Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3641, 30 September 1912, Page 4

Local and General.

The continuous telephone service commences in Gisborne to-morrow.

Several members of the C.E.M.S. repeated their rows before His Lordship Bishop Averill in Holy Trinity. Church last eveningA start will bo made this morning by Mir- H. Webb in connection with the erection of the new police buildings. The old gaol buildings will bo dismantled preparatory to the laying of the foundations.

In Holy Trinity Schoolroom, at < Mo p.m. to-day, His Lordship Bishop Averill will 'meet the members of the Girls’ Friendly Society, and in Wootton’s Rooms at 8 p.m. he will meet the men of tho parish. The Borough Engineer on his recent visit to Wellington made satisfactory arrangements with tho Public Works Department regarding tho Roebuck Road tramway extension, and with the Marine Department in connection with the Ormond traffic and pipe bridge.

Included in the rocent list of i pplications for patents in New Zealand is one from three residents of Pahintna; for an aeroplane “roundabout.” Tbe machine, which has already been patented in the United States, is Intended for amusement purposes, !o_ carry passengers a certain distance in the air without any of the attendant risks cf the ordinary flying machine.

Seagulls are said to be very destructive to lambs an stations on the east coast south from Porangahoa, says the Dannevirko paper.

Approximately, £41,900 has been spent in the erection of Roman Catholic school buildings m and around Auckland during the past lo or lb months.

- A't the Magistrate’s Court at Wellington on Saturday William Knox was remanded till. Monday cn four charges of using an instrument with intent to procure abortion. I. .A.

The.weather has been exceptionally favorable for the lambing m,North Canterbury, and tho percentages are very satisfactory. 'Hie mortality amongst ewes and lambs has been usually low.

A party of Mokoreta young men (states tho. “Wyndham Farmer”) recently had a day’s opossum-hunting in the bush at tho hoa<l of the Mokorota. The result was 28 skins —which, at tiio ruling price of 3s to 4s each, made profitable sport. Unoccupied houses are at present unknown in Dargaville, in the north of Auckland. A Dunedin resident who contemplated settling there, talegraphed to an agent asking him to got him a house, and received a reply that there was not a vacant residence in the place, nor was there likely to be.

Intending exhibitors sliould note that entries for all classes at the Hawke’s Bav Agricultural and Pastoral Society’s spring show to be held on October 1G and 17. will close with the secretary on Wednesday, October 2.

In connection with the salvage work of the Star of Canada, Messrs. Lang-l-a nils and Co intend to employ bags of clay in filling up the -holes in the bottom of the ship. The holes will l>e boarded over and the bags of day placed about six deep all round and on top of the holes, thus preventing the water from flowing into the vessel.

Switzerland is much upset because an article in its Constitution forbids officials to accept presents or orders from foreign Sovereigns. During his recent visit to Switzerland the German Emperor distributed a large number of gifts, the recipients of which have since excused themselves on the ground that it would have been an ungracious act on their part to refuse these marks of Royal favor. In future the attention of visiting foreign rulers will be directed to the existing inhibition with regal'd to presents.

In connection with the appointment of a borough overseer, it appears that Mr. Hemplemann has had his salary raised by the Feihling Borough Council, and' has decided to remain with that body. There were 31 applicants for the pcsition, ami the Council selected two of them, Mr. Hemplemann being first asked to interview the Council. Now that he has decided to sta." with the Feihling Borough Council, tho other applicant will be a-ked to come to Gisborne to interview the. Council- He will arrive from the South on Wednesday.

"Whilst working near the Lower Rattray Street wharf at Dunedin a few days ago, dredge 222 brought up a human foot in one of the buckets. The foot was encased, in what bad l>een quite a- new boot, with a rubber heel that showed no sign of wear, and indicated that its ill-fated wearer mu-t have come by bis death very shortly after donning a pair of new hoots. The ioot was found near the spot where portion of a human skeleton was dredged up some months ago, and is believed to bo portion of the same remains. Tho matter was reported to the police on Saturday, and it is thought that the new boot and rubber heel may possibly afford a clue as to the identitv of its wearer

Regarding tho carriage of goods on the Otoko-Rakauroa section of the railway tho following telegram has been sent to the Minister for Public Works by the secretary of the Gisborne- Chamber of Commerce: “Referring to our wire of 24th, Chamber much' concerned to receive favorable reply. It is rumored that the-Depart-ment will not bo able to continue haulage cf goods from Otoko to Rakauroa unless supplied with more powerful engine. Under present condition of roads that would lx* a calamitv that we submit respectfully should be avoided. Roads not likely to be lit for traffic for quite two months. At present cartage from Otoko to Matawai £6 ner ton.”

The mission which iuis been conducted by the Redemptionst Fathers at the Gisborne Catholic Church during t-lie past two weeks was brought to a close yesterday. During the mission, which lias been most successful, powerful and instructive discourses have been delivered bv the Rev. Fathers McDermott- and Ore agio, tho congregations have been exceedingly large, and exceptional numbers have received Holy Communion. The choir, under the able eonduetorship of Mr F. Hale, has rendered the singing and music incidental to the services in.a creditable manner, the singing of Mrs Phil Barry and the instrumental music by the Vita Bros, being especially line. Tlie satisfactory results of the mission must be gratifying alike to the Redemptorist Fathers and the parish priest. Rev. Father Lane. A rather amusing dispute was heard by Mr Kettle, S.M., in the Auckland Magistrate’s Court last week," the parties being a tenement proprietor and a railway employee. The former sought to recover £2 2s. made up as follows .-—-Four weeks’ rent- of two rooms in tho aforesaid tenement, 28s; one wire combination stretcher. 10s Gd ; one tableccvcr, 3s 6d. No counsel were engaged. After a good deal of discussion about the plaintiff’s rent book, it was decided that this portion of the claim was just, but the defendant and his wife contested the remaining two items, the wife swearing thatthe stretcher was exchanged for one which formerly belonged to her, and that tho table-cover \vas a gift. At this point sho unfolded a worn, patched and fax from oßan piece of cotton fabric, and held it outspread for the Court’s inspection. “If he wants 3s Gd for it he can have, it back,” she declared. “You’ve been trying to humbug mo all the morning,” said MiKettle to tho plaintiff in giving judgment. “I will allow your claim for 28s rent, with no costs.” The plaintiff was careful to gather up his restored table-cover before leaving the Court.

We would liko to have a paragraph on the present fashions in ladies’ and children’s millinery, but a much better insight can ho obtained by just calling on tho Melbourne Cash, who are withcut doubt- the leading milliners in Gisborne, both for popularity and good taste. This -accounts for the very busy state of the showroom and millinery depart men ts-*

During the passage of the Mapourfka from Westport to Nelson on Saturday night a saloon passenger gave birth to a son. As is customary, the child will be named after the vessel. The mother and infant on arrival at Wellington were taken ashore. Letters threatening his life have been received by the Hutt Borough Council ranger (Mr. A. Mills), and at the last meeting of the council it was decided to point out to the writer “that the council would not tolerate any threats or interference with the ranger!” The Wellington correspondent of the “Press”; telegraphs that the police authorities are making inquiries into the question of betting carried on with Tattersall's and other agencies, aim will prosecute any person they find offending against the gaming lam-:. Tho Wairarapa correspondent of the “Press” states that several of the cheese factories in the- Forty Mile Bash have been offered G|d per lb for their outputs for this season, but have declined to do business, as they are looking for still higher prices. One factory is said to have refused even 7d per lb.

An American visitor who is undertaking a tour of New Zealand had quite a lot of hard things to say about tho~ Southland climate (says the “Southland News”), and a lot or harder things to say about empty fireplaces m Invercargill hotels. Almost Dozen, he sought refuge in an apartment of a public building, took off his boots, and toasted his toes beside one of the hot air radiators.

An umbrella is being put on the, market with a patent lock so that no one-can open it unless lie knows the code number. The inventor says that a genuine thief who wants to unlock the umbrella will have to move tienumber rings 9 99 times if he wishes to he successful, and even then he may fail. It would he a bit of an experience to hear the absent-minded man’s remarks in a thunderstorm after moving the rings 999 times. A correspondent to the Taranaki “Herald” writes: “In answer ..to appeal for some easy way of gathering in snails, I have heard that the waste from a malt-house has a great attraction for them. The mode is to placesome of the waste hops on the ground, then place a sack or hoards over it, slightly raising the covering so that .the snails can get under cover. I have not tried it, hut it won’t costanything to try it, and it plight prove effective.”

A prominent member of the legal profession, in giving evidence in acivil action at the Invercargill Magistrate’s Court- last week, said that during his 30 years’ experience, in legal work, he had never heard of a claim being made, by an expert witness for time occupied in discussing the subject upon which he had been engaged, with a view to enlightening counsel to the real facts of any case. _ A brother member of the- profession, who was conducting proceedings on behalf of plaintiff, ventured the opinion that legal luminaries gave iust as little of their time as they could possibly help without payment.

Tlie spirit of trades unionism has extended far out into the Pacific, even to the island of Nukualofa. Some of tho passengers who arrived in Auckland by the island steamer Atua informed a representative of the “Star” that the native waterside workers have formed a union with the object of demanding substantial increases in pay. They ask for Gs a clay for working lie tween 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.. with 3s per hour overtime, and a retaining allowance of 2s per day, together with, food when not working. They have been receiving 4s ner day. The Union is being organised by a native boy, who appears to have gained a knowledge in the ways of unionism during occasional trips with native crews to -Auckland.

i . “Denmark,” said Mr J. B. Mc-rreti, | at an amalgamated meeting of poulI trynien in Christchurch, “clips £2.000.000 annually from the English market by sending eggs to London. This amount equals our export or butter from New Zealand, and yerDenmark is not much bigger than Canterbury. For every inhabitant there are 4-38 he ad of poultry. while in New Zealand thereare only three. Tb" Danes are shrewd business people, and they would not keep poultry if thev did not pay. With our excellent climate.'’ said the sneaker, “and our easily grown foods. New Zealand ought to be doing more i out of its poultry industry than the j dairy business. The world’s markets are on<m to us, and wo should exploit ! them.”

Another case of a man being affected bv the pyridine used as a de-natur-ing agent fn imported methylated spir- | its. has occurred in Auckland (says : tlie "Now Zealand Herald"), the ! man’s eyes being so badly injured * that he is able to see only with the j aid of smoked glasses. Mr Manson | (secretary of the Furniture Workers' ! Union) has telegraphed to the Prime j Minister (the Hon. W. F. Massey)

with, respect to the case, urging some alteration in the customs regulation so that t.h-e adulteration of imported methylated spirits may be prohibited, and some de-naturing agent other than, pyridine used. Mr Manson hopes that the public will support him in his protest., and points out that- ,as methylated spirits are used so largely in connection with the manufacture of various household articles, it is to thepublic’s advantage to see that the use of pyridiuc is prohibited.

Tlie unusual spectacle of a magistrate in,the witness box was beheld recently at the Christchurch Magistrate's Court (says the “Press’ ), when the prosecutor in a ease of alleged perjttrv demanded the appearance of Mr T. A. B. Bailey, SAL, as a witness. Ho contended that the notes taken by the magistrate at the proceedings out of which tlie present case had arisen were incomplete, and that some important evidence had been omitted. Mr Bailey was communicated with, but declined to entor the box, sending his notes, and instructing- the clerk to read them out to the court. This was done, hut the prosecutor professed himself still dissatisfied, and persisted in his demand. Tlie bench decided that the request should be acceded to, and Mr Bailey, being called, entered the witness box. Tlie prosecutor started to subject him to a rigorous cross-examination, which however was cut short by Mr Bailey absolutely declining to add anything to the statements contained in his notes.

The man who does the most talking' doesn’t necessarily have the most enthusiastic listeners. The business men who make tho strongest claims are wot necessarily the leaders in their lines. The reason the People’s Emporium have so many hundreds of thoroughly satisfied customers is because if

backs up its claims to bo unquestionably -the cheapest house in town.”

About 100 Holstein-Friesian cows in the Dominion sire now being semi-offi-eially tested bv the Agricultural Department for their production during the current lactation period. More are to be tested at the conclusion of the calving season.

Forty-two motor cars were landed in Dunedin, ex Whakatane and Matatua,. last week. The shipment came to the order of an Invercargill firm, and represents the largest number of cars ever landed in Dunedin intone week. The cars are for distribution all over Otago and Southland, and the majority of them have been sold to farmers.

When the crowd was rather objectionably persistent in their attentions to the contestants in the recent round-the-monntain cycle race in Taranaki when they halted for a few minutes at Opnnako to have some refreshments, a local resident scattered them by a cunning device. He set loose a couplo of rats which he had caught in a wire cage. There was pandemonium for a time, hut the cyclists got away in peace, while the crowd pursued the rodents, which speedily mot their fate.