OMNIUM GATHERUM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11938, 11 January 1901, Page 8

OMNIUM GATHERUM.

A bed of crystallised freestone has been found in the Kooloomurt district (Victoria.), and can-bo obtained in blocks measuring up to 20ft or SOft. Small fruits are now ripening fast, and large quantities are being gathered. The crops are excellent, and some fruit and apples also promise well.— I Tapanui 1 Courier. The strainer Werneth Hall, which sailed from Lyttelton on Tuesday for Durban, took a cargo of 110,992 801b bags of oats, shipped at Oamaru and Lyttelton. A cordial invitation is extended to all cyclists to inspect the magnificent display of New Hndsons and general cycle accessories at tho "Speedwell" Cycle Works, 155 George street, Dunedin. ... ,Tohn Collins, who a short time back won £370 in a sweep, and thereupon started to drink too much, hanged himself in his camp at Lake View (Victoria) on Decembor 28. Mv C. F. Grecnslade, president of the Dunedin Amateur Boating Club, has presented the club with a large and handsome Union Jack, which he purchased for the club during his recent visit to tho Home country. M'Cormicfe machines lead in design, workmanship, and high quality of material.... Some fossil remains have been unearthed near Cowra (N.S.W.). Father Curran says the bones were these of a gigantic kangaroo of a species long extinct. The premises at Balmain East (Sydney) of the Bethany Deaconesses' Institution, to bo used as a children's homo and a training school for servants, were opened recently by Miss Snowden Smith. At the Christchurch Cycling Club's Jubilee meeting the riders of the Sterling bicycle secured 13 firsts, 13 seconds, and two thirds. The big event of the meeting—the New Zealand Wheel Racc—was won by Connell (Temuka) on a Sterling * Nurse M'Kay, of the Dunedin Hbspital, who has been spending a fortnight with her friends in Mataura, was the recipient of a very handsome gold present at a banquet tendered her previous to her departure for Dunedin. A most enjoyable musical evening was spent by all. ' The chief engineer of the s.s, Pukaki has (says the Westport Times) obtained three gallons of tho Greymouth petroleum, which ha will experiment with in lubricating the machinery. A 10 a.m. delivery within the Town Belt is now being made in connection with the N.Z. Express Company's "Feighter" parcels service... The Natives of the historical village of Papawai, near Greytown. Wairarapa, are ■ already making preparations for a monster reception to the Duke and Duchess of York. Mr Hare Parata. an organiser of repute, has been elected secretary of a committee which lias been set up to make the necessary arrangements. There are some very fair crops, both of wheat and oats, around the district of Pleasant Point (says the Timaru Post). The last few days of lieat and nor'-west winds have brought harvest appreciably closer. The oat crops, if not harvested very soon, will be worthless, as the birds are losing no time in their efforts to reap as much as possible before the farmers. The Austral of 1900 was unique in that it carried the biggest first prize (£400) ever offered for an Austral. It was won for the first time by a New Zealander (A. C. Forbes) on his Red Bird bicycle. The time established (4min 193-ssec) is a world's record. Forbes was the only Red Bird rider in tho race. In 1896 there was only Red Bird in the Austral, and it won in Australasian record time. A remarkable performance for one machine.... The Mayor of Pahiatua (Mr J. D. Wilson) unites with other occupations that of a shearer, and is the champion wielder of the shears in bis district. Recently he put up a record by relieving 207 heavy Lincoln sheep of their flceces in one day. The local paper credited him with bavin? shorn 220. and his Worship now. modestly writes to the editor giving the correct number. M'Cormick machines make agriculture profitable. They harvest the crops of tho world with the least expenditure of time and money.... During a recent heavy thunderstorm at Yarram (Victoria) a mcteorin stone fell on the Aylesbury estate. It struck the earth, and exploded with a tremendous report, throwing up flame and smoke. Mrs Bland, .while sitting on the verandah of tho homestead, witnessed the fall and explosion, and was terrified at what- she believed to be a huge meteor making directly for the house.. The prosperous farmer always has a M'Cormick machine.... Apropos of the weight of our Premier and his Native Minister, the Post has the following:—"During the voyage of the Motoia from Wellington to Sydney, carrying the Premier and.the Hon. J. Carroll and party, the vessel had a slight list to starboard one evening. At dinner a discussion arose at one of the tables us to the cause. Various reasons and explanations were advanced without solving tho question to the general satisfaction, until one of the diners, who had listened quietly to the argument, said: "Gentlemen, you are all wrong. I investigated the cause last night, and the cause of the list in this ship is that Messrs Seddon and Carroll are slcening on the same side of it." Morrow, Bassett, and Co. are sole agents in New Zealand for the M'Cormick Harvesting Machine Company, and tiie Sterling Bicycle.... The Wairarapa Da ily Times has been shown a really handsome set of bacrpipes which were manufactured by Mr .T. Robb, blacksmith, Maaterton. who is well known in South Canterbury. A reference was made to this particular instrument some time ago, but in the meantime considerable improvement has'beeu effected to it. It was out out of Black maire wood, and is beautifully mounted with ivory and silver. Those who are familiar with this wood are perfectly aware that the work of rendering it suitable for its intended purpose wouhl nntail tedious labour. Mr Robb nan be fairly congratulated on bis handicraft, which would do credit to an expert. Several good musicians who have tested the instrument pronounce it to be of excellent tune. M'Cormick machines are the best in the world. They work the best, require the least power, and are the most economical to the u&er....