LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 August 1910, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In preparation for orecbion of a suitable Wilding for the housing of the local Carnegie library, the Levin .Borough Council is inviting ctompyti-, tivo designs for a building in brick or ferro-concrete. Particulars can be obtained on application to Mr P. W. Gold-smith, town clerk of Levin.

A Berkshire grade sow belonging to a 'farmer a,t Seville, Victoria, farrowed 101 pigs within four years, 01 of which woro reared. A sow from these farrowed within twelve months 30 strong pigs, 17 of which were sold at a clear profit of £23 Ox 2d, besid.s supplying the farmer with 2801 bs of pork, and her second, yean begins with a litter of 12.

Some AyrshiiV herd records supplied to the Hawera Star show that si whole herd of 8(> cows were carefully tested for tho season (seven months and throe weeks.) The poorest cow returned 2081bs of but-ter-fat 'and the best 5681b5. For the whole -period the average for the whole nerd was 3311b5. Anoth e_r picked herd of Ay rshiros numbering 25 averaged 5001 bs of but ter fat for the season.

tho railheads at Whan.garoi north ward and Kawakawa. southward extensions have now been linked up. The Public Works Department hope to hand over the twenty miles now in their possession by December. This will ma be the total length of railway from Whangarei to Opnn (Bay of Islands) available for traffic a distance of 5-1 miles.

The subject of afforefctation is referred to in considerable detail in the scenery preservation portion of th'e report of tho Lands Department presented to Parliament. Among other things, it is said that there are many acres of land in New Zealand which owing t othoir steep nature and inaccessible position, .should never have been denuded, and there are still such 1 areas that shou\d lie reserved I'or all time.

Some remarkably big catches of small birds have been made in South Canterbury recently. At Beautiful Valley, the Temuka Road Board's bird-catcher caught 3000 birds in five days. One resident mad.o another catch recently, getting 1250 in one day with one net, while one man earned a cheque of £11 by his catch of small birds.

Ratepayers in Westport received something like an electric, shock when they read the now Government Valuations placed on their properties. In many cases, says the Westport News, tho valuations have gone up 100 or more per cent. Where there has been a depreciation on buildings, there has been a corresponding appreciation or something more on unimproved values. The Government appears determined to maintain the fictitious values placed on properties in Wesport in tho boom period.

"Many people have noticed two tawny spots above n sheepdog's e.ves," remarked Mr Edgar R. Waite at a lecture in Cliristchiirch. "They don't seem to bo of much use, but it has been suggested that when .the dog is asleep, an enemy of it, seeing the spots, thinks the spots are tho dog's eyes, and presuming that the animal is awake, refrains from attack."

According to a special correspondent oi the Taihape Times, who is familiar with the native districts of AYa.nganui, the Maoris arc, 110 doubt, gradually dec-reusing. One thing lie .noticed was (hat most of the people in tiro pas had white blood in thorn—a fact- tlva.t was remarked very often there. Many people seemed to think that. in a few years a full-blood native would bo hard to find. Another noticeable feature was.(bat the old-fash-ioned Maori whares were, being replaced by European houses. Very few of the raupo and toi-toi whares were now to be seen.

A good opportunity Cor observing Mercury will occur during the last week of August. The difficulty about seeing this planet is that lie. is so chxse to the sun that lie generally rises or sets in bright twilight, hut lie may ho seen in a dark sky for a few evenings before and after August 30. On August 2!) lie sets at 7.53 p.m. which i.s nearly two and a half hours after sunset.' As a rule the sky is quite dark by 7 p.m. at that time of year, and under such circumstances Mercury is bright and quite unmistakable. His position on August 29 is in (lie constellation Virgo, about 12 degrees to the west of Jupiter.

A young man named William Robert Munro, who was formerly a resident of Levin, pleaded giriltv this morning, before Mr A. I). Thomson. S.M., to four charges of forgery. The case for the prosecution was conducted by Sub-Inspector O'Donliovan, of Palmerston North, who came down to Levin to dr> so in consequence of some of the offences having been committed in his district. One forgery was committed at Tnglewood, one at lfawera, one at Shannon, and the last one at T.evin. After Munro had made his pleas of guilty, .lie wis reminded lor sentence to the Supreme Court at Wellington.

Some very dear game-- working out at about eighteen shillings a pound— was obtained by James Doyle, senior, and his son, on the 21th July last, at Kojv.itnroa, near Levin. They were combining business with pleasure, by doing manual labour in the open and keeping their guns handy. A hen pheasant was shot bv young Doyle, and his father showed his skill by bowling over a pukeko. They were changed with the offence at the S..M. Court, Levin, (this morning ,before Mr Thomson, S:M. As both birds were of classes that- aro specially protected, the offence was a serious one, and the magistrate marked his sen.se of the offence by fining young Doyle £3 on account of the lien pheasant (■always protected), and Doyle, senr., £2 for "having shot the pukeko. C-r:sts in each case totalled 7s.

An address on Seine Debatable Points in Journalism was given before the Feiildiug Literary and Debating Society in the Council Chambers last .night, by Mr T. L. A 1 ill s, dining the course of which it was pointed out that the New Zealand press had the best-organised news service in the world. The journalistic profession came in for some more or less scathing criticism en the conclusion of the address, the critics holding that there was much room for improvements in cable news, that the commercial spirit dominated the editorial department, that the indeEendence of the modern paper could o bought by an advertisement, and that every daily was prejudiced. The speakers wore Messrs T. Watson, G. Budd, 11. Oohbe, Beaumont andTßutlor. The editor for some forty minutes saw himself as some other people see him. It was a kind or heart-to-.heart talk between the pressman and the public, and the former was made to blnsh for the shortcomings of his brethren of tho inky way. In his reply tho editor of the Star refuted thd numerous charges, and contended that the working journalists of Now Zealand were an honourable, strenuous, faithful and reliable body of men, as 'unbiassed and straight as any section of the community. The Society departed from its usual course, and gave a hearty vote of thainks to the introducer of the lively debate.

Nelson H. Heath, the Levin carrier, is 011 telephone 45. If yon want your goods to catch the first train, or to have your luggage brought home from the last one, ring 'him up and .give your order. He will land you at the station bright and early, or place your luggage at your door before you oan ge<t ready to wwaiire it. ' Nelson H. Heath, Bristol sweet, Levin.—

Particulars of a number of civil cases heard at the Stipendiary Magistrate's Court, Levin, _ to-day, \till appear in to-morrow's issue of The Gnronicle. A fancy dress ball in connection with the Levin Amateur Dramatics Society was held last evening .at tho Town. Hall, and was an unqualified, success, although the attendance might hare been larger. The committee, who had the matter in hand, deserve congratulating cm the amplitude of their programme and the admirable arrangements they made for tho comfort and convenience of the guests. For some* days past, willing workers bad been engaged in beautifying the hall, and preparing the floor, and the. latter was in first-class condition for lovers of the terpsichorean art. Tho interior of the building was prettily decorated, tho grcjen garlands whioh bad been defily hung round the walls imparting a delightfully refreshing appearance to the function. When dancing was at its height, the scene, with the dancers attired in almost every variety of costume, was an animated one. Tho Amateur Dramatic Society's orchestra, under tho conduetorship of Mr Havfield, and consisting of .Messrs Lolley ('cello), Smith (flute). Old (cornet), .Sloa.fi and Moon (violins) and .lames (piano), dispensed tuneful music, and dnnchig was kept up merrily till the early hours of this morning. During evening prizes were awarded by popular vole, (o the best dressed lady and gentleman, and. resulted in Mr Dixon and Miss George winning tho prizes. Miss George receives a dozen cabinet photographs fiom Messrs Butte-rfield and Johnson, and Mr Dixon a set of military hair brushes, from Messrs A. T. Fen ton and Co. Mr Dixon was dressed as an Indian chief, and Miss George, made a. dominating Queen Elizabeth. The prizes were presented by Mr Hugh Hall in a. characteristically happy speech. The fancy dresses generally showed much care and idea in design, and it was admitted on nil hands flic ball was one of the best ever organised in Levin. Messrs Johnson. Hugh Hall and L. Nation made efficient M.'sC., the latter also acting ns lion, secretary of the dance. Mr J. Phillips worked indefatigably, and unich of the success of the proceedings is due to his ripe initiative. The principal fancy dresses among the ladies were:-Mrs "Phillips, "Nig.htf Mrs Hanks. "Bride": Mrs Wilson, "Clip and Saucer" ; Miss Strawbridge, "Mai ley's Comet": Miss George, "Queen Elizabeth"; Miss A. George, "Spanish Dancers": Miss Banks, "French Nurse Girl": Miss Smith, "Danish Girl": Miss "Williams, " Comic Life." ; Miss Bydei». ""Waitress" : Miss F. Byder, " Ambulance Nurse" : Miss L. Ryder, "Japanese" and Mi,ss B. Anderson "Spanish Dancer." Those who wore the most, conspicuous fancy dresses among the men were:- Mr Dixon. "Indian" ; Mr J. Phillips. "Old Nick": Mr Banks, "Baby": Sir Blackburn. "Stockman": Mr Johnson. "Crown" ; Mr Higgins. "Turk" : Mr L. Nation. "Henry VTI." and Mr Barrait, "Gunner."