General News.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 263, 30 September 1902, Page 3

General News.

H.M.S. Drake, which hits been fitted with a broad-bladcd propeller, made a record speed of 24 knots at Portsmouth. In the military experiments conducted on Salisbury Plain, shrapnel shell broughtdown a balloon at a height of 4000yds. The foundation stone of the new Roman Catholic Church at Makikihi' is to be laid next Sunday. There is likely to be a large gathering. When Rickards’ company play in Timaru theatre on December 29th and 30th, Sandow. the world-renowned strong man, will be the chief attraction. The Argentine Agricultural Department expects the crops to be forty per cent, above last year’s yield. The wool clip is exceptionally good, and is estimated to be worth .£10,000,000.

A meeting of all interested in introducing Bible teaching into the schools will be held on Friday evening in the Salvation Army barracks. The Mayor will preside. The A. and P. Association has baen exceed! igly fortunate this year in regard to special prizes, no less a value than ,£97 being already offered, with a probability of further donations, as against a total of £79 last year. Mr Reddy, member of the House of Commons for Birr (Kings County), and Mr Burke, member for Tullatnoro (King’s County), have been sentenced to t.vo months’ hard labour at Birr, for participating in an unlawful assembly. They have appealed against the sentence. A chisel thrown at Mr Kensit, the Anti-Ritualist, when he was leaving a meeting at Birkenhead, struck him on the forehead, inflicting a severe wound. He was removed to a hospital for treatment. Miss Priscilla Demley, of vVarrnambool, ha* a valuable heart. A gentleman named Marcus Oldham stole it right away, and then returned it without thanks, Priscilla now claims £IO,OOO for damages to the organ in question. Constable Frank Stanley Parker, formerly stationed at Waimate, died on Friday at Hawera from the lingering disease with which he was afflicted whilst here. Great sympathy will be felt in Waimate for Mrs Parker and her young family. In the Brisbane Assembly, Mr Plunkett moved, “ Thai it is advisable to take steps to secede from the Commonwealth.” Mr Philp, the Premier, said he was unable to snpport the motion in its present form, though he was prepared to assist in bringing about relief. He still believed in federation, bat not in the present Government. The debate was ujourned. In the House on Friday Sir J. GWard stated that the good work done by the Home in the last two days rendered it unnecessary to sit on Saturday and consequently the good little members had a holiday allee saraee factories, on Saturday, too. Question, if the members get a holiday every time they work, what will happen when they don’t. At a public meeting of ratepayers, held last evening in the Borough Council Chambers, a resolution was passed stopping the road between the Borough Council Chambers and County Council Chambers. Cr Barclay, in moving the motion, which was seconded by Cr Sinclair, congratulated the town on acquiring such a valuable property, for which he understood an offer of £SOO had been received in its present rough state. In the House Sir J. G. Ward read a cable he had received from Major Pilcher, Capetown, in reply to enquiries a* to the state of the labourmarket in South Africa. The message stated that a demand exists for skilled men in the following trades:—Carpenters, tinsmiths, coach and waggon makers, body-makers, coach painter?, wheelwrights, saddlers, harnessmakers, cutlers, fitters, and tailors. Major Pilcher added that the present high wages would decline as the supply increased.

| In the Federal House Mr Crouch (Victoria) called attention to the action of the mine-owners in South Africa in proposing to import Chinese coolies to work the mines to the detriment of white labour, and demanded that the Commonwealth Government should enter a vigorous protest. Mr Deakin, in reply, said that it was not a matter for the Government. Australians were not inclined to tolerate interference in their own affairs. If the Government interfered they were liable to receive a mortifying rebuke. At the same time he declared that the mine-owners were selfish men and had no patriotism. The eastern mole extension works at Timaru are now out a distance of 1375 feet, the total quantity of stone deposited in the mole to date being about 120,000 tons. The men engaged on the works are to work double, shifts during the summer months, and stone will be then deposited in the sea at the rate of 500 tons per day. Of the loan of £IOO.OOO authorised for the work, £60,000 has been spent, arid there still remains two- . thirds of the work to be done. Includ -d i., the £‘60,000 is the total cost of material and plant, and all that the Hoard will have to pay from now to the conclusion of the work will be for labour.

In the House of itepresentatives a number of amendments in the Electoral Hill were brought down by Gover lor’s uuasage. The principal among them was a new clause providing thud every person who at any time between the issue of a writ, and the day of the poll publishes or exposes, or causes to be published, or exposed to public view any document or writing or printed matter containing any untrue statement defamatory of any candidate and calculated to influence the vote of any' elector, is liable to a penalty not exceeding £SO, or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding three months. Another amendment was that the Registrar of Electors is made a party with the Returning Officer in the case of any mistakes which might occur, and could be mulcted with him in costs should any action result from such mistakes. After considerable discussion the amendments were agreed to. Synopsis of New Advertisements. Neil’s Herbal Remedies —Can be supplied by the Waimate agent. E. J. Maindouald—Has large variety of new tools in stock. L. Thyne—Notice re trotting sire Experience. Waimate Racing Club —Invite applications for secretary. Dalg-’ty and Co —Want a smart lad for farm. Guinness and LeCrcn, Limited Manures.