LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 158, 13 October 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Lieut.-Coloned Jowsey, C.M.G., who commanded the Third (Rough Riders) Kew Zealand Contingent, 'has taken up sheep-farming in the Cave district, South Canterbury. A strike of an incipient nature took place at a Petone school the other afternoon, when a number of the boy pupils refused to attend because the main school lads had a holiday on account of their concert.

Mercury, Venus and Mars are the morning stars. Venus is sinking towards the sun, and in December will revisit our evening sky. Jupiter is deserting us, and sets almost with the sun. By-and-bye he will appear in the morning. In the course of his address in Masterj\ on ™ Saturday, Mr. H. Xevins stated that the sheepowners of the Dominion had received written offers from Australia to enter into contracts for the shearing of sheep in New Zealand. Constable Wade arrested a man inEltham on Tuesday on a warrant of commitment for having failed to pay a fine amounting, with costs, to £23 10s imposed at Auckland in 1905 in connection with a charge of laying tote odds. The Xippon, one of the strongest and most independent papers in Tokia. has started an attack on the native bankers. The paper describes them as "official frogs, and declares that thev are responsible for the hard times beino- experienced in Japan. c

At a wedding which took place at Carterton last week the bride was given away by her .grandson, whilst her granddaughter actei as .bridesmaid. The local paper, after describing the dress worn by the ''blushing bride," states that "the newly-wed couple left in the evening on their honeymoon.'' Dairy farmers in Hawke's Biv art watching with interest the great development of the industry in Taranaki. Conversing with a Star reporter, a Hawera resident who last w<>ek had been on a visit to Hasting? mentioned that three dairymen from that district were shortly coming over to Hawera to have a look round the country, and more particularly to inspect the bij, dairy herds. " °

A first offending drunk came before the S.IL and was convicted yesterday morning.

Pis-breeding is becoming an important indu-tiy in the Waikato. On one farm there arc over 150 head, while quite a number of others have from a dozen to fifty. There is a growing demand for New Zealand bacon, and the pric-e is improving

A great sensation has been caused by a munificent offer rf John BarnRyan to equip u. United States of America with the means of providing a great aerial fleet. Mr. Ryan, the son of the Xew York multi-millionaire, has undertaken to present the Government with a huge plant capable of providing a fleet of airships for use with the army and navv of Amer-ea.

The weekly session of the Egmont Loi'.ue. Xo. 11*2, 1.0. G.T.", was held in St. Man's Hall last evening.' The C.T.'Bro. C. Pepperill presided. It was decided that a letter of congratulation be sent to the Lord Mayor of London, who is the first Goo,! Templar to hold the high position. The programme consisted of short papers and impromptu speeches. A good number of subjects were discussed.

The Canadian Government has acquired the only remaining herd of American bisons on the continent, known as the Pablo herd, in Montana, and numbering or 700 animals. The coralline and despatching by train of the herd to the Canadian National Park, Banff, Alberta, has been attended with great difficulties, but the last of the animals has now been safely delivered. An area of country of 100 square miles has been specially fenced for the buffaloes. These measures wil probably prevent the buffalo from extinction.

A report from Macao (a Portuguese port on the coast of China) states"that after days of patient hearing and laborious work, the court-martial which has been sitting there since Monday, August •29, has completed its labors. Out of fifteen Calowan prisoners, eight were found guilty of crimes, of having belonged to an association of malefactors, having resisted the authorities and homicide. The crime of keeping people in captivity was not proved. The eight pirates were each sentenced to be banished to Portuguese East Africa for 28 years, ten of which are to be spent in prison with hard labor.

There was a fairly large congregation at St. Mary's Church last .evening, when a sermon was preached by the Rev. Canon Ivens, vicar of Sowerby Bridge, and one of the English missioners at present in New Zealand. The canon is a man of uncommon ability and force of character, and his remarks, characterised as they were by eloquence, ' logic and fervor, made a deep impression upon those present. At 4.45 on Friday afternoon the Canon addresses a-ladies' meeting. and an effort is being made to induce the missioner, who is here for a few days' rest, to conduct service in the church the same evening. On Saturday mornin<* he leaves for Marton. c

Tobacco culture is one of the unexploitcd resources of. Victoria, which would prove exceedingly profitable if expert knowledge and a plentiful supply of labor were applied to the industry. Some proof of this contention is afforded in the report of Mr. Temple Smith,, tobacco expert of the Agricultural Department, m which he informs the Department that he has sold l(Mlb of leaf at is 6d per lb, and 4041b at U 3d per lb. leaf wa s grown at Bruthen on poor ground worth about 30s per acre, a fact which shows that good land is not necessary for the growth of good tobacco, lipe tobacco grown on the Government farm at Whitfield realised 8d per lb for hrst and second quality; 22cwt. of this tobacco was sold, and the yield at the price realised was worth £3O per acre.