NEWS ITEMS OF INTEREST.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9418, 14 April 1909, Page 6

NEWS ITEMS OF INTEREST.

There is on record a memorable exordium of a nervous curate: “Young ladies, or perhaps 1 should say young women, for I wish to embrace jou all.” A return of the estimated value of the imports into Wellington for the twelve mouths ended March 31st last shows that godUs valued at £4,838,498 were brought in, a falling-off of £609,370 (or about 12& per cent.) when compared with the value of imports for the twelve months ended March 31st, 1908, but a slight in* crease on the figures shown for the twelve months ended March 31st, 1907, which figures were <£4,760,833. A burly farmer presented himself at a country school, dragging an over grown boy reluctantly through the door. “ What dlv ye teach here? This boy is badly wanting an tddhag tion,” lie demanded,, thrusting the youth forward. The' timid master replied that the curriculum embraced reading, arithmetic, history, algebra, and trigonometry! “That will do fine, ” exclaimed the farmer* “Gie him lots o’ triggernometry; he’s the worst shot in the family. ’ ’ Referring to the Easter manoeuvres at Oringi, the Dominion says:— ‘ ‘ Most of the correspondents appear to agree in noting a want of strictness in the discipline that should have been looked for. Slackness in little things tends to beget slovenliness iu general, and manoeuvres lose much of their value when they are not treated with the utmost seriousness. This year’s work should teach us'the inadequacy of the amount of field training that the infantry %e----oeive under existing conditions.”

*• To Mr R. B. Howard, Chief Protector of Aborigines in Queensland, is dne the discovery of a tribe which it is believed has never before come in contact with white men. Mr Howard’s find was achieved in Mornington Island, one of the Wellesley Group, in the Gulf of Carpentaria. After searching vainly for two days, Mr Howard came npon a few natives-, and afterwards a considerable number were seen. The blacks, he says, were in their primitive state. They did not know the use of tobacco, and would not eat bread, meat, or even sugar, although they readily tasted anything given to them. There was no sign whatever of any disease, and, although emaciated in appearance, they were strong and agile. Their food consists chiefly of bnlgeroo nnts, the frnit of the pandanns tree, fish, and a species of large yam. In Auckland police court on Monday Percy E. Tapp and John P. Bathgate, the latter formerly a Presbyterian home' missioner at Helensville, were charged with using threatening language at Reamera. According to the statement of Detective McMahon, Tapp had received great provocation. Tapp, __ in court, accused Bathgate of having mined his sister. He and another brother fonnd Bathgate with their sister, and were holding him when the detective arrived. Bathgate, in court, admitted that Tapp had had great provocation. The Bench bound both accused to keep the peace. Bathgate was then charged with having failed to maintain his Illegitimate child. He admitted parentage and was ordered to pay 7s 6d weekly and £ll expenses. Bathgate stated that he had a wife and three children, but agreed to pay if given time. He was ordered to find a surety in a sum of £SO. The air has of late been foil of strikes, or rumours of strikes, but the possibility of united action in this direction on the part of the golf caddies was hardly expected (says the Sydney Morning Herald). Yet snob a situation was created the other day, when members of the Killara Golf Club arrived at the Killara Station on the way to. the golf links. It was rather amusing to see between. 40 and 50 caddies congregated there, not, as is customary, to seek patronage, but to inform the golfers that they ..would have to carry for themselves. The lads made a decided demonstration of hostility, and marched in regimental order *■ to the boundaries of the ground, where they x indulged la ironical cheering and singing. The cause of the dissatisfaction was at once inquired into, and itwas fonnd that their action was due to three of their number being ordered off the links by the caretaker. It was an opportunity for the lads *to ask for increased rates of pay, and they stood out for la 6d for the round of 18 holes, instead of the la hitherto paid. Upon the demand being refused a hostile demonstration was made against the players and two loyal caddies, who were designated “dirty little blacklegs.” The two “loyalists” were visibly affected, and shortly joined the ranks of the strikers. .