LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3017, 10 January 1912, Page 30

LOCAL & GENERAL.

A long spell of dry weather has been experienced in Tonga (writes the New Zealand Herald’s correspondent), and supplies of water are giving out. Those who have a little rain water left in their tanks are guarding it as a sacred thing, and saving it for drinking and cooking purposes, while other residents have fallen back on well water (which is hard and brackish) for all other purposes. Nearly all the cement cisterns in the native village are dry. The grass is scorched up, the whoe place wearing a brown and dusty appearance, and the nuts are beginning to wither and drop off the oocoanut. trees, being unable to get the necesary moisture to fill out and mature. This means that the copra output for the early part of next year will be seriously curtailed, and the yams and krnnara crops are also feeling the effects of the continued dry scorching days. During the past four weeks there have boon two slight showers, not enough in cither case to lay the dust thoroughly, let alone fill the tanks with the longed-for supply. Robert Pomeroy, the youth who, at the Police Court on December 26, admitted the theft of articles from the employees on the e.s. Tarawora, valued at £2O, came up for sentence on the 2nd instant. Mr Widdowson, S.M., said the best course to adopt would ba to take steps to have, the accused committed to an industrial school for reformative treatment. The sentence passed was one month’s imprisonment on each of six charges of theft, the sentences to be concurrent. A recommendation would bo made to his Excellency the Governor to have Pomeroy committed to an Industrial School.

A hurricane of great violence was experienced at the Fiji Islands at the end of last month. News was brought by the Tahino on the Ist that a great quantity of fruit was ruined, and the loss will affect shipments of bananas for some considerable time. The Talune went through the hurricane while at sea without sustaining damage.

There appears to bo always a certain amount of risk in dealing with Native lands (says a Hawke’s Bay journal). A few days ago the owners of a Native block in Hawke’e Bay, leased by Mr Douglas, assisted by a number of Natives, drove off his stock, consisting of ewes and lamba and a mob of cattle, to Mr Douglas’s other places, a distance of three miles. A mob of sheep belonging to another European was then put on the property of the Maoris, and the gate securely fixed with wire. Mr Douglas drove his sheep back, and in order to do so the fence had to be taken down, when a lively scene ensued, as the Natives put up the wires as soon as the Europeans took them down. Eventually his sheep were driven in, and in so doing they got mixed up with the other cheep. At times a free fight seemed imminent. The proceedings were witnessed by a large concourse of settlers and others. A man who elected to walk down the streets of Timaru on the Ist only in a ©porran caused a mild sensation in the town • (writes a correspondent of the Lyttelton Times). He was considerably under the influence of liquor, and, walking into the Fire Brigade Station, he divested himself of all his garments, and buckling on hi© sporran proceeded into the city as far as the Bank of New Zealand, followed by a crowd of about 400.' Ho was then apprehended by a constable, who inarched his interesting captive to the Police Station, where he was seized with a violent attack of delirium tremens. An abnormal number of arrests were made in Auckland on Thursday, December 23, by the police (says the New Zealand Herald), no fewer than 31 alleged broakt=rs of the law being taken into custody. Tho majority were arrested on account of having partaken of alcoholic refreshment too freely. Two others were arrested on charges of theft, and six for vagrancy. Five absentees from the steamer Zealandio were also taken into custody. Tho prison cells were taxed to their utmo-t to accommodate tho unwonted crowd. »

Mr H. D. Van Brunt, of Now York, who is on a motoring tour of the world, recently did the return trip from Auckland to Rotorua by motor car. His opinion of our Groat Wonderland is all that a proud Now Zealander could desire from any muchtravelled tourist. His opinion of our roads, on the other hand, is far from flattering. He is accompanied by his wife and Mr G Ij. Wilnes, also of Now York, and the party recently arrived in Auckland from Australia, after motoring through the Great Continent. They previously did the United States and Canada, and after tour iug New Zealand they will go to the Philippine Islands, China, Japan, Russia, India, South Africa and Europ>e. “ I have travelled in many parts of the world by motor,” said Mr Van Brunt to a rejiorter, “ and have been on roads of all kinds, but of all the rotten roads that I have been on that to Rotorua—especially the last 30 or 40 miles—takes the biscuit. It is very remarkable that a road which is the main highway to a place of such wonderful distinction as Rotorua should bo so bad. With a good road the motor traffic between hero and Rotorua should be very considerable, but of several ears which left about the time that I did none, so far as I could learn, were able to reach their destination.” As regards Rotorua itself, Mr Van Brunt gave it the palm as tlio most remarkable place that he had seen during 40 years’ travel in all parts of the world. “ Our quiet show places—Ycsomite Park amongst others,” he said—“ have their remarkable features, but we have not the great variety of types of thermal activity that you have at Rdtorua,

Many of the things to be seen at Rotorua arc more remarkable than anything in America. Rotorua, too, can be covered in a couple of clays, whereas it takes live days to cover Yosemite Park, which is so much more scattered.”

. A rather exciting experience befell a launch party on the Manukau on December 23. as the. result of which the boat founc dered. and the seven occupants had a wet and unpleasant time. The launch was owned by Mr Johns, a school teacher at Orua Bay, and on Saturday afternooff he was running up the Manukau Harbour to Onehunga, accompanied by Mr Biddoch and his two daughters and one son, Mr Bryan, and another person. A rope got foul of the propeller, and the boat began to drift up Papakura Channel, the party being at the mercy of the tide for two hours. The propeller was then freed, and as the tide was full in, and the ■ boat far out of the course of the main channel, it was decided to attempt to follow a course which would carry the boat round Wceke’s Island, the channel there being used at high tide. About midnight the launch ran on to a reef, and a hole being knocked through her bottom, the boat filled and sank in about seven minutes. Fortunately the men of the party found that the depth of water was not above their necks, and they were able to wade ashor© with the ladies of the party. Mr Bryan had his leg rather badly hurt, but otherwise the members of the party escaped serious injury, and on reacning Weeke’s Island they were made comfortable for the night at the caretaker’s cottage, and next morning were driven to Onehunga-. Another of those sordid dramas ending in vitriol-throwing, which have become too common in France during recent years, occurred (says the correspondent of a London paper) at St. ‘ Maurice, in the suburbs of Paris. It seems that a young accountant, named Albert Gros, employed in a factory there, had formed a liason with a woman nearly 10 years his senior. Ho himself lived with his sisters, but kept a small flat, where bis friend resided. Owing to the woman’s jealous disposition, Gros, a couple of months ago. severed his connection with hor and ceased to visit the flat. Tho woman threatened vengeance for the desertion, and as Grog was going to his work at 7 o’clock she met him at tho corner of the Avenue St. Mande, and threw the contents of a bottle of vitriol in his face. The unfortunate man was fearfully burned about the face and arms, and both of them had to bo convoyed to the hospital. Gros will probably ba blinded for life by the horrible outrage. His assailant, whose name is Marchandine, although severely burned, was able to leave the hospital after her injuries had been dressed. She was at onoc arrested by the police. Even in the cause of scientific research the Victorian Postal Department is not prepared to handle without complaint packages that contain specimens to be. submitted at tho University to bacteriological examination. but are posted like ordinary innocent parcels. A number of such packages have passed through the hands of .sorters, and have proved not to be packed and posted according to the regulation. Dive possibilities have suggested themselves to tho department of broken specimen jars, escaping microbes, and subsequent reduction of the staff. One medical man has been cautioned, and the department is drawing the attention of other doctors whom it considers likely to forward specimens to the regulation bearing on the postage of pathological specimens. This requires that on the outside of every packet there must be written the words, “ Specimen for bacteriological examination.” The liquid or substance forwarded for examination must be enclosed in a receptacle hermetically sealed, and this must bo placed In a strong wooden, leather, or metal case, in such a way that it cannot shift about. With it must be packed a sufficient quantity of some absorbent material, such as sawdust or cotton-wool, to prevent jrossiblo leakage. The package must on no account bo dropped into a letter-box or sent by parcel post. A penalty of £SO is provided for breaches of the law.

The idea that the women voted more industriously than the men at the Victorian State elections is not borne out by the official figures. The returns show that the average vote throughout the State was 64.66 per cent, of the persons on the rolls. The total poll for the 54 electorates was 384,830, of which 193,132 were men and 186,698 women. The percentage of voters was 66.58 for men, and 57.96 for women. At Waranga 80.35 per cent, of all the women enrolled went to the polls. That was the record for the election. The women of Port Melbourne were at the other extreme, for only 43.18 per cent, recorded their votes.

The loss of such vessels as the Waratah, Yongola, Rosedale, and ©there without it becoming known how or where they disappeared, has led Mr J. J. Cooper, of Leichhardt, Sydney, to invent a process for marking the spot, or at least leaving behind some documentary evidence of where the vessel was wrecked and what' really happened. Mr Cooper has patented a simple but apparently effective apparatus for the purpose named. It is a conical-shaped metal float, fitted with a flagpole, and the flag flying 6ft above the water. Inside this buoy or float there are hooks for hanging messages upon, also for attaching the ship’s daily log and papers. At the bottom of the float is a large reel, with 60 fathoms of wire lino attached, and at the end of the line is an anchor about Blb in weight. The float is intended to b© hermetically sealed from the top side after the documents are placed inside and the flag put into position. The whole of the apparatus can

then be thrown overboard, and the anchor, as it sinks, will unwind the line from the reel, and when it reaches the bottom will keep the float in position. The top of the float is fitted with ropes, to act as a lifesaving lino for a number of people, who could hang on to it, and thus keep afloat for a very long time.

While ploughing was proceeding on a farm at Muriwai in the Hawke’s Bay district a ploughman uncovered tho remains of a human body. Through inquiries made by the police it has transpired that a Native, aged 24, had been staying with his uncle at Muriwai four years ago. One night he left the whare after a drinking : bout, tolling his relatives to shut the door as ho might not be returning. He did not return, and a fra it less search was made. A bimeh of keys found beside the skeleton was identified by the uncle of the missing man as having been tho property of his nephew. The ground where the skeleton was found has been ploughed a number of times, but river silt has been deposited on it, and this cocount® for the non-dis-covery of tho body, cud tho fact that it was buried. - I

With the arrival of each successive steamer of the New Zealand Shipping Company’s line from Canada a gratifying improvement is noted in the trade between that country and Australasia. The Tokomaru, which arrived at Auckland last month from Montreal and Australian ports, left the Canadian port with her hatches full to the coamings with Canadian merchandise. Such a large amount of cargo was offering (says the New Zealand Herald) that the captain of the Tokomaru was reluctantly compelled to shut out a considerable quantity of freight, which was lying on the wharf at Montreal awaiting shipment to Australia and New Zealand. The greater portion of the cargo was discharged at Melbourne and Sydney, the total for New Zealand ports being about 1200 tons.

Th© increasing demand for motor cars ' is' shown by the fact that almost ©very vessel leaving American and Canadian ports i for Australia and New Zealand carries large consignments of these vehicles. On the last trip of the Marama from Vancouver (says the New Zealand Herald) over- 20 motor cars were Landed at Auckland from that vessel. When the cargo steamer Star of Australia left New York she had stowed in her holds no fewer than 65 motor oars. Some 45 of these cars were landed at Melbourne and Sydney, th© remaining 18 b©ing for New Zealand. Th© Tokomaru also brought several motor cars from Montreal, ! and again the great majority were for Melbourne and Sydney. The cars are put into use in Australia the moment they leave the ship's slings. • j Captain Head was very unfortunate in the weather, and had to give up for the present any hope of again climbing Mount Aspiring. The party explored the east branch of the Matukituki River from November 23 to December 6, and on December 16, they went up th© river to Satisfaction Camp. Captain Head, with Guides Clark and Murphy, and Mr K. E. Tapper, put in a high bivouac on the following Tuesday, and on Wednesday got up _ to the plateau, 7500 ft, at 8 a.m., after a heavy plug through soft snow. They had a lovely view for half an hour, and, the I weather then becoming very thick, they ■ returned to camp. It came on to snow about 8 p.m., and next morning th© enow was nearly a foot deep, so they had to pack up and return to their base at Cascade , Camp. They spent till December 26 in | exploring the west branch of the river, but had much bad weather, with exception- ( j ally heavy snow. On December 27 they i crossed into the Dart Valley by a pas, to , the west of Camp Cascade, -and arrived at i Paradise on the 30th, after a very interest- ' ing trip down the Dart Valley. i I An Auckland .message states that when the Talune arrived from tho Islands on I the 2nd a young Hindoo named John j Thomas was aboard. He wm unable to pass tho education test, and was not allowed to land. Ho. took French leave, however, the result being his appearance ! in the court on tho 3rd inst. charged with being an undesirable immigrant. He was ordered to be returned to Suva by th© ! Navua. I A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that a Customs official inspected the buoy washed ashore at Waiuku, and found that ' the inscription s.s. Warataji ( is plainly visible, with a dim but ■ indistinguishable outline of the port of registration. On tho reverse side there j are two fairly large flags, but their letberj ing is not decipherable. Our correspondent at Pembroke telegraphed on the 3rd stating that Captain I Head and Guides Clark and Murphy left by motor car for Mount Cook yesterday morning. having explored the Alpine region lying between Mount Aspiring, Matukituki, the Dart Valley, and other portions of the country between the Hoad of Lake Wakatipu and the southern w’est coast, visiting on their return Paradise and Glenorchy. Six weeks were occupied in tliis strenuous work, tho captain remarking that the distinguished honour of first having reached the summit of Mount Aspiring had to be left to an Englishman. ! The ways of the suffragettes do not commend themselves to New Zealanders who are visiting England, as will bo realised from the following extract from a private letter received 'by a Dunedin resident this week:—“l saw the suffragette demonstration in Parliament square last night. It was the most disgraceful exhibition I have ever seen, and if I had ever had any sympathy for them, last night’s affair would have alienated every bit of it.

Over 200 of them were arrested for breaking windows and doing things of that sort, and, really, the police gave me the impression of being wonderfully tactful and forbearing with them.” A Wellington message states that the following figures show the business done during Christmas at the principal post offices throughout the Dominion: —Stamp sales: 1910, £17,673 ; 1911, £19,888. Bags and hampers received: 1910, 33,296; 1911, 37,964. Forwarded: 1910, 80,214; 1911, 86.846. Telegrams received : 1910, 93,325; 1911, 99,408. Transmitted: 1910, 139,785; 1911, 153,673. , • Following upon a recent announcement that he intended to curtail the privileges of military officers in camp, the Federal Minister of Defence (Senator Pearce) has issued orders relating'to the employment of orderlies at schools of instruction. Soldiers of the permanent forces are not to be employed as personal servants, or orderlies, to officers at camps or schools of intruotion. Approval is given for the employment of civilian labour at authorised schools of instruction on the following scale:—At mounted service schools, one servant to every two officers; at dismounted service schools, one servant to every six officers. It is provided that where Government horses are used at mounted schools, and where the horses are cared for by the personnel provided for that purpose, the civilian labour employed will be as for a school for dismounted service. The wages of men to employed will bo 6s a day, with tentage or quarters and rations.

An interesting experiment is being tried at Parramatta (N.S.W.), where th© gaa generated at the three septic tanks is being utilised for power purposes. Formerly this gas was permitted to go to waste, but after it had been used to drive a 4-h.p. petrol engine, a larger engine was procured, and now the sewer gas is driving a 10-h.p. engine, which, in its turn, is driving a dynamo supplying current to 85 lamps. “ The engine,” says a recent'*report, “is running steadily with the gas valve only slightly open, and there would appear to be an ample supply of gas for much greater power.” At the present time the Government department concerned is hardly prepared to exploit what appears to be a very cheap form of power, but the fact that so much has been done at Parramatta suggests vague possibilities in the not far distant future, for the world is always on the look-out for cheap and effective power.

The Tapanui Courier reports that a serious case of fish poisoning occurred at Dunrobin on Christmas Day. Mr John M'Kcnzie, who is at present engaged driving the Wilden shearing machines, had partaken of soar.© sandwiches made of tinned salmon, and shortly afterwards felt out of sorts, but it was not until the following morning that the case became serious. Dr Grove, of Heriot, was then summoned. The case evidently was -a bad one, but Mr M'Kenzio is on the fair way to recovery under constant medical attendance. A curious thing was that although many others had partaken of the same sandwiches at the cricket match, no other complaints have come to hand.

An Auckland telegram sta-tes that the survey of the route for the direct cable between Auckland and Sydney will bo commenced within a fortnight. The work will be done by the staff of the Pacific Cable Board, and the repair steamer Irk will be used for the purpose. The scheme adopted by the Pacific Cable Board, and approved by the Australian and New Zealand Legislatures, comprises the linking of Auckland and Sydney by a cable with its operative terminals in the chief telegraph office in each city. At the New Zealand end the cable will bo brought ashore a shore distance to the north of Manukau Harbour. The survey will occupy a fortnight or three weeks. The Iris will bo provisioned for a month, and commencing at Manukau Heads she will work steadily across to Sydney.

It is officially notified that the name of Barewood ‘Station on the Otago Central lino has been changed to Pukerangi.

The Kaikorai Band' has just taken delivery from the London Piano Company of a magnificent set of plated and engraved instruments, consisting of 25 pieces, witli the latest Solbom compensating pistons. The instruments, which are said to be the finest and most up-to-date band set ever imported into New Zealand, attracted, whilst being exhibited in the windows of the London Piano Company, a great deal of attention on tho part of the public in general and of bandsmen in particular, and no doubt the fact that there will be an opportunity to hear the band with its new instruments at the Gardens on Sunday next will prove specially atractive to the music-loving public. A large muster of the band was present in the band room last night, when the first practice with the new instruments was conducted by Mr G. B. Laid'law. Members naturally gave evidence of finding tho instruments a little strange, but that is a difficulty that will roon be overcome. They were put through the pieoea chosen for the forthcoming contest in Christchurch, and wore greatly pleased with their beautiful instruments and the excellent condition in which they have arrived.

Between 60 and 70 boys, backward in intellect but capable of being trained to do useful self-suppbrting work, are under the care of the Education Department in the Otekaike School. Mr F. S. Pope, one of the Department’s inspectors, was asked in Christchurch for his opinion upon the results of the institution, which is an experiment in New Zealand 1 . Ho replied

that it had not been established long enough for one to be able to form a conclusion as to the amount of good that was resulting; it was clear, however, that a great proportion of the inmates would never be able to support themselves outside, though tho work they did in the institution might keep them. There they were taught such work as basket-making and mat-mak-ing. But many of tho boys sent there developed mentally and physically in a way which the person who did not know would have difficulty’ in believing. At present only boys were dealt with, but plans for further building? and the enlargement of the scheme were in hand, and it was likely that a similar institution for girls, also at Otekaike, would bo opened in the near future. The proposal was under consideration by the Department. Since September 9, there has been in effect in New York a law which permits the destruction of any commercial sign or advertisement on a highway. It authorises the destruction “ by anyone” of such signs and advertisements “ within the a public highway.” Taking advantage of the law a squad of automobi lists, representing the Automobile Club of America, has been touring the State, armed with axes and hatchets, destroying thousands of advertising signs which have disfigured the oountrv roads. On fences, rocks, and trees throughout tho State, tho wandering advertiser had erected these defacing signs, and the law was tho result of a general protest by automobilists and others. Of courso the law does not apply to cases where owners of land near cities, or elsewhere, have sole? the privilege of erecting advertiement signs, but it is made a crime to paint or erect any advertisement on private property without tho written consent of the owner, although private persons are not authorised to destroy such signs on private property. Already, it is reported 1 , the appearance of the country highways of New York Ins been greatly improved by reason of the activity of the sign-destroyers. In tho last number of tho Imperial Colonist tho Inspector of Hospitals, Wellington, appeals to tho Colonial Nursing Association to send 1 12 fully-qualified British nurses to take up work in the Dominion. The reason for this appeal is tho lack of trained nurses in New Zealand at present, for so great is the demand for them that the hospitals cannot retain their staffs. An English paper, commenting on the advertisement, says:—“The conditions are fair. Tho Department of Public Health undertakes to receive the nurses on arrival, and to provide them with free board and 1 lodging, with a waiting salary of £1 a week until a post has been found for them. Tho nurses will be expected to go wherever they may happen to be sent, and to consent to an agreement for. possibly, 12 months. 4-fter this time tho Government will consider them free to accept any private or public position or work they might desire. The positions to which these nurses would bo drafted would' all carry, however, good salaries, ranging from a minimum of £6O to £IOO, with living expenses in the case of district, general, and midwifery work. These salaries are much higher than those of staff sisters in England.”

It is understood that thoiro is a likelihood that the Otago Harbour Board will not make any fresh appointment to fill the place of its late assistant engineer, Mr 0. A. Leo, who has boon appointed engineer of the Bluff Harbour Board, but will shortly take steps to give effect to a suggestion that the office and engineering staffs should bo made two entirely distinct departments. From the figures now available of the recent election for the Dunedin scats, it is possible to ascertain the proportion of the persons whose names were enrolled who exorcised the privilege of voting. For example, the Dunedin Central roll bore 9196 names. Of these 8075 voted, or a trifle over 89 per cent. The Dunedin West roll bore 10,829 names, and 8463 voted, or a little more than 78 per cent. Tire Dunedin North roll contained 9245 names. Of these 7968, on: just exceeding 86 per cent., voted. These figures may possibly necessitate explanation, because it is difficult to believe that, under the conditions that prevailed, there was any difference in the intensity of political interest as . between the throe electorates indicated. The birth of the thousandth baby at St, Helens Hospital. Wellington, was celebrated on Thursday. A Press Association telegram states that the little girl is to bear tho name of Mary St. Helens. A Wellington message convoys tile information that the season for talcing godwit and curlew opened this year on January 1, and will close on March 31, in accordance with the recommendation of the Acclimatisation Society’s conference. The migratory birds arrived in myriads in tho early days of New Zealand settlement, but of late years their numbers have shown a considerable decrease. A telegram from Oamaru states that the Government has purchased for closer settlement 1600 acres of land at £2O per acre from Mr J. B. Reid, of EklctrsUo. Tho escape of a man named William Wheeler, who was pinned down by a fall of stono near tho Cascade River (Tasmania) for several days, was remarkable. Wheeler was working in a race by himself, and was trying to remove a etone weighing about scwt with a bar. when if pinched his toe. In trying to extricate himself he fell, and the stone then rolled across his legs, pinning him down. There wore two heads of water running at the time, and the lower part of his body was under water. Hflay in that condition for six days and six nights without food. Ho said that ho

thought that while there was life there was hope, and he prayed for his discovery. A miner named Price, who was working about a mile away, happened to take a walk through the bush, and came on to the place where Wheeler was lying. He could not remove the stone, and went back and got his mate. The pair removed the stone, and then carried Wheeler to their hut. He is expected to fully recover. , The births registered at Balclutha for tho year 1911 constituted a record. Tho total was 116. as against 88 for 1910. The deaths totalled 33, and the marriages 18. Our Cromwell correspondent says: “Thu present season has been accompanied by a more copious rainfall than experienced for many years, and the pastoral and farming country is in a very pleasing condition, with an abundance of feed. Shearing has been seriously hampered on se\eral big runs, with breaks of nearly a fortnight. Farmers have also been complaining of the absence of dry weather for hay-mak-ing. but conditions during the last two days have been favourable, with fine warm days. Indications, however, do not point to settled tveather.” It is understood in Christchurch Press Association telegram) that there will be no change in the representation of the New Zealand and Federal Shipping Companies in the Dominion, tho concerns being carried on in different establishments as at present. The transaction reported by cable is not in tho nature of amalgamation.

Messrs Myers, Slingcr, Jeffs, and J. Thomson, members of the executive of the Otago Hunt Club, visited Tahuna Park on Friday afternoon, .in company with Mr James Gow and Ma- H. V. Fulton, representing the Otago Agricultural and Postoral Society, in connection with a proposal that the hounds belonging to the former body should be housed at the park for the first season. The Hunt Club is desirous of keeping the initial expenditure w ithin reasonable limits, and if the hounds can bo kept at Tahuna Park fotr a time a considerable sum of money will bo saved. At a later date, when the club has become established on a solid footing, the question of erecting permanent kennels will bo faced. Mr Gow expressed himself as being in favour of the housing of the hounds at Tahuna Park, but no decision will be arrived at until the matter iias been oonoiderd by the Works Committee of the A. and P. Association, which will meet early next week. Is the motor oar craze destroying home life in England? Mr* Albert Halstead, United States Consul at Birmingham, gives an answer in the affirmative in a report on the growing use of the automobile in England. “ I am informed,” he says, “ that people are spending less time at home, caring less for the attractiveness of homo, and devoting their surplus money, and even more than their surplus, to the purchase of automobiles and their upkeep. Real estate agents state th#t there is a decided tendency for people who do not own their own houses, and even for some of those who do own their houses, or the leaseholds, to take smaller' houses and to spend the saving on rent and taxes in the purchase and maintenance of their automobiles. The theatres make the same complaint, as do those —though in a smaller degree—who sell musical instruments, while booksellers, and even men’s and women’s clothiers and costume makers, find the motor car somewhat of an interference? and injury to their business.” •As a result of the visit of the Scottish Commissioners to Australia as the guests of the Federal Government, the interest of Scottish capitalists is being attracted to the Commomvealth. One syndicate is headed by a member of the commission. It proposes to take sufficient land in South Australia to have 50CO acres under crop yearly, and its estimates show a profit of 14- per cent., allowing for successful crops seven years out of 10. Unfortunately, trouble has arisen in securing the land. The South Australian Government was approached, but, so far, enough good land has not been secured. Another syndicate proposes to in- \ ost £200,000 in Australian farming. The Native conference, which has been deliberating at Parewanui, near Bulls, for the past fortnight, has concluded its labours, and the Maoris, some 2000 from all parts of the North Island, are now returning to their homes. The gathering included all sorts and conditions of men, women, and children of the Native race, and the feminine dress creations ranged from the latest thing in hobble skirts and tanned shoes to tho plain sugar-bog garment with no noticeable waistline worn by tattooed Urewera antiquities, who showed a line contempt for shoes and stockings and a liking for big pipes and strong tobacco. During the conference there died tho well known Parewanui Rangatira To R.au Utiku Marumaru, whoso tangi was fittingly celebrated and gave a touch of solemnity to the proceedings. “Tho only people who find nursing a satisfactory profession are those who are able to obtain capital and become owners of private hospitals, or become matrons of large hospitals.” This sweeping assertion has tho backing of the Australian Nurses’ Association, a contributor to whoso journal lays bare an alarming phase of tho nurse’s calling. “ Every day one secs women who have gone through hard training, passed many examinations and gained a good deal of experience in private nursing, who are doing all they can to find some other employment. Some lake up housekeeping, some cako-making, and others manicuring or hairdressing.” So goes the indictment, which, with a withering scorn, describes nursing as an excellent means of practrc-

ing self-sacrifice.” - Again: “Many people are fond of talking about the thriftlessness of the nurse, but it takes a great deal of self-denial to save enough to provide an income out of two guineas a week. Unless a woman is exceptionally strong she cannot possibly work continuously all through the year. Those who have never done private nursing cannot realise what nerve-racking work it becomes; but the thin, worn faces, and the prematurely grey hair of nurses who have done it for any length of time speak for themselves.” There is a good deal in this that should give food for somebody’s reflection if it represents the true state of affairs in a profession which stands so high in tho world’s appreciation. The Perth Police Commissioner’s annual report states that tho drink habit is responsible for 53 per cent, of all offences committed, against 47 per cent, of the previous year. Ho urges that tho hotels be completely closed on Sunday, or the bona fide traveller’s limit be raised from five to 10 miles. Many public-houses should be closed, he says. Kalgoorlie, with a population of 14,817, lias 52, and Boulder, t 16,800 people, has 44 hotels. Coolgardiio, with 2800 inhabitants, has 18. An official of one of the Wellington banks stated to a Dominion reporter that a number of gilt sixpences aro at present in circulaticn, having been passed off as halfsovereigns. The imposture, though crude in conception, has been carried out'with a certain amount- of skill, the words “ six pence ” being neatly obliterated on the silver coin pricr to its transformation in the gilding-bath. A good enough imitation ' lias been produced in this way to deceive shopkeepers and others, and one or two of the coins have even been passed by bank- 1 tellers, and only detected upon a subsequent and more leisurely scrutiny. f In a supplementary report, dated January 10, the Tramways Committee of the City Council recommends that a draft agree- * ment with the Otago Tramways Industrial Union of Workers for a new award be approved as an agreement be- j twoen tho council and the union for the period Ist February, 1912, to 31st December, 1914. The proposed agreement ie tho outcome of a number of protracted con- I fore rices between the representatives of the Tramways Committee and of the union, and has been agreed to by the union’s repre- , sentatives. The proposals provide for an increase in wages to motormen, conductors, ' car examiners, linesmen, and all men on : night shift. Improved conditions have been made for holidays, and practically all other conditions of employment of tramway hands. The terms of the proposed agreement arc in tho main very similar to those of the Wellington and Christchurch j awards, the former- of which was settled by } the Conciliation Commissioner, and the latter by the Arbitration Court. The estimated increased cost in working expenses under the award is £1916. The committee further recommends that ■ with a view to bringing tho wages of the inspectors and revenue clerks into line with the award an all-round increase of 5s per week be allowed to this branch, which brings the total in- | creased cost up to £2020 per year. It is further recommended that the rates of pay ' provided for in tho proposed agreement, and in tho foregoing recommendations of the committee, take effect as from January 1, 1912. | During last week 34 patients were admitted to tine Dunedin Hospital and 19 discharged from it. Four deaths occurred, tho names of the deceased poisons being William Sjumerville, James Finlay, Daniel Ogilvie, and Francis Gordon. With 102 persons remaining in the institution from the previous week, the present number is 113. ' Tho traffic returns for tho city electric tramways for the fortnight ended 16th ' December, 1911, as compared with the cor- j responding period for last year, are as follows:—Receipts: 1911, £2711 15s 7d; 1910, £2605-8s Id. Mileage; 1911, 49,602 miles 13 chains; 1910, 43,124 miles 25 chains. During the month of November 823 cattle, 8081 sheep, 943 lambs, 352 pigs, and 161 calves were slaughtered at tho Dunedin City Abattoir, and of these 8 cattle, 7 calves, 6 sheep, and 5 pigs -were condemned as unfit for food, and the car- j cases sent to the manure works. j Tho Ashburton Guardian is informed on good authority (says a Press Association tele- 1 gram) that tho Government has acquired for closer settlement purposes Mr Thomas Morland’s Mitcham Farm, seven or eight miles from Rakaia, and comprising 1700 acres of good cropping and grazing land. It is rumoured that tho price paid is £l6 per acre. j Mr A. Buchanan, of Jersey Holme, Palmerston North, Iras issued a challenge for a 1000-guinea champion hospital sweepstake butter-fat competition between Jerseys, Holsbeins, and Illawarras. The competition is proposed to extend over 12 months, to start next spring. Entries are to bo matured three or four-year-olds, and the trio making the most butter-fat will be adjudged the winner. There must be 20 competitors at 25 guineas each, which will carry tho Government subsidy of 24s in tho pound. Tli© total amount is to go to tho public hospitals. An unusual case of theft occurred at Ponsonby on the night of tho Ist (says the New land” Herald). Returning from a picnic at about 7.30 p.m., Mrs Paltridgo, a resident of Douglas street, had just entered her house when she heard a knock at the front door. Not having had sufficient time to remove her wraps, and carrying a pur.se containing £5 10s in her hand, Mrs Paltridgo answered the call, and upon opening the door saw a man standing there.

The caller, without any greeting, at once snatched tho purse, and brushing past the astonished lady, ran through the house and out tho Back door. There the thief was confronted by Mrs Paltridge’s 15-year-old son, and, in answer to the boy’s inquiry, be coolly explained that Mrs Pa!trid'ge had stolen his money, and he was running to summon a constable. The miscreant then made off, and so far no trace of his whereabouts has been discovered. He is described as a young, active man, wearing a light suit and soft hat. j

The decisions of members of the unpaid magistracy are often sneered at, and described ironically as “justices’ justice,” but, considering the season of the year and all the circumstances of a csso that came before three justices at the Auckland Police Court on Monday morning, it is doubtful whether tho sternest and most severe advocates for the carrying out of the strict letter of the law would blame them for administering it with a distinctly useful kind of clemency. A respectable-looking young fellow admitted, according to the Herald, that he had, under provocation, been guilty of a by no means serious breach of tho peace. Someone, who was not before tho court, had given him what he described as a “clip on the ear,” and he retaliated by “punching the man’s head” with some heartiness. The Bench held that it would bo unwise to convict the young fellow, so they ordered him to contribute £1 towards the funds of the Auckland Hospital, an alternative to which ho gladly assented. Our London correspondent, writing on November 29, says: —“The appeal of the committee of the British Antarctic Expedition for further funds is arcusing considerable interest throughout the kingdom, and the committee has received responses from people in all classes and sections of the community. Among these communications is the following in the writing of a young school boy: ‘ I have much pleasure in sending you one sixty-thousandth of the required sum of £15,003, by Captain Scott—namely, ss—all I can manage now. Wishing success to Britain, I am, yours truly.' ” The. public is warned that a number of gilded sixpences are at present being circulated in Dunedin, and that several people have already been victimised by having these spurious coins foisted on. them in place of tho genuine halfsovereign. In order to facilitate the deception the words “ six pence ” have been removed from the original coin.

: Our Invercargill correspondent reports that Liudeay T. Bell was remanded on Monday on bail to Dunedin on a charge of having issued a valueless cheque amounting to £8 to Mias Aingo, of the Grand Hotel. ! Mr E. S. Wilson, secretary of the Shipwreck Relief Society, on, Monday telegraphed £3 to Wellington, in answer to a telegram from the society’s agent there stating that the mate of the schooner Clyde, which was wrecked on December 14 at tho Macquaries, was destitute. Mr Wilson also wrote asking for advice as to whether further relief was required. I A meeting of the Lawrenco-Roxburgh Railway League was held on Saturday ' evening, when there was a very good attendance. A striking feature of tho meeting was tho enrolment of several new members, besides a decided disposition to i keep up the agitation necessary to have ‘ the work on the lino pushed on, more T vigorously. Mr F. Duncan, of Dunedin, ' was present, and greatly assisted with some practical suggestions in tho way of getting a more wide-spread interest in tho authorisation and construction, of the lino through to Roxburgh. It was resolved to at once get into communication with all [ the Otago members, so that a united effort

' can be made to approacn raniamoiit wnen ’ it opeJis. j Wo understand that there is a possibility ' of a further conference being field in Wellington next week between representatives of the sliipowners and delegates from the Seamen’s Union to endeavour to arrive at an amicable arrangement as regards the seamen’s wages and nours of labour. An Auckland message reports that the Japanese warships sailed for Sydney early . on Monday morning. In a message forj warded to the City Council, Rear-Admiral [ Kato stated that he desired to express ' appreciation and also accord thanks for the i kind reception accorded by the citizens of Auckland to officers and men of the I squadron. i An Auckland message reports that Miss ! Ivy Percival, daughter of Mr William Per--1 cival, for a time secretary of the Auckj land Racing Club, disappeared from the I steamer Mokoia on Thursday last, and has ! not yet been found. She was returning home after a visit to Gisborne, but was not found on board after the vessel was berthed. The police are inclined to , the belief that she has been drowned. ) A Wellington message states that Maggie Papakura, the well-known guide, who took a troupe of Maoris to Australia and "England, returned in the Somerset on the £th with about 20, the rest remaining at Homo. Maggie Papakura will return to England in about four, months to bo j married. ! Tho great amount of rain which has fallen recently is regarded by some as likely to entail serious effects upon tho country, but this is not so. Indeed, in general tho country was never looking better. Certainly the harvest will bo late, but, journeying between Invercargill and Dunedin, one is struck with tho favourable appearance of the country. In some cases the crops are the best seen ! for some years. There is abundance of

grass, and tho stock in every case look* splendid. While it has rained for many days, the effect of the moisture has not been so disastrous as was. anticipated. In and around Gore there -is proanise of a good season, and should tho country be favoured with warm weather from this forward the year’s results, from the farmer’s point of view, will bo very good. A Press Association telegram freon Wellington states that Oaptain Watson, s-ecro-tary of the Merchant Service Guild, has been served with a writ claiming a penalty of £2OO. The plaintiff is the In* speotor of Awards (Mr LeCren), and the writ sets out that during September and October, 1911, Captain Watson instigated certain officers employed by certain persona, firms, and companies set out in an award of tho Court of Arbitration in re the officers on small coastal steamers to become parties to an unlawful strike, thereby committing an offence under section 6 (1) of the Arbitration Act. lire case is set down for hearing on the 30th inst.

Tho traffic between the cast and west coasts of the South Island for the recent holiday season easily eclipsed all previous records. In regard to the number of people travelling on Saturday, fully 200 travelled to tho Coast from Christchurch. To carry this number of passengers, together with the mails and luggage (says our Greymouth correspondent), 13 coaches were requisitioned. The much-talked-of railway between Wairio and Birehwood is now fc-bout to become an accomplished fact, work having been commenced there during the past few weeks. The lino, which is being constructed by a private company, will (says the Southland Times) prove a great boon to settlers on tho rocently-cut-up Birehwood Estate. The distance from Wairio to Birehwood is about seven miles, the land passed through being all good agricultural country. Tho advent of tho railway will ako give access to largo coal areas in tho Birehwood district —coal, it is said, which ranks as high as that obtained at Kaitangata.

A Press Association telegram from Greymouth states that Mr Felix Campbell, chairman of the local Chamber of Commerce, sitting as a justice of the peace, on Monday morning strongly reflected on the Justice Department for not providing a resident magistrate at Grcymouth, where the work accumulated and the publio suffered inconvenience by adjournments, The matter needed prompt attention by the Justice Department. Mr Campbell did not wish his remarks to be construed os a reflection on Mr Hewitt, S.M., who was being overworked. According to the latest information (stated the Copenhagen correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph recently) Captain Raold Amundson's ship, the Fram, on returning from the South Polar ice, will go to Hobart, Tasmania, instead of New Zealand. Captain Amundsen altered his mind, thinking it was not correct to have the same base as Captain Scott—namely, Christchurch, New Zealand, —and therefore Hobart was preferred. Th® Fram’s voyage from ice to civilisation will bo longer than the Terra Nova’s and, furthermore, the Terra Nova has tr,® stonger engine. The Norwegian papers, in mentioning this matter, now express the fear tliat Captain Amundsen, if ho reaches the South Polo, will probably not succeed in getting back to civilisation rnd giving his report of the trip so early as Captain Scott on account of the alteration mentioned above.

Tho Maoris in the backblocks of Waikaremoana (says tho Poverty Bay Herald) are to be seen in their more primitive state through their not having com* so often in contact with tho white man. Some time ago a number of Maoris were reported for poaching trout at Waikaramoana out of season, and the ranger set off on horseback to see tho offenders. It was a moonlight night. As ho approached their resort there was a report of a gun, and a bullet whizzed past tho nose of his horse, and at the same time a Maori was seen to dive into tho bush. Tho Maoris of late, however, have had tho position re* garding poaching and taking trout out of season more fully explained to them, and there has been very little poaching so fa# this eeason.