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Mataura Ensign, 15 January 1913, Page 4

A new device of the hoodlum is in evidence in Wellington. Some miscreant lias been employing his time in secretly cutting the tyres of the motor delivery vans in the city. The tyres on some of these vehicles have been viciously slashed. A first off on dor from the country was charged at the Gore Court this j morning with drunkenness on the railway platform yesterday. The accused did! not appear, but through his solicitor (Mr D. M. Cochrane) pleaded guilty and was fined 10s and 2s costs. Mr G. B. Paterson, J.P., presided. Rev. J. S. Hoban, preaching, at Ballarat (Vic.), exhorted mothers anxious to see their daughters marry money or position not to attempt the business of choosing husbands for them. It had not been don© for themselves. Their daughters did not want it either. He did not blame the daughter, for it was* she who had to live with the man. Twelve months have elapsed sin<v the date of the general election (say~ the 'Evening Post,' the ballot pa per-s from all over the Dominion havo bee'; burned at the Wellington destructor, in the presence, as required by statute, of the Clerk of the Writs and the Clerk of the House of Representatives. The weight of the paper exceeded fiV3 tons.

At the Feikl'ing Police Court defendant asked for an adjournment to consult <a. solicitor. Sergeant <Bowt'er,: "I don't know what he wants a. solicitor for. The whole thing is in a nutshell." Mr Poynton, SM.: : Solicitors have an ingenious way <-f getting things out of nutshells." 'Sergeant Bowden : "They usually got the whole kernel."

,-it is now some time since the Department of Justice decided to do anything to the Mataura police station and residence and the work of erecting new quarters will be commenced in the near future. The old buildings have been disposed of, the successful purchaser being Mr P. Larking, of Mataura, who has to have them r< / moved within three weeks' time.

A Manaia business man, who has had some previous success in mechanical invention (says the 'Wlaimate Witness') is at present engaged in devising an appliance that will regulate the automatic opening and shutting of gates at railway crossings. Should, he succeed in the accomplishment of his purjx)so he will, in addition to preventing loss of life and human suffering, have made a short cut to fortune.

/The value of the rateable lands of the Borough of Mataura for the year pnded March 31, 1912, are as follows: value £183,320, unimproved value £71,928, valuation of improvements £111,392. The values of the lands exempt and non-rateable are £7934. £3855 and £4079-respectively - , making a total of £191.254, £75,783, and £115,474 respectively. In addition to the above +eo borough exemptions are appro--*r"->teLv.£ssoo, which leaves a net rat : nine for the unimprovedl system of •* little over £70,000.

In an intei vVv Auckland rogardinst the <*reat inbiso in th? number of telephones used Han. It. H. Rhodes (Postmaster-General) stated that the Auckland City Exchange now operated 3811 connections, 1149 extensions and 96 burcoux—a total of 5055 telephones. Ther - * are now 38 exchanges in the Auc.k'and district and worked by them are 5861 connections. 1297 extensions, and 588 bureaux—a total of 1776 telephones : n use. The increase in four years is equivalent to nearly 90 per cent. The Minister again referred to the installation of automatic svstems. He remarked that simultaneously with the work of installing the new telephone system arrangements will be made for placing lead cables widerground. There were too many cables ground as far as possible. There were too many cables strung overhead. At a time like the present, when the i dignity of the firemen on a steamer is | being impressed upon shipowners, it is I of interest to look back (says the Auck- j land 'Star') and see how the position of the workers has improved in New Zealand since 1846. Here, for instance, is a copy of an advertisement that appeared in the 'New Zealander' of that year:—"Three of my hired servants being absent from my employment without leave, anyone employing them without leave "frill be prosecuted with the utmost rigor of the law." In this connection it ma.y be mentioned that the first strike occurred in Auckland in 1848. It was amongst the Maoris working at rodd-making. The authorities had deducted from the Maoris' wages the cost of the rations supplied, so they went out on strike, claiming that they were not slaves, and should be treated as white men. Over 200 Maoris went out but oven in those days there was a minority of 40 who remained at work. The wages paid the Maoris was 9s per week.

At a special meeting of the Mataura Borough. Council held last night prior to the ordinary meeting the following resolution was adopted on the motion of Councillors Smith and Park, "Whereas the Mataura Borough Council has been authorised by the ratepayers to borrow £7OOO for the purpose or water and drainage works and the Now Zealand State-guaranteed Advances Board has provisionally approved and finally granted the application for such loan at the rate of 4£ per cent, per annum, and whereas the New Zealand State-guaranteed Advances Office superintendent is unable to advance part of such loan, namely £4OOO, at the said rate of interest, but can advance the same afc the rate of 5 17-20 per cent, per aminui, now, in pursuance and exercise of the powers vested in it ii that behalf by the Local Bodies Loans Act Amendment, 1910, the Mataura Borough Council hereby resolves that for the purpose of providing moneys sufficient to cover tne increased payment s in respect of such loan of £7OOO Unsaid Mataura Borough Council hereby makes and levies a special rate of mm and three-eighths of a penny upon the unimproved value of all rateable property of the Borough of Mataura, comprising the whole of the Borough ol Mataura, and that such special rate shall be an annually recurring rate during the currency of such loan and bo payable yearly on the first day of July in each year and every year during the currency of such loan or until such loan is fully paid off."

What must be regarded as a record has been established by the ratepayers of Matjyya since the beginning of the year in the matter of payment of rates and rents. The town clerk (Mr J. F. Menzies) has experienced v a busy time, for from January 1 the sum of £73-1 13s 6d has been paid in, of which £443 3s 9d has been received during the last two days. Of this amount £4O 10s 4<i is for rents. The rates of the borough amount to £1356 2s. made up as follows : General rate £660 13s Bd, water and drainage £423 4s sd, lighting £ll3 lis Id, and sanitation £l5B 12s lOd. During December last rates amounting to £547 12s 8d were paid, which with the amount paid in this month makes a total of £1241 15s 10d to date, leaving a balance of rates owing £ll4 6s 2d.

At • ni'rht's meeting of the Mataura Bo'viugh Council a return vas laid on the table for the year ended December 31, 1912. of the Mannra Athenaeum by the librarian (Mr J. R Mc-nzies). The Athenaeum, which has been nine years in existence, contains 980 books, and during the year 2018 were,taken out by the subscribers. The highest number taken out bv one reader was 84. The sum of £lB 17s lid was. spent in books, magazines and iviocrs, 128 new books being added to the shelves. The library does not receive the support from' the residents that it merits, there being only 38 subscribers, whose subscriptions fmount to £l4 ss. With a. population j*- something like 1200, there shouhi be far more subscribers, and as the works of the best and most popular authors are to be obtained, very cheap reading is provided for the subscribers.

Wlien renovating or furnishing, visit I hninsou and Heattie's. A storehouse containing lovely Floorcloths, Rugs, Curtains, Casement Cloths, etc., etc. 1011 can buy any or all of these at Popular prices. The sort of goods as regards designs and colorings that arc pleasant to livo with. Choice designs arc* as import-ant in these goods as good values.

Lost—(rold brooch. •"Wanted—Junior clerk. Furnished rooms to let. Wantcd ! —lioys to learn milling. Stevenson's Pictures, Town Hall, Thursday. Acceptances for Core races close on Saturday. T. Green and Co. sell small farm at Rialto on Saturday. Southland Education Hoard invite applications for teachers. "Charge of the Light Brigade," Stevenson's Pictures Town Hall, Thursday. Immense stock of Christmas gifts of jewellery, silverware, brushware, etc., of all kinds and prices at 25 per cent, off usual cost for one month at Baker's, next Bank of New Zealand.