NEWS AND NOTES.

Waikato Independent, Volume V, Issue 322, 10 January 1907, Page 6

NEWS AND NOTES.

On Ist inst. the law for abolishing Kanaka labour in Queensland came into force. From 5000 to 6000 of these colored laborers are to be sent back to the Islands. There is a serious shortage of grain sacks'throughout the colony, owing to the early harvest and the late indenting of Calcutta shipments. The next is expected to arrive about the middle of this month. In this district, owing to the shortage, many farmers will have to stack sheaves instead of threshing from the stock, as in former years.—Argus. A boy, named Julius Tocker has attended the Stratford District High School over 13 years without missing a single attendance, says the Wanganui Herald, notwithstanding during that time he has had a broken arm, a wound in his foot, caused by a broken bottle, which necessitated several stitches, and the usual sickness to which childhood is heir. Thirty co-operative dairy companies in the southern districts of the North Island have appointed an officer to represent them on the British markets. The gentleman selected is Mr Charles Mackie, of Wellington, chief of the office staff of the London and Manchester firm of Messrs Peaison and Butter. The salary is £6OO per annum with travelling allowance and clerical assistance. This will be met by a tax on the output of factories.

A machine, patented by Dr. Locking, of Napier, as a rabbit and weed exterminator, was given a trial at Titnaru recently, under the supervision of the Borough Overseer, Mr Beswick. The machine was tried on a luxuriant growth of woods and grass along the channel in Theodocia-street, and seemed to do its work in a very efficient manner. The sulphurous fumes emerging from the machine withered the seeds almost instantaneously ; but whether the work of destruction will be permanent or not remains to be seen. Several devices have been tried by the Borough Council of late years with the object of keeping the sides of the streets clear of weeds and grass, with varied success, but this latest is certainly the most novel of them all.