NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 14, Issue 24, 14 June 1906, Page 15

NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL

The Rev. Father Maillard, of Jerusalem, in acknowledging receipt of a sum of £4 7s, collected in Tuapefca from a few sympathisers on behalf of the distressed Maoris, and forwarded through this office, desires to thank all ibenefactors for their timely assistance At a meeting of the Police Provident Fund Board on Friday morning pensions were granted as follows • Sergeant James U Malley, Masterton (age limit) £125 18s tid per annum ; Sergeant M. Walker, 'lauraiua (medically unfit), £93 13s 8d ; Constable T. Whelan, Auckland (ase limit), £98 11s. v B

As a result) of the Hen. Mr. Carroll's conference with the Waikato natives, the Moerangi block of 45 000 acres will be divided into four sections— one of 5000 acres, one of 10,000, and two of 15,000 acres. One por^ tion will be set aside as a nathe resene, the second for Maori farming, and the remainder for European settlement.

Hawke's Bay farmers are losing faith in spraying for the potato blight, believing thai, in that district at any rate, the earth itself is infected. Those acquainted with the Irish blight say it is not the same ; for, whereas fhe lush tyifcjht turns the potato h/lack, but leav-eg it still hard, the disease in this district gues the potato a frost-bitten appearance, and wlun pressed it has a rotten soapy feel. '

It has 'been reported to t-he Wellington ' Post ' that a rich seam of coal has been discovered in the near viUnity of Upper Hult, and that the lucky prospector has succeeded in floating a company to prosecute further enterprise in this direction. A sample of th w ? coal was brought to Wellington last week, and is said to bear out the bope of the discovery leading to a workable mine of no small dimensions within 25 miles of the city. The surrounding countiy his been prospected for gold as well, and samples of the rkher ore are stated to have been obtained, and submitted to test, but, as in the case of the first-mentioned find, secrecy has so far been maintained regarding the real whereabouts of the auriferous region.

Miss H. Card, of Featherston (sa\s the Wairarapa. ' Daily News '), has had the inique honor of ' soaping ' the Wairoi Geyser. While Miss Card ■was m Rotorua some time ago the geysers were not lively, and se\ eral to'iiists were exIremely anxious to see the won lerful play of theso New Zealand natural fountains. They asl-ed Ihat the Wairca he ' soaped,' and were told that it was necessary to oblain permission from the Premier before t>he geyser could be ooaxed into actuity. Miss Card thru prhately telegraphed to (Mr. ST'dv-lon, asking to be allowed to ' soap ' the Wairoa. The reply came back immediately, ' Your request granted at once ; hope you ha\e a good time.— R. J. Scddon.' The nevt day, accompanied by the Iwo guides, Maggie and Bella, the caretaker, the 'photographer, and the tourists, Miss Card ' soaped ' the g^ysei, which responded with a mighty outhuist, to the gratification of the tourists and of crowds en tho surrounding hills. b