NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1792, 21 February 1918, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES.

The unparalleled number of rabbits to be seen on our country highways and by-ways has occasioned much comment recently, both verbally and in the press (says the Mataura Bnfeign). The pest is not confined to the country districts only. The other day, on a Gore resident going home for tea, he was somewhat ’ astonished to find five “bunnies” disporting themselves on his lawn. In an article in the Sunday Herald (London), Mr F. M. B. Fisher says; “The Overseas Dominions will resolutely refuse to go back to the old basis. They are out to punish and not to forget. If there is any forgetting to be done, we leave that to another generation. Hut we will not forget because we cannot forget. If now, by specious plotting, you ended the war, you would end Hie Empire. Every valiant spirit who has laid down his life in the great cause will haunt you to the end of your days.” Two ladies who were down at the seaside near Christchurch wont for a batlle, leaving their jewellery, including a valuable diamond ring, with a third, who unknowingly dropped it in the sand and lost it. There was great agitation when the loss became known, and a long search failed to bring the missing ring to light. Then a bright idea occurred to one-of the party; a seed protector, made of fine mesh wirenetling, was borrowed from a nearby house, and the sand where the ring was lost carefully sifted. The work was carried on for an hour and a-half, but finally the searchers' patience was rewarded, and the ring dredged up! A New South Wales farmer named Hartley recently purchased three hives of bees, and placed them on his cart to convey them home. The jolting of the cart released a few bees from one of the hives. The insects made a rear attack on the horse, which, partly Astonished, partly hurt, and wholly indignant, immediately bolted. The jolting of the cart upset all the hives, and several thousands of bees were set loose. The horse, slung again and again, increased his pace to such an extent that Hartley could not jump, and the unfortunate man Avas forced to stay with the maddened insects, and protect himself as best he could. Afterwards, Avhen Hartley avus admitted to the hospital, no fewer'- than 200 bee stings Avere taken from his face. In a will dispute before Mr Justice Horridge, at London, in November, some remarkable particulars Avere given of the late Mr Davidson Parkinson Garbutt, of Hull, described as a builder, farmer, and philanthropist. It avus stated that Mr Garbutt Avas a self-made man, and could not read or Avrite till he reached the age of 50, Avhen he taught himself in order to study the Bible. He Avas a keen business man, and settled about £IO,OOO on his wife in 1879. In 1883 he had to compound Avith his creditors for 5s in the £, but soon amassed money again. After a serious illness in 1891 he paid in full all his old creditors, this costing about £IO,OOO. Then he organised and financed the Hull City Mission to the extent of £BOO a year. It Avas on the ground that he suffered from religious mania that the son disputed the will. The \mlue of the estate avus stated to be £25,000, I

Curious things happened Avhen the cyclone struck ToAvnsville recently. The bloAv Avas so fierce at Cleveland Bay, says the Sydney Sun, that it Avhipped the ocean back, laying bare the bottom of the sea. Horses, made frantic by the storm, making a dash for the open, galloped on to this firm land. It Avas only for a moment; the storm took another turn, and the sen came back and engulfed them. The bush outside the tOAvnship formed a good playground for the knife of the storm. Coming Avith a dash, it cut roads through as though with a knife. Huge gum trees Avere cut off close at the ground like a hair on a man’s chin underneath a razor. This Avas done by the outAvard 1)1oav of the storm. The cyclone, after ithad completed its cling, burst outwards like a shell. The picture of ToAA’iisville after the cyclone beggars description. At Mackay fish Avere picked up in the streets after the disturbance. Out of 300 telephone lines, only three Avere found to be intact. •