GENERAL NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2390, 4 January 1909, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

The Masterton correspondent of tho “Post” reports that the police are in possession of information that during recent times >a systematic scheme of sheep stealing lias been carried 011 in the Masterton district, but they aro unable, at this juncture, to sufficiently connect any person or persons with the thefts in such a way is would warrant prosecution. In ono instance a farmer in the vicinity of Masterton some time ago lost two hundred sheep during one night, and though a very thorough, search was instituted and inquiries made in all parts of the district -not a trace of them has been found. About a fortnight ago .another farmer mustered about forty sheep and placed them in one of his small paddocks with the object of trucking them at Masterton station. Next morning a recount, however, proved that ten had mysteriously disappeared during the night. In a third instance a line of ewes and lambs were lifted from a farm near Waingawa River.

The |ilontreal “Herald” mentions a dram&ic incident in the. current history of opium suppression in Canida. The Dominion Parliament lias passed a bill prohibitng the manufacture and sale of opium in Canada. This action has met with the most grateful appreciation of the better class of Chinese residents in Montreal. The Chinese Bible Class of tho Montreal Chinese Mission at a recent Sunday meeting passed a strong resolution endorsing tlie legislation of the Dominion Parliament, and asking lor its thorough enforcement by the local authorities. This resolution was moved by a Chinaman, whose father had keen sold into slavery at an eraly age by 'his father in order to procure himself the drug to which he was tho helpless victim. ISO the son of a slave and the grandson of an opium slave oises his freedom to help forward the emancipation of his countrymen. The suppression of the opium traffic in Canada is not only a benefit to the Chinese. The number of white people in the-Dominion who have fallen victims to the drug has become alarming.

Edward Devine, popularly known as “Cabbage-tree Ned,” died at Ballarat, a few dys ago. He had been an inmate of tho - Benevolent Asylum there for four years. Devine was well known in Otago, as one of tho best coacli-drivers in the days when Cobb and Co., did practically all tho traffic to tho interior. Ho used to be 011 the Dimediii-Paimers-ton run. An instance of Devine’s resource as a driver is related by Lieu-tenant-Colonel Sleep, when “Neil” was in his prime. Ho invited the colonel te .accompany him for a drive on tlie box seat. As the ponderous vehicle, with its team" of eight horses, was defending a steep and winding hill near Bueiiiyong, the brake suddenly failed to act. The coach quickly gained speed, and would soon have overtaken tho horses had not Devine whipped -them up and urged them at full paco do’ivn the hill, having first taken tho precaution to warn passengers inside to “hang 011.” Tho descent was safety negotiated, and the horses came to a sfcamSrtill half way up the next slope, t was then that the passengers learned the reason for what seemed reckless driving.

The “Southland News’ 7 records a remarkably narrow escape from drowning an the New River Estuiry at the end of a jetty on Christmas afternoon. As a party of young men were walking down the wharf .it 4.30 some young children came running towards them and extritedly stated that a girl companion had fallen into the harbor. All haste was made to the spot, hut nothing could be seen of the girl, who had twice disappeared before help arrived. One of the party, Edgar Allan, employed at Messrs. Smith arid Laiug’s, .divested himself of liis coat and jumped in at the spot where the child was last seen, and; after a little while was able to locate her by seeing her clothing 011 the surface. ‘When 110 caught her she seized him round the neck, aiud ,a strong ebb tide running, they were being carried down the river when 'another of the party, G. C. Hamilton, threw a rope to the .rescuer. The first time it was missed, brut on the second cast he caught it and both wore drawn to a place of safety, from which the unconscious', girl was lifted ‘to the wharf. Measures for resuscitation were adopted, and she was soon -able to leave for home with her companions.

People hardly realise the sort of work that is ceaselessly going forward on the Panama Canal zone in Ceiatral America until it is found that it has a. weekly and daily paper more of less of its own, and is a Circuit of the Supreme Court of the United ! States all by itself. The “Canal Record,” tho weekly newspaper says tliiat 3,318,691 cubic yards were dug out in August alone; that 194 miles of now railway were laid; that 358:1 tons of explosive were fired; that on any day tho average number of men jmshing on the work .is 13.284. On tho great dam and locks at Gatun — on the other side —190,000 cubic yards were Jug -up; 51,000 dredged up; 27,000 cuhio yards of earth dug from tho lock and dumped 011 to "the dam; not to speak of 35,000 , cubic yards of rock and 41.00 of, earth from else where. The. work or, tho Miraflorcs lock and dam 011 t'.ic Australian side —we shall know all these names like household w ords within ten years. —is about ha [f as big. During August £66,000 ir , money orders alone were sent ir om the Canal to tlio United, Start , s The very newest machine at u r iC , in the Canal is a ram which cr.’ ashes rock .instead of • blasting it- —imported, bargo and all, straight frt jm Renfrew, Scotland. Tenders bar /e just - been asked 'for 4-£ millions , barrels of Portland cement, delivered, at the rate of between 2000 and 10.0UO barrels a day. The deir ths on the work used to .he as astp wishing as anything else, but the', unhealthiness of Panama, has bee? absolutely done away with. The ' death rate for August in the last 1 our years has come down this ladder ; —BS, 65, 27, 11.