GENERAL NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2169, 27 August 1907, Page 1

GENERAL NEWS.

AVliilo the German Emperor and Empress were inspecting a motor-boat exhibition at Kiel, they were continually troubled with amateur photographers anxious to secure .snapshots of Their Majesties. At last the Empress remarked that the continual .ordeal of being photographed was gradually gettig on her nerves. To this the Emperor replied that he could not take it .ill in the inhabitants of Kiel that they wished to possess a picture of the Empress, and ho hogged her to permit the photographers to go on with their work unmolested.

Chicago meat packers, since the rush of contracts following the new pure food law, have been herd put to it obtain a sufficient number of women and girls. The Libby, McNeill, and Libby, Swift, and National Packing Company managements recently announced they would give a rel ics of receptions and afternoon teas in the factories to show women and girls what nice plants they have, and how agreeable the work is. All girls over sixteen years of age, and women dependent upon their own elliorts for a living, will he invited to thoso social functions.

.Strenuous efforts are being made a little way out of London to preserve the old AVanstead Gate House, where Tom Hood lived for a short time in tlio Thirties. It was here that the famous author wrote the novel, “Tylney Hall,” much of the descriptive scenery for which was taken from the surrounding neighborhood. The house is described as having boon originally a sort of banqueting hall to AA’anstead Park. It contained a beautiful chimney-piece by Grinling Gibbons, but probably this hardly compensated Hood for its disadvantages, lor it was said to be at that time infested with rats, while the garden was overrun with rabbits.

There are in the Roman Catholic arch-diocese of Melbourne five different foundations, or head houses, of tlio Sisters of Mercy, to each of which several branch houses, or affiliations, are attached. Last May, Archbishop Carr by authority received from the Holy See united them all under one head superior, and referred ithe proceedings to Rome for confirmation. Dr. Carr has received a cable message from Cardinal Gotti, prefect of the Sacred Congregation of the Propaganda, confirming the amalgamation. The Institute of the United Sisters is governed by a mother-general, assisted by four counsellors.

AA’i'i'ting of Joachim, the greatest of latter-day violinists, whose death was announced by cable recently, an admirer has said: —“111 spite of transcendental execution, Joachim has always been not the virtuoso, but the artist, bolding audiences by the entrancement of art rather than by the tricks by which the more executant seeks to cover a shallow musical equipment. AA’hat poor little tracks they are, and bow stale I There is the trick of harmonics, the pizzicato trick, the trick of double-stopping. Thero is the trick of pose; of playing easy music with clenched teeth and 'air of tremendous’ exertion ; of finishing a commonplace rendering with a commonplace spurt that never fails of its applause. How the concert-going innocent rises to the bait, and the knowing ones laugh in their sleeves I Tho genuine regard evoked by the real artist puts 'all such tomfoolery as this in the shade.”

The forestry laws are very rigidly enforced throughout Germany (says a writer in the New Zealand Herald). Forestry is a special department of every State, .and a number of special schools have been established to give a thorough technical training to candidates for tills branch of the public service. One has not to’wander far through a German pine forest before lie comes across an extensive nursery,

which is generally close to the residence of the chief forester. The latter officer is responsible for the observance of the forest laws, collects timber dues, etc., and sees that several trees are planted for every one that is felled. When I saw the extent to which tree-planting was carried in all the .forests of Germany I could not help reflecting on the •amount of wealth that is consumed yearly by bush-fires in. New Zealand, and on the valuable asset we are losing through the neglect of the Government to carry out any systematic scheme Of forest conservation.

The Mangaweka Settler says: “One would hardly credit the number' of settlers who have lived in the wolds of tlio King Country the greater portion of their lives without venturing into civilisation. We had a striking illustration of this fact the other day, when a represenative of this .paper met an old identity in the train "bo bad never been out of the King Country since early in the sixties. He volunteered the statement that he was of German extraction. In the early days he had assisted in making ammunition for the Maoris, and had been with Te Kooti when lie made liis last stand against he pakelias. Till a few vears ago he had been haunted with 'the belief that the police were lying in wait for him to shoot him down as a rebel. He pointed out two old Maori veterans sitting in the same carriage. The elder one he described as one of Te Kootis blood men; the other had been loyal to the British. They had fought against each other. To-day they were inseparable friends.”