LOCAL & GENERAL

Otago Witness, Issue 2913, 12 January 1910, Page 36

LOCAL & GENERAL

Consumers will learn with interest that the Colonial Sugar Company has advanced the price of sugar another five shillings a ton, the increase taking effect on the sth inst.

Mr G. G. Burnes, president of the Southland Acclimatisation Society, has received the following telegram from the Hon. D. Buddo, Minister for Internal Affairs: '' Re open season for godwit: I have no evidence to show that godtwit is a nuisance, or even plentiful, in Southland, and would suggest that Acclimatisation Societies support me in maintaining a close season during 1910 as provided by Parliament. The necessity for this legislation is known to all sportsmen." The reason for the telegram (says the Southland Times), it may be explained, is that Mr Burnes, on Friday last, received a petition, signed by 57 shooting men of Southland, asking that representations be made to have 1910 declared an open season for godwit. Gore was plunged into darkness on New Year's Night through a stoppage of the generating plant at Mataura. The new generator, which had been tried two or three times previously, was brought into use on Saturday morning and ran well all day, and advantage was taken of the holiday causing a cessation in the demand for power to effect the alterations necessary so that the old and the new plants may be fitted with interchangeable gear. For this purpose the old plant was dismantled, all going well with the new until about 5.45 p-.m., when a bearing became heated. The machinery was therefore stopped, being started again at 8.15, only to bo stopped again about half an hour later. It was not until 11.30 that the light was finally available in Gore.

A raid on the Carriers' Arms Hotel ai Invercargill was effected on December 31 (New Year's Eve) by a posse of police, under Detective Cameron and Sergeant Simpson, and a quantity of liquor found on the premises was seized. It will be remembered (says the Southland Times) that Frank Poff is already undergoing imprisonment for sly grog-selling in the premises, and that Mrs PofF was at the time of her husband's conviction also convicted, but was ordered to come up for judgment if called upon, the understanding being that she would vacat& the house by Janua.ry 31.

An Ashburton message says that as the result of an appeal made by the Rev. Dr Gibb at the Summer Conference on the 3rd inst., it is probable that two young men members will go to the Otago University with a view to entering the regular ministry of the Presbyterian Church, while two or three have decided to devote themselves to the home mission work of the Church.

Some additional light is thrown upon Gilfillan's celebrated picture of the interior of a Maori pa, to which reference was made in Friday's issue. Mr W. E. Moore, of Wellington., states (says the Poet) that the original picture was given to his father, Captain Moore, hy the artist himself, for exhibition in the great exhibition of 1851. Captain Moore was than in charge of the New Zealand court at the exhibition,- and for his services in that connection was decorated by the Prince Consort. Captain Moore had 50 copies of the picture lithographed at his own expense, and sent 25 copies to Sir George Grey for distribution among old settlers in New Zealand, and he gave the remaining copies to friends in England. The original picture was then left in the care of Captain Moore's sister in Paris. Mr Moore has a photograph taken from the original.

Writing under date November 26, our London correspondent says: —"A novel consignment in tho shape of 17 baby moose is about to 'be conveyed to New Zealand. It appears that Sir Joseph Ward wrote some time ago to tho Lieutenant-Governor of Saskatchewan stating that the Government was anxious to experiment with som© of the big gam© of th© Canadian Northwest, instructions were given to a trapper and hunter of the Beaver Hills to try to secure 20 young animals. Seventeen baby moose have already been delivered, and it is these that will shortly be taken to New Zealand.

According to Durban files a case arising

out of tho missing steamer Waratah was heard in th© Circuit Court in November.

A man named Govendo, who was in business at Durban, left by the Wa.ratah, taking with him the first of exchange of two

drafts on the Natal Bank, each for £lB5. The second of exchange was posted to his wife, who is now penniless in Russia owing to inability to obtain Govondo's endorse-

ment. The drafts were referred to ono Gordon, who held Govendo's power of

attorney, but the bank refused to recognise

the power of attorney, assuming that Govendo had perished. The application. was for the appointment of Gordon as curator bonis. This was granted, subject to his filing security.

An extraordinary incident is reported in tho Melbourne Argus-. On Christmas Evo Mr B. Robinson's motor launch was conveying' some of hie relatives home to Paynesville from Bairrisdale, where they had been shopping. The water in Lake King was very rough, and Bessie Robinson, aged 10 years, sister of the launch's owner, became seasick. To avoid danger of her falling overboard if she leant over the side,

a board covering the bhaft was removed, i Whilst bending her head* the chiW'g hair

caught round the shaft, and before the motor eoukl he stopped nearly the whole of the scalp was torn off. She was taken to the Bairnsdalc Hospital, and the doctor said her condition was precarious.

Writing on the subject of burglary insurance in the current issue of the Magazine of Commerce, Mr A. G. Mackenzie, F.1.A., considers that this form of cover, although introduced less than a generation ago by a new company, bids fair, in the course of time, to become nearly as popular amongst householders as fire insurance. It was at first looked upon wath great distrust by the established companies, but most offices operating in fire insurance have subsequently opened departments for itfl transaction) and the premium income tferived from it has run into big figure. It in rather interesting to know Unit ili<- famous Rob Roy (who carried on »» privatu Ihikiness in this line) ami: lii«i family wuv. pioneers in this direction. In l.lm iriliwluetion to his novel Sir Walter Heotfc (illudiw to a very businesslike and ([iii.l;«> up-to-date contract by which a nephew of l,ho outlaw agreed with various landholders to recover cattle stolen from them or to pay the value within six months of the loss being intimated, if such intimation were made with sufficient despatch, in consideration of a payment of £5 on each £IOO of valued rent.

The countryman in London who indicates the whereabouts of his money by constantly feeling for it is an old story. He is outdone by the Somersetshire farmer who went up lately with £750 in gold and £270 in £5 notes —the proceeds of ?. fcalo of a farm, with many year's savings—in a canvas bag, wrapped in a newspaper. He felt sure nobody would suspect such a parcel as containing money. So (says the correspondent of the Angus), instead of entrusting it to his hotel host, he took it to the Tivoli Music Hall gallery, and sat with it under his feet through the performance. At the end he stood up to put on his overcoat, and in a moment the parcel was gone. Whether thieves had tracked him from his hotel or his attentions to the parcel had been noted by some chance neighbour in the gallery is matter of conjecture. The building trades of Sydney have ended the best 12 months on record. Private enterprise alone gave them 6092 buildings to deal with, either in entire construction or in extension; 'but 85 per cent, were new buildings. Old Sydney is fast disappearing. Business premises, which 30 years ago we,re regarded as ahead of the times, are making room for modern and handsome blocks. Fifty of the city buildings, either begun or completed last year, involved an expenditure of £977,000. The total expenditure in -Sydney on buildings was not less than £1,500,000. As regards the suburbs, 1500 more houses, shops, and factories were built in 1909 than in 19C8, providing additional accommodation for 28,680 people. The value of these buildings is set down as £3,441,000, as compared with £2,490,000 in 1908.

Th© mail which was despatched from Dunedin via Naples on November 25 arrived in London on the night of th© 3rd inst., and the 'Frisco despatch of November 27 arrived in London on the 4th inst.

A rumour gained currency in Auckland (says our correspondent) that the second ©xpress between Auckland and Wellington was to be discontinued within the next few days. With a view to ascertaining whether there was any foundation for this statement a. Herald reporter asked the Hon. J. A. Millar (Minister of Railways), who is at present in Auckland, if this were so. In reply Mr Millar stated that th© support wibich had been given to the train was not sufficient to justify its continuance, and it would therefor© not run after January 8. Wh.il© astronomical research may not attract th© same attention in the Southern Hemisphere as in the Older World, there ar© probably few colonials who could not locate th© Southern. Cross and its twin "pointers." The lowest of these pointers Mr Clement Wragge explained, while lecturing at Auckland on a recent evening, is the nearest astral body to the earth. "Yet," said th© lecturer, " in propounding a calculation to illustrate the enormity-of space, if we oould possibly be connected by railway, and the fare was fixed at Id per 100 miles, the cost of the journey would b© £200,000,000 —more than the national debt of New Zealand. The time occupied on the joxirney* would be 41,000,000 years." The postal motor cars for gathering mails, tried for some time past in Wellington., have not been a success (says our own correspondent). The Postal Department had two cars working. One has been put out of commission, but the other is still being used for town work. Originally the department called for tenders for clearing th© boxes by motor car in th© four centres, but there was no response, and then it was decided to hav© a motor experiment in Wellington. Th© result is that the motor is out of court for th© present so far as the Empire City is concerned. " So far," said! Mr Donald Robertson, secretary to the Postal Department, "motor cars do not seem to be a success for continuous work on hilly roads." He hopes, however, that in tim© th© cars will be improved to enable them to satisfactorily clear th© boxes in such a city as Greater Wellington. Th© large motor lorry, which travels on the fiat with heavy loads between th© General Pest Office, th© wharves, and the railway stations, has worked smoothly and economically, and will be retained. Other good postal use for motor vehicles has been found in various parts of New Zealand under contract. They carry tho mails between Waiotapu and Taupo, and from Fairlie to the Hermitage (Mount Cook). The motor s'eivice run by;

the Railway Department between Culverd«rii and Hanmor also carries the mails. We*JUngton ie the only centre in which tho pillar boxes are cleared solely by the' department. In Auckland, Christehurch, and! Dunedin the work is dene by contractors, who provide their own equipment. The drivers of the mail-collecting- vehicles are accompanied by postal employees, who attend) to tho actual clearing.

A few of the 50 immigrants who arrived in Dunedin a few days ago have called at the Labour Bureau, and have been placed in work in the country, where plenty ifl offering'. Some of the callers had beem clocks at Home, but showed to anxiety to .continue tho same calling here, preferring to take up farm work. It ; s to be assumed! that those who have not called at the bureau have found employment.

'I fie flatness of Christehurch and most of CaroUirbury suits cyclists excellently, and! about 30,000 bicycles are im, daily use in the city. The police records show that durjri.g 1909 upwards of 400 bicycles were reported "stolen." In Christehurch alono tho machines ranged in value from £5 to £25, and, taking' the average value as £lO, this means £4OOO worth of bicycles were misappropriated. The. proportion of convictions for theft to the number of bicycles reported stolen has been very small, owing to the fact that a person who steals a bicyclo in Christehurch rarely retains it in his possession for more than a very brief period, preferring to leave it somewhere in tho streets or in a paddeck rather than run the risk of a criminal prosecution. Thus more than half the stolen bicycles have been returned to the owners, sometimes within a few days of the theft, and sometimes not for a considerable time.

A maintenance case presenting' somewhat pathetic features was heard at the Magistrate's Oourt, Ohristchurch, on the 4th (reports the Lyttelton Times). Application! was made by the mother of a woman, 32 years of age, who had been blind! for It years, for an order requiring her husband! to contribute towards the support of this daughter. She stated that a separation order had been granted against her husband, but he had not for some time contributed towards the support of herself or of her daughter. He did not waste his substance in drinking, and there was no reason why he should not keep his daughter. The complainant herself did no* ask for assistance. The defendant did not appear, and the magistrate made an order for 15s per week.

Dr Charles Reissman gives the results of some interesting investigations in his" annual report of the work at the Kalyrai Home for Consumptives, South Australia. "Two years ago 29 patients were discharged] with arrested disease, and at the present time only one of them is known to have died. Three years ago 17 patients were discharged with arrested disease, and, with one exception, all are now living, and 14 are in good health. Four years ago there were 35 patients discharged with arrested! disease. At the present time 30 of these are living, of whom at least 25 are in good! health. This investigation shows that if a, patient is discharged! with arrested disease, then, if he will guard against over-exertiony which renders him liable to hemorrhage, there is a strong probability that five years hence he will be alive and well."

The R.M.S. Makura, which arrived 1 at Sydney on December 29 from Vancouver, is equipped with " ; wireless," being the first of the Union S,S. line to have it installed, and the innovation was greatly appreciated by "the passengers. The steamer was fitted in Vancouver by the United' Wire Service Company, of the United States, whose head office is at Seattle,. Washington-., Mr R. H. Ajmatromg is general' manager, and the company is the largest on the Pacific, having 300 wireless stations in the United States and installations on 330 ships:, The Makura's wireless instrument isoperatsd by Mr M. A. Mulrony. Messages!: are sentt and received at a distance of 1900 males.The Makura' has published: a daily papeiv known as the Makura Wireless Tribune, containing 300 words of wireless Tor-Id's news, and much purely "local"' matter.. Complete communication was kept up with* Honolulu until the night before the arrival in Suva—or a distance of 1500 miles. Messages are sent for 8s per 10 words, with 6dl for every additional ,7ord.

Some interesting facts are to be learnt from the new Calendar of the Royal College of Surgeons, which has just: been published. There are, it appears, 16,957 members of the college living at the present time, whilst the higher distinction of the) college fellowship (E.R.CS.J is held only by the comparatively small number of 145 T? medical men. The senior fellow of the college is Mr G„ Carrick Street, who used to be chief medical officer at the General! Post Office, whilst the "father"' of ths Royal College of Surgeons is Surgeon-major H. B. Hinton, M.R.C.S. r Era*,, late of tnw Bengal Medical Staff. Major- who is now living in Australia, is in his ninetyseventh year, and in a recent, communication, to the officials o£ the college whose diploma he holds declar'acl that hei was: im excellent health and hoped' to live to bet 100.

The courageous, conduct of the twee youths James Phillips and Frank Fowler, who rescued a girl named F'etri'e,. aged 11,. from] drowning' in the Waimakariri at Kaiir-alta. on the 3rd, is to ha brought under tha notice of the Canterbury Branch of the Royal HumatiG Society. The girl, was beingt carried out into a deep swift current (says tha Press), and a girl companion named! Johnson;, bathing with bear, had dived once or twice! to rescue her before; the alarm: attracted theboys. There was 1 nothing tee show/ tliei drowning girl's position', as she had gono quite.-Tinder, but on 3 <?f them observed a' foot just appear through the surface; of the river, the water of which was sljsgjhtlf

muddy wdth the fresh, and neither of the rescuers hesitated for a moment, both plunging in with their clothes on. Phillips had displayed similar promptitude on a former occasion, on which lie saw a child fall in. A gentleman who was near describes the act of the youths as a daring performance. It was some time before the girl was resuscitated, but she was aljout as usual on the sth. She was living with Mr and M-re Thomas at the Kaiapoi tea rooms.

A strange and serious case of ptomaine poisoning was reported from Burragorang (New South Wales) on December 29. It appears that about 30 victims were poisoned through eating corned 'beef sandwiches at the supper of the ball held in connection with the gymkhana on. Boxing Day in aid •of the Roman Catholic Church. The sufferers were quickly attacked, and were rendered helpless. Stretchers were provided, and the ball room was converted into a temporary hospital, for the patients were then too bad to be removed. The latest news is that all are recovering but Mr D. D. Head and Constable IJnwin, who still remain in a critical condition. Many patients attribute their relief to the quick use of charcoal, as they ate it as soon-as symptoms of poisoning showed.

A "number of Auckland merchants received a pleasant surprise, in the way of a New Year's gift from Mr A. B. Donald, principal of the firm of Donald and Edenborough, ship chandlers. Some years ago (says a Press Association, rr"" -ago), during a period of financial strew, n firm made a composition with their creditors. Mr Donald now informs those creditors -who accepted the composition that they will receiive a full settlement of the balance, and sends out several thousand pounds for that purpose.

Many New Zealanders suffer from what Is commonly known as hay fever. This troublesome complaint is known in other parts of the world. The task of saving* the people of Chicago from hay fever has been undertaken by ah aldermanic committee and the Health Department. It has been decided that the cutting of all the weeds within the city limits will prevent the malady. An ordinance has been prepared requiring eveiyono to mow their weeds under a penalty of a fine. This measure places upon the Health Department the duty of seeing whether the regulation is complied with..

During the Christmas and New Y*ar holidays no casualties were reported in the Milton district. There were several sensational bolts among driving parties, and some narrow escapes from drowning, but nothing more serious than broken trap shafts, wheels, and harness had to be ohronicWJ, and considering the number who were out camping, driving, and riding, the record (says our correspondent) is a very good one —for Milton.

A Press Association telegram from Cihristchureh states that an elderly married woman, whose name has not yet been ascertained, stepped off an electric tram which left Cathedral Square at 10.10 on the 6th for Papanui when it was passing Innes road at a fairly high rate of speed. When picked up the woman was just conscious. She was removed to the nearest doctor, where it was ascertained tibr-t her skull was fractured at the base, •and she expired almost immediately.

A discovery which is of great interest to members of the Craft has recently been made in connection with some excavations at Jerusalem, on the site of the Temple. While this work was being carried out the workmen came upon an underground chamber of considerable height and extent. Further examination revealed the fact that scattered about the stone pillars and on the

walls were a number of Masonic emblems, particularly those of the square and compass. The building, or underground chamber, had evidently been used in the far off ages,' a.s a Masonic meeting place. This

discovery conclusively proves what some people have looked upon as being somewhat mythical—namely, that Masonry was actively and practically worked in the time of King Solomon Up to the time of the discovery no knowledge existed of the underground chamber, though extensive excavations had been made.

The annual meeting of the New Zealand Institute -of Surveyors was opened at Auckland on the 6th (says a Press Association telegram). The report stated that .representations were made to the Government as to the insufficient and unsatisfactory charges for the survey of Native lands, and the altogether unsatisfactory mode of- payment by liens over land dealt with. The Under-Secretary of Lands, in reply, expressed the opinion that much more satisfactory rates should be fixed for private surveys.

The Alexandra Herald reports a railway accident which occurred on December 24 on the line between the Lauder and Poolburn stations. It appears that an employee on the permanent way and another man left the Lauder Railway Station between '9 p.m. and 10 p.m. on a railway trolley en route for Poolburn, and when passing over that section of the line through the Poolburn gorge a collision took place between the trolley and the late train due at Omakau at 9.40 p.m. They were travelling in opposite directions, and it was little short of a miracle that the accident was not attended with fatal results, as the train was travelling at full speed. When the collision occurred the train was immediately nulled up, and an investigation into the cause of the collision soon revealed the seriousness of the mishap. The trolley was shattered to pieces ; and portions of it were hurled some hundreds of feet into the

oreek bed. The two men. were thrown clear of the line, the surfaceman escaping without injury. His mate, however, did not fare so well, for he was badly injured, being cut about the head and body, and when picked lip he was in a semi-unconscious condition. He was taken back by the train to Lauder, where his injuries were attended to. All the passengers in the train received quite a shock by the sudden impact, but none of them was injured in any way.

A rare Christmas treat was provided for the two leper patients .on Quail Island by the members of the> " Kia Ora " Centre of the Girls' Realm Guild, Wellington, who through their secretary, Miss Erne- M. Young, forwarded a big hamper, well filled with dainties of various descriptions, including a Christmas pudding, cakes, and sweets, which were enjoyed and much appreciated by the two men, who desire to express their deep gratitude to the young ladies for their thoughtful kindness. Similar thoughtfulness on the part of a number of other persons is also acknowledged by the caretaker of the island.

In connection with the grant for a free publio library for Alexandra by Mr Carnegie, of eSkibo Castle, Scotland, the Alexandra Herald is informed by Mr Fraser. who has just returned from a visit to the "land of brown heather end shaggy wood," and who was instrumental in securing the grant by a personal visit to Mr Carnegie, that the amount asked for (£750) should arrivo at any time now. In fact, Mr Fraser fully expected that the money would have been received ere he arrived home. Mr Fraser speaks in glowing terms of the hospitality extended to him by Mr Carnegie, and the pleasure expressed by the latter gentleman at seeing one of his own countrymen from New Zealand. Immediately on ascertaining the object of the visit to nis castle, Mr Carnegie signified his willing ness to accede to the request, and extended an invitation to Mr Fraser to again visit him before he left Scotland, an offer which was gladly accepted.

At a confirmation service in St. John's Anglican Church, Gundagai, Bishop Barlow, of Goulburn, delivered a vigorous address on gambling, and applied it to both home and national life. He declared that gambling gripped the people with euch deadly force as to constitute the greatest blot upon the life of the nation. His indictment was directed as much against society people, who should set an example, as against the form of evil with which the people were familiar. Some of the houses of the supposed best classes were at times turned into veritable gambling dens, where people, allsged to be assembled out of friendship, sought to take from other people what they had not earned. His experience in Australia of gambling, with its sinuous, snake-like, soul-destroying forces, loft upon his mind the sad impression that it was worse than on© might expect from the lowest haunts in Italy and the slums of Naples. Even some of his own friends, he was sorry to admit, .sank away their substance through such channels as Tettorsall's sweeps. Gambling, above everything else, was the national curse in Australia. His advice to the people of Australia, if they desired tc save the ration from being totally strangled by the great evil of gambling, was- to fight against all temptations in that direction, including playing bridge for stakes.

A scene of some hilarity and ludicrousness was witnessed in, the railway sheds on Thursday afternoon. Thi3 was the sorting out and claiming by the owners of the various articles—apparel and otherwise—which bad been garnered from the wreck of the Wa ilea re before she was abandond. The passengers in the hurry of securing as much of their luggage as was possible were obliged to have their goods bundled together and 'taken to the shore in sheets and blankets. Naturally confusion resulted, and the task of sorting out was a somewhat involved one. Nevertheless it was undertaken in the best of humour, and was accomplished satisfactorily on the whole, many probably being thankful that they and their belongings were in a position to meet again. A few of the passengers have suffered some slight personal loss, such as shoes, etc., which dropped from bundles while being transferred from the ship to the camp, but, speaking generally, this loss is very email.

A very unpleasant and painful experience befell a lady travelling on a southbound train from Napier the other day (says the Manawatu Daily Times). When near Takapau she lit a. small lamp and used it to warm some milk for her baby. The lamp, which was filled with methylated spirits, was not held securely, and the spirits overflowed, and immediately caused lan, explosion. The lady's hat caught alight, but a gentleman on the opposite seat promptly subdued the fire by placing a coat over the blazing headgear. Spirits which fell on the mother's dross damaged it considerably, and the lady wias also burned about the forehead. Her hair also suffered.

Some remarks of an interesting character with reference to the hemp industry were made to a Waikato Times reporter by Mr J. W. Ellis, who has just returned from a trip round the world.. The New Zealander was travelling from Mexico when he got into conversation with the Governor of Michigan and a comrnittee of five or six gentlemen of that State, who were returning from a mission to Ukatan, where they had been negotiating the purchase of sisal for the manufacture of binder twine. Mr Ellis was informed that Michigan and several other States utilised prison labour in the manufacture of the twine, and

J while on the topic of fibre ho took opporj turaity to mention the Now Zealand product. This appeared to be altogether new to these gentlemen, none of them having ,' any knowledge of its quality or utility. : They said they did not cave for sisal on ' account of its beiing a short fibre, and \ only making 500 ft of twine to the pound, ; while Manila made a- twine of better I quality and up to 650 ft per lb. As they evinced a desire to know more about New ' Zeialand flax, he wrote the Government i here, asking it to forward samples of our ! twine and of the flax from which it was j made, together with a list of prices obtainI ing over the last few years, as well as the i names of firms with whom they could , safely deal for the fibre. As the binder twine was practically all centred in tho j International Harvester Company, and as ■ that company was supposed to have made contracts for tho purchase of all the sisal j that could be produced for some years to ; come, he thought New Zealand manufacj turers, with a little enterprise, might I obtrude on the market to the interests of I all connected with the industry in this country. An occasional correspondent of the j Wyndham Herald has received from one ! of the early pioneers of tho "sixties" 1 the following interesting statement: I " Wyndham (your town) was named after General Wyndham, a hero of the Niedan. ! He was born at Fellbrigg Hall, Norfolk County, England. Ho was born only two miles from me. I have seen him many times over when T was a boy. He was then a young man of 30 years, and at that j timo captain of the Coldstream Guards." ! This no doubt accounts for several of the streets in the town being named to comj memorate the great battles in tho Crimea. in which General Wyndhm took a leading j part. Balaclava, Redan. Scutari, etc. j streets all point to this idea—in fact, the I name of every street in the town is ! associated with that war. I The export of coal from Greymouth last I year was 340,839 tons, or practically the I same as the previous year. A considerable ; increase, however (says cur correspondent), I is looked for this year, on account of the , opening of the Paparoa and North j Brunner mince. i A resident in Moray place gained on Thursday morning some interesting experii enoo with regard to- the pugnacity of the ; weasel. Whilst cutting grass he heard a ! rustling sound, and upon investigating was surprised to find it was caused by a weasel, j which upon his approach promptly sprang ' at him. He avoided the animal, which j immediately sprang at him again, and was ! pioceeding to make a third attack when : a timely blow with a hook despatched it. I The weasel, which was brought into this office,-was about 9in long, and the presence' , of such in the heart of the city should i prove disquieting to residents- with small children. The dire effects of the recent depression '■ in the timber industry have not yet been shaken oft' (says our Greymouth correspondent), and the immediate future does not give much promise of a speedy return ! to the good times of 1908, when the export went up as high as 50,625.935 superficial feet. That it fell last year to 30,879,503 ft emphasises in no - uncertain manner the severity of the slump, which has not as yet been altogether surmounted. The falling-off in the export for 1909 was nearly 20 million superficial feet, and that is a deficiency which it i? hardly likely j will be madiS up this year. ■ Tho Kaifcangata correspondent of the ' Free Press reports a senelational incident . which occurred on Coal Point Beach, two well-known ladies having been savagely attacked and injured by a dog. The j ladies —Mrs William M'Caughcm and Mrs Andrew Jarvie—had gone with their bus- j bands iand children to spend the day at j the beach, and were accompanied by a | black collie cattle dog belonging to Mr j M'Caughern. The animal was not the j sweetest tempered at any time, but on i Monday he had all day shown signs of j anger, and was jumping about and snap- | ping at the children. On Mi's M : Caughern j throwing a piece of stick at him to j frighten him away he suddenly flew at her, biting her arm and knocking her j down. She managed to scramble to her > feet, but the brute again attacked her, and | made frantic efforts to get at her throat, j She was again knocked down., and a terrible fight between her and the beast j ensued, the dog still making determined : efforts to get at her throat, and she had ' actually to get her head in the sand to ; prevent him succeeding. The men folk were along the beach for a walk, and knew : nothing about the affair until it was all j over; but Mrs Jarvie, who was sitting a \ short distance away, pluckily rushed in to Mrs M'Caugher.ni's assistance, and pulling : off the dog no doubt saved her life. The j infuriated animal then turned on Mrs ; Jarvie, and fastening its teeth on her j arm just above the elbow, inflicted a nasty j wound. The brute next turned on the ; children, and was only kept off them with j difficulty; in fact, one of Mr M'Caughern's j daughters had to take refuge in the water. , Luckily Messrs Jarvie and M'Caughern returned, and the brute was secured. The j injured ladies weire badly knocked about, suffering from bites and shock. Mrs M'Caughern has a number of nasty teeth- ■ marks on her arm, and has her thumb ripped badly, and worst of all, her arm i was fractured near the shoulder by the ! fall. | Sharks have not been so plentiful at i Molyneux Beach this season as last; still , a few have been in evidence, and the Free j Press reports that en Monday afternoon Messrs Pemp, Oliver (2), and Rameav, j

[ while fishing fot coi'l off the rocks at Kaka j Point, had an experience with a nine--1 footer. It seized the bait on one line, i which fortunately held a large gropor-hook, I and made great play for a while. It was hauled to the surface eventually, and three bullets from a .32 rifle administered the happy despatch. A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that Captain Knyvett has been notified by the board that inquired into his alleged insubordination that he has been dismissed from the service. A Gisborne resident who recently visited tho Covent Garden Market, London, was ! told by the representative of a firm that ' caters for the best English trade in fruit i that undoubtedly the best apples received 1 on the market vvere the Otago apples j from New Zealand, which were always • largely sought after. I Most theatre-goers have gone through ! the unpleasant experience of a ticket-office rush. With a view to reducing to a minimum the scramble for tickets which often takes place in busy seasons, Mr I John Fuller has had installed at tho Auckland Opera House a new device for the j mechanical issue of passes. The attendant ! in the ticket office has omly to sit behind i a cage window, and as fast as he can take | the money, tho machine throws out metal | discs which replace the ordinary tickets of i admission. It also automatically counts j the number of disss sold, enabling the ! theatre manager to see at a glance how many people the house holds. The machine is the first of the kind tried in Auckland, and has been installed by Mr H. Edwards, of Wellington. The Greymouth Star says that recently a box of 100 detonators was found by a child somewhere in the locality of Easson's Hill, and the child innocently enough took ! them to school, and, in total ignorance, distributed them through two or three of the standards before the teacher ascertained what had been. done. Meanwhile one had fallen to the floor, but did not explode. The master, being - informed of the circumstance!?-, had all the scholars arraigned, and collected the whole of the contents of the box, which he deposited in safety, but 90 of the 100 ha-d been •distributed before ho took action.. One lad had used bis as a whistle. What might have ccurred if a, pin had been put in the opening of one of them is perhaps better unwritten. Sharks do not apparently deter people from bathing in Australia, no matter how numerous. The Sydney Morning Herald states that largo numbers of voracious sharks are along the coast, especially close to the sandy beaches which are so popular with surf-swimmers. The fish appear to range from small school sharks about 4ft long to large tigers and grey nurses of three and four times the length. All are dangerous, and when there is but a little roll en they come in to within 20ft of the shore. They are after salmon, which are extremely plentiful this year. The groat salmon shoals begin to arrive about the beaches near Sydney in October, and have generally thinned out in numbers by December, but this Christmas they have been extraordinarily plentiful. Lately at Manly a shark was among some of the bathers, and there was a wild plunge for the shore. Nobody was bitten, but had the fish encountered something choice in the way of a human being probably there would have .been another beach tragedy. A Wellington telegram states that the Minister of Railways (the Hon. J. A. Millar) has returned to Wellington from Auckland, where he spent four or five days. Mr Millar is considerably better in health, but he has not yet quite recovered from the effects of the strenuous session. He will be in Wellington for 10 days, and will probably take part in the Northern Bowling Association's tournament. The Minister of Justice (the Hon. Dr Findlay) has left for the south. Ho intends to spend a few days at Mount Cook. The wreck of the W T aikare in Dusky Sound has raised the whole question of the reliability of the charts relating to that portion of the New Zealand coast, and there are not wanting persons who unhesitatingly declare that a completely new survey is wanted. It is pointed out that many of tlw charts which are constantly used by shipmasters were compiled from data obtained 40 or 50 years ago. One of tho Waikare's officers told a Times reporter last week that he did not consider the charts of the Sounds either complete or as accurate as they might be, and that ho personally, knew of recks the positions of which were wrongly shown. Robert Rankin, one of the patients at the Hospital, died during the past week. There have been 42 patients admitted and 40 discharged, and the total number of inmates remaining is 130. On the previous week the number was 129. Early ■ in February there will be opened in Christchurch (says a Press Association telegram) a church school for girls. It will be under the management of the Kilburne Sisters, who are connected with the religious community of the Sisters of the Church (Anglican). The order is an educational one, and has charge of schools in almost every part of the world. They have been represented in New Zealand for some years by the well-known St. Hilda's College in Dunedin, and that institution is the model which will be the ultimate aim of St. Margaret's, by which name the Christchurch school will be known. In the meantime a lease has been taken of a large residential and clay school formerly occupied by Mrs V'pwen. The building is now being altered i*kl renovated in pre- J

paration for the opening next month. The principal of St. Margaret's will be Sister Blanche, who, with two other Kilburne Sisters, recently arrived from England. She will be assisted by one of those Sisters, and also bv Sister Catherine, formerly of St. Hilda's" School.

The No. 2 Field Ambulance and the medical section of the Officers' Training Corps went into camp at Central Battery, on Saturday evening. The Field Ambulance mustered 48 officers and men, and the Officers' Training Corps mustered two officers and 25 men. On Sunday the corps drilled and attended church uarade at the South Dunedin Presbyterian Church. The camp is under the command of Captain Ritchie, and l.ieutenant-color.el Will, V.D., is acting instructor for the medical section of the Officers' Training Corps. When the Ruahine left Cape Town (says a Wellington telegram) the wreck of the> Shaw-Savill steamer Maori was seen afe Duicker Point The stern of the vessel! was projecting above water, also the greater part of the mainmast, but the rest of the hull was completely submerged. It is expected that the wreck will break up with continued bad weather. The Ruahine made a smart passage of 41 days from Plymouth.

Ths ferocity of the sandflies which infest the Sounds country a.nd the virulence of their bites added much to the discomforts experienced by the Waikaro's people in Dusky Sound last week. The insects were present in countless thousands, and so long as daylight or artificial light enabled them to locate their victims their attack* ' never ceased. The wholesale murder ofi' the pest afforded nc relief. As one mai>.. expressed it: "If I squash one of 'era ;, about 50 others come to his funeral." ' More troublesome than the bite itself way the poison that was injected by the insecti This slowly raised laige red lumps on th< skin, which after two or three days be' came very sore and irritable. The hand! of some of the men on the Moura lasft week were puffed up and swollen as "if blood poisoning had set in, while the appearance of their faces suggested that they were suffering from a rash. Tho v. übiquity of the sandfly set a visitor a-won-dering. "If," he said, "it is a parasite and lives on blood, as its behaviour suggests, how comes it that it is present in myriads in this country, where practically the only living things are a few birds?"

The traffic returns for the city tramways for the fortnight ended December 18, aa { compared with the corresponding period } of the previous year, are as follow: —Re- ■ oeipts: 1909, £2451 15s lid; 1908, £2405 13? 3d. Mileage: 1909, 42,598 miles 21 chains? 1908, 42,286 miles nine chains.

A very old resident well known to thos* who worked near the Invercargill jetty,, where' her husband (Mr Edward MoranJ' used to discharge his lighter some 40 years ago, was knocked down by a bicycle rideE last July on Elles road footpath. Thtf poor old lady (says the News) suffered at good deal for some months, and is not welf yet. For some time 6he did not know who had injured her, but the young fellow was honourable, and came and expressed his regret and paid some £8 toward*" medical expenses and nursing.

Honesty rewarded! A case in point,, showing how some misguided people reward honesty, came under the notice of aTimaru Post representative a few days ago. A certain young lady, upon entering on* of the bathing machines at Caroline Bay, found a purse left by the previous occupantsand containing £4 in money, a return railway ticket from Timaru to Lyttelton, and 1 a return ticket from Lyttelton to Nelson*. She informed the caretaker of her find p and left her address with him for the infor- <-; mation of the loser of the purse. The [ loser promptly hunted up the address, and - " demanded " the purse in a tone thals ' clearly indicated her opinion of the finder. The young lady bore with the insinuations' patiently, and, ascertaining from the description given that the woman was the • owner of the purse, she handed it over with the dignified remark that the returni • of the purse at least deserved a word of : thanks. The woman replied that she 'didn't think so," and walked off. Tlio presence of a few more such misguided l persons in the world would render honesty an embarrassing virtue.

By the end of last week all the. Amokura's boys were required to report themselves on the training-ship after their three weeks' holiday, and work will be resumed on the vessel this week. About the 15th inst. the Amokura will leave her anchorage off Pipitea Point for another trainingcruise. Most of the lads who have passed through the ship have experienced no difficulty in being placed on vessels of the merchant service, and the general efficiency, of their work has received commendation from a number of officers. This week seven new lads will join the Amokura: — William Middleton, of Uindon, Otago; Harold D. Jory. of Warkworth; C. J. M., Gaby, of Tsmuka; W. P. Jenkins, of Napier; J. M. Collins, of New Plymouth; J. M. Thomson, of Bromley; and A. F. Birse, of Queenstown. The vessel will then have her full complement of 60 boys. The report and balance sheet of The Times Publishing Company (London) wera issued in November, and present some in-, teresting figures. The report states that "the- directors consider that in view of the troublous times through which tho newspaper has recently passed the result disclosed in the accounts may be deemed satisfactory. The Times Book Club,. whieV was carried on under the auspices of thi company up till March 31, has now Wjj

formed into a separate company, in which the whole of the shares are held by this company. The directors recommend that i dividend at the rate of 2i per cent._ be jpaidi on the first preference shares, making, iwith an interim dividend of 2i,- per cent, paid in February, 5 per cent, for the year. The net profit for the IS months up till July 3 was £20,358. There is no distribution on the £150,000 of second cumulative preference shares or the £280,000 of ordinary capital, while the balance carried forward ■is under £900."

The Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, Minister of Aigmctulture, who returned to Dunedia from the south on Saturday, intends remaining in Lhinedin for a few days. On .Wednesday the Minister will be a visitor to the Blueskin show at Waitati. Thereafter S*is movecsentis are as yet somewhat uncertain.

The tourist season this year promises to prove one of the busiest on record. Very large numbers of over-sea visitors have arrived here, and Milford Sound, by the ovariand route, and the Cold Lakes are feeing extensively "done."

The Benevolent Institution Trustees returned their regular sittings on Monday, there being present—Messrs Talboys (chairmen), Tapper, Larnach, Moller, Loudon, Galkuway, and LeCren. Accounts amounting'to £389 12s were passed for payment. The out-ddor relief book showed that in December there had been 141 cases, representing 36 men, 122 women, and 217 children—total, 375. The average cost for each week had been £sl 3s, and the average cost per head per week had been 2s B|d. The - ngures for November had been: Cases, 145—men, 40; women, 126; children, 221; —total, 387. The average cost for each week in November had been £53 Is, and the average cost per head per week 2s 31-3 d. Christmas gifts from Messrs jpeight and Co. and Mr Dawson were acknowledged with thanks. About 30 relief cases were dealt with.

A total of 1734 cases was heard in the Magistrate's Court at Dunedin during the past year. The aggregate amount sued for was £34,620, and the aggregate amount recovered £16,291. The number of plaints entered was 5371. The cases heard during the quarter ended l December 31 numbered 367, the aggregate amount sued for was £5735, and the aggregate amount recovered £2927. There were 675 plaints entered, 123 distress warrants issued, 62 judgment summonses issued, 18 orders made on judgment summonses, ' and two warrants of committal issued. Mr Justice Denniston will commence his 12 months' leave of absence on Ist February. Mr Justice Sim will, in addition to his work as president of the Arbitration Court, take the next Supreme Court sittings at Timaru, and, as far as possible, other judges will do the work that would otherwise be done by Mr Justice Denniston. "Tho most difficut case to meet," said the Minister of Justice to a Post reporter, "is that of Mr Justice Edwards in connection with the next criminal and civil sittings at Auckland. There is always a heavy calendar there, and I am endeavouring to find some means of relieving his Honor of part of the work. The details, he added, would bo arranged with the Acting Chief Justice.

Advertisements are frequently seen in the newspapers to the effect that somebody has found a bicycle, and is willing to return it on payment of expenses and presumably a small reward. On other occasions the advertiser is more bellicose, and threatens to sell the goods if not claimed within seven days. Such an advertisement appeared not long ,ago in Christchuroh in, respect of a motor cycle. A reporter was informed by a police officer that all such advertisements were promptly repfied to by the visit of a constable, who took the -found property to the police station. It was pointed out that mo person finding a bioycle and advertising it had' any claim on the owner, even for the cost of the advertisement, otherwise a person might make a practice of etealing cycles and advertising them, in the hope of reward and expenses. The finder ibad no other course than to lodge the property with the police.

At the Magistrate's Court at Oamaru <>n Monday Stuart Walls, a young man, until recently on the staff of the Bank of New Zealand, pleaded " Guilty " to forging and uttering a cheque made out in the name of John Buckley for the amount of £IOO. Walls (says our correspondent) was arrested in Lytteiton on his way to Sydney, and remanded to Oamaru. where Mr Hutchison, S.M., sent him for sentence to the Supreme Court. •

From May to October in this year a great international exhibition of shooting juid field sports will be hold in Vienna under the patronage of the Emperor Francis Joseph. A .separate space will be ■allotted to each country. Pavilions will be Biected which will be. as far as possible, Imitations of shooting boxes, country seats, »tc. The occasion will be made the opportunity for holding an international hunting congress.

The Rev. A. Don has shown us the medals presented this year in connection with the Outlook knots and puzzles contest. -They are an exceedingly handsome Bet of five gold and silver medals, of New Zealand manufacture and artistic design.

The "Clifford George" memorial medal is' of solid gold with a shield centre, a spray , oF laurel in each side and a scroll at the , ; top. The "special" medal is also of gold, v .The " Nellie " memorial silver medal has a gold centre. Tifosre are two " Gifford G. " .Gray '•' memorial medals. The girl's medal i has a gold' shield in the centre with chased •

gold sides, and the boy's medal is a heavy Maltese cross with crown and circular gold centre. The reverse of each medal is inscribed with the name of the winner and the date. All the "memorial" medals have been presented by parents of children, once competitors, but who have been called away by death.