GENERAL NEWS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9464, 5 June 1909, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

The calf which the etocbraiser had taken the summer resident to see, surveyed his owner and the stranger with a wary eye. “Br—what breed la your calf?” asked the visitor. The farmer removed a wisp of straw from his month and said: —“This critter’s father gored a justice of the peace, knocked a lightning agent end over end, and- lifted a tramp over a picket fence, and its mother chased the whole Wairoa brass band ;vut of the town last Empire Day. if that ain’t breed enough to, pay 15s for, yon can leave him be. I’m not pressing him on anybody.”

Unable to obtain work, Rapp, a machinist, committed snioide in New York, leaving as a reason that Society ostracised him because of age. In a letter he left he said : “Were it not for this cruel American system that ostracises elderly people, and by which, existence is absolutely denied to a man in the fifties,' I would not be tired of life. I would not utter a vtord of complaint if I were an invalid and unable to work; but as it is I am today as strong and capable to work as I was 15 years ago. This is what breaks my heart. ’ ’ Mr Matsuknra, the Japanese Commissioner at present visiting New Zealand, discovered an interesting imitation of Japanese goods inOhristobnroh. He detected it at once, for the design was not of Japanese origin. He made a practical note of his discovery, buying samples which he will take hack with him to Tokio to show his countrymen, “They were made in Germany,” he smilingly remarked, "If any merchants in this country require information about any kind of Japanese goods they want,” he added, “all they need do is write to the Imperial Commercial Museum, which will supply full particulars accompanied with samples.”

The girls at Wanganui College have been as fascinated with the charm of their river as if they were all champion sonliers, though they seek for their amusement in the waters not on it. The Council of the C"Swlmming Association which met in Christchurch last week, must have been much impressed when, among a number of applications for proficiency certificates, it received from the principal of the Wanganui Girls’ College an application lor no fewer than £B6 certificates for girls who’ had swum distances varying from three miles ta 220 yards. It was decided to write to the principal of the college, congratulating her on the excellent progress made in swimming by the girls of the institution during the past year.

The Manchester Evening Chronicle has a word on the immigration question;—“We have no right to foist our unemployed off on New Zealand in this way—no more right than Russia has to dump her unemployed down on London and Manchester. The minority of the Poor Law Commission advocates that the problem of emigrat«on should be dealt with by Government experts, who would take care that men emigrating should neither be misled by interested shipping agents, nor should mislead the colonies into thinking that they are capable of adding to their productive power, whereas they would merely add to the density of unemployment. New Zealand has certainly some claim qq onr consider ration.”

The other day a settler at Qreeii Island missed the small birds that foe years past had infested his property. He could not understand the migration until one of the hands saw a little gray owl roosting in a tree. So far, the Otago Acclimatisation Society has every reason to be satisfied with its importation of the little owl (says (the Dunedin Star). It is really a midget amongst owls, being no more than Sin. or 9in. iong,:but it strikes terror into the linnets and sparrows by its nocturnal attacks upon their young, and the clattering crew promptly clear out when the owl arrives. At least half-a-dozen of these little owls have been seen in the districts near Dunedin. They seem to follow up the nesting-places, and when one is worked out go on to another. Evidence has been found that the little «wl is breeding in Otago, fonr or five nests having been seen. One place they took to as a breeding home was in the rocks of the Molyneux, near Alexandra.