NEWS ITEMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 703, 24 December 1902, Page 4

NEWS ITEMS.

Writes a Wairere correspondent to the Wairavapa Times : —The Ihuraua Valley is steadily forging ahead as a butter-pro-ducing district, and whether in supply to tho creamery, or by local sale, every effort is made to increase the output. I understand the highest test for butter-fat is obtainable here, as against creameries in adjacent localities, and it is not surprising, therefore, that operations will be further enlarged next year. 11 It is an ill-wind that blows nobody good,” says the proverb, and to tho reduced value of wool may bo attributed tho very general attention now directed to the dairy industry, which has also brought_about a complete chango in the higher quality of stock, than formerly obtained. Ayrshires and Shorthorns are greatly in demand. During a Madame Melba rehearsal, at the Melbourne Princess Theatre one afternoon recently, a small boy reporter from one of the dailies pushed in and worried the perplexed songstress with many questions. “Is there nothing you can give me for the paper 5” he waded. Madame pulled up, and thought. “ Yes,” she said seriously ; “ I am going to have that side of the proscenium pushed back five feet in older that my father may be ablo to see mo better from his box, I intend to compel the moon to wear a veil because her face is a little obtrusive in this scene, I anil I'm th!r}! cin s o£ having the roof of the I theatre kept close shut for fear of making | tho angels jealous.” Tho journalistic “chid” took these notes, and, what’s more, his paper printed them. Molha has a decided fondness for practical joking. Tho opinion expressed by the Premier that there would likely be a slight tightening of the money market in this colony has given some people the desired opportunity of airing their financial ability, and some decidedly pessimistic views have been expressed. For all legitimate enterprise, plenty of money is available, and this is readily seen by referring to the quarterly banking returns and the Post Office Savings Bank returns. The high prices now being realised for all kinds of i produce will enable our farmers to meet all engagements, and have a little to spare | for general expenditure, aud, while this is so, trade must remain good, and any slight advance in money, should such take place, will not auecc us very seiiousiy.— Free Lauce.

Mr W. -J. Napier, ex-senior member for Auckland City, paid a visit to Wellington at the end of last week, and left on Monday on his return home. He confessed to the Laucc that his defeat at the poll was a surprise and a great disappointment, but he felt wounded and humiliated to find himself beneath a carpet bagger from Sydney like Eiehat'dson, the street advocate of Prohibition. Mr Napier traces his defeat to a combination of dissimilar causes. The Labour Party, he says, plumped for their own candidate, aud told Mr Napier afterwards they had considered him absolutely safe without their votes. Tho Conservatives, having no candidate of their own, passed round the word, to make a solid ticket of Withel'ord, Kidd, aud Baume, so as to keep him out, aud finally the New Zealand Herald deprived him of quite 2000 votes by asserting editorially on the day before the election that his firm drew enormous fees from the Government for acting as solicitors to the Advances to Settlers Office, whereas _tkis work did not average more than £l5O a year. The votes he did receive were all Liberal votes. The ex-senior member is not at all dismayed, and has not. the slightest intention of retiring from politics. He is sorry to be out of the arena, but means to get back with the least possible delay.—Free Lance.