GENERAL NEWS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9065, 4 February 1908, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS.

No fewer than 61 Mormon missionaries, under the leadership of Elder James Ratliffe, of Grantsville, Utah, arrived in England by the White Star liner Cymric at the end of last year. In the course of an interview, Mr Ratliffe said that no attempt would be xhade to spread the Mormon faith in Germany, owing to the extremely hostile attitude of the German Government. Switzerland would be the nearest mission field to the Kaiser’s domains. ~~vAt White Cliff, New South Wales, a remar.fepde discovery w»s made recently by Patrick -ray, who purchased a v \iweil:.ng css— jd in succession by two mfen', K &rh of whom are now dead. In cleaning up the floor of the small dwelling Mr Murray noticed a square tin sunk beneath the surface. On being opened it was found to contain two bags of opal, valued at £l7O. Mr Murray at once handed the treasure over to the police, who are making • inquiries. Previous to Mr Murray becoming the owner, the Curator of Intestate Estates disposed of the camp, with other effects, for £3. The query is, which of the two dead men planted the opals, and who is the rightful owner? In a Taranaki town not a hundred miles from New Plymouth the executive committee of a certain function which is shortly to take place decided to be photographed (says the Taranaki Herald). At the time appointed, through some misunderstanding, the Mayor of the town, who is also chairman of the committee, was not prepared to face the photographer. He asked for a few minutes’ grace. The committee agreed, but waited half an hour in vain. . The wag of the party then suggested that if they could not have a mayor in the chair they would have a mare. So the seat which had been reserved ifif his Worship was moved to one side, and a rocking horse substituted. The photograph was taken. It was, however, no sooner snapped than the Mayor turned upland the proper photograph was obtained. *" The long-promised advent of the black apples from France has at last been effected, says an English exchange, and the strange fruits are now to be seen on sale in the fruit shops in several cities. Within a week’s time large shipments will be made for distribution throughout the Midlands and the North, as the public have bought the dark-skinned daintise eagerly. These fruits are termed “api noir” in France, and they are very popular at Christmas time in Paris, especially where quantities are packed in pretty boxes, the fruit being arranged in squares of coloured tissue paper, which add to their attractiveness. Just now the consumers buy the first fruits at the rate of £3O a ton, but

the importers say when the darkskinned samples arrive packed in attractive packages they will sell freely at the rate of £6O a ton at least. In response to inquiries at Covent Garden Market a well-known dealer said, “I never knew any novelty sell so rapidly as have these black apples from Paris,” Much amusement was caused in Collins street, Melbourne, says the Argus, by the antics of an infuriated Chinese, evidently a sailor, with but a limited knowledge of the English language. The wind was blowing fresh, and . the Chinese, wearing a light felt hat, was hurrying west. A stronger gust than usual met him at a corner, catching him unawares. He made an effort to stop his hat in its flight, but only succeeded in shaking to the ground his pigtail—6 feet long. At this moment an inquisitive dog was caught by the buckle of his collar, on to the extremity of the flowing pigtail. There sudden pull on the scalp of the.Ohinese, who round himself going backwards at a great rate. Not having seen the dog, he evidently thought someone was playing a prank on him. His indignation found expression wdth difficulty. “Hi, hi, leggo—go ’stern—back ’6r, back ’er,” he screamed. This only increased the terror of the already frightened dog. Assistance was quickly forthcoming, and the prisoner was released. But no explanation would convince the Chinese that the affair was an accident, or that the dog was the unwilling culprit.