Interprovincial

New Zealand Tablet, 20 September 1906, Page 24

Interprovincial

There were 20,108,471 sheep in the Colony on April 30, 1906, the increase during the previous twelve months being 9-77,596. There are - 10,009,731 sheep in the North Island, and 10,098,740 sheep in the South Island. Mr. M. Nolan, of Christchurch, was in Glasgow , when the last mail left, arid intended remaining, in Great Britain until the latter half of September, when he proposed to return to New Zealand, visiting Rome en route. - . " The unusual sight of a waggon-load of bees travelling- between SprMigharn and Methven was to be seen last week. There were 72 hives on the waggon, and the bees reached their destination— a distance of fifteen miles — safely, and have_ settled down at their new quarters.

'A large- totara tree felled at Mangakahia, North •Auckland, about- sixty years ago, i was split up the other day and -found to be as sound as the day it was cut down. --*■-./- ,. ; The _ lambing season . is in full swing in the Gore district ;(says the ' Standard '), and farmers generally are highly satisfied with the results. The fine percentage is attributable to the splendid season; On a number of farms there have been lambings of 100 per cent, and over. . Figures collected by the Tourist Department show that no less than. 400 oversea visitors stayed- at the principal hotels and boarding-houses in Auckland during the past month. Of these, 99 came from England, 148 from New South Wales, 49 from the United. states, and 22 from Victoria. This represents an increase of about 100 on the preceding month, and ilustrates the importance of the tourist traffic to Auckland. Several trout at Masterton hatcheries are suffering trom cancerous growths, generally in the vicinity of the gills, believed to be due to the fish not securing supplies of their natural food. The fish affectod have been marked, and a special diet treatment tried, but although they have been treated for three months tnere is no appreciable difference in the growths, which in some cases are ulcerated and sloughing. Mr Gilruth, chief veterinarian, is taking a good deal of- interest in the matter. The St. Mary's Catholic Club (writes our Wanganui correspondent) intend having an oratorical contest on Friday, September 28, on the lines laid down by the Federated Catholic Clubs' Executive. The quarterly Communion of the members of the club takes place on Sunday, September 30.— Wanganui people are" proud of their sculler, Webb, and have sought in Austiaua, the home of ohampion scullers, for an opponent worthy of him. Stanbury, the late champion, has accepted a challenge to row Webb for £200. At the weekly meeting of the Hokitika Catholic Laterary and Debating Society on September 11 (writes a correspondent) the land policy of the Government was discussed. An excellent debate was the result Mr. M. Daly upholding the leasehold, whilst Mr. W* Dixon favored the freehold system. Messrs. Dee Wylie Hauranan, Cuttance, and T. Daly were the other speakers. On a vote being taken, the meeting decided in favor of the leasehold. An oratorical competition will be held next meeting, for which a good number of members have entered. The steamer < Kumara, 1 which reached Wellington on Saturday, brought nearly 200 immigrants to New Zealand, 67 of the number being for Wellington. Inere were only a few la-borers. There were farmers, joiners, carvers, clerks, drivers, and butchers in fair number, and amongst single reluesentatives were a clergyman, a carter, a dressmaker, a navvy, a seamstress, a storeman, a shepherd, a traveller, a miner, a wharfinger, a grocer, and a builder. There were half a dozen or so aged men amongst the immigrants, but the remainder were all youthful or in the prime of life. The tourists who honor New Zealand with their nying visits are nothing if not critical, and it is interesting to glance through the comments they inscribe in the visitors' book at the Tourists Department's" Office (says the • Press.'). One man from Cheshire has recorded his opinion that New Zealand is ' a great country while a compatriot from across the border sums the Colony up as ' a very good country, but boomed too much.' A gentleman from Basutoland, who was m Christchurch on August 8, found the place oKLnS? i, V but < a ii a * ce L v ' isitor from GKPPsland thinks Ohiistchurch has ' a delightful climate,' and is altogether a splendid city.' The climate also found appreciation in the eyes of a Sydney visitor, who has ?°*jj b^ sl '^ s , , that the People of Christchurch are very English, an opinion to which another gentleman from the -same city also subscribes. ■ One patronising traveller, who gives his abode as Liverpool in looking for a few words of criticism found 'nil desperandum ' suitable for the occasion, though whether it is the city or the Colony that should ' never despair' is not quite clear. The most enthusiastic of the recent callers "at -the Tourist Office was a ady from SJTwp I ft 0 + Wa l S0 YellY el l pleased with her Experiences here that she put it on record , that 'everything in the place * is lovely.' ■ ,