LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1328, 4 January 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A correspondent of Tub Dominion recently drew attention to some items appearing in the list of "instruments registered," published in the "Mercantile Gazette" of December 20. It is there recorded that seven farmers, resident iu Tangitii, near Ohura (Taranaki), borrowed from the Minister for Lands, on the security of cows and heifers, sums ranging from JGIG to .£SO, at 5 per cent. It was ascertained yesterday, ' upon inquiry at the Department of Lands, that the "transactions recorded in tho "Mercantile Gazette" aro of a nature frequently entered into by the Department with settlers on improved farm holdings. By virtue of regulations made under the Lands Improvement and Native Lands Acquisition Act of IS9I, advances can be made under various heads to settlers upon improved farm holdings. A sum not exceeding .£lO may be advanced for tho purchase of grass seed, tents, tools, provisions, etc. Up to «£.')o may be advanced on a dwelling, and .CSO for fencing and other purposes. Tho settler is entitled to'a maximum loan of .£l2O. Tho Taranaki case, above-mentioned, is tho first in which advances have been made for the purchase of stock, but it is held that, the regulations indicated sufficiently cover such cases. Frequently, as in the case of a number of Wellington improved farm holdings, .. tho settlers derive a sufficient return from the sale of milling timber on their allotments to purchase stock, but there was no saleable timber on the holdings at Tangitu. The transactions recorded in the "Mercantile Gazette" are simply intended to give the Grown security for tho advances made. It is tho practice, when these improved farm holdings have been broken in, to capitalist) tho advances made,, together with the value of the land and give settlers . the- .option of taking a renewable lease at a four per cent, rental on an O.R.P. tcnuro at a fivo per cent, rental, 'flier© are some hundreds of these improved farm settlements in tho North Island, and most of the settlers are reported to bo doing well.

.\n official of one of the local banks stated yesterday that a number of gilt sixpences aro at present in circulation, having been passed, off as half-sovereigns. The imposture, though.crude in conception, has been carried out with a certain amount of skill, the ' words "six pence" being neatly obliterated on the silver coin prior to its transformation in the gilding-bath. A good enough imitation has been produced in this way to deceive shop-keepers and others and one or two of the coins have even been passed by bank-tellers and only detected upon a subsequent and more leisurely semtinv. Members of tho general public" will therefore do well to carefully, examine any half-sovereigns that come their wav.

At tho Sydney Grammar School prizegiving tho other week, the headmaster had something to say about Australian manners. "There is one service," ha' said, "which the schools can render this State at the present time. Our social life just now suggests the danger of a general deterioration in manners—a danger that people may mistake rudeness oi conduct for the best expression of a spirit of independence. It seems to me Ik the schoolmasters and mistresses of this country should dovolc themselves to a conscious and specific, effort towards education in manners. You can't teach manners from a.book of etiquette. You need in teachers a personality which will inluse into the pupils a modesty and good form which seems to consist m the avoidance of unnecessary offence in -word or deed to one's neighbour."

The recent trouble between the slaughtering hands and the Gear Company at i'etone has been definitely settled, and the demands preferred by the slaughtermen at the Wellington Meat Kxport Company having also been granted, the incident may bo said to have closed.

Tho Native conference, which has been deliberating at rarewanui, near Bulls, for tho past fortnight, has concluded its labours, and the Maoris, some 2000 from all parts of tho North Island, are now returning to their homes. Thp gathering included all sorts and conditions of men, women, and children of the Native race, and the feminine dress creations ranged from the latest thing in hobble skirts and tanned shoes, to the plain block sugar-bag garment with no noticeable waistline worn by tattooed Urewera antiquities who showed a fine contempt for 6hoes and stockings and a liking for big pipes and strong tobacco. During the conference there died the well-known Parewanui Rangatira To Rau Utiku Marumaru, whose tangi was fittingly celebrated and gave a touch of solemnity to the proceedings. .

. Religious tolerance is evidently a prominent characteristic of the Maori' remarks an exchange. During tho Christmas season many tribes and hap'us gathered together at Te Ore Ore, near Mastcrton, to take part in a "religious conference for Catholics, Anglicans, Nonconformists Mormons, the Church of tho Seven Rules.of Jehovah, aud presumably any other sects which number .Native's among their adherents. • ■ ■