OMNIUM GATHERUM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12483, 14 October 1902, Page 8

OMNIUM GATHERUM.

Of the 700 carpenters and joiners in Wellington only 150 are members of the local Carpenters' and Joiners' Union. The Southland County Council have reduced the license fee chargeable on traction engines from £10 to £2. Last month horsed tramways were to disappear from the streets of Berlin, the' electrical system now being completed. A Woodville resident last week received! a letter which hadi been posted in England in July, 1897: —over five years ago. A Timara farmer, who has just sold 17 pigs at the rate of per lb, says that*' at- that price is pays him better to fatten, pigs than lambs. Mr W. A. Scott, 155 George street, has now the sole agency for the Royal Enfield . cycles throughout New Zealand, and orders ■are now being booked for theee famous

bicycles.... . During the quarter ended 30th September* gold, coin was issued from the Melbourne (mint to the value of .£1,207,611. The Tasmanian Government has decided to make available 200,000 acres of Crown laud at Heytesbury and Polwarth, for feeding starving stock. The "Excelsior' spring cultivator offers the farmer a more profitable investment ■ than any other.—Morrow, Bassett, and Co., sole agents, New Zealand. ... For stowing away on the Waihora from Sydney to Wellington, Duncaa Yaldwia' was fined £5 by the Wellington magistrate on .Friday, in default of payment one month's imprisonment. ' At the Thames Warden's Court last week it was stated that a local quartz mining company had spent £25,000 in developing work and the ereobion of the battery aaid' buildings. One can depend on reliable work being 1 done by J. and T. Christie, plumbers, George street. . They employ competent tradesmen.... Part of the £2,000,000 given by Mr Art" drew Carnegie to found the Carnegie Institution at Washington will be used to oonetruon and equip what are said to be the finest biological laboratoi-ies in the world* Unless there be a phenomenal rainfall Ballarat reservoirs will be empty by Christ, mas. The local water supply was neves in such an alarming condition, as at present, owing to the prevailing drought. A party of about 20 members of the Wellington section of the Arts and Crafts Guild will make an excursion to Christohurclh during the summer for the purpose of taking sketches and examining the architectural features o'f that city. The " Exceisior'"' cultivator is more simple, stronger in construction, »nd lighter jn draught than any other.—Morrow, Baspett, juid Co., sole agents New Zealand..., Messrs Mac Gibbon and Sons' large graia store at East Gore narrowly escaped destruction by fire on Friday afternoon. Fortunately the fire, which originated, it is thought, from a spark from a traction engine in the vicinity, wae noticed before it had obtained a good hold, and no serious damage was done. The crops, throughout the Geraldine district are looking very well. During the past fortnight both crops and grass have oome away wonderfully. On the heavier land (says the Timaru Post) many farmers have turned their sheep on to the wheat crops to keep down, the rapid l growth. Another shipment of Morrow, Bassett ; and Co.'s famous Daisy Carts has just arrived. Intending purchasers should send in their orders promptly.... Some time ago several persons in Nelson were severely poisoned through what was suspected to be poisonous oatmeal. Tea samples of meal in the city were sent, for a report, to the Government analyst, who has now replied to the effect that the oatmeal did not contain any arsenic as was thought. The Orepuki Advocate reports several good catches by local anglers. On Monday last the Rev. G. V. Roby caught two fine fish, one of which weighed 101b, and Mrs F. H , . Wilson secured a seven-pounder. Mr A. MaoFarlane on Wednesday landed) five fish, which turned the scales at 291b, the largest weighing 81b. Other anglers secured two, three, and four-pounders. Morrow, Bassett, and Co. wili give any trial with the "Excelsior" farm -implements. ... Through the apron which she waa wearing catching fire a young woman named Winchester had a narrow escape of being burned to death at Auckland one day last week. Before the flames were subdued the young woman was severely burned about the hands and 1 body, and the greater part of her clothes was burned. Ladies' new and handsome Guipure and Applique Lace Collars, square, or fichu-shaped, in the new Paris and ivory shades. Hundreds to select from. Price Is 6d, Is lid, 2s 6d, 2s lid, 3s lid, and 4s lid. Also the finest lot of Ladies' Blouses. It .was stated at the Wellington Master Builders' Association's meeting on Thursday that the other day a Wellington man had been offered a situation as foremati builder in Johannesburg at a salary, of £9 t>, week, but had received a cable message from a friend who had settled in the Transvaal recomondinjr him not to accept the offer, as he oould command a salary of £29 weekly for his services, in the colony, in muslin, cambric, and silk, richly trimmed lace and. insertion. Price 2s l'ld to 25s.—At T. Ross's, direct importer. ... A Reuter despatch from Pretoria states that the Education Department in the new colonies is making great progress. Its organisation is now nearly completed; 689 schools have been established in. the Transvaal, special arrangements are being made to secure the atendance at certain centres of

children whose parents are occupied oa widely-scattered farms, and the burghers generally are showing much eagerness to bring their children within the reach of the opportunities offered. For absolute strength, extreme simplicity, freedom from weak or undesirable points, and abundance of excellent working features throughout. Excelsior Ploughs are un> rivalled. They will do perfectly the work that can be expected of any plough, and are guaranteed to give .satisfaction in any soils where a plough can work at all, no matter how tough and difficult the work. They have extra length of land beam, specially made mould boards, and steering gear of the most complete and approved kind. Revolving swivel steel circular . coulters. Double furrow, £11 10b; three-furrows, £16 10s.—Morrow, Bassett. and Co., sole agente in New Zealand for Cockshutt farm imple-

mrmts.... I Private letters from Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, state that there ia a large and constant demand for oxen from Madagascar for the East Coast of Africa, I and particularly on the part of the British Government in connection with the land settlement in the Transvaal. Several Boer families of French origin have arrived at Diego Suarez with a view to becoming naturalised and settling in Madagascar. They were heartily welcomed by General Gallieni.