NEWS AND NOTES.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 28 May 1901, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

Two powerful locomotives have been ordered by the Manawatu Railway Company from America.

Tradesmen in the Taranaki district are thinking of forming a ring, to do battle with the credit system.

Some good bags have been made by sportsmen during the week (s»ys the Eotorua "Chronicle". There ha 3 been great slaughter on the coast among the ducks and swans. One party obtained 45 brace of pheasants, 40 brace of ducks, and seven swans. Some sportsmen visited Kawaba, on the shores of Eotorua Lakeand had good sport among the quail.

Several men have left the Masterton drainage works on account of their being required to shorten the period for having their dinner to three-quarters of an hour.

A technical school for Maoris has been established by the Government in the Hokianga district, and the experiment will bo watched with interest by all who have the welfare of the race at heart. Mr Bloomsficld, S.M., and Native agent at the Bay of Islands, in his report on the Maori census, emphasises the necessity of giving domestic instruction to the younger Maori women of the colony, and expresses the conviction that if they are enabled to gain a knowledge of household management the Government will do much to improve the condition of a large number of of Maoris who are showing a disposition to adopt European methods of living. Mr Bloomfield considers that the improvement of the health of the Maori population in his district is due to the attention which the Natives are now paying to sanitary matters, and to the fact that they are availing themselves freely of the services of the European medical men who were paid by the Government to give them gratuitous treatment and medicine whenever there is an outbreak of disease.

In accordance with a suggestion received from the Government, the Westport Harbor Board have decided to erect a coal arch at Wellington, for the Royalties' visit. The Board have asked the General Manager of the Westport Coal Company to supply suitable blocks of coal. The site secured for the arch is in Lambton Quay, just opposite the old St George's Hall, where the street turns down to go to the Supremo Court. Alongside the arch will probably be erected seating accomodation for a couple of hundred poople, being the guests of the Harbor Board. Corporal Eees. of Gisbome, relates an amusing incident that occurred in South Africa. Some objects were seen on a hill that were supposed to be Boer-s and a party were detailed to surround the hill and effect their capture. A cordon was made, and the Tommies, with several New Zealatders, crept up the hill. When they got within close range it was discovered that the enemy consisted of baboons. Thie, says Corporal Eees, is what you call "gorilla" warfare. Another trooper vouches for the story. Ho was present.

In the Houso of Commons, Sir L. Long asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of Commandant Botha's objection to negotiate with Sir Alfred Milner, he would consider the expediency, whenever negotiations might be renewed, of requesting the Premiers of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to act with Lord Kitchener as art advising council. Mr Chamberlain replied : No, sir. His Majesty's Government have no intention of superseding Sir A'fred Milner as suggested by the question. This reply was received with Ministerial cheers. In reference to recent happenings in Otago, the "Bruce Herald" says:— ,( At the height of the dredging boom we pointed out that every other man in the country had become a sharebroker, and predicted that it would not bo long before most of them became 'brokers' without shares. We are sorry to notice our prophecy has turned out true."

The Chief Surveyor and Mr Duncan, of the Land Board, recently inspected land at Musselburgh which is considered eminently suitable for workmen's dwellings. The inspection was the outcome of an approach made to the Government to resume the land far this object. The proprietor of a well-known restaurant in Wellington informed a Times representative the other day that ho expected to bo called upon to provide for three thousand people every day of the week of the Koyal visit. His highest record up to the prkscnfc for his house is two thor.smd, tho number catered for on the Saturday tho Imperial troops were in Wellington. expods that during the Royal visit he will bo kept going from 6 o'clock in •.the morning till 1 o'clock the following morning.

Having secured the services of a lady who has gained her experience in some of the best houses in Melbourne, Messrs McKay and Son hare much' pleasure in drawing attention to their millinery department, which is now one of the most complete in Greymouth. We guarantee all orders entrusted to this department to give satisfaction. A complete stock of Mackintoshes, Jackets, Capes, Underclothing and Corsets, just to hand.—Advt.