Page 7 Advertisements Column 1

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 148, 19 December 1907, Page 7

The settlement of native lands in the 'North appears to be going ahead at a very considerable pace. During tho sitting of the Native Land Court at Te Kuiti last week, leases aggregating 100,000 acres were approved, and will very shortly be occupied. The effects of the long spell of dry weather are now becoming evident on many of the grain crops (says the Poverty Bay Herald). In conversation with a Herald representative, Mr. R. ■M'Bretney, a well-known Waerenga-a-hika agriculturist, declared there was a likelihood of his losing his twelveacre crop of barley. "Even if it rains within a day or two I doubt whether the crop will come to much," said Mr. •M'Bretney. • Mr. M'Bretney did not think this crop had ever been wet since the seed was sown. His other crops of maize, oats, peas, and potatoes were said to be looking well, and if ho loses the barley it will be the first cji'op Mr. M'Brolney has lost all the time he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, about 50 years. The flax which passed over the Wellington wharves on Tuesday and Wednesday was subjected to close scrutiny by representatives of the Flaxmillors' Association, consequent on a suggestion that the flax passing through the grading shed was of interior quality. The work and inspection was carried out by Messrs. R. T. Bell and J. Tennanl, both practical millers, and as a result of their investigations they state that they are perfectly satisfied. They examined bstween 400 and 500 bales, mostly from the Manawalu district, and had seen the quality and stuff sent out froni twenty to twenty-five milk, and they were very pleased with the quality. The dressing of the , hemp as a whole was very pood indeed. The hemp now passed on to the market would do the industry credit. Mr. Justice Button made an excursion into Tudor law this morning when, in a j case of hostile possession, reference was made to a statute of Henry VIII. v The particular Act referred to was "a Bill of Bractry and Buying of Titles," and belonged to the year 1540, in the 32nd year of King Henry. The statute was quoted in the case of G. L. Lane and another (Mr. M'Nab) v. Percy Simmonds and another (Mr. M'Callum). This was a. special case, stated for the opinion of the court, as to a piece of land situated at Grove-road, Blenheim, to which the defendants held a titlo, but without possession. The question" for tho court was as to what position defendants had placed themselves in by giving a title, and whether they had to pay damages, if they failed to give a title. After argument, his Honoursuggested that the defendants should bring an action to oust the adverse claimant of the property, and in the meantime proceedings be stayed. This course was adopted. A matter of interest to land agents •was decided by Mr. Justice Button this morning, in thei case of John Gwynneth Stevens and Frederick John ■ Jones v. Samuel Smart Mason (Mr. Gray for plaintiffs, and Mr. T. W. Hislop for the defendant). Commission at tho rate of 3i per cent, was claimed on £10,950, purchase money of 365- acres of land at £30 per acre, for which plaintiff found a purchaser. The defendant denied this, his defence being that in the negotiations concerning the sale of his land he believed plaintiffs , were seeking to purchase from him oil behalf of themselves or some customer of theirs, and that he had no intention of putting the property into their hands to find a buyer. His Honour found that defendant did employ the plaintiffs to find a purchaser, and that the purchaser- was introduced by them to tlie defendant, and the property was sold to the^ purchaser at the price mentioned, and which price was not disputed. Judgment would, therefore, be given for the amount claimed, viz., £273 15s, with costs on the middle scale. Numerous specimens of moths and other insects have been received during the last few months by Mr. A. Hamilton, director of the National Museum, from private collectors in various parts of the country.- Mr. Hamilton welcomes further contributions as showing local distribution and local variation under the changing circumstance^ of the countryside. With the | general destruction of the bush and the elimination of the smaller herbage by the grazing of stock, a great many species of insects, in the opinion of Mr. Hamilton, are likely to disappear entirely. In other countries , it is found that some particular varieties are so localised as not to be seen outside the area of an ordinary paddock. For instance, Mr. Hamilton quoted the species indigenous to the New Forest of England. It is desired, therefore, to secure as many specimens of native insects as possible, before circumstances bring about their annihilation. Referring to his recent trip to. the King Country, Mr. Hamilton observed that an enormous quantity of timber would bo cut out in the next few years. One mill alone near Ohakuno was capable of dealing with forty thousand feet a day. Mr. Hamilton proposes to make another tour of the district later in the season. "How do you plead — guilty or not guilty?" asked the clerk of tho comt. The prisoner returned a glassy, unintelligent stare, but said not a word. "How do you plead?" repeated Sub-in-spector O'Donovan, advancing up to the dock. "His Worship wishes to know ■whether you are guilty or not guilty of the offence, with which you have been charged." Tho prisoner's hand went slowly up to his head, and began to search for an answer among the roots of his hair. ' Still there came no response. "Were you drunk or not drunk?" continued tho sub-inspector interrogating. The prisoner, a man with a shock of dishevelled hair and curling moustaches, seized this last straw of a word like a drowning man. "Troonk," he cried, "not troonk — me not troonk." "He pleads not guilty," said his Worship decisively. "He does not seem to understand English," explained the sub-inspector. "What language does ho speak?" queried Mr. Riddell. Laborious enquiry elicited the fact that the prisoner, Franz Michallek, was conversant with either German or Spanish. As it was quite obvious to the court that nothing could be done without an interpreter, the prisoner, who was charged with insobriety, and * further with destroying some of the Government property in tho cell where ho had been confined, was remanded until to-morrow morning, •when an interpreter might facilitate the hearing of the case. Motor Cars. — We have just opened a shipment of Eniield and Stuart Motor Cars, and have every confidence in recommending the 1908 model as a British car of the highest class of manufacture. Immediate delivery. Ask for a trial run. Inglis Bros., sole New Zealand agents, Willis-6treet ; motor garage, Harrisstreet. — Advt. New Customs TanS. — Information regarding changes can bo supplied by the New Zealand Express Company, Ltd.. 20 Customhouse-quay. Telephone No. 2410. —Advt. Holiday anticipations are uppermost in tbe minds of most people just at present, and the question of where and when to go for a change is being debated by the great majority of the inhabitants of Wellington to-day. One word of advice can be given to all holiday-makers of the fair sex, and that is to visit the store of C. Smith, Ltd., Cuba-street, for all travelling requisites. Unequalled value and variety can bo found thero in sunshades, glovps, and hosiery. New styles in parasols just opened up and well worth inspection. Hosiery and gloves from the world's leadinz makart— Advt.