General News.

Opunake Times, Volume XXI, Issue 751, 27 June 1905, Page 2

General News.

The number of persons in the Colony whose livelihood depends upon the liquor trade is said to exceed 8000. A Manchester Grammar School boy wrote in an essay: “A friend is a person who knows all about you, and likes you all the same. ” The headmaster quoted the definition at a recent gathering “ If prohibition is carried in New Zealand the hop-growing industry will probably be killed. ” —Mr H Everett, a Motueka settler, giving evidence before the Land Commission at Wellington last Wednesday. A Pongaroa settler, giving evidence before the Land Commission said he admitted that it might be possible to drive cattle over a certain back-blocks road in the winter. He had attempted to take sheep through, and spent" six hours and a half in covering 300 yards. n This talk about medicine amuses me, ” Mrs Harrison Lee told her audience at Newtown. You will hear liquor advocates argue that liquor is necessary as a medicine, ” she added, “ and that may be so ; but I must say it is the only medicine that men are willing to pour down their throats in pints and quarts, at the rate of barrels a year I" How the money goes. On a branch line of railway in Otago the Public Works Department planted forest trees. Some years later these trees were chopped down, and a new post-and-rail fence was erected alongside. Then the fallen trees were fired, and the new fence destroyed. Then the department put on a gang of men to clear up the debris and build anothernew fence. The Kev. Father Hays and the Premier were fellow passengers by the Talune from Napier to Gisborne recently, and quite naturally got together. In the course of conversation it transpired that the father of Father Hays was a Lancashire -man, _ and almost a townsman of the Premier s. The Eev. Father was amongst the audience at the Premier’s meeting in Napier. The Premier has promised to return the compliment by being present at some meeting of Father Hays’ later on, should an opportunity offer. On arrival at Gisborne they were met-by the Mayor and prominent citizens, and Gisborne is to have as its guests on the same morning Father Hays, the Prime Minister, and the Land Commission. In the course of conversation the Premier remarked, “To-morrow I shall be sixty, and can claim to be amongst the aged. However, I fell quite amongst the young. The Premier and Father Hays are both crossbreds, the latter’s father being Lancashire and bis mother Irish whilst the Premier’s father was Lancasnire and his mother Scotch. Detective Benjamin, who has been stationed at New Plymouth for the last twelve months, will shortly retire from the force on a pension of £123 9s lOd per annum, after 28 years’ service. He commenced his experience in police work by serving three years as a trooper in New South Wales, joining the police force of this colony in 1872. His abilities soon won recognition, and he was attached to the detective force a few months later. On putting in three years work he retired for a period of twelve months, but re-joined, and was stationed at Christchurch for four years. Colonel Whitmore, the then Commissioner of Police, transferred him to Wellington, he having won the name of being the most successful officer in the force. After two years service at the capitaf Detective Benjamin put in a period at Wanganui, and then returned to Wellington as chief of the staff, subsequently going back to Christchurch in the same capacity. His work was greatly commended, among his best exploits being the capture single-handed of a notorious garroter known as “ German Charlie, ” for which he received a Government bonus of £5. Detective Benjamin’s last three stations have been Napier, Palmerston and New Plymouth. During his whole career he has been a capable and zealous officer, esteemed by the Department and popular with all with whom be has come in contact.

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