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Mataura Ensign, 13 May 1910, Page 4

The Moana, due at Bluff on Monday next, is bringing 134 bags of United Kingdom and foreign mails. At yesterday's meeting of the Southland Hospital. Board the treasurer reported that the receipts for the month of April amounted to £2287 Is, and expenditure for the same period £1330 13s lid. The Finance Committee recommended that accounts amounting to £1126 18s 9d be passed for payment. As the Lakes and Gore Hospitals are out of the Invercargill old age pension district, the Southland Charitable Aid Board, on the suggestion of the secretary (Mr T. Prvde), who wished to simplify the drawing of the monthly instalments from pensioners, j'esterday appointed Drs Thomson, Douglas, and Rogers to be the Board's agents at Arrow, Queenstown and Gore respectively, to obtain the usual warrants and draw the pensions on behalf of the Board.

At the invitation of the Marlborough Agricultural and Pastoral Society, a number of farmers in that district have signified their willingness to experiment in the cultivation of sugar beet. Already a quantity of seed has been distributed, which will be sown in due course, in ground considered suitab!e for tne growing of sugar beet. It is considered by many practical farmers that this can be made a very valuable addition to the products of the pro-, vinee, and they are consequently enthusiastic over the benefits which they hope to derive from it. As a fodder it is claimed to be exceedingly \iseful, and there is no reason to doubt that after a few successful experiments have been made, there will be many more farmers who will include sugar beet in their annual crops. During the week Mr W. A. MeNaught, wool specialist, under the aegis of the Riversdale, Balfour and Waikaka branches of the Farmers' Union, gave demonstrations on woolclassing by a new method—viz., by means of a chart. Mr McXaught, who is the inaugurator of technical wool education in this Dominion, detailed what had been done during the last 13 years, and how his and all manufacturers' buyers desire was to bring about a uniform system of wool-classing for the wool-growing world. By the birth ■>f iiis wool-classing chart the fairway, is now open to all. Mr McXaugli't then proceeded to practically demonstrate how anyone with ordinary intelligence could class a clip to the satisfaction of the most fastidious manufacturer's buyer. The explanations were clear and effective, and were followed with interest by those present. At the close of each lecture orders were booked. At future dates he will give lectures on various matters pertaining to sheer# and wool, illustrated by his powerful* lantern slides and microscopes. For Children's Hacking Cough at night, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, U 6d, 2s 6d.

Ail unfortunate incident occurred at the Gore Coursing Club's mooting yesterday which gave rise to si good deal of discussion amongst the onlookers. It appears that when Mr Pope's dog, Golden Reef, which had been showing somewhat good form, was brought out of his kennel to run off his semi-final heat with Fusee, he was noticed to be unwell. However, he was slipped and ran some distance Ijehirid Fusee, when he lay down and expired. It was soon ascertained that the animal had been poisoned. The dog during the day occupied the same kennel or box as Mr Mapletoft's Quartercaste, but nothing occurred to the latter. Another dog showed symptoms of poisoning during the day, but after treatment recovered. Dr Matthews examined the contents of the stomach of the dead animal, which gave strychnine reaction.

Some extraordinary fly-casting was witnessed early in March at the Tiraux Pigeons in the Bois do Boulogne, Paris, where a tournament was held under the auspices of the Casting Club of France. Mr John James Hardy, British champion salmon and trout liy caster, gave an exhibition of fly-cast-ing, for which he used what is probably the lightest fishing rod in the world. It was made of Palakona bamboo, 7ft in length, and weighed only 2:}oz. With this rod Mr Hardy cast 25 yards, which is much further than the average cast of an expert fisherman using a rod three times this weight. The rod is Mr Hardy's own invention. The champion's nephew, Mr Laurence Hardy, with a rod weighing just ovet 4oz, cast thirty and a-half yards. He then gave an exhibition with a special rod fitted with a reel controlled .by a brake. With this reel Mr Laurence Hardy cast Aoz of bait the remarkable distance of 60 yards.

The Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), in an interview with a 'New Zealand Times' representative, estimated that a saving of £210,000 had been effected on annual appropriations. There had been an increase of £89,100 011 the working r always and post and telegraph accounts due entirely to the greater volume of business transacted, necessitating, of course, increased expenditure to cope with it. Though the Post and Telegraph Department's figures were coupled as they were with the sale of stamps, indicated a reduced revenue for the year, the figures for the Department's working showed an excess of £46,000 in revenue compared with the previous yearly period. The Customs decrease was not unexpected in view of remissions at the rate of £405,000 per annum made by the tariff of 1908 and the fact that imports last year went down considerably. "The gratifying fact remains," said Sir Joseph, "that the revenue of all the departments has increased by £237,076. It will be found on examining the expenditure that in eleven departments there is a decrease as against the preceding year of £210,223, while the increase in five departments totals £lll,253. ' If you deduct the increase from the decrease you will find a net annual saving on actual appropriations of £98,000."

Bedrooms to let. Rialto sale to-morrow. Coach engaged for Gore Golf Club. Kerr and McLeod have farm and house for sale. St. George's sheep tongues make an enjoyable lunch. J. C. Abernethy opons book-keeping class on Tuesday. Bank of N.S.W. removes to new buildings on Tuesday. A bold front bears the cold's brunt—see H. and J. Smith's advt. N.Z. Loan and M.A. Co. hold clearing sale at Charlton on May 19.