MISCELLANEOUS.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 6 October 1919, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS.

Recently two pearls were found-on the Hawke's Bay coast, near Napier, one in a mussel and the other in a pipi.

One cheese factory in the Eketahuna district has. received some pinus insignus for cheese crates. This has not given satisfaction to the management by reason of tho very strong odour associated with the timber.

An instance of how prices have increased was mentioned at the meeting of the Wellington Education Board. The Board was considering tenders, and found that work which was in 1913 done for £-120, was now tendered for at £1345.

Any alteration in prices usually means an increase, but one takes effectthis week which is the reverse, and that is in tho price of whisky in hotel bars. How this news will lighten some folks’ hearts! The price of a nip has reverted from Dd to fid. “Eltbam Argus.”

J The Mangahao hydro-electric scheme, ; which will take three to four years to ! complete, is estimated to cost £500,000. I It is also 'estimated that tho scheme | will save 200,000 tons of coal per year; so that, allowing only £1 per ton for coal, tho scheme will more than pay for itself by the saving of coal alone in I three years.

A farmer tells us this one (says the ‘‘Bedding Star”). This week I received a visit on my farm, which is 12 miles out of Feilding, from the inspector of noxious weeds. He told me I must eradicate the bush of blackberry

that is on my place. A day or two later I was in Feilding, and took notice of the noxious weeds flourishing in town. There are acres of blackberries growing in Feilding. Why did the inspector trouble to come out 12 miles looking for trouble!

There is no fear of a shortage of butter in Auckland, according to those engaged in - the wholesale branch of the industry. Many hundreds of boxes are being received into local stores, and the quantity in store by tho end of the present month should bo very large. A consignment of 2400 boxes was sent south by the Mokoia. On account of the shortage of butter in southorn centres many consignments have been sent south from Auckland during the recent months. A 31,9641 b cheese, the largest ever manufactured, was made at Appleton, Wisconsin, on 17th June (reports “Hoard’s Dairyman”). The milk from 12,000 cows on 1800 farms was used. When tho containing vat was filled and a compression machine had forced tho cover down, an ice-house was built around the vat. The cheese will be allowed to age in this ice-house until ready to bo shipped to a packing company in Chicago, which will exhibit it at the 1919 National Dairy Sliow.

“The Huns are evidently determined to capture a share of the world’s markets again, and they arc not losing much time about it r ” declared a Christchurch merchant last week. He had received by tho English mail several Gorman price lists from firms with whom ho had never done business before. Tho price lists held no interest for him, and he had accordingly consigned them to the waste-paper basket, but he pointed out that other importers might not treat the German overtures in the same manner.

The eligibility of county ratepayers who make default in payment of their rates to vote at the election of a member of a county council was discussed ar the Conference of the Counties’ Association. Remits were introduced from a number of councils recommending the conference to urge the amendment- of the Counties Act, and reinstate in default of fheir rates should be ineligible to vote at any election of a member of a council. After a short discussion the remit was approved. An historic cannon has been secured on behalf of tho Gisborne Philosophical Institute. It is one which was used on the Endeavour when Captain Cook visited New Zealand in 1770, and which was jettisoued when the Endeavour subsquently was stranded in the Barrier reef on the cast coast of Australia. The gun was found about ten years ago by a party of bcchc de mer fishermen, who were diving on the reef. It is what was known as a four-pounder, and is about four feet long, and weighs about four hundredweight It is well preserved, considering that it had been under water for about 140 years.

At Christchurch on Wednesday, when five boys appeared before him, charged whom were placed on probation. Mr S. with a series of burglaries, four of E. McCarthy, S.M., said that one cause of juvenile crime in the city that was pre-eminent was the absence of parental control. Some children were allowed to do pretty much as they pleased, their parents being far too indulgent. He had no doubt that if a good example were set by parents it would have a benefieial effect on the children. Lack of good home-training was the "cause of a lot of juvenile crimes committed.