RAIN-MAKERS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13509, 26 August 1907, Page 4

RAIN-MAKERS.

At a time when Parliament is being asked to legislate against medical '•quacks" and tohungas, it is rather singular that the Government should not only coMitenance an attempt to artificially induce rain, but should also grant a subsidy of £200 and send its chief meteorologist and several members of the Permanent Force to assist in the effort. We thought the i,dea that the explosion of bombs of dynamite, guncotton, or anything of the kind could induce a rainfall was long' ago exploded, but it appears there are still — or were a week ago — people in the Oamaru district who' believe such a thing is possible. They are, of course, welcome to their belief ; but it is quite beyond our comprehension to understand why the Government should find money, which is Ibadly required for scores of useful purposes, for such childish experiments, or why the Rev. Mr. Bates, the meteorologist, should consent to conduct them without a vigorous "protest against such a waste of money. It is not as though the idea was a liqvel one and had never been put to the test, for similar experiments in Australia and other countries have failed/ At Oamaru, it appears, two demonstrations were made under conditions which- Were thought to be favourable, but they had noi the slightest effect. We hope it will be the last time the Government will subsidise any such absurdity.

No rain was reported from any part of the colony at 9 o'clock this morning. Tho temperature was generally mild. The sea at Manukau bar was reported smooth. Captain Edwin's weather forecast, telegraphed at 1 p.m. to-day, was: — Strong winds to gale from tho north after 20 hours. Glass will fall. Tides high. Sea heavy. There are indications of rain. Mr Newton King reports the sale of Mr Arrowsmith's Coffee Palace busij ness to local investors; and the sale of ' a town section at Te Henui on account of Mrs E. S. Lennon to Mr W. Crump, of Tikorangi. A dairy farmer in the Hawera district, Mr. Exley, who has a high-grade Jersey herd, is said to have received for butterfat during the past season £14 18s per cow. Mr. Exley has been attending the local sales of Jerseys and made several purchases. The third and last of the men's services, conducted by the Rev. J. B. Brocklehurst, was held in St. Mary's Church yesterday afternoon. The rev. gentleman delivered a forceful address, basing his remarks on a passage from the 6th chapter of St. Luke,. "Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.' ' The creameries, and dairy factories 4n South Taranaki' are opening for the new season, and the vexed question of butter v. cheese is for the time being practically .settled.- Despite., the .urgent demands of the supporters of cheese and the temptation of higher prices, the El : . tham, Mangatoki; anS ♦Opunake factories are standing, by , butter, but Kar ponga ancl Hawera have gone over- to' the cheese party. , .».,,„,; "Victor" in the Wanganui Herald, in his report of. the,We,bb-Towns sculling, race, says:—'' On the eVening*the stakes were paid over, Jim was .approached bV'a' c'ouple 1 of "his -ftd^ ssupporters, who offered to find the whole of his stake money'tf'he would consent to rqw Webb for tho, world's championship. Jim ! informed A them Hsliat he had no desire to again take part in a race, and' declined- to : agFeV£e-the proposition. From a conversation I had with the exchampion I gathered, that he".migb.t have been induced had the result been, different." ;..... Shanghais, catapults, and other weapons must not be used in city reserves according to by-law, and the small hoy is prohibited from climbing trees in such 'parks. The Now Zealand Times states, that during the discussion of this section at the Wellington City Council the Mayor said the object in growing trees was to Ut children climb them, and he did not believe in restraining the children in what he conceived to be innocent pleasure. He had had to obtain permission from a former Mayor to allow one of his sons the right to swing oh r .a Council tree 1 . Despite his Worship, the restraining 'section remains in operation. A number of local scholars obtained awards in connection with the Auckland Sunday School Union examinations held on July 18th. In the senior grade Margaret Rea was awarded a tliird-class certificate; in the lower intermediate grade Jessie Crocker received a. thirdclass certificate; in the upper junior grade Mabel A. Ambury won the sec* ond prize, and Alice Cocker and Marjorie McGahey also received prizes; in the same grade Gladys V. Brooke received a second-class certificate, and Rosina Rea a, third-class certificate; in the lower junior grade Strathia/. Swing and Fred Coleman received third-class certificates, w.hile in the primary grade Doriß A. Lawn, Willard Ewing ? Ruby O."HonnbF>,a I nd Winnie Short were in the prize division, and Raymond Cocker and Eveline L. Coad won third-class certificates. "It appears to me to be absolutely essential," s^ys MnT. E. Donne, Secre- H taryto ,the Department of Industries and . Commerce, in his ' annual ' report, "that New Zealand's -oommer-oial staff in London should be strengthened, in ordor that steps may b*e"takeri io more effectively briag lita -products \indor . the notice of consumers, and to check the fraudulent practices of "traders* *in selling this country's products. If, New Zealand products are to successfully withstand their competitors,' iJhe consumer must be educated up to tho value of the article, and this can only be done by seeing that he now gets New Zealand produce, -knowing that it is New Zealand's, and not Argentine mutton ' as New Zealand's, New Zealand lamb as English, and New Zealand 'butter qf every brand and designation under tlie sun almost except New Zealand's. "— New Zealand Times. Messrs Wilson & Nolan advertise a sale of household furniture in the estate of the late Mrs Malone. Morey & Son have decided to clear all their costumes and jackets at exactly half price for 'this week only. Read advertisement. r v ,;. In another column Mr Newton King advertises for sale by auction on Saturday, September H3i, a handy-sized fa*mof 85 acres ?bn account of the late C. Turner's estate. The Sports Ground euchre and bridge tournament,, will be continued on Wednesday eVening next in the Kia Or^ Rojpjns.U ItiJs hoped that all those engaged will be present. Should any of those competing not have obtained their 'tickets they may arrange in the usual •way. ..;/ . . j Messrs. Murray, Roberts and Co. advertise tiat they will sell by public auction in January next the Marainanga estate at AkitTo, on the East Coast, consisting 6$ about 36,500 acres. The-pro-perty, is owned by Messrs Handyside 1 , i Rbßerts and Co., will be subdivided into twenty-two blocks. Each sub-diVisipn contains a suitable site for a homestead, and every block is. well watered. Most of the blo&s are ring fenced. .Lithographic plans are in prepaisation^ and will shortly be available. Complete information will be advertised later.