NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17825, 6 January 1920, Page 8

NEWS IN BRIEF.

It is estimated (says the Ensign) that at least 100 Gore residents spent the yoar-end holidays at Kaka Point. The School Committee in Gisbome has decided that for a few weeks after the reopening of school tiho experiment shall be tried of having only one school session per day. School duties will commence at 8 a.m. and oloso at noon. Just the drink for the family table. bright, clear. All hotels. M'Gavm'a "special" non-deposit ale. Sure to suit your taste... At Willesden Police Court the identity o£ a witness, a working boy of 16, turned on the question whether he was smoking a cigarette. Asked by the magistrate if he was doing so, he remarked, scornfully, "What, mo smoking a fag! I was smoking a cigar." A whale of rather huge proportions made its appearance in Wellington. Harbour the other day. Some persons who were boating just off the Pinnacle Racks received an unpleasant surprise when tho whale suddenly came to the top, and they lost no time in leaving the vicinity. if you wish to purchase a headstone, Thomson and Co., Moray place (opposite First Church), have the best selection, and prices to suit a 11.... Shearing, as far as the Wood-nlle district is ooncerned, is practically over. On ac* count of climatic conditions the year has notl been up to expectations, though better than 1918. The stock, as a whole, has been on the poor, side, and the wool secured has suffered thereby. On opening our mail this morning we found our letters had accumulated considerably on. account of the Christmas and New! Year holidays, and what did we find? Orders for separators, inquiries about separators, telegrams for separators. Don't tell us the "Domo" is not tho best.—RiacU and M Lennan, Anzac Square....

The unusually dry weather being experienced in North •Taran&ki is having a serious effect in the country. There has been but very little growth, and pastures are becoming dried up. Hay crops, too, are very light, ■paddocks in some instances hardly being worth saving. Prejudices are breaking down. Sound reason and common sense are taking the plaoe of stubborn obstinacy. The "Domo"' {separator has at last come into its own, and at the present moment sits pn the verytopmost pinnacle of popularity.—Riaish and M'Lennan, Anzac Square.... . Hapuka are again shoaling in Cook Strait. Last week Mr Silver and a. launoh party from Karaka Bay secured 32 fine hapuka and trumpeter olt Psalliser Bay. Ip. several oases the fish scaled over 70lb weight, and the average weight must have been Veil over 40ib. A half-caste Maori named James Boss (writes the Masterton correspondent of the New Zealand Times) was sentenced to three months' imprisonment at Greytown on a change of having assaulted Constable M'lntosli, of Greytiwii. Accused 1 struok the constable on the head with a beer bottle, rendering him unconscious. • Why go on suffering from' " Nerv&?" Get MarahaH's Fospherine to-day!... Pahnerston is full of thieves just now, and householders are warned to sleep with both eyes open and a handy club near (saya the Manawa,tu Daily Times). The other night one or two lots of geese a.nd poultry were taken under cover of the high wind. Other citizens report losses of fruit and vegetables.

A number of farmers in the Ashburtoii County who had up paddocks for hay are now taking advantage 6f the fine weather to do the harvesting. Reports indicate that there will be considerable bulk I in fodder. Cocksfoot and other grass-seed crops also give promise of exceptionally good yields. Waters' Vi-Oatta (greaseless), unequalled for sunburn, Is 9d.—Waters' Pharmacy 0n1y.... For some weeks prioß to/the holidays Taihape was infested by an unusually large number of "top-weights"—the Main Trunk designation of neW-do-wells and cadgers. On a recent evening the police decided to have a general cleaning'up, and 13 or 14> of the unwelcome visitors were rounded up and consigned to fresh fields for exploitation. / ■ Start the year well by insisting on "Bourbon" coffoo for breakfast. If not stocked by yoUr grocer, send direct to the manufacturer!), "Durie6," Octagon, Dunedin.... The board which was set up some weeks ago, under the presidency of Mr JusticeStringer, to consider the question of the rate of wages paid to railway servants, will begin its sittings almost immediately alter the holdiay season. His Honor does not propose to allow the long law vacation to interfere with his engagements in connection with the iboard'a business. Vour Butcher Meat—Where to buy: Where only tho best quality is kept and the prices are the loweßt in New Zealand. Try Barton add Trengrovo, Manse street, Princes street, or Octagon, the leading cash butchers, ni.d judge for yourself.... . The approach of the harvest 'has - meant a largo ftiflux of labour into the Marlborough district, and it is not likely that harvesting operations this season will be hampered as in previous yearn Tlw repatriation officer has claimed _ the attention of tho farming community with a view to tJio engagement of returned soldiers, and a large number aire to be employed. Vour boy will want a suit shortly. Secure one while you can get it in all-wool tweed. It will not be long until they are unproourable. All sizes now- in stock, and a good range of patterns. —Gheyne and Go., Mosgiel.... . A party of motorists who left Napier for Woodville a few weeks had a, sensational experience, which brought _ the trip to a precipitate end. Endeavouring to cross the river near Ormondville, to which the approach is a veryt treacherous one, the car got out of control, with the result that it was capsized, landing upside down on the adjacent bank. Miraculously, the occupants escajjed without a scratch. (i _ . A Regular Customer's Order. — Dear Waterloo Crossan, —Please send hamper, same as last year, to usual address."... It is somewhat remarkable (states the annual report of the Southland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board) that prior to the influenza outbreak the district nadl for some two or three years been suffering from an epidemic of diphtheria, which ceased when the severe form of epidcmic oame along, and, according to figures supplied by the board'g health inspectors, the year 1919 haa . been very freo from all infectious diseases. Battling tups just arrived from England at Waters' Pharmacy (next Heibejrt, Havnes).... The detailed conditions rawer whioa licenses to generate eleotrio current from water-power may be granted to local'bodiaS or companies have been gazetted. _ Limitations as to tho time within which the powers conferred by the licenses shall be exercised are provided. A yearly rent charge of 4s per kilowatt of maximum output generated during tho year will be made. Licensees are required to deposit £1 per kilowatt for every kilowatt authorised to Jk used, but not exceeding a deposit of £500, which will ho leturned when the installation is completed. Viola Dana surpasses herself in "Fals'J Evidence," Plaza, To-day..,.