NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12476, 1 March 1909, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

o» Tlie H. Battery, N.Z.F.A., went out to Kedwood's Valley on Saturda3' afternoon for the purpose of holding their annual- field service practice. Their destination was reached about half past seven in the evening. Owing to the smoke yesterday morning rendering the targets invisible, the filing was postponed until later in tho day, the result being that it was not ■ concluded until nearly five o'clock. The Battery returned to town at ten o'clock last night. The "Pelorus Guardian" states that several enthusiastic deer-stalkers tried their luck on Wednesday and Thursday. -In the Sounds two fair heads were got, and a fine Royal near the Rai Saddle. Several good stags were seen on the slopes of Mount Riley, but they have not yet been bagged. There has been but little • roaring on Takoreke so far, but signs of game are numerous. Several parties of stalkers are preparing for raids in the Wale, and one large party of Kaituna fanners intend exploiting the Red Hill district, Wairau Valley. A very pretty wedding took place at the Church of Epiphany, Takaka, on Saturday week, when Mr H. I. Packard, only son of Mr R. A. Packard, of Motupipi, was marriedto Miss Bessie Organ, eldest daughter of the late Mr Charles Organ. The ceremony Avas performed by the Rev. Mr Pepper, and much .interest was manifested in. the event locally, the church being filled to overflowing with the friends of the happy couple. The bride, who was given away by her , brother, M» Thomas Organ, was attired in a cream silk lustre, and she wore the usual veiland orange blossoms. The bridesmaids were' Miss Annie Packard, sister of the bridegroom, and Miss Hilda Organ, sister of -the bride, who were dressed in blue and pink silk muslin respectively, with kats to match, Mr M. Packard acted as best man.' In the evening Mr and Mrs Packard loft for-Nelson, en route to the North Is-, land, where; the honeymoon., will be spent. . Rapidly diminishing, with their origin still unknown, the Masarwa, or bushmen of the ; Khalahari Desert, would appear to be a people well worthy of study by the ethnologist. A contribution, to their life story appears in the new number of the "African Monthly," from the pen of Mi C C. Clements Vialls, who has been trading for some years past on the Bechuana border, and has, often come into contact with these strange dwellers on the waterless plain. Closely resemb- j ling the Hottentot in colour .and features, the bushmen are gifted with an abnormal amount of instinct, but with very little intellect: Their vocabulary is . confined . to some three hundred words, and is a series of "clicks," like that of the Hottentot ; but not even the Hottentot can understand them. : They have no rites or ceremonies, use no pots or cooking utensils, and possess no weapons beyond a bow and a sheaf of poisoned arrows! ' Their powers of endurance: are amazing: they can run down a giraffe, eland, wildebeestc, and duiker until their quarry drops- from . sheer, exhaustion. When short of other food they eat rats, reptiles, and insects of all sorts with a relish ; but they refuse to touch monkeys, saying they are "people," like themselves. The Hon J. A. Millar is evidently determined to grapple with the problem'of railway administration in a manner that is characteristic of his ■vigorous personality. He has, we believe, inaugurated a system of internal administration in the head office which 'ensures that every communication of importance affecting this branch of the public .service- shall be brought personally; under his notice. As the railways of New. Zealand now extend to a length of 2.642 miles, have cost £16,735,000, and have a revenue of 2J millions sterling annually, this means -an immense amount of labour. A similarly conscientious endeavour to direct the department broke down Sir Alfred Cadman, 'hut Mr Millar's robust physique may prove more equal to the strain.— Auckland "Star." Woodville was visited by a gang of pickpockets in race week, and. it is reported that several good hauls' were secured by. the light fingered gentry (says the "Wangamii Herald"). ■To have" an invention protected all over the world it is necessary to take out 64 patents in as many different countries, the estimated cost of which is about £3500. Messrs Levien and Rqllet report having sold by public auction last Saturday the property at Wakefield, in the estate of R. King, at a satisfactory figure. To-day, at. 2 p.m., Messrs Bisley Bros and Co. hold an auction sale. of household furniture and effects on account of Mrs Lake, at her residence, Collingwood street to-morrow, they will hold a stock sale at Golden Dawns (Stratford's yards) at 1 p.m., when they will offer 4,400 sheep, chiefly station lines ; on Wednesday - they will hold their usual weekly stock'sale at Richmond yards at 2.30 p.m. ] and on Saturday next they will offer six city building sites and building's thereon. (Old People's Home) for removal.