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Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 110, 7 February 1928, Page 14

While pastoralists and dairymen iu the north are complaining of the long dry spell, the East Coast, Poverty Bay, and Wairba districts have experienced a bountiful season (states an exchange). Sheep farmers in particular in the early part of the season were put to additional expense, and suffered unusual delays through intermittent rains, and their situation has been almost the reverse of that in the Waikato and Auckland districts. Prior to the New Year there was too much rain to suit the woolgrowers, and shearing was delayed. "Of late the weather has been more settled, and the outlook is decidedly better. Dairymen, on the other hand, are anxious to see more rain, for already the pastures are drying up, and butter-fat production shows signs of a substantial decrease.

It is not long ago, during a very hot season similar to the present, that a clergyman from Australia surprised a large North Shore congregation who had gathered to listen to him by appearing in the pulpit clad completely in white clothes and a holiday collar, a very emblem of coolness and freedom, while those listening to him, clad iu their best Sunday attire, perspired in heavv material and starched collars While this did not actually occur ’in the extremely hot atmosphere recently, a clergyman appearing in the same pulpit threw off a double gown he usually wore, and many in the congregation’ would have been relieved if he had asked them at the time he had disgowned himself to take their coats off (savs the Auckland “Star”). 1 Ins feeling Was intensified when the preacher gave out the text, which dealt with Hie sea and whales.

After vears of abuse and contempt, the humble rabbit is coming into his own. The Angora breed of rabbit is suddenly discovered to be a producet of a wool fleece more valuable than that of a sheep, less expensive to mat ket, more desirable as a fabric for intimate feminine underwear and masculine hats, more eagerly in demand, more clieaplv produced, and an easy, pleasant, hobby-like industry eminently suited for women aud young people. All rabbit food can be homegrown. An Angora rabbit of the improved strain will yield from 8 to 16dz. of wool per annum, and the wholesale price paid by British spinners is to-day 3Gs. per lb.' There are titled ladies in Great Britain maintaining flocks of 1000 wool rabbits—in confined spaces, of course. New Zealand posseses Angora rabbits, too—sorry specimens, but capable of improvement from stud importations. The trouble is that every New Zealander is afraid of a rabbit (savs the Auckland “Star”). The importation of rabbits is illegal, and a carcM watch is kept by Government inspectors at all ports to prevent any small additions to the rabbit population by arrivals from overseas.