LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVI, Issue LVI, 29 June 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The non-commissioned officers of the Hawera N Rifle Volunteers will undergo the practical part of their examination at to-night's fortnightly parade. They have already been through the theoretical test. It is expected that some interesting results will be obtained from experiments in connection with the effect of radium on fish conducted at a well at Canterbury Museum. Investigations are being carried on by a committee appointed by the Canterbury Philosophical Institute. A Christchurch message says that a fairly large number of farmers and farm laborers were among the immigrants for Lyttelfcon by the lonic, but very few called at the Christchurch Labor Bureau, and it is presumed that they found employment by the time the boat reached Lyttelton. Mr W. J. Bell, curator of v Hawera Acclimatisation Society's fish" ponds, lias been busy of late tz-apping trout at the electric light dam for the purpose of stripping the fish for ova. The other night someone interfered with the work of the curator, setting free the entrapped fish and doing damage to the extent of £3 or £4. Enquiries are being made into the affair. As will be seen, by advertisement on page -3, the Tanekaha Sports Club's annual sports will not be held to-mor-row (Wednesday), but have been postponed to Wednesday, July 21, 1909. Nominations will now be received up to Saturday, July 17. The committee are working enthusiastically, and they are confident that, given a fine day, /the gathering will be most successful. " Mr A. W. Hogg had a demonstrative

' reception upon returning to Masterton, In the course of an interview he said he intended to make a comprehensive tour of New Zealand in the cause of Labor. He had received pressing invitations to deliver addresses from all parts of the Dominion, and these ho proposed to accept. It was his belief that such a course of action would have a reviving effect on the Labor cause in New Zealand and would eventually lead to a vigorous independent Labor party.

The old Presbyterian Sunday school, which was sold on Saturday, was built principally of matai. It is over 30 years since the building was erected, and some of the timber is still in a good statte of preservation. In 1875, the time the church was built, timber cost about 14s per 100 feet, and it is interesting to note that 14s per 100 feet is being asked for matai to-day. It must be remembered that the timber used in the building of the church in 1875 was mixed matai — hand-sawn. To-day ordinary building matai costs j 14s and heart of matai 19s per 100 feet. These are yard prices; if the timber were obtained direct from the mills the cost would be a little less.

A rare opportunity is offered to the public of Hawera and district of securing winter drapery and clothing at sensational prices, never before heard of in Hawera at J. C. Gillett's Annual Stocktaking Sale, which commences on Saturday, June 26. Every class of goods greatly reduced. The rare bargains offered are sure to be snapped up, and that quickly, so come early and avoid disappointment. — Advt. A lot of Rugs, Carpets, and Mats going for almost cost price at Arthur's Annual Sale. — Adv^.

" as / mentioned in Oamaru (says the jrth Otago Times) that large uuir .ocrs of the officers in tile Stock DePP p .rtment in the South Island had received notice of their dismissal as from 1 August 31st next. It is said that the •>olice have to fulfil the duties formerly undertaken by the Stock Department. The classes in wool-classing started by Wanganui Education Board are evidently meeting with success. The attendances, according to latest figures, are: — Waituna West 55, Feilding 29, Kimbolton 24, Pohangina 24, Apiti 23, Cheltenham 21, Sandon 20, Ashhurst 10, Halcombe 5; total 211. The milk-testing competition at the Manawatu Show, open to farmers' sons and daughters and public and high school students, attracted 32 entries. The winner was Mabel Wood, of i^ie Ashhurst School, the second prize being divided by Ralph Kime (Kaponga), Walter Booth (Cheltenham), Robert Davis (Ashhurst), and L. B. Wynn West (Palmerston). Tlie prizes were £1 os first, 15s second, 10s third, 5s fourth. Four pupils from Kaponga School took part in the competition. A further letter on tlie subject of the Wellington-Taranaki Brown Shield challenge match (Association) has been received by the secretary of the Wellington Association (Mr B. L. Salmon) from the secretary of the Taranaki Association. The writer expresses his determination to do all in his power to get over the difficulty with regard to the grounds, and to see that the team is despatched from Taranaki. "Last year," he states, "I got the team away to Dunedin in the face of what seemed insuperable difficulties, and I am not going to be beaten this year." He confidently adds that the team which is to meet Wellington will be a first-class one, and "Wellington will have to look to its laurels." Replying to a question as to the number of clearing sales of dairy herds this winter, Mr Newton King's representative (New Plymouth) writes to a contemporary as follows: — "Re clearing sales for the coming season. The number mentioned is not . at all unusual ; on the contrary, it is considerably less than usual. Last season, during the months of June, July, August and September, I held no less than 70 clearing sales of dairy stock. Tlie

falling-off this year is probably owing to less farms changing hands, the difficulty of finance being no doubt responsible for this. I have a number of other sales in view, and there will no doubt be a lot more to come yet, but I do not anticipate much more than half

as many as last year. The necessity for providing for incurable cases has been a long-standing grievance of the North Canterbury Hospital Board, on the ground that the hospital should be kept for those who can be made well, rather than for people who need merely a little and not highlyskilled attention. The Chairman of the Board referred to the grievance at a meeting -last week. "I must complain bitterly," he said, "in regard to the large number of incurable patients in the hospital. There are now about thirty-two cases, about a dozen of which are consumptives. We have appealed to- the Charitable Aid Board times out of number to take them off our hands, because it is an extravagant method of keeping these patients. The Charitable Aid Board has had a building completed for the purpose since March, but up till now has not been able to relieve us of the responsibility of keeping incurables." In connection with the unemployed difficulty at present existing in Auckland, it is pathetic to learn that for the position of caretaker of the Auckland Museum — a salary of about £130, including a free hoti.se — no fewer than 178 applications were received. Whether the majority of these arc out of work is not known. Between do and 50 of the applicants gave their calling as carpenters, while more than 20 were painters, and nearly an equal number were engineers or engine-drivers. Plumbers, bricklayers, wheelwrights, mill,- hands, storomen, and general laborers were also well represented. There were over 20 clerks, and there was a sprinkling of educated people who had known better days. Among these latter was a Finlander, who claimed to be a graduate of the University of Helsingfors, and who gave as one reason -why ho should be appointed the fact that he was conversant with at least five modern languages. After imposing a sentence of ten years' imprisonment on a young man, Robert R. Caulton, convicted/at Napier on various indictments of indecency, Mr Justice Chapman, after referring to old and modern ideas about punishment, said he was unable^ to properly measure punishment in the sense in which it was understood with regard to this case ; but he wouM consider it his duty to make a full' report of it to the authorities, in order to bring them face to face with one aspect of the inadequacy of the social system. .There were mental hospitals for the insane, and-pri-sons for criminals, but there was no provision for dealing with this phase of nature, as seen in the prisoner, which was admitted to be worse. Whether the Legislature and reformers in the future would be able to devise some institution fitting these cases was a matter that required grave and persistent attention. He would carefully report the whole of the circumstances of this case to the Attorney-General, who was devoting himself to finding a means of imprisonment more satisfactory as a reformative systeita. Concluding, his Honor said the feature of leniency was not consistent with what he considered his duty. He proposed to inflict a sentence so that the young man would come out of prison at an age when there would be a physical change in his. existence, which he hoped would have some effect on him. He desired to disabuse the public mind of the idea that there was any desire to inflict vindictive punishment. On 1 the two indictments he passed the maximum sentence of ten years' imprisonment, and on the other two charges sentences of two years each. These sentences were made concurrent. THE VALUE OF PATENTS. The U.S. Commissioner of Patents stated if a patent is worth anything it can, if properly managed, easily be sold for from £2000 to £10,000. If you have invented any new article that supplies a public need, write Henry Hughes, Patent Agent, Queen's Chambers, Wellington. Established! 882. ■ "Advice io Inventors"' posted frce.—Advt. 1

Leciuring at Dunedin on "Insect Peats and Fungus Diseases" Mr T. W. Kirk (Government Biologist) said the introduction of ladybirds had averted a loss of £1,000,00 by the birds destroying the blueguln blight. Mr Kirk also pointed out that the gardens, etc., of the Dominion covered an area of 48,572 acres, and tlie estimated loss from insect pests affecting these was £384,000 per annum. These figures showed theimportance of the subject. In Hawera district, although the blight had got a tremendous hold when the ladybirdsI 'arrived," the clearance of the blightwas very rapid. "I do not think, although I spokeat twenty-five meetings, that the subject has been sufficiently dealt with," says Mr ]VlcNab of his universal train-

ing campaign, " and had it -not been

for my intended trip to the Old Country, I would have continued my campaign, as I had no fewer than twentyeight invitations that had to be declined. If, on my rcturn^from England, I find that the subject has not been dealt with by Parliament, it is more than probable that the work of the last five weeks will be continued next autumn, in those places I have so far been unable to visit." The quarterly, meeting of the Loyal Union Lodge of Oddfellows was held on Monday evening, when there was a good attendance of members and visitors. N.GL Bro. Hayward presided. After ordinary business had been transacted, the election of officers took place and resulted as follows: — G.M., Bro. G. Hayward; N.G., Bro. M. Barraclough; V.G., Bro. A. L. Jennings; E.S., Bro. P. M. Pratt. It was decided to meet the 1.0. G.T. Lodge in a card tournament next Wednesday evening. One candidate was proposed for membership. During the evening the sum of £65 was received in contributions. Less spirits, less beer, less tea, and more tobacco were consumed by the- " average New Zealander during 1908than during the preceding -year. The average consumption of liquors per head, fell off as follows :— Spirits, 2.46 to 2.45gallons; ale and beer, .42 gallons to .40gallons; tea, 6.931b to 6.411b. With regard to tobacco, there was an increasefrom 7.151b per head to 7.331b. . The- s average wine consumption was the samelast year as in 1907 — average, .22 gal—' lons per head. In the report showing, these interesting facts, which was laid' on the table of the House, beer apparently does not include New Zealand brewed beer, which, was consumed at an average rate of 13.8 gallons per head. The following figuresshow what New Zealand as a wholedrank and smoked last year :^-Spirits, . 751,605 gallons; tobacco, 2,247,1011b; wine, 149,107 gallons; ale and beer, 271,780. gallons; tea, 6,470,5521b; NewZealand brewed beer, 9.347,567 gallons-. The Home steamers which will reach. Wellington this week are bringing, small numbers of immigrants to theDominion. By the Morayshire, due tomorrow, about 150 are travelling, of whom, however, only 47 are assisted: passengers. Among the forty-seven are-twenty-four women and twelve young children, so that the batch only includes . eleven men. Twenty-three arenominated by friends from this end, and have employment assured to them,so that the vessels' assisted passengerswill not create much disturbance in the labor market. Among the women are* eight domestics and one dairymaid, andfive wives are coming out to rejoin 1 their husbands, while the men includeseven farmers and three farm laborers. The Turakina is expected to reach. Wellington on Wednesday and is bringing about 110 in the third class. These \ include fifty-four assisted passengers, of ' whom twenty-one are women and eighteen are young children. Among the 1 women are eight domestics, and six 1 • wives coming out with children to rejoin their husbands. The fifteen men: include five' laborers and four farmers^ On Saturday it- was reported from Paris that the Blue Hope diamond had been sold for £16,000. It was announced last year that this famous diamond,, known as the Blue diamond, owing to- r its remarkable color, had been sold to the Sultan of Turkey. The urice then stated was £80,000, but doubts weresubsequeutly thrown <>n the-transac-tion. This diamond, which weighs 44£ carets, once belonged to the crown of France. It was stolen in the reign of" Louis XVI, and by some means got toEngland in the eighteenth century, during the French Revolution. It wasbought' in the nineteenth century by the banker Hope, and at his death became the heirloom of the family, themembers of which died one after another under tragic circumstances. Superstitious fears induced the remaining members of the Hope family to sell the diamond, which found its way to America. In the recent financial crisisMr Franckel, an American, sold it to a French firm, which subsequently was reported to have sold it to Abdul Hamid. If Abdul Hamid— since deposed— was the buyer, then this gem of doubtful omen would seem to be keeping up its reputation. ' The following new books have been received at Public Library: — "Kinqsmead" (Baroness yon Hutten), "TheThree Brothers" (Philpotts), "An Impending Sword" (Vachell), "Priscilla and Charybdis" (F. Moore), "TheGreater Power" (H. Bindloss), "Queen Kate" (Garvice), "Into the Primitive" (R. A. Bennett), "Adventures of Louis Blnke" (Becke), "Rose of the Wilderness" (Crockett), "The Old Man in the Corner" (Baroness Orczy), "Black Magic" (M. Bowen), "At 'the Foot of the Rainbow" (Gene Porter), "The Circular Staircase" (M. E. Rinehart,), "The Wingless Victory" (M. P. Willcocks), "Days that Speak" (E. Goode), "The Golden Key" (Desmond Coke), "TheWitching Hour" (A. Thomas), "A Horse's Tale" (Mark Twain), "The City of the Golden Gate" (E. E. Green), "The Fear of Life" (G. Maxwell), "A Victor of Salamis" (W. S. Davis), "TheGolfing Pilgrim" (H. G. Hutchinson), "The Serious Wooing" (J. O. Hobbes), "Little Devil Doubt" (Oliver Onions), "My Lady of Shadows" (Oxenham), "The Sword of the Lord" (J. Hocking), "The Royal End" (Hy. Harland), "Katherine the Arrogant" (Croker), "The Last Persecution" (S. N. Sedgwick), "On the Knees of the Gods" (A. B. Dodd).

What a beautiful child, but how' pale and anaemic she looks. Give her Steams' Wine of Cod Liver Extract. It will put rich, red blood in her veins, and make her a strong healthy child; sho will like to take Steams'. Wine, „ tuo. - •; *

The Otakeho Hall fortnightly dance takes place on July 2. It is stated, says the Wescpmt Times, that in a town not very far from Westport the disciples of Bacillus have formed a union whose main object is to boycott on week-days those ju^licans who will aiot open their bars en Sundays. In the Divorce Court, New Plymouth, yesterday, Stella May Perrett ■was granted a divorce against George Perrett. A decree nisi w.as also granted against Alfred T. Maile, on the application of Maud'M. Maile. A mammoth yield of big potatoes is reported from South Australia, Messrs Pope, of Mount Baiker, are reported ' to have discovered a new variety ot the tuber, one of which turned the scale at 41b loz, while seven of them weighed 31b. The whole crop when harvested yielded at the rate of 80 tons to the acre, and the eating quality of the potatoes was said to be equal to the best of other varieties. It appears that the report that the Native Health Department was to be "retrenched" out of existence is mistaken. The department, under Dr Pomare, is to be made a distinct branch and its functions extended. Speaking of the changes, the Minister for Public Health (Mr Budclp) repeated his assurance that neither the Public Health De- i partment nor the native branch of the work would suffer in efficiency. "There will be no case of epidemic either among Europeans or Maoris," he said, ] 'without the district medical officer being on - the spot within a few hours." Operations at the Oil and Freehold Co. V bore (says the Taranaki News) continue satisfactory. The bore is now down about 1300 feet, and the indications were never more promising. Yesterday oil in fair quantities was brought to the surface, warranting the belief that the main measures are not far away. The manager proposes to utilise the oil for fuel, thus reducing the cost of driving the engine, and is about ;fco 1 construct a tank, for the purpose. Up to the present no attempt has been made to save the oil and separate it from the water. For some time hard rock was encountered by the borers, but this has given way to softer material, thus enabling headway to be made more rapidly. In the Supreme Court, New Plymouth, on Monday a nineteen-year-old M^irl, May Jenkins, pleaded guilty to and" uttering a cheque for £1 06s. She was admitted to probation for Tl2 months and ordered to pay £3, costs Vi>f .the prosecution, within six months. Percy F. L. Hooker, charged with making a false declaration under the Marriage Act, to the effect that a girl he proposed to marry was 21 years of age whereas she was only 16, was ordered to come up for sentence when called upon.' Albert Arthur Todd, a boy of 16, who pleaded guilty to the theft of two cheques from postal packets, was also ordered to come up for' sentence ■when called upon.

There will be a clay pigeon shooting (sweepstakes) at Normanby to-morrow afternoon. Misses Brunette and Green remind invitation holders that their next dan"c will be held in the Foresters' Hall tomorrow (Wednesday) evening. Through a misunderstanding a local in yesterday's issue announced the dance as a "Victoria dance."