NEWS & NOTES

Waikato Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1556, 14 May 1903, Page 4

NEWS & NOTES

Couktkv Justices Lave much to put up with in discharging their duties. Two females informed a Justice to Rangiora to-day, who bad fined them for not sending children to school, that they intended to have no more dealings at bis store. &fc considerable cost the Government opened a workman's home settlement at New Plymouth called Spotwood, dividing it into Gl sections for workmen's homes, and 8 small farms. A special meeting of the Laud Board was held on Wednesdey to deal with applications Only ten applications were received. At the last meeting of the Education Board, Mr Johnson got in a home truth at Hawke's Bay. He said that all the School Committees had to do now was to see to the cleaning, a fact, lie declared, that had been established by the board two years ago. Members of the board did not combat the statement. At a local church one morning recently (says the Christchurch Press) a bridegroom waiting for his bride was startled to see the latter's dressmaker come in with the bridal gown, which she could not deliver, having forgotten the lady's address. The waiting groom supplied the information, aud the dressmaker liurried away to what must have been' an anxious bride. A remarkable case of sheep■worrying is reported from Banbury. Two dogs chased a flock of about 200 sheep into several fields. The majority of the frightened animals took refuge in a stream, where they huddled together so closely (says the Oaraaru Mail), as to clam up the water, which rose so high as to drown a number of the sheep as they stood. Others were suffocated by the wet fleeces of the live and dead. When the sheep were found no fewer than 55 were dragged out of the watercourse dead. Six others ■were discovered mangled to death by dogs. A somewhat curious story reaches the Bay of Plenty Times from Te Puni. It seems that two lads were riding towards town, and when coming down the Wairoa cutting espipd an empty beer bottle. They decided to put it on a post and practice with their stock whips at it. On picking it up they saw that it contained a piece of paper, which on investigation proved to be a £5 note. There is no particular moral to this story that we know of, except, perhaps, that even a prohibitionist would do well not to pass by a beer bottle, full or empty, without investigation. The Manawatu Standard learns on most reliable authority that further changes are probable in the Dairying Department, Wellington, that threaten to disorganise that Department completely. The Standard's informant states that two of the most reliable and practical men in the Department have received alluring offers to join private firms engaged in the dairying industry, and are giving the matter serious consideration ; so much so that only increases in their salary, commensurate with their worth, can induce the officials indicated to remain in the Government service. A good story reaches us from Ashburton, where prohibition was carried at the last local option poll. A country swain and his intended bride arranged for one of the clergymen of the place to tie the knot. At the appointed time all the parties were duly on the scene, but the bridegroom was discovered to be without the usual permit. ' Where is the license ?' asked the minister. ' License !' ejaculated the prospective bridegroom. ' What do you ■want that for 1 I thought nolicense was carried last election !' A hunt for the registrar then commenced, while the minister's faith in the wisdom of the onc-man-one-vote principle was rudely shaken. With a view to encouraging school cadet corps to become good shots, the Government has decided that the target practice for 1903 shall be carried out as laid down. Marksmen's badges will be awarded as follows :—(1) To every cadet making over C 3 points shall be issued a marksman's badge in yellow worsted, to be worn on the left wrist ; (2) to the cadet making the highest score in the company or detachment a badge in gold embroidery ; and (3) to the cadet making the highest score in the education district a silver medal ; to be worn on the right breast. It has also been arranged that a, challenge shield match for each island shall be fired annually at the local ranges of the several corps, at a date to be fixed hereafter. The Dannevirke Advocate relates :—While on the Easter route march members of a certain volunteer company captured a calf in the lines. The unfortunate animal was tightly held while a gallon or so of beer was emptied down its throat, a proceeding which induced intoxication. The contemplated ending of the joke was to carry tho drunken beast to the tent of the oflicer commanding; and there put it to bed, but like most silly jokes it miscarried. The jokers struck tho wron" tent, and called by mistake on the orderlies, who identified several of the party. Next morning they were haled before a military tribunal, fined live shillings apiece, and made to appear thoroughly foolish in tho eyes of the whole en-, enmpmont. King (Solomon's Mines," that fabulous place, Heaped up with precious stone. Poor Avarice even, cannot trace, Or claim it for her own ; There's something wanting more [jthan wealth To liappirjess secure, (Jure your cough, CDJoy good health, Take— Woons' OUEAX ItomuUHT CUBE. j_6 '