INTERPROVINCIAL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 80, 6 April 1910, Page 4

INTERPROVINCIAL.

■» The Oamaru Woollen Factory is being seriously hampered by the difficulty in getting sufficient hands to do the work, reports the mail. The Woirarapa has long been famous for its fat stock, good crops, ckeebe, and all the other good things that go to make up the prosperity of the Dominion ; but settlers will feel disgusted, remarks the Daily News, to learn that Waikato farmers who have disease in tneir turnip crops have christened it "the Wairarapa disease." That is a gross liberty to take with the name of the Wairarapa. The blight that has effected turnips the last few seasons is no more peculiar 'to the Wairarapa than to any other part of the Dominion. It certainly did not eriginate in the Wairarapa, aaid to dub it "the Wairarapa disease" is to villainously libel the most healthy district in the Dominion, whether for stock, crop, or population. "I ask whether, in view of the approaching visit of. H.M.S. Powerful, it is possible to accommodate her at Port Chalmers or elsewhere within the harbour?" was a question asked by Mr. Platts at the Otago Harbour Board meeting, reports the Daily Times. "There is no accommodation at present in the Lower Harbour for a vessel such the Powerful," was the answer. "If there is not at present sufficient depth of water in the Lower Harbour for vessels of this size," asked Mr. Platls, "what steps are being taken to provide the necessary depth and wharfage accommodation?" The reply was, "The board has not dealt as yet with provision for vessels of extreme draught." Judging by the tenor of some of the applications received by the Waihemo County Council for the position of works inspector, and dealt with at last week's meeting, some queer ideas are held as to the necessary qualifications for such a position (remarks the Otago Daily Times). One applicant based his fitness oil the fact that he was a master mariner, with a fifteen years' experience of the sea, which, fat family reasons, he had recently forsaken to take up farming. Another's experience was confined merely to (school teaching; while a third, with refreshing candom, went to the trouble of informing the council that, after perusing the schedule of duties, he was afraid he did not possess the necessary ability to fulfil some of them. "They won't be able to light a fire in Puha School when the cold weather comes along, as the children are sitting in the grate," exclaimed a Puha resident to a Gisborne Times representative yesterday, while discussing the overcrowded state of that school. The pressman was further informed that the desks absolutely fill the room, which was built to accommodate 40 pupils, but in which 59 have to bo stowed away Fomehow. During tho fine weather it has been possible to slightly relieve the congestion by drafting some of tho scholars into the shelter-shed in the yard, but this course will not be feasible during the winter months. The request for additional accommodation has already been refused by the department, but strong representations are to be made to tho Minister for Education when ho visitß the district shortly. A rather unusual incident occurred at the Auckland Police Court on Friday (says the Herald) during the hearing of a charge against a woman. Ow ing to a misunderstanding between the presiding justices and Mr. Hackctt, counsel for the defendant, the woman was convicted and fined £10 before evidence on hor behalf had been called. Mr. Hackett, however, explained tho situation, and the hearing of the case was proceeded with The Bench were still of the same mind when the missing evidence had been heard, but the fine was reduced to £6, with costs. After having been a member of the Wanganui County Council f~inco 1876, with very few intervals, Colonel J. R. Sommerville has been compelled, owing to ill-health, to forward his resignation to that body.