Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3722, 7 January 1913, Page 4

Local and General.

Twelfth Night is the twelfth from Christmas night—that is, the evening of January 6th. It is held as a festival to commemorate the time when the star in the East appeared to the wise men t,o guide them to the manner at Bethlehem in which lay the infant Jesus. The Twelfth Night cake wa= specially made for these festivals. In France it was once the custom to place a bean in the cake, and whoever vot it when the cake was cut became Twelfth Night King or Queen, and received the homage or the other guests at the party. Thus arose the savinu of one who had come unexpectedly “into good fortune. “He has found the bean in the cake.” Canada took butter valued at £192,486 from Auckland last year. A man will appear before the Court shortlv on a charge of having committed an offence against the “Gaming Act” by betting on the course at the Te Karaka races*'

“Their Lives for Gold,” a stirring American railway drama, will be screened at the Opera Home for t.ie last time this evening.

A Wellington party that climbed Ngauruhoe during the recent holidays found the volcano in a very acxi>e condition. The crater had changed a good deal during the last eighteen months, and there was a considerable amount of smoke from the greatchasm.

-Representatives of the_ Institute or Murine Engineers of _Nen| Zealand met in conference at Dunedin yesterdav with the representatives of the Union S.S. Coy to consider the question of wages and general conditions. The conference, which is being held in private, will last several days.—P.A.

A fair amount of business, the washup over the Christmas holidays, is set down for die hearing of the Court tomorrew. One mail from sXanutuke will lie charged with failing to quit licensed premises: another will appear as the result of a recent accident at Ma'karaka crossing; and a defaulting Territorial will be called on to explain why he had not attended parade, as required by the Act.

Pictures hung in the 1 ' gallery of the General Assembly Library have been added to -with the painting of H.M.S. New Zealand., the Dominion's Dreadnought gift. The painting was presented to the Government by the painter. YT. L. YYyllie. It.A., and was exhibited with the Baillie collection. It is understood that when New Zealand has a national gallery the picture will he transferred thereto from its present temporary place of exhibition.

The ‘‘Taranaki Daily News" views the horizon thus: "Facing the New Year, we are blessed with the knowledge that the oil industry is in process of proper and exhaustive exploitation. We are exploiting our scenic reserves, we have exploited our visitors, within reason, our tradesmen have had an excellent Christmas harvest, and,. if indications count for anything, we may face the New Year strong in the confidence that never in the history of tlie province has the outlook been so bright. The voice of the farmer is heard in the land, cry--mg, "Lord send the rain," but even if this sweet solace is denied us for a while 1913 bids fair to he a record year in the annals of Taranaki." The "Horowhenua Chronicle" reports the saving of a white boy’s life by a Maori lad. at Mokio Beach. A boy named Percy Blows was hi parlous condition beyond the breakers, and the Maori lad (Simeon) promptly raced to where a liorse was tethered, galloped it through the surf, and swam it to where Blows by that time was drowning. On the ability of the horse to swim back, bearing the two lads' weights, both their lives depended. Simeon had Blows across tin pummel of the saddle quite unconscious, but this position was an excellent "first aid” one, and within a few minutes Blows was breathing again. The horse proved equal to his task, hut it was a long while after Blows was safely ashore before he completely recovered.

Metals suffer from contagious diseases analogous to those of living beings. Among these diseases one of the most striking is that called “tin pest.” Sometimes a block, a plate, or medal of tin attacked by this* disease crumbles and falls into' dust, and sometimes warty protuberances appear on. the surface of the metal. Various other metals suffer from a. disease that manifests itself by a spontaneous recrystallization. The most remarkable cases occur with lead andi hard-drawn brass. These diseases are not due, as has been thought, simply to moisture. Temperature plays a part in producing them. The most extraordinary fact, perhaps, is that the “tin pest’’ is callable of spreading by contagion.

There is no doubt but what the Vacuum and Window Cleaning Co. have already proved themselves a great help to many housewives in Gisborne. They will undertake to clean anything about a house—from chimney to doorstep—and give satisfaction. A card sent to 152 Palmerston Road, or a ring on ’Phone 722, will have their immediate attention.*

The Courthouse was opened for business yesterday for the first time si nee the holidays. A man was arrested yesterday for drunkenness/ and having committed a breach of his prohibition order.

Some very good shearing tallies are reported to have been made in the Masterton district during' the. last week or two. On one station five shearers put through 1172 with the machines m a single day. The Rabbit Board is having inquiries made concerning statements made by a certain settler (presumably for the purpose of assisting a sale)' that his property was rabbit-less, whereas it is asserted that the pest has a fairly good hold on the place. “Returned with thanks. Sold our of my place. Want fresh meat occasionally. Send a few more rabbits along. A merry Christmas.” Such was the text of a satirical communication received by the East Coast Rabbit Board from a settler who returned a request for rates and questioned ■his liability. The Board did not consider the humorous (?) attempt very long, but decided that the settler’s

“fresh meat” should comprise a piece of blue paper with an insistent demand. The second request has been duly forwarded.

Commenting on the scarcity of hides and the effect on the boot trade, the Christchurch “Press” savs: “While we think it very desirable that all these grievances should be agitated, the weak point in the situation is the fact that, as a rule, only one side is presented. /The consumers, on •whom the burden ultimately falls, are, as a rule, without any special representation, and because they are passive and voiceless, their interests are very apt to be completely overlooked.”

During his stay in New Zealand the .Hon. C. E. Frazer, Commonwealth Postmaster-General, will discuss the question of cable rates with the Dominion Government. Both Australia and New Zealand have frequently •urged upon the Imperial authorities the necessity for a* reduction of the present charges, and although reductions have been made they are not regarded as by any means sufficient. Mr Frazer has openly voiced Ills discontent, and has communicated with the British Postmaster-General with the object of bringing about a conference on the subject, hut Mr Samuel has replied that as a further reduction of rates was contemplated at the beginning of .the year no action would be taken at present. Mr Frazer intends to propose to the Postmaster-General of New Zealand that joint representations should be made in the event of the reductions being unsatisfactory. “’lf people will give credit to men who start in business without any capital, or without making any inquiry about what the captial is, it is sure to end in the Bankruptcy Court."

This remark was made by the Official. Assignee at a creditors’ meeting at Wellington on Monday when commenting upon the position of a firm whose affairs had come into his hands. Mr Simpson (according to the “New Zealand Times”) said he remembered another case where a man, whose estate became bankrupt, had started without any capital at all. He had purchased the stock from the man who went out, paying part cash for it, and an order to do so mortgaged the stock and plant as soon as he purchased it. Yet business people gave him any amount of credit without any inquiry at all as to his financial position, in such cases the creditors had really only themselves to blame for what happened afterwards.

English motor-cyclists are trying out an innovation in inner tubes. Instead of the old method of laying the ends of the tubes over each other in the outer casing, they are non slipping one end into the other, somewhat on the principle of a valve. Dome ends are supplied which can be cemented to the ends of any motorcycle . tube. One of these dome ends, made of a somewhat thicker rubber than the tube itself, is closed and shaped like a< dome'. It slides into the other end of the tube and a string is tied about its neck just below the dome. When- the tire is inflated, the ■dome flattens and prevents leakage. It as claimed for these dome ends that they obviate the rubbing of the two ends of the tube which were overlapped in the former method of placing them in the outer casing.

••Sunday picture shows are warmly advocated by the Bishop of Birmingham, who, in his last monthly letter to the clergy, writes:—“My lielief is that it would be a good thing to utilise the cinematograph and other modern inventions, on Sundays, not only in direct religious work, but also in the provision of antidotes agaiiist some of the temptations which beset people on the Lord’s Day, and amongst them I would place that of mere loafing about the. streets without any reasonable occupation or relaxation. We cannot expect everyone to be in church or chapel, and I believe that a very genuine help towards a higher and Ijetter life might be given by the exhibition through the cinematograph of subjects properly selected under a broad, and yet careful, supervision. It is towards this end that I have been asked to make some effort, and I am in communication with those best able to advise me, in order to see whether anything can be done.”

A “shark proof” enclosure has been built by the ’Lvttelton Borough Council at Corsair Bay, a popular bathing place near the town, but accoi’diug to a statement made to a “Press” reporter there is a fine large shark inside it. A gentleman went to the bay on Thursday evening to bathe in the enclosure, and was sitting on the hillside just past the dressing sheds waiting until some girls vacated the bath, when be saw the fin of what was apparently a large shark showing above the water. He watched l for a few minutes and distinctly saw the shark turn over and seize some floating matter. Going, further up the hillside, he could distinctly see the shark swimming about at the deep end of the bath, and he called his wife’s attention to it. He stated that the shark was fully 6 feet to 7 feet in length, and afer watching it for some time, lie decided to forego his bathe. The matter was mentioned to one of the regular bathers at Corsair Bay, who was inclined to doubt the story. An investigation of the enclosure was to be made on Saturday by the Council to find out if the shark is still there or if there is any breach in the wall by which it could gain access to the hath.

Constables. Moore and King yesterday arrested, on warrant from Auckland, a man named Edward Patrick McMahon, on a charge of forgery, alleged to have been committed in March last. , “The Detective’s Conscience,*’ a powerful story dealing with the stamping out of a band of moonlight-* ers, will be screened for the last time at His Theatre to-night. The big picture will be supported by a nicely-varied series. fair amount of rain fell in town yesterday, but- there were signs of a clearance towards evening. Rain was also reported to be falling at Matawai and Motti, the streams rising rapidly. The rain is a welcome one, and the good effect is already noticeable in the country. The prospects for an exceedingly bountiful season are favorable indeed. A Timaru P.A. wire states that communications have been received by Mr Craigie, M.P.j from the Premier, to the effect that a cable from the High Commissioner states that the captains of the warships prefer that the New Zealand presents to the first battleship New Zealand (now Zealandia) should remain with her and not transferred to the new one. Mr Craigie has replied that the Timaru committee is of opinion that the presents should be transferred when the Zealandia’s present commission expires. Miss (Dafour. a young Australian

lady who had in previous Reasons

made notalde ascents, including the highest peak of Mt. Cook, on Friday last, with guides P. Graham and D. Thomson? made the traverse of Mt. Cook from West to East, including all three peaks, beginning with the lowest (says a PA. message from Timaru). They bivouacked at about 10,000 feet on Hooker’s side, started at 2 a.m., and reached Haast’s bivouack at 10 p.m. and the Hermitage on Saturday afternoon. The Hermitage has been and is full of visitors and others' are waiting news that there is room. Joseph Goddes, whose) last lapse resulted in his appearing/before a Justice on Christmas Day, was charged yesterday, before Mr W. A. Barton, S.M., with having committed a breach of his prohibition order, and was called on to show why he should not he sentenced for a similar offence,, committed on October 25. Joseph explained that he had not meant to have any drink at Christmas time, hut the spirit of goodwill overcame him and when he went to friends’ j places to deliver presents, lie was given .some of the forbidden water. Sir J. R. Kirk pleaded for accused, and His Worship said that he was satisfied that Geddes had been endeavoring to keep off the drink. He would he fined £2 on each charge, with costs (2s), in default 7 days in the care of the gaoler.

A custom amoung the Maoris of the old school was to hide away their money in cabbage trees and such-like receptacles, where it- was hoped it would be safe from the younger and more extravagant members of the tribe. Evidence of the fact that the custom still exists was secured by the manager of a Waverlev hank the other day, when a young Native walked in and deposited a number of notes and a quantity of silver. The notes were issued in 1897 and were as crisp and clean as the day they were issued, indicating clearly they had been withheld from further circulation by the Native originally acquiring them. The silver coins, in a number of instances, were dated 1852. The bank manager ascertained from the depositor that the money had actually been hidden away for manv years. „

A lady,who has just returned to Auckland after a six,years’ residence in a suburb of Sydney, in a short chat with a reporter, says things are in a very bad way in the capital. There are a great number of unemployed, and men are being discharged wholesale from the various public departments. Over 500 employees have left the service of the Harbor Trust within the last few weeks, and the City Council and Electrical Departments Have been making drastic retrenchments. It looks as if a commercial crisis were impending, and mercantile circles are said to he apprehensive of the near future. Withal rents are mounting up, and have increased quite 25 per cent within the last couple of years. The cost of living is excessive As an instance quoted. butter is Is 9d per lb, and almost every other commodity has similarly advanced in price. She quite expects that hundreds of workers will be making their way back to New Zealand within the next few months, as no one appears to be able to say with confidence what is going to make things better in Sydney. Apropos of -the surprise which the appearance of a rabbit in this district occasions, the following from the Otago “Daily Times” will he interesting: “Not very long ago it was not unusual to find rabbits which had made their home in secluded parts of timber yards in the centre of Dunedin, thence going forth by night to seek fobd. More unusual still, a hedgehog was found in Princes street by a constable, and was taken to the police station. More recently, an opossum found its way into a residence in Walker street, and resented attempts to capture it, with the result that it was so seriously injured that its early death followed. A resident of Sunshine now reports a similar visitation. ; 0n Sunday evening an opossum entered the house. None of the inmates identified the animal, and the head of the house armed himself with a big stick and proceeded to destroy what he believed to be... a ferret or weasel. The death of the intruder speedily ensued, and then a more leisurely inspection showed that a harmless opossum had met its fate. The question arises, why it is that such animals are found at large in the midst of dense population, whereas they are shy and nocturnal in their habits. The explanation probably is that a household pet- had escaped.”

Have you had your share of the good things we offer you? We are chock full of bargains from floor to ceiling, and you ought not to miss such a chance. If you have not paid us a visit yet, make up your mind to come at once. Do not let your neighbor get as much for £1 here as other places will charge you 24s for. Folloiv_ the crowd) to The People’s Emporium, and secure some of the bargains offering there. By doing this you will be studying true economy. Don’t forget the address—-207 Gladstone Road, nearly opposite Salvation Army Barracks.*

Christchurch is apparently on the way to rival Wellington’s record as a windy city. A correspondent signing himself “Grateful” writes to a local paper as follows: “I should like, ’through the medium of your paper, to express my grateful appreciation of the kindness of those people who helped me find the money which blew out of my hag in the gale at the Bank of New Zealand corner. Such friends will he glad to know that through their efforts and honesty I have been able to recover the whole of the amount of over fifty-three pounds, with the exception of a one-pound note.” The sort of zephyr that will remove £53 from a handbag is surely some breeze.”

A circular has been issued by the Federation of Labor, through Mr P. H. Hickey, requesting unions to attend a conference of unions called by the Federavon of Labor. The object of the conference is set out as follows in the circular: —“The conference of unions called by the Federation of Labor, through Mr P. H. Hickey, requesting unions to attend a conference of unions called by the Federation of Labor. The object of the conference is set out as follows in the circular: “The com creme of unions called by the Federation of Labor to consider the best mean* ot meeting the common danger threatening organised Labor will, as prei.ously intimated, he held at ‘The Worker’ Office, Wellington, on Tuesday,. January 21, 1913. As suggested in a previous letter, the chief business of fclr conference will be to consider the difficulties and dangers confronting trades unionism, and .+o agree, "if possiffi \ upon a basis of combined action th A will strengthen each «nd all whil n r king for consolidation and emancipation of the great worit-ing-class.” So far as can be learned, it is not the intention of unions no-* r outside the feneration to he represented at the conference.