Three men had an exciting experi ence in the recent heavy duststorm which passed over the Darling dis trict (New South Waleß). They were at Wamberra engaged in. chaff-cutting, when the gale struck a large hayshed, completely wrecking it. The men fled from the Scene among the flying tim bers and iron, and narrowly escaped with their' lives. Sheets of iron were carried through the air for a quarter of a mile, and enormous pines were up rooted. A thoughtful and, commendable act is to be put to the credit of Mr W. Horrobin, manager of the. New Zea land Loan and Agency Company at tho Bluff (soya the Southland News). Knowing how acceptable literature must be to the soldiers in South Africa, lie suggested that newspapers' and 'books should be placed in the top of the 801 b sacks of grain that were being des patched to the front, a plan thai) is almost certain; lo ensure safe delivery. The suggestion was acted upon, a largo quantity of literature being, for warded. A Gisborne telegram states that a large number of rams are being im ported into that district but as an in stance of the expense and risks to which sheepbreeders are often put, Mr Alex. McKenzio (who has so long given stud -sheep-breeding his special atten tion) purchased a Romncy ram -without seeing him from a»' well-known breeder in Palmerston North for 20 guineas f.o.b. at Napier. On arrival Mr Mc- Kenzie was so dissatisfied with the sheep that, although he was bound to pay for him, he declined to us© the ani mal, and sold him at the Matawhero yards on Wednesday for £2. The quarterly meeting of the Napier licensing committee was held yester day. The police reported unfavourably on the: manner in which the Caledonian Hotel, had been conducted during the last quarter. Complaints were made of frequent rows in the hotel, and on the 16th of February, after midnight, a fight took place, the police having to be called in to put a stop to the dis turbance. It was shown that since then a competent manager had been put in, and the hotel was now most satisfactor ily conducted. After considering tho police report, the committee were ot opinion that the license must be trans ferred within one month. 