OMNIUM GATHERUM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11956, 1 February 1901, Page 8

OMNIUM GATHERUM.

The Tirata Company's sawmill at Dannevirko waa burned down on Sunday. It was insured for £600 in the Pliccnix. Mr Thomas Skoyhill, the oldest resident of Willunga (South Australia), died a few days ago lit tho advanced age of 105 years. He enjoyed good health until a fow days before his death. It is anticipated that when the track through Whitoombe Pass is completed it will bo possible to ride to Ashburton, catch the train, and reach Christchurch in one day from Hokitika. If you happen to notice something very good in tbo way of nickel-plating you can depend upon its boiug the work of the Speedwell Cycle Factory, George street. Now is the time to get your own bike attended to. ... During the performance of Wirth's Circus in Wellington, two local men, a hotelkeeper and a barbor. entered tho tigers' cage, and while the trainer (RI. Soukie) watched the animals, the barber shaved the hotelkeeper. _ One of the Maoris present at the public proceedings at Gisbome on the day of the receipt of the news of the Queen's death was heard to feelingly remark:—"The Queenshe was a splendid Queen, and we feel her loss. Oh, yes, our hearts are sad at her death." M'Cormiok machines lead in design, workmanship, and high quality of material.... The Tuapcka Times states that Mr Robertson' Brown, who worked on the Klondykc dredge for 10 months, was presented by the other members of the dredger's crew with a silver watch chain and pendant on Saturday night, prior to his departure for the West Coast. A young lad named Tolley, belonging to Adelaide, Warn, a distance of three miles and a-quarter a few days ago in tho exceedingly quick time of lhr 37min. He was accompanied by a boat and two attendants, but never stopped at all on the way. A 10 a.m. delivery within tho Town Belt is now being made in connection with the N.Z. Express Company's "Feightcr" parcels service... The New Zealand Police department has been officially informed that a reward of £200 lias been offered for the conviction of (he person or porsons who stole the Lord Nelson relics from Greenwich Hospital recently. It is thought that an attempt may he made to dispose of some of the articles in this colony. Two men named Foley and Bingham were committed for trial at Brisbane on January 15 on a charge of having assaulted a girl in a cab. In cpnnectinn with the alleged assault, a letter was recently received at the criminal investigation branch, to the effectthat if accused were committed for trial Servant Shannahan and Constables Carew and Henderson would be murdered. It is also understood that a high official engaged in the case received a similar letter.

M'Cormiek-machines make agriculture-pro-fitable. They harvest the crops of the world with the least expenditure of timo and money.... An interesting Fouvenir of an event long past Ims been brought to light through the death of the Queen. This is a scurf of black crape worn by an officer in her Majesty's service at the funeral of the great Duke of Wellington in 1852. This has been carefully treasured by a family at Hastings and appropriately brought out and used for the black drapery outside a private residence in memory of the late Queen. A young married woman residing at Redfern (N.S.W.) killed her infant by poisoning it on January 15, and then attempted to commit suicide by taking a solution of match heads and jumping 14ft from a balcony. The unfortunate woman, who is only 20 years of age, was greatly worried over domestic matters. At the Ohristchurch 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 Race—was won by Conncll I (Temuka) on a-Sterling 7* Corporal Page, of the Wanganui section of the third contingent, who was invalided home, has a very unique and interesting souvenir of his services in South Africa, in the shape of a body belt, studded with regimental emblems, of which there are specimens belonging to almost every British and colonial Tegiment at the front. The Southland News states that the eightTooined dwelling house of Mr Richard Bath, farmer, of Gummie's Bush, was destroyed by fire early on Sunday morning. Practically the whole of the household effects were destroyed owing to the rapid spread of the flames. It is understood there is no insurance. . , ~i r, The prosperous farmer always has a M mick machine.... . , j The staff of the National Mortgage and Agency Company, together with a few friends, assembled at Invercargill on Monday evening to bid farewell to Mr Alex. Farqnharson, salesman for the company, prior to his departure for Dunedin to assume a similar position. During the evening Mr Farqnharson was presented with a well-lined purse. He wa3 also presented by some friends with a purse of sovereigns the tame day. , , ■ The West Australian inspector of fisheries, who recently visited the north-west pearl fisheries, reports that the export of pearl shell has been increasing yearly, the total value of pearl shell raised during the past 10 years being just under £1,000,000. A tiirtling industry lias also been started at the Lacepcde Islands, where a factory has been erected, and -the work of catching turtles and conveying them to the factory was in full swing. It .is expected that in a short time a first-class commodity will be produced. M'Cormiek machines are the best in the world. They work the best, require the least',po,wer, and are tlio most economical to the user.... i Duping the lftte cruise of the Hinemoa with the Governor's party on board a visit was paid to, the island at the entrance. to Paterson Inlet, Stewart Island, and the Eskimo dogs left there by the Southern Cross Antarctic expedition were seen, Thoy are (says the Christchureh Press) well .looked after by the men ill charge of them, and seemed in splendid condition, but as savage as Eskimo clogs, usually are. Captain Button thinks they are left there for the purpose of being sold to the next Antarctic expedition that comes along, probably the British.

Morrow, Bassett, and Co, aresole agents in New Zealand for the M'Cormiek Harvesting Machine Company, and the Sterling Bicycle In connection with the report that an oak cask had been found at Cook's Cove, believed to be a rclic of the early navigator, old settlers discredit the theory of its connection with Cook, pointing out that the cove was frequently visited by whalers and trading vessels in days gone by. It is also said that the placo was used a good deal for the purpose of smuggling, and the story is related (says the Napier Telegraph) that many years ago a schooner from Sydney, which was coming to Gisborne with a. valuable cargo, being pressed by the revenue boat, ran into the cove and unlbaded her goods, and then came on to the Big River empty, where she was searched, and, of course, nothing dutiable,was found. It is said that the owner subsequently sent his mate in another vessel back to the cove-to collect the cargo, which he did, but carried it on to Napier and sold it, decamping with the proceeds.