GENERAL NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2742, 22 February 1910, Page 7

GENERAL NEWS.

The suggestion is made, says the “Taranaki Herald,” that about 3000 square miles should be cut off the northern end of Wellington and added to Taranaki, which would result in two handy-sized provincial districts, instead of one small and one unwieldly district as now, and a saving in time, trouble and inconvenience, as well as distance from headquarters, would he effected, whether in church work or Government work, or any other work. “We are not prepared to say how far Wanganui would benefit by being transferred from Wellington to Taranaki,” adds the “Herald,” “but it has often occurred to us —in fact w e have on several occasions commented on the matter—that a groat deal of inconvenience might be avoided and much time be saved if there were a readjustment of the boundaries of the postal and educational districts. When the country from Patea up to Eltliam and Opunake was first settled it was more convenient, no doubt, to work it Iron.. Wanganui, but conditions are very different now, and it is an anomaly oo continue an arrangement which makes a Taranaki town look seventy iniPs to the south for its headquarters in some respects, while in others, such as Supreme Court matters, registration of bleeds, etc., it finds its headquarters only half that distance to the north.” A most satisfactory t-one is now apparent in shipping circles (says the “Sydney Shipping List”), but- all things duly considered nothing else, can be expected. The amount of cargo coming to hand is getting larger and the wool buyers are operating freely, thus providing plenty of freight for the tonnage on the berth, which is in the majority of cases, got away, if not actually on, very soon after the arranged sailing date, despite the drawbacks met in obtaining bunker supplies. The sailing vessels 'loading at both Melbourne and Sydney arc not faring badly at the hands of shippers either, for rumor lias it that their engagements are most favorable. For both sail and steam freights are satisfactory, and but for the- strike, which is fortunately not causing anything like the amount of damage it did during November and December, tlie shipping fraternity, not only at Sydney but every principal port in the Commonwealth, would be more than satisfied.

A report lias been received by the Marine Department from the constable stationed at the Chathams to the effect that reconly two or three pieces of a vessel’s decking have been washed ashore. The timber is Oregon pine, about sft in length, showing a clear spavc of 3ft sin between stanchions. The wreckage is practically free from barnacles, and appears to have been burst out of the deck of a vessel by pressure from below.

It is rumored by bankers and the heads of large business firms in Christchurch that the amount of spurious coin in circulation is comparatively small, and 'that the counterfeits which have com e under their notice were generally so clumsy that a person exercising ordinary care would detect them without difficulty. One rather peculiar departure in counterfeit coining was mentioned to a reporter, the other day. Some time ago there was ■a large issue of silver coins from an unauthorised source, but the forgers manufactured the coins of genuine silver, .and gave the public practically the same, intrinsic value as that- contained in the money issued fronu the Royal Mint. The counterfeiters were satisfied to make as profit the royalty which would ordinarily have gone, to the Crown. The business in counterfeit bank notes is not large in New Zealand, although, occasionally, a tooennfiding tradesman is taken in. The gentlemen seen were quite satisfied that there was nothing to raise a suspicion that the manufacture of counterfeit coins had been established in New Zea_ land' to any large extent.

There appears to be no end to tlie pen pictures of Lord Kitchener from Australia. Here is one from a Pekin correspondent of a United States paper: “His personal" appearance disappointed me. From his photographs one would imagine him to be a handsome man, with a. face rugged and keen. One thinks of him unconsciously as in the prime of life. But in reality he is already nearly sixty vears of age, and his appearance is neither striking nor unusual. Only a pair of remarkably keen and piercing eyes give promise of exceptional penetration and power. Probably he is the greatest soldier of this age—and yet one might easily pass him by in the street without remarking him or, with liis hat on to cover his eyes, thinking him anything but a- man whose complexion is exceptionally florid. That lie has little personal vanity is immediately apparent. Ho stepped from liis special train in a worn tweed suit, a cap, and a pair of brown boots. Englishmen of his typo hate any personal show. I am told it is a real penance for him to put on his uniform, end the one unhappy hour lie spent in Peking was when he had to get into it and go to Court. At all other functions in the Chinese capital, he wore ordinary clothes, and at official banquets dress clothes and the Order of Merit, of which lie is justly proud.”

A constable had a lively hall-hour tho other evening in Christchurch. He was on duty at the corner of St. Asijm and Manchester Streets, when he was .accosted' by two women, who lmd moio than once had .personal experience of the majesty of the law, and appeared to regard the constable as a fit victim for their spite. The •policeman told them to go to their homes, but this advice was received with an outburst of obscene remarks. The constable succeeded in seizing both bis assailants, and. leading them to the footpath, where they both lay down and endeavored to regain their freedom by kicking and punching their antagonist. In the course of the .strugghg which was watched by a large crowd of people, one of the women pushed a hatpin into the constable’s thigh. Eventually other .policemen arrived on the scene and the .women were taken to the lockup in a taxi-cab.