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Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 234, 11 October 1901, Page 1

. No loss than 21 Yeomen took the extreme step of refusing to take their medals from the King at a recent presentation, on the ground that they had not recoived their arrears of pay, writing to the King at the same time a full and respectful statement of their reasons. Pig raising as an industry has made such rapid strides, says the Manawatu 'limes, throughout the colony, that it has now come to be looked upon as an important means of revenue to farmers. It does not, however, occupy the position it should as one of our staple industries. At present barely enough pigs are raised to supply the factories with carcases to enable them to cope with their colonial trade, and until local demands are satisfied exportation can hardly prove luciative. Prom information we have obtained from an expert authority on the matter, we learn that growers should not only devote their attention to increasing the numbers of their stock, but should determine to improve the quality. New Zealand has already placed carcases on the South African and Home markets, and has realised that she cannot compete with the American and Danish producers. This failure, our informant points out, is not so much due to inferior curing as to the quality of the carcases as supplied to the factories, and not until greater attention is paid to pig raising will better result! follow. After having obtained the most suitable class of pigs, it is to proper feeding and “topping-off" that attention should be devoted, and no better food could be supplied to pigs than the by-products' of the dairy. An expert curer can quickly distinguish dairy-fed pork from that raised on offal, and the time will come when the latter class will be rejected at factories. At present, as the supply is limited, they have to be accepted, but it would not pay to export such an article to compete in the Home and foreign markets. The Government, we think, might, with advantage to the colony, appoint an expert to educate farmers in pig raising and induce them not only to increase the sizo of their herds, but also to improve the quality. At present there is an unsatisfied market m the colony, and the prices realised are more lucrative than could be obtained by exportation.

A King Country eoirespondent of a We J lington paper urges that the time has com j when tbe Government should take over Te Kuiti for a township under the Public Worts Act or some other, and that the people in that district “ should have licensed hotels, and thus give settlers and the travell ng public the same accommodation that they find in other parts of the colony, as well as to do away with the abominable, sly-grog shanties which exist, and will exist until we get properly licensed houses.” Ever since the Creation one day of the week has been held sacred. As a Christian nation the first day of the week is reoognised throughout the British Empire, and whatever may be said or done by individuals the national conscience is, fortunately, still a force to be reckoned with. All our laws, national customs, and habits are based od the fundamental principles of the Christian religion, one of the most important of which is the sanctity of one day as a Sabbath. This is recognised by Jews and Gentiles, whether the latter be Greeks, Catholics, or Protestants.—New Plymouth News. On the decision of the Opposition to elect no leader, former and present members of the House of Bepresentatioes, who had in the past acted under Captain Bussell, resolved, as a token of their personal goodwill, and in recognition of his services, to present that gentleman with a set of silver bowls. These were ordered from Messrs Ellington, the celebrated silversmiths, and will probably arrive in the Gothic, expected here in about a week’s time.—Times. It is evident that the session is not to close without a full discussion on licensing matter"-. The Premier has given notice of a modest little bill remedying one or two defects in the existing legislation. The principal one is to prevent the closing of a house in one locality and the opening of another more than a auarter of a mile away, as was supposed was provided for in the miin Act. It is also intended to provide for tourist licenses under State ownership, and restore the Magi Urates’ discretionary power as to endorsements.— Exchange.