England. Writing from Lancashire, Mr Muirhead says: "For every parish in .New Zealand Mr Lillingston can show as being at a very low ebb spiritually, I will find in England a parish that is worse. Why, I worked once in a parish in England where the population was close ou 30,000, and not 100 persons attended matins at the parish church. There were two mission rooms in the parish, but matins was not said in them. ■ My oxperience is that New Zealanders are not as materialistic as Englishmen."

Lady Macdonald, widow of Genenil Sir Hector Macdonald, died at Edinburgh last month. Until recently she had been living at Newcastle with her son, who is an engineer, but she went to Edinburgh to undergo an operation of a serious nature. It is eight years since her husband, who had risen from stable boy to general, and became renowned as "Fighting Mac." shot himself in Paris while returning to Ceylon to face a courtmartial. In 1882, when a subaltern in the Gordon Highlanders, Sir Hector met Miss Christina Duncan, whose father was a shipowner, of Leith. Two years later, Sir Hector, whose regiment was ordered to the South of England, persuaded her to contract a secret marriage according to Scottish law The end of the romance came ten years later, when Lady Macdonald was granted a- decree of divorce.

Am. application iv connection with the estate of Elizabeth Knox, deceased, of Auckland, came before the Court of Appeal yesterday afternoon. 1 The parties were Thomas Buddie, Archibald Clements (Auckland), and Frank Clayton (Feilding), executors and trustees of the will, appellants, and the Commissioner of Stamps respondent. The death duty was assessed by the Deputy Commissioner of Stamps at Auckland at £4402 16s, a part oi which appellants declined to pay, on the ground that the sum of £2749 4s, being the commission appellants were entitled to charge under paragraph 18" of the will, had been wrongly included in the final balance of the personal estate, and should have been deducted from the final balance as a testamentary expense. The Minister for Stamp duties declined to make an alteration, and appellants came to the court. Argument was not finished.