GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 56, 11 February 1916, Page 7

GENERAL.

There are no paupers and scarcely any multi-millionaires in I* ranee, which is a country of small holdings in land.

It is estimated the national wealth of Holland has increased hy a billion guldens (£80,000,000) since the war began—a gain of £l2 per capita for the population.

France’s tricolor is said to have been invented by Mary Queen of Scots for the Swiss Guard m France. The white was for France, the blue for Scotland and the red for Switzerland.

One of the reasons for the delay ol the construction of the Parliamentary Buildings has been the unsuitability oi the marble procurable at the old quarry at Sandy Bay. Some months ago the company controlling the quarry ran a tramline, with Government assistance, to another place in the hills, and experiments have shown that there is an abundant supply oi marble there in blocks of sufficient size. It is understood that the tramway is now virtually completed, and that in a very little while the marble will begin to arrive in Wellington,

A bull of an adventurous turn of mind (if bulls have minds) ran down into a big drain in Ferguson street West (Palmerston North), whilst being driven along the road on Monday, and went exploring up a large concrete conduit (says the Manawatu Daily Times). The animal proceeded about 200 yards up the tunnel, and then tried to get back, with the result that it found itself stuck. If a heavy rainstorm comes on, the beast’s position will be unenviable. As it is the poor brute’s back will probably be worn raw by the rough surface of the concrete. The man-holes have been opened to give the animal air in the meantime, and the drain will have to be dug open to allow .it to get out. ) ’ Owing to the harsh spring being de- ' trimental to the rearing of bees, the hives this year are (writes the Hamilton correspondent of the Auckland | Star) considerably smaller than the average, and the honey crops are suffering in consequence. The honey industry is rapidly growing in importance in New Zealand, and there are at present nine bee-keepers’ associations iff "existence, in addition to the national body. There is also the New Zealand Honey Producers’ Association, a separate organisation, which sees to the marketing of the produce iu England. The industry is carried on very extensively in Waikato, the local association approximating forty members, while last season, which was a very poor one, something like twon-Jty-seven tons were exported from the district, in addition to the large quantities consumed locally.

An expeditious bit of work was carried out by the Mount Cook Motor Company a day or two ago, on behalf of the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society. The latter purchased 5000 rainbow trout from the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, for liberation in Scott’s Creek, Lake Alexandria, and the fish were transferred from Christchurch to the Mackenzie country in one day with the loss of only two of them. Leaving Christchurch in the morning they were sent as far as Temuka by rail, and were there picked up by a lorry in which they were taken straight through to the lake named, and liberated there the same night, the whole journey occupying only ten hours. It used to take three days to deliver fish at Lake Alexandria from Christchurch.

An outstanding feature of the reply given to tin; Minister for Public Works to a railway deputation at Auckland, says tile “Herald,” was his condemnation of the route adopted by past Governments for the section of the North Auckland Main Trunk line in the vicinity of Maungaturoto. In the first tunnel beyond that settlement, said Mr Fraser, the ordinary piles put in to support the rotten country that was being penetrated were veritable young trees. Yet, with the swelling ot the soil from the rains last week, some of oven these had burst, and a considerable amount of ground had fallen in. However, he had given instructions that the tunnels were to be pushed on, and picked men, who had had experience as miners, were being employed to cope with the difficulties of the job. Necessarily, he pointed «'it, progress was slow, because only a limited number of men could be employed in a tunnel face.

When the steamer Mnraroa was entering Lyttelton on Sunday afternoon from Wellington, a soldier was sitting on the vessel’s rail, right aft. with his feet resting on the lower rails of the bulwarks; his feet slipped and the soldier fell oberboard. The alarm was given and a lifebuoy was thrown over. The ship’s accident boat, which always hangs in the davits ready for use, was speedily lowered to within a couple of feet of the watei. Captain Cameron then went astern, and when abreast of the man, the boat in charge of Mr Hastie and a crew of four sailors, was lowered into the water. The soldier, who was an excellent swimmer, and had kept himself, afloat for about ten minutes, was then picked up. The ferry launch lluahine eventually towed the ship’s boat to the steps. The expeditious manner in which the Mnraroa was manoeuvred, at low water, and the smart work in getting the boat into the water, are deserving of great praise. The soldier appeared to be little the worse for his involuntary immersion,

Last week, the State Labor Bureau iu Wellington received 48 applications for work. Forty-six of the applicants were placed, 38 privately and 8 in State employment. There is work awaiting the other two. The provincial towns report a highly satisfactory state of affairs, and New Plymouth. Oainarn Timarn, Nelson, Palmerston North, and Invercargill received no applications during the week. Auckland had a record week, only 10 men being left out of work. Twenty-five applied, and 15 were placed.

The Auckland Star publishes the following statistics The Commonwealth’s surplus of whei.t over it own requirements is 2,678.571 tons. To ship to London it would require 335 steamers, each carrying 8000 tons. It is apparent that there will be some difficulty in securing such a large number of steamers, apart from the dangers of enemy cruisers, which will not tend to ease the position. The question suggests itself. What will the Commonwealth do with its immense surplus, if blocked for tonnage? It: growing crop will probably be quite as heavy as'that just harvested. The world’s yield shows an increase of 25 per cent.