NEWS & NOTES

Waikato Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1590, 24 June 1903, Page 4

NEWS & NOTES

Among the patients at the Greytown Hospital is one of the Valdares, who received a severe spinal injury whilst performing the cycle whizz in Fitzgerald's circus. The iron bridge over tbo Severn, which is still standing at Ironbridgc, ■was built in 1779, and according to the Act under which it was built, even the Sovereign must pay toll before crossing. Somewhere in the back blocks, not a thousand miles from Eketahuna, where no licensed bouse has yet appeared, is a barber's shop, where the price of a shave is sufficiently high to provide alcoholic refreshment in any quantity.—Express. One of of Dunedin has been a victim of the reduction vote in a markod degree. When a reduction committee was in office in 1897. Mr A. Owen lost his license for the Ship Inn Hotel, and now the committee have taken away that for the Club Hotel, of which ho is the licensee. Even in Australia thero are clergymen who are almost as much isolated as if they were on mission stations in New Britain. The Rev. A. Hey, Presbyterian ministers to the aborigines at Mapoon, North Queensland, did not address a white audience for more than six years until May 24th, when he spoke at a meeting in Sydney. A young minister, in a highlyelaborate sermon which he preached, aaid several times, ' The commentators do not agree with me here.' Next morning a poor woman came to see him, with something in her apron. She said her husband heard his sermon, and thought it a very fine one, and, as he said the common taters did not agree with him, he had sent some of the very best kidneys. The champion axeman of the world, T. Pettitt, of Tasmanian, is at present visiting New Zealand, and intends to promote an active interest in chopping competitions in the colony. With that idea, as well as for the purposes of business, he proposes to visit all the sawmill and bush districts- The champion, who is only 25 years of age, has been competing in matches for the past seven years. 1 Indiscriminate giving,' the secretary of the Wellington Eenevolent Trustees told the Board last week, 'is one of (he greatest mistakes that Wellington people make. There is a properly-constituted body for the relief of deserving distress, and people sould send applicants there.' The secretary went on to say that there were prefessional beggars about the city who needed nothing bub money—and they were most persistent in their efforts to get it. The Maahanui County Council, instead of levying a rate, which would fall heavily on some of the small native holdings, for Council purposes, have decided in the summer months to hold a grand native fete of hokas, powhiris and dances in the open air in the day time, and in the evening in some large hall in Christchurch. By this means the Maoris oxpect to help the Council to stave off the day when the rate collector will become an official of tho Council.—Truth. 'I saw young marching to school with a cigarette stuck in his mouth,' said Mr BJgg, at a recent meeting of the Masterton School Committee. ' The only way to cure these boys who will smoke,' observed Mr J. L. Murray, 'is to have a proper smoke-oh. Give them clay pipes, and some black, rank tobacco, and make them smoke. That will cure them.' There is doubtless practical wisdom in the remedy. What smoker cannot recall the horrors of his first pipe ! Another new rifle has been brought under tho notice of the Commonwealth Defence Department, and if it comes up in practical use to all that is claimed for it, a record of deadliness should be established. An Italian gentleman, who has submitted the rifie, states that it will fire with any of the cartridges at present used 150 shots a minute, and that there is no limit to the number that could be fired without necessitating the rifle being removed from the shoulder. Thia weairjon is specially suited for infantry, but the naval forces could be armed with another type, capable of firing 1500 shots a minute. Old Melbourne and Old Sydney ! In September, 1838, 70 central allotments in Melbourne were put ■up for sale in Sydney. Dr. Thomas Black, the physician in Penrith, saw a crowd round a dingy shed in King Street; went in to ascertain the cause of the excitement, and heard for the first time of Port Philip and the settlement called Melbourne. Then he nodded to his friend the auctioneer, and the latter mis-took it for a business transaction. Tho doctor subsequently found himself called upon to pay £167 for an allotment, and paid it disgustedly. During his declining year 3 he drew from that accidental bit of ground £3OOO a year in rents. It was situated at tho corner of Swanstou and Collins Streets.