GENERALITIES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 439, 13 October 1908, Page 4

GENERALITIES.

Rating on unimproved value has been carried in twenty counties, forty-four boroughs, ten road districts, . and two town districts in the Dominion. It has been rejected in the one county, twelve boroughs, and two road districts. Rescinding polls have been taken in eight boroughs, but in only one —North-east Valley—has the poll been successful. Some anxiety regarding “ Pelorus Jack” has been expressed during the last three weeks for he failed to escort any of the steamers through the French Pass since the middle of September. This week, however, the playlul fish resumed his strange hobby, to the delight of the regular passengers and officers of all the coasting steamers. An illustration of the high rates charged on the Lyttelton railway was experienced by the Rev. W. J, L. Closs, who has just removed some of his furniture to Christchurch from Ipswich, Queensland. From Ipswich to Brisbane the river is 24 miles, Brisbane to Sydney 502 miles, Sydney to Lyttelton 1374 miles, a total of 1,900 miles. From Lyttelton to Christchurch the distance is six and a half miles. The six and a half miles charge by train was almost exactly 25 per cent, of the total charge, says the Lyttelton Times. Mr Closs had to pay 15s out of every pound for 1,900 miles, with several handlings of the goods, and 5s for six and a half miles, with one handling. A Ballarat (Victoria) telegram in the Melbourne Argus says The devotion of a collie dog to bis master was shown in connection with the sudden death of Mr Fdward Thomas Middlin, a carter, residing near the Sunnyside Mills, where tor some years he had been employed. He left home to find a cow, and was accompanied by his collie dog. Some time later his dead body was found at the White Flat by Sidney Rowell, a lad, who reported the matter to Constable O’Connor. The latter found the dog crouched over the body, and licking the dead man’s hands. The manner in which the dog frisked about when he saw the constable indicated the animal’s pleasure at his approach. The body was removed to the morgue, the dog trotting quietly beside the vehicle in which it had been placed. When the morgue door was closed the faithful collie whined pitifully, and scratched at the door. Then it ran round and round the building, stopping occasionally at the door, barking all the time. All efforts to quieten the dog failing, friends of the deceased were asked to remove the dog, and it had to be led away. When the brown tohunga desires to fatten on the gullibility of natives, he has to beware of the law, but the white tohunga seems to be in no dread of punishment. ‘ ‘ The Tohunga Suppression Act of last session has had a good effect, ’ ’ states Dr. Pomare. ‘ ‘ While, however, it prohibits the Maori charlatan from practising upon the incredulity of his own kind, it does not prevent the pakeha from engaging in the same kind of business. Hence the existence of white tohuugas in our midst. These necromancers go from pa to pa armed with tamiliar spirits, hoodwinking superstitious Maoris. Their harvests are golden. Poor Maori I as soon as the evil spirit is cast out, seven other devils enter in, much worse than the first. The Act should be amended to include pakehas.” —Post. When the Quackery Prevention Bill was under discussion in the Legislative Council, the Hon. W. W. M’Cardl'e said that the craze for proprietary medicines and noxious nostrums would be killed if the Chief Health Officer drew up a few prescriptions for use in the case of common ailments and circulated same throughout the country. This, he urged, would be a boon to the back-blocks, where proprietary medicines were largely used. The suggestion was received with good-natured scorn by the Hon. Dr. Collins, judging by his laughter, but the Hons. J. Anstey and George Jones openly expressed their approval. “ Why,” said Mr Jones, ” the State supplies doctors, nurses and other things, and why not medicine ?”