NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1079, 6 August 1912, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

Rumour hath it, says the West Coast Times, that not fifty miles from Greymouth a father came home the other night and stockwhipped a youth whom he found at the gate in company with his daughter. It is also said that the thrashing was a very severe one, and the lad is now in the hospital, and that court proceedings are pending.

The prospective output of cheese from New Zealand for the coming season has been estimated independently by two men, each of whom is in a position to make a calculation, at about 35,000 tons. This is an increase of about qooo tons on last year. About 6000 tons is accounted for by the change of various factories from butter to cheese.

Under the will of the late Mr F. Bulleu, it is understood (says the Otago Daily Times) that provision has been made for the following handsome bequests : Dr. Barnardo’s Homes, ,£1000 ; trustees of the Presbyterian College (Knox College), Dunedin, ; second wing of Knox College, ,£IOOO ; Sustentation Fund Presbyterian Church, the Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin branches of the Y.M.C.A., ,£SOO each; and the Salvation Army, ,£SOO.

The latest thing in the way of strikes is reported from Milan, Italy, where the lawyers, so to speak, have just “ downed briefs,” says a cable message to the Sydney Sun. All the trouble occurred over the inability ot the city attorneys to secure certain reforms in legal procedure for which they had been clamouring. Having made a last uusuccesstul effort to gain what they wanted, the lawyers called upon the various raagistratss and declared that not a single member ot the profession would appear in the courts until their demands had been granted.

Rev H. Mason, the well-liked parson who has reached lame by his ability to find water (and whose services are much sought after because they are given freely) has a sense of humour. It appears that J. W. Bailey had asked the reverend water diviner to use his gift. Mr Mason readily did so. Knowing the diviner was not in the habit of accepting payment, Mr Bailey insisted that he should accept some present or service in return. “All right,” said the parson, “I’m going to Wellington by the express tonight. Give me a lift in your motor car.” J. W., in a facetious mood, replied, “I’ll run you into town (from Panmure) ou condition you shout me a long beer!” “Right!” said the parson. Away they wenb, the water diviner directing the route. “Pull up here !’’ he said. They dismounted, and the water diviner led his friend into the morgue—fortunately empty. “There’s your long bier! —now let’s catch that train.”