Miscellaneous News.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLV, Issue 264, 23 December 1903, Page 4

Miscellaneous News.

At least one man in Canterbury (says the Lyt'teltom' Times) is dissatisfied' with the Fallot system adopted by the Government in conneotidni with its . taaM settlement schemes. He has Spent a considerable portion of the last five years in going round from settlement to settlement trying) his luck at the bal-lot-box, and invariably finding that his luck is "out."' He lias' spent about £IOO in his tra'vels, anid he is now tlhin'kiwg' 01P suggesting that the Government sfao!uld find a moans of giv&nt preference to an applicant who has maide so many attempts to secure l'oawi.

Some idea of the importance of | the baparaa industry to Queensland ' may be gauged from the export I from some of the northern ports. At Caiiras, during the year ending Tlune last, no less'than 309,859 bunches were inspected by the officers of the Agricultural Department, and ait Geraltdton the mumber was 1,267,973 bunches. The season is only just commencing, 'again, but during the months of July, August, tftptemtoer and October, the number of bunches inspected at Cairns was 96,316, arid Gierafldtow 444,511. Christchurch Truth, in an article condemnatory of the recent 'disgraceful scene on the Sydney cricket ground, when the crowd hooted Crooktett, the umpire, says :—We are quite used to these "demonstrations," and the total lack of decen«y that is exhibited by the New .South Wales citizen, but they lose nothing of their hideffusness by repetition. Of course, it is not surprising <that H when the New South Wales Legislature spends a session in recriminations, soandal-making, disgraceful scenes and obscene language, the people should follow suty« vt pertiaps twd sboulfdrjisay',the degradation of New South politicians is not surprising when it is remembered they are elected by people like the hooting, howling degenerates who on Tuesday added another blot to Sydney's Smudgy 'Scutcheon. Ancient philosophers foretold, from the license and luxury of their citizens, the downfall of» Greece and Rome. There seems no reason why • a similar prophecy should not be made, and be fulfilled, with respect to Alustralia, which, in its inebriated moments, declares that it is

"facing the dawn," and is becoming a great nation, irrespective of the fact that it is a large hard-up, larrikinland, populated tty rabbits, drought, unsportsmanlike, un-British degenerates, who are a disgrace to the human species. A gentleman who was in the Mount Cook district recently states (says the Lyttelton Times) that when the Gotwernmient h(uts * were first erected a great deal of amusement was afforded by the antics of the keasi. They seemed to think that the hluts has been, plaiced there for their special benefit, amd . they gave themselves up to 1 tobogganing, evidently deriving much pleasure from the pastime as they slid along the sUoping iron roofs. Signor Bragato grows more sanguine every day about the prospects of wine production in this country, as the wines of Australia are commanding fair prices in London. The statement of the viticulturist that wine as good as the best French, which sells at 10s 6d per bottle, can be produced at Wairangi, the Government farm in New' Zealand, at Is a bottle, Is, to say the least,' encouraging.

Says the Lyttelton Times :—Ashburton seems to have no decided opinion as to the effect of prohibition on the district. While one tra.desm'an will tell a doleful story of declining trade, another will state that t/he people have now more money to spend on food a*id clothes. '.'The place is going to the dogs. No one comes into town now,'.' remarked an Ashbiurton resident. '"Prohibition haSn't marie a scrap of difference, except in reducing the amount of drunkenness " said his neightjou'r. The bewildered inquirer appealed to a disinterested party for an explanation of this contraHiction. "It depends how thirsty they 'are,'-' remarked this gentleman.