LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At the sale of \town sections on Saturday (N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co.), on behalf of Mrs W. Morrissey, Hawera, the bids did not come up to expectations. Only one section was disposed of publicly.

Among the passengers to Wellington by the express yesterday was Mr Jennings, member for Taumarunui. As Cabinet-making is in the air just now his friends and acquaintances are wondering whether the visit has any political significance.

Buttercups in the Palmerston district are gittng considerable trouble to cheese-mkkers. Generally the quality of the milk being received at local factories is satisfactory, but the hot weather is causing milk to be delivered at high temperatures, and consequently with less satisfactory flavors.

Mr George Harnett, manager of the Anglo-Welsh football team which has just returned from its New Zealand tour, tells a story to illustrate the passion for football in the heart of the New Zealander. "I have a boy who is going to be a Rugby footballer," said a proud father in the Dominion to Mr Harnett. "He's only two months old," he added, "but he's started training already. I have hung a football at the foot of his cradle, so that he can 'boost' it every time he kicks."

Speaking at the luncheon on board the s.s. Manuka at Gisborne, held in celebration of the opening of the Union Steam Ship Company's new offices, Mr Preston, the local manager of the company, stated in reply to a plea for more frequent communication by steamer, that the Main Trunk railway was a factor that had to be taken into consideration. It might affect the number of through passengers £6 and from the south of Auckland, and thus relieve the pressure on passenger accommodation between Napier and Gisborne. He was inclined to think, the through traffic would be considerably affected by the Main Trunk line.

The examination of local first aid students under the auspices of the St. John's Ambulance Association concluded last evening. There were thirteen candidates, and all secured the necessary percentage of points for a pass from the theoretical, oral and practical tests. Dr Campbell, the examiner, particularly commended the practical work. Dr Mac Gibbon (Ambulance Brigade's Hon. Surgeon) gave the course of lectures. The following are the names of those, successful : — Messrs A. B. Bates, D. Burrell» J., Foreman", Applegarth (third year), W. Wright, S. Reid, W. Reid, R. Styles; E. Woods, L. Gilbert, ,W. Hutchinson ' (second year), W. Shaw, C. Trask (first year). , In connection with the retirement of the Hon. R. McNab, Minister for Lands, the question arises whether he will be authorised to retain the addition of the word "Honorable" before his name. The right to do so can only be given by the Imperia} authorities. Ex-Ministers to whom this courtesy has been granted include the Hon.! T. Y. Duncan, the Hon. C. H. Mills,, ihe Hon. T. W. Hislop, and others, but it has in the past beei^. the custom not to extend <it to colpnial Ministers who have held ofßce for less -than three years. Mr McNab, it will be remembered, joined the Cabinet about two and a half years ago

Referring to the State fire insurance in New Zealand the Financial News says: "The net income for the three years since the inauguration of the Department is: 1905, £13,127; 1906, £20,902; 1907, £23,194: That the rates for premiums for fire 1 insurance' in. New Zealand are too low is shown by the fact that the., results attained in its , operations during the past three years show a profit of only £1568 after writing off £1902 and reserving £7731 for unearned promiums. The profit and loss account shows a credit balance of £867. The net losses by fire amounted during 1907 to £12,701 (55 per cent, of the net premiums) while the commission and expenses absorbed £8283 (36 per cent, of the premiums)." . '

< \ f A curious phenomenon is reported as having occurred at noon on Thursday last. Mr W. Cowern and a party were near Waingongoro river, and two heavy explosions (or a noise resembling the sharp crash of a thousand hoofs of galloping horses) were htiard. The members of the party were separated by some hundreds of yards and all heard it. The cattle sprang' to their feet and appeared qiiite alarmed. When the noise passed Mr Cowern expected 'an earthquake shock, but Iqltf'npne. The incident was forgotten- until this morning, when in conversation With' an acquaintance, Mr Cbwern- ascertained' that a similar experience took place> : a£ Ngamatapouri, 30 miles 'up'the.!"Waito r tara river' Somebody ai .Waitoiara "rang up" Ngamatapouri ;fcp isOdoyr what blasting operations l-w'ere in progress. The noise wai also' heard at Patea. It would tie interesting ik> know over what area the sound > was observed. A/—^--w^. - - It has' been decided by^he' Council' of Defence that the 1 celebrations on Dominion Day> shall alwaypjbe of a military character. Arrangements will therefore be made for t the holding of [reviews or mandeuvr^s "by all volunteers, defence cadets, /and rifle clubs at suitable centres. Manoeuvres of an instructional character will be carried out during Easter, 1909, at which all ranks of the service, including defence cadets and defence rifle clubs, will attend. Defence cadets will be afforded an opportunity under General Regulation No. 517. Defence rifle, clubs will be allowed to take advantage of the 100miles railway pass to meet one another at selected places for two days, and carry out field firing and extendedorder drill, and will -be supervised by officers of the unattached list ■ and N.C.O.'s of the service. Free ammunition and a billeting allowance for one night will be given.

6d and

Mr Newton King has received the following cable from his Sydney agent: "Hides farthing higher/ - -■ •

The Kiripaka sailed from Wellington at 5 p.m., and the Kapiti at 8 p.m. on Monday for Patea.

The Chief Veterinarian states that among the pigs raised in New Zealand and fed on cows' milk nearly 10 eer cent contract tuberculosis.

The Ngaire cheese factoiy is now receiving about 6000 gallons -of milk per 'day. For the season about 1540 cases, or 100 tons of cheese, have been manufactured.

As showing the excellence of the dairying season, the returns from a herd of 24 cows at Pohangina are quoted. During last month they produced 10221b of butter-fat, worth £44 14s 3d an average of £1 17 S 3d per cow per month.

The officials of the Wellington fingerprint department stated recently that ' they had about 100,000 prints in their collection, and the chances of 17 points ' of resemblance being found' between any two of them were probably, a trillion to one. ,

It does not appear to be generally known by settlers that under the Stock Act they are liable to a penalty for burying the carcase of any- 'animal in the bed of a creek or watercourse,' or allowing it to lie there. The breach is . usually due to ignorance of the Act rather than to any wilful intent, to dis- . regard it. ' .

It is stated that a challenge is to be ' issued on behalf of Mr Donald McCormick, one of the giant drum-majors of the Kilties Band, to the winner of the M % Webb-Arnst contest for the sculling championship of the world. The sculling ' world already knows something of McCormick, who is 7ft 3£in in height, and is recognised as one of Canada's best oarsmen, having rowed contests with men of the calibre of Gaudaur.

The news of a direct mail service v with Wellington and the Islands has "been received with much gratification by all; many of the traders and shippers are desirous of doing business with Wellington (writes a Cook Islands correspondent). The news of the new steam service as proposed has had the effect of making the natives plant more bananas, and when the service is an established .fact, many of them 1 intend ,to ship direct to Wellington ' seeing that the fruit will reach there three days earlier than that sent by the I Auckland route.

The totalisator (says the New Zea-. land Times), has lost two staunch supporters', in the House by the Rejection at the ballot box of .Messrs A. L. D. Fraser (owner of Kurawaka), and C. >"• E. Major (who also has frequently something going). Mr David Buick (owner of Tangimoana and Rangipapa), who- replaces Mr W. T. . Wood as Palmerston North's representative, may be relied upon to fill part of the broach. Mr J. Vigor Brown, who defeated Mr Frasei-j is treasurer of the Napier Park Racing Club.

"It's an ill wind that blows nobody ' any good"' was never better exemplified than in those portions of Masterton district where the bush fires were most • destructive last yean, (says the- New * ' Zealand Times). So opmpletely has the . • land been cleared thai; its value has undoubtedly gone up, and the burned portions, resown, are now bearing, an abundance of grass. Here is,' in fact, too much feed for the stock, as many of the settlers who suffered badly from v the fires had to sell valuable animals y at nominal prices. They bitterly regret the sacrifice of cows at £1 to 30s a head ' when the price, of stock to replace them ranges from.i£6 to £8. The Grisborne Times reports that Rua appears to be well provided with cash, and, during' one day treated his wivesj who are girls from 15 to 20 years of -age, to rides in a hired motor car. The wives are dressed in . the most gaudy colors, and when their noble lord deigns to appear in, the street, humbly walk behind him two by two. One of Rua's men told a Times reporter that Rua was still a great man and plenty "te' utu." He had only brought half the number of his wives on this excursion, having left four at home to look after the royal household. The party are staying with some natives at Wae- \ renga-a-hika, and will remain in the district until Thursday next, as Rua intends to wait upon the County Council on Wednesday.

According to the Wairarapa Daily Times the Masterton No-license League put into operation for the recent local option poll an exhaustive system ior checking and voting and preventing the illegal use of names on the rolls.; The names of all> voters ( wore placed ih small memorandum books, a separate book being prepared for each street ,in the .town, and each ( clistriot' in ithe 'country. ' Canvassers were sent through the licensing district, and in the books they recorded the result of their canvass from house to house. By this method there " was accumulated - information which showed exactly who had moved to other districts, and so on, and names that should be taken from the roll on account of death or other causes. All. the 'information was transcribed on to the rolls of the league's scrutineers, who received special instructions in regard, to bogus voting and impersonations. The scheme was not designed to "prevent qualified persons from voting, but to prevent any person from exercising a vote in another person's name.' On the Masterton roll were found the nanjes of quite a large num- ' ber of persons whose qualification was now in other ■ "electorates, or who had no qualification to vote, tit alj. Th" scheme was applied by the No-license party to all the electorates in the large centres of the Dominion. The Official Assignee insorts a notice regarding tenders for the stonk-in-trade , of Clements Bros., of Hawora, bank- ' rupts. Tenders for firewood are invited by Riverdale Co-operative Dairy Factory Co., Ltd. The Secretary of Ecmont A. and P. Association requests that all accountsagainst the show ' will bo sent in promptly. N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co.'s calender for December appears to-day. if you use Zymole Trokeys you will not bo bothered "with irritation of the throat, causing you to eougn. Always carry them with you ;' they are pleasant to take. *