OMNIUM GATHERUM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3183, 17 March 1915, Page 4

OMNIUM GATHERUM.

The number of arrests made in Masterton during 1914 was 72 of which 44 were for drunkenness. The bakers of Timaru have unanimously decided (says the Post) to increase the price of bread to lOd for the 41b loaf. On Thursday the tides were exceedingly high at Greymouth—the highest on record for a long time—the rise and fall (sa>s the Argus) being over 12ft. A Masterton members ot the Expeditionary Force in Egypt writes:—“New Zealand butter is now sold at Cairo, and dispensed at the best eating-houses there.” The potato crops in the Rakaia and Methven district, 'which were looking particularly well (the Christchurch Press states), were cut down by a recent frost. The official expenses of the candidates for the Hawke’s Bay seat at the recent general election were ; —Mr H. M. Campbell, ±1175 14s; Dr M‘Nab, M.P., £lB6 Os lid. A huge jelly fish was washed up on the river beach near Foxton on the 4th (says the Manawatu Herald). It measured over two feet in diameter, and had a purple fringe. The Ashburton police on the 7th raided two houses in Allenton where (says the Guardian) Illicit trading in liquor was suspected. Liquor was found in each case, but none was seized. A surprise packet was discovered among the lost and unclaimed luggage sold at the Wellington railway station the other day. An old bag was bought for a nominal sum, and the purchaser found that it contained two £1 Union Bank notes. Platelaying on the Clyde to Cromwell railway extension is proceeding rapidly, about three-quarters of a mile of rails being laid (says the Dunstan Times). The ballast engine is expected to arrive this wnek. The scarlatina epidemic in the Milton district has not yet abated, and two or three fresh cases are reported (says the Bruce Herald), making about 20 cases so far. Women’ and children appear to be most affected.

An oyster-opening record has been established at Bluff. Mr W. J. Newman opened five sacks of oysters the other day in five hours, which he claims is a New Zealand record. Five sacks contain 4200 oysters, and the opening rate works out at 14 oysters per minute.

During 1914 the number of persons arrested in Wellington for drunkenness was 2551 males and 392 females (says the Post). In Auckland the number was 1774 males 219 females, Christchurch 1003 males and 189 females, and Dunedin 853 males and 58 females.

Despite the dry season it is anticipated that the maize crops in the Tauranga County will yield a return equal to the aggregate of previous years. The recent rains were in time to ensure good cobbing, and generally speaking, the crops are looking remarkably well. On a recent evening the town of Rotorua was visted with a plague of gnats. So great a pest did they become that some of the shopkeepers found it advisable to close their shop-doors, and paper treated with chemicals was burnt in the streets, la premises where there was a bright light the insects congregated in such large numbers that floors were covered to a depth of several inches. During the summing up in the case against Patrick Henley at the Supremo Com-t at Napier (says the Telegraph), his Honor the Chief Justice said that it could not bo expected that small men could employ an accountant to keep their books. Many businesses would not stand it. As long as business men did what was required so that it could be understood that was sufficient under the Act. Fencing the subdivided runs of Omarama will make a big call upon available stocks of wire and standards if proceeded with in the present state of that market (says the Oamaru Mail). Some of the runs, it is said, have fence lines of four miles, and if the estimate of several people is correct, the cost per mile of some of it will run from £7O to £9O, largely occasioned by the rough state of the ground. Regarding the hitch over the question as to whether the old Hastings Licensing Committee, or the new committee _ just elected unopposed, was entitled to sit at the meeting of the bench called a few days ago, the matter w»s settled (says the correspondent of the Napier Telegraph) by neither body turning up at tho meeting. After waiting for half an hour the meeting automatically adjourned. A flaxmillor Informs the Manawatu Herald that there is a little unrest among some of the flaxcutters, who are demanding an increase on cutting rates. In one particular, certain cutters refused to work unless an increase Is per ton was conceded, which the miller contended was not justified under the circumstances. Tho miller concerned did not anticipate any trouble in overcoming the difficulty. “How docs that come about?” inquired the coroner vat Auckland on Monday morning, at an inquest, when a youth stated (says the Star) that his name was O. Benson Johnson, and that he was the son of Ben Johnson Benson. “ Surely your name is Benson.” The young man explained that he was Swedish, and that it was the Swedish custom to interchange the names in this manner with each succeeding

generation. His father was Johnson Benson, ho said, he was Benson Johnson, and his sons would be Johnson Benson. The Solicitor-general has ruled (says the Dominion) that section 25, Ncw t Zealand Defence Act, 1909, dealing with extra training for defaulters, is inoperative until regulations are drafted laying down:—(1) The determining officer; (2) manner of classification ; (3) nature ’of the extra training. These are to be drafted and gazetted in due course. In the meantime no action can be taken out against those who failed to qualify last year. The whale thrown up on the beach last week between White Rock and the Cape Palliser lighthouse was measured by a local resident (says the Wellington Post), who gives the exact figures as being 90ft in length, 27ft in girth, and about 16ft across the back, whilst a 6ft man could easily stand in the mouth of the dead animal, which, however, when found was too far decomposed to enable the finder (Mr M'Kay) to make any profit out of rendering down the carcase, though a fair amount of whalebone has been extracted. Basing his calculations on the scheduled price of meat for export to the order of the Imperial Government, as set forth in the recent Gazette Extraordinary, a Christchurch butcher states that in his opinion retailers cannot do business without increasing the price to their customers. Ho considered the prices offered were very liberal, indeed, and so far as ho could see, beef, which had been costing him 40s to 42s 6d per 1001 b, would cost him at least 47s per 1001 b, and there would be a proportionate rise in other classes of meat. Mr F. T. Poole, the proprietor of the Koromiko Garden, the show place of Molyneux Beach, had this season no fewer than 1200 visitors, whose names were recorded in the visitors’ book kept for the purpose (says the Balclutha Free Press). Amongst these were people from as far afield as Japan and the Straits Settlements, not to speak of the globe-trotter hailing from the "United Kingdom or the great Republic of the West. Mr Poole is at present engaged in trenching and bringing in more of the virgin bush in order to enhance the beauties of Koromiko. The danger of riding a motor cycle across a railway crossing, and the expense of such an action when caught, was brought home to Owen David James at the Stratford Magistrate’s Court on the sth inst. (says the Post). Sergeant Dale pointed out that the accused-was not used to a motor cycle, and had frankly admitted that he “ put on steam” instead of turning it off on seeing an engine approaching. Mr W. G. Kenrick, S.M., pointed out that James rendered himself liable to a £IOO fine, but in the present case he would inflict one of 20s only, with costs (7s). Some idea of the struggle for existence was given by a debtor at the Mag.strate’s Court at Auckland the other day. He said that he earned from £2 to £2 5s per week, was married, and had 14 children, 10 ot whom he had still to maintain. Four daughters were married, and had as much as they could do to keep themselves. His eldest son had been nine months in the hospital, and was now lying at home ill. The ages of the otlmr children h° had to keep ranged from 18 months to 10 years. With such a big family, he had to have a big house, which cost 17s per week. His wife sometimes managed to earn a little money hy going out washing. “I cannot ask fqr any order under such circumstances,” remarked the solicitor for the judgment creditor. A determined attempt is to be made by the recently-formed Victorian Sericulture Association to re-establish silk culture in that State on a permanent and sound and financial basis. The first step towards the re-establishmont of the industry was taken when a deputation representing the association waited on the Minister of Agriculture, with a request that the Government should help on the work by obtaining a necessary supply of mulberry trees, seed, and silk-worm eggs. The Minister, in replying, said that the Government greatly appreciated the movement set on foot hy the association, and he was quite preixired to accede to the request of the deputation. Arrangements would be made to purchase the necessary eggs and plants at an early date.