The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, May 6, 1916. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1547, 6 May 1916, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, May 6, 1916. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

THAT there is no .shortage of ready money among the sporting fraternity in New Zealand is proved by reference to the amazing figures in connection with the “investments” on the (otalisator at the different race meetings, (lenerally, these continue to show an increase on previous years. At the meetings—gallops,and trots —at Easter, the aggregate amount handled exceeded (hat of the previous year by over £20,000, The following am the figures compared with those for the previous Easier season : 1916. 1910. £ £ Auckland R.C. D/>,;570, 9-1,238 Canterbury •!.('. 70,649 08,126 Metropolitan T.C. 61,993 00,013 Avondale .J.C. 40,939 48,840 Wairarapa K'.C. 28,733 36,950 Riverton R.t'. 24,922 27,009 Eeilding .J.C. 66,923 66,326 Beaumont 7,016 8,122 Tuapeka J.C. 4,483- (>,503 Waimate Plains Trot 4,340 7,972 Westland I{.C. 6,880 0,109 Kumura J.C. 0,212 4,883 £402,734 £424,300

THE last mail from London gives a few details of the state of the hemp market. When the mail left, the market, in Manila henfp was inclined to he easy. As this was solely on account of heavier receipts from the Philippines, it is evident that the whole market is in a precarious stale, and that it is only held up by the continued scarcity of supplies at the consuming centres. Mexican sisal is steady in America, and at its present price it is undoubtedly one of the cheapest lihres obtainable, However, it is only the American market that can benefit, seeing (hat freight to England is practically unobtainable, and the rate prohibitive. If an opportunity of shipping at a reasonable rale presented itself, a very considerable business would be possible with London. New Zealand hemp holds its own, noil tier buyers or sellers showing any anxiety for business. East African sisal is scare,e in London, and Italian hemp is kept firm by a continued speculative demand.

IT is interesting in view of Hit- recent grave disturbances in Ireland, to lui;u to a speech delivered by Mr John Redmond in Ireland recently, where lie refers to the part, by no means a small one, which Ireland is taking in the war, and which shows conclusively that the rebellion was engineered by a few hot-headed fanatics, and supported by only a small minority of Irishmen. “Since the commencement of the war,” said JMr Redmond, “Ireland had put a huge army in the Army and into the Navy 3,4(10, field. Up to Bth January last, Ireland had sent 80,277 men into the making a total of 89,743. In that magnificent record Ulster led the van naturally and properly, because that province held one-third of the whole population in Ireland. The record of Ulster was the record of all creeds and classes. There had been slackness in the agricultural

districts, and in regard to that lio liad no hesitation in saying' to his fellow-countrymen who were on the soil, and wiio after forty years of sacrifice and suffering' were made its owners, Unit they had an interest in winning this battle over Germany greater even than any agriculturalists in Scotland, Wales, or England. They had to-day 145,86!) men who enlisted from Canada, and if they added to that, as it would he fair to do, the Irishmen who enlisted in Great Britain, (he returns showed, not including Irishnienu who enlisted from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, they had at least, 300,006 irishmen with the colours.'’