LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 23, Issue 6, 23 January 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Sounds Wool. —Up to the present date the Manama has lifted about 2000 bales, of wool from Pelorus Sound. Messrs Johnston and Go’s steamers have this season taken from the Sounds 4000 bales ot wool. Those who deplore the destruction of the “ beautiful bush scenery ” must admit that the. land laid bare is being put to good uses.

Anotheb Market fob Fbozbn Meat.— Switzerland has agreed that frozen meat from Australia may now be imported into that country. Last week regulations governing such imports were received. The principal concession, so far as Australia is concerned, is that carcases and parts may now he imported without internal organs. Arrangements are being made by the Swiss Government for the inspection of meat on its arrival and when displayed in shops. Another condition is that the meat shall bear certificates setting out the country of origin.

Shipping.— The Manaroa arrived at 8.30 a.m. on Friday. Following were, passengers Mrs Christian, Mr Sims," and Miss Fernitt, for Homewood; Messrs Downing and Stack, for Titirangi; Miss Davis, for Manaroa; Miss Scott and Mr and Mrs Ooppins, for Havelock; Mr Jensen, round trip. The vessel’s inward cargo comprised 25 tons for the bays and 60 tons for Havelqck, The steamer got away at 7 p.m. on'Friday, her cargo including 255 crates of cheese and 16 bales of wool. She reached Wellington at 2 p.m. on Sunday. A Merited Reproof. —At the Blenheim Magistrate’s Court last week Mr Florance, S.M., referred to a letter he had received from Mr Wanden, secretary of tbe Farmers’ Union. The letter drew the Magistrate’s attention to the fact that at this period of tbe year the S.M. often orders men brought before him to clear out to the country. His Worship said that he was not aware that anything of the sort had been done by him. He often told men to go back to work, if they came from the country. The letter also requested the Magistrate in future to cease the practise, as there was no police protection in the country. Tbe Magistrate considered this portion of the letter impertinent in telling the judiciary what it should do. Any cornplaints should be addressed to uie Justice Department, not to the Magistrate or Justices. Bov Devoured by a Shark. —The Fiji Times of 30th iost. has the l following: Although the waters of Fiji abound with man-eating sharks'it is not often that we hearof human life being taken here by these monsters of the deep. A Fijian lad has been reported as having been devoured by a large shark while in the offing near Beqa. The cutter Ului Moala, seven tons, left Suva for Eadavn on Wednesday, and while off Beqa was struck by a sea whiob washed a Fijian lad, who was a passenger, overboard. Tbq captain, a Fijian named Ruveni, jumped into the water to assist the boy, who was only about seven years of age, and only just able to swim. There was a good sea running, and a strong wind prevented those aboard the cutter, who happened to be poor sailors, from bringing her near the pair who were in the water. After sojne time the captain observed the fm of a large shark approaching near by, and soon after it disappeared under the surface he felt a terrific jerk from the boy, and a drag of bis loin-cloth (which bad encircled one of the boy’s legs), and tbe lad disappeared and was seen no more, Ruveni had made up his mind that he would disappear likewise as soon as the shark had time to devour the poor lad ; but fate was kind. However, be went through a deal of mental agony, for those aboard the cutter could not get near him. and he states that it was at least two and a half hours before he was finally aboard the jUlui Moala.

Prison Reform. — When the Public Works Estimates were brought down, towards the, closing hoars of last session of Parliament, the sum of £4OOO was allotted for expenditure at the Invercargill Reformatory Prison, As Invercargill is now one of the principal reformative institutions in the dominion, much attention is being displayed by the outside public as to whether the system, introduced by Sir John Findlay, is going to produce the good results which in the beginning were anticipated (writes the Southland Times). The initial stages of the experiment carried out locally, under tl?0 supervision of Gaoler Hawkins, have been as satisfactory as one could desire, and it now remains only to wait and sea what the future will bring forth. Mr Hawkins mentioned that of the sixty-two inmates at present under his control the majority were youths who had been sentenced under the new Act, providing lor reformative treatment. Under that Act, even supposing a prisoner bad been sentenced for five years, it was possible for him to be released without serving the maximum period imposed by the Court. Of course it all depended upon the prisoner himself the manner in whioh he behaved while in gaol being the principal point bearing on the shortness or otherwise of his residence there. The Prison Board always meet at quarterly intervals, when the petitions of prisoners for release were dealt with. If in the opinion of the members of the Board the .character of the petitioner has shown such advancement that be could be released without hindrance to society, effect is given to an order for the period of detention to terminate. In Invercargill at the present time there were very few prisoners with fixed sentences. Under the new regulations every facility is offered by the authorities m the matter of the educational requirements of the inmates. A few of the prisoners under Mr Hawkins’s control are totally illiterate,- while others can show passes through only the lower standards of the primary schools. In such cases as these opportunity for advancement is given by the use of the ordinary school syllabus on three days of each week. In the period during which this system has been in vogue it has been attended by markedly good results. The usual standards are observed, and every youth under twenty-five years must attend until be can pass the fourth standard. After he has done so his attendance at school is optional; but every youth who has passed is encouraged to take up some special line of study. Electrical engineering, chemistry, shorthand, physiology, and music are included in the subjects dealt with by the advanced classes at the institution.

Havelock Spoetb Club.-— The annual meeting of this club has bpen fixed for Monday next, at the M.vinic Hotel. In addition to the ordinary business of an annual meeting the members will probably have to elect a secretary in place of Mr Geo. Pope, who has filled the position so capably for several years.' Mr Pope informs us that it is his intention to resign the secretaryship. Thermal Activity.—A Press Association telegram 4 from Rotorua states that the geysers at Whakarewarewa have been very active of late. Pohutu is erupting at frequent intervals, though the duration of the display is not lengthy The smaller geysers are also active, Waikorohihi playing for cine, seven, eleven, six, four and a half, and four hours on respective days during the week. The height varied from 20 to 50 feet.

Weekly Half-holiday.— At a special meeting of the Town Board yesterday it was decided, on the motion of Mr Buckman, seconded by Mr Taylor, to adhere to Thursday as the day upon which the half-holiday shall be observed. This decision was come to in consideration of the tact that the Shops and Offices Act provides that if a change in the day is desired a poll of the ratepayers 'to decide the question „ can be arranged to be taken on the same day as that fixed for the general election of members of Town Boards, It is understood that the employees concerned intend taking this action in September next, when a new Board will be elected.

A Happy Land.— Wisdom comes to us in a solid chunk from a tribe of South Africans. This tribe believes that long speeches are injurious both to the speaker and to his hearers. Wherefore, in order to protect both hearer and speaker, there is a tribal law that every public orator mnst stand on one leg only while he is making a speech. If the other leg is brought to the ground the oration must immediately end. The wisdom of the South African is carefully commended to both Houses of the Legislature in the coming session. It would speedily leave the time talker “ not a lee to stand on.”