Passing Notes.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 153, 24 May 1900, Page 3

Passing Notes.

BY kISMI PAIKI.

Mr C. H. Mills, M.H.R. for Wairau, speaking to a New Zealand Times reporter, said that the prosperity of Marlborough and its towns has recently increased to a marked extent. In the towns the houses are all occupied, and rents have risen to an appreciable extent. The principal cause of the improved condition of affairs is the closed settlement which is taking place ou land acquired by the Government. There has been an augmentation in the number of settlers, whilst a desire to secure land in the province is drawing m*ny inquirers irom a distance. The admirable climate of Marlborough forms one of the raosfc attractive features. — Waimate is in much the same position, and it seems for the same reason. Houses are as scarce as the proverbial hen's teeth. This is Another proof of the value of the Government's land policy.

I notice in the Lyttelton times an account of a meeting held at Asbbacton, on Saturday, to try and start a bacon factory. The Chairman stated that two years ago they had met to try and find an avenue for fcheir surplus mutton, and the Fairfield Freezing Works were the result. Now they had met to consider the disposal of their surplus pigs. — That is an example for the leading farmers in this district to follow-

Sometime ago the Works Committee of the Borough recommended a number of works to be done during the year, and their recommendations were adopted by the (Joimcil. Included m the works was the blinding of a track along the shingle in Shearman street- This, I consider an urgent work, but there is no sign ot ifs being done yet. Anothor item was the blinding of a portion of the shingle near the Post Office, and of this being done there is also no sign. It would' sem that the Council are waiting till the shinglt is worn down in the ordini y coarse of events, when they will thud save the cost of foUnding.

Jf there is one thing more than ! another which annoys me, it is to ! see a boy ot, say, ten years of age, smoking a cigarette. This habit is growing among children, who, witb a desire to appear manly, are doing themselves harm which can never be remedied. Brooking while ot tender years is exceedingly harmful, not only hindering growth, but having a bad effect on the heart. In the annual report of the Marine Department of the United States, the following sentence finds a place : — " About 90 per cent, of those applying to enter the navy are rejected, and with most of them heart disease, caused by excessive smoking when youug, is the cause." la Tasmania, there is a law prohibiting the sale of tobacco to anyone under 17 yeara of age under e?,t heavy penalty, and something of the kind ought to be brought into force in New Zealand.