OMNIUM GATHERUM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 4

OMNIUM GATHERUM.

Bmoking is permitted in churches in some « i the rural districts of Holland.

Thecork tree must be 50 years old before 1 produces bark of a commercial value. At a Methodist sale of goods, at Carti rton last week, a home-made loaf of b pad realised 3s 6d. One of the largest perch landed from B uthland waters was caught by Mr A. Pi »n on Sunday, Bth iwet. The fish turned the'scales at 5 jib.—N</ws. The following no/j-se is posted in an office of a firm in Palmer6ton North: "No vacancy for ~;*lv clerks here unless they promise never to marry." The amount of £<old backing held by the Federal Treasury' on Septeesfesr 27, when the issue of Australian notes represented a value of £9,421,954, was £4,678,013. A Masterton Resident lost a £1 note in his yard soma !flionths back. On Wednesday last he was surprised, on pulling to pieces a bird's n-eet, to find - , the note intact.

When a case supposed to oontain accordeona ww) opened at Messrs P. Haymati and Co. ■ warehouse fat Auckland a few days ago It was found to contain nothing more valuable than coal. Th* of tho various branches of tha New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Ajraoay Co. (Ltd.) have been advised that all tho m«tah&ti of their itaffskaV* been granted inernajfis in their salaries. It js'expected that the N*plcr gaol will bo closed * within tho next few weeks in furtherance of Aha scheme.

The prisoners a 4 present confined there will be sent to the new prison farm in the Auckland district. In consequence of the • increased cost of living, the Perth City Council has granted a general increase of Is per day to all employees. Carters are to receive 10s. sanitary workers 10s, other employees lis, and boy sweepers Cs. The demand for labour continues good in Invercargill, there being a shortage in some trades. Several businesses, too, are working overtime. Unskilled men are also .in request, and very few are reported as being unemployed. Two cases of diphtheria have been recorded as having occurred in a country distriot of the Ashburton County. Thecasos are in one family, and the Public Health Inspector has taken all necessary precaution to prevent the disease from spreading. As a result of a good season and the exceptional prices secured _ for dairy outputs, it is stated that prices of land in southern Taranaki will advanca £5 per acre by the end of the season. Tho best land is now eOuCazMnding £SO to £65 per acre.

The Gisborne Borough Council has received a report from Mr Metcalfe, of Auckland, on tho waterworks, recommending an entirely new _ site for the service reservoir. This, with atiior necessary works, will involve an exDenidituno of £39,000. At the Patea Magistrate's Court last week W. J. Quale, a young mart of Alton, was fined £1 for having disturbed a meet-

ing. The facts were that defendant, during an address at Alton on no-license, had taken into the hall material which gave off a very offensive smell. The Te Wharau correspondent of the Wairarapa Age writes that a " doubledecker" fleece was shown at Hikorangi a few days ago which weighed '3slb, and had a staple of wool 2ft long. The wool was inspected by Mr Lees, wool expert, v.'ho valued it at Is 7d per lb.

The Cuban Government has voted the sum of IOO.OOOdoI (£20,000) "for a memorial to General Antonio Maoeo.'a hero of the Cuban War of Independence. Sculptors of every nationality are invited to submit their own schemes for the memorial to a Special Commission sitting in Havana. For the purpose of advertising Australia the External Affairs Denartmeht proposes to appoint a photographer and cinemato-. grapk operator to travel continuously throughout the Commonwealth. The salary is to be £4 per week, - with a travelling allowance of 12s 6d per day in addition to free transit.

Edward Lane had a marvellous escape from death during a storm. He was outting wood at Oathcart, near Ararat (Vic), when the lightning struck the axe. ■ It was wrenched from his hands and hurled soime distance away Lane was thrown down. but. except for a severe shock, he escaped unhurt. . The Australian defence authorities have decided, with the assent of the War Office. that the Australian blue ensiem is to be the saluting flag at all reviews and ceremonial parades The Union Jack is also to be flown at the saluting point when a representative of the King reviews the Commonwealth forces. ~...;

Two years ago last May a plate-glass window in Mr J. Phillips' store, near the Hawera racecourse, was broken by someone having thrown a stone through it. The other morning when Mrs Phillips opened the front door she found an envelope underneath it. It contained three halfcrowns and a terse note: "For one window." Mr Phillips says the window has never been replaced, and to do so would cost £4 10s.

Complaints are rife at Bluff among hotel and boarding house keepers in regard to boing victimised by casual visitors to the port. It is not unusual for men to arrive by one of the boats, and obtain casual work, in the meantime putting up at a hotel or boarding-house. Many of them leave in a hurry, and forget to pay for their board and lodging. During last week (says the Southland Times) two glaring cases of this kind occurred.