Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1903

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9639, 14 January 1903, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1903

CAN NEW ZKALANDERS PLAY CRICKET? That is the question that naturally I forties itself upon the mind a.s one follows ! the victorious tour of Lord Hawke's teann ; throughout New Zealand. Though tin.' i members of that team are most of them i good players it is by no means representative of first-class English cricket, and it is tolerably certain tliat if the tour should be extended to the other side of the Tasinan Sea, and the team is piUed against a fair combination of Australian players, there may be another htoiy to tell. In fact, the Englishmen are only j of the strength of an average county team 1 (ut. Home.. Why tliis disparity between Australian and New Zeal.ait.cl cricket? New Zealand players apparently cannot i hold a candle to Lord Hawke's eleven. Hawke's Bay cricketers, it was reported the other day, were a little bit indignant ait being asked to play fifteen agaiitst ' eleven. They reckoned thai with, the crack coaching they had received they were an equal for the visitors, and were ' quite prepared to meat them on even ! teams. But they were persuaded to put fifteen men into the. field, "and with one or two exceptions they went down, like ninepins, and sustained an even more de- , cisive defwit than any of the te«uns tliat had previously met the Englishmen. It must be greatly disappointing to lovers of the good old English game resident m ' this colony to see out boys making such a poor stand. The reason is difficult to seek. Of course, we have not anything like the population to draw upon for good players that Austral La possesses. Our communities are small and more or less j isolated one from the other. In some places the grounds are not first rate, aaid there is nothing mare discouraging to a cricketer than, to have to play on a bad wicket. But perhaps the greaitest con--1 tributing factor to our backwardness m crickot, as compared with Australia, is the fact that our cricketers have not had the stimulus that their cousins of the Commonwealth have had m the annual cositfes-ts with English teams. Local matches do not raise that degree of interest and enthusiasm that must be felt Hi) a contest between Home iind colonial I players, and if we had periodically to select a New Zealand team to visit England or to meet Englishmen we believe that m the course of time cricket would boom m this colony, and we should not have to • deplore defeat as we are now doing. For that reason we consider tlte tour of Lord Hawke's team is likely to have good effect. It will serve to show New Zealanders their deficiencies and should -stimulate them to go m for the game with more real earnestness than heretofore, and if its financial results are successful, as we expect them to be, it will probably lead to other visits from Home players later ih». We should be- very sorry, indeed, to i, we it have the reverse effect, 'and produce discouragement and further decadence. Each community must do its best to give t.lie game a lift. Locally, we hope something will be done uext'season— it is too late this — to revive interest m crickot. ; The first requisite is a good ground, and steps should be taken to have this sup- ' plied. Playing under present conditions is positively dangerous, and we have heard exf -several men suffering severe i bodil}' injuries from bumping balls. Then cricketers, if they wish to make the game it success and to become good players, must exercise greater sacrifice and devution to it. Practice must be assiduous, I and punctuality should be cultivated, it should not be left to tlie enthusiastic few to perform whatever work is to be j clone m preparing pitches, etc. , and to cany the financial burden. No game will succeed unless the support accorded it is •generous and whole-hearted. We would ; suggest another direction m which the {,'arne might be encouraged. Cricket should be taught m the school pla-y---1 grounds, where, it is safe to say, the majority of good players have received tlieir education m the pistime. If a youth does , not learn cricket whilst he is' young he seldom takes to it m after life, as the succession of failures that has to be endured by the begiiuver, especially m the more enjoyable department of the gome, that of batting, proves too discouraging to enable him k> succeed. We would commend this matter to the local Public Schools Athletic Association as a very desirable means of promoting the worthy objects embodied m its constitution. The Rev. Mr Coote arrived from Napier this morning, to take temporary charge of the Turanga Church district. Messrs Hamon and Smith liave entered into business as financial, land and commi.ssi.on agents. During tlie Christinas holidays 2396 passengers travelled on the Crisbome railway, and the revenue amounted to £187 2s sd. Walker's mail coach now regularly nonneots with the Gisborne coach at Tolaga on Friday's, carrying passengers aud parcels to the Tokomaru Hot Springs and Waipiro. Mr C. Butlei", of Port Awanui, informs us that there has been no rain to speak of there since September. A thunder shoAver fell at Waipiro on Thursday, replenishing the tanks. The Cook County Council liave received a further grant of £300 far the Maiiijatu road, which will be of great advantage as it will with the "moneys available enable the metalling of the road through to Mr Martyn's, the furthest settler's, at the foot of Arowhana. Travellers alonig the East Coast speak m. high ■ terms of tlie excellence of the Hikuwai road. People now frequently drive from Gisborne through to Waipiro, and it is stated that the journey from, Tolaga to Waipiro is a great deal easier than from Gisborne to Tolaga. A Gazette notice dated Bth i-nst deals with the petitions m connection with the recent general election against the return of Messrs G. Fowlds (Grey Lynn), and F. Lawry (Paniell), and sets down tlie hearing for February 2nd before Judge Conolly. His Worship the Mayor and Mr D. Barry were engaged to-day m raising subscriptions to help defray the City Band's expenses m connection with the biind contest at Masterton. They met with a ready response; and up to noon a sum of £50 was m hand. The Cook County Council have received intimation from the Government of a further grant of £400 for the Tolaga Bay bridge, making £800 m all available, ft is probable that so soon as plai>s and estimates have been received from the lloads and Bridges Departmenit tenders for the erection of the structure will be called. The double scull competitiinn of the Poverty Bay Rowing Club was advanced another stage lost evening. V. Soniervell and A. W. Kirk (3sec) defeated J. Roderick and K.- McLeocl (ssec) m the semifinal sifter a close race. The final betweun V. Somervell and A. W. Kirk,(3sec) and J. Smith and Donktns (3sec) will be rowed this evening. We cannot compliment the telegraph officers at Napier on the dispatch that they give to messages for • Gisborne. A telegram from our Napier special yesterday giving the passenger list by the Wai--liora was held at Napier for close on an hour before being sent. Tliis is not the first time that vexatious delays have occurred at the same office. The present "Wrong Mr Wright" tour uf Mr George Willoughby and company is noteworthy from a managerial point of view from the fact that up m date the receipts liave exceeded those of Mr Charles Arnold's remarkable tour, "What Happened to Jones." Opening m Invercargill to an oversowing audience, the company has established a. record which lias been kept since. As an exciter of laughter, "Mr Wright" has had a most successful season m Australia, and is said to surpass ''Jones" m ludicrous situations and sparkling dialogue. Included m the company are such popular favorites as Messrs Frank Dent on, Tom Caniuun, Edwin Dester, George Leopold, T. Leonard, and R. Tasinati, and Misses Roxy Barton, Roland, Watt Phillips, Millie Ascoli, Ethel Appleton, Marie d'Altot, and Lily Bryer. The funniaker is pretty certain to "draw like a plaster" during the season M'hich begins at the Theatre Royal on Monday. On Tuesday "On and Off" will be staged as the closing attraction. This, the ultra critical Post says, is even funnier than "Wright." There is already a big demand for seats for the two nights. The Whitehouse Biochronoscope Company commenced their Gisborne season at tlie Theatre Royal last evening. Though Mr Whitehouse has been travelling the colony for some nine years this is the first -time that he has visited GisbonneHe showed a number of films not previously seen here, including a splendid view of the great procession at the Coronation, and one of Lord Sa«ger*s circus, both long and excellent pictures, lasting some 20 minutes. The system of exhibition was differeiict to that of previous kanematograph companies. Instead of a large number of short films, pictures of a series are joined together and £,llow continuously for 20 minutes or more. This saves long waits m tlie dark. The time spent m winding up the succeeding films for exhibition was occupied with selections from, the theatrophone, with comic patter by Mr Pearce, and m a recital of anecdotes ijy the proprietor. The latter Was subject to a good deal of interruption from a section of the audience, who -were impatient of delay, and apparently wanted nothing but pictures, and even, the strains of the ,theatrophone failed to soothe them. The latter instrument had one specially good item, a reproduction of a Maori song, and representation of the calls of birds. There was the usual selection of humorous and trick films, including a collection entitled "What Happened to Jones." which caused much merriment. I The company re-ap pear tiiis evening.

A tire at Glcni'oy station has destroyed a fon.sidi'.nible amount of fencing. I The Hawke's Bay nun fair is adverI tisvil for January 29th. i Startling job lines at Mark Way's are ' iidvcrtisinl m another column. A large quantity- of potatoes -grown m the South Wairarapa this yeair will j be exported to South Africa. i Tii-night is the last appearance of j Whitehouse's Bioscope Company m Gis- , borne. A change of programme is advertised. A parcel of 20 ranis, from Dunedih, 1 consigned to Messrs Common, Sh el torn land C0., -arrived by the s.s. Waihora this t morning. They are for Mr John Clark. When South Australia celebrated her 66th birthday the other day, eight men, signed the roll of 1836 -arrivals, and a similar number the roll of 1837. The autumn show of the Hawke's Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society will be held on the show ground, Hastings, on Wednesday, April 22nd. Mr Warner, captain of the English cricket team, will publish an account of the New Zealand tour m book form on his return to England. The latest club gossip m Wellington is to the effect that the son of on? of the wealthiest men m the colony has contracted a marriage with a local barmaid. Twenty-one bands, muslering 600 players, will be present at the band contest, ajid it is said that this constitutes a record for a New Zealand band contest. Tliree nurses m the Waipawa Hospital have resigned as a protest against a recent appointment. The Trustees promptly accepted their resignations and filled the vacancies. Dr. Valentine has been stirring "up the borough authorities of Masterton, and as a consequence all cesspits are to be filled up, and some condemned buildings are to be pulled down. The box plans for the WilloughbyGeach season were opened at Miller's at 10 this morning, and there is already a big demand for seats, so that intending patrons would do well to book early. The Railway Deportment has decided, with a view to further popularising the Lakes tourist traffic, to- run Sunday steamers from QueeaisUjiwn to the head of Lake Wakatipu, m conjunction with the week-end railway excursions. If arrangements can be made with the Napier Cricket Association, Trott. will join the English team at the close of their New Zealand tour and assist them m their matches against Victoria and New South Wales. Mr Humphrey Bayly returned from a visit to his station last night. It was found that the damage to stock was not nearly so extensive as was at first expected. The fire did not go over 'the whole of the property, and the sheep found refuge, .only about 30 being lost. • There have apparently been some serious differences of opinion at. the Roman Catholic Convent at Wellington. The Mother Superior has left the institution, and is said to be now living privately with friends. Some of the nuns nave also left the convent on account of the alleged unfair treatment of the Mother Superior. According to the Nelson Colonist, Mr J. R. Mucdouald, secretary of the Nelson Acclimatisation Society, last week landed from Motueka river a 2£lb fish, which \ua, and others who liave seen it, believe to be a true salmon. Salmon were liberated m the Motueka river m, 1900. The Melba boom has already commenced m Otago. Seats are now being booked from as far south as Winton, and throughout Noi'Ui and Central Otago-. One. concert, will be given m Dunedin, the dak of which has beon fixed for February 18th. Captain. Halpin, as oflieer m command of the volunteer corps m Hawke's Bay and Poverty Bay, has received advice from the Defence Office that the sum of £41 12s has been allotted to these districts out of the £200 voted by Parliament for the encouragement of sliootiug. A young man named William llutter, liailing from Victoria, and working mi the Top Valley goldtield, died m the hospital as the result of a peculiar accident. Last Thursday, wliile vaulting, and when about 9ft from the ground, the pole broke, and he fell heavily on his shoulder, the whole of his body becoming paralysed. The Maoris of Whakarewarewa and Ohiuemutu entertained Sir Joseph arid Lady Ward m the grounds at Itotoruu with a number of hakas and poi dances. The scene under the electric light m the beautiful surroundings of the gardens vas strikingly picturesque. i<o less than 1600 applications have been received by the Victorian MinidW for Lands from farmers and selectors who stiff ert\i by the drought for assibMait; tinde^* the Seed Wheat Advances Act. Tii ■»«!•» s'-'tixrs. arc located m all parts of the State, but principally m the maKee country. A melancholy feature m connection with the recent sudden death of Mr A. Buchan is tliat the United Friendly Societies' Executive had arranged to make a presentation to him of a framed group of the Executive, as a mark of the esteem m which the now deceased gentleman was held by the Executive and members. The dairy industry is at length getting a looting m Hawke's Bay, and there is reason to believe that m certain parts of the province, the river valleys m parties lar, it will be highly successful. ' Mr G. P. Donnelly is having a creamery and large shed erected on ihis .property at Turimoe. The necessity of maintaining a safe passage at the mouth of the Wairua to permit of tibe. Continuois navigation of the river to Blenheim is again being urged. It is stated that a direct outlet through the Boulder Bank, protected by a training wall, would encourage the establishment of a daily milk trade between Blenheim and Wellington. Miss Louise Croucher, of the Nelson School of Music, a brilliant young violinist and pianist, gave a farewell recital on Thursday evening before a crowded audience, at the School of Music, Nelson. A classical programme was given, and was well received, the performance by tilic beneficiare of Spohr's Concerto m A minor evoking much enthusiasm. Miss Croucher will leave for England shortly to continue her musical studies. An active effort is being made m Palmerston North m the direction of getting the Borough Council to fix upon' Saturday as the day for the weekly half-holiday. Petitions are m course of circulation, and influential- deputations will wait on the Council on Thursday night, when a special meeting will be held to decide the question. It is believed there is a majority m the Council m favor of Saturday, and if Palmerston decides to adopt that day, it is almost certain that Feilding will follow suit. The support of the Chamber of Commerce is being sought by the Napier Chamber for a resolution passed by the latter body requesting the Minister of Marine to have the shipping laws so amended tlial all vessels before obtaining clearance from main ports shall receive certificates that their boats are properly provisioned, and that all appliances for life-saving are m proper order m wise of accident. The Napier Chamber proposes that the New Zealand Government should ask for the co-operation of the Commonwealth Government m hiiving such a Law enforced. A report to hand by the 'Frisco ma.il states that last month iji Guatemala City the greatest excitement prevails over the volcanic eruptions. Snakes and animals of all kinds were coining down from the surrounding heights, and the people feared that this exodus of life from the hills was the herald of ail. eruption of Fuega and Pacaya, volcanic mountains m the vicinity. President Cabrera was doing nothing to iillay the public fear, but strictly maintained his policy of suppression of all news. Of two craters which contributed to the recent destruction of life and property m Guatemala, one, it is said, poured forth molten lava and the other cold mud. With reference to the complaint of the Otago Daily Times that the s.s. Devon did not call at Dunedin, the manager of the South African Steamship Compciny states that the -whole district of Otago could only muster 36 tons of cargo. . The boat loaded at five ports, one more than was required, and would have called at Dunedin if there had been decent support for it. The Sussex had been to Napier, and was now waiting at Lyttelton, where less than 50 tons was .offering, while 600 boxes of butter so far represent the bookings at Dunedin. The alleged request for room for meal was really a request that space should be put under offer m seven days for 5000 carcases of mutton, the wtiole freight of which was scarcely sufficient to pay cost of visiting one of the dearest ports m New Zealand. Any safe port can. compel the call of one of the steamers by guaranteeing 300 tons of, carso. « . For the information of persons who wish to communicate with friends at Home or elsewhere over-sea, the directors of the Associated Eastern Telegraph Companies state that they are now able to place the occasional sender of social or domestic telegrams to a great extent on an equality with regular senders, who, by means of special codes, ore able to transmit their telegrams at an actual cost of, about a twentieth of what would be tlie charge for the number of plain words sent m an uncoded message. The companies have now arranged, through Mr R. T. Atkinson, of Salisbury House, London Wall, London, E.G., to bring out a Social Code I ', a copy of which will be placed m each of the offices of the associated companies, m towns at Home and abroad m which they are permitted to deal directly with the public. Receivers of , telegrams may register their names and addresses free of charge. It is expected that when the new system comes to be understood, private senders of messages will be able to telegraph to Great Britain at a rate of about 7d per word wheiMheir message is coded.

The opening ceremony of the Wood- * ville Water Supply Works will take pkice on the 21st i ust. Already a number of patients are accommodated m the sanatorium for consumptives at Cambridge. A picturesque he.rd of Highland cattle is to be seen on the heights surrounding Dunedin city. The place is eminently suited for raising this breed of cat-Ue. The Kenton estate, which is being acquired by tlie Government, is near Onmaru. It comprises 550 acres, and is being purchased from Messrs Reid and Gray, implement manufacturers. The tickets sold and the money taken at the gates during the three days' cricket match with the English representatives at Wanganui represented about £150 — £50 ' short of the guarantee. Upwards of a hundred and fifty of the principal merchants and tradespeople of the city have decided to close next Thurs- . clay afternoon for the cricket match on I the Basin Reserve between Wellington and Lord Hawke's team. I The Hawke's Bay Herald says the Native Minister is en route to New Plymouth, where he will take steamar for Auckland. Mr Carroll had intended to ■ proceed to Wellington, but changed his 1 plans at the last moment. Mr A. E. Leatham, the veteran of Lord Hawke's cricket toam, intends to remain m the colony at the close of the tour, though he has not yet definitely decided whether his residence m New Zealand will be permanent. He lias m. his [ time represented Eton, Cambridge and . Gloucestershire. A lady watching a cricket mutt-h is [ reported to have exclaimed m a sudden ecstacy, during a long stand by two batst men : "Oh, dear how clever 'these wonderful bowlers are !" "The bowlers !" exclaimed her friend. "Why, they hit the bat nearly every thne," said the enthusiast. Guide Warbrick wires to the Tourist Department, stating that the weather has exposed at Mourn, the skeleton of one of the victims buried there by mutter ejected from the mountain on the night of the Tarawera eruption. It is possible that further erosion of the deposits by the rains may shortly expose oilier remains. The Saperijiltendeiut of the Tourist Department states that a new mode of fishing, as far as New Zealand is concerned, has been developed at Rotorua. Not only are lite rivers now yielding splendid 'trout, but tourists are having great success taking trout from the lake with rod and line. They have excellent sport m rowing boats on Rotorua Lake. There were some very wealthy passengers on the outward trip of the Corinthie. One family took a whole series of upper deck cabins, and several of these were made into one for .the purpose of providing a sitting room for their convenience. Tlie stewards got no less than £150 m tips for their attention to passengers on the outM-ard voyage.. Although Professor Goldwin Smith says that the offer of his brain to the collection of Professor Wilder, of Cornell, was originally a joke, he is quite willing that it should be taken, seriously. "Now that the matter has been taken seriously," he says, "I will certainly make arrangements that my promise shall be earned oul. I am now m my 80th year, and the legacy may fall soon." A raid by Constable Raynes (says the Clutha Leader), assisted by Constable Jones, on the Criterion Hotel premises about noon on Saturdayj resulted m the seizure of about a case of whisky. In one of the rooms the police found four or five men, a bottle containing whisky, and also several glasses of whisky m various stages of depletion. While on. the way up the Wangaaiui river recently, Sir Joseph Ward was waited upon, by a deputation of settlers with regard to the river service. He is now m communication with Messrs Hatrick and Co., owners of the river fleet, suggesting a reduction m passenger and freight rates. Sir Joseph believes that if his suggestions are accepted the alterations will prove acceptable to settlers and public alike. .'A private cable message has been received announcing the marriage m London of Captain Madocks, of .the Royal Artillery (formerly staff officer to Colonel Peraton when commandant of the New Zea.hi.nd forces), to Miss Buller, only daughter of Sir Walter Buller. After returning to Wellington from South Africa, where he distinguished himself at New Zealand Hill as an officer of the First Contingent, Major Madocks rejoined his battery m England. He has just been promoted to the rank of staff captain at York. The largest estates sworn m the colony during December were : — Auckland : Jas. Vogan, £7073 ; James McAndrew^ £4682; Thomas Lee, £3216. Christchurch : Joshua Page, £2600 ; Francois E. Lelievre, £22,853; Richard Dawson, £4406 ; Charles W. Purchas, £4862 ; John Stewart, £6086. Dunedin: Michael Kett, £4662; William Dunn., £4773. Nelson: Isabella Ross, £5786. Napier:. John Begg, £13,694. New Plymouth : Thomas Scott, £4015. Wellington : Rawinia Tnkeke, £11,811 ; " Annie McWilliam, £8209; Ann Parker, £4405; Thomas Stevenson, £6420. Up to the present 57 polls have been taken m all parts of the colony on the question of adopting the system of rating land on the unimproved values, three m cities, 32 m boroughs, one m a town district, 13 m counties, and eight m road' districts. Christ church adopted the system by 596 votes to 515, n.nd Wellington by 1261 to 591, while Auckland rejected i,t by 1697 to 736. In boroughs 26 polls were carried out of 32, and m counties 12 out of 13, while all the polls m road districts were m favor of the system. Out of the 57 polls 49 have, been carried and eight lost. This is the sort of reputation that Gisborne has abroad through the absence of water and drainage. The Napier Telegraph says : — A former resident of Napier now living at Gisborne is not enamored of the Poverty Bay centre. In the course of a letter to a friend he says it is far behind the times m many tilings. Having to depend upon the rainfall for its supply, there is something approaching a water famine owing to the long spell of fine weather. The absence of any" attempt at a drainage system is also a. great drawback to the place, ancl taken altogether the writer considers Gisborne a nice sort of place to live out of. The new borough of Waihi, which started its municipal life with a well-to-do so-eialistically-inclined population and a big revenue from gold duty, is carrying the fraternal policy a little far m respucb of its public works. Not- only did all tlie wages men and direct servants of the Borough Council receive full wages of 8s ,a day for the holiday period at Christmas, but the Council, not content with this degree of generosity, "served out the same kind of sauce to the staffs of its contractors and carters." The quoted words are from the pages of the Observer, which adds : "As one good turn deiserved another, the workmen oh their part put up a sum of money with which to entertain the Borough Fathers at a*' dinner." One form of spoon-feeding naturally suggests the other. It is reported m the Thames papers that the New Zealand Mines Trust, the parent syndicate of the famous Waihi Company, and the controlling factor m its management, will txike over and capitalise the Thames deep-levels projects. Tlie English companies that had first •hand m this work, the Thames-Hauraki and , May Queen Hauraki, are now m liquidation. The Mines Trust is the strongest and most successful syndicate operating on the Northern goldfields, and has already extended its scope to Wadtekauri, besides owning three mills and three mines at Waihi, with a monthly output of nearly £50,000. Tlie Government has subsidised the deep levels project to tlie extent of £25,000, which is sunk m the big pumping plant erected by the Thajnes-Hauraki Company. According to the agreement between . the Government and tlie company, the liquidator cannot remove this subsidised plant without the consent of the Minister for Mines. The macliinery The fine new steamer Corjntthio, which is now lying at Wellington wharf, has been most uhluqky m the matter of accidents. Another accident occurred aboard her on Friday, when a fireman named John Cock] in fell down the engine-room skylight, a distance of over 20 feet, breaking his thigh. A bar broke the fall, or the man's injuries would have been more serious. A man who fell dow.n the hold is now lying m hospital m a precarious condition, and at Hobart the boatswain was killed by the hoisting machinery. That sailors still are a superstitious class even on up-to-date steamships is evidenced from the fact that none can be found to take the vacant billet, though it means jromotaon to any of the crew who could till it. Even the boatswain's mate has resigned his position, preferring to go a grade lower rather than remain m that capacity. '_The £70,000 waterworks loan for the Wanganui borough has bean fixed on terms generally considered .satisfactory writes a Wanganui correspondent). The mterest. rate is 4* per cent. ; the sinking fund to be taken m reduction at the same rate of interest with the whole -amount payable m Wanganui free of exchange. The Council has the right to lift the amount from time to time, as it requires it .during the progress of the. work, emending overa period or two years. The loan i,s for 12 years, so that it will come ,due at the same tone as the other borough loans, when they can then be consolidated into one general loan. The present Mayor has now conducted four loans for the borough— the Opera House loan of £4000 at 4 per cent., the streets and general improvements loan of £16,000 at 4i per cent., .the gasworks loan; of £30,000 at 4± per cent,, and the present waterworks loap. The present loan w j]j entail an extra 6d m them £ in rates, which will then be 2s 4d m the £}.- This sum will meet all sei'viees, This rate of 2s 4d m the & is the same i as when Mr Hafcrtck took office as during his term the rates were reduced 6d m the £,

That the invasion of the colonies by the motor has set m m earnest is evidenced by the fact that the Aorangi, now at Brisbane, is carrying 19 automobiles for landing at Auckland. The hr.st annual dinner to commemorate the departure of the fcjixth New Zealand Contingent for South Africa, will be held at Wellington on Saturday, the 31st ui.st. At least one Canterbury farmer anticipates a strenuous lmrvest time and an abundant yield, as he has placed an order with a load firm for 33,6001 b of twine for immediate delivery. A plant which was brought from the Cape of Good Hope for decorating purposes, is spreading at an alarming rate m some parts of North Auckland, and the settler* , iU -e urging the Agricultural Department to have it declared a noxious weed. A curious incident occurred duriw the playing off of a tie on one of the JJunedin bowling greens recently. At the final head, and dining the- playing of the last two shots, a worm had come out of the ground and shifted the jack sufficiently to alter the result both of the head and the game. According to the northern press. Coromandel's Gold Jubilee Exhibition, an event that has attracted little notice outside of Auckland province, has drawn i attention to a striking fact. Tlie Exhibition includes a model of the Stirlingshire built m 1845, and claimed to be the first shin constructed m New Zealand. The builder's time-book is also shown, and it includes the names of Donald McLean and William Swanson. Of tltese two working shipwrights of 1845, one afterwards rose to knighthood and Native Ministership, and the other is still with us as an Upper House member. A Wellington business man, who has just returned from a holiday spent m the district, gives a glowing account of the farming prospects along Banks' Peninsula. He saw some 3000 to 4000 acres under cocksfoot, the crop of which promises to be the finest yet gathered on the Peninsula. Farmers have found a great dearth of labor, and were offering Is 6d per hour to la.borei'B for grass-seeding. The surplus labor of Canterbury has been absorbed for harvesting work, as the harvest prospects m the northern portion of the province are of the best possible kind. A Banks' Peninsula farmer last year had a return of £1200 upon 300 acres which he had laid down m cocksfoot, and this season the prospect all round the Peninsula is full of promise, the labor trouble being the only cloud on the limners' horizon. Kvery effort has been, made, but so fan 1 without success, (states the Westport News) to find the body of Thomas Freeman, who was drowned m the Buller river through a boat capsizing last week. The boat was discovered stranded on the beHch opposite the Blackwater stables. At the time the accident occurred deceased was engaged with the dredgemaster, Mr A. Smith, and another man named Heaton, m fixing the dredge lines. The river being m Hood a strong current was running, which swept the boat on to the dredge's stem line, capsizing it,, and throwing the occupants into the water. Smith, grasped the dredge line and hauled himself out of danger, and Heaton was fortunate enough to be able to strike a tailings stack, which he at once scrambled on to. Freeman, however, was swept down l.he stream, and was observed to be swimming strongly, when he suddenly sank and was not seen again. Waihi winds have heaps of wonderful feats to their credit, among which the overturning of houses ranks as a. mere detail. Not long ago a heavy coach standing m tlie street opposite some stables was blown into motion— at first slow, but gradually increasing m velocity, until at length this improvised automobile crashed into a verandah, carried away three posts, and wrecked itself. The latest is that, after a windy night, tlie whole top soil of the seven acres of new hospital grounds, sown with mixed grass and clover, disappeared m dust clouds. Shortly afterwards a settler on the East Coast, .some ten miles east of Waihi, and separated therefrom by a considerable range of hills, reported that some ground he had ploughed had been sown by an- invisible hand; and to-day the ploughed surface is covered with affair crop of grass and clover. He looks on the gift as an act' of Providence, but the Waihi hospital trustees think otherwise.