GENERAL NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 202, 2 September 1901, Page 1

GENERAL NEWS.

(By Telegraph and Mail.)

In giving evidence before the Magistrates as to the good character of Mr J. H. Heaver, a Warrnambool rato collector who was sent to gaol for a month for embezzling the funds of the Town Council, Dr F. Scott said he know the accused smoked excessively, and he believed the quantity of tobacco smoked had brought on partial paralysis of tho brain. He had noticed several evidences of it in his conduct, and ho often appeared to be rather muddled. He had frequently found this to be the case in young men addicted to the excessive use of tobacco. A few evenings ago a family near Wellington were disturbed by a bullet crashing through the window, and landing among the cups and saucers. It now turns out that a youth was amusing himself near tho house flinging bullets—thoy are picked up in largo numbers in the sand about the rifle butts—from the hollow in tho end of a flax-stick. One of the missiles went in the opposite direction from that which the thrower intended, with the result stated. A man named Bichard McKay was sentenced at Taihapo to ono month’s imprisonment with hard labor for cruelty to dumb animals, ho having left several sheep dogs tied up for a week without water and food, whilst he was away on a spree. A resident of Waggarandall (Victoria) had an awful experience one night recently. Thomas Carolan was, while engaged rolling a crop, drawn under the spiked roller, and lay all through the night pinned to tho ground. He was released by someone who was passing in the morning. A very marked result of tho removal of the Midland Railway embargo on West Coast land was seen at the Westland Land Board meeting held at Hokitika, when about 20,000 acres of land were taken up. This land, we understand, means the locating of about a hundred families on tho soil.

Changes are to bo made in the train service, and there is a likelihood of, passengers leaving Auckland every morning, and being conveyed right on to Dunedin without a stoppage, connections by fast steamers to be made between Onehunga and New Plymouth, and Wellington and Lyttelton. The owners of several estates in the Wellington district are finding it profitable to cultivate flax on their wet lauds. Mr Field, M.H.8., in the course of tho interview which the flax millers and flax merchants had with the Minister for Agriculture, stated that a land-owner in the Wairarapa was getting a better annual return from 100 acres of flat land than from any similar area which he laid down in ordinary crops. During the hearing of a case of alleged breach of the Licensing Act in the South, tho defendant solicitor observed :—The publican was bound to sell tho liquor when ho was asked. It was against his license to refuse. The Magistrate : There is no more compulsion laid on a publican to. sell liquor than there is upon a grocer to sell tea. He is bound to sell refreshments—meals—when demanded ; but in an ordinary trade transaction there can be no compulsion. Mr B. Tatton, Mayor of Stratford, contemplates proceeding to South Africa shortly. The two meat-freezing companies in Christchurch pay annually £IOO,OOO in wages. There is a probability of a co-operative poultry-raising company being established at Patea.

The Bishop of Wellington has received an invitation to Fiji to hold confirmation sorvices.

Pig-rearing is extending largely over many parts of the Taranaki district, especially between Elfcham and lioponga, the heart of dairydoru. It is nothing unusual for the buyers to take away 140 to 150 baconers in one day. These average £2 a-pieee. The Waikato Farmers’ Club has made a suggestion that the Government be asked to pass a clause similar to that which it was proposed to pass in connection with the Conciliation and Arbitration Act—viz.: “ That this Act does not extend to any agricultural or pastoral pursuit.” The Council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce carried a resolution objecting to the Workers’ Compensation Act in its present form, and requesting the Government to have it so amended as to clearly define whether the Act applies to farmers or not. Audlum, 19, was sent with a gun to scare some crows on his father’s farm at Colneygown, about 20 miles from Athlone. Audlum laid down the gun to cross a fence, and then went to pull it over, seizing it by the muzzle. The trigger caught in the brushwood, and fired the gun, the charge entering the young fellow’s heart, killing him at once.

Excitement was caused in Wellington on Tuesday by the behavior of an elderly man, who threatened to take vengeance on several persons, but especially on the Government. He pointed a revolver at one man, and threatened to shoot him. When arrested a revolver, loaded in its six chambers, a long stiletto, and a sheath knife were found upon him. He has been committed to an asylum. He had been in Wellington for about three weeks, and his long hair, the cut of his beard, and his broadcloth suit attracted attention to him when he was about the streets. Thursday’s Wairarapa Times states : At Messrs Lowes and lorns’ sale yards yesterday, a line of fat Hereford heifers, sold on behalf of Mr James Stuckey, realised £1 Bs. This is the highest price yet obtained for animals of this class at auction • and as they were under three years old, the price realised speaks volumes for the early maturing properties of the Hereford, as also for Te Rangl tumau, the property upon which the} were raised. Oh ! what would Tommy Atkins do If we had not pulled him. through ; The colonies have done their best, And Bhowed great courage in the test. We all require a little aid, And danger makes us oft afraid ; A cough won’t make your health secure,j Bo buy somtj Woooa'a Great Peppershk Core.