NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1579, 20 July 1916, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

At a Avell-attondcd meeting, convened by Sir James (1. AVilson, held at Wellington on AVednesday, it Avas resolved to form a Ncav Zealand Forestry League. The folhnving committee aa-iis elected: —Sir Walter Buehanan, Sir James G. AVilson, Messrs AV. Ferguson, R. Reynolds, B. Chambers, Hon. D. Buddo, J. Deans, AV. D. Hunt, E. Hall, A, Leigh Hunt, and A. H. Cockayne.

The mildness of the winter, folloAving the warm autumn rains, has produced rat her remarkable results on Banks Peninsula (says the Christchurch Sun). The almond trees are already in blossom, spring lloAvering bulbs arc blooming freely, and ripe strawberries have been picked on some of the sunnier slopes. At Cashmere Hills, a resident, whose garden is on the Dyer’s Pass road, Inis gathered a second crop of Kentish Fillhasket apples.

The deepest artesian avcll in AVanganni has just, recently been sunk for (he Gunvillo Town Board in its property at the hack of the Town Hall (says a Wanganui paper). The Imre, a 3in. one, tapped it fine body of water at a depth of 830 feet., and although a still larger Jloav could have been obtained by going further doAvn it Avas considered (hat the 50 gallons per minute uoav being obtained would he ample for the requirements of the Gonville public baths, for the supply of Avhich the well Avas put doAvn. The old 2in. Imre, Avhicli tapped water at a great deal nearer the surface, Avas someAvhat slow in tilling (lie hath, Imt; the new Avell giA’es sufficient water for swimming in 12 hours, and completely fills the hath in 30 hours. A striking featui’e of the ncAV supply is the temperature of the Avater, which is very much av, -inner than that drawn from the upper IcA-els, besides being very soft and pure.

Mr T. R. Walton, avlio died at Nelson last Aveek, in his 70th year, Avas one of the early settlers in the Masterlon district, where he resided for a number of years, being schoolmaster at the Upper Plains. Coming to Palmerston in 1875, he started business as a storekeeper Avilh Mr T. King, in the Square, and closciy identified himself Avith the progress of the town. He took an active part in local a Hairs, and was a prominent Freemason, being one of the founders of the Ala 11awain Kihvinning Lodge. He resided in Napier for a number of years after that, and finally settled in Nelson Avith his daughter. He leaves a family of seven. The sons are Messrs T. AValton (Africa,), and K. AValton (Palmerston), and the daughters Mrs Richards and Airs Cole (Nelson), Airs AVhite and Airs Collett (Petone), and Miss Walton (Otaki).

A corresjjondent of the .'southland Times Avriles: “This is the picture of a rustic of the Southland backblocks avlio appeared before the Boss one morning lately. He .asked for a cheque or (wo as lie would like to send ‘a quid’ to Dr. Barnardo’s ‘kids,’ and £4 for Serbian and other funds, and Men hoi),’ as lie said, for a Salvation lass if she happened along. From the look of him, adorned iu rat her shabby dungarees, had leggings, tied with hind-

er I wine, and an old cap one would hardly pick up, he avus probably the lasi men one would have picked out for such kindly, manly generosity. The only thing that gave away such rough exterior avjis (he steady, kindly blue eye that peeped out at you from under his shaggy eyebrows. I’ily there are so few like him in nature who could so much heller afford to do gracious things of this kind.”

What was said lo be (he first cast 1 in (lie Dominion under I;lie law empowering a Magislrale lo hear a claim for defamalion of character was heard last week in the Magistrate’s Court at h’eefton, when a Chinaman named Chow Chong (Mr Sargent) sued Joe I lee (Messrs Joyce and La wry) for £2O for defamation of character (says the Greymouth S(ar). The heaving caused considerable amusement. It seems (according to Mr Sargent) that the defendant some months ago had some 150 or £6O stolen from his house in Cinnamon street, Reel'ton, and is alleged to have made use of the defamatory 7 words complained of, viz., “Chow Fong, he no good, lie stealum my money.’’ Each side had come prepared with their own Chinese interpreters, both of whom_ elected to he sworn on (he Bible, one saying lie was “a Christian, but not much of a noe.” (The S.M.: None of us are!). After hearing evidence for about four hours, his Worship dismissed the charge, with solicitor's costs £2 2s, interpreter £1 9s Bd, witness 8&, and Court costs 4s.