GENERAL NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2738, 17 February 1910, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS.

The importance of keen eyesight to votaries of the art of self-defence was submitted to a sharp encounter between cross-examining counsel and a youthful ship’s cook, who was giving evidence in the Supreme Court, Auckland, a few days ago. Counsel did not know whether certain bank notes -which the witness had deposed to having seen in the hands of a prisoner were the same color as some notes which he (counsel) was holding. Witness replied that his.eyesight was not good at the distance. The barrister reminded witness that he was a prominent exhibition boxer, a profession which required keen insight, whereupon the Crown Prosecutor jocosely interposed that the witness did not box at that distance. This joke was followed by the sturdy kniglxt of the galley remarking, “Anyhow, J. can generally manage to run against someone who can punch me on the nose half a dozen times without me seeing them coming.”

Sir Percy Fitzpatrick has been to Canada, but has now returned to South Africa. “Canada is not only a wonderful country,” he said, “but she has a wonderful population, full of energy, courage, and hope. I do not want to make comparisons, but there are certain things we need in South Africa. First of all, we want peace among ourselves, and that we have got. Second in importance is an atmosphere of faith in the country and in each oilier. What I moan is that out in Ca naela men force the -pace with perfect confidence in the country itself, and perfect confidence that their neighbors will also play up. and so there is a go-ahead community all working together. Nobody sits down content to wait foj- a year or so in order to see whether his neighbor is going to make a fortune. I believe that we in South Africa can get this spirit of confidence now that we have got settled convictions, and of course I believe in the future of South Africa itself.’ ’

One feature of a boy-scout camp is th i attack on the canm bv boys of other troops, but sometimes (says the “New Zealand Herald”)- raids are attempted by other than scouts. Such youths would do well to take warning bv the treatment meted out to a band of youths by the camp of the Birkenhead bov scouts- last week. During the day word was received in camp that several young men ranging from 16 to 20 years <.i age, intended raiding the camp and millin''' down the tents, etc. Plans were made for their reception, with the result that the whole of them were captured, and quickly roped up by the scouts. A court-martial was hold, presided over by the scoutmaster, and after a very brief trial, all were found guiltv an-1 punished. The punishment consisted of four large mugs of water being poured over their heads, and smearing their faces with fire ashes, after which tl’ev were conducted from the camp, and departed hotter and wiser men.

Since the decision of the Government to enforce a system of compulsory military training, military men have been considerably exercised with the problem of securing a sufficient number of officers to take command of the large numbers of men that will require training. Apparently added difficulty will be experienced in retaining the services of many officers who have been attached to the volunteer force in the past. An authority on volunteer matters told a “Lyttelton- Times” reporter that a good many officers will leave the service when the new scheme was brought into operation. In doing so they would he actuated by a variety of reasons, but one of the most fertile sources of resignation would he a sentimental one. It was projxised that a. khaki uniform should bo worn by all troops, an el volunteers of many years standing had strong objections to the proposal that their 'distinctive uniform, with, old associations, should be discarded.

For some years past, states a Canterbury- exchange, the Education Department lias provided for the payment of annual capitation of 2s 6d for each child receiving a specified number. of lessons in swimming, and this assistance from the State has had very good results, especially in some of the country districts. A member of the Canterbury Swimming Centre stated, last week, that the matter was being shamefully neglected in Christchurch. It was understood that the supervision of the classes was entrusted to members of the school staffs, and the results were not at all satisfactory, as some teachers did not appear to take a sufficiently koen interest jn the matter beyond ensuring that their pupils made the required number of attendances at- the classes. Another delegate said that his club was iu touch with the committeeof the school in its district, and a master and a mistress had been appointed instructors and were achieving good results. The meeting decided to ask the Education Board for assistance in securing better tuition in swimming for school children.

Speaking at tile- Frozen Meat Conference in Christchurch- Mr R. B. Bennett, the representative of one of the largest firms of meat merchants in London, said that there was a vital point that had apparently not beeip taken into consideration by tlie slieepfarmers of the dominion. When disposing of .his mutton, the New Zealand producer did not have to consider for one second the question whether lie would receive tlie money represented by the value of his produce. He knew that he would .get "liis money. Immediately the London merchant completed a sale, he paid the producer, but lie had no knowledge of when he would receive the money from the purchaser. It was no unusual tiling for a firm to lose £2OO per month in bad debts. This loss was iiot felt by the producers in New Zealand, and they should take this fact into consideration when comparing tile prices paid to them and the retail prices paid by the consumers.

A Masonic address was presented to Lord Kitchener at FederaL Gov«rn-. ment House, Melbourne. Sir Thos. Carmichael, State Governor, introduned Lord Kitchener, who shook hands •with the fifty Masons who were present. Lord Kitchener, in reply, said: “Brethren, it is a very great pleasure to me to have this • opportunity of meeting so many representatives of Masonic Lodges of the United Grand Lodges of Victoria. I thank you all 'most heartily for this- kindly-worded and beautifully illuminated address which you have presented to me. I 'greatly regret that my time in this State has been .so brief that I have berni 'unable to attend a meeting of the Grand Lodge, but during my visit to Australia it has given me the greatest pleasure to see the progress that has been made all through the country, and the influential -position the Craft attains in this State. I am sure that under the able guidance of your distinguished Grand Master and the officers of the Grand Lodge, the Craft will continue to do the work it has been so satisfactorily doing. I wish von all the heartiest success and prosperity in the future.”