OMNIUM GATHERUM.

Otago Witness, Issue 2668, 3 May 1905, Page 4

OMNIUM GATHERUM.

The bakers of Timaru and Oamaru have reduoed the price of the 41b loaf to 6d, A three-jrear-old Boy, William Geary, died at the Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, on April 13, from the effects of scalds. The deceased was playing in the yard at the residence of his parents, Redfern, when he fell into a tub of boiling water. At Lake Linlithgow (Victoria) on April 16 a boy, Otto Barnath. aged 11 years, was riding in a paddock. He was thrown from his horse arid his foot caught in the stirrup. The horse, terrified, galloped off, dragging the unfortunate boy, who was several times kicked. When picked up he was dead. Several properties in the Killinchy and Dunsandel districts (Canterbury) have changed hands lately at very satisfactory prices. Land has risen £3 and £4 per acre during the last couple of years. One small settler offered his property for sale two years ago for £8 per acre, and quite lately refused £12 per acre for the same.

At the Invercargill Police Court on Wednesday James Finnerty was convicted for striking a man on the head with a bottle, and also for using obscene language. On the first charge the accused was fined £2, with costs, in default seven days' imprisonnient, and on the second 1 he was fined £5, in default one month's imprisonment. A Canterbury schoolmaster says that he would advise sharp, intelligent lads to prepare for enterina: the school teaching profession in New Zealand now, as he believes that the prospects of the profession are improving greatly, and by the time they have reached their prime there will be positions available well worth occupying 1 . Last week_ there_ were 15 bankruptcies in the colony, including a labourer at Toko, a blacksmith arid a 'farmer at Manaia, a tailor, a carpenter, and two auctioneers at Feilcling, a florist at Masterton, a baker and two traders at a grocer at Lyttelron, a eattl^^ealej^at Oamarn, a tinsmith at OncenfctOYM^fc- a paint&r a.t luver-

An inspection of the IViaoz-i settlements on the Ka«r Coast and in the Urencra Countiy has ju-t been completed by Dr Pomare, the Native Health Officer. He reports a decided improvement in the sanitary condition of the majority of the villages. A large number of the old houses has been replaced by others built on more modern lines.

A six-roomed house at Cutram, owned and occupied by Mr J. Dr.;nnan, enginedriver, was destroyed by fi-e on Shinday about 7.30 p.m The cause of the fire was the bursting of a kerosense lartp. About £5 worth of furniture was saved, The buildingwas insured in the Liverpool and London anct Globe office for £200, and the furniture was also insured, but for what amount and in what office is not known.

"If the municipality wer*> to take over the milk supply," declared a candidate for civic honours at Auckland. " the cost to the consumer could be reduced from a shilling per gallon to 9d, the price given to the farmer could be raised from 4d to sd, and after allowing for all working expenses there would still be a goo<^ profit left to pay into the municipal excj&equer for the benefit of the people." In his capacity of chairman of tlio Waltham householders' meeting Mr G. W. Russell was asked how money could be forced from, the Education Department, "TTou know something about politics," insinuated the questioner. " I think I may say," replied Mr Russell, "^that the gentleman, who holds the purse is Mr Scdd'on, and until he is prepared to open the Treasury, you can't get anything." The Roxburgh paper e«i>'s : — ' ' Af ter " tne service la*t Sunday the committee of the Presbyterian Church met and asked its minister to select a horse and buggy for Ins own use while lie was down in BunccSin attending the Presbytery meeting. The members of the church as-Iced Mr Porter to accept this gift as a token of their esteem and thought he would be able to purchase a turnout which would be most convenient to him and to his own lisimg.

A capital idea of the manner in which the value of land in Go/"c has increased during late years is afforded by the price padd- for the lease of High Schools' reserve in Main and Mersey streets,, hitherto known as Green's block. ITourteei. ' years ago the rental was fixed at jBBO per annum, and for the purposes of last weeks sale for a further term of 14 years it was raised to the upset of £150. At Ihe 1 auction, however, £320 was given, or c.\a,ctly four times as much as was considered full value in 1891.

There is a general ecn-sei^sus of opinion in Inveroargill (says the Southern Standard) that the forthcoming local option poll will see the triumph of the Kd-license party. The recent visit of Father" Hays added a. considerable number of '" conversions," and the frequent disturbances <Jf late, traced to over-indulgence in liquor, aiid the undoubted spread of the ltquor habit among the younger section of the community, are calculated to add intensity to the demand of the responsible' section for the suppression of the liquor traffic. ;

A telegraph chess matcb' between Otngo Central end Dunedin wftK fee played on Saturday, May 20 (says > the Mount Ida Chronicle). The Centr.nl team will be chosen from the followi^ia:: — Revs. J. S. Pondpr and A. Neild, Dc Mack.iight, Messrs H. J. Cleland, j. P. Malcolm, E. Smith, J. Ries. and J. Jamee. The country team will play in Naseby. Assiduous practice is beang indulged in by the local players, and interest is oreated by the advent of several novices, who are receiving tuition from those more experienced. . s In this age of in.-luscrjal progress there is scarcely a departisent of industry or commerce' which has njet i* s own particular organ in. the shape of , a technical journal. Messrs Baldwin and itayward, known in New Zealand from their business as patent agents, consider tbSreTis a demand for a journal devoted _more( particularly to the interests of inventors/ and propose to fill the want by the publication of an illustrated monthly journal, which will be entitled " Progress." As its nianie implies, the new journal is desigu-ed to illustrate modern progress in all dGpariaaients of science, art, commerce aad indusi<rv. Literary articles of "high standard dealing with industrial and economic questions are promised, and each number will contain an i'Justrated description of some important New Zealand industry, jfhe new periodical will make its appearaiice in a few weeks.

Mr TSS~W. Holmes, inspecting engineer, ha^s furnished the Minister for Public WorTcs with a report in reference to the Wa.i-mahaka-Catlins railway. After inspecting the country between the present terminus of the opened line afc Waimahaka and the junction of Bogle Creek with the Waikawa River, along the t«ro alternative routes available, Mr Holmes recommends the route that has been partly surveyed by Mr Dob3on, and which, as. nearly as the natural features will a J «ow, fulfills all the conditions of the ideal live. This line follows up the Waimahaka Stream, crosses a saddle at its head, taen descends only some 60ft to a suitable station site, then continues grading up to _ the main saddle, the general direction being very straight, ard construction works are very light. This line is an excellent one, botli from an engineering and a traffic point of view.