GENERAL NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2597, 3 September 1909, Page 7

GENERAL NEWS.

More tltam 1000 English (business firms have voluntarily “put the clocK'' at their offices by amicable agreement with their employees, as a result of the interesting discussion raised by the Daylight Saving Bill (says the London correspondent of the “Age”). The alteration in time is not uniform. In some oases work is begun 30 minutes, and in others 60 minutes, earlier than hitherto. Tho introduction of the new arrangement is by no means in every case due to a benevolent consideration by employers for the health of their staffs. It ehables the employer to save during the spring and summer months on his weekly gas and • electric light bill. The great* majority of workers like the change. It is easier to rise an hour earlier in the t bright summer weather, and they are rewarded by having ample time before dinner in the evening for a good game of tennis or cricket: while the employers themselves have an extra hour at their clubs, or for golf out of town. The latest addition of the Daylight Saving Bill has run the gauntlet of a select committee, and is now ready to be reported to the x House of Commons. Its solicitous oarent, Mr. Willett, claims, after a review of evidence received from many quarters, that four out of every five persons who have discussed the scheme are in favor of it.

The “Taranaki Herald” relates an authentic frog story. The Taranaki Petroleum Company has just excavated a large underground tank at Maturoa as a storage reservoir for oil. After the excavation was completed, the bottom and sides had to be painted with something to make them watertight. When the men ‘went down to start work one morning they found four holes at the bottom of the tank down which they could push, their shovel handles without touching bottom. While they were discussing the holes a frog jumped out from one of them. Then they placed their ears to the holes, and they heal’d a regular frog concert. The tank is probobly about fifteen to twenty feet deep, excavated through solid clay, in close proximity to the lagoon between No.l and No. 2 wells. Away from the four holes mentioned the ground seemed to be fairly solid.

A good story - is told by the “Taranaki Daily News” against a merchant of Taranaki’s early days. He was in the habit of buying potatoes flrom the Mil oris, and gave them credit" ‘ ‘tickets for the amount due to them. One day a Maori brought in his potatoes and was informed that the price would be twenty-five shillings. By and by he came back to the shop with an exultant grin. “By kory, old man,” he said to the merchant, “that ticket wrong. He say 25 bob. He ought to be 27 bob. I got te ready-reckoner,” and he flourished the little volume in the pakeha’s face. The latter was taken aback, but only for a moment. “Let’s see the book, Harry” he said. “Yes, I thought so; that last year’s. He no good.” And the Maori retired, discomfited.

Petone must loom large in the eyes of the London financier. Mr. C. F. Si>encer, stock and share merchant, of the metropolis of the universe, has written to the Petone Borough Council, offering liis services "for the flotation of loans and the transaction of- other pecuniary business. The letter was read at the Council’s last meeting. The great financier talked in millions, and declared himself a specialist in municipal finance. He would be glad, he said, to assist the Petone Borough to the tune of two million sterling (£2,000,000). The councillors whistled under their breath. When they had recovered from the shock, Councillor Short suggested the Council might accept the offer as a- personal loan. ‘‘A couple of millions would do us just now,” he said, as the letter was received. Mr. Spencer also wrote to the Gisborne Borough Council, which decided to request quotations.

“The Holy Ghost and Us” Society, whose visit to Australia in the mysterious yacht, Coronet, made such a efcix, received advices that the end ol the world is to come at 10.20.30 a.m. Wednesday, 15th September. At least, such is the fatal, according to an American journal. Aftervmaking the statement and giving the precise time and date the acount continues: “Rev. Frank Sandford, originated the sect and calls himself ‘Elijah, the Uncrowned King,’ and several other euphonious titles, says so. The Holy Ghost and Us Society followers at

Shiloh say lie ought to know, and are making preparations to don the pure white robes, pass up to the house-tops of their colony-in the sequestered Maine village, and await the dread moment. When it comes they expect to see the skv go to smash, the earth ‘busted’ into smithereens, the sun tumbling somewhere, and they themselves transiormed into the realms of oliss, while all others miss into destruction. Meanwhile they have painted the entire tabernacle at a cost of 1000 dollars, and bought a great rug, so that the place , will look nice anyway when ‘Elijah’ gets home from his trip to Jerusalem and other places in the yacht' Coronet. Sandford sent the word home from Capetown, /where he recently touched, that the world was about done doing business, and he expected to be back to Shiloh within a few weeks.”