NEW ZEALAND: GENERAL

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 4, 23 January 1902, Page 19

NEW ZEALAND: GENERAL

IT is ant'eipated that the Bruce Woollen Mills will start work early in April. In order to further test the British market for raspberry pulp, the New Zealand Government has agreed to pay freight from Nelson to London for a ton of that produce, the prodeeds to go to the shipper. It is said that Inspector Cullen, of Auckland, will succeed Inspector Pender in charge of the Wellington police dibtrict, when the latter retires in April next. A Masterton man has just received the Maori war medal for services rendered at W T anganui 53 years ago, when he was a member of the 65th Regiment. The authorities evideutly took sufficient time to inquire into the merits of his case. The ITewtown branch of the Liberal and Labor Federation has paid a compliment to the youngest son of the Colonial Treasurer, Awarua Pat Ward, who was one year old on Tuesday week. They have presented a finely-chased silver spoon to his parents in trust for him. Crowded and enthusiastic meetings were held in Dunedin and Wellington on Friday night for the purpose of protesting against the slanders cast on the British army in South Africa by the German newspapers. At the last meeting of the Ashburton Catholic Literary Society Mr. W. Soal was eltcted president in place of Mr. J. Kennedy, who resigned the position a short time ago in oonsequence of his departure from the district. The success which has attended the tree-planting operations carried out by prisoners at Waioutapu is looked upon by the Minister of Justice as a strong reason in favour of the setting up in the country of a large penal establishment, the inmates of which would be engaged in gardening and farming. The number of persons (exclusive of Maoris and Chinese) whose age was 90 years and upwards, according to the New Zealand census taken on March 31, 11)01, was as follows : — Ninety years, 56 persons ; 91 years, 31 persons ; 92 years, 32 persons ; 93 years, 13 persons ; 94 years, 7 persons ; i) 5 years, 7 persons ; 96 years, 9 perBons ; 97 years, 4 persons ;98 yeirs, 8 persons ; 99 years, 3 persona. During a visit to Nelson, extending over some weeka, Lady Stout was a visitor to the Stoke Orphanage, and the authorities of that institution have been very much gratified to receive a letter

from her conveying New Tear greetings, and intimating that she had forwarded for the Orphanage museum specimens of the Fijian parrot and New Zealand tui, stuffed and mounted. Lord Roberts has notified that, in consideration of Lieu tenant Collins's services in South Africa, he will be appointed to the reserve of officers with his army rank. Lieutenant Collins is a son of Mr Collins, of the Treasury Department. He served in the Fourth Contingent, and received a commission in the army, which, owing to a severe wound in the hand, he could not take up. He was wounded at Ottoshoop in August, 1900. Mr Hursthouse, chief engineer of the Roads Department, has returned to Wellington after a visit to Hunterville and Ts>ihape. At Hunterville he says he did not see a man looking for work. In no single case did any men discharged from public worka approach him. He states that Bettlers have taken a manly and reasonable view of recent unavoidable occurrences. We (Ashburton Mail) have been shown a sample of plants of Canadian oats, grown on an 11 -acre paddock on the farm of Mr Charles Good at the Forks. The stooka are a little over eight feet* long, and heavy "grain shows for upwards of two feet. The growth ot this crop is certainly phenomenal, and many old farmers say they have never seen anything like it. A pew days ago a Maori boy at Whakarewarewa tearing along in wild haste on a bicycle, ran headlong into a teh graph pole. He was picked np and taken home as one dear), and elaborate preparations were made tor a tangi. Greatly to the joy and astonishment of his family and the chagrin of tho->e who had been invited to the feast, however, the youth rose up oa the night before his proposed burial, and lit out for the kai (food) home on his own account. Interrogated on the subject, a dispassionate friend paid, 'Oh ! no, yon can't kill a Maori like that, but (confidently) it stops his breath for 15 hours ! ' Thk New Zealand Government have received an intimation from the Secretary of State for the Colonies that hia Majesty's Government would be glad to have another 1,000 men raised in New Zealand on the same terms as the eighth. The Premier has consulted members of Parliament by telegraph, and already has received replies from the majority approving the idea. Mr. Seddon has therefore cabled to thi Imperial Government : — 'Another contingent will be raised.' Recruiting will be started at once out of thp 3,000 men who lately applied for enlistment over and above the 1,000 rt quired for the Eighth. A larger proportion will be allotted to country districts than in the former case. The Dunedin City Council, at a special meeting on Thursday night by seven votes to five, decided to enter into a contract with Noyes Bro*., of Sydney, for the construction of the electric system of trams for the city and suburbs. The minority contended that the c tiling of tenders was the only fa,ir plan, both to the citizens ai.d (thfr engineering firms, and that the proposal was a leap in the datk. 'lhe majority contended that the proposal would be cheaper ani more t-xpe-.itioua. The dt bate was kept up till halfpast five o'c'.ojk on Fiiday morning, when the motion was carried. Noyes Bros, are, in terms of the contract, to receive 10 per cent, on the whole of the works in connection with the conversion of the present '■j'stem to the electric. The nicnhers of t^p A hburton Catholic Literary Society and their friends (says the Mall) were fortun.ite in having a thorough intellectual treat at their la«t meeting, when Mr. A. J. Miiller favoied them with his second lecture on astronomy. Mr. Miiller haa made his 6uujtct a study cf years, and is evidently up to date in his knowledge. The lecturer at the outset acknowledged the colossal nature of his subject, and he explained that he would be well repaid if he gave his audience only a general outline of starland. Mr. Miiller had slides specially prepared by Mr. Cooper, photographer, and several beautiful pictures were thrown on the sheet by a powerful lantern, including a view of the heavens, showing the ' Milky Way ' taken from Capetown, and an interior view of the great Lick observatory, California, which Mr. Miiller had visited. Mr. Miiller concluded a very able lecture by stating that he would be pleased to continue the subject. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Miiller. A very successful concert (writes a Rimu correspondent) was held here recently in aid of the building fund of the convent school. It was the first of tUe kind given in liimu, and it is hoped that it will be repeated at no distint date. The overture, ' Home, sweet home,' by the Misses W. Jack and M. Hatch, was received with well-merited applause. All the performers acquitted themselves admirably, and in most instances had to respond to encores. Among those who contributed were Misses Willis, Ralph, Greaney, Maloney, McFayden, Murphy, Stewart, Mei-srs. Gibbons, and Doreen. Mr. Hatch, who presided, thanked lhe performers and the audience on behalf of the Sisters, also Mrs. Lumacroft who provided the refreshments. The accompanist wt-re Misses Murphy, Hatch, and Messrs. Heppel and Gibbons. Mi^s Annie Hatch, who contributed the music for the ribbon dance, displayed praiseworthy proficiency. The children in the items contributed by them gave unmittakeable evidence of the great care displayed in tneir training. The proceeds of the entertainment were vtry satisfactory, and will be a welcome addition to the funds for the erection of the new school* house.