NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 November 1923, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

The sweet-pen dates back to 1699; when the plant was first cultivated by a priest in Sicily. Canada's hill for damages sustained by reason of forest li res <lurin«£ the past live years averages 22,599,999 annually. The number of forest liras averaged 5779 a year, and tin- causes wore nine times in ten human recklessness. Campers accounted for 91 per cent.: lightning. 10 per cent.; tilt'd railways, 20 per cent. Ihe figure charged to railways is, however, an unfair index ot responsibility, in Jhe first place, practically all fires started, or said to have started, front railway lines are instantly reported. This is not true ot campers and settlers, and lightning fires. An unusual number or dairy cows were included in tin* vat-dings at the la si. Bali In tha stock sale. A district dairy fttiuar. in conversation with a pressman, said he did i -u understand why -c many milch cows should ho otfni'ill;.i this time of the yr-.'if. ••Why.” he said, “we are getting Id more a pound tor our bufter-tat titan at this time h.-r yar. and the prospect- tot the dairying industry • vrnever heller. But. no doubt the real rea-ou is Unit no many farmers are ruling hark to sheep fanning. When the slump eanie alter the war, and mutton, and all that pertains to it. went down to zero, in the mari-mt theii there was a i u-h to buy vows.” The multiplicity of accidents win motor-ears which happen through collisions with Liams at level crossings has prompted the Railway Department to institute what is termed a careful eros-ing campaip.it. The first step in conuectiia with tliis is Ihe issue of a lithographed phieard showing a large louring motor-ear containing passengers being smashed up through a collision with a train. The words. “Is it sale' Stop I Look! Listen!” are printed on the poster in hold type. A copy of this poster is being displayed at all railway stations, and must attract the attention of those Using the platform, and, it is hoped, will tend to instil a spirit oi enrol illness into motor drivers.

A writer v. ho vistied some of the housewifery schools in Switzerland was tremendously struck with the comprehensive tiiaining unde! taken. The students are mostly hoarders, over the age of 17, and the whole household routine is gone through every day. in,c hiding 'mending, washing, eookery. gardening, and rare of infants, and in.-i uagemeu t ot hoiisehoh I aeeolintThe day begins at 7. A iter Invaktasi the day’s menu is derided, ; mi from 111 to 1 9.30 everyone is cither preparing lunch or doing housework. Avoidance of waste, even in the matter ol water is insisted upon. The girls take it in turns to cook different dishes. to set the table, to serve, and to wait. "In <bv,it Britain.” says tievisitor, "particularly in large cities, lioiisekecpug is much more < omplex than in Swihz.crln ml. and oi c. nil's" eo.kery would always have to he adapted largely to national in-tes and to climate. But the problem of being able to procure suiTn-ient domestic help when it is really needed, as. lor insla nee. for women with young

children, will liardly bo solved until all girls, without distinction or so, in 1 class, are obliged scientifically to loai'li how the work ot a house is best dene, and why. This would probable de iiim-li to remove the -iigmn from domestic work, the feeling that anythin-'' else is better, whereas so many kinds of work rei|iiiro far less nils than house-keeping, few girls, il they eottl-l he properly trained m l ;i diploma, a- a nurse uiu-l do. would p.-- gale 111 do IIIHI-I'lioll] 11-:f !i. ali'l ami in time would probably soon be settled, especially villi o liilslre.s vli.l 1, id undergone the same t: ainili.g r-s the maid.”