OMNIUM GATHERUM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16543, 17 November 1915, Page 8

OMNIUM GATHERUM.

There was a considerable fresh in the Wanganui River on Monday, the flood (says tho Flerald) being the highest since the big flood last winter. Friday (says the Auckland Star) was tho sixtieth anniversary of the election of the first member of the House of Representatives in New Zealand. Shearing of farmers' flocks is now in progress in various parts of Southland (says the News). A number of old shearers are going to renew their acquaintance with tho blade this season. When travelling get rid of that choking taste of train smoke by gargling teaspoonful dosoe of Fiucnzol.... It is understood that instructions have been issued that under no circumstances have single men of military age, and physically capable of military service, to be employed on the Milford-Te Anau track this season. In September 115,178 ounces of gold, valued at £475,267, were exported from New Zealand, ae compared with 10.678 ounces, valued at £37,066, for September 1914. The Main South Canterbury Methodist Synod will meet in Oamaru on November 24, 25, and 26, and will constitute one of the largest church conferences that has been held there for years (says the North Otago Times). Some 40 representatives are expected to congregate. Ex Ilimutaka and Arawa, have been landed some of the new season's coffees that make and keep " Bourbon " brand the best brfakfnst hevoracp in the dominion.... Mr Perano's whaling party operating in Queen Charlotte Sound and Cook Strait has had a record season. The oil collected was over 215 tons, and the bone weighed over a ton and a-haJf. The Auckland executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union has decided that the time has arrived for the dominion executive to appoint a competent man to watch closely proposed legislation, which may affect the interests of farmers. Tho Willochra, which left Wellington with troops for tho south on Friday, signed on 15 firemen and_ 12 trimmers, ns against 12 firemen and nine trimmers—her previous number (says tho Post). This means an increase of six men in the stokehold department. Dairy farmers in tho Ashburton Countv state that the quantity of milk received at present is a long way short of thnt teken from tho same number of cow?, at the same time Inst year. Thie i« attributed to the dry sprinpr and scarcity of feed. During the last few days, however, tho supply has increased considerably, but more rain is needpd to keep up the supply of feed.

Black Cashmere stockings, at Iβ, Iβ ,6d, Is lid, 2s 3d. Black or white lielo stockings, Is 3d, Is 6d, Is lid. Black lielo stockings, silk ankle,-the latest. Is lid, 2s 6d, and 3d 6d.--T. Ross, importer, Dunedin... The weasel is showing his refined tastoa in Cobden (says the correspondent of tho Greymouth Star). First he devastated an aviary, and iias steadily progressed, till last week he visited the fowliiouse of a resident and destroyed 17 chickens. Miss Wilson, a resident of Jobnsonville, was admitted to the Wellington Hospital early on Friday morning- (says the Now Zealand Times), both of her hands having been badly burned. She was cleaning gloves with benzine, working near a candle, and tho fumes from tho spirit became ignited. Prices at J Waters, chemist, aro always lowest; Cash or Credit.... Tho Governor has remitted the fine of £10 imposed at Napier on Mr Arthur M'Carthy for auctioning, without a license, goods for the Maori Carnival in aid of the Wounded Soldiers' Fund, Mx S. E. M'Cartby, S.M., who heard the case, recommended that the fine should be remitted. It is reported that the railway construction work on the Tuatapere-Orawia extension is to be suspended for the summer months, and that all hands are to be paid off at the end of November. This etep i 3 probably being taken in accordance with . the Government's policy of making as much labour as possible available for farming and harvesting purposes. A recent visitor to Gisborne (says the Napier Telegraph) is deeply impressed with the way in which the surrounding country . is developing, but he is distinctly of the opinion that the town is being overbuilt, with the result that many fine offices and shops are standing empty. Boys' sports suits of strong tweed and nice dari patterns, to fit boys from 8 to 16 years. Prices from 19s 6d to 32s 6d. Well cut and nicely finished. Postage extra, 6d a suit. —A. F. Cheyne and Co., MosgieL Send age of b0y.... It is worthy of note that in the Totara district at the present time the later sown erope are making much better headway than the early sown (says the North Otago Times). Crops on lea land are doing far from well. A heavy downpour is etui badly needed. The effect of the recent light showers has been completely nullified Tjy the dry nor'-westers, and it requires something like a 24- hours' soaking fall to do any real good. A North road resident of Oamaru was recently surprised to discover one of the moat curious places on record for birds to build a - nest. On lighting a fire in a grate which had not been in use for some- time a fluttering was heard, and suddenly a starfled blackbird found its way out through the flames. On investigation, it was found that a pair of the birds had built their nest at the back of the grate, their mode of ingress and egress (says the North Otago Tunes) evidently being up and down the chimney. Work on tho Japanese steamer Kwanto Maru, _ which arrived in Lyttelton on Friday with superphosphates from Japar., was delayed for about two hours on Saturday morning- (says the Lyttelton Times) owing to the waterside workers asking for an increase of 3d per hour, making the rate Is 9d, equal to that paid about two and ahalf years ago, when some trouble was experienced in regard to a similar vessel. Finally the agents agreed to pay the extra money. Frank H. Blakeley, surgeon dentist, 174 Princes street South (ever Kilroy and Sutherland's). Telephone 1483. A Hawera Star reporter had the opportunity a day or two ago of a run around the back of Eltham and up as far a,s Mangamingi, and ho says that this is one of the most interesting and metaresque little trips to be found in Taranaki. On the journey from Eltham he was agreeably surprised to notice the rapid improvement in . the soil conditions of the Ngaere swamp. Good pasture is rapidly taking the place of swamp vegetation, and in many instances logs and stumps -were being 'cleared-and the plough, extending its operations. Of wool, 11,635 bales, valued at £264,614, were exported from New Zealand in September last, as compared with only 3065 bales, valued at • £43,396, exported ,in September of 1914. For the first nine' months of this year tho export of wool was 472,159 bales, valued at £8,599,856, as against 503,326 bales, valued at £7,492,798, exported in the first nine months of 1914. Five of the passengers of the Ruapehu, which arrived at Auckland from Home on Thursday evening, were taken to-the Auck- . land Hospital (says the Star). Two of the passengers have contracted scarlet fever, and the other three aro being isolated as contacts. When about one week out from Capetown, one of the. steerage passengers was unwoll, and it was found that he was suffering from the fever, and on arrival at Hobart he was put off. The other cases were not discovered until on the way from Hobart to New Zealand. Waters' Chap Lotion is unequalled for Rough Hands. Is.—Waters' Pharmacy.... The Carterton News states the thunderstorm on Saturday week had a peculiar fancy for Mr Q. Donald's property at Tauhprenikau. In the front bedroom the paper was split, and the inmate, lan Donald, was completely dazed. A hole was mado in the kitchen window, and a tree near the kitchen was split. Several boards were split .off the men's whare, and the inmates got a severe shock. Seeing that the lightning seemed to play first in the front of the house, and then at tihe back, and then at the side where the whare is, is marvellous that no serious damage was done. In the history of the oldest inhabitant the electrical storm which struck Stratford on Thursday night was a truly remarkable one and unprecedented (says the Post). Thunder and lightning played incessantly for hours' all round the heavens, and the sight of forked lightning amid the flashes which at times lighted up the night as by the moon added to the weird effect. Many people were considerably alarmed, and not a few were visibly affected. Signed orders, giving address, occupation with remittance, promptly attended to.— Crossan, Waterloo Hotel, Caveraham.... It 'was stated at a recent meeting of the Auckland executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union that applications had been called for three members of the Dominion Board of Trade. Anxiety was expressed that as far as was known no representative of the farmers had been nominated. The executive decided—''That a telegram be sent to tho dominion executive drawing attention to the need for tho farming community being represented on tho Board of Trade, and that if no one had been selected, a competent farmer should be nominated at once." It must be months since we had two consecutivs wholly fine days (save the Takaka correspondent of the Nelson Colonist). We get spring showers, tropical downpours, snowy showers, drizzly, cold days, all sorts of days in the wet line, with, occasional hjgh winds. Farming operations are being seriously retarded.* Shearing is. being proceeded with by some in a haphazard way, while; many are afraid to risk a recurrence of snowy weather and ■"■ prefer waiting. Crops which Should be up are in many cases not yet sown; in other cases tho ground is not even ready. In the vegetable gardens such seeds as have come up aro only common amusement for tho slugs or are choked with weeds. Against this there is a great growth of grass, and' stock aro all doing well, and the supply of milk at factories and creameries constitutes a record. ,

A luxury after shaving is Peroxide Disappearing Skin Cream. It's being sold at Marshall's' Pharmacy at Is a jar. Ordinary price is Is 6d. Early shopping necessary to get your jar. A thrilling incident. occurred during the height of an exceptionally severe thunderstorm in Pahiatua early on Saturday week (says the Herald). Mr and Mrs Station, who are engaged in milking on shares for Mr C. Avery, Pahiatua, were in the cowshed when the lightning struck the baik. Three of -the- cows wore knocked , down, one of them falling on Mrs Sexton, who,' however, escaped unhurt. After the latter had boon released from her awkward predicament, the bails were opened and tihe cows staggered out. One of Mr and Mrs Sexton" s children was also knocked down by the lightning, and both it _ and the cows nppeared in a dn-zed condition from the shook for some time after. The top o! the chimney at tlhe house occupied by the family, ana one of the pfl&te of the tank stand were crashed by the h'ghtning.