GENERAL NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 December 1920, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

Owing to shortage of men, wealthy public and business men in Vienna are advertising daily on behalf of their daughters for eligible bachelors. The following was inserted in a. Vienna, newspaper by a leading exporter: "Exporter, old-established, seeks lnaiv of character as husband for 18-year-old (laughter, gooß*looking, musical, blonde, intelligent; dowry 500,000 kronen—Apply Box—." Nominally this dowry would be about £20,000. There are other advertisements asking for husbands from women with fortunes up to £40,0'00.

The Giornale d'ltalia gives some very interesting details of a reconciliation of eight families after a vendetta which lasted 05 years, and involved 75 cases of murder and injury to property and cattle. At the ceremony of reconciliation more than 200 men, belonging to the families concerned, took part, and stood in front of the church in which-a bishop officiated. The Public Prosecutor, local authorities,and a large crqjvd witnessed the ceremony. The final scene was touching, the members embracing one another, and taking an oath of reconciliation.

It appears that by jio means the last has been heard of the Samoan Civil Armed Constabulary, which, after a brief existence, was disbanded in September last, tlie final draft being returned to New Zealand in October. A member of the Force, speaking to a Post representative to-day, stated that a number of the men jointly and severally are instituting proceedings against the Ccown, claiming damages, on the ground of alleged breach of contract.

Joseph Isherwood, well-known in New Zealand, has just been convicted at Perth (W.A.) on a charge of pretending to tell fortunes, and using craft and deception, hence being deemed to be a rogue and vagabond. The' hearing occupied four days. The Magistrate found Isherwood guilty, and sentenced him to three months' imprisonment. Notice of appeal was given. It appeared from the police documents that in 1914, in New Zealand, Isherwood was convicted on five charges, and fined in the aggregate .€l5O.

What he saw of conditions in England saddened Bishop Julius very much: ''There is a vast number of unemployed, prices are high, and constantly on the rise—or, at least, they were still rising I when I left, (said the Bishop to a Christchurch interviewer). This is combined with wild on.the part of people to Whom sudden wealth is a surprise—pet/pie with greatly increased wages, or with accumulated war profits. Strikes seem to be frequent. At the same time, in regar<l to all these problerps, including the Irish question, there is a welcome spirit of determination to get at the root of Ihings and to find a way, out of the difficulties without strife and bloodshed. With it all there are signs of h real spirit of brotherhood, which speaks well for the future of the Old Land." ■ '

It was in his first year of his ownership of the Oamarn Mail that Mr. George Jones, whose death was announced the other day, wrote an article charging the Attorney-General, the late Sir Frederick Whi'taker, with bringing in a Native Land Bill to afford facilities for the acqusition of land for himself and his friends. He was summoned to the Bar of the House for an alleged breach of privilege, but declined to withdraw the statements lie had made. * He was imprisoned within the precincts of the House, and entertained himself and his friends by playing on the violin. As Parliament could imprison him only till the end of the session, and as this punishment was considered insufficient, a prosecution in the law courts was cided upon. From this Mr. Jones emerged with an acquittal, to find that the circulation of his paper had been doubled.

That much time is wasted 011 the Wellington wharves and needlessly lost is a well-established fact. Some aspects of tiie matter were discussed at Monday's meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, but before 'things can be righted it will be necessary to go deeper into the underlying cause (comments the Dominion). Before the war direct liners used to spend about four weeks in New Zealand waters discharging inward cargo and taking in outward consignments. To-day anything up to eight weeks may be lost in these waters between voyagdte, and we believe we are right in saying "that the shipping companies are Veil pleased as things stand in getting an outward dispatch within six weeks of a liner's arrival. This means an appalling wastage, the burden of which falls on the community. In the old days a fleet of five steamers could maintain 'a four-weekly service each way between Vew Zealand and Britain. * To-day a fleet of the same sixe has difficulty in providing six-weekly sailings. This is a reduction in cfficeiiey of one-third, It is due mainly to delays here consequent on go-slow methods and lack of coal. As the cost of operating shipping has increased enormously, the total load when decreased efficiency is added 'to higher working costs becomes heavy, and the restrictive effect on the development of the country is bound to -be marked if the existing state of things is long continued. A check to the expansion of trade means fewer and poorer opportunities for all. If ever there was a penny-wise and pound-foolish policy it is 'the suicidal one of "go-slow." It is their own and their children's throats that those who advocate it must eventuallv cut.

A good deal has !>eon said and written in regard to the ken, that Imebear of the sheep farmer, and articles have appeared in Australian arij.l New Zealand newspapers in which the pastoralist has been given the blame for introducing to the bird the kidney fat which it appears to so much relish. Whatever induce* it to find out whore the dainty meal was to be obtained, there is no doubt of the destruction it is capable of doing, Those who have high country are the main suffereis, but so little had of late years been heard of the kea in Southland' t'hat one was inclined to the conclusion that it had left for other parts or had changed its habits. This, however, says the Southern Daily News, is not so, for it has made it appearance again in the Lakes district and on farms to the south of that area. Mr. James King, the owner of Bnrwood station, expressed the opinion to a News representative that the time had arrived for something to be done to eradicate the pest. Having had his sheep mustered for shearing, he has made the discovery that a large number have been attacked by the bird, some fatally, and others so injured that they will lyive to be killed. Tie is not. the only shcepfarnier therabrmts who has hud this experience, several others also having suffered losses. Mr. King suggests-that to protect those concerned the 'Government might with advantage to the country offer inducement for the destruction of the kea, which if not [checked will probably prove a greater menaoe than it now i*.