NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7367, 21 January 1902, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

Mr A. M. Conroy has taken over the management of the Opera House. In our report of meeting regarding fire insurance matters, Mr Bobbins instead of Mr Sargent was mentioned as the nominator of the deputation to go to Wellington. Mr D. G. Partridge, Mangatoki, has on his farm a " puff-ball" measuring S3 inches in circumference. Two more are growing, one of which is 36 inches round. The Hokitika Borough Council has determined to take a poll on the question of providing a water supply for the town, estimated Io cost £16,000. In the Police Court, this morning, before Mr M. J. O'Donnell, J.P., a young man, Herbert McLellan Simmonds, was charged with failing to provide for the maintenance of an illegitimate child, and was remanded to Napier till the 24th. "I think it is about time we fot rid of this pro-Boer name New Zealand," writes a correspondent of the Otago Daily Times. In procuring maintenance, a destitute wife informed the Magistrate at Christchurch that, although her husband's earnings averaged £4 a week, she saw very little of the money. Some went to the lawyers, more went in racing, while £25 was sent over to Sydney by her husband, who insisted that he was mad, and wanted to buy some medicine to cure his madness. The average number of heads and eggs of small birds paid for weekly by the Waimate County Council (South Canterbury) is 20,000, yet the birds appear to be as plentiful as ever. The Hon. J. Carroll, who returned last week from the East Coast, states definitely that be will not visit London for the coronation. It is probable that he will go to England later in the year. The Aorere arrived at Patea from Wellington on Saturday, sailed again same night, is expected back to day, and sails to-night and Friday. According to the Lyttelton Times, the other evening a member of a volunteer corps now in camp went down by train in a state of inebriety, and on arrival made himself so obnoxious that next morning he wa3 drummed.out, and has now been dismissed from the volunteer force. An American who. saw one of the colonial contingents land at Capetown is quoted by an Englishman now in the colony as having described it thus quaintly—" They are a very fine body of men—just the sort of men that were wanted in South Africa. J have an idea that John Bull would have been a trifle lonely without them." There is not a doubt the inhabitants of New Zealand, especially the workers in the towns, think too much of the holiday business, and, if they are to compete sue-, cessfully with other countries, they will have to be a little less particular about the hours worked, and a little more particular about the work itself. To use a slang expression, they will have to "get a move on."—East Coast Guardian. The body of the late Mr Thos. Pacey was taken to Auckland for burial last evening. A large number of friends followed the remains to the railway station, among them being members of the Borough Council and School Committee, of which bodies Mi* Pacpy had been a member. It is stated that Inspector Cullen, of Auckland, will replace Inspector • Pender in Wellington, when the latter retires in April, and that Sergeant O'Donovan, now in charge of the Police Probationary School at Mount Cook, and at present relieving Sub-Inspector Wilson, who is away on leave, will be promoted to an inspectorship. Mr Stewart, at the Hospital Board meeting, referred incidentally to the matter of the position he had taken up in regard to the refuge. He said ho noticed that the minutes of the annual meeting contained no record of the fact that he had distinctly replied to Mr Wilkinson and tho remarks of Mr Corkill. However, he had no desire to dispute the minutes; the minutes of local bodies as a rule were not full and complete records. Thomas Chadderton, aged 16, died at Hamilton, Victoria, on December 28th, owing to having drunk cold water while over-heated. The week before he was hurrying to get a haystack completed before a threatened fall of rain came on, and while very hot from tbis work quenched his thirst with water from an underground tank. He was soon afterwards attacked with cramps in his stomach, which brought on inflammation. His brain also became affected, and for three days before death he was unconscious. When it comes to be alleged that the elite of society are sending out invitation cards requesting the pleasure of So-and-) so's company to meet Dr Blauk to take tea and cake, and to get vaccinated, we j pause to reflect, and the result of our reflection is to wonder whether there can be on this terrestrial ball any person or persons so superabundantly inflicted with insanity as to send out cards of invitation of that kind. Tea and inoculation —no. That would be no sort of joke.—Sun. Bandmaster wanted for Borough Band. Mr M. Bolger has notice to-day re accounts, which his clients would do well to peruse.