OMNIUM GATHERUM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3018, 17 January 1912, Page 4

OMNIUM GATHERUM.

The slip now being constructed at Wa'.u Buy, near Suva, Fiji, will accommodate vessels up to 600 tons.

The number of petitions in bankruptcy filed in the Wellington office during 1911 wax 13, as against 24 for 1910. Quito a large number of oases of pocketpicking are reported to have taken place at Stratford on New Year's Day. In all cases tiie su.nis stolon were fairly large. Rua, the long-haired Opotiki Maori prophet, with a contingent of wives, has adopted the role of showman at Gisborne. It is stated that a well known ex-rcsident of Feildfmg has inherited a baronetcy and a fortune of between £IOO.OOO and £200,000. A 6ft shark was oaught in the Napier Inner harbour -the other day, aindi it was found to contain between 30 and 40 little ones.

As a result of the recent carnival of flowers, it is expected (/hat the fur.ds of the Nelson. Beautifying Society will benefit to the extent of nearly £2CO. The survey of the Sherwood Downs Estate, South Canterbury, preparatory to subdivision, has been completed. The block will bo thrown open for selection before Ma rob. The Rev. G. M. Milligan. D.D. LL.D , Toronto, ex-Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church < f Canada, is in New Zealand, on a visit to a brother at West port.

The first consignment of poaches for the Wanganui and Wellington markets arrived from the up-river orchards lust week. The Herald states that tha fruit is really excellent for so early m the season. Mr John Mccnan, Public Works Engineer, is at present busily engaged surveying the route for the further extension of the Seaward Bu6h railway, a vote for which appeared on last year's Estimates. The Stewart Island correspondent of the Southland News reports that the total rainfall for the month of December was 12.13; rain fell on 24 days, and the heaviest fail was recorded on the Bth. The rainfall for the 12 months ending 31st ult. was 75.20 inches. The Norwegian barquwitino Oboron, bound from Peru to Newcastle, was; towed into the latter port on December 26. l\iosfc of the crew toto suffering from berriberri, and seven of them were taken to the Newcastle Hospital. At hist week's meeting of the "Bruce Countv Council the Customs Department wrote" stating that it was reported that the gold declared for the county for the month of October was 920 z, and for the month of November 201 oz. Caterpillars have made their appearance in many oat crops in the Master+on district, and have already dono considerable damage. The pest has this season made its appearance in some paddocks where it has not previously been known.

The Stratford Post refers to a new method of protecting a crop from the small birds by tethering a number of cats on a string, thus enabling them to wander about in the paddock as occasion arises. The idea, it is stated, works admirably. It is estimated that fully 50,000 acres of bush harvo been felled in the King Country during the past year. The weather has made it impossible for early burns, and the only hope is that good autumnal weather will be experienced. Mr J. J. Boyd, of Waihoni Park, has just had landed in Auokland from India no fewer than 62 monkeys. Twenty of these will be taken to Wainoni (Christchurch), 20 are for the Wanga'nui zoo, while the other 22 will go to the Auckand zoo. Suburban picture proprietors at Sydney have failed to enter into an agreement with the members of the Theatrical Union. As a consequence it is the intention of the Theatrical Union to cite the suburban employers to the Federal Arbitration Court. The Clifton County Council was considering applications for the position of surfseemen in one of the ridings when one councillor remarked: "He is a non-smoker, and that a saving of an hour a day." The applicant referred to goi the job. A remarkable old-age pension record has been established by a family in Norfolk. They comprise seven brothers and sisters, all of whom are receiving old-age pensions. The eldest of the seven is 80 and the youngest 71. Their united ages total 530 years. It is many years since North Obago agricultural land was so produotivo «as it is this season. One man with only seven acres of grass is milking five cows, grazing seven head of young stock and three horses, and is reserving three of the seven acres for hay. A party ..of sportsmen out at VaCetta (Canterbury) on the 7th secured some 40 hares and rabbits. These pests do not increase sufficiently in this district to do rnuch harm, and are easily ke'pH; under bv shooting and the periodical laying of poison. The Opunake Times mentions that an old grey horse and trap were left standing in the township on Nejp Vear's Eve while the owner went to an adjacent hotel. The horse was found next morning in a local blacksmith's shop painted Hke a draught-board. As a result of a meeting held at Knapdale recently petitions are being prepared for signatures requesting the Postmastergeneral to establish a daily mail service for the Knarpdiilc, Qhatton, East Chatton, and Otama districts instead of a tri-weekly, as at present. The Burton-on-Trc-nt Education Committee decided recently to include football in the -school curriculum. The primary object, it was stated, is to assist, in training the social side of the boys' oliaracter arid cultivating a cheerful acceptance of defeat. 'xhe various occupations of Hhoee who have gone bankrupt iin 'the Manawatu <jj 13tr.ict during the past year are : —Land agent, 1; fruiterer, 1; {ormers, 3; restaurantkeeper, 1; engine-driver, 1; settler, I ; labourers, 4; carpenter, 1; butcher, i; 'tailor, 1 ; cycle 2.

The liatewt device now bfdng tested at the C.P.0., Wellington, come-* from the lajid of so m-oroy nnw ideias—Germany. It is a slot machine which will make it possible for the public to register their letters and get receipt for the same without troubling the clerk at the counter. A monster eel. weighing 231 b, 4ft 7in long, with a girth of 17in, was captured bv 'Mr T. Dahl at the Foxton beach last week (.-jays the Herald). The monster was in a poo! near the new bridge across the oreok which drains the lakes. It broke the spear, and was only captured after it had b-jon shot. An anh'is is nrovimr destructive to ce!or_y and other loaf garden crops this season. A Wairarapa gardener, whoso vogetabes have been attacked, informed a Daijy Times reporter (hit this aphis had formerly been a stranger to him. and was certainly the worst pest of its kind he has ever 'had to contend with. Air Hena.ro Parata has been asked bv some of his European friends and Maoris to contest one of the Native seats at the next election, whenever it may come along, and ho has practically promised to stand as a Reform party candidate. Mr Parata is a son of Mr T. Parata, and an elder brother of Mr ( '.. R. Parata. M.P. A number of Japanoso sailors .from the training ships Aso and Soya carried on a brisk business for some hours in the Victoria Arcade, Auckland, while in port, soiling Japanese coins and curios, and receiving good value in "British money. Tho Japs woro also keen purchasers of picture jK)slci.rds of New Zealand scenery and M'lori studies. A shaf shot recently on the Clutha River b" Mr H. Hill, war, found to contain ro fewer than 25 trout c-f va-rious «izrs. It has been demonstrati d that one shatr will, on a'i average, consume 101 b weight of trout per day, and as they are very numerous on the Clutha, it is Little wonder (says the Cromwell Argus)._ in view of the above, that the stream is being gradually depleted. A slaughterman, who returned from Australia to Ashburton last week, states that the season for butdhers in Australia has not '.hfs year been so lucrative as on former occasions. The number of sheep and laxnl"

slaughtered was not so great ae is usually the case, honce the slaughtermen's cheques were proportionately smaller. Further, the slaughtermen do not expect to make aa good money in the Dominion this year as last. The necessity for people exercising care when visiting ' centres of thermal activity was again exemplified at Waimangu (says the Rotorua Times), when 6. young lady visitor was badly scalded. Being a publio holiday there was naturally a large number of people walking round with the guide, and the lady unwittingly stepped ott the path on Frying Pan Flat, her right foot going through the crust into the steam below.