GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 6, 10 December 1915, Page 8

GENERAL.

An occurrence oi’ a rather unusual nature took place in the -Supreme Court at Invercargill on Thursday afternoon, when, as a result of extensive challenging, particularly on tlio part of the Crown, the jury list was exhausted. His Honor (the Southland News states) ordered the doors to he locked, and six men from the body of the Court were pressed into service. This procedure, which is termed “praying a tales,” supplied the full complement, and the business of the Court proceeded.

The Panama-Pacific • Exposition, which was opened at San Francisco in February, and which has frequently been described as the greatest exhibition yet held in any part of the world, was closed on Saturday. According to reports received by thtj, Matai, which reached Wellington on Thursday from San Francisco, the promoters claimed that, by the time the gates were closed to visitors, 19,000,000 people, including representatives of almost every nation, would have passed through the turnstiles since the day the exposition was opened.

The importance of dipping sheep is emphasised by Mr J. L. Bruce m an article in the Journal of Agriculture. “Dipping (he says) not only improves the condition of the wool, but it stimulates a healthy action of the skin, and consequently increases the rise of yolk and the weight of the fleece. Taken at the conservative estimate of an average of Id per pound weight on the wool-clip of the Dominion, and, say, a half-pound more wool per sheep, the increased value resulting from consistent dipping would mean over £1,500,000 sterling to our credit for the year. This may to some appear rather a high estimate, but the statement can be easily confirmed during the wool season by a personal inspection at any of the wool stories in the Dominion, where the comparative results to he seen will be sufficient to convince the most sceptical.”

Although General Botha looms largest iu the eyes of the outside public in connection with South African Affairs (writes an “Anglo-South African”), it is well known that the man behind the scenes is the Minister for Defence, General Smuts, It may be of interest, therefore, to give the text of a message on the departure of a contingent of the South African division of the lloyal Naval Volunteer Reserve for Europe. The message ran: On the departure from the Union of the Naval Contingent of the South African Naval Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve at the express request of the Admiralty, I desire through you to express to them my congratulations on being thus selected to serve with the Royal Naval Division iu Europe. Our South African Naval Volunteers, although only a young and small body, have already done excellent work which makes me proud of them and very glad to think that there has been created by the Union the nucleus of a force which has already done most valuable work, and is capable by expansion of doing service in assisting to defend the shores and liberties of South Africa and the Empire. I feel confident that all ranks of the contingent will maintain in Europe the highest standard of discipline, efficiency and good conduct, and most heartily wish them God-speed and good luck.