LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 11789, 13 February 1906, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wellington's Town Hall organ will 1* ready for the opening ceremony in about a fortnight's time. One of the strangest prirea offered by the French Academy of Science is for tho person who discovers a method of communication between planets.

A waterspout burst on the Rock an 4 Pillar Range about 6.30 last evening, •*£ a Dunedin telegram, washing away W* formation of the Otago Central Ra"»V for a distance of three chains. A goofl» train, which left Dunedin yesterday afternoon, wae unable to proceed beyond Middlemarch. It is expected the line will be repaired in time to permit of train! running as usual to-day.

At the meeting held last evening in connection with the presentation to Mri Hoey, it was resolved that the presentation, which will take the form of a puna of sovereigns, should be made by Lady Plunket on Thursday afternoon. At » meeting of the committee last evening the MJ^or reported that they hoped to raiaa the sum he had previously mentioned. All those having lists and intending sub* scribero are requested to forward th« dona* tions at once to the Mayor.

"Why the 'All Blacks' Triumphed: The Secret of Our Success" is the title of a book which the London Daily Mail is publishing, the author being the captain of the New Zealand footballers (Mr Gallaher). The book, which will contain the Daily Mail's story of the tour, is expected in New Zealand about a week before the team reaches Auckland.

Covent Garden 'gets rid of something like fifty tons of mistletoe in Christmas week. It is interesting to remember that to-day, nearly two thousand years after, most of the holly and mistletoe still comes from the places where Druidism flourished in it* final days — from Brittany, from Cdrnwall, Somerset, Salop, and Buckinghamshire.

Upon Mr Balfour's resignation, the King presented him with a Windsor uniform. The uniform consists simply of an ordinary black evening dress suit, with the addition of a red collar to the coat and red •tripes down the trousers. The uniform iB only worn at Windsor, and those privileged to wear it are limited to the Royal Family, the members of the Royal Household, and a few privileged persons, of whom Mr 1 Balfour is now one.

There arc seceral complaints of orchard robbing in town. On Saturday night a heavily laden apricot tree in an orchard at the upper end of the town was completely stripped, greatly to the loss of its owner. Those who have a fancy for indulging their taste for fruit in this manner had better be careful, lest they are interviewed by a gentleman in bloc.

The new early closing law is being generally well observed in Wanganui, though most shopkeepers take full advantage of tho half hour's grace allowed after 9 o'clock on Saturday night. In one or two instances last Saturday night this limit was exceeded, and it therefore behoves all business men to be careful in observing the law before the eagle eye of the inspector lights on them. Small boys playing on the town and Aramoho bridges in the evening have lately developed a habit of throwing stones at boats passing underneath. On Friday evening last a lady in a boat was struck on the head by a stone thrown by some mischievous youngster, with the result that the latter was interviewed by the police, and more may come of the. matter. It nou ld be well if the parents of boys given to this dangerous practice would exercise a little more supervision over them.

In one of the Wanganui schools there is a class of 93 under on* teacher. When it is remembered lhat most educational authorities insist that 40 pupils should be the limit for a teacher, it will readily be conceded that the one in question has a trying year in front of him. We understand that owing to the inconvenient arrangement of the rooms at the school in question, the distribution of the staff is a puizling matter, and the above is the only arrangement possible under the circumstances. ' A subsidence occurred in the footpath at Taylorville, just off the Town Bridge, this morning, a very large hole being formed. Had the subsidence occurred at night time it is more than likely that a serious accident would have resulted. In this connection we may point out that on two or tureo occasions recently the lights on the bridge have either not been lit or have Jone out. In view of the dangerous conition of the ground — which 1 " has subsided on several occasions recently — at the Taylorville approach to the bridge, every precaution should be taken to ensure that the light is kept burning on that end of the bridge at all events.

A bullock consigned to Mill Road Siding, near Invercargill, reached its destination last Saturday week in duo course of time (says the Otago Daily Times), but through an unfortunate blunder it was allowed to remain in the truck until the following Monday, when it was found dead by one of the officials on a passing train, and the matter was thereupon reported at headquarters. The unfortunate beast had broken off one of its horns, and, judging by the appearance of the truck, had made frantic efforts to escape from confinement, having apparently become maddened by thirst and hunger.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Kaitoke Road Board was held as usual yesterday, there being present Messrs C. W. Poynter, A. Cameron, and D. Mackin.tosh. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. It was resolved that tenders be called as per foreman's estimate. Accounts amounting to JE2I 13s 4d were passed for payment. It was resolved that the foreman report at next meeting as to the probable cost of opening up the outlet of the Putiki drains. Resolved that the foreman get gates necessary for outlets from pits in several places. Resolved that defaulting ratepayers be informed that all rates unpaid on March 15 will be sued for.

His Lordship Bishop Higgins, of Ballaraf who is on a visit to New Zealand, was interviewed at Christchurch on Friday last by a reporter, who asked for his Lordship* impressions of his journey via Rotorua and the Wanganui River. The Archbishop of Melbourne and Bishop Higins arrived in Auckland on January 7th, and left almost immediately for Rotorua, where nearly a month was spent. Thence they went to Te Aroha. where they stayed a few days, and from there journey to Taumarunui, whence t*ey sailed down the Wanganui River. At Pipiriki the Bishop was surprised to find a thoroughly up-to-date hotel, equal to many he had seen in much larger places. "The scenery on the river," said his Lordship, "especially on the higher reaches above Pipiriki, was the finest we have ever seen. His Grace has seen the Rhine, the Hudson in America, the Hawkesbury in New South Wales, and other rivers famous for their scenery, but I don't think he has seen anything to surpass in beauty, and especially in the richness of foliage, what we saw on the Wanganui."

Thus the Londpn correspondent of the Age: — London is permitting foreign manufacturers to supply, at undercutting rates, almost the whole of tb» rolling stock and fittings for its new underground railways. It is the foreigner, again, who is supplying us with motor omnibuses — another vast source of -profit and of employment for Continental workmen. And the Londoners look on quietly with a sort 'of fatalistic philosophy, pay big weekly bills for the maintenance of 127,000 paupers (including a large proportion of ablebodied workmen), discuss pitiful schemes for five-acre farms, and hope for better times. Freetrade politicians have been busy lately in importing horse flesh sausages and exhibiting them as samples "of "the food which the German workmen _are obliged to eat." The fact is overlooked, however, that many of the frugal German workmen habitually prefer horseflesh on grounds of economy. And at least they can pay for their horseflesh sausages — with wages earned in the manufacture of goods for the British market-— whereas it is undeniable that thousands of British families, barely keeping off the charities, cannot afford anything better than odds and ends of fried fish, which they buy cooked, because they cannot provide fuel enough to cook it for themselves.

Unlike other headache • medicines Steams' Headache Cure does not cai'se that stupid druggy feeling. It always cures neadaches and is as refreshing as a nigh.' a good sleep.

The destruction of small birds has cost the Temuka Boad Board about «£2OO for the present season.

Captain Edwin wired at 12.23 to-day: — Strong winds to gale from between northwest and west and south; glass fall; tides high; sea heavy; rain probable, and weather cold.

There is no danger of the Supreme Court losing its dignity in the eyes of the people, judging by two little incidents which occurred at Auckland (says the Star). A prisoner respectfully asked if he might be allowed to read some notes which he had in hi 3 pocket, while a deaf man asked if his Honor would excuse him for being deaf.

The Hot Lakes Chronicle states that the new carved house at Whakarewarewa, which has been in course of erection for some considerable time, will be opened during the present month — on the same day as the unveiling of the monument that was erected to the late chief, Te Keopa. The Governor, the Premier, and the Native Minister are expected to be present.

Commenting upon the price of fruit, the Nelson Colonist affirms that if it is dear in Wellington, it is still dearer, proportionately, in Nelson. It is said, says our contemporary, that money may be save 4 by buying Nelson-grown fruit in Wellington and shipping it back to Nelson. The real cause of the difficulty in both centres, they consider, is the cost of distribution.

The island of Heligoland now possesses a beacon which is not only the most powerful ever yet constructed, but is in itseli an electric marvel. Instead of the costly Fresnel lenses hitherto considered indispensable for large beacons, the German engineers have used parabolic mirrors of glass. A flash of thirty million candlepower is produced, and in clear weather has been visible a distance of forty miles.

According to a local paper, accommodation at the present time in Greymouth is taxed to its utmost, and hotelkeepers are at their wits' end to provide for their lodgers. This state of affairs has to a considerable extent been brought about by the closing of one of the hotels. On the top of this trouble, lodginghouse-keepers are experiencing a good deal of difficulty in procuring servants and waitresses.

Some figures quoted at Christchurch on Thursday before the Commissioner in regard to the tailoresses' award seemed to indicate that there was an undue preponderance of unskilled labour in one of the largest Christchurch clothing factories. Of the 234 employees, 31 were classed as apprentices, 43 as improvers, 75 as competent workers, and 76 as incompetent workers. The latter are experienced workers who have to accept less than the minimum wage stipulated by the award.

Dr. Koch is about to take charge of an expedition to investigate sleeping sickness in German East Africa (says a London paper). Ho will remain in the affected territory for 18 months, and he will be helped so far as is possible by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, which has already spent ,£50,000. and lost one of its professors in its efforts to find a means of fighting this terrible plague. It was authoritatively stated in Liverpool recently that the German Colonial Department had allocated .£60,000 towards the expenses of Dr. Koch's expedition.

A trial has been made of rooting out the gorso on the flat below the abattoir paddocks ,says the Taranaki Herald. The result was very satisfactory, the roots being dragged clean out of the ground. Tlie engineer states that there is no doubt as to the effectiveness of this method, but recommends bullocks in preference to horses for the work. The experiment haying proved successful, the Abattoir Committee will consider the matter of dealing with the gorse nuisance on the whole area by this means.

Mr Kinaella is of opinion that the dairy farmer of New Zealand has more occasion to fear competition from Siberia than the Argentine, that is when the former place settles down. There they have a grand system of cold storage and of taking the atuff to the steamers, while they have the cheapest labour in the world. The vastness of the country, the cheap labour, and the possibility of Canada being able to throw down large quantities of butter on the British markets, Mr Kinsella believes, will have the tendency of causing the New Zealand producer to accept a lesa price for his butter and cheese. He says that some people stated that, so long as wo make a choice article, we will find a market at top price, but he does m>t agree with this.

People do not, unfortunately, always say precisely what they mean. The secretary of a country branch in New South Wales of the St. John Ambulance Association, in recording a case treated by some of the members of the association, provides a case in point. "Ballina Branch of St. John Ambulance Association had a Very bad case to attend this month. Wo received a wire that a woman was hurt ten miles out. Three of the class went out, and found that she had been struck by a falling tree. Her left thigh, left leg, and right leg were fractured, also her right foot in two places, and some frightful wounds on her body. We fixed up ail the fractures and wounds, and conveyed her to Ballina Hospital, and, strange to say, she is recovering."

The London Telegraph states that the flag liet of the navy is to be considerably strengthened. The number of flag officers must be increased, for, though there is an excess of admirals in the fleet, the rearadmirals' list, which should be raised to fifty-five by 1907, now includes only fortyeight officers, and probably seven additional names will be put on the captains' list in the course of the ensuing twelve months, apart from vacancies which have occurred, or may occur, through death or retirement. At present the navy list shows only just over 220 captains, whereas the strength should have risen by Christmas next to 248. This is an opportunity which the Admiralty will seize for promoting a number of young, energetic commanders who will thus rise by seniority to be flag officers, in command of the fleets and squadrons before age has taken the edge ofE their nerve or made them wish for ease ashore.

The Oamaru Mail, referring to the £sstruction of the Californian thistle, says: — "We are able to pive an illustration proving the efficacy of the simple treatment of cutting the thistles down whenever they begin to get a start. Some years ago Mr B. G. Lane owned a paddock of about an acre and a half at Kakanui. This was so infested with Californian thistle that the owner came to the conclusion that he could not afford to pay for checking them. He handed the paddock over to Mr D. McLellan for five years free of rent, on the understanding that he would keep the pest down. Mr McLennan entered upon an active crusade against the thistles, cutting them a little below the ground with an adze specially mads for the purpose. He did not give the plant's a moment's rest, and the result was that when his five years was up he had completely mastered the thistle. an 6! has now obtained the vnddock for an additional five years. We are assured that the growth of weed was so thick that toore was hardly a clear space to stand in it."

Sheep worrying by dogs is causing a great deal of Ices and annoyance to sheep owners in the Levin district at the present time.

A special meeting of the Harbour Board is to be held to-morow afternoon at 4 o'clock to receive a report from Mr Leslie Reynolds on the subject of the suggested groining on the South Spit.

It is reported that through the death of a relative in the Old Country a family at Rae's Junction (South Island) have fallen heirs to an estate valued at about £100,000.

At a meeting of the Rabbit Extermination Fiyid Committee at Sydney on January 31 it was announced that £6830 of the amount required for experiments was in hand and £1331 more had been definitely promised.

The Marlborough Sounds arc in many ways receiving increased attention. The Marlborougli Express states that quite 200 oil launches are in use in the Sounds, their united value being a quarter of a million pounds.

The raising of the rates of interest on Post Office savings bank deposits in December, 1904, has evidently had the effect the Government desired. The excess of deposits over withdrawals for the past four years is thus stated in the official returns : —1902 £360,848, 1903 .£317,765, 1904 £171,770, 1905 £641,589.

Farmers are called upon almost every day to measure off distances by stepping, and often a- good deal depends on the accuracy of the pacing. At the Feilding show a prize of a guinea was offered for the most accurate stepping of a chain. Mr C. Aiken, of Feilding, stepped to within an inch of the chain, and was award the prize.

As showing' in some slight way the great possibilities of this district, we had (says the Cromwell Argus) an enormous cabbage seat to our office on Saturday, grown by Mr Charles Vaughan, in his garden near Mount Pisa Station. Its weight was 381 b, and a few of the outside loaves «ere broken off.

Invercargill has been interested in the recent culmination of a pretty romance, in which the central figures are an erudite and elderly legal luminary and a charming young lady who was for some time a member of the Sabbath school class taught by the gentleman aforesaid. The marriage was solemnised last month. — Times. ,

The Grey Argus' Nelson correspondent reports that there was great dissatisfaction amongst the majority of the competing bands at the Nelson liand Contest owing to tho "ringing in" of professional players by tho Masterton, Feilding, and Temuka bands. The other bands, he states, intend to protest against the action of these bands, as the professionals engaged have not fulfilled the residental conditions, and are thus committing a breach of the contest rule.

The Kirwee correspondent of the Lyttelton Times writes: — The spread of Californian thistle is not to be wondered at when we see the carelessness of some farmers. I noticed a large patch of this pest in a paddock of wheat. Both thistle and wheat were nearly ripe, and both apparently will be reaped, stacked, and threshed, and the seed scattered amongst the surrounding farms by the threshing mill, leaving %he farmers to wonder where they got the pest.

Mr John Swan, labour organiser, finds the drink curse a great hindrance in the way of organising the sugar Squeezers in the Mackav district (writes the Brisbane Worker). He says : "I could do very little for the Union at Mirani, as thirsty canecutters prefer to spend their hard-earned money in beer, and remain at the mercy of tho sugar cockies, who subject them to very trying conditions when they are poverty-stricken and helpless. They will not unite for their own benefit."

According to Mr H. W. Lucy, in the Sydney Morning Herald, before accepting office Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman obtained his Maiesty's consent to creating sufficient Peers to give the Ministerial party a respectable show in the division lobby of the House of Lords. Amongst those whose namea will probably appear in the New Year's honours list are Sir Arthur Hayter, Mr Hemphill, Sir James Joicey, Sir Weetman Pearson, Mr Philip Stanhope, and Sir Christopher Furness. Tho first two were occupants of the front Opposition bench, relics of former Liberal Ministries.

On December 22nd water was admitted into the new graving dock at Colombo, which has been constructed jointly by the Admiralty and colonial Government. The dock is an extremely fine example of modern dock construction. It is 700 feet long on the floor or bottom. 85ft width of entrance, 32ft over the sill, 113 ft top width, and 63ft bottom width. The engines for pumping out the dock discharged at formal trials 67,000 tons of water in 3} hours. In addition, there are special small pumps for getting ride of rain water and such slight leakage through rock fissures which had to be provided for.

The new railway station at Dunedin will be lit throughout with electricity, says tho Otago Times, and steps are now being taken to procure the necessary plant. A 70-horse power engine( gas or oil), coupled to a 40 killowat dynamo, will be installed for the purpose, and will supply a current for the new building and the lighting of the station yards and platforms. The plant will be erected in the station ground. Messrs Turnbull and Jones have secured tho contract for supplying all fittings, and the work is now being carried out by the railway electrical staff. The general work in connection with the building is progressing steadily. The floor and wall tiles are now being laid, and a start has been made with the construction of the platforms. There is little doubt the station will be finished in time to open towards the end of July.

The large numbers of harvest hands from various part of New Zealand, Australia, and other places, who are in Ashburton just now, waiting for work, are finding the idle hours hanging heavy on their hands. On Monday evening a large army of them paraded the town in piocession, one section carrying a long, thick rope, presumamly for a tug-of-war on the outskirts. On Wednesday morning, (says the Southland News) they invaded the cricket oval in the Domain, and commenced games which would have quickly cut up the ground. These the curator promptly stopped, and insisted on their getting authority from the proper quarter before they could play cricket.