LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, 18 September 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

In a letter to Mr J aim P. Squire, MiKent, of Auckland, states: "With regard to the test of 200 tons of iron I took awav from r.irapara, 1 might say that the'ironstone-was thoroughly _ tested at Onehuniia with the most satisfactory results. . . The iron produced was fit 'to be handled in any part ot the world. 1 still have by me some of the iron m question, and a number of test pieces which speak for themselves, as they are of the \ary highest- quality. The limestone to which you refer was in cverv way suitable for use in smelting the ore " -Mr Squire informs us that a man of exnerie-nee stated that- Nature had put land better for furnace sites than anv man could have done. "Tr. says Mr' Squire. "New Plymouth can put up furnaces why not Paraprua':"

Mvtlleno. where the French are said to have landed a strong force,_ is the name of the ancient capital city now applied to the whole of Lesbos, the most northerly of the Greek inlands, except Tenedos'. The city itself is by far the most attractive island capital in the Aegean, from picturesque situation, former splendour, audi important historical events. especial-v the Athenian siege, and the dramatic'escape of the citizens from massacre so vividly described by Thnrvrluvcs. Rut this island. no larger than a small English shire, has bred a remarkable number of poets —including Sappho, the first "emancipated woman" —'three historians, and four philosophers, as well as Pittacus. erne of the "seven "' whose memory is stili preserved ■by 3 the Hotel Pittakos.

It is expected that the "general average" struck in connection with the loss of the Tongariro will reach to over 90 per cent of the value of the cargo secured from the wreck (says the N.vpier Telegraph). The loss, however, will ultimately fall on the insurance companies carrying the risks, but importers not so covered'will have to pay and look pleasant.

"There will be two or three hundred shearers walking the streets of Masterton, when shearing operations should be in progress unless our demands are conceded." said a shearer to an Age reporter. In the South Island the shearers were as determined- as in the North Island to hold out for 255, and unless this became the general price owners would probably have to do their own shearing.

The Auckland Star reports a rovel suggestion which was made to the Hon: James Allen when he visited the internment camp at- Motuihi recently. A German, who had been a Samoan planter, said he desired to go back there, and that during his absence a friend of his, also from Samoa, would come to the camp and be interned in his stead. But the Minister of Defence could not agree to this.

Some lime ago the ki/lling of ali species of hawks was prohibited' until the end of the present year. Ma.nv people, sa-vs the -Chiistdhurch Press, wondered at the time why the prohibition was ever imposed', 'as the hawks kill the game. trooWe poultry keepers, and have been l-i'.owu to slay even- young lambs. As against, -this' has to be put the fact that they no dou-liv kill many rabbits and snv.il} birds that annoy the grain grower and the orck--:ra'ist, 'but the general verdict- is against- the hawk. An order in the Gazette has appeared-, withdrawing the prc/hib:.:on, so that hawk- may cow be killed until the end of the present year. This step has been taken in consequence of anany complaints from- the farmers and Acclimatisation Societii.es regarding the depredations commit to:! by t-ho hawks.

Some strong remarks- on the imporration of "trashy" foreignj articles into the Dominion during the war were made 'by the Mayor (Mr H. Holland) .at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Employers' Association.: Mr Holland said that he Iliad' figures to.show that over £6OOO worth of eggs had 1 , within a year, corno into New Zealand', which investigations showed' -were seatrulls" esigs and ~--uch-like rubbish from China. This .was, of course, contrary to the Pure Foods Act. hut still l such rubbish, picked up amongst the filth of China, was comine into the Dominion and coming into Christchureh to he put into, our cake? and iiastry. "We ought' to take some steps to put an end to this thing, and Vet New Zealand' >be for New Zealandev." said Mr Holland. "If this js to continue, it is time our legislators woke up. The trouble is we're too soft."

"No business man who has taken an intelligent interest in the commercial policy of Germany in the past a??d- the tremendous effects it has had on the British Empire, will have any doubt? as to the absolute necessity for each portion <if the FJmpire taking such steps as will check Oermany's further attempts to exoloit. our markets." said' Mr J. I\. Fayward at the arnvual meeting- of the Canterbury Employers' Association. -"A few firms at Home -who have had large deiiYi.vgs with. Oernrany in t'he past are opposing any proposal to break oil' commercial relations with that country after the war. 'but self-preservation, not to mention patriotism, must take precedence of everv other consideration." —'Preys.

.An engineer belonging to the Tongarior secured work at a Napier iron foundry within a. few hours of landing from the wreck (says the Herald). Within the fast 12 months he had been on board a submarine hunter in the North Sea, and bad shared in the distribution of a bonus for destroying; a German vessel 'before his own steamer was shelled and sunk. Ho had been employed in the Olan McTavish when that vevsel put up her fine Ma-ht. agm'nst the Mocwe. Shipping to New Zealand in the Tonganro, he shared : n the excitement of the wreck, and on binding at Napier he met a compatriot.' "Hoots, mon, I'm fair sick of the sea," lie ex-chimed. He liked New Zealand, and resolved to stiv in Napier, and obtained his new position straight away. It is requested thn+. aIT accounts in connection with Daffodil 'Week be sent In iiy Wednesday next.

! The manager of the Nelson Freezing Works (Mi- '.]. Alan. Mitchell) ha.- received advice that the steamer Kumara will come from Brisbane direct to Nelson to load. .Sh.. is expected to arrive here about Thm-sdav nest.. and will load 16.000 freight carcai-i.-. ■■■'.'. h will .-h-an out the works. According to teleplioue advice received at Napier this morning, the Tongariro is now completely under water. The bow. which chum- to the rock so long, suffered hadlv iu the recent heavy weather. The sea iu the vi■■iniiy is stieu-n with wreckage. mo>t!\ timber and very little e;:rgo. '""Hie Na|.ier malinger of the New Zealand; Shipping 'Company expressed the opinion that there w<>u'd be iii-tle or no sound eas'go saved from the sea. lie d<:c< not think that further efforts will be .made by diving, as the spoi is too exposed. Press Association. At the Empire Theatre io-mormw night, the Permanent Pictures proprietor v will present a special programme in' a,:d of the filed- for soldiers' Christmas gift--:. Returned* .-oldiers are cordially'imited to be present. 'George Im-ory was to-day sentenced to three months' imprisonment in the Dunedin Police Court on a charge of falsely representing 'himself as a Syrian doctor who could oure rheumatism. Accused obtained five guineas from' a, woman whoso legs he scarred with 'burning wood and put a. pellet of beeswax in covering up the wound with leaves.—Press Association. On the Bth inst. Mr T. A. H. Field, M.P., wrote to the Minister of Defence askin'ff whether it was not possible- to give the Nelson men of the Eighteenth Reinforcements and also future Reinforcements on their final leave longer time at home, as in many cases so much time was lost in travelling and unsuitable steamer timetables. The Minister's reply came to hand by telegraph this morning, and is to the effect that owing to trie men having to he hack iu camp on a- Sunday, in order to allow training to proceed on the Monday, no extension of leave can be granted. A lettei- fully explaining the position has be</n posted by i the Minister to Mr Field. ' The annual spring flower show and sale of work of the Presbyterian Ladies' Cuild will 'be held on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Show schedules mav be' obtained from Mrs MacKenzie and Mrs Angus and at Mr West's pharmaev. Entries will close at the Church Hall to-night at 8.30. or may be posted to Mrs Angus, Hardy-street, any time before then. There will be a medical programme each evening. A number of. stalls, with a tea kiosk, will be open for' business. The proceeds of the sale of cut blooms will go to the soldiers' Christmas gifts fund. "What encouragement has there ever bec-n given to scientific research, either in this country or at Home, even for those qualified to undertake it?" asked Mr George George at Auckland the other day, says the Herald. "What more striking example coti'ld we wish for than : that of Professor Thomas, late of the 1 'Auckland-University College, whose research many years ago on the liver fluke in sheep was prdbably worth millions to sheep farmers of iNew Zealand. I believe I am right in saying that the value placed' upon this work by an enlightened Government was an honorarium of £IOO. Again, the careful research of Mr A. W. Green-, late experimentalist at the R-na-kura Government experimental farm, was 'the means of his obtaining an oat Which appears to he rust- : proof. Apart altogether from the immense value that this oat will be ,-to farmers of New Z-ealand!,' the money derived iby the Government from the sale of <t<he oa.t .for seed purposes waill, in a ■little while, even if it- has- .not a'Tready doiie so. pay for R.nak'iira farm over and over again. Yet I d!o not (remein'ber ever having seen on the Estimates that MiGreen had l ibeen granted by the Government even a modest honorarium of £IOO. Buit why should he be? "Hie was only a Government servant, probalbly receiving a magnificent saiamy of £4 or £5 a week —ancli the woilkl was carried out in the ■ Govemiment's time."

A Tonga correspondent writes to the Auckland Star:—"The little community of Haapai recently had two rather exciting events. A large find of 'ambergris' by two ladies on. the Lego wok the fii'st. The lucky finders had itremoved to a safe place. A dispute, a small one at first, arose as to the .ownership, one resident claiming that his sis-ter-in-law. having seen the ambersrris first, should have the largest share, This was rejected. However, the precious find, supposed, to be worth £9 an ounce, was quietly removed. For some days things were livelv, and the liquidation of the D.H. and P.G. was hardly spoken of The ambergris was sent to Auckland for analvsis, and Mr Pond's report was eagerly looked for—so was another •'ample of the stuff on the 'beach. At last the report arrived, and stated that the 'find* was not ambergris, but some worthless animal matter. "Now there are two families not on .sneaking terms. Another disappointment came a few days later that appealed to all the traders. The liquidations of the D.H. and P.G. was all over, and there would be no auction. All the earmarked stock and fixtures had gone to an unexpected buyer."

Sergeant G. A. Hamilton, of Southbrook, writing to his relatives, states that he was one of fifty New Zealanders chosen to represent the Dominion at the recent grand review in Paris. "I came 'back last night," he says, "from a seven days' sojourn in Paris. The review was the grandest turnout I ever saw or will ever se?. We had. the time nf our lives. You have read about gay Paris : it is gav. and soina through the streets you would not know that there was a war: al! the restaurants and cafes were crowded with people. We visited the gardens where is stored the captured German war material, everything from

Taubes to trench mortars—a wonderful display. On our wav back to the station, for four miles, the streets were crowded with a. mass of people, and one had little more than six inches of footpath on which to walk. I am sure Parisians will not. foreet the ?ccne for many a day; neither will I."

This week the Helping Hand Shop is giving a. prize of 10s Tnr the Lest plate of saus.l'_>e rolls. There rm:st he not less than a- dozen rolls, and they must be left at the shop in Hardy-street hy 11 o'clock on Thursday morning, with the name of the competitor in a, sealed envelope. Mr H. Cooper will act as jndge of the competition. The members of the H "Rattery wilj assemble at the 'Drillshed at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning, to take part in the fardwell to the Nelson draft of the 21st Reinforcements. Members of No>. 1 and 2 Platoons, A Company 12th Regiment, will parade at the -Drill-shed to-morrow nvoriiinj. to takfr part in the. send-off to the draft of the Twenty-first Reinforcements. 'A notice regarding prize mouev in collection with the Nelson Horticultural Society's tSnlb Show appears in the issue, i The annual sale of work in connection with the W.C'.T.U. will 'be held on Wednesday, October 25th. Particulars, will be advertised ; later. All prizes in connection with Daffodil T)iv will 'He .presented this evening at liallen-stein's 'Kooms./ r '

A meeting of (he Daffodil Day Committee will be ,liuldi at Ilallensteiu's Room at 7.30 this evening. The rlaiiee which was to have 'been held at the Port Rowing ClubV Shed to-morrow night, has been postponed nniil Kridav night.