ITEMS OF INTEREST.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43080, 11 April 1907, Page 4

ITEMS OF INTEREST.

There were no fewer than twentytwo weddings in Wanganui during the past week. A pair of rabbits can multiply in four years into 1,250,000. Rabbits Were introduced into Australia not so many years ago, and now that colony ships six million rabbit skins yearly to England. A correspondent writes stating that the visit of the Minister 'for Lands to the Piako district is being awaited with considerable interest. A curiosity in tomato, plants is mentioned; im the Feilding Star, the product of cultivation by Mr Ttawler, of Feilding, who has grown a new kind of tomato. They ;are about the size of a large plum, red, round, and of exquisite flavour. Unlike the ordinary tomato they do not grow ii bunches, but in rows along the branches, while they are very prolific!, and the production per plaint is enormous. The tomato has been named “Towler's Beauty,” and it richly deserves the title.

’What gives promise of proving a Valuable industry has been brought under our notice by Captain Norgrove. lit is the treatment of the flax of the cabbage tree. Put through ai process somewhat similar to that of t-hei ordain ary flax it can barly be distinguished from the dressed fibre. It is if anything finer, is equally as strong, and appears to be likely to prove a valuable marketable commodity. “You will be able to travel from Wellington to Auckland by the Main Thunk line before the end of 1908,”. said the Hon. W. Hall-Jone-s the other’ day. “We are making good progress with the line,” he Continued. “We have had a fairly fine summter, and the work has advanced. 1 There is much to be done yet-, but everything is well in hand, and under efficient control. I have no doubt that all my anticipations respecting the time of completion will 'be realised. (Some years ago a firm of brothers carrying, on a flax milling business in the 'North Lobum district had, through misfortune, to take advantage of the Bankruptcy Court, and paid only a small dividend. The brothers went to the North Island, and eventually started a flax mill ini the Wairarapa district, where, the- are now carrying on a highly prosperous business. Recently they determined to pay off all liabilities left at the time of their bankruptcy, and on Wednesday* a widow at Rangiora in indigent circumstances was agreeably surnrised at receiving a cheque for over £34, for goods supplied the firm by her late husband, and,-au old are pensioner had <>?« heart made glad with a cheque for ’bout £IOO. A number of others .vbout the district also benefited by the meritorious -*o' e the firm.

'Speaking to the Natives of the Waimate Plains recently, and in reply to a Native objecting to paly rates, the Native Minister said: “What was paid in rates? What they were called .on' to pay was nominal. They would spend in five minutes more money in -a f pub’ than would pay a couple; of years’ rates. In one ease, too, they would get nothing for it but a sore head’, and an the other they would gain a recognised status in the district and a voice in local governing affairs.’

The Cambridge Sanatorium is running' up to its full capacity, about 60 patients. 1 It is proposed at Timaru to provide a children’s ward at the hospital as a. memorial .to the late Mr Seddon. A Tauranga correspondent writes: “A singular .and painful accident, befell Mr Percy Isaac during the. regatta. Just after lunch whilst in the launch Foam to the north of the town, wharf, a gust of mnd lifted a piece of timber off a stack lying on the wharf, with the result that the board was earned over the railing and in its fall struck Mr Isaac with great force on the forehead, inflicting ai nasty wound 11 inches long. The injury was immediately attended to, and though suffering considerable pain, Mr Isaac continued his duties in connection with the water carnival.” IWie have good reason for stating, says the Dunedin Evening Star, that the Government will be asked next session to justify the action of granting a subsidy of £10,090 to. the Alley steamers which have been running between New Zealand and Vancouver practically empty. A matter which comes to light to-day may ibe used as a lame justification. It seems that at last these steamers are to get. a little cargo, bait only on account of an extraordinary state of things, which could not have been foreseen when the subsidy was granted. A number of Dunedin consignees of United Stakes goods have received cables notifying then that, on account of the irregularities in the Oceanic Company’s service, American goods are being transhipped to Vancouver for shipment here by the Alley steamers. As the next Alley vesel will not get away from Vancouver till April 28th, importers will needs have to possess their souls in patience.