LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 77, 7 March 1916, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

"Weather Forecast.—The indications are for moderate to strong winds, and backing by east to north. Expect changeable and showery weather, the barometer has a rising tendency, but falling after about 24 to 35 hours.—Bates, Wellington. "Me! Use anything made in Germany! No! Not I, not if I know it!" Not many of us would not reply in terms of this nature to an accusation that German-made goods were being still used by us. Yet, tbe fact that "Made in Germany" is still to be found stamped on articles in daily use in the Dominion Mas somewhat ironically brought home to a member of the staff of the "Stratford Evening Post" to-day on the receipt of a post-card depicting •Wellington's Town Hall and Fire Brigade (excellently lithographed in colours) and 'conveying farewell greetings from a soldier (no less) a member of the 10th Reinforcements. In a prominent position near the space reserved •for the message was "printed in Germany!" Yet it is eighteen months since the war against Germany started! Now, there can be m> doubt that the principles of the commercial war instituted by the Frene,h„ should be propagated in this country without delav.

Regarding the arrest of Carl Seegher, who was German Consul in New Zealand until the outbreak . of the war, and Lothair, Eilander, , who at that time acted as Mr Seegner's secretary, the Auckland '/Star", states that Seegner was Consul in the Dominion from to 1914 His rather conspicuous white top bat. had made him a noticeable figure.,in the Auckland streets. Residents, at' Parnell' have complained -that Fibmder . had' been seen to regularly meet Mr Seeg-j nor, salute him .on meeting, enter in-, to conversation with him, .eventually, salute him. and leave. Several of the residents considered these regular meetings to be suspicious, and they also felt that this keeping up, o.i' official salutation by a man' who had.resigned his German official position to become a Briti-her was in hostility r.nd intended to wound British susceptibilities. Seegner ; has been a "aturalised British suhjoct for more *>an 30 years.

Exactly 1000 pairs of field glasses had been received on a day of last week since the New South Wales Commandant first made his appeal to the sporting public a few weeks before. These glasses, which will be banded to officers leaving for the front with new units and reinforcements, have each had the name and address of the owner noted, so that there will be a chance or the glasses finding their way back to the donor, with, perhaps, a thrill-' ing story as to how useful they were as well. Though the thousand pairs are now in hand, the appeal continues as strong as ever, and it is hoped (says' the Sydney Morning Herald) that everyone who can spare his glasses I and by so doing probably save lives, will send them along to the barracks.

The life of Hulluck, an ape in the Bronx Zoo, of New York, has probably been saved by a phonograph. The ape, which is of the gibbon variety, and hails from Borneo, had been suffering for some time from apparently incurable melancholy and general depression, when Mr Ditniirs, the curator, had a happy idea. Believing that the animal's illness was due to lack of one of his own species to talk to, the curator took a i-honograpli to the cage and secured cylinder lecords of the, gibbon's muttenngs. - Every day a keeper has been entertaining the ape with the phonograph re.ord of its discourses, songs, and eerie, longdrawn, dismal chaunts, :>nd the effect, says the curator, has besn simply wonderful. The ape (adds Urn DailyExpress correspondent) talks back at the records, is greatly excited at times during the argument with its own voice, and has already put on weight, and become a changed creature.

At Melbourne last week Vl?s?r3 D. Melvin (manager.of the Ballarat Woollen Mills) and J. H. Chambers demonstrated to the Minister of Customs (Mr Tudor) that lanoline could be extracted direct from greasy wool. They claimed the treatment of all greasy wool that was at present exported from Australia would mean tho establishment of an industry which vould be worth over £7.000,000 a year to Australia with lanoline at its present price. Messrs Chambers and Melvin claimed to have invented a new, method of scouring wool which i-x----tracted lanoline direct, and they* asked if they would receive the aid of a protective tariff in the event ol their embarking on the lanoline industry. The Minister assured him that every Australian industry would rrcciye.protection, and stated that t'ne Federal Ministry would be very gratified if wool which was at present being exported in a greasy state could be treated here.

A derangement of the egg market seems to have occurred, the primary reason attributed being the importation of large quantities of Asiatic eggs (says the Wellington Post). Mr Simpson, manager of the New Zealand Poultry Industries (Ltd.), stated on Saturday" that fresh "eggs, wholesale in Wellington on Thursday were Is 9d a dozen; on Saturday they were a glut at Is 7d. Asiatic eggs wei'e quoted at Is 5d a dozen,' and it was this importation from China which was causing the slump. He added that a good deal was being said about patriotism, but here was a practical illustration of how our own industries could be affected by the pursuit of foreign articles. Fowl food was extremely dear as the result, of .the war, and,' if the industry was further threatened, as seemed likely, many poultrymen would have to go out ot the business. It might be recalled that, prior to the war, many hundred thousand dozen eggs were imported by confectioners from Germany The fact that this supply which was suddenly stopped, Iris bad to be met has no doubt affected the position.

Subscriptions amounting to £2072 8a have been made towards the cost oi equipping and furnishing the home for giris which the Salvation A. my has decided to open in Auvkhnd as part of its plan for the care it orphans o. the war (says the New Zealand Herald) An appeal for £2OOO was announced bv Staff-captain H. P. Sharp on January 18, ami the greater part of this amount fias been subscribed m liberal sums, including 15 o £lOl each seven of £SO each, and tour or £95 each The home will accommodate 40 girls between the ages of six and 14 years. The Army has obtained B lease on very liberal terms from Mrs W H. Smith, of her property, known as'The Grange, in Clifton Bond Heme Bay. Builders are now engaged in the alteration of the existing buildings and the erection of additions It is expected that the home will be read> for occupation in about two months. The cost of adapting, equipping and furnishing the home is estmiated <it £9OOO and Captain Sharp stated on $S£ that any surplus .ot the amoun Ascribed would be devoted to the equipment of a boys' home in the south.