NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7540, 15 August 1902, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

f Mr W. Spence, of the Economic, was the successful tenderer for the stock in the estate of the late Mrs Sandeman. Mr W. Stanton, of Awatuna, has been appointed buttermaker, and Mr C. H. Pearson, Palmerston North, assistant to the Bongotea faotory. In convicting a man for drunkenness and indecency at the Christchurch Court one of the Justices remarked : " I've known you for twenty years myself, and I've never known anything against you, except that wben you get a glass or two of whisky, you think you can sing, and you make a mistake." The accused admitted guilt on this third indictment, although it was not upon the charge-sheet. A Dtmedin correspondent states that dredges are being sacrificed wholesale. Plants which cost from £6000 to £9000 are being sold at from £800 to £2000, inoluding claims in some oases, without a turn having been taken out of the maohinery. Same in New South Wales, where dredges can be bought for less than was paid for engine and boilers. Over a week ago a respectable man named Isaao Sutor disappeared rather suddenly from Wairoa, Hawke'a Bay, leaving behind him a note indicating that he meditated self-destruction, and though (he police and others have dragged the river, both above and below where the missing man lived, no trace of the body has been found. A return has been laid on the table of the House of Representatives, from which it appears that increased honorarium under the Payment of Members Act, 1901, was paid to 41 members of the ' Legislative Council and 65 members of the Houbs of Representatives. The only members who declined to accept the increased honorarium were two of the Wellington City representatives (Messrs A. R. Atkinson and John HatcueSon). The former refunded LS9 and the latter L34 10s sd.

Hatching operations at the Patea Poultry Works have commenced (cays the Pvcbb). The Company now possess some of the finest birds on the coast, and the eggs are all being incubated, with a view to having a large supply for next season. In regard to market egg supply, the company have made arrangements for oold storage at tbe Grading Company's works, and as the season progresses expect to handle a very large number. A very enjoyable social in connection with the Presbyterian Church Young Ladies' Guild was held in the L ddf ellows' Hall on Thursday night. Numerous games were indulged in, inoluding ping-pong, puff pinp pong, bagatelle, chess, draughts, quoits, etc, as well as several musical items. A piano &010 was rendered by Mr H. Nowell, songs by Mrs A. Robertson and Mr L. Tarrant, a glee by the choir, and a recitation by Mr J. Symes. Mrs Yearbury and Mr Nowell played tbe accompaniments. The furniture was kindly lent by Mr Arthur. The hull was prettily decorated with patriotic mottoesjflags, etc. Mr W. Bishop picked up on the Omata beach the other day a bottle containing a leaf torn from a pocket book, upon which was written: "Norfolk, Sunday, April 20th, 1902. Dear sir, or whoever picks it up, vre are just off Tnkaka, going direct from Lyttelton to Sydney, instead of Albany *, having a grand trip ; so good-bye the people of New Zealand. Eiora, au revoir. — I remain, yours truly, Trooper F. C. Fanchelle, Takaka, Nel?on." On the raverse side is written : " Cook jumped overboard Jto eight 1 20 4 02. Dear sir, all well ; just off Takaka. Good-bye, with I love.— Trooper F.C. Fauohelle*"- Taranaki \ Herald. ' It is sometimes said that inspectors who make "surprise" visits to post oifices are nearly always expected, because telegraph operators pass the word on that they are coming. Whether this is truth or fiction cannot be ascertained, but a case is reported from Queensland which shows that j inspectors are not easily outwitted. / Having examined the books and cash at a particular post office, and finding everything correct, he entered the train after innocently announcing that his next place of call was 50 miles further on. But he left the train at a neighbouring station, returned to the town he had ]ust left, and presented himself at the office. The " surprise " was complete. He found the cash i^tiie £50 short, and it turned out that tbe postmaster was that amount out on his bcoks, but by boirowing from a friend had managed to tide over tho " expected " audit that had just before been made. It was the unexpected happening that upaet all hi 9 careful plans. A despatch per s.e. Ventura says;— "The Rev. Dr. Fairle, Church of EIIR-" land clergyman, arrived from York, in North-west British Territory, in July. He brings authentic information of the fate of the explorer Andre and his companions two years ago when 800 nnles north of York. The p.rty of Eskimo?, under the leadership of • Old Huskie,' paw Andre'* ballpen alight on a plain of snow in that vicinity, which is about 200 miles north of Cape < hurcbill. Three men emerged from the balloon, and some of Huskies people approached them out of curiosity. As they did so, on« of Andre's companions iired a pan. This was tbe sipnai to ths uncivilised natives to battle. It was regarded as a challenge, and almost instantly tho natives fell upon the three explorers and killed ♦hem. Everything pertaining to their outfit was taken to the homes of the natives on tbe north border of the Arctic Ocean. Old Huskie himself gave this information to Mr Ralph Alstin, agent for the Hudson Bay Company, and after being investigated by the Bey. Mr Fairlie it was told by him to-day. He says there is little room for doubt, as frequent reports have since come of tbe strange implements which the north natives have in their possession, telescopes being particulnrly described. * The registrar of births had a unique experience the other day (says 'the correspondent of the Hswke's Bay Herald), 1 when a Maori couple requested him to register the birth of their baby. The registration of Maori infants, unlikft the rule for pakehas, i 3 not compulsory. After doing so, they stated as a reason that they thought it would be a good thing, and probably be advantageous to the child in the future. Another unusual incident was a request by another Maori for a marriage license. In this case also, no license was legally required, as both the parties were Maoris. During 16 years there has only been one other similar case. That was followed by a striking incident. A few days after the ceremony the father of the lady called on the registrar to make inquiries as to the fact, which he appeared to doubt. He was assured that everything had been done properly and legally, and to convince him, he whs shown the register. He eaid "Kapail" and clapping the book under his arm, was making off with it. This was too much for the registrar, who as coolly requested him to bring the book hack and put it down, but it was not till a threat of calling in the police seemed likely to be acted on that the native obeyed. His idea was that if he carried off the book it would act as a divorce. Meantime, he had the pirl locked up away from her husband. From inquiries made years afterwards, it appeared that tbe p&iv never went together again, the girl obeying her father, and (he husband submitting to the inevitable. Anyone wanting a nice handy farm should bear in mind that Mr Jas. Were's property of 91 acres will be sold by auction by Mr, Newton King, on Tuesdny next, when the whole of the dairy cattle and factory plant will also be sold. The sale will be held on the farm, which is situated within two miles of at ford.