NEWS OF THE DAY

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12772, 20 April 1910, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

A meeting of those _ interested in forming a profession^' rowing club will bo held at the Pier Hotel on Friday evening.

It will be remembered that Mr Henry Baigent, Hardy street, and others have been for some time seeking to obtain prospecting rights foi coal over the mudfla't area between Stoke and Richmond. Applicatioi. was made-to the Harbour Board ami to the Lauds Department. "A reply haf been received from the De^artmeni that the Solicitor-General advises that the area is no longer Crown land, and the Department has no authority to issue such a license. In consequent a renewed application will be made to tho Harbour Board.

Messrs Levin aud Co., Ltd., advertise that the Tokoniaru (Shaw, Savill, and Albion Co. liner) will load at Nelson for London direct on the 9th and 10th of next month.

On Monday evening next Mr Joseph Taylor will give" an illustrated lecture on Halley's comet. The lecture wilJ be given in the All Saints' schoolroom and the proceeds will be devoted to the church funds.

Nominations for the office of Mayor will close at noon to-day.

Mr Pettit will address the ratepayers at the Hampden street school this evening.

A preliminary enquiry into the mishap to the steamer Kennedy off Westport on Saturday last was held by the Collector of Customs yesterday, and thei evidence will be forwarded to the Marine Department.

Tha steamer Wairoa, which broke down between Collingwood and Waitapu on Monday, and was towed back to the latter port,is expected to return her© to-morrow. The damage consisted of a broken tail shaft.

Mr George Walker, while driving in Vanguard street in a sulky yesterday, was throw.ll out through the horses shying, it is stated, at two donkeys which were grazing^on the roadside.

Before giving evidence in a case at the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, Mr A. H. Bisley declined to be. sworn on the Bible handed to him by the bailiff. He declared ' that it was dirty, and had evidently been in use a very long time. No other Bible being available, the Magistrate administered the Scottish form of oath, which is equally binding.

Stone's Canterbury, Nelson, Westland, and Maryborough Directory for 1910 just to hand maintains the high standard of past issues for accuracy and completeness of the Directory matter and th© wealth, of useful information .that finds place within its covers. Names and addresses have been compiled by means of a complete house to house canvass, and full street and country directories are given, with the full names and occupations of the inhabitants, as well as an alphabetical directory. In the past we have found these directories answer every enquiry made, and it would be difficult to -suggest any improvement therein. In addition to the foregoing there are' "The Professions and Trades Directory," "Pastoral Directory," giving the names of all owners of a thousand or more, sheep, "Municipal and County Directory " "Official and Judicial Directories/ "Educational and Ecclesiastical Directories," "Societies Directory," etc. Over fifty pages are devoted to "The New Zealand Annual," which supplies a vast amount of information in general regarding the Dominion. A very complete- general index affords ready guidance to any subject within the book.

Lady Poore says of the Australians : "I should say that what Australian national character lacks is imagination. Commonsense is really common out here, and I know no quality of greater practical Value ;' but fancy, vision, iniagination-^call it what you ■will — is not common, and without books I^do not see how it is to' be awakened, fostered, and rendered articulate."

Dr Fitchett says he would be glad if the native affairs were taken out of the hands of the Public Trustee, as they interfered with legitimate business, especially in Taranaki. He would have no hesitation in recommending this course when the question came up next session.

A wealthy English philanthropist has given £200,000 to establish institutions to bring the services of skilled dentists within the reach" of the poorerclasses willing to pay in proportion to their means.

Several horses in the Waipu' district chiefly at Maungaturoto ( says the "Auckland Star") are, suffering from a new form of sickness which can only bei described as "water in the mouth." When an animal sickens, water begins to discharge from the mouth in a continual stream, with consequent weakness, which totally unfits the animal for work. . During the worst stage of the illness the horse Cannot take any food, not even grass, and it just stands in the paddock with its mouth closed, when the water accumulates until it has to discharge it, a gallon or more at a time. The sickness lasts from seven to fourteen days. There is not a veterinary surgeon in the district, and as the complaint is quite new to Waipu, the settlers have to let it take its course. They cannot apply a remedy as an experiment, not being able to diagnose the cause or complaint. So far, no horses have succumbed to the sickness, and they are the only animals that have been subject to it.

Maoris must have quaint ideas of billiard-markers, ■ evidently thinking they are. walking banks (says the I ' Wairarapa Age") . One dark-haired native, going by the soubriquet of "Midnight," strolled into a saloon in Greytown a few days back and played a game, which h© lost. He calmly presented thq marker with a cheque for £200, with instructions to "take Is 6d out of that." . ,

The next vessel which is to take the water for the New eZaland Shipping Company i& the Rotorua, a sister ship of the Ruahine, with a register oi something like 12,500 tons. She is at present on the stocks ; at Denny's yards at Duubarton, and ought to be afloat and ready for service in August (says a London correspondent), to leave on her maiden voyage in September or October. The Rotorua will be fitted, like the Otaki, with the combination reciprocating and turbine engines.

During the British elections the German black or Tye bread played a I prominent part in the arguments of the Radical candidates. On tho suggestion of Lord Claud Hamilton, the now Unionist M.P. for North Kensing-ton,-the Kitchen Committee of the House of Commons has included tht iJerman bread among tlie items of re-, freshment obtainable in the tea room, and Lord Claud and several friejuls had it with tea. It was declared that the much-abused article was really exI cellent.

A race in connection with the Nelson Harriers will take place on Wednesday next for Dr. Andrew's trophy. Intending competitors are requested to hand their names into the captain or secretary by Thursday next. - -

dominations to fill the vacancy in the City Council ; .caused by- the re^ sianation of Councillor Pettit,- who is a candidate for the Mayoralty, .will close atnoon to-day. . Mr W Spencer Hampson, who has served the city as a councillor in the past, is the only candidate definitely announced. Ho was nominated yesterday by Messrs J. Sharp, senn, and R. White.