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Mataura Ensign, 19 March 1909, Page 2

1 he fire insurance companies opwatiui; in Now Zealand paid out the sum of 1-jli.uOn in claims during thr- fortnight "ii.bd oil Saturday last. Marlon is nndcrgoi! l .::- the e>:pt i nen ,- p a water tamim-. V\'ntr-r i., r \rted to ihc town and .sold at a halfpenny pot* ltpUoii. Tlio bowling green is in an nil-, toriunato condition, nearly all the grasai iiuviug been worn off.

The "mutton-birders" expect to leaVe about the olid of this week for tho scene of their annual operations. \\ ithin J. ho pad. l'ortuight between 6000 and 7000 carcases of mutton have been railed from Oaniant to Port Chalmers for shipment for London. llto late Mr Robert. Irvino (says the 'Lyttelton I inies I has bequeathed a sunt of i'Boo to provide bursaries for doserving theological students from .South Canterbury.

It is reported that, numerous acts of vandalism ale bemg perpetrated iu tho Buller tiorgc, the beaut.v of that fartamed valley being destroyed in its prettiest, part by tires which have taken strips of a half-mile, a mile and more, light up tile cliffs, converting the beau. titnl bush scenery into a desolate waste.

We Are Keeping Busy.—Every day sees us busy—engaged in carrying, Customs, and express forwarding work. Our cionls are delighted with out service, and every day send new peoplo along. May wo assist you? We pass entries, forward goods, remove fnrnitnro, store goods, provide sample rooms. Our facilities aro unequalled, our methods sure, our rates reasonable. — I'he XZ. Express Co., Ltd. 1 February, which is recognised as the opening month of the fish season, returned £'Boo to Bluff fishermen, and but for ouo or two draw-bucks it would havo turned the scale at a thousand, says the 'Bluff I'ress.' Want of hands lott some of the island boats undermanned. l''ish feed was plentiful, and whilo that brought the fish .shoaling inshore, combined with exceptional hot weather, it prevented them biting as freely as they might have done. An evidence of tho progress of business in (<oro is shown in the fact tliat John Jamie, tho well-known watchmaker and jowellcr, has found it necessary owing to extended trndo to remove to moro convenient and centrally, situated promises in Holland's Buildings, on tho opposite side of Main Street, noxt to Air Clias. Steans. His watchmaking and jewellery manufacturing department has increased so largely that ho finds his present, workshop too small, and in tho new premises will locato tho workroom upstairs. Ho intends to open out a complete new stuck in the new promises, and with that object will hold a sale of his present stock, which he is prepared to dispose of at 10 per cent, below cost - Ad rt.

Many householders are ii|i in amis reWirdinc 1 lio way in which butchers arc keeping up (lie retnjl price of meal (says i 111' 'Chi i-tcliurch Press') despite the fact Iliiit (lie prices realised at recent stuck -ales haw materially fallen of late. One •ijjnilicaut. Ia el is pointed out. Durint; onie years [nisi very lea butchers liave ••nine tn Ki"i<' on account el' financial <lll- - due to slackness of trade, and ihe trade lias been eiijoyin;; a wry fair measure ul prosperity, and tliat at a lime when the retailers had to pay very much mure lor llicir meal llian what I hey pay now. J I', then, if is argued, (lie butcher* could can-y oil profitably at a time when meal was ileal' to then), Ihe.y must lie now reaping more than a reasonable prolit at a time when meat is cheap, their prices to tliu coiisumer rouiainins constant.

There is not, wanting evidence that tlio Maoris in the Wairarapa aro hecoming a rather more wealthy people than has been tlio case with them in tlio past or elsewhere even at present' (remarks the 'Wairarapa Ago'). There «ero .several hundred Maoris gathered ,it To Ore Ore on the occasion of the visit, of the Hon. A. T. Ngata, and ihero were many indubitable signs of prosperity, even afllnence, while ol indications of poverty there were iwsitively none. Motor cars darted up to tlio pa at frequent, intervals, crowded with Maori folk whose general appearance oetokeiicd that they were well provided with worldly wealth. Whether this satisfactory state <d tilings for the race is attributable to increased thrift, increased land values, or increased industry is a inatler for conjecture.

Before the American fleet- eaillc to New Zealand Mrs Grace Neil, who has just returned from a visit to .Montana, wrote to the editor of [lie 'Butte Miner' dating that she. had pictures of New Zealand and ottering to give them to iiim, together with some information about, the country, for publication when the fleet reached these shores (says the 'lj.vttellon Times'). The editor did not reply, but when the 'Miner' announced that the Heel bad come to this Dominion it, published its own pictures of .New Zealand. They represented a few -mall reed houses erected on poles several feet from the ground. It was stated that these were the houses of the New Zealand fishermen. In Mr CpUm.Sinclair's recent historical work she read that New Zealand had been founded by convict- colonists, which accounted for •.ho democratic resistance to tyranny in Xew Zealand,

A novel method of dealing with the .•aterpillar pest lias been recounted to a representative of ihu 'XorLli Otago limes.' In ilie early days of the North iHago district caterpillars were a scourge of more dreaded proportions than ill these days of tho small bird |"'st, and a. larnier determined to try i method lio had seen in operation in South Australia, lie noticed that lor i Unit a chain wide and several chains long myriads of caterpillars had settled down on his crop and were playing iavoe with tho heads of grain Ho took the rope reins from a team, and he and lis ploughman, stretching these across the alfocted part of the crops at a level ■ ibont six inches below tho tops of the 'leads, ( marched along with the rope taut. The grain bent down as the rope passed a 101 l {j, and when freed of tho, pressure sprang bach with a jerk, ! 111-owing every caterpillar to ' the mound. Natural instinct warned the insects of danger and they swarmed out >1 tho crop and on to the road, when nil ipnortuno north-wester shrivelled them up. Cnc ol ihe need:, ol file day in I'e--111 to agriculture —an opportunity ot -'.iving Ilie sons ol the settler or tho •■ity man a sound training in rural pur■uil.s -was referred to by tho Hon. T. Mackenzie in addressing a gathering ol settlers at Werarou experimental .ration. .Many parents, said Mr Mackenzie, were desirous of teaching their -Oils agriculture. hut at the present tinio there were only two ways open to them and both were unsatisfactory. One was the system of eadetship, which meant learning nothing and paying a groat deal lor it. and the other was that of allowing a lad to rough it—not that there was any objection to roughing it—and this without receiving anv genuine instruction. This. .Mr .Mackenzie felt persuaded, the Minister lor Agriculture (Sic Joseph Ward; would, i;lii|rnvor to correct liy establishing ii hum ol .suificient an*,! where the services ol" cadets be utilised in <;iviu£ lliem n praeiica! into farming, in addition to receiving a proper training in the principles ol ;ip;ricu]ture. Ihe people must he «;ot on the laud declnret 1 Mr Mackenzie anil lortuinilcly there was a great. desire <»n the part of those possessed ol I and determination to (al;e up the cultivation ol the ••nil.

i Ailvicn \U V futute u.k I" lll<j younger irenci-ation b\ Mi .ljMiM ,s > Allen, M.!\, w lit'ii ill (ho I'Mh amii\tT>!ii'y of the arrival ot the rally s,, tlU'i',s ut \\ iti koua it i on Wednesday. Mi Allen remarked Hud )n that old litu which many of his hearers had lived, and lived well, 1 here had been alter all .'i (,'uod deal thai was pleasurable Tlio work they had done had been hard, and l.lu»re bad been a kuiml dual i'f il, l>nl it had its humorous side. There w«.soiiii'lhmg the early settlors in their wisdom might do. He t a note of warning should hi* sounded, and who eouH do *o Wot I i»r than Iheyr They had not conn l nut here to amuM» themselves, and he was at raid that 11n- early settlovs had done so much )'or the country thai there was only tir> liith' lor the youn.s' men and women !o do. He had spoken of a humorous »jde in the old lite, but I hey knew—pt*rliups only too well—thut 1 hi- life had another side, a snrioii- side, a responsible side, a real side. They :i !l realised that energy, initiati\<\ perseverance. and haul work had been the eardina! virtues ol' the early settlers, and it' tin' people oi New Zealand had any duty to do at all it was to see that this re.il >ide of life was not t'ureotten by their children. This meant that their energies nis:-) not only bo directed towards tin- development of the country, but al-o towards a roal development of th" p<<jph'. Thrown into contact with ■' hn »a>, lu- r-.ubl not but bo fr.ir'.'i to lcaliso that u'uuy of the evils th- World vrrt; er-mto life in Z.i-.v Zealand, and it >\ » "iio of tho boundeu duties of paroat Lop thu path their children Woul.l i r*aU as clean abd honorably aa tlint of their forefathers,

A whale 45h, long gut msboro and was stranded tin- other day six miles north of C'astlepuint Tlio birtb-rato for tho Dominion last year was '.'".■ to pur thoußand, Tho Auckland, Ylellingtou aud Christchurch rates (his year are over tho average and the Duueditt rate below it. A message has been received in Auckland to the eilect that the total insurances ou the hull aud ear®) of the wrecked barque Forrest Half amounted to over 110,000.

It is expected that the (.on. electric light alteration scheme will bo put in hand on Monday. The convenience of tho public and the users, of current will bo studied iu every w ay, and it is not anticipated that any serious inlorleronco with tho ordinary course of lighting will bo nocessary.

News For Married People.—Shifting is troublesome work, isn't it!' But you can minimise tho bother considerably begetting tho N.Z. Express Co. to movo you. They'll take down your furniture, pack it securely, and deliver it safely either locally or throughout the Dominion. If necessary, they can store it for you. If you contemplate shifting see litem and get quotations. Office: Main Streot. -

A claim lor JU:!00 compensation has been tiled bv Frederick Powell, shepherd, against Mr Graham Holmes, ol Pigeon Bay, Canterbury, sheep farmer. Tho claimant alleged that ho was thrown from a horse when mustering and dislocated his right knee, the result being a total incapacity for work as a shepherd. Tho New Zealand draughts championship is to be played in Hole this year. This event takes place once a year in different centres and an ell'ort should bo made by all lovers of tho guuie to make the function a thorough success, as it is a distinction for tho town. The secretary of tho local club (Mr G. McKay) has received hearty support so far, which it is to bo hoped will be continued.

A deputation which met. tho Prime Minister at Christchurch yesterday complained that iu tho personnel of the Timber Commission there was no South Island timber merchant. Sir .Joseph Ward promised to give the matter consideration. Ho had not, he said, iu all liis experiences ol Commissions had a more difficult, task than the setting up ol the Timber Commission, mviug to tho multiplicity of interest), involved.

To sec tomatoes at their host (writes tho ' Dominion V tinveiling correspondent) olio should pay u visit, to Mi Fowler's place, about, two miles on tin Marlon side ol Onepuhi bridge, There they arc by the thousand, over two miles ol plants it tho rows were placed continuously. 'l'hero is 11 wonder!nl crop this year, the hot season having been an ideal olio lor tile tomato. They are planted 18 inches upart, in rows lour loot six inches wide, and are all grown on tho single-stem .system.

There is at present growing in a garden in Dunediii a remarkable jHilalo plant which has been atlractiiiji a good deal ol interest (says the 'Otago Daily 'limes'). Its exact species has nol yet been ascertained, but the seed was one that happened t<i In- selected tor plantill); from a small lot purchased I nun a grocer. When the exceptionally strong growth ol the shaw was lirst noticed its owner bugan to tie and prop it up. with the result that the dozen stalks oi which it is composed have now attaineil a height of well over Bft. The pot a locs are being carclully Ucpl and results next season will be watched with interest.

An appreciative audience assembled in tho Town Hall last evening to witness the liual exhibition of West's lectures. Incident and variety were features of tho programme, tho lilms depicting tho sketch entitled "Lady Letmer's .Jewels" being perhaps the host of a wide range ol subjects. Humor and pathos found a place among tho pictures shown, and interest never tlagged. The numbers submitted byDo Green's Orchestra materially added to the enjoyment of the evening, this excellent coinbinaiton rendering icry lino music.

Probably the most remarkable haul ol lisli yet recorded in Wellington was netted by local tisherineii riff Flat Point a little to tho south of Peiicarrow Head—tho other morning. J''ivo big trawlers, each lilted with an rnxiliary engine, came into Wellington laden down to the gunwale with wharehou lish—one of the linest boiling and baking lisli that New Zealand waters produce. The lish (which average aboul 81b each,) are iu splendid condition. It is the intent ion ol the fishermen to send several tons of wharehou to Sydney by tho next direct boat. A butcher in Ualclutba. .Mr Jume.% Wyber,. hail an alarming experience last week (reports the 'Free Press'). The ('tis Company had been effecting some repairs to the meter and main and bad disconnected llie pipes serving the shop. On Friday at midday Wyhcr turned on the gas at flic meter, which is iu Ihe front shop underneath the window slope, not Knowing that the pipes were still disconnected, lie nciit into the back and tried to light up the engine without result. Coming into the shop ln> tried one of the gas jets, still without avail, and then thinking that perhaps it might, be caused bv air iu the pipe lie went back to the engine and tried again. Coming into the Iront shop he tried to light the gas jet in the window, still with no result. Stooping down with the match in the far-away hand (the cupboard iu which the meter is placed being unite dark) he got the 'door half open when a terrific explosion took place and he was (lung back, the front, of the shop being one huge llaine. With great presence ol mind Wyber made a dive at the meter through the fire and shut the gas oil at. the main, undoubtedly saving a very serious conllagrafion. 11c was very severely burnt lioih on the hand, arm and face, but fortunately the explosion caught him side on, otherwise lie might have lost his sight. Speaking at the dinner tendered to the judges and others by Iho officials ol the Kaikoura Agricultural and Pastoral Society the other evening tho Hon. (!. Kowlds Oliuiater for Education) said that New Zealand had reason to congratulate itsell that tho Government, was so much and so exactly what the people asked for and was so responsive to tho will of the people. There was an absence of the great dominating influences which operated so tremendously in American politics. The Go\eminent, lie claimed, had been a clear reflex of the mind and will of th« people as a whole. Parliament was tho direct creation of the voters and the Government, had to depend upou the support of Parliament for its existence. The Government was a democratic Government ; some people would say a very radical Government. In carrying on the machinery of the Government ami endeavoring to secure the best, for all it frernientl" became necessary for the Government to tread on the corns ol some people. The compulsory grading ol butter bad been criticised in the past but it was now recognised that io that whs due the very largo increase in i lie revenue of dairy farmers. There bad been a howl about dairy regttln- < lions, bill he predicted that if any of those 'Oeseiit lived to sec those regulations in operation they would find that the same unanimity would exist in regard t«. them. In conclusion Mr Niwl.ls said that the present Government had continued in a fairly healthy 1 and vigorous condition and he expected I that it would be found in that position tor a tew years longer.