GENERAL NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2539, 28 June 1909, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

The tourist traffic in New Zealand during the season which recently closed .shows a . considerable . increase throughout the country as compared with, previous seasons, notably at Ro-, toma, Mount Cook, and the Cold Lakes district. Wa.iomo, where the beautiful caves are becoming better known, was also visited by a ; greater number of people than usual during the season. The new apcommodatioii-nouse there is practically finished, and will soon be available for tourists. Under the- Government’s scheme of leasing the accommodation-houses under its control, the conditions will-compel the lessees to maintain the thorough efficiency of the houses. The. Government -retains the accommodationhouses at Waitomo, the Mount Cook Hermitage and Milford track._ The places to. be leased are Lake ‘Waikaremoana, To Puhia hot springs house •north of Gisborne, Pukaki, on tho way to Mount Cook, and the To Anau Lake House. % ' „ . It is reported that there is a great dearth of dwellings in Westport for the purpose of renting. The "Westport Times” states that although -there are more than' twenty residences in course of erection, there-is not a comfortable vacant house in the town. A'nxious tenants “book” contemplated houses three months in advance, and some have houses "booked” even before the piles are put down. The. various methods of ascertaining the age of sheep were debated at great; length in the Supreme. Court, Christchurch recently. One witness said that he was absolutely certain, from observat ions ho had made, that certain sheep whose summers were in dispute were over fivb years’ old in September of last year. Counsel'endeavored to get the witness to admit that he was advancing as a fact what he should only state as an opinion, but tho expert remarks took a personal turn. "I know you ai’o over five years old,” he said to counsel, "though” I have no proof of it.” His Honor suggested that a parallel case would be that of a man who could state as a fact that the sun rises. A man would form the opinion that tho sun rose after a series of observations, and after he had seen it rise a few "times ho would be able to state as a ,fact that the sun did rise. "The one outstanding feature of the whole of the .exhibits made during Industries Week,” said Mr F. E Jones president of tho Canterbury Industrial Association, at the quarterly meeting at Christchurch, "is the. very high' quality of material and . thoroughness of workmanship' shown in practically every* article of New Zealand manufacture. "Whatever may have been the case, in times past, there is certainly now no tittle of excuse for the prejudice . which unfortunately still exists against the locally manufactured article.” ; ‘v / "From the number and _ variety of patent medicines and hair restorers made locally,” said the president of the Canterbury »Industrial Association at its last meeting in Christchurch, "it is quite a matter of wonder that there are any sick people in the Dominion or any who lack a good ‘head of hair.The secretary of the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union (Mr IF. .Mitchell) has received the following communication from the Dominion secretary : - —"I am instructed to inform you that the Advisory Committee, after due consideration, has come, to the decision that, it would be advisable to hold the Dora 111ion Conference at the usual time, as September or October would be inconvenient for delegates to attend, and it was thought that a meeting of the Dominion Executive could be held on the resumption of Parliament to deal with any deputation work that may be required. The conference will there-, fore be Held on July 27th, 28th, and 29th. "New Zealand girls are far too accomplished, and New Zealand is a most undesirable place, to -live ' in,” was the rather surprising- remark made to the representative of a Thames newspaper. Another plaintive wail was to- the effect that social, distinctions would soon cease to exist in New Zealand, ■ , ' Some four years ago the Imperial Government established a. special fund to be applied particularly to those did soldiers who had served in the Crimea ”V/v Indian Mutiny. A consul,oiy ' these old :ii 1 •»nd, chiefly from •’mentsj buy.on - the fund L b-roUgb the 1

In future the Dominion Analyst is to be under control of the Department of Internal Affairs. Dr. MacLaurin, who is at present in charge, will remain in that capacity, and is to have chargo of’ all othel* laboratories except the veterinary laboratory at Wallacevillo, which will still be under the control of the Agricultural Department. The biological laboratory will become a branch of the Dominion Laboratory. Wellington lias been receiving some hard names in outside , newspapers as a sequal to the recent march upon Parliament Buildings. One journal, tho "Wararapa Daily Times,” has worked itself up to the pitch of suggesting that Parliament should move ; on to safer quarters. "The incident,” it is stated, "emphasises the desirability of removing the seat of Government from a centre which can be guilty of such attempts upon the sanctity of Parliament. Of late years Wellington has become notorious,for not being able to conduct even a public meeting in a fair and decent manner. It would bo well, wo think, if Mr. Kempton’s offer of fifty acres at Grey town for'a. capital site should be accepted, and Parliament removed from a city which evidently desires to put mob law above representative Government. , The Tangoio estate, Hawke’s Bay, and the Orari Gorge property Canterbury, comprising between 80UU ana 900()’acres each., will be opened for selection early in March next. It has been stated that some licensees in what will soon be "dry . districts intended having convivial celebrations” on the fateful 30th inst., .after closing time, says the Wel.ington Post.” However, Inspector Ellison, of Wellington, points out that although the hotels' will close at 10 o clock as usual, on the last day of the month, the licenses wi.l not actually expiio until midnight on that date, and that, Therefore, any persons found on licensed premises without lawful excuse culling the two .dying hours, are liable to the usual penalty.