LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2707, 29 February 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

"Our convalescent camps -for soldiers at Rotorua and Hanmer are still exiKrirnental'to a certain extent," said tlie Defence Minister yesterday. "Our most difficult problem is tho occupation and employment of tlie convalescents, and tliis we have to work out."

It will be unwelcome nows to householders, who are daily being made to feel the pinnli of the increased cost of living, to learn that the price of butter and milk is to ■ advance to-morrow. First quality butter, ■ which lias been selling at Is. Sd. per lb., is to bo advanced a penny, and milk is to advance in sympathy from 4d. to sd. per quart. Though tho general public is Iwiag asked to pay Is. Bd._per gallon f(r milk in March, the dairy farmers ar;i only \o receive half that amount, which may bo taken as an indication that, tho other lOd. is the cost of distribution.

A denizen of the deep, rarely seen in any but tropical waters—a largo sunfish—was discovered floating out from under the Queen's Wharf yesterday morning. The luige flabby creature, which would weigh close upon Bcwt., had apparently been dead soma limq when it was found, and at tho direction of the Harbourmaster (Captain Dawson) it was securely roped to the wharf until last night, when it was towed out to sea by the Blenheim.

The City Corporation has been unable to use its new tramway connection between Wellington South and Kilbiniie South during the past two months. Had the material required been delivered in a reasonable time the oars would have been running 011 Chustmas Day, but the feeder cables (armoured), and the boosters are still in England for all that is known of them, and tlie new double track down Crawford Road has not yot felt the rumble of tusliing oars. An endeavour is to be mada t.o run a restricted service over the uew line shortly. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) says tjiafc it is quite possible that a limited service he arranged for early in April, and its development must be guided by how they get on with the power at their disposal; _ Sharks are reported to be very _plpntiful this- summer, and also to 'bo exceedingly hungry (says the Whakatane "Press"). The officers of the s.s. Tasman, on her last trip from Auckland, had a. rather unique opportunity of confirming this. On the voyage up a largo shark kept company with the boat for quite a time, but 011 the voyage back to tho port when flie log was' hauled in near Whale Island it was found that a hungry shark had attempted to eat it. One of tho blades or fins of tho miniature propeller had disappeared, ailother' was bent and half'off, while tlie main metal portion showed numerous lMlrks of sharp teeth and snapping jaws. Evidently a hungry shark, attracted by the swirl of tlie log, had made a partially successful attempt to swallow it.

The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) stated yesterday that arrangements had now been made for all soldiers undersoinK hospital treatment, and to lie givsn free tramway passes, on the recommendation of the. officer in charge of such men. Mr. Luke says that the Mayor of Miramar (Mr. F. Toivnsond) lias agreed to allow the men ti travel over the borough lines on the ticket, and tJig Mayor of Karori (Mr. B. G. H. Burn) said he felt sure that his council would make no objection to the privilege hems; extended over the Karori lino. To those soldiers who arc able to get about the. privilese should be a valuable one, as it will enable them to <;et to the seaside or the country from any point in the city at almost auv time, and the outings thus provided should have the efl'eet of nssistinjj in brinci'iis about a return to normal ltealto.

Mr. P. Graham, chief guide at Mount Cook, has reported to the Genoral Manager of the Tourist Department that Mr. S. Turner, F.R.G.S., Wellington, accompanied by Guides Milne and Lippe, succeeded in making a complete traverse of the three peaks of Mount Cook oil Thursday last. The ascent was .made from the Hooker Bivouac by the vest face to the third peak, and thence by the Main Arete to Ulic second and the highest summit. The descent was made by Green's Route to the Haast Bivouac.' The party experienced perfect weather, but the mountain was in an ice-glazed eondi-j lion, which entailed a tremendous amount of stop-cutting. The Linda Glacier was much crevassed and difficult to negotiate. Mr. Turner, who is a veteran climber, reports that the climb was a most creditable and excellent performance for Guides Milne and Lippe, who worked magnificently throughout the trip.

In connection with Sydney's scheme of underground city and suburban railways, it is proposed tliat tlie only daylight station shall be in Circular Quay, and according to the plans it will occupy nearly the whole of the centre of the curve, taking in a space now covered by four ferry wharves. In ordor not to impede the ferry traffic overhead construction will be used in the Quay. The proposed scheme for a big station at Circular Quay will necessitate the demolition of the Harbour Trust building and the fire station at the corner of George Street and the Quay. Every/ot'lior station oil the system will be underground. The station and permanent way at the Quay will be built upon massive buttresses, the effect of which will be to alter the entire aspect of the water front at that point.

In connection with Mr. W. S. La Trobe's suggestion that classes should be established in the Technical School to train produce managers and dealers in an accurate knowledge of seeds, manures, etc., and their suitability for the various soils that exist in the Dominion, the director of tlie school believes that Wellington, as a centre for the distribution of such essentials in agriculture, should take the lead in the matter. One often heard of the good crops raised by this or that farmer by the use of certain seeds and manures,

but what one never heard of is the losses sustained by farmers in buying the wrong seeds, and using manures entirely unsuitcd to the soil he is working. The average farmer went largely on what was told him by his seed merchant, but now, more than at any time, such men should know something about soils, and what seeds would flourish best in thorn, and the extent to which they would be benefited by the use of ccrtain manures.

"We had before us in Cabinet," said | the Premier of New South Wales,last week, "the question of interpreting the rule laid down by Cabinet that we make good the difference between the State and military pay to who enlist. The question has arisen whether men obtaining a separation allowance for wives while at the front are entitled to the whole of tho difference, or whether' the difference should be reduced by the amount of the separation allowance. Some divergence of treatment lias occurred in different departments, but to-day we decided that, in estimating the amount to be paid, the separation allowance should not be considered at all, because otherwise married men would bo penalised by the State and single men advantaged. The State, in making its estimate of what it will pay to one of its servants at the front will not count any sum allowed by the •Commonwealth to his wife as a separation allowance."

Probably at-no time in tbe 1-istory-of lavercargill have there been so many tenantloss says the "Southland Times.'' In' tin's south part of the town the legends "To Let" and "For Sale" aro particularly conspicuous, no fewer tiiau twenty of these placards being visible within a small radius'. The majority of these 'dwellings have apparently never been occupicd, and bear evidence of having been constructed with a view to sale in the pre-war days, when house-building with this intent was considered a lucrative proposition. Some of the buildings, however, are of considerable a<»e, their former tenants having possibly removed into more up-to-date establishments. It would not seem that, apart from those who have gone to the front, there has been any diminution in the population of the town since 1910, when empty houses were a thing unknown. Over-building, with tlio consequent excess of' supply over demand, probably accounts for the present' state of things, while there have been many instances in which young fellows, now at the front, built homes in anticipation of getting marriod prior to the outbreak of war. Liberal gifts of fruit are being received from the orchardists at Motneka for

the military- camps in Now Zealand. The Defence Minister (the Hon. James Allen) has received n letter from Mr. J. A. Wallace, Motueka, who has interested himself in this matter, ns follows:—"Following on the lines of our gift supplies of fruit to tho military camps last season, I have commenced shipping, and will continue regularly for some 1 months to come. The following parcels of fruit havo been deposited with me as follow: —Wellington: Military Ward, General Hospital, seven cases pearsj 0 Squadron (Featherston Camp), 19 "cases of plums; 0.0. Commanding Trent'ham Military Camp. 56 eases of pears; Trentliam Military Hospital (Camp), three cases of mixed fruit; Featherston Military- Hospital (Camp), 15 cases pears and tomatoes." Tho writer of tho letter said that the fruit would not carry over a long .journey, but when the keeping apples were available, he might arrange supplies for troopships. The Minister of Defence has cordially thanked the donors..

Things a soldier wants. Inspect our money belts, buckle or snake belts; _ our khaki shirts and handkerchiefs, writing outfits, at Geo. Fowlds, Ltd., Manners Street.—Advt. v