ITEMS OF INTEREST.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43072, 23 March 1907, Page 4

ITEMS OF INTEREST.

Grieat demand for coal and timber reported from the West Coast of the South Island.

Our Paeroa correspondent writes: —-Mr lAi J. Scobie, formerly manager for the Thames. Valley Co-operative Dairying Company, is at present on a visit - to Plaeroa.”

The value of the flax exported! frt»m Auckland last- month was £27,871. Wellington headed 1 the list of flax exports last month, with! a total value of £48,061, Auckland being second.

V According to the statistics supplied by the Agricultural Department, the valise of the butter exported from the colony for the month of Februaiy was, £256,944, of which- Auckland?s proportion was £67,402, being next to the highest (NenV Plymouth), £68,780.

Ai peasant! -Woman named Frege has been sentenced to death at Hirechberg, in .Silesia, for poisoning four lodgers sucfcassli-vieily /after inducing them to make their wills in her favor.

The total export of flax from the colony for February was £105,946, as compared with. £72,627 for the same month last year.

The report presented l to the Austrah liam Football League’s annual meeting stated that the tour* of Australia would be undertaken in 1908. During the incoming season representative matches would be played at Wh" New Plymouth, Wellington', and Gisborne. >

A mam named Torfeg. working in a ouarrv at Waimai, had a narrow escape from a serious accident. A fall of earth, caused by blasting some days previously, caught him, and some of the other workmen, but all gave Torfeg were able to get clear. It, however, took Ms companions some time to extricate him, and, as he was considerablv knocked about, he was taken to the Waikato Hospital. He had a scalp wound, several bones in hi® left hand are fractured!, and there is a severe lacerated wound on his left knee joint.

Ai message from 1 Gore states thla/fc Nicholas '9weetman, fanner, a resident of Cast] e Flat, Waimea Plains, single', aged 67, had his dinner as usual on Sunday, and went for a walk. 'As be bad not returned for tea searob was made and he was found dead hangin <»■ over a crate. The' body was quite warm. Deceased was mutahi respected. The herd of eight chamois, presented to New Zealand by the Emperor of Austria, is -vpilued! at £IOOO. The chamois, or goat antelope, is a snowlike ■ animal, which revels in steep, mountainous country; where it displays an agility and foot-sureness that has never' been equalled by any other mountain animal. It is the intention of the Tourist Department to liberate the icbamdrs ini the Mount Cook district, whither they -will be taken immediately..

Mr F. El Willis, ai candidate for a seat on the F-edlding Borough Council at: the forthcoming election, described himself at a public meeting as follows: “I have a very thick 1 skin, teeth like a shark, I oan fight and hang on like a bulldog,, I am as tame .an a rabbit. I have courage I ihiope, andl £ fear no man.” It is announced' that King Edwiard and Oueen Alexandra will proceed in the Roval yachfir to Cartagena on an official visit to Kino 1 Alfonso earl’- in April. Owing to thie decision! of the Cook Island administration to make other arrangements for the traffic between Cook 7«lands and Niue and New Zear land. Mr McGowan, the ’Minister in Charge, has informed the Government that he'has decided to dispose of the auxiliary schooner the Countess of Rarifurlyi* ' Onei hundred and 1 thirty Australians i returned from South Africa by the *t earner Hymettuis, and confirm the vorst that has been, reported regardnv nreyalent distress. Trade is abde*d. This is daily getting yoree, Kvffirs and Indians* getting •o-k which formerly went to whites,! ho”sanda of whom are idle and tear-1 fig South Afrcm. Many are tin able ’ -> get away owing' to lack of funds. '