GENERAL NEWS.

Mataura Ensign, 18 October 1913, Page 9

GENERAL NEWS.

For land for the Tickhill light railway j Yorkshire, £6982 was claimed, but the arbitrator has just awarded £3BB.

"I am hunted round the streets by the police like a dog," asserted a man in the Wellington Magistrate's Court the other day just as he w<ls about to receive his 78th conviction.

Docking operations are now practicalV corn-Dieted in the Mnsterton district. The 'Age' states that the reports t' l hand indicate that the percentage of lambs has, on the average, been between 90 and 100, which is regarded as highly satisfactory.

• Aw.ihuri land is known to be exceptionally rich for dairying, hut when it was reported to the Manawatu County Council lately that one farmer there had a herd of 16 cows and only three acres to graze them on, the members of the Council thought the story of the richness of the soil too rich itself, and decided to impress on the county ranger the necessity for a stricter supervision of the roads.

A Maori woman who gave evidence at a Stratford inquest showed a degree of amiability somewhat rare in the wit-ness-box. When she faced the jury? she made a remark, which, on being interpreted, was found to be a wish that health, wealth and prosperity might ever abide with the jury individually and collectively. After finishing her evidence she again voiced the wish fore leaving the box.

Some interesting reminiscences of the early days were made at a recent valedictory social (says a Gisborne paper). One man stated that vlien he came to Gisborne the hill land was considered of practically no value and could be obtained for 2s (>d an acre. The price of sheep was down to "a song," and he had seen milk snillcd on to the ground because people liad no use for it. A man could gel. more for a bullock's hide than for the beast itself. Then had come the opening of the freezing works, which had made the district.

Mr R. Browne, of Hawera, who lias been giving a series of lectures throughout South Taranaki, under the auspices of the Wanganui Education Board (in whose services he is employed as director of technical and agricultural education), has advised his hearers to always select their own seed. Keep for seed purposes all the tubers, large and small, from the most desirable plant. Select for (1) large and even yields (2) shallow and few eyes, (3) shape, (1) freedom from disease, and (-T) evenness of typo. The next and most important matter is the storing nr<l subsequent treatment of the seed. The Mnoris had a good method of storage when they placed the seed tubers on a platform with a light covering of fern or raupo just sufficient to keen away frost. A t-über is a living breathing organism, and necessarily should have a free 'circulation of air around it, and as much light as possible should reach it. Light retards growth, <hrV.iess promotes it, hence long and brittle white shoots develop on the tubers stored in the pit or sack. These have to be rubbed off. and hence weaken the tuber, consequently they should be discouraged.

Mr Gregor McGregor, of the Wanganui River, informed a 'Chronicle' reporter the other dnv that the Maoris of Upper Wanganui are doing splendid work in bush-felling and also in lam operations in general. A better class of stock is to be found on the farms at Ranana, thus showing that the .Maori is anxious to get the maximum amount of produce off the land he is farming. Furthermore, he spoke in great praise of the Maoris' thoroughness, and expressed the opinion that the Maori was a much better grass seed grower than his pakeha brother. He could not assign any particular reason for the Maoris' superiority, but he merely noted the fact. A well-known Maori was then approached, and asked if he could account for the difference in the work of the two men. "Yes," said the native philosopher, "the answer is verv easy. The pakeha, he does things with a. rush and a hang.- He wants to get over the ground and slings the seed in all directions. He wants to make money quickly, and being on contract he n astes no time. The Maori, he wants to give satisfaction. Time is no object. He has also better eyesight than the pakeha, as proved by the fact that scarcely any Maoris are obliged to wear glasses. He can see the lines better, therefore, and gets his seed in more effectively. Yes," he added,, if Mr Gregor McGregor says the Maori is the better g:-ass-seeder he speaks truly."

• Mr Henry liny ward, managing director of Hayward's Enterprises, speaking to a Palmerston North 'Standard' representative, said: "The people who cry for more censorship are the people who do not see the pictures. Travelling the other day f met a parson in the train, ami he contended for stricter censorship, and calmly informed me tbat his objection to the cinema films was the lurid language the characters used while acting before the camera. He

had this precious information from aj i <!<\if inuie, 'who read from the lips of j j the chsirr.n4>r« depicted.' The parson j (•onfessed he had never visited a picture j I show, but had heard of the 'terrible j ! films' exhibited. I can safely say that; j New Zealand, as far as cinematography j ! is concerned, is the most censored eoun-j j try in the world. In this relation T| am speaking for Hay ward's, Ltd.. and j our friendly opponents, the Fullers. | Every film we screen is censored in j America and England, likewise in Syd- j ney, the distributing centre for Aus-1 I t. r;) l—;■> ri'id lastly by our own censor i ' in Wellington. Of course, people will ! differ utxm this matter, but a general I broad view must be taken. We are I catering for men and women in a world of men and women, and must reflect life in all its phases. There is a distinct improvement in public taste and the audience no lonser asks for the Veni'nore Cower Wild West film. Our patrons are getting to appreciate the films dealing with the deeper matters • of life and the world's progress, and the realities such as the magnificent Hm illustrating Scott at the South Pole and i the African Hunt are first favorite. Yes, * the neople who cry tor moie censoiship are the people who don't see the nuns.

Dr dip Lisle and Inspector Gardiner (says the Na.pdor 'Daily Telegraph') visited To Hauke native village the other day to look at a suspected case of smallpox, and they were surprised that their arrival was not anticipated either by the patient or anyone in the pa. They were also amazed to find that the "smallpox" patient was suffering from nothing worse 'than a rather badly swollen finger, and were further disconcerted when ?, mischievous young native maiden burst out laughing. Then "the fat was in the fire." It anrears that the man cut his thumb while shearing, and it became inflamed to such an extent _ that + ;;.' «•;>.> sent to l?ey. A. AVilliirim' ier a lotion. The reverend gentleman inquired what was the nature of the ailment, and, seized with some spirit of deviltry, she replied, "T\ n " over I lo '*' poki." Mr 'Williams at once and very properly, <?j»iiiiiiii!i,e:i'rvl with the health authorities, with the result stated. "And why did you say such a tiling?" said the doctor severely. "Oh, I jus make te joke," answered .the now demure damsel.

A man named James Sinclair was charged by the police, before Mr H. A. Young, 5.M.," at the Wore Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, "that on September 27 he did spill certain offensive matter, to wit urine, upon a public place, to wit, Irk Street." Sergeant Burrowes, who prosecuted, said that the offence was committed about 10.30 p.m. on Saturday, September 27, and the complaint was laid under section 0 of section 3 of the Police Offences Act. Constable Murphy testified that the offence bad occurred, and stated that the habit of urinating on footpaths and in doorways was too common. Mr Poppelwoll, for the accused, said that there was no by-law dealing with such matters, and he held that the section of the Act did not disclose an offence by his client. The police did not contend that there was indecent- exposure. Sergeant Burrowes, in reply, contended that there was an (.ffence under the Act and the habit had become so prevalent lately as to constitute a positive nuisance. The magistrate said the Police Offence:, Act gave a very wiue discretion to the police as to what, was an offence that should be brought before the court. He held that the offence of urinating on footpaths was offensive. It was the first time an offence of the kind had been brought before the court at Gore. The police had given the defendant a good character and he .'the magistrate) would convict and discharge him, but in any cases coming beioro him in future substantial lines ivould be imposed.