LOCAL AND GENERAL. THE GIFT OF GIFTS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXI, Issue 12061, 4 January 1907, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

THE GIFT OF GIFTS.

The chimney of a gold-smelting furnace at Vallcjo Junction, California, was cleaned recently, and the soot was chemically treated, in the gold dust room. It contained gold dust worth .£I4OO.

The new postal rate for the carriage of parcels is 4d for the first pound and 2d for each additional pound — reduction* from the previous rate of 2d and Id respectively.

The London Daily Telegraph states that there is likely to be a rise of 2d per lb i»l ( butter in ttie Old Country ct-ux-in^ th« winter just commencing there. The Telegraph attributes the probable rise to the long continued drought experienced not only in England, but in Canada, France, and other European States, tatunting the growth of pasturage and shrinking the yield of milk.

It is estimated, cays the News, that the value of butter and cheese exported from Tnrannki this season will be well over a million pounds sterling, which easily constitutes'a record. Over ten tons of gold will be required to pay for this produce. On ton of the dairy produce, there is the wool clip, which will be greater than ever this year, as well as pigs, the raising of which has been very profitable this season. The wealth won from the soil in Taranaki this season is more than 25 per cent, higher than during any past year. The province easily holds its own with any other province in the colony. With oil and ironsand it should become the richest.

The Auckland Herald says: — The preparation of the Marsden cross, which is to be erected at the Bay of Islands in the spot where on Christmas Day, 1814, the Rev. Samuel Marsden conducted the fimfc Christian service in New Zealand, is now well in hand, and Archdeacon Walsh, who originated tho movement, has, with Mr Wheeler, Government Surveyor, fixed the site for the cross. The mission station was first established near the head of the harbour, and after it was moved inland to Waimate and Pakaraka, the C.M.S. sold the land of the original site, reserving one aetfe, the boundaries of which have now been fixed. Within this acre the Celtic cross will be erected, probably on the spot whore Hongi erected a pulpit made from half a canoe. The cross will be a landmark for many miles around.

Prior to the arrival of the Gothic at Wellington the Labour' Department had received thirty-nine applications for the sfx servant girls known to be among the assisted emigrants on board the' liner.

The Waldorf-Astoria is the largest hotel in the world. Its chef receives £2000 • year; there are several guests who pay £20 a day for their rooms all the year round; and the yearly bills of one millionaire guest amount to .£14,000. It contains 1300 guest rooms.

Letters from places beyond the colony. and addressed as under, arc waiting claimants at the local Post Office: — George U. Allen, M. C. Allison, G. Booth, D. Wowless, Mrs C. Bragg, J. H. Branu, Mrs M. A. Brightwell (2). J. Brown, Mrs A. C. Campion, Frank Carroll, Jcne £. Davis, J. hi. Davies, M. Dwan, Mrs A. Gannon, James Gibson. George Guinincn. Miss M. J. Hendmanti, J. O. Hellwill, Edward Jackson, A. E. Jackson, E. J. Jones, Patrick O'Neill, G. Pedley, N. J. Polsen, Mias A. Richards, J. Stewart, F. K. Williams, Wyllie and. Roberts.

A farmer from the north of Oamaru, who is on a visit to Invercargill (says the Southland News) the other day heard a tiller of the soil complain of the dryncss of the season, and he replied that we in this part of the colony were fortunate when the conditions in the Oamaru district were considered. He said that for the past twelve months only light showers have been experienced there, not nearly sufficient for the requirements of vegetation. He estimates that out of every 100 acres sown in the Oamaru district of wheat and oats, only 10 per cent, can be cropped, and says that cattle and sheep have been turned on to the Totara estate of 1000 acres tft eat off the grain crop, owing to its condition. We trust that. bad as matters 'are, they are not so bad as the News' informant paints them.

There was a very pathetic, and yet incentive touch in Professor Flinders l'etric's speech at the meeting of the Egyptian Research Association at University College on November 10. He asked for help for the work of Egyptian Research but for a few years: "For in ten years the history will have vanished for ever." And those who know Egypt, and the fury to hiiy up Government and other lands, at enormous rates that are yet profitable, will agree with Professor Petrie that the history now hid in these sites will soon *be destroyed ; and the Research student will go there in vain for verifying remains of Egypt's marvellous past. As Professor Petrie well said. France, Germany, Italy, are officially supported in their work by their Governments. Engand leaves its workers to struggle for means to carry on their studies. But right heartily has the Egyptian Research Association and British School of Archaeology gone into the work, and after a magnificent first year's work, 6tart with a good balance.

In a quiet street in Liverpol a man of the Bill Sykes type accosted an old geutleman at night, and asked him to read what was written on a piece of paper which he handed to him. The gentleman took the paper, and by the aid of a gas lamp read these words, "if you utter a cry or speak a single word I shall shoot you. Hand over your Watch and chain, your purse, and any other articles of value you have about you, and then pass on." He did as the message ordered, and walked away. He met a policeman, told his story quickly, and the two gave chase. They came up with the thief shortly, who appeared to be hurrying away. Next morning, at the Police Court, says the Liverpool Post, he gave what he called an "explanation" of the incident. "Your worship, "' he said, "I don't know why I am charged with stealing these things. I am a perfectly innocent and uneducated man. I picked up a piece of paper jn the street last night, and not being able to read it, and thinking it might be important, I asked the gentleman to read it. He read it to himself, and then handed me these articles without a word of explanation whatever, and walked away before I had time to inquire why he did so."

An interesting question, affecting the commercial relations of Japan and Australia is now under the consideration of the Japanese Government. It relates to shipping subsidies. The Japan Weekly Gazette says that the Mikado's Government has not adopted the subsidy policy as a permanent one, and has made all the grants to trading and mail ships terminable in 1909. Some of the grants end before then. For instance, that to the Australian line expires at the end of tlte fortieth (Japanese) fiscal year, that is, 19071908. The question is, Will the Government renew the subsidy, or will other and bigger schemes take the place of the entire subsidy plan. In this connection it is interesting to learn, on the authority of the Japan Herald, that the "scheme for the foundation of a gigantic shipping concern by the Ship Owners' Guild, which has long been mooted, is apparently nearing consummation.'* It is proposed that the Government should guarantee the payment of a certain rate of dividend for a given number of years and ill return "that the vessels of the guild should be placed in time of emergency at the disposal of the Government, at charter freights designated by the Government ; 'that the guild shall carry out the rebuilding of the vessels within the period specified by the authorities; and that a wmber of vessels should be placed on a reserve list to meet the Government's requirements in opening services between ports of produce and demand." '

For 30 years a woman has masqueraded as a policeman in Seville, and her sex was only discovered as the result of an accident by which' she fractured her leg. During all these years she has always gone by •the name of' r*erando Mackenzie, her father being a 'Scotsman and her mother Spanish. Slip w<ts born in France, camo to Spain at the age of 35, and contrived to enter the Madrid police force disguised as a man. Sue married there, and pretended that her wife's child was her own son. She lemoved to Seville, still dressing as :i policeman, and was engaged there as cook and orderly at the Governor's Palace at the old convent of San Pablo, which was burnt last July. She served seven successive Governors, and only lost her situation tbrongh the fire, the Governor removing to an hotel. In consequence of the discovery of- her sex she has been discharged from the police without the pension due to lier, and is now a helpless cripple in great distress. A. newspaper man, on going to interview her, found her in a miserable

r^om. sitting in a broken chair, facing a J;kge image of Christ, the only treasure «Ib has left. She said that her wife died tw years ago, and a neighbour stated thai, "ltrnando" spent all she possessed on the wiinan's funeral. Her alleged 6on has neier been, seen since the death of the mo her. Mackenzie has a soft voice, a retinal face, and delicate features, and was neitly dressed in male attire. Asked how ah* escaped detection so long, she replied thib she always lived quietly in her own 1 hoise with her wife, and did her duty by , hei employers, so that no one meddled | wi/h her. She owes rent, and fears eviction, her beloved image being her lust rej eojirce.

i For Xmas gifts of a useful kind go to I McGruer and Co.'s where hundreds of use1 fnl articles may be had at remarkably low ' prices. For full particulars see special ad- | vertisement and windows. — Advt.

The price paid by the Agricultural Dopartment for kca beaks is now Is.

During last year 458 births, 104 deaths, and 167 marriages were registered in Palmerston.

Last year a total of 136 applications for issue or renewal of old ago pensions was received in Palmerston. Ot these, 129 were granted in whole or in pait, the other 7 being cither refused, withdrawn, or struck out.

Some little excitement was evinced at Suva a few days ago by the appearance oi a waterspout in the harbour. It formed near the passage of the harbour, and travelled towards the Tamavua River, creating uo small disturbance. The column of water passed about lOOit off the stern of the steamer Suva.

It is estimated that considerably over a million feet of sawn timber is sent out from the King Country mills every month. For the first four weeks of last month about 600,000 ieet were sent down on the railway to Waikato.

Messrs. Kerr and Medley retnrned to New Plymouth on Saturday from a trip to Auckland and Wanganni. They "did ' the Waitomo cavee, over the beauties of which visitors are very enthusiastic. The size of the town of Taumarunui, with its 500 inhabitants, surprised them. The party returned by the Wanganni River, which they aver is not equal in beauty to the Mokau.

Local fruitgrowers (says the Taranaki News) should be careful this year in regard to the disposal of fruit affected by disease. The Government" Pomologist, Mr. Sinims, informs us he purposes enforcing the Orchard and Garden Pests Act, which prohibits the sale of fruit affected by American blight, apple and pear scab, codlin moth, mussel or oyster scale, and red mite. 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 f.jlected is Mr Charles Mackie, of Wellington, chief <>( the office staff of the London and Manchester firm of Messrs Pearson and' Rulter. The salary is .£6OO per annum, with travelling allowance and clerical assistance. This will be met by a tax on the output of the factories.

During the holiday season of 1905-6 from December 21st to January 2nd (inclusive) there were seventy-six convictions for druukenness in Wellington. Of the offenders seventy were mules and six females. Taking the Chrietmas-New Year period December 21st to January 2nd, 1906-7 (both days inclusive), this* year shows fifty-seven drunks (fifty-three males and four females) — decrease in the number who found police protection of nineteen (seventeen males, two females).

A r ar ty of young men h<id an exciting experience with a shark while bathing in the Manakau harbour during the holidays. They were quietly enjoying tlieir swim, when an ugly moneter appeared and chased the swimmers to within a few yards of the shore. The members of the party consider they were very fortunate iv making their escape, which they did only by hard swimming, reaching land in a very exhausted condition.

A special train arrived in Auckland the other day with between 700 and 800 navvies, who had been employed on the Main Trunk construction works between Oio anil Rauriinu and beyond. The pick-and-shovel men had been in a, prohibition area for mouths, and they consequently laid in v good supply of alcoholic refreshments while the train stopped for twenty minutes at Hamilton. Most of the men were single, and one of them declared that they wcxo only going back when all their money wa9 spent. The married men uewly settled in the King Country were, it was stated, not able to afford it trip to town just yet. , An exciting incident happened in Hamilton last week at the conclusion of the sale. During the afternoon a bull had rushed another animal, and dislocated one of its forelegs, and an attempt was later on made to get it away to a paddock. As soon as the cow reached the road, maddened with pain, she nished at everything within striking distance, and continued to act as a kind of clerk of course for some time. The police then cent for revolvers, and just as they arrived the cow scattered a clowd of young men, who dashed for the nearest tence. but found the barbed wire unsympathetic and unyielding, and some slight dolay occurred before they could reach safety. Fortunately, however, Constable Ryan took a shot and steadied her; a second and third shot followed, the last one proving fatal.

At Dannevirke on New Year's Eve a crowd of hoodlums behaved in a disgraceful manner. The Advocate states that they visited a number of houses, and their doings included dancing on verandahs, the ringing of door bells, hammering on doors and windows, and requests for money or liquor, concluding with groans for the resident who declined to submit to this form ot blackmail and the tearing down of his q;<itns. In some cases bicycles and lawn mowers on verandahs were interfered with, lawns and flower beds were trampled on, i-nd other horse play of a violent nature W3? indulged in. The incident was probably the most disgraceful piece of blackguard ism -that has occurred in Dannovirke, and it is to be hoped that the most vigorous steps will be taken to bring the offenders to justice.

Mr J. T. Stewart furnishes the following: — The rainfall at Aramoho for December was 2.27 inches; rain fell on 11 days; the greatest fall was 0.67 inches, recorded on the sth. The total rainfall for the year 1906 was 36.46 inches, being for the months: January 3.66 in, February 5.75 in, March 1.98 in, April 3.89 in, May 4.40 in, June 2.22 in, July 3.16 in, August 2.94 in, September 1.84 in, October l-BjLjn, November 2.51 in, December 2.27 in. The average yearly fall for the last nine, years wa& 39.26 in; the driest year being 1898 with 42.53 in, and the wettest year 1904, with 47.08 in. The heavy flood was on 26th May, 1904. The average rainfall for the months for the last nine years was: January 2.84ih, February 2.53 in, March 2.57 in, April 3.33 in, May 4.89 in, June 3.18 in, July 3.32 in, August 2.86 in, September 3.20 in, October 3.93 in, November 3.43 in, December 3.18 in. The wettest month in nine years was June, 1905, with 9.71 in. The driest month was February, 1905, with 0.20 in.

Everyone requires Spectacles at the a«3 of forty-five. The " Davies" Pharmacy import all their lenses direct frem America. — Advt.

The Christmas present which would b« most appreciated is undoubtedly a Bicycle. In making the selection of a machine, the giver should see that it is both handsome in appearance and in every way reliable. RUDGE - WHITWORTH'S combine these two qualities to the fullest extent. 1 They are built from the very best materials and every part is carefully tested,, so that they are thoroughly safe. Ton should visit our depot and examine our large stock. We can suiit you nicelyi We are making special reductions for cash during Xmas week. Every machine is guaranteed for four years.

R REYNOLDS ANl> CO., LTD.

The Magistrates Court rc-ppened this morning alter the usual year-end holidays.

The firuit crop, and particularly apples, will be very large in Taranaki this season. People who have nsed the spTay on their trees have secured very gratifying results'. There is every indication that local, fruit, especially late fruit, will be pretty cheap this season. — News.

At the meeting of the Wanganni County Council to-day a letter was read from Mr E. R. Morgan resigning his position as dog tax collector. The opinion was expressed that Mr Morgan had been the best collector the Council had yet had. The resignation was accepted and it was decided to adverti&e for a successor.

The Irish national envoy, Mr Joseph, Devlin, iH.P. for West Belfast, will arrive in Wanganui from Hawera on Thursday, 10th January, and lecture in the Opera House on that evening. The reception committee met last night to complete arrangements for his reception. He willi be met and welcomed at the railway sta-j tion by his Worship tlic Maydr and tlfcj members of the reception committee and then driven to his hotel (the Rutland). ; We have much pleasure in acknowledge ing the receipt of a copy of the Dui>, lop Rubber Company's unique and artistp calendar for 1907. The picture of Sah Francisco iv flames (which is reproduce from a genuine photograph taken duriig the fire) is left loose at one cud to prevent creasing in folding for postal pirI poses. The calendar is intended to pc pinned or tacked up, and after expiratin of 1907 the picture itself will be vpll worth framing as a most interesting aid attractive memento of the terrible disaster that befel San Francisco last April. ■ ( The young man, Fred* Winter, who remanded at the Police Court on Tuenay on a charge of stealing J5, the propjrty of Thos. Fargie, on Saturday night pet, was brought before Mr R. L. Stanfordjphis morning, and sentenced to 14 days' iihprisonment. The, accused and Fargie had been drinking, and V*-* latter claimed that he handed Winter * I note to get two drinks, but the lafCer failed to Siring cither drinks or change. The acciiseasaid that ho did not remember receiving the note, but if he had received it he (must have epent it, aa since coming into/town from Raetihi for the holidays he hacl been in a rather muddled state through i rinking too heavily. An eight-roomed house at Long Acre Valley, No. 3 Line, owned by Mr Wm. Neilsou. and until yesterday occupied by Mr H. D. Barnett as manager, wa^ completely destroyed by fire last night. At 10 "oclock last night Mr Denis HerMly noticed that the house, a building of) three years' standing, was on fire, the names then having full possession of the /bouse., so that efforts to extinguish the firel would have proved unavailing. There Vas no furniture in the building, Mr IJarnett having left for Palmerston North yesterday. The Northern Assurance Company held a policy on the house lor J645«». The cause of the fire is unknown. Dr Fenwick, Surgeon-Captain of the New Zealand Militia Staff, writes as follows to Mr W. Bruce, chairman of tne School Committee, under date Chrißtchurch, December 31, 1906: — "I have to thank you for your telegram in wl/ieh you thank me for attending the ctdet camp. It was a great pleasure to he of any service to the Wanganui boyi.. I think Major Aitken and his officers deseijve a sincere vote of thanks for the excellent way in which they conducted their camp. The discipline was excellent, -far better than that observed in many canps at which I have been in attendance. I hope cadet corps will some day be made compusory, as the effect on tlie boys is excellent."

Dr. Crawford, who relinquished his duties as house surgeon at the. local Hospital on Tuesday morning, was yesterday* presented at the institution iK Mr E. J. Cox, on behalf of the patwtrts, with a neatly got up testimonial and, a handsome travelling bag, with his initials engraved on it, as a small mark of their appreciation of his kindness to them,' In making f'e presentation Mr Cox miAe a few appropriate remarks with rewrenc© to the esteem in which Dr. Crawfojjd was held by the patients and wishing Vim a pleasant voyage and God-speed. £>r. Crawford, who was evidently taken hf surprise, feelinejly replied, remarking Oat he had only done his duty. At the sanje time he wquld like to say that he could iot wish to have a better lot of patients ujder him than he had found in the Wangaijui Hospital. The testimonial rail as follow^: — "To Dr Crawford, M.D., House Surgecfl, Wanganni Hospital, — We, the undersigned patients of the above Hospital, beg to offer our sincere regrets at your t^parture from us, also our heartfelt thaftks for your past kindness and attention/ In asking you to accept this small token of esteem and affection we heartily wish you a safe and pleasant voyage toL6pdon, and that your' sojourn there may be/ crowned with every success. Wishing you (every prosperity «nd happiness in your future career. — Signed." The testimonial, which was done in German text and coloured inks, was the work of Mr G. Ambrose, Wanganui, upon whom it reflected g^eat credit.