NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7374, 28 January 1902, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

At Dunedin, a dredge is being built for Brazil.

Mr T. Lloyd is registrar of dogs for Normanby Town District, and his residence is registration office.

At the University examination, among the successful candidates for matriculation were P. G. Bamford and C. T. Parkinson ; me-lical preliminary, W. E. Parkinson.

Sir Joseph and Lady Ward received a big reception at Bokitika on Monday, and in the evening were entertained at a banquet by the Borough Council.

A special telegram to the Wellington Post relates that news has been received in Dunedin that Mr George Hutchison is practising his profession in Johannesburg with much success.

At New Plymouth, Schreiner, who recently broke gaol, was committed for trial for the theft of a pair of trousers which he is alleged to have appropriated after his escape.

The s.s. Mana arrived at Patea from Wellington on Tuesday, sailed for Wellington yesterday, and is expected back again to-morrow.

It is stated that the Defence Department % intends to spend £2000 providing fresh uniforms for members of contingents in South Africa.

What is probably a record month's cheque for a milk supplier was paid the other day by a Taranaki factory. The amount was £189 odd.

The Bishop of London, preaching in St. Paul's Cathedral recently, said that during nine years of his life he had spent nearly every evening in a working men's club.

A somewhat important meeting of the Taranaki Maori Council is to be held at Whenuakura on 30th inst. (Thursday next), when distinguished visitors are expected from all parts of the coast. — Patea Press.

It is understood that Captain Jchnstone, Chairman of Directors of West Coast Refrigerating Company, will be a candidate in the Patea Harbor Board election for Waverley Eiding.

The Manawatu Times states that when Government takes over the Manawatu railway an expenditure of between £15,000 and £20,000 will be necessary on alternations required to cope with the increased traffic.

Mr Hugo had a good audience last evening, in the Oddfellows' Hall, when he lectured on "Eyes." Many ladies sent specimens of their handwriting, and some ladies and gentlemen had their faces criticised on the platform. The last lecture will be on Friday evening, when the subject will be " Ears 'and Mouth."

A lady, who has just returned from a visit to the Old Country, informed a member of our staff yesterday that she was present about six weeks ago at a meeting in an out of the way village in Scotland, and when the name of New Zealand, was mentioned tbe audience rose as one man and gave three hearty cheers. — Feilding Star.

A farewell social to Captain Bartlett, who leaves for South Africa in command of the North Island Battalion of the Eighth Contingent," will be held in the Opera House on Thursday evening next. The gallery will be reserved for ladies. Presentations will be made to the captain.

At the Otago Acclimatisation Society meeting, an opinion was received from the Society's solicitor disagreeing with the decision of the Magistrate at Balclutha that under the new Act- wild ducks are not protected. It was decided to ask the Magistrate to state a case for the Supreme Court, and in the meantime to prosecute anyone shooting out of season.

In the appearance of the proud Indian feudatories amid the wonderful scene in Westminster Abbey we shall realise in a more intimate and impressive way than upon any previous occasion the full meaning of all the heritage of glory and duty that is expressed in the words, " Emperor of India," when proclaimed in the grey, historic shrine of that little sea-beaten island in the cloudy north, which holds, as never Venice did, " the gorgeous East in fee." — Telegraph.

A telegram from Blenheim says: — All the men employed on the BlenheimSeddon railway works, numbering 30, received to-day notice of dismissal on Wednesday. The work is at an advanced stage, and it would only have taken about three months to finish off the section. There is much dissatisfaction at the shortness of the notice, and it is said the complete stoppage at this stage means a considerable deterioration of the work already done. All but one of the men are married.

A Chicago journal publishes the following paragraph concerning Mr S. M'Caughey:— The individual who enjoys the distinction of "The Sheep King of Australia " is Samuel M'Caughey, an Irishman, who went to Australia in 1885 with practically nothing. He did not succeed well at first, but started again with a small flock, and from year to year has added to his holding until now he has more sheep than any other man in the world. He has more acres of land than sheep, and his possessions are in the best part of Australia. One of his farms on the Darling Downs is 35 miles long and 40 miles broad. Altogether he owns more than a million acres and leases about a million or so acres more.

Tom Mann, the well-known Labour leader, is by no means pessimistic as to Great Britain's future, either as regards industry or tradeß unionism. Speaking at last night's meeting of the- Trades Council, he said that no one need have serious concern for the Old Country's welfare in industrial matters. Britain was not going under. The workers had inherently all the qualities which would enable them to work out successfully their own social and industrial salvation. Even in industrial competition the Old Country would not go under.

The Patea Press reports that a conference of members of Eoad Boards was held on Saturday. Mr W. C. Symes, County Chairman, presided. He said tbe objeofc of the meeting was to discuss uniform bylaws, which could be adopted by the whole of the Boards within the county. The Hawera County by-laws were then read and considered, together with others. Mr B. Bremer thought all heavy traffic should be stopped during the winter months. The Chairman pointed out that by-laws which allowed bullocks on the roads would be ultra vires, as the Publio Works Act expressly barred them. Mr E. P. Blake did not think it necessary to make any distinction between the back" and the open settler, and held to the opinion that the prohibition of bullocks was* a serious consideration to the bush settlers. After further discussion, it was resolved, That the Hawera County Council by-laws be submitted to the various Eoad Boards within the Patea County for consideration, and that a meeting of delegates be held a month hence, with a view to their adoption in a modified form.

A singular sight was witnessed during a thunderstorm and hurricane at Clunes, Viotoria, a few days ago. About 4 a.m ' Mr John Spark, butcher, of Talbot road, observed a luminous circle in the clouds which obscured the south-western heavens. The object was stationary. The circle he describes as being about two feet in diameter, with a thickness of about sir inches. What, however, attraoted his particular attention was that, whilst within the circle's radius there was no sign whatever of fire or flame, there was emitted from the lower part of the rim a succession of very vivid flashes of forked lightning, whilst from the upper portion the flashes shot out straight for some distance, and then scattered in small star-like fragments. Mr Spark watched tbe circle for five minutes, when he was forced inside by rain and wind. Mr Barraohi, the Government astronomer, attributes the phenomenon to globular lightning, a very unusual and dangerous form of electrical discharge.

Mr E. T. B. Worthy, veterinary surgeon, has removed to Wilson, street.

Miss Lawson's kindergarten sohool will begin on Thursday next, Milker wanted.