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Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 34, 6 December 1901, Page 3

New Zealanders by birth comprise 63 per cent, of the colony's population, yet they only contribute 25 per cent, to the prisoners in gaol. Seveu bundled pounds for a lamb seems a stiff price, but that, according to the Paris correspondent of the Daily Mail, is the amount which one has cost an inhabitant of a little village in the department of Lozere. Two neighbouring farmers were sworn enemies, and three years ago a lamb strayed from her owner's pastures into the property adjoining. Instead of sending the animal back, the neighbour kept it and bi-anded it with his initials. A law suit was commenced, and after three judgements in favour of the owner, the Court of Cassation has just delivered a fourth, confirming the verdict of the lower courts. The loser will therefore after restore the property to his neighbour and pay the bill of costs, amounting to nearly While the case was pending the lamb became a. mother, and gave birth to another lamb, and the cost for their maintenance for the period during which their ownership was in dispute amounts to .£7O.

Siberia has long been sending butter to England, but the opening of the Trans-Siberia Railway has made it a far mo e formidable competitor than it formerly was. Last year the imports of Siberia butter into* Great Britain were valued at .£1,400,000, and this year it is est : mated that they will reach the value of .£2,500,000" The supply of butter which Siberia can furnish is said to be practically unlimited. It is als expected, says the "Daily News,"' that Siberia will' shortly flood the English market with poultry, game and meat.

Dining his recent visit to Wellington Mr Arthur Glass, chief organiser of the Farmers' Union, arranged very satisfactory terms with the Commercial Union Insurance Company for the insurance against accidents of all employees of members of the union. The agreement entered into includes special te-ns for the insurance, of casual employees in bushfalling, and men engaged on contracts and about farm machinery. The premiums are to be collected by the Secretaries of the union branches, The following advertisement recently appeared in the Pelorus Guardian :-

" Wanted, a. young man to drive milk waggon from Kaitunato dairy factory ; apply to E. Bartlett, Rock Creek. To make matters, comfortable, Mr or Mrs Bartlett will drive on wet or unpleasant ays.