CORRESPONDENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 255, 7 April 1915, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

To the Editor,

[ Sh', —May I suggest to the above New f'h" outh institution that they endeavou - o arrange for a visit of the .Tapani Trade Commissioners who are to "liihd in this Dominion in two weeks' time? Amongst other branches of trade the Japs, are keen on is shipping, and it behoves all importers and exporters to devise ways and means to smash up the great shipping combine existing. New Plymouth port can expect very little from this ring, and goodness knows the town and district has taken enough gruel lying down; so I trust that every effort will be made to get out of this old rut which has become second nature to so many in this town and district. Now is the time to be on the qui vivo, as the freezing works will be here next season, and then along will come wool from the hinterland, and butter and cheese from the -whole of Taranaki,—l nm, etc.

ABSURD CABLE NEWS AN EXT THE

(To the Editor.) ■Sir, —The following cablegrams appearing in the Press are presumably authentic; but the agent who supplies us with the reports is rather a humorous individual, judging by the ludicrous news item s culled from various'newspapers:—

London,

" Thafc'-'the Karlsruhe is sunk, is borne out by wreckage coming ashore. A sword was picked up wrapped in canvas, bearing an olficer's name." That sword must have had remarkable buoyancy indeed.

Amsterdam.

'"The Germans bombarded Libau with' 200 shells, killing one civilian." If it takes 200 shells to kill one civilian — well, the Germans must have ample' supplies of ammunition. Evidently trie fire was concentrated on this poor individual.

London,

"A whale was washed ashore on the Dutch coast, with a mine tied to its tail." No doubt the Dutch Fisheries Department will inquire into this incident, as it affects their neutrality. If the whale was washed ashore with a submarine in tow, we would think more of the exploit.

Petrograd. " The shells fell so fast on the Rivei Vistula that the soldiers were able to step from one to the other, and spear fish with their bayonets." This fishy yarn is scarcely conceivable. The Germans would not Waste shells by firing them into the Vistula, and thus make stepping-stones for their enemy to indulge in the pastime of spearing fish. Paris.

" A whole German fo"'"> was annihilated, 2(10 prip"!ier< lining taken." That there should be 2f)o left out of a force that, was annihilated is beyond my comprehension. There are indeed tome anxious happenings in this war. Pctrograd. "" We retired for a considerable distance, owing to superior German forces. This strategical move is important." T fail to see where the strategy is. Probably it is a transposition of the wrong line in the agent's report.

London.

" There is nothing to report from the western front, where a considerable quantity of his cargo was jettisoned." Bather a Chinese puzzle that affair. Perhaps the printer can account for if! —I am, etc.,

R. A. H. TIARTNELL. Mount Messenger, April 5.

BASIC SLAG,

To the Editor.

Sir, —Re the above, I, like "Farmer" would like information, as to whether slag is tlie product of the Bessemer process alone, because I have always understood that the iron works of the Old Country had tremendous heaps of slag which was regarded as us-was nut: of the value of sum?, ground fine, as a manure. The late Mr E. M. Smith could, I think, he considered an expert on such matters, and he had in his valuable collection basic slag manufactured from Taranaki ironsand, which he always claimed to be ot 'better value than tinv other produced in the world, and he assured me that we in New (Zealand need never import an ounce of slag; others, 1 fancy, ■will bear that out. IPersonally, I have never taken the trouble to verify the statements made regarding what ran done in New Zealand with its iron ores, being satisfied to take the items appearing, in the Press year after "ear in conjunction with the views expressed try Mr. lE. M. Smith, and if they are not correct shall be much obliged, Mr Editor (and I'm sure many more will he likewise) if you can obtain the information as asked by your correspondent. Probably; some in New Plymouth who have kept in mind the contentions as to the value of our ironsand can give us some valuable information.—lain, etc.

JOE B. SIMPSON

Durham Road.