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Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 14 September 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

A peculiar fatality occurred at Forbes (N.S.W.) on August 23, the victim being a youth named Thompson, 15 years of age. lie was sitting on tiic back of a wooden seat, when the seat broke, and a portion of the wood penetrated bis body, causing fatal injuries.

For some weeks the municipal authorities have been inquiring into the doubtful nature of the spirits sold in Perth hotels. Samples of varians brands have been obtained, and the analysis in some cases gave astounding results. The contents of one bottle were fusel oil instead of whisky. Half a dozen hotel licensees are to be prosecuted.

A raid on a Chinese fan-tan shop in Little Bourke street, Melbourne, recently resulted in 30 arrests being made. The three principals were each fined £lO, and costs, in default four weeks’ imprisonment; while the others whom the magistrate described as “poor misguided sheep,” were let off with a fine of 2s Gd, and costs.

When you engage a servant or make a bargain in China it is not considered binding until “ the fastening penny” has been paid. Although his bad faith is notorious in some matters, yet, to do him justice, when once this coin has been paid by yon the Chinaman, coolie, or shopman, will generally stick to his bargain, oven if the result to him be loss.

In glancing through the returns of the census a very noticeable fact is that the female preponderate in the town population and the males in the country. It is a remarkable thing that of the 8G countries in the colony, including Stewart Island, the males predominate in all except one, and about the name there is something significant—Eden. The woman was evidently boss in Eden at the start, if Adam’s version of the story is to be believed, and she means to keep up the traditions of her sex.—Bay of Plenty Times.

Tins year’s crop of maize,- grown by the Natives of Fiji promises to be somewhat considerable. Mr E. E. Benjamin, who has this year’s contract, states that, besides 800 odd sacks already exported, the Birksgate took 379 sacks, and that 78$ sacks, which, no doubt, will be largely supplemented before the time of export, awaits the departure of the Manapouri for Sydney. The local consumption has exceeded 7 00 odd sacks,

A man named Price has been committed for trial at Freeman tie on a chai’ge of feloniously killing a man named Read. It was stated deceased was standing in the. street when some roughs, including Price, came along, and the accused struck Read a violent blow under tlic chin. Read died without recovering consciousness. Messrs W. H, Worrallaud Co. have (says the Hawkcs Bay Herald) presented the Rapier Borough Council with a fountain, to be fixed preferably in Clive square. The fountain, which is about I.oft high, is of soft grey stone and is a fine piece'of work. It has three basins, the largest being supported on a column with figures of fish carved thereon, while beneath the second basin are carved figures of storks.

“Women’s tongues are the most awful tilings in the world, and make more mischief than anything else,” remarked Mr H. Fyre-Kenny, S.M., at the Wanganui Police Court recently, when he gave a little sound advice to a woman and her husband, against whom prohibition orders had been issued. A son-in-law had instituted proceedings for the issue of an order against his mother-in-law, and she consented to the order on condition that her husband did likewise. He promptly agreed, and the woman then commenced a tirade of abuse of her spouse,