GENERAL NEWS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 24 January 1912, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS.

A .Geneva watch, making firm>has just 'completed a wonderful watch, the only one of its kind iv the world. A pearl, ■which..weighs 45 grains and has a diameter of about half-an-inch, contains all the "works. • It took an employee of the firm fifteen months to hollow out the pearl and fix in th« ■wheels. The watch, which is guaranteed to keep good time and may be worn as a ringl on the finger, is for ■ale for £1200,

Since the Liberal Party came into power 21 years, ago, a variety of names has been applied to the different Ministries holding office. We have heard of Humanitarian Ministers, Spineless . Ministries, l?reak Ministries, Continuous Ministries, and many other allegedly apt appellations held to distinguish the different phases of the Liberal Administration; but we be -lieve the last and most appropriate name would be the "Limpet Ministry." Surely no well-bred, fully-developed limpet ever clung to a storm-beaten rock with the tenacity displayed by Sir Joseph Ward in clinging to the Treasury Benches. The firmer the effort at dislodgement the harder will the limpet cling to Ms position, aad ■o will Sir Joseph.—Hastings Tribune.

The voting recorded in connection with the raising of a loan by the Tailiarje Borough' Council surely goes rery near establishing a record. The proposal was to raise an additional £4000 to complete the waterworks scheme and other public works at present in progress. The result of the poll was that only nine ratepayers recorded their votes, six being .in favour and three against, the proposal therefore being earned. At first sight it may seem that the ratepayers of Taihape are peculiarly apathetic regarding their public affairs, but the real fact is that theie was a general consensus of opinion in favour of the Council's proposal (which is considered a wise step). and most of the satisfied ratepayers seemed to have left it to their neighbours to do the necessary voting, while it may be assumed that most of the opposing force rolled up. All the same, the neglect exhibited might have resulted in the defeat of the proposal, much to the chagrin of the great majority who wished to see it carried.

The anxiety which retailers and managers of shops experience with regard to keeping the Saturday's tak~ ings safe over the Sunday is once again brought forward through a suggestion by the chairman of the Newcastle Grocers' Association. His idea is new. It is that in a convenient centre in each district a bank should be open from eight to nine so that the money may be placed in safe custody till the Monday, when it could be passed over to the accounts of the various depositors .iv thoir various banks through the ordinary clearing house systena. The risks attaching to the present absence of facilties are emphasised almost every week by reports of the robbing of shopkeepers of their week-end takings. The objection to keeping banking, establishments in general open till late on Saturday evenings is thai of increased expense, and the keeping of a staff of clerks in attendance. The new suggestion offers one way in which the wishes of shopkeepers might bo met, at any rate to some extwnt.

A hostile reception was accouled to leaders of the Maori touring troupe on their return from London. The feeling amongst the Eotorua Maoris has been running very high for some time past concerning those who had organised the tour, and on arrival of the party" at thG Eotorua railway fetation there was no demonstration of welcome. The party proceeded to Whakarewarewa by special 'bus and there the pent up ill-feeling against the leaders took a^ensationaL turn. Angry words led.to blows. Maggie Papakura being chief storm centre. Weightier arguments than words were used to prass upon the well-known guide the opinions of her compatriots. A srister oE Aporo (who died at sea while crossing the Indian Ocean), aimed a blow at Maggie, when one of the troupe stepped in and warded it off with his arm, which was broken in three pieces. Mata Taupopoki was s.lso cut across the face, the weapon being a stick. Afterwards something in the nature "of a general melee is said to have taken place. Maggie Papakuia has not up to the present returned to her wliare in the native settlement, but is staying at the Geyser Hotel. c'