OMNIUM GATHERUM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3071, 22 January 1913, Page 4

OMNIUM GATHERUM.

A list of 949 registered dentists is published in tlie last Gazette. The number is equal to a dentist to every 1020 of the population. During the year 1912, 40 charges of breaches of the Licensing Act were heard at the Masterton Court, 31 persons being concerned. The Captain Cook monument at Ship Cove (Marlborough) has already been subjected to abuse at the hands of the despoiling vandal. Some irresponsible person has scratched two initials on a tablet, and chalk has been freely used. The following is the number of bankruptcies recorded in Wairarapa, together with the unsecured liabilities, during the past three years; —1910, 24 bankruptcies, amount £9922 Os lOd; 1911. 18, £5992 7s 6d; 1912, 13, £4OOB 14« sd. Quite recently a seam of excellent household coal, 4211 thick, was discovered not far from the main road in the Inangahua district. The owners have not yet decided whether to deal with it as a marketable asset or as a workable mine. The Napier Telegraph states that consternation reigned supreme amongst certain well-known “ sports ” a few days ago when it became known than an embryo bookmaker had decamped, leaving them all more or loss with unrealised expectations. The Ashburton Mail states that a fire which started in the river-bed on Sunday, sth .destroyed one of the Ashburton Rifle Club’s ammunition tanks and about 1000 rounds of ammunition. The flames spread over about 25 acres, and burnt a good deal of grass. In connection with the recent outbreak of ptomaine poisoning (states a correspondent of the Dominion), the local health inspector says that he still has 80 oases under observation, but 'all are doing well. Samples of the ice cream which caused the trouble have been sent to Wellington for analysis. One or two Masterton settlers who were offered tempting prices for their wool at the shed and who preferred to take the risk and try their luck at the Wellington sale, are now lamenting their indiscretion. One man who was offered lid per lb for his dim at the station could not get lOd under too hammer.

When the training ship Amokura was leaving Wellington a few days ago (says the Dominion) two of the lade, belonging to the crew, jumped overboard and swam ashore in lifebelts. One of them was arrested on Monday, and was handed over to the authorities. The other lad is still “wanted.” Boring operations for coal with the diamond drill lent by the Government to the Nelson Coalfields on the foreshore at Stoke are procecdi/ig satisfactorily under the direction of Mr Garter, the expert. The boro has now been sunk about 100 ft, and indications are said to be very satisfactory. The balajice-shcet of the North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board for the year ending March 31, 1912, shows receipts £76,829 8s sd, expenditure £65,652 19s 4d, credit balance £11,196 9s Id. The statement of liabilities and assets shows liabilities £4522 6s sd, and assets £20,178 15s' The old Palmerston Guards are making a great bid to be the first company formed of the National Military Reserve under the new regulations. The movement started at Palmerston North a week ago, and at prosent there are 40 applications for membership, including 10 men wnth war medak. Major Garner, formerly commanding officer at Napier, heads the list. The West Coast Times states that the relatives and friends of Mr John M'Leady, about 35 years of age. of Antonios, near Reefton, aro seriously concerned as to his whereabouts. M'Leady is reported to have visited Greymouth on Christmas Eve, and, as ho did not return, nor has been heard of since, his relatives arc making inquiries as to his movements since the 24th ultimo. It will be of interest to county councillors and the public to learn (says the Bruce Herald) that county councils have no legal power to compel domain boards to cut down trees growing alongside a public road. This is the dictum of the Under-secretary of Crown Bands, as contained in a letter forwarded by him to a Milton resident, who is a noted lover of trees. A Manaia business man, who has had some previous successes in mechanical invention (says the Waimatc Witness) is at present engaged in devising an appliance that will regulate the automatic opening and shutting of gates at railway crossings. Should he succeed in the accomplishment of his purpose he will, in addition to preventing 3069 of life and human suffering, have made a short cut to a fortune. Sir Maurice O’Rorko will shortly bo the recipient of a portrait of himself, for which public subscriptions were made. The portrait is now being completed by Mr 0. F Goldie, the well known artistIt Is (says the New Zealand Herald) a three-quarter figure life-size picture, and it is said to be a remarkably fine piece of work. The presentation to Sir Maurice will probably take place when the members of tho University Senate visit Auckland. A “ stickiug-up ” case occurred _ in Napier on the evening of the 6th inst. Whilst a cyclist was relighting his bicycle lamp a stranger approached and demanded money. As soon ns it became apparent

that the request was not meant in the nature of a joke the cyclist, after few preliminaries, knocked the stranger down. Two others immediately appeared from the darkness, but the first to reach the cyclist suffered a similar fate, and the third made off. Before assistance was secured the fallen two had also made tracks. An interesting sidelight on the amount earned by registry offices in the dominion per annum in connection with the employment of labour was thrown by Mr E. J. Carey at the Conciliation Council (says the New Zealand Times). He stated that departmental returns showed that between £SOOO and £4OOO a year was paid by people in search of employment to private registry offices. The workers could not afford to pay'such an amount, and if employers would take advantage of the union office to engage labour they would get better satisfaction and both parties would save money. For some time past the staff of the General Assembly Library has been engaged in what is termed “ stocktaking.” This (says the Post) is not done every year, nor at any regular period ; but a new Library Committee of somewhat stricter supervision of privileges has led to the present work being undertaken. Though the General Assembly Library is open only to persons of gootl character, books occasionally vanish, and sometimes they are damaged. It is known that this goes on, but the extent of the losses, not believed to bo large, will be exactly determined by the stocktaking. The following is from a North Island exchange:—An Eltham resident drove his motor into a stable at Te Kuiti and asked for accommodation for his car. This was quickly arranged, and then the man in charge said, “ Is there any benzine in your car?” Of course, there is,” was the reply. “ Then you had better take it out.” “ Take it out! What- for?” T< Well, you see, this is a prohibition district, and l it is quite a common thing for some fellows about here to steal benzine when they are hard up for a drink.” Subsequent inquiries proved the truth of the strange statement that had been made. The advantages of the pension to widows with families was exemplified recently in the case of a Maori woman who was loft destitute by the death of her husband. Although nominally every Native adult of the South Island is provided with 50 acres of land, in instances the acres have only a trifling commercial value, and are remote from the homestead allotments of from one to 14 acres. The woman, who has five children dependent on her, could scarcely find food for them, and when the matter was under investigation she had nothing but dry crusts to give them. The pension scheme, however, entitles her to 50s per month for their maintenance. Saturday was the 67th anniversary of the fall of Ruapekapoka, a triumph which marked the end,of the first Maori war, in which the rebels were led by the famous chief Hone Heko. Five weeks prior to its fall preparations were made for the storming of Ruapokapeka, which lay 16 miles inland from Kororareka (Russell). The Imperial forces, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Wynyard, consisted of the 58th Regiment, detachments of other regular troops, 300 seamen, volunteers from Auckland, as wloll as some Native allies. On December 31 the bombardment was begun, and 11 days later, on Sunday, January 11, the pa fell into the hands of the British, whose casualties amounted to 13 killed and 30 wounded. Some misconception seems to have arisen in regard to the manufacture and sale of matches in this dominion. “ The Phosphorus Matches Act, 1910 ’ prohibited the use of yellow or white phosphorus in the match-manufacturing business after January 1, 1912. Merchants and retailers were allowed 12 months’ grace in which to get rid of existing stocks. To meet the provisions of the Act, Messrs Bryant and May, Bell and Co., the well-known New Zealand manufacturers, immediately brought out a special non-poisonous wax vesta, which has been, and is now, procurable throughout New Zealand. The new vesta is said to be most suitable for household and smokers’ use. The manufacturers claim that it is not only the equal of the previous article in every respect, but that it is made from perfectly harmless materials. The improved vesta is absolutely non-poisonous.