GENERAL NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 123, 2 September 1910, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS.

A few weeks ago the Timaru Harbor Board put £6OOO worth of 4 l / 2 per cent, debentures on the market ,and all have been-taken up. "Put your money on me at any price obtainable," was a cable sent by Arnst, just when Arnst and Barry had eased off their hard work prior to the big race, A leading Dunedin builder states that he is at present paying bricklayers 14s per day, and cannot get sufficient men for his requirements. At that wage he has tried to get bricklayers from Welliiigiton, Christehurcb. and Invercargill, offering to pay their fares, but without avaik The fact that thousands of young people parade the Wellington streets and frequent the picture shows and theatres at night, and that only 25 to 30 should attend an interesting lecture delivered by Professor Easterlield, has set the Hon. S. M. Luke puzzling over what is coming to the rising generation. The configuration of the coast line in the vicinity of Gisbome has changed considerably during the winter (Lelegraphs the New Zealand Herald's correspondent). Acres and acres have slipped away from the hillsides into the sea, and the debris 1 has been gradually washed away. This is especially noticeable at the Puatae rocks, on the Rototahi Block, where the zigzag road and fences have been swept away. The Puatae road deviation has also disappeared in ninny places, so as, to render the remaining portion useless. Near Whangara, Pouawa and Turehau great changes have also taken place, and people, travelling are more than ever dependent on the tides.

It is not generally known (says the j Palmerston correspondent of the Domin-1 ion) that at the Kawhaiki Pa, a dozen miles up the Wanganui river, there is a kind of Native Historical Society. For the past six or seven years the Maoris there have gathered once a month to re- j late incidents of Maori legend, history • and genealogy, and already a great mass of material has been collected, most of which has been reduced to writing, with a view of, some day, being published in book form. The idea was first suggested by the Native Department, which was i anxious to enlist the help of the natives themselves in perpetuating the history of their race, and stated that in several Maori villages throughout the North Island, similar monthly gatherings are held.

A somewhat amusing incident is reported to have occurred on Thursday last in connection with a drapery sale being held in Jsapier, says the Herald. A young matron desirous of attending the sale took her infant with her in a gocart. After a wait of about an hour, entrance was obtained amongst the throng, which had also been waiting for some time, but baby and go-cart had to be left outside on the footpath. Evidently the bargains proved attractive, for after a considerable time spent in making purchases, the young mother was shown out of the back door laden with parcels, and finding the hour rather later than she thought, rushed home to get her husband's tea ready. On her arrival home the husband was already there, and he interrupted a breathless description of the bargains secured with the question. "Where's baby?" "Oh, I've left him in Emerson street," said the young mother, who 'immediately rushed down town and recovered her forgotten offspring, who was sleeping obliivous of bargain sales or any other mundane mailers.