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Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 9000, 10 December 1907, Page 4

The Heathen Chinee is essentially a gambler, and when th« law proves too much for him under ordinary circumstances he, like his European fellow-citizen with gambling in sfcincts, is capable of finding ways and means of g«tring round the obstacle he cannot get over. According to a Wellington contemporary, a few days ago, a visitor to the cit.v dropped into the bar parlour of a certain hotel, and, while he was there, the door of the apartment slowly opened, and a Celestial, "childlike and bland," insinuated himself into the room, and proceeded to rid himself, for a financial consideration, of a number of pak-a-poo tickets. The visitor was a "new chum/' but he bought a ticket, and the barman, with the superstition of the born gambler, took a. half-share for

"duffer's luck." Ah Sin then took his departure, and after an absence of two or three hours returned with the dividends. The barman and the

"duffer" received £7 each. The law was unquestionably infringed in the transaction, but "John" at least showed that if he had little regard for the law he was not going to be behind-hand in observing the "code of honour" adoptad by the British in connection with gambling undertakings. We are in receipt of a useful brochure dealing with colonial gardening and nursery work, and also with espalier and wall culture in small gardens, compiled by Mr Wiliiatr Levy, of Waikumete, Auckland. The author, who has had thirty-six years' experience as a nurseryman and a gardener, is convinced that the majority of the colonial gardens show poor results for the excellent climate, and the class of soil, not to speak of the time and labour expended on them. In the introduction Mr Levy says: "In giving this book to the public, 1 wish it to be clearly understood that I am not writing from a scientific standpoint. I know very little about science; I only know my subject from a practical knowledge gained after thirtysix years' successful experience. I do not try to use terms that are un • familiar to myself or the least uneducated portion of my readers, but am giving it as if I were talking to< each and every one in plain, commonsense language; children, I hope, will be able to read it and understand my language as thoroughly as their elders." The book appears to us to be of a mo3t useful character for all who are interested in gardening and horticulture.

When prices go up from any cause, it often happens that upon removal of the cause the increase remains for a long time, or is only partially removed. A case in point may be cited in connection with the late Newcastle coal strike. The Union Steamship Company, with perhaps good reason, increased the "freightage rates between New Zealand and Australian ports 25 per cint. while the passenger fares were increased 10 per cent. The strike has been over about a fortnight, and everything is now going along smoothly, yet the Union Company has only reduced the freight by 10 per cent, of its increase, and the passenger rates to 5 per cent. Thus it still benefits by the strike to the extent of 10 per cent, in the former and 5 per cent, in the latter.

We understand that the Mount Hoidaworth Committee are in debt to the extent of £22fwhich it desires to liquidate, and, also, to raise a further sum for necessary expenditure. A committee to canvass for subscriptions has been set up, and, as ithe amount subscribed locally up to the present is by no means large, it is anticipated that there will be a ready response to the committee's appeal for funds to further the excellent work which they are doing in the interests o** the town and district. Last season the mountain was ascended by persons, and it is estimated that the number who will make the trip this season will be at least a> thousand.