GENERAL NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 203, 1 October 1909, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS

Perhaps the oldest tree of Wi/ich there is any record in the world is tho cypress of Soma, or Somma, in, Lombardy. This celebrated tree ia generally supposed to have been planted the year of the birth of Jesus Christ, and on this account is treated with great reverence by the inhabitants of that part of Lombardy where it grows; but there is an ancient chronicle extant at Milan which proves that it was a tree in the time of Julius Caesar, B.C. 42.

Referring to the consolidation of llie native land laws at Taihapc on Tuesday evening, Mr. Carroll said lie had a Hill prepared whicli would be submitted to Parliament this session. It contained about four hundred clauses, and repealed about seventy previous Acts. The work had been a very stupendous one, on ac count of the intricacies of the old legislation. The consolidation, he felt sure, would be accepted by everyone as an Act that would lead to very good results. It would improve the dealing with native lands and extend special facilities for the early and rapid sett'ement of the surplus land belonging to the community. (Applause.) The following letter has been forwarded by a parent in explanation of the absence of a girl from school in one oi Uie out-districts:—-"Just a few lines in answer to your notice which i received on sataday. morning you wanted to know that my did not attend 1 school in August she had ehilhlins verry bad and could not get on her Hoots and could not go Out eneywere now about the girls at school have got her coining home on thursday a month ago that -was in august and got her out put her in the water up to her waist and brused her forehead and her arm bln"k and blue and her rist and the back of her hand black with bruses for cney one to sea and if that is not cneough for cney one to keep a girl at home i will not have cney other children interfere with her for 'i have sent word word to about It and he takes no notes no more."

A discovery of rather ,an interesting nature has been made at Dargavilfe (writes a Northern Wairoa correspondent), several residents being of the opinion that a meteoric stone has been unearthed. It appears that when ploughing operations were in progress at the Recreation Grounds, the plough struck a heavy rock, which seemed immovable. After digging round it, a chain was attached to one end, and eventually two horses drew it from its place of concealment. The stone is of a most peculiar shape, and its surface is like flint. The discovery is made more interesting from the fact that five years ago the same place was ploughed and sown in grass, but no such obstruction was met with. The country is of a marshy description, and stone or rock is a novelty. It is the opinion that the stone has been burfed for centuries, and has only been brougnt nearer the surface by the steady sinking operations of the ground. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Wairarapa Farmers' Co-operative Association with regard to trade prospects generally for the ensuing year, Mr. Caselberg, chairman of directors, said: "I feel bold enough to make another optimistic forecast for the coming year, because there are signs of the pre-1 sent bad times passing away. Confidence is being restored, and money is coming into circulation, so there is more spent in remunerative improvements, making a demand for labor. In a little while the building and other trades will be favorably affected. Our numerous shatHholders and customers will all be benefited, including ourselves and other commercial firms. The present outlook for wool, frozen mutton, and all our other products is good. We have had a mild winter, and there is every probability of our having a good harvest, so I think I have some reason for stating that we will have some good times shortly."