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Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9098, 19 March 1908, Page 4

Trials of motor cars in Melbourne, for clearing pillar-boxes have been so satisfactory that the Postmaster has decided to use them in the capitals of all States.

Lady Plunket addressed a largely at tended meeting at New Plymouth, yesterday, on the protection of infant life, and outlined the scheme as advocated by her iu other centres. The medical men present also spoke, and the hospital nurses gave a demonstration of making humanised milk. There is every likelihood that a society will be formed there.

At the Danuevirko Athletic and Cycling Club’s sports meeting yesterday, in the firemen’s two-men coupling event B. Nuttall and Hr Drinkwater put up a New Zealand record of 33scc. The previous best record for this event is said to be the New Plymouth the Exhibition, 35 4-5.

The negotiations with regard to securing Mr Strang’s house, at Palmerston North, as a residence for the Governor while Government House is being used for Parliament, have ’not so far been successful. It is understood that the bouse is not large enough for the purpose. Recently iu a country town in this State (says the Sydney Herald) a baker sued a long-winded customer for £2o—“goods sold and delivered.” The debtor’s solicitor defended the case by disputing some of the items. “Now, sir,” thundered the legal practitioner, “don’t you think you are greatly to blame for giving my client £2O worth of credit?” The baker resented being made a “butt” by tho lawyer. Turning to another page iu his ledger, he scored by reading the amount of the legal gentleman’s own account. Yordict for the plaintiff. Since December last—when the present outbreak of typhoid or ontric fever occurred —there have been no fewer than 137 cases reported iu Auckland city and suburbs, and owing to the severe type of the disease the percentage of deaths has been unusually heavy, there having been 13 fatal cases. However, since the recent heavy rainfall the number of cases reported is decreasing almost daily. At Wanganui S.M. Court yesterday, before Mr R. L. Stanford, the Inspector of proceeded against the Southern Cross Biscuit Company, which was fined £3 4s and costs 7s, for employing two lads under the age of 16 and 14 years without obtaaiuing permits for them to work. The Company pleaded guilty. T. Cooch was also charged with failing to pay two assistants overtime, and was fined os on each charge. Two similar informations were dismissed.

A quicker or more satisfactory recovery from a period of drought Isas never been known in South Canterbury than that experienced since the recent rain (writes a correspondent). Fields on which a green blade could not possibly be found before the welcome showers, immediately showed sign of very active life, and in less than a week there was over an inch of growth in grass, and root crops benefited proportionately. The result is that doleful forebodings of dreadful things to happen during the coming winter have all been cast aside, and with grass and roots growing every day, farmers are quite cheerful asraiu. There will be a fine/ lot of autumn and winter feed, though many held the opinion before the rain that it had held off too long to permit of any material growth this season. Sheep and cattle have advanced in price, and the supply of fat stock for the two sets of freezing works is being well maintained. A rather unusual case came before the Wellington Arbitration Court, when a tailoress was charged with leatving her employment without giving 24 hours’ notice as required by the’terms of the award. Mr Cathie stated that the esse had not been brought because of any illfeeling, but merely to give a warning to other employees. This happy-go-lucky method of quitting employment was not infrequent. Where an employees did not give notice that he or she intended to leave the employer was greatly inconvenienced. In his own case work was hung up in a half-finished state; and it was only by questioning some of the other employee who might happen to meet the absentee that the true facts could be ascertained. His Etbnor, Mr Justice Sim, said this was the first case of the kind the Court had before it in Wellington. Under the circumstances only a small fine would be imposed, but a disregard of the requirements of awards in this direction in the future would be met with a fine commensurate with the offence. Mr Cathie intimated to the Court that he intended to pay the fine (ss) himself.

Referring to the action of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board re Bible reading in schools the Minister of Education thinks that the Nelson system of Scripture lessons in State schools must have led to a misapprehension in Napier. In Nelson the Bible is read iu the schools to some extent, but it is extra, and the ordinary hours for the subjects prescribed b> tho State are observed ; the Scriptural teaching is doue outside the State time, and the children are not obliged to attend tho class. “That system,” added the Minister, “has been adopted iu several places, and, as far as I can see, it does not conflict with tho Act so long as definite hours are given to secular instruction and the requirements of the Act are complied with and religious lessons are given by voluntary arrangement outside of ordinary school hours.”

A visitor to Auckland states that the boiling cauldron on Mount Tongariro is in violent eruption. Last .Friday he saw a huge column of steam several thouasnd feet high issue from the cauldron.

The Marine Department has decided to hold a magisterial inquiry into the collision between the steamer Wairuna and the scow Moonah, by which one of the latter’s crew lost his life. The Government is considering the establishment of a central mental hospital in the country, amid perfectly healthy surroundings, and with a large area of land. Various sites along the Main Trunk railway have been suggested, and the Hon. George Fowlds, Minister in charge of the Hospitals, states that establishment of the proposed institution is a matter which will soon have to be undertaken. Reports are being obtained upon the sites available. : Otago Education Board has passed a resolution complaining of the great delay of the Department in providing more accommodation in an overcrowded school and entering an emphatic protest against the needs of the Otago Education District being subjected to the will and dictum of salaried officials as an encroachment upon the authority of the Board, representative of the people of the province. ”

The Mayor of Ipswich has received the following letter from a firm whom he had asked to engage two unemployed Ipswich shoemakers ; “We are sorry to say that in these competitive times men of their age are of no use to us. As they have field positions in the same firms for 20 and 25 years respectively, this means that they are over 40 years of age, and, as we claim to he a progressive firm, we can only employ the quickest hands.’’ The result of the voting at the recent election of members of the Court of Arbitration was as follows: —McCullough, 125 unious, comprising 12,260 members; Slater, 110 unions, comprising 18, 583 members. If, however, the informal votes are added (which includes the railway votes), the result is as follows;—McQullough, 141 unions, comprising 16,041 members; Slater, 119 unions, comprising 14,654 members.

TUB “HARTNETT” MILKER. 500 of these excellent _ machines have been sold in the Dominion during the past twelve months. Surely no better proof could be given of how fully its claim to superiority has been recognised by dairy farmers. The “Hartnett” is no longer “on trial” but is a thoroughly tried and successful milker —many keen experienced farmers having used them to their entire satisfaction. Write us for particulars. Read what other farmers say. C. Dahl & Co., Ltd., Palmerston North.