GENERAL NEWS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 5 October 1911, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS.

A movement emanating from the Waikato Beekeepers' Association, is on foot( reports the llanultun Times) to endeavour to induce tho Gtovornmoiut to assist in establishing an export trade for New Zealand Jlionoy by means of a London bottling; and distributing depot, somewhat on the linos of that inaugurated by tho South Australian Government. A southern farmer-gives the following advioo in reference to the apliis blight and diamond-backed moth: The birds are tflne farmers friends, and in ordinary seasons they are able to cope with the pests, tout with a long ■spell of drought the latter increase- too fast. In th«t case the best plan is to x>ut the sheep on as soon as the pests arc seen. E'ltham is feeling the shortage- of stock, and the local paper records the fact that master butchers in tho district are exercising their minds over the scaicity. One butcher is reported to have said that, owiiig to the fact that there are now wry few settlers within twenty miles of Eltham who go in for fattening stoctk, ho was afraid he would havo to go to the other side of tihli* Waikato for it. He had commissioned' agents in Eltham, Hawera, and' Stratford to -procure supplies, but all 'hjjd the same story to tell—they could not get any. The hearing of the Webster claim against New Zealand is being made by the descendants of tlhe late William Webster, and will probably take place at Washington, U.S.A., some time next year. The claim, which is being made under the Pecuniary Claim Convention (an international convention between Great Britain and America), has reference to certain lands yn the Auckland province which the late Mr Webster, an American citizen, is alleged to have acquired from t'ihe Maoris in tho early days of the colony. The latest statement of claim'is £1,250,000 . An.Egg Farmers' Association has been formed in Christchureh for the purpose , 'a!' marketing eggs to best 1 advantage. The association has adopted a brand which will be registered, and all eggs are to be sent stamped to the association depot, which an agent will be in charge of. It is proposed to submit some 500 dozen first grade eggs .to auction each week to fix the standard price, and the agent will dispose of the balance to the best advantage. Only guaranteed quality .will be (handled, and most of the leading egg producieivshavo decided to support the association. Butter fat competitions, supervised by agricultural associations, are. a big feature in Australia. The National Agricultural Society of Queensland has been conducting a yearly test for a champion prizo of £25 at its annual Show. To gain championship honours the win had fo bo mode three times, and at thesho wreeontly held, the final chain-; pionship was gained by a purebred Jersey. The results of the competition were based on the greatest yield of butter fat for 48 hours. The winning cow, Silver Belle (Jersey), gave 841 ibs Bozs of milk, yielding 4.71bs of butter. The second in the contest was a grade Ayrshire Shorthorn cow. yielding lOolbs 4ozs of milk,'and 4.31bs of -butter. The winner of the fimal championship is Mr E. Burton, a leading Jersey breeder of Queensland. .Some ago a, Ballarat resident decided to abstain from food for a term, and 1 to take only 'hot water during that time. In the first week he test Gibs in weight. In the next week the loss was 41bs, but after that it fell to about 21bs weekly, and continued at that rate for the rest of his fast, which Hie has just ended, after being forty-two days without food Every day he drank copiously of hot water . After In ■he had 'been about three weeks without solid rourishmejiib Ui'e expressed his intention or not eating until be felt a diesire for food. Recently he became hungry, and he then ended his voluntary fast, enjoying a moderate meial. Prior to his abstention he had had to be very careful as to diet, but now Hie takes food which (previously did not agree with him, and states that ; he is now in excellent health. One of the "turns" at a vaudeville show in Trnidad, Colorado, recently was in-udh more thrilling and realistic than it was intended to be. The sensation was provided by a lady with the suggestive name of Risk, who is billed) as lT the human target," and whose "amazing feat," as it is advertised, consists in her catching between her teeth, a bullet fired from a rifle across the stage. The audien'.vj was stricken with i.muor, for everyone thought that the woman had been jfliot dead. It was discovered that although madame had not been fatally injured, she had suffered a. very ugly wound in. the head. . It has since leaked out that tihfe bullets which Mine. Risk nightly stops are made, not of lead as the innocent imagine, but of wax. .These bullets ', always melt by the Iheat of the explosian in ,the rifle, and never reach Mme. Risk. The real leaden bullet which the lady smilingly reveals caught -between (her teeth is one that she has concealed in her mouth, where it remains until thrust forth at the right moment. For once the waxen bullet failed to melt, 'hence all the trouble. i The South Canterbury Farmers' Union -has decided to import a trial batch of twenty selected girls and to remitest- Mr Henderson, tlhe C.F. CiA.'s London representative, to act as agent in tihe matter. Two donations; totalling £30, were received at a recent meeting, this bringing the sum in-hand for the carrying ©ut of the project to close on £100. It is anticipated that tflie trial shipment will.reach Timaru within four months' time. The girls, wiho are coming direct to Timaru, will (says the Tiraaru Heraldi) be specially chosen from the country districts, as it is found that town , girls find , it hard to adapt themselves to till© ways of ta farming life. It is in fact, found very difficult to 'find girls brougli up amidst the "bustle and business" of the larger towns and cities in the Old! Land settle down iat all to the life in the farming districts. -■ i Nor , can this be expected, for it is not natural for them. Whoever acts as agent will be instructed to make every' possible inquiiy regarding the girls., so ifliiat those selected will be healthy, capable, and of good 'character. It will be optional for the girls to come out ait the £2 16s of the £4 lGs 'berthage fee, although, .as the arrangement stands at 'present, only ten can travel at each rate. In making application, those desirous of obtaining servants •had to make a deposit of £6,105. Oh'a girl arriving at her new home, the employer will • receive a refund of £2 if the girl has travelled at the lower berthage fee, the remaining £1 14s being-utilised to cover individual expenses. There wall be no refund for those whose servants have tiltough. fit ito travel at the £4 16s rate.' It is incumbent on the firls to first of all .wo-rfc writh their employers the amount of their .bertihage fee and incidental expnss exjiended on them, and then they begiiL'to really earn the wages iwid them. . Until the sum spent on tlhem has been paid off the ejirls will be un3r an obligation to their employers... but from' that time on are free citizens of .New Zealand 1 , .permitted to go 'wheTQ,inclination leads them.