NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13912, 20 January 1914, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Two men, J. Campbell and another, were bathing in the Moawhango River on Sunday week when Campbell's companion got out of his depth. He was rescued by Campbell after great difficulty, and was conveyed to the bank in a fainting condition.

A Greymouth Press Association telegram states that at the Magistrate's Court .yesterday Professor Norwood was fined £3 for obstructing a footpath. He allegedly hypnotised a subject in the window of business premises. Two married women were fined £10 and £2 10s respectively for. assault and hurling -epithets at members of the new union at Blackball.

A very pleasant re-union was held by the Wakatu Juvenile Society of Oddfellows last evening, when the members were entertained by a- leading officer of the order asa reward for having raised their membership to a'stipulated figure. D.P.G.M. Bro. W. H. Robertson presided, and there was a large attendI ance of members, a number of adult members also being present. After refreshments had been partaken of, an entertaining programme was given, songs being rendered by P.G. Bro. J. Pellow (encored) and P.G. Bro. J. Baxtletfc; recitations by Bros. H. Benson, J. Aldridge, R- Nock, W. Sharp, and D.P.G.M. Bro. Robertson; and short addresses by the D.P.G.M.., P.G. Bro. F. Graham, P.P.G.M. Bro. W. H. Prebble (superintendent), and prov. corresponding secretary Bro. .-A. G. Shrimpton.. A most enjoyable gathering concluded with the singing of the National Anthem..

A first offender for drunkenness waa convicted and discharged by Mr T. W. Bradshaw, J.P., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. . -

At the Wellington Magistrate's Court yesterday, says a Press Association telegram, a Chinaman named Ah Job was lined £6 and costs for smoking opium, and another, Charlie Young Sing, was -fined £25 and costs for having opium in his possession. When the two were arrested, in premises fitted up for opium smoking, Ah Joe had £10 on him, and Young King £270.

In referring to the celebrations at a Native wedding at Opunake, and the fact that "tho pakeha was also there in full force," ,the Opunake "Tijines" satirically remarks that the colour line is not drawn at..hospitality—especially when it is at the expense of the Natives!

A Government kinematograph expert has been visiting the Nelson district for the purpose of taking moving pictures of the various phases of the fruit industry, from the clearing of the land to packing for export. Is is understood that the films are to be exhibited in the Old Country..

The Flaxmore Estate, the home of the lat© Sir W. Russell, is said to have been purchased by Mr. W. G. Stead, of Twyford.

The Kaupokonui Dairy Company has just landed, through Mr Julius A. Lutz, the New Zealand agent, a very fine 5-ton motor wagon, in addition to which a further motor i& on order to cope with the busy season's transport between the factory and Hawera. The second wagon should also land tins week.

The Wanganui - freezing works are having an exceptionally busy season. A recent day's killing totalled 2700 sheep and 40 cattle, a record for the works.

As an expert in Irish folk song, Mr John M'Cormack was asked if lie had made any study of the Maori idea of musical expression. He said that he had not, but lie remarked that while in Sydney he had heard some of Mr Alfred Hill's "Maori" music, and thought it delightful. "That's it," lie said, running his lingers over a few bars of "Wai-ate Poi." "I think it's charming. And the dirges," he added, "aren't they fine!"

An expensive trick was played on a Whakaronga dairyman the other day. It was discovered when his milk was poured into the vat that a large eel bad been placed in one of the cans. As it was impossible to tell which can it was in the supplier consequently lost the whole of his evening and morning milk, which was condemned at the factory.

Deep-sea fishermen who go out to the groper grounds off Timaru have not been successful in getting big hauls of late. The groper are not so plentiful this season as formerly. Cod are fairly plentiful, however, and are readily caught from the beaches north and south of the town.

The 14-year-old boy, Hector Go&ee, who disappeared from his home at Lower Hutt on Wednesday week, leaving a letter stating that he was going to "strike out on his own" has been discovered by frieads at Auckland. The boy's parents have been communicated with, and he is to ho conveyed back home shortly.

In congratulating the Prime Minister upon recovering from his recent illness, the "Lyttelton ,Times" says:— "Wie are very pleased to know that Mr Massey has suffered nothing worse than a temporary illness as a result of his strenuous activities. Work will become less burdensome- to him with experience and practice, and when he is next in Opposition he will be no less effective a.s a critic for his three years of office."

A sidelight on land value in the Hawke's Bay district was switched ou at the meeting of the Hawk's Bay Land Board (says the "Hawke's Bay Herald"). An application was made to transfer 1977 acres at N*?atapa to a young settler 21 years of ago, the consideration being sot down at £19,772. The board considered this was very high. Captain John Tombleson, father of the transferee, waited upon the board and explained that lie was placing his son upon the section to give him a .start. "Do you not think the consideration is a bit high?" asked the Commissioner. "You can't get good land any cheaper," replied Mr Tombleson, "and it is no use buying rubbish. I am quite satisfied that- a good margin -can be made off the property at the figure."

A tender of £30,150 has been accepted for the erection of freezing works at Whakatu for the Hawke's Bay Farmers' Meat Company, Ltd. Messrs. Bull Bros., Napier, were the successful tenderers.

According to a correspondent in a South Island journal thq first band that ever landed and played in New Zealand was that which accompanied the 99th Regiment. It was on June 2nd, 1845 that the- Light Infantry Band and drummers lauded from the Royal Sovereign in Auckland harbour and marched to barracks.

Marvellous snips in aIJ departments at McKay and Son's first sale in Nelson. If falling prices could bo heard McKay, and Son's store would sound like a boiler factory with a score of pneumatic rivetters at work. Get in early Saturday morning, .January

Now Season's Goods arriving a month earlier than usual, means we must shift our present stocks immediately. 10 per cent, extra reduction means a double reduction. This week only.—Trathen's Sale*

We quote you Sale Prices, and then deduct 10 per cent. Discount off the bottom of your bill all this week. Do you realise what an immense opportunity this is?—Trathon'-s Double Reduction Sale.*

The Second Edition of Trathen. and Co.'s Stock-taking Sale starts to-day. 10 per cent, further Reductions off Sale Prices. This week only;*

~ A motor car will ]©aye Nelson for the Murchison stock gale to-morrow, returning on Friday. Particulars aro advertised. -■-■'•

It is estimated that over 1000 bales of wool have so far been railed from Taihape this season. Shearing is still in progress in many localities, and big loads'of this season's clip are being carted to the Utiku, Taihape, Mataroa, and Hihitahi railway stations.

An hotelkeeper was charged at Wellington yesterday, says a Press Association telegram, with having employed an unregistered barmaid. Tho Inspector of Police said the hotel was well conducted, but th© polico discovered a young woman who admitted that she had served in the hotel, and had told the defendant she was registered. However, the police thought the defendant should have demanded to see the girl's certificate. The prosecution was brought with the object of making tho licensees more careful. Mr Myers, for the defendant, said his client had made reasonable inquiries. The list of registered barmaids contained the name "Edith Burton," whereas the girl's name was Mary. Wlbile upholding the police view that licenses should require the production of certificates, the magistrate was satisfied that the $efenda/nt Hefted bona-fi !/>, ■and' dismissed the case.

Late on Sunday evening Mr. James Robinson, a fruitgrower, of Mariri, Tasman, was found dead at his house, as the result of an overdose of strychnine. Mr. Robinson had suffered from heart trouble, and was in the habit of taking strychnine medicinally, and it is prosumed that ho inadvertently took an overdose. Dr. Barr, who was in the district, was called in, but could only pronounce life extinct. Mr. Robinson, who had been in the Tasman district for about eighteen months, was for many years an iron moulder at Wellington. He was sixty-one years of age, and leaves a widow and large family. He acted as postmaster at Mariri.

The Thermometer. —At three o'clock this morning the thermometer outside this office registered 62 degrees.

The fame of Moutere apple lands has spread from one end of New Zealand to the other. Those interested should not fail to read the announcement in the advertisement columns on page 8 regarding the H»hy B*y Estate.*