GENERAL NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 73, 29 March 1915, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

A Feildiug telegram states that the Freezing Company has instructed Mr L. G. James, architect, to prepare plans for works capable of handling 1500 sheep per day, and with a storage capacity of 60,000. • The buildings will be erected by day labour, starting within a fortnight. j Mi- John 1). Rockefeller, who is reputed to be the richest man in the world, has given during the last 12 years’ 73,000,000 dollars for the promotion of education throughout the United States. This fact is brought out in a report of its work issued by| the General Education Board, which Mr Rockefeller founded. Of this sum Chicago University has received 13,554,343 dollars, and the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research 10,267,022 dollars.

The latest marching song, sung by our boys in Egypt to the tune of A Wee Deuch and Boris,” is sent to a coutejnporary by Sapper I*. KentJohnston, of Foxton, as follows: “I’ll go one,” says Russia, ‘‘l’ll go two,” says France, “Then I’ll go three,” says Belgium, “If I get the chance.” “I’ll go four,” says Germany, “And wipe them off the map.” But they all dropped dead When New Zealand said,

“God blimee, I’ll go Nap.” Great care is being taken to provide against the possibility of secret dispatches from the Imperial' Government, which have to be carried by steamers, falling into the hands of the enemy. They are placed in a special mail hag and handed over to the custody of the master of the ship. The hag is heavily weighted, and if the capture of the ship appears at any time to be unavoidable the captain s instructions are to throw the bag overboard. The heavy weight causes the bag to sink at one. The dispatches are lost, of course, but they would be lost in such circumstances in any event, and if they go to the bottom of the sea, they are safe from perusal by any alien enemy or anyone else.

Two men, James Waddell and Stanley Gane, had a sensational expeiience in a chimney stack at Port Waratah Steel Works (stats the Sydney Daily Telegraph). They, were working at a height of 150 ft. inside the stack, when a heap of boxes and straw at the bottom caught alight. The smoke from the . conflagration ascended the chimney in a dense volume, and the men were almost suffocated. Other employees were unable to work the winch, as the electiic cable had been burnt, but the entrances were blocked at the bottom, which prevented further smoke from going up. Eventually, after a couple of hours, the cable was mended, and the imprisoned men were rescued. Both showed the effects of their trying experience., but speedily recovered.

A young who, to use a common expression, was “throwing off” at a company of Senior Cadets on parade ■at Wanganui, was taught a good lesson (says the Herald). Under the amendments of the Defence Act passed at a recent session of Parliament, the senior officer on parade has power to arrest any civilian interfering with the parade. This young fellow continued passing remarks about the parade, although ho had been warned to stop several times. The area sergeant-major at last warned him that ho would have him arrested if he did not stop. The young fejlow turned away with a parting shot, and with tliat the sergeant-major ordered six of r the company out as a guard to arrest him A short chase ensued, and he was caught in the Avenue. He was taken hack to the Drill Hall and did compulsory drill with the company as a. punishment for his offence.

A case of considerable importance to merchants was set down for hearing at the Dunedin Magistrate’s Court (states the Otago Daily Times). Early last year (before the war) a local company gave an indent order to a Christ, church company for a Mna - of irormbngery, to be procn "id from the United States at a fixed price, cost, insurance, freight, exchange. V-ur being imminent, the consignors in America paid 10 per cent, extra exchange. The Dunedin company was required to pay the war risk premium and extra exchange, amounting to C2U odd. The company was advised that it was not liable, and accordingly paid the amount demanded under pro. est to get possession of the goods, and sued the consignors for a return of the money. The case has now been settled by the consignors paying to the plaintiff’s solicitors (Messrs Adams liras.), the full amount claiined, with costs of action. It would, therefore, appear that on a c.i.f.e. contract made before the war any premium for war risk and extra exchange must bo paid by the consignor.