NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7370, 23 January 1902, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

Major Owen, Acting-Commandant, has been promoted to the rank of Colonel.

Sergeant Bernard left for Opunake today to prosecute in a case of forgery.

Wanganui Borough Council has decided to do sanitary plumbing, but not to monopolise the work.

From the Registrar-General we have received a copy of part 7 of the Statistics of the Colony of New Zealand for 1900.

The plans for the new Fire Brigade Station are being prepared by Mr CJ arson, architect. The building will be commodious and convenient.

The Minister for Railways is reported to have stated at Invercargill recently that he believed the day is not far distant when crews selected to compete at regattas, as well as their boats, will be carried free by rail.

This evening, in the Oddfellows' Hall, Mr O. E. Hugo, the well-known phrenologist, will lecture on " Foreheads and Noses." Mr Hugo lectures in a very entertaining way, and there should be a good audience.

The Hon. H. Gourley's reply to the Premier's wire regarding the sending of a Ninth Contingent was laconic: — "Yes, send to our last man. I would go myself if they would have me."

At Grey town (says a contemporary) many farmers who harvested their hay early in December will be able to cut second crops about the end of the present month, as the rainy weather has caused a very rapid growth.

Borough Councillors, Town Clerk, and Foreman of Works drove to the intake on Wednesday, and thoroughly examined things there. Mrs Sidney Clarke kindly provided afternoon tea, and late in the afternoon the party returned to town after a pleasant outing.

Disappointment is expressed on the West Coast at the report that the Government has decided not to open a State coal-mine for the present. It is considered that the opinions of the majority of the Ministry have prevailed in the matter.— Times.

The Opotiki Guardian reports an epidemic of suicide amongst the Maoris in the Bay of Plenty settlements. The latest case is that of a young girl who poisoned herself by eating wax matchheads because she had been reprimanded for some trifling theft.

Labour is likely to be scarce during the next few. weeks. The Eighth Contingent in withdrawing, says the Sun, a large number of hands, and, with a good harvest coming on, the Labour Department would not be sorry to hear of more applications for work.

A nice present 'for Christmas— Solid silver brooches two shillings each. R, W Sargent, Jeweller, Hawera,— Advt,

Manawatu Times will in future appear asa morning paper.

The Rangitikei Advocate says that the unfortunate Volunteer Crawford, killed at Feilding, was apparently shot by a soft nosed bullet, judging by the terrible wound that was inflicted.

The Manawatu Standard reports that a local resident is a claimant to a quarter of a million of money in the estate of a Philadelphia family named Baker.

Miss Eva Crump, a sister of Mr T. B. Crump, solicitor, of Eltnam, acoepted the offer of a position on the teaching Btnff of the Melbourne College.

The export duty on ostriches in South Africa is £100 each, and £5 for each egg, the object being to prevent Australia, Argentina, or New Zealand becoming competitors in the feather market.

It is said that the silyer grey rabbit is slowly but surely taking possession of the country between Rotorua and the Waikato river. A rabbit-poisoner official has been sent by the Government to the district, and is now camped between Atiamuri and Orakei-Korako.

By last mail, Miss Edwards received word from Trinity College, London, that Miss M. Tayler, one of the pupils presented for examination in October last, had been successful in gaining the first-class prize, having obtained the highest number of marks in the Taranaki centre.

When here last week, Mr Blake, of Coleridge and Blake, architects, Wellington, submitted tracings of proposed abattoirs to the Borouuh Council. The general idea of a building as set out by Mr Blake was approved, and the drawing of plans was entrusted to that gentleman. It is understood that Mr Olarson will supervise the building ci the abattoirs, which will be in concrete.

According to The Hague correspondent of tho Temps (which vouches for his tact and accurate information), the malicious rumours respecting Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Henry have been fabricated by the cheap Socialist papers in Holland. He concludes a long letter by saying :— " The happiest thing is that there is no domestic strife. The Prince is kind and affectionate, the Queen loves her husband, and harmony has alwajs prevailed between them."

The Education Department hns written to the Taranaki Education Board, declining to give an opinion as to the Board's position under the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act, 1900. The Board was responsible for its acts. The Minister's opinion would be no defence to an action, and the publication of his opinion would throw on the Government a responsibility it declined to assume.

A start is to be made at Cheviot this week with the distribution of the funds contributed by the public and the Government for the relief of the sufferers by the big earthquake. In the case of those whose houses have been destroyed, it is not intended to provide the full amount necessary to build a house, but £40 or £50 will be contributed and paid to the builder. The public have subscribed over £1000, so that with the supplementary amount from the Government the committee will have about £2300 to distribute.

The Independence Beige Fays that Dr. Sylvestro, born an American, but naturalised as a Frenchman, has invented a spectrograph which enables a person using a telephone to see hi 3 interlocutor and the lattet's surroundings. A French Minister, according to the paper, has witnessed conclusive test of the invention, and King Leopold has arranged a special audience with Dr. Sylvestro for the purpose of inspecting it. It is said that the instrument can be adapted for use to an ordinary

telephone wire.

The Christian Herald's commissioner who is investigating the famine in China, writes from Singan-Fu, in the province of Shen-si, that the autumn crops will furnish food, for a few months, but, being the first successful crops for five years, will not be sufficient to last until the next harvest is gathered, and he predicts a repetition of the famine in the coming spring. The commissioner estimates that the deaths from famine in the Shen-si province number 2,500,000, or 30 per cent of the population. He rode for four days through villages north of the Wei-Hi river, and during this time saw hardly two hundred persons. The whole region is desolated.

During a partial eclipse of the sun on November 11" a strange scene was witnessed at Peking. The belief among the Chinese is that during an eclipse the sun is being attacked by a dragon, and that the monster will be scared away by the beating of drums and gongs. In conformity with a notice recently sent by the Foreign Oflice to the Legations, all the Chinese oflicer3 assembled at the Board of Kites for the purpose of assisting at the rescue. Besides creating a noise, the performers prostrated themselvea, and burned incense. For the first time in history a few foreigners were permitted -to witness this remarkable ceremony. At the Australasian Student Christian Union Congress, in connection with the secondary schools the question was considered of having a missionary department iv schools. The subject was very ably placed before the delegates by Miss McLean, who was strongly in favour of the new proposal. A discussion followed, and many valuable hints were given. Among the college students the subjeot of business organisation was opened up by Mr Miles, of tho University College, Auckland. The speaker first warned against the tendency towards overorganisation, and the danger there was of having intricate machinery without sufficient motive power to work it. A brief discussion followed. — Chronicle. Whilst engaged in the duet " Home to our Mountains " with Mr Newbury at Lawrence recently, Madime Emily Spada suddenly stopped singing, and, raising her hand with nervous hasto to her face, clutched with spasmodic wildness at something that was invisible to the audience. Apparently she succeeded in dislodging whatever she was in quest of from her face, and appeared to throw it from her on to the floor, after which the duet proceeded. At its conclusion, an encore being demanded, Mr Newbury came on to the stage and said they would have to be excused, ns Madame Spada was not able to sing at the moment, having been stung on the cheek by a bee while singing the duet, adding, " It's not at all a nice business, I tell you." Which it certainly wasn't (says the Tuapeka Times), the lady at the same time exhibiting wonderful pluck in concluding the duet, as she must have suffered no inconsiderable pain, her face soon after being much swollen. The Administrat'on of the Bureau Veritas has just published the list of mari-

time disasters reported during tbe month of October, 1901, concerning all flags. We remark in this publication the following statistical returns : — Sailing vessels reported lost — 6 Americans, 1-i British, 1 Danish, 7 French, 2 German, 1 Italian, 9 Norwegian, G Russian, 12 Swedish ; total 58. In this number nre included three vessels reported missing. Steamers reported lost— 2 Austrian, 1 Belgian, 9 British, 1 Danish, 1 French, 4 German, 1 Japanese, 1 Russian ; total, 21. In this number are included 2 steamers reported missing. Causes of losses :— Sailing vessels : Stranding 21, collision 5, fire 4, foundered 6, abandoned 4, condemned 15, missing 3; total, 58. Steamers: Stranding 11, collision 2, fire 1, condemned 5, missing 2; total, 21. Vessels surveyed and classed by Bureau Veritaa from October 20th up to November 19th, 1901 :— Sailing vessels 153, steamers 85 ; total, 238.

Little interest was taken in tbe statutory meeting called in regard to the loan proposal for surface drainage purposes. Outside members of the Council and the Town Clerk, only one ratepayer was present. The proceedings did not occupy ten minutes.

It will, perhaps, interest colonists both in New Zealand and Australia to learn (writes a London contemporary) that the last, batch of 20 express engines just brought out on the Great Western Bailway all bear names of places (including the Royal yacht) connected with the recent Imperial tour of the Prince and Princess of Wales, viz :— Auckland, Adelaide, Aden, Brisbane, Cape Town, Colombo, Dunedin, Durban, Gibraltar, Halifax, Hobart, Lyttelton, Mauritius, Melbourne, Malta, Ophir, Quebec, Sydney, St. John's, and Singapore. I may mention that the name "Wellington" already belongs to a Great Western engine, and " Christchurch " was, I believe, deemed too pious for such a use.

One thing that stands in the way of sending young dairy stock from New Zealand to South Africa is (says the N.Z. Times) the difficulty that would be experienced in getting a line of one breed. In tho dairying districts of this colony cows of all breeds and of numerous crosses are being milked. The work of selecting animals of the one breed would be both tedious and expensive.

FISHING 1 1 FI3HING U

F. J. Wrigley has now landed for this season, imported direct from the best English makers, a splendid assortment of wooden and steel rods, split cane, greenheart, lancewood, and hickory rods from 10s 6d to £3. Steel telescopio rods a speciality. New casts, new traces, new flies, new minnows, everything new, no old stock. Several new flies, minnows, and fishing sundries, that all fishermen should inspect. Fishing licenses issued Fishing Rods, Reels, etc , repaired by an expert workman on the premises. — F. J Wrigley, Hawera.— Advt.

Wade's Teething Powders for babies are soothing, reduce fever, and prevent blotches. Price Is. — Advt.

WILTON'S BOVO-FERRUM.

Elderly people, and particularly women of middle age, find Bovo-ferrum a powerful life sustaining agent, rendering life worth i'ving by its extraordinary action in keeping the nutritive organs healthy and in producing a remarkable buoyancy of Bpirit. It promotes digestion, creates an appetite, makes rich pure blood, puts colour in the cheeks, restores convalescents, and removes mental depression, gold by all chemists at 2a 6d.— Advt.