NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13454, 27 June 1912, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The English mail despatched from Wellington (via San Francisco) on tho 24th May, arrived in London o.n tho 25th inst.

Our Wellington correspondent talegraphs that sketch plans of the new post oifiee at.the Port are to be shown to Mr. Atmore this week by the Post-master-General, who has also in hand the improved entrance to the telephone exchange at the Chief Post Office, dbviating the necessity of going through the telegraph operating, room and thus traversing the whole length of the building, an .additional risk to telephone operators in case of fire.

In the Supremo Court in Chambere, on 24th iu-st., on the application of Mr Hayes, probate of the will of the lato Georgia Painter, or Upper Takaka, was granted by Mr Justice Chapman to Elizabeth -Painter, his" widow:; and, also on the application of Mr. Hayes, letters of administration de bonis -non-in- theestate of the late Charles Gate,,of Takaka, was granted to his son Charles Gate.

There are well founded traditions of a boat having been blown off the "beach" in the old days of Wellington, and killing a woman. Although the sea is now a long way oif, by means of consecutive reclamation contracts, the locality is still known by some, such name as ''Stormy Point" to the old identities, and the wind can still blow with hurricane force in the windy city. It is ■ recorded in the Press that.^the fore© of the gale was such on Tuesday evening that an elderly resident of North Kilbirriie, who got out of tha tram, was whirled along by the wind, and collided with a large wooden telegraph pole, to which ho endeavoured to run for safety; but the velocity of the wind wa'& so strong that he was knocked against the po.e, and sustained severe bruises about the face and legs. He was taken to an adjacent chemist's shop and attended to. Ho is still suffering from the effects of tho collision.

Pumpkin growing for cattle was recently tried by Mr. Ernest Short, at Rewa, on the bank of the Rangitikei river, with most successful results, the yielding fi-om 60. 'to*. 80 :tons per: acre, andas 26 acres were planted out, the .supply- is easily estimated. During the past two or three months Mr. Short has been feeding 120 weaners, €0 bullocks, 40 bulls and 200 hoggets on K the "pumpkins, arid the crop is sufficient to feed the.same numbtir of cattle for the next five weeks. The success of Mr. Short's efforts is likely to induce other farmers to also go in for pumpkin plantations next season. Mr Short stated at the A. and P. Association-meeting |on Friday night that he had saved sufficient seed to recompense him three times over for the experiment ho hjicl made.

The Local Government Bill is meeting with a good deal of criticism throughout the Dominion, the main opposition coming from public bodies whoso oxistcnoo has he«n threatened by the Bill. As they arc all doing good work the members see no rorvson why they should be wiped out. We are glad to say that there is no attempt to wipe out Lock's' Furniture Emporium, which ia growing stronger in. public opinion day by clay. There is no doubt whatever that Lock's emporium has not only the.largest, but far and nwr-v the most stylish and iip-trt-r'^.o stock of art furniture, bedding, li'iio.*., suites, Chesterfields, etc., in iho distr■':. Now shipments,of crockery, org"■*:•'. pianos, and linoleums just ar-*-ivo-'! r also a shipment of the wonderful Tun lamps; and the very latest improved Atlas automatic drop-head sewing machine. The most up-to-date machine in the world. Guaranteed ten years. Price £6 10s "We are sol© agents for it.