NEWS AND NOTES.

Waikato Independent, Volume VII, Issue 461, 16 January 1908, Page 6

NEWS AND NOTES.

Mr G. Manning, of Okaki, has purchased, through the agency of Mr Eli Smith, of Masterton, and a Hamilton firm 820 acres of land in the Waikato. It may be generally known that there is in Eketahuna a lady who, though over eighty years of age, has never yet travelled in a railway train. Probably no other lady in the Dominion can boast of this record. Divorce is a very simple matter in Egypt, simpler even than in America The husband who is dissatisfied with his wife has merely to say, “I repudiate thee,” and he is once more a free man. Several months ago a few New York banks were opened for business all night, for the convenience of customers; but they have lately been closed all day long, to the inconvenience of the same trusting souls.—Financial News. An Irish news-“ boy ” is reported to have fallen heir to £15,000 by the death of a relative in Australia. Tlfero is a fly in the ointment, however. The “ boy ” is 70 years of age, and it is doubtful if one can learn to enjoy a fortune at that age. The Educat ion Department has decided to issue a new “ Infantry Training ” for public school’ cadets, in order that the drill may be brought into line with that decided on by the Defence Council. This follows the Army drill book in all respects, except that drilling in single ranks takes the place of drilling in two ranks, the formation of fours being retained. The quantity of cheese shipped from New' Zealand to England up to the present stage of this season, is double that of the corresponding period of last year, according to Mr J. G. Harkness, secretary of the National Dairy Association. A steady increase is expected up to the end of the season, which will be about May. It is estimated that the increase on last year will bo 5000 tons. If domestic service be regarded as a profession, mistresses will be more apt to remember that their servants do not exist only for their convenience, but have a life of their own to live, that they have the same desires, the same tastes, the same love of variety, the same yearning for affection and companionship as other young people, and that they have the same claim to lead as full and interesting a life as anyone else.—Young Woman. At Bayonne, New Jersey, recently, a man who was charged with beating his wife was found guilty and sentenced to be publicly 11 spanked.” The punishment was duly carried out in the courtroom. A lusty policeman was brought in for the purpose, and a boot handed to him. The officer laid on with the boot, the prisoner’s howls of pain bearing witness to the enthusiasm with v.'hich the policeman was doing his work. The scene w'as watched by a large crow’d. Very hot w’eather was experienced at Cromwell, Otago, during Christmas time (writes a correspondent), and there is no abatement at time of writing. On the 3rd inst, the thermometer registered 95 deg. in the shade, so it can bo imagined what it was in the sun, with a cloudless sky and not a breath of wind. The intense heat has lowered the rivers several feet, so they should be at normal summer level when dredging will be resumed. Last week the thermometer registered 100 in the shade and 130 in the sun, the hottest known in Central Otago for many years. “ One of the first things a boy learns is to swim, and the next to swear, and you can’t prevent him from doing either," said a member of the Hutfc Biver Board, at the last meeting, when a point was raised in connection with bathing m the Hutt river. One member wished the Board to take steps and prohibit school children from bathing unless accompanied by teachers or guardians, it was thought by others that swimming baths ought to be erected. The discussion here dropped, the Board believing it hopeless to attempt to effectively prohibit bathing. A correspondent, writing to the ’Wellington Post, says “ the Presbyteries of Auckland and Gore are exercising themselves on the subject of Sabbath desecration. At the assembly in Wellington recently it was stated that John Calvin, one of the fathers of the Presbyterian Church, played bowls on Sunday. If the Presbyterians’ precept and practice in the past is different from what it is today, the crusades of presbyteries will be ineffective. Sabbath-breakers will shelter themselves behind the example set by .Calvin and Knox. But did Calvin really act as represented ?”