GENERAL NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2358, 26 November 1908, Page 7

GENERAL NEWS.

It is reported that there lias been .a revolt by a largo - number of natives of Rakahanga, which is one of the Pacific Islands in the neighborhood of the Cook Group, that have boon aitnexed by New Zealand. According to -a story from Rarotonga, the natives hauled down the /British flag from --the public flagstaff, turned the members of the Island Council out of office', an dappointed their ringleader, one Pukurua, the Governor of-the Island. They also -appointed tlieir own judge and police, arid immediately began to inflict fines oil those natives who were opposed to them/ They caused the stores of two European traders to ho closed, although the store of the native company was allowed to do business.-Tlie leader of the -revolt was formerly a native teacher attached to the London Missionary Society at Penrliyn. A request -has been made that -a warship he sent lip to restore quiet. According to the “Argus,” comparatively little interest appears to be taken by Commonwealth public servants in the movement to establish a superannuation fund. So far tlie petition to he presented to Parliament in-favor of the fund hears 1958 signatures. There are 12,453 permanent employees iij the service. The analysis shows that o*f the total officers in each State the following percentage have signed tlie petition :—Tasmania 208 officers, or 50 per cent.; Queensland, SSO, or 38 pel* cent-.; AUctoria, 758, or 20 per cent.; "South Australia, 141, or 11.9 per cent.; New South AA’ales, 233, or 5 per cent. ; Western Australia, 48, or 3.6 per cent. The Victorian officers in charge of the petition -are hopeful dfpobtaining many more signatures. Two schemes have been submitted to the service, on being the product of the Sub-com-mittee of the- Federal Public Service Association,'and the other a Queensland system. So far the voting is in favor of tho Queensland scheme.

Living with his parents at Bradford is a nine-months’-old baby hoy who has never yet been kissed, says a London paper. Hanging in a conspicuous place just inside tlie entrance to the house is a set of -rules addressed to visitors and" signed by the father and mother. The following are extracts from the- rules: “Don’t- kiss the baby. Don’t ha-ndlo baby unless your hands arc very, very clean. Don’t bring baby’s face close to your own or to your hair. Don’t allow baby to touch your face or hair. Dii’t talk, breathe, whistle, blow, cough, or sneeze into baby’s face. AVo want him to live. Don’t use your handkerchief to baby’s hands, face, or mouth.” -At- the- foot of the rules is written: “To some these rules will appear co'mical or stupid, but they are not " written as a joke or without thought. Therefore, any" person infringing these rules after having read them will incur our displeasure extremely.” Cold water was thrown upon an open-air meeting in the heat of a Nolicense disputation at Octagon, Du-ine-din, last week. A man, who disagreed with tlie statements of a temperance advocate (Rev. •T. Fee) made verbal expostulations for a time*, departed, -and reappeared. . This time, states the Otago “Daily Times/’ he was seated on one of the City Corporation water-carts, of which lie was the driver. Descending from the top of the Octagon, ’and excitedly yelling several times, “I’m coming right down on top of you !” he drove straight in to the gathering. There was no chance of escape for many of the people, and the result was that a number -were deluged with full force from the rear of the wagon. Tlie presence of a vehicle which Mr Fee was using as -a platform for Ins deliverances compelled the drfvbr to come to a standstill, but not -before he had completely routed everyone and throughly drenched quite a number. He then turned the wagon, evidently intent on repeating tlie performance, when remonstrate was hurled -at him from all sides, arid because one man in particular dared to verbally resent being drenched in this high-handed 'fashion, this excited individual on the water-cart jumped down from his seat -a-nd rushed at the objector, .and struck him with Ids - clenched fists- He then resumed his seat on the wagon, evidently quite satisfied with his performance, which was, from first to last, of a most vindictive -and malicious character.