GENERAL NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2317, 9 October 1908, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS.

Tho Agricultural Department lias received a consignment of Para rubber seed for experimental purposes at Waeronga Stnto farm, and >;it "Will akarewnreiva. The seeds resemble large Barcelona nuts in appearance, and were p icked in wax tor protection. Reports from the Islands state that tho Para rubber treo is .thriving there, but whether it can bo grown profitably in tlio colder climate of Mow Zealand remains to be seen. Prior to the last meeting of the • Auckland Harbor Bon'd members visited the Quocns-stroet.Wharf to inspect some ferro-concrete piles that had been drawn for testing purposes, and after having been in contact with sea water for some years.- The pile submitted t.o the most searching test was one that had been down lor nioro than four years. The concrete was knocked away with sledge hammers, and the iron rod expos oil. Slight traces, hero and there, of oxidisation were found, but, on tlio whole, the test was a convincing one. Crete Coiiipanyslimr s s shrotnoisnslirdl Mr. Moore, engineer of the Ferro-con-crete Company, stated that if all the steel rusted away tlio ferro-concrete uprights would still be secure. Tlio Harbor Board’s acting-engineer, ill'. Powell, expressed tho opinion that- the test was satisfactory.