LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 11977, 21 September 1906, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Both the Wellington papers advocate the resumption of Parliament in November to deal with the Land Bui.

The fishing season (says the Age) will open on October let. It is considered that trout will b© plentiful in the river* ia th© Maaterton district.

The Pahiatua Bowling Club at ito annual meeting will discuss a suggestion that ladies be admitted as members.

The Eketahuna Express has changed hands. The new owners are a syndicate of Eketuhuna business men, and Mr «. T Allen, who had an interest in the business. One of the Taihape papers— the Post— has also been purchased by a company of townspeople. The attention of chemiste and photographere is drawn to the provisions of "The Poisons Importation and Carnage Act, 1895," regarding the importation «f cyanide of potassium. The above Act provides that this poison must be packed in iron watertight drums, or in strong and hermetically sealed iron cases protected by wood, euch package* to bst clearly marked "Poison." The Custom* authorities have been instructed to see that the provisions of the Act are strictly complied with.

An enquiry was recently sent by the Wanganui School Committee to the Premier, asking whether the Government could see its way to grant reduced railway fares and to secure steamer concessions for elder girls attending public schools, similar to those arranged for cadets, to enable them to visit the International Exhibition at Christchurch. Mr W. Bruce, the chairman of the Committee, w m receipt of a reply from Sir Joseph Ward, stating that the request has been noted, and the matter is now being enquired into. A strong protest against the practice, of kissing the Testament was made by Judge Sir Thos. Snagge at Northampton County Court (England) recently. A witness objected to take the oath, and" the Judge said he was not surprised to hear the objections of witness, for the practice of kissing a dirty book was the moat unhealthy, insanitary, and objectionable formality in Christendom, and ought tobe abolished. He hoped to see the day when. kissing the dirty leather cover of a book I would be prohibited by law, and he appealed to doctors throughout the country to support him in his protest.

A well-known Southland breeder lost 4300 worth of sheep during the recent floods in Melbourne.

The Victorian Government Statist estimates the total number of sheep in the Commonwealth and New Zealand at 93,000,000.

A shipment of horses, numbering perhaps 150 or 200 (says the Dunedin "Star"), will go back to Calcutta by the Aparima. N These will be put on board at Wellington and Auckland.

At a wedding ceremony in the Miller c Flat Presbyterian Church last week the Wiararapa Age), the bridegroom and the best man were attired in Highland costume, whilst the M'Lcod tartan was conspicuous in the trimmings of the bride nod the bridesmaids' hats.

The officers of the Inspection of Machinery Department last year overhauled 5211 steam boilers, this number being in excess of the previous year's work. The inspectors visited every part of the colony, and discovered some 1350 serious defects in boilers and fittings. The total number of toew boilers registered in the colony last year was 355, their total horse-power being 6961. Of these new boilers 194, of a tosal horse-power of 3703, were made in the colony; the rest were imported; 932 gas engines and 413 oil engines were inspected, and 324 water motors, 428 lifts and 268 hoists and motors were examined. Special inspections were made of machinery, and 835 certificates were issued. The grand total of machinery inspections made during the year waß 3200.