Here and There.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLV, Issue 260, 18 December 1903, Page 4

Here and There.

AN INSECT INVASION

Ihe heat in Sydney the other dav I brought forth myriads of insects many families of which swarmed into the air. In several parts of the city there were flights of bees. Some of the swarms were captured, but more were destroyed by the wantonness of small boys or the ignorance of people who tried to secure them in other places swarms of winged ants were observed. The most interesting phenomenon, however savs the Herald, was the flight of butteYnies These appeared from the south west. At Wollongong they were in such numbers, as to resemble a snow storm. A Liverpool correspondent telegraphed:-"Within the last two days myriads of white moths, with black points, have been flying, about, in© same kind of moth swarmed at Mosmans Bay. Many thousands perished in the harbour, but a few aided by a favourable wind, got over to Woolahra, Paddington, and other suburbs.

THIS " MIDDLEMAN." The person or class known as the middleman" comes in for a good deal of opprobrium. It is therefore a distinct departure from the usual order ol thinigte to find some one in so high a position as the Government Dairy-Commissioner having a good word to say for the middleman. Mr Kmsella, the ex-Commissioner, in ms last report, says he has been amused on several occasions to notice the movements set on foot by producers in various countries with, a view to controlling the marketing o their produce on foreign markets it must be admit>t,ed by every homest producer in this colony that in the initiation of the dairy industry, and up to the present, the middlemen hwve been indispensable. They not only financed the producers when they were not in « position to help themselves, but were largely the means of placing the latter in the sound position which they occupy today, and in doing so they have'contributed largely to the wealth of the colony. Mr Kinsclla considers that the prosperity of this colony during the last few. years hns 'been largely instrumental in inducing the producers to consider the advisableness of ttans-actmg t!ioil . , bus . iness w . ith t the assistance of the middleman He certainly would , hftV!? hesitation >n saying that as soon'as the producers urnto with a view to driving the nnddleman out of the trade 'it wi lj: not only cause serious friction both here and in Great Britain, but may prove disastrous to themselves