OMNIUM GATHERUM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16610, 5 February 1916, Page 14

OMNIUM GATHERUM.

There was one bankruptcy in Napier, and none in Dannevirke during January. Two 'bankruptcies wero reported in Wellington during the month of January. The Hawke's Bay Herald says that over 20 children suffering from adenoids were on Monday operated upon at the Napier Hospital. The Pomahaka Downs have a prosperous appearance at present (says the Tapanui Courier), and the binder was at work last week in a good crop of autumn sown oats. Asphyxiating gas ii to be used in the Argentine. no>t for killing human beings, but for destroying tho locusts, which plaguo that country. Prices at J Waters, chemist, are always lowest; Cash or Credit.... A youth of about •18 years on Monday at Dannevirke (says the News) asked payment for harvesting work at the rate of Is 6d an hour. Tho Ashburton police on Tuesday morning made a raid on a house at Trervorton, where the illicit sale of liquor is alleged to have been carried on (says the Guardian). A fairly largo quantity of liquor was seized, and court proceedings aro likely to follow. A horse, tho property of Mr John Powell, of Tapanui, had a bad timo at Kelso on Sunday (says the Courier). The hack upset. a hive of bees, which took to the unfortunate animal most viciously, stinging it all over tho body. Quite a number of farmers in the Ashburton County aro turning over their Btubble land preparatory to putting in crops for green feed. From reports to hand it is evident that green feed will be extensively grown in the county this year. If you wish to purchase a headstone, Thomson and Co., Moray place (opp. First Church), have the be6t selection, and prices to suit a 11.... Tho Timaru correspondent of tho Christclmroh Press writes that most of the grain in South Canterbury is now cut, and thrashing from the stook is general. Tho rain of last week did great good to turnip and rape crops, both of which, however, could do with a groat deal more. A sad drowning accident occurred at ITamua on Monday, when Leonard Victor Mitchell met his death (says a correspondent of tho Hawke's Bay Herald). He went bathing with several boys and got into difficulties. One boy made several attempts to help, but failed, and a man unablft to swim also tried without- success Tho victim was 10 years of age and belonged to Woodville. Tho Colonial Sugar Company is having somo trouble with tho white mill hands just now (s;iys the Fiji Times of December 30). Latterly tho mill workers' Union has been growing in strength, the cvidenco of which is their demand for higher wagts- and shorter hours. Tho men aro on strike, and the trouble has not yet been settled. Frank H. Blakeley, surgeon dentist, 174 Princes street South (over Kilroy and Sutherland's). Telephone 1483 Further successes havo been secured by J. J. Kennedy, eldest son of Major Kennedy of Geraldino, as a student at St. Patrick's College, Wellington (says tho Timaru Herald). News has now been received that ho has passed the matriculation examination, and those for solicitors' general knowledge and medical preliminary, passing in all subjects. This for a youth of 164 years is no mean achievement.

The shortage of labour is everywhere apparent in Taraniki (says the Stratford Post). During tho last few days the farmers havo been busy making hay, and it has been no uncommon occurrence to see a number of young ladies assisting the elder people in the lields. Not only have young ladies been employed, but also school boys and men from the towns. From appearanoe tho year's crop is in every way as good as thc~2 of previous years. Tno practioa of picnio parties boiling water in tins with a tight-fitting lid is very dangerous. At South Riverton a lady did this, using a. treacle tin, tho lid of which fits very tightly (says the Western Star). While Bhe was pricing up the lid it flew with the speed of a projectile, and the accumulated steam scaldcd her face in a shocking manner. Had she not been wearing spectacles she must have lost her eyesight. 'Ihat well-known and popular hotel, tho " Waterloo," Caveraham , (proprietor, Wm. Crossan), fully deserves its popularity.... A juryman failed to put in an appearano© at the Oamaru Supreme Court on Wednesday morning when called, and his Honor Mr Justice Sim imposed a fine of £5 unless the absent juryman oould show cause why ho could not be present. Later (says tho Mail) he put in an appearance and explained to his Honor that ho was detained by liusiness. His Honor remitted the fino, with a warning to tho defaulter that it should not occar again. There has been a dearth of butchers' mutton in Waimate of late, so much so that the lamb is being retailed to customers at the price of mutton. Tho same applies to beef and veal. It is a good r'iing for tho consumers, but a vepy bad thing for tha country The depletion of tho flocks and herds through tho kiljling of so touch young stock ,is a disquieting consequence of tha drought. Reports state that from the appearance of the country around Kumara it is evident that this district is in iiie transitorial stage. Sett I' ■ 'lent is gradually taking the place of go.u-minmg. Everywhere bush-is being felled and the lend grassed. Some pioi turesquo landscapes have suffered in ooni sequence, but the change means progress and the establishment of something more permanent than gold-mining. Specialists in any line mav always be trusted to produce an article above average quality. Coffee lovers, therefore, make no mistake when they order " Bourbon." All grocers.... Captain Herbert, of Pahiatua, had a strange experience when passing through the Manawatu Gorge in his motor car early on Friday week. He first of all met aa • infuriated bull, which he had some difficulty in passing. Then he met a oow with a « broken leg, further along the . oad a cow rolled down tho hill, landing in front of the ear. The thud on the road broko the cow's back. At the Oropulti Police Court on Monday John Rejiski, barman at the Masonic Hotel, was charged with that, being other than the licenser, ho did sell liquor to a woman already in a state of intoxication (says tho Southland News). In connrctiatjL with this case the licensee, Frank had been fined and appealed, and Reiiski's oase was held over pending the resiut. Hie -appeal was dismissed, and Mr Cruickshank, S.M., on Monday, imposed a fine of £10 and costs. A large sunfish was captured at Stewart Island last week, and Mr W. Traill (Ulva) reports that' it (is what is known as the orthagoriscus mola, This ogre of the deep seas is the enemy of the eel, and it was through the finding of larval eels in tho stomach of a sunfish that the babyhood of eels was solved for naturalists. ■ The measurements of the sunfish captured at Stewart Island are: Length, Bft Bin, and girth 9ft Sin. Some people have piles and don't know it, this irritating trouble being but in its initial stages. American Pile Cure (sold at 5s at Marshall's Pharmacy) will effect a permanent cure.... A cattleman was heard last week complaining that several head of cattle had disappeared from the yards in Stratford. it appears that similar occurrences have taken place in the district. Whether some practi-' - cal /joker has a mania for leaving the gates open and releasing tho beasts (says the Post), or whether a practical rustler is at « work is not disclosed, but whichever it is, steps should be taken to stop the little game. After a more or less broken week harvest' work is again in full swing towards Dun6andel, and thrashing is completed on many farms, the yields recorded being very low, from about 10 to 16 bushels being tho average (says tho Lyttelton Times). Most of tho thrashing is done out of thu stook, the grain being in first-class condition. " Very iew oats -will be thrashed owing to so much second growth, ajid the greater part will be wanted for chaff for local use. Waters' Chap I/ouon is unequalled for Rougii Hands, is.—Waters' Pharmacy.... At the Napier Police Court on Monday morning four local shopkeepers were charged with keeping their shops open for the purpose of bunday trading (says the Telegraph). In answering a question of one of the defendants, Mr M'Carthy, Si.M., said his ruling on the subject was that it was not necessary to keep shops open on Sunday for. people living in the town, but ' it became a necessity, as far as 'refresh- « mentfi were concerned, at least, when people came in from other parts of the district. An old Ellesmere farmer, who has lately revisited that district, states that the crops are tho poorest ever known in the locality (says tie Christchurch Press). One man who had purchased some of the best land in the Soutnbridge district at £35 an acre, had won a return of only 10 bushels of wheat, which was hardly enough to pay interest. All over the Ellesmere country it is said this story can, be repeated. It is tho worst year yet known in this wellknown and fertile portion of Canterbury. Some little excitement was caused in Woodville on Saturday evening when a travelling prcacher, a Russian Finn, commenced speaking at the corner of a street {says the Examiner). Owing probably to his broken English, liis wards were mistaken as for advocating peaoe, and the crowd, which quickly gathered soon became hostile, and some lads procured a hose and drenched the poor fellow. Ho stood to iis guns however,, and before leaving saicl Bo hoped the next man who came to them with glad tidings would be received in a better manner. Mosgiel Friday night shoppers. Special attraction, just arrived: 500 curtain ends and sample curtains,' Is, Is 3d, Is 6d, Is lid. Well worlh the prices marked. If you can't call, write. Colours, white _ and cream. —A. F. Cheyno and Co., Mosgiel.... • It is stated that as a result of the projected t increase in the price of coal the ■watersido workers at Port Ahuriri are seriously considering the question of "sharing in tho increase. It is suggested (says the Napier Telegraph) that if the increase is demanded by the coal merchants the men will take a hand by refusing to unload arriving cargo unless at a better rate of pay. The secretary of tho union waa questioned on the situation, but beyond admitting that the position was a very delicate ono, and required very careful handling, ho had nothing to say. In conversation with several district * farmers on Saturday, n Mataura Ensign representative was informed that the small bird nuisance tins season is very severe. Thjp fast-ripening crops (owing _to the ■weather) afford easy prey for the birds, and they are making the most of their opportunity. Tho action of tho County Council in not purchasing birds' eggs and .heads was severely commented upon By farmers, and it was considered that had the council followed its previous years' action in tho matter the small bird nuisaiaco would havo boon greatly minimised.