GENERAL NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2667, 24 November 1909, Page 7

GENERAL NEWS.

, “There are 40 million less sheep in the world now than there were 10 years ago.” says the Hon. T. /Mackenzie, “and 80,000,000 more people have begun to use wool. If, -when woo! is up, you are offered a good 'price at tfie shed, take it. But if, when it is down, you are offered a low price, don’t take that. Go on to the market.”

In the report of the Department of Agriculture is reproduced a photogranh of a cherry tree growing at Oaklands Station, Southland, which is something above the ordinary. The tree was planted in 1856. Its height is How 72 feet, and the circumference of the trunk 9 feet, and it is described as a good and consistent fruit-bearer.

A mercantile man, in' a position to know, states, (says the “Lyttelton Times”), that New Zealand is a dumping ground for all the grass seed that is refused admission by the .stringent regulations of the other parts of the Empire, especialy dangerous grass, the seed of. whicih comes mixed with, other imported seeds, and also Australian spear grass. The latter has sharppointed seed sheaths, which not only get into the wool of sheep, but also work through the pelt and actually get into the vitals, thus causing death. The gentleman showed a pressman a piece of sheep’s pelt fairly riddled with “awns” of spear grass. He added that he had sent a letter to Australia bn the subject, the reply to which fully bore out what was stated above. It is reported that this grass lias made its appearance in the Waikato.

‘Hope springs eternal in the human breast,” and there is yet considered a possibility, though very remote, that the missing steamer Waratah will make an unexpected apearance in the ocean track of the regular liners. The steamer Turakina, which arrived at Wellington from London last week, had two men stationed continually on the watch after leaving Capetown on the lookout for the Waratah or any wreckage. No traces of the liner were seen.

The champion mean man was apparently a visitor to Christchurch during the carnival (says the “Lyttelton Times”). A boy carrying a beautiful trout was cycling along one of the main streets on Friday when, in consequence of the congested traffic, lie got into difficulties. In his endeavors to avoid the not too kindly attentions of a fierce-looking animal returning from the show, he ran against a tramcar, the result being that he was thrown heavily to the ground. In his efforts to minimise the fall as much as possible the boy dropped the fish, and on getting up saw a stranger in the distance making off with the prize, having apparently seized it while the rightful owner was lying on the ground.

From Admiral'Togo’s report of the battle 'of the Sea of Japan, which was published by the Imperial Naval Headquarters Staff, on June 14, 1905, it appears that' of thirty-eight ships in the Russian armada commanded by Rojestvensky, twenty were ..sunk, six were captured, two went to the bottom or were shattered While escaping, six were disarmed and interned after flight to neutral ports, one met with an unknown fate, one was released after capture, and ttfo escaped.—“ New York Sun.”

Too many valuable lives, hoth in America and England, have been already sacrificed to the search for the Pole, a search from which no possible benefit can accrue to either nation, cr to humanity at large. I am no sentimentalist about human life. Soldiers and sailors have got to bo .killed for the defence and safety .of their native lands. But for my part, I grudge every one of the lives which have been lost in the search for the Pole.—Edward Dicey, in the “Empire Review.”

The resent rebuff which the Parnell Council received from Mr Andrew Can uegte in respect of their application for a Carnegie library grant,‘caused a little tenderness of feeling among the Councillors of Parnell at their last meeting. One or two of the Councillors expressed the unhesitating opinion that they had laid their dignity unnecessarily low in applying at all to Mr Oarntegie for a borough library, Mr Lundon considering that they should take the snub as it was intended, that no further application from Parnell would he heard. The majority of the Council, however, thought somewhat otherwise, the Mayor’s opinion being that the plan submitted was unnecessarily elaborate, and tha/t,one of a less costly building should be prepared and afterwards dealt with. Ultimately it- was decided to advertise for suitable plans for a building not to exceed £2500, a premium of ten guineas to be offered for the accepted design, which will becomO the property of the Council. -

’ The ‘'Auckland' Star” evidently has' no faith in Mr Glover’s efforts to have Parliament “centralised” in the North. 'lt now protests against a valuable site of twelve acres being “permanently retained as a temporary residence” for the '.Governor during bis, “occasional visits to Auckland.” If a residence for the‘ Governor,as required, says; .the “Star,” a site of less value, in a suburban district, would answer equally well, and this fine central area could be apsome purpose of wider public utility. ' /

Speaking at the launching of a ferry steamer, built in Dunedin, Mr Loudon, a ; member of the Harbor Board, said that he lived in hopes of seeing comprehensive shipbuilding yards located on the foreshore. They all knew that the Union Company, which .commenced as a harbor had done a great deal for the Dominion and Dunedin, but it would certainly place the coping stone on its popularity if it was to lay down a vessel of 3000 or 4000 tons in Dunedin. Speaking with reference to his recent visit to America the Rev. Father Price, of Christchurch, said, that he could 'not but bo struck ‘by the difference between the tone of the American newspapers and that of .the newspapers of the Dominion.. In America, ; there was a very low standard, and the way in which personal , character was attacked was something startling to .those used to the dignified method - pursued... by newspapers here. ; ; In Missouri a father and son have discovered a metho-d by which both may enjoy life to the full, in; the -receipt of a substantial income, with practically no exertion at all. The law there forbids the sale of tobacco to boys under 18' years of age; so the boy buys and smokes cigarettes, tbe father gives information to the police, and the tobacconist is fined £lO, half or which goes to the “common informer. The boys enjoys the cigarettes, the father pockets the £5 and then they begin again. So delightfully simple.— “ Westminster Gazette.”.;, .