GENERAL NEWS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 12 April 1901, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS.

It is probable (says the Hobart correspondent of the Argus) that a general officer who has recently been serving with distinction in South Africa will be the next Governor of Tasmania. At an extraordinary general meeting held at Wellington yesterday of the Donne Greek Dredging Coy it was decided to voluntarily wind up, J. M. Butt was appointed liquidator. The "Dunstan Times" states that the building trade in that district is so brisk that it is absolutely impossible to get a carpenter to do a casual job, and there is every likelihood of the present rush continuing. After searching six months for the oldest persons in the world, the Committee on Vital Statistics of the Hundred Yoar Club of New York, reports that the oldest man is Izal Kodofsty, of Moscow Eussia, who is in his one hundredth and thirty-sixth year, and the oldest women, Mrs. Nancy Hollinufield, Battle Creek, Mich, who is 117.

The Minister for Public Works went for a drive on a recent Sunday afternoon towards Pungarehu, and (says the Eltham Argus) was rather astonished when ho was waylaid by the toll-gate\ keeper at Heimama and ca'led on to pay the toll. Ho was under the impression previously that toll-gates were a thing of the past in New Zealand, but the tollgate keeper insisted on his exaction. The suggestien is made by the Poverty Bay Herald that hospitals for the treatment of Maoris should be established by the Government in various native districts and that tho nursing staffs should consist of Maori girls specially trained for the work. Our contemporary belfeves that by charging fees it would be possible to make tbo institutions almost self supporting.

Mr M. H- L. Bonnet, of Winton, has invented and applied for patents for a new motor, upon which he has been working for 40 years. He claims (says the Southland Daily News) that this motor will supersede all engines at present worked by steam, gas, or water-power. It is a combination of levers and wheels, which are so arranged that the motor starts itself as soon as the brake is ieleased, and will run at an extromcly high speed if required, and almost for an indefinite period. In fact Mr Bennet considers he has got nearer to perpetual motion than any previous invention. From a private letter received in the colony it is understood (says a contemporary) that the First New Zealanders, who took part in the relief of Kimberley by General French's forces, will receive a medal and three bars. The medal is for the South African campaign, and the bars for the relief of Kimberley and the occupation of Bloemfontein, the capital of the Free State, and Pretoria, the Transvaal capital. The Second and Third 'New Zealanders, who did noc tako part in the relief of Kimberloy, will receive a medal and two bars--Bloemfontein and Pretoria ; the Fourth and Fifth Contingents, medal and one bar—Pretoria; and the Sixth and Seventh Contingents tho general medal. A South African or colonial medal may be awarded in addition. '