LOCAL & GENERAL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 3 July 1916, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

At the local reeuiting office last week the following handed in their names ior service ait the front:—A. Thorne, J'ox'ton-road, Levin (Infantry, n.c.o); \\. R.. Sutherland, Levin (infantry); W. L. Bryant, M anakaul infantry); E. H. Pratt, Levin (infantry); FT J. Oldridge. Levin (A.S.C.) file Levin and District Patriotic Society forwarded to the Department of Internal Affairs last week a cheque for .tIUCS 112s 3d for the Sailors' Dependents' Fund, and are forwarding to-day u cheque for £72 6s, making a total of £178 18s sd. In addition to these sums Messis Abraham and Williams torwarded JL'3O 7s for tho same purpose.

An interesting incident served to enliven the osniewhat dreary proceedings in the Una trial in the Auckland Supreme Court last Friday. Riddle, a. native witness, had been giving his e\idonee in Maori for lour hours. The Hon. J. A. Tolo, K.C., tried in vain ior some time to induce the witness to talk in English. Suddenly counsel ■'•slicd Riddle if he had, ever been to fcchool. "I have novor been to school in my liie," the witness quickly answered, and the Court was convulsed with laughter. "If you went for a glass of beer you would know how to ask for it?" Mr Tole said. "Yes. very quick," Diddle replied and there was more merriment. Witness proceeded with his 'evidence in English, and at times it was difficult to stop him. "You have done remarkably well," wan Mr Tole's concluding compliment. Tho farmers at Xo?-Lh Dakota, are in rebellion against injustices they say have mad© fanning unprofitable in one <>f the i iclient agricuiturail regions of (he world. They have formed on organization ef 10,('09. over half the farmers of the State, each olio of whom has contributed six or nine dollars to a fund intended to accomplish a revolution in State affairs and the conditions under which farmers work and lire. Japanese cheap goods are not tor lmio;. likely to remain cheap, for as soun as the world's market price of tlieni goes up they, too, advance. M.r

Alehander. tlio manager of the merchandise department of Burns, Philp

and Co., speaking to a representative oi the Post, instanced the case of Japa-nese-made printing paper. "They can manufacture cheaply,'' he naid, "but they are net the people to give ■anything away? They are rather indi/lerent jutst now to any outside business in paper, as their own home deniaiKl is very great, and, besides,

prices for all materia#-; _ have made substantial advanoes."

Situated in tlie beautiful Kwpp Valley, in the Jamestown district of Barberton, Transvaal, there is a mine known by the name of Verdite. Tho name was given to it on account of

the peculiar greenstone fyund in the mine which is unknown in any other part of the globe. Articles in jewellery and ornaments are made of verdite, and it has been called the lucky greenstone of South Africa. This greenstone is a silicate of magnesia or

talc, colored' green by nature in tho course of its formation. Other silicates of magnesia may be mentioned, here :perido'te, serpentine, meerschaum, and steatite. The mine, or, rather, hill consists of three varieties <if talc, green, white and black. But a peculiar fact is that in black talc .there is present pure gold. l .' Some of the fines', specimens of gojd-bearing rook have been found at this mine. Everyone knows that gold is found in quartz, pyrites, or even in sea-water, but scarcely ever lias it been mentioned in books that gold exists in talc. Vfhen the verdite rock has gone through the ordinary process of crushing and the gold has been extracted, tho waste, or what is called the slimes from a gold mine is used in the manufacture of soap, grease, paint, toilet powders, gas gets, eleotric insulators, crayons and many other articles of everyday use. In fact, one. -might. Bay that everything got from this mine can ho used for some commercial purpose. There is a probability that red tape, so ell and familiarly known m Government departments, and the term associated with the tedious methods of Government business, will disappear shortly to give pkoe to white tape. 'J lie matter has been brought under the notice ot the Commonwealth department:- by an article in the "Accountant, ' published in London, in which the view is expressed that a considerable saving could be effected if white instead of red tape were used for binding Government documents. "AVe a onturo to think," the ''Accountant" coiuments. "tlhat few persons will be inclined to regret the abolition* of red tape in Goscrnment departments, but wo fear that the practice will continue | to flourish, although its outward and visible symbol may no longer he apparent. We leave it to our readers to calculate how many miles of red tape must be used in a year to enable saving of £1400 a year to be effected by avoiding the expense of dyeing tho tape. If the dyeing of the tape another colour—green, yellow, or even khaki --wou<l m®an the speeding tip of Goi eminent departments, and an abolition of the painful circumlocution which I characterises Government office routine, j th" experiment would indeed be well worth a- trial."

Horowhenua County Council's "ordinary monthly mooting will be held in Levin nexit Saturday, commencing at 11 a.m. The business will Tie 'of a routine nature. I'at owes sold at Berwick (England) ok April 10th made tlhe highest price in t-he hiisory of tilie market—K& as against 63s twu years ajjo. A senseless piece of vandalism lias been perpetrated at Port Chalmers (says the Otago Daily Times). Resting upon a solid rock foundation on the liiii overlooking t/lie township is a memorial lo Captain Scott, it is a striking though unpretentious monument, attractive in its simplicity. On the base upon which it is fixed some person has printed in black letters four or Jive fool lonu;. the word "Otaki," which is visible from a grttit distance. There is nothing offensive in the word, bat it is a disfigurement and an offence to the public that should not be allowed to remain.

On the Main Trunk road from l'almeisti.n North to Wellington, in the Horowhenua County, there nre two unbridged, streams which are veritable traps for the unwary motorist. Sixty pounds would culvert the two. I lie Kairanga or Manawatu County would not suffer such a disgrace for seven days on any of their county tby-j'oads.—Manawatu Times.. Tho (Salvation Army Band has assisted gratuitously at many public functions in Levin. To-morrow night, '1 uesday, it will blow its own trumpet and pass its own hat. lb deserves a good response. An excellent program lias been drawn up for the occasion which will take the form of a Musical Festival, at the King's Theatre, Levin. The full progr'nim is advertised on page 3.