NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2391, 11 February 1922, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

A somewhat pathetic incident that illustrates the financial difficulties some of the soldier settlers are encountering is related in a letter from the Kin" Country (says the Auckland Herald). The soldier in question was ploughing in his bare feet. He possessed one pair of boots, but as he required them for visits to civilisation, and as he had no leady cash, he decided to save leather at the expense of the soles of his feet. The incident was not related as a complaint, and it therefore indicates the kind of courage of some of the settjers.

The loyalty of New Zealanders has been’ the subject of favourable comment by Mr W. C. Trembell, proprietor and editor of the Impartial Reporter, Enniskillen, Ireland, who visited the Dominion during the latter part of last year. In an article in the Impartial Reporter, he refers to the fact that when the gong sounded for dinner at the Grand Hotel, Auckland, the strains of “God Save the King,” played by the orchestra, were heard by those in the lounge, and immediately everyone, including Americans, rose to attention. He adds: “I confess I was moved. Here in the last outpost of the far-flung Empire the evening meal was not begun till we had saluted the King-Emperor as the head of our Great Executive; and in honouring him we honoured ourselves. This is an act of daily occurrence.”

It is reported that a young experimenter in wireless in the Dannevirke district has successfully received messages from as far oil as Honolulu. In Gisborne a lad has “picked up” several messages from the western coast of America. It is considered by business men that it is time wireless was better controlled. They assert that if messages can be picked up from Honolulu, all outward messages from New Zealand must be fairly well known to every wireless experimenter in the Dominion, thus destroying that secrecy which is so much desired.

An interesting comparison between speeds on the water and in the air was furnished in Auckland during the recent regatta, when the Avro seaplane from the New Zealand Flying School flew over the speed boats which were racing at high speed. Although the boats were driving along amid spray and a tossing wake, their speed was only a quarter of that attained by the sea-plane, which carried passengers over the harbour to give them a unique view of the small craft below.

Mr Clement Wragge, writing to an Auckland paper, suggests that if all the wedding presents to Princess Mary could be converted into cash for the purpose of feeding and helping the multitude, a great good would be done. He says: “I can imagine the response that our noble Princess would make to such an appeal. What would be the result? Why, the Empire as one and the world at large would arise and call them blessed, and the House of Windsor would be set on a rock surer and more stable than the foundations of Eddystone. God Save the King!”

The weekly stock sale at Levin brought out the largest sheep entry for months, and prices were good throughout, lambs reaching 22s 6d. Fat ewes also sold well, and good breeding ewes and store lines found ready buyers at advanced prices. Cattle also brightened, specially for fats and ,store and forward steers, very few lines being passed. The pig market was firmer for all lines, and the sale brisk. The attendance of buyers was very large, and there was a good tone throughout the sale.

A visitor from Levin stated to a reporter that whilst he was travelling in the South Island he saw a rather unusual aspect of farming near Ashburton, where a light plough was being used, the motive power being supplied by a farmer and his wife in double harness.

According to the Berlingske Tidende, Count Luekner, a former commandant of a Banish naval station, has predicted war in the near future, saying that Germany possesses new and eft active arms which their opponents could not Resist. From Flensburg it is reported that similar predictions are being made in German circles. New inventions which no army can resist will, it is said, bring Germany the victory in the new war. The rumours mention new gases more dangerous than any yet known, and especially an electric invention with which all aeroplanes are to be supplied, and which is able to kill anything on the earth within a wide range.

When the question of Sunday sport was before the Taihape Borough Council at its last meeting, the Mayor (Mr,A. J. .Toblin) said the protest reminded him of a protest which had once been lodged by some ladies against bathing on a certain piece of beach. Investigations were made, and it was found that the beach which was used for bathing was three miles away, and when the attention of the ladies was drawn to the fact, one of them exclaimed: “Oh, but we’ve got a telescope.” It was the same with those who objected to Sunday cricket. If it was offensive to them to see cricket'played on Sundays, there was no need for them to see it; there was no need for them to use th.e telescope. A celebrity in a little town in the King Country, who is very exuberant about all he says and does, recently asked several of “the boys” up to his place. Whilst the visitors were having a “spot” their host’s wife appeared with'a plate of sand-

wiches, and after a fe'w friendly remarks left the “lions” to themselves. “Isn’t she a brick?” asked the exuberant host. “Fancy cutting us a plate of such lovely sandwiches as these! By jove, boys, you wouldn’t believe what a good little wife she is. I think we’ll make her a present. Let’s 1 put in three bob each and buy her one!” With that he suited the action to the word. The “boys” looked thunderstruck, and then with sickly smiles, and in a dazed sort of way, “parted up.”— Press.

Various interests in the Dominion have made loud complaints against the way the Government has taxed them to the limit. But what about the imposition put upon daily papers? asks the Feilding Star. Through their enterprise, and at great expense, all communities are kept in touch not only with world affairs 1 , but also with its markets. Yet the Government puts the shackles on enterprise in publicity by increased rates. Yet despite this, the Government received the sum of £13,225 16s during the December quarter for press telegrams alone, compared with £8,750 11s for the corresponding period in 1920. This big increase resulted not only from the increased rates, but through the generous reporting of the Washington Conference by the New Zealand Press Association.