WHAT THE WORLD SAYS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1041, 31 January 1880, Page 4

WHAT THE WORLD SAYS.

[truth.] The Puke of Edinburgh enters upon the easy and occasional duties of his well-paid post on Friday next. I hear that several rooms have been handsomely fitted up at considerable expense for his accommodation at Whitehall to the great inconvenience of many of the permanent staff there. The attention of the House of Commons will be drawn to this appointment by a prominent Liberal member. It is not by any means what was intended when the Prince entered the service, and I am quite sure that had the Prince Consort been alive he would have so strongly disapproved of such an arrangement that it would never have taken place. It is said, and from all I can hear, on good authority, that Lord Dufferin will succeed Lord Lytton as Viceroy of India. If this be true, the appointment will help greatly towards bringing out an amicable understanding between England and Russia respecting the Central Asia question, Lord Dufferin is much liked and greatly respected at St. Petersburg. I think that Colonel Valentine Baker was hardly used in being dismissed from his position in our army ; but were I the Grand Vizier I should reply to Sir H. Layard’s demand that he be placed in a high command in Armenia, by requesting to know whether Her Majesty’s Government would replace him in the rank which he formerly occupied in Her Majesty’s army. Giant, the late headkeeper at Balmoral, had been in Her Majesty’s service ever since the commencement of the royal residences in Scotland. He invariably attended Prince Albert in his shooting excursions, and accompanied them on several of the incognito trips, particulars of which are related in the Queen’s “Journal,” in which volume his name is frequently mentioned. On the face of it the system of retrenchment in India appears quite in keeping with that lately experienced at home. A few months ago in order to reduce the establishment, very favorable terms were proposed to certain officers of Government works to retire from the service. As a natural result of the movement, a far greater number than was at first anticipated applied for and obtained pensions. Shortly afterwards, however, owing to the Afghan War, the majority of the relay engineer officers’in India were called away. In consequence of this the Government has lately been compelled to make an urgent appeal to all those who have just received their discharge soliciting them at once to return to office. As an inducement to rejoin the service also salaries at a higher rate than formerly given have been promised to all who come forward within a specified time. The Queen drove from Balmoral to Mrs Grant’s house on the morning of the funeral, and sat with her whilst the customary “services” were being “conducted ” in another room. At their conclusion Her Majesty walked in the procession behind the coffin until itreacbed the Castle. Two of the royal carriages followed all the way to the grave, which was in the churchyard of Braemar. The whole of the household, most of the servants, and the Balmoral, Birkhall, and Abergeldfe tenantry were present, at Her Majesty’s express command. It is to be feared that here in England we know little or nothing of what the campaign in Afghanistan is costing, or of certain details connected with the army in that country which are more costly than, creditable. An officer who has just returned from the seat of war tells me that in the item of baggage camels alone, the bjll that either we or India will have to pay is- something stupendous. Since the campaign commenced there have died not less than 90,000 of these animals, of which the average price is 150 rupees (Ll 5 a head). This item alone makes about L 900,000 which have to go down in the bill. The Court will remain at Windsor Castle less than three weeks, as Her Majesty intends going to Osborne for two months on the 17th or 18th of December,

At Lambie’s farm at South Kakaia. Canterbury, one oat-stalk was pulled up on the 21st inst. out of a wheat crop, grown from a single seed, on which there were 21 distinct straws, each having a large head of grain containing from 300 to 350 seeds each. This gives, taking the lowest number as the average, 6600 grains of oats from one seed, and giving each p’ant a square foot and 10,000 grains to the pound weight, the produes of one acre would be 479 bushels. The German army is to be increased—the artillery by 348 guns when on peace fooling, and 522 guns in war; the infantry by eight regiments, and the cavalry, engineer, and marine divisions in proportionate degree. The annual conscr ption is to be raised to 175 000—an increase of 30 000—in order to supply this extension of the military system. The army is to be further increased by 60,000 more. The surveyor to the Australian and New Zealand Underwriters’ Association, London, makes the following suggestion with regard to this somewhat dangerous anicle ; his remarks in the present instance being the result of his inspection of the damage done on board the Abergeldie. ship (see “ Cas.” of November 22 and this date). He says:- “ Great care, in my opinion, should be exercised in the shipment of copra, special attention being given to prevent any being put on board which has been wetted by sea water. 1 have bad before to draw attention to the necessity of ventilation on account of its sweating and damaging other cargo, and now I wonld suggest that only small quantities should be sent in any one vessel. 1 consider it a very dangerous article when shipped in large quantities, and the present case confirms my opinion.”—Australasian Shipping News.