GENERAL NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 80, 13 July 1910, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS.

A flock of sheep was being driven through Dargaville recently, when w.-o of the animals, seeing its reflection in the window of Harding's store, charge! viciously, and smashed it to atoms, the damage is estimated at £22. A Napier medical man, who was called up at an early.hour on a recent morning, and hastened from his house in undress, had a surprise. He found himself followed, and, on reaching his destination, was called upon to halt by a member of the police force, who had watched his hasty exit from home and mistook him for a burglar. A pleasing example of honesty came to light at Dannevirke one day last week. A young man picked up a bundle of II £1 notes, which he left at a newspaper office till the owner called to advertise the loss of the notes, and was pleasantly surprised to have his money handed over to him. The owner left a reward of £2 2s.

Grave Presbyterians were taken aback at the exclamation of a member of the congregation in Chalmers Church, Oamaru, on Sunday. During the pastor's sermon a man sitting towards the front of the church so approved of the views being expressed that lie said audibly, "Hear, hear." It is seldom that a minister's opinions are so endorsed.

A lawyer in almost every factory is needed nowadays, according to the Hon. C. M. Luke, to guide the employer at every turn amidst the multiplicity ot awards and regulations and penalties with which industry is harassed. The effect of all this was so irksome, Mr. Luke declared in the Legislative Council last week, and the pressure so great, that it was scarcely possible to put up with it. A selector in the backblocks of Hawke's Bay evidently does not appreciate the advantages of a State education, and in order to escape punishment for failing to send his children to school regularly, has moved his camp to tMe farthermost corner of his' selection, just over the two-mile limit, where, of course, he is immune. This fact was mentioned by the inspector at the meeting of the Education Board.

Mining matters in Australia appear to be in a worse state than in New Zealand. A recent visitor to the Commonwealth says:—Bendigo, which depends almost solely on its gold mines, is passing through bad times. The New Zealander learnt that over one hundred mines had closed down during the last 18 months, and that a great many of the existing mines were only working halftime. Added to this, the old mines, some of which are over two thousand feet deep, are being troubled with water, which threatens to flood them. Bendigo is incapable of carrying her population without the support of her mines. The Masterton correspondent of the New Zealand Times writes that he has been informed, on the best authority, that Mr. C. A. Pownall had been approached to contest the Masterton seat against Mr. A. W. Hogg at the next election, and had consented to do so. Mr. Pownall will stand as a Liberal, and. it is more than probable that he will be the Government's nominee for the seat. He is a well-known solicitor, and for many years was Mayor of Masterton, and is very popular. Mr. Hogg will, it is stated, contest the seat as a Laborite. A certain section of the local prohibition party is also endeavoring to find a candidate with a leaning towards prohibition.