GENERAL NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1920, Page 155

GENERAL NEWS.

A largo party of Maoris from the Ohau and Kuku districts visited Wellington last week to witness another demonstration of the occult powers possessed by Mrs Heuheu Tukino. It will be remembered that Mrs Tukino unearthed some valuable merea at the Kuku a few weeks ago, and she was again successful at Wellington in locating some historic stone implements.—Levin Chronicle.

An Inyercargill firm of hatters recently landed a case of hats, for which It had been waiting for some considerable time. The case arrived by the Zealandic, and was railed to Invereargill, being duly delivered. The firm, being short of the commodity, was eagerly awaiting the arrival of the case, but its hopps of replenished stock soon vanished when the case was examined. Every hat was gone and all that was delivered wan a souml case. i

Some words of advice were given at Wanganui by General Birdwood to returned soldiers for their civil life. "To those who had sweethearts," he said, "make them your wives as quickly as possible, and when they are your wives keep them'your sweethearts all the remainder of your lives. You won't go far wrong if y<?u atick to that, motto,'' he concluded. The Waikato Times gives the following explanation of how Arbor Day caiiie ito be observed in New Zealand. Between 30 and 40 years ago, the Rev. Mur-ray-McCallum, of Takapuna—a gentleAlan who had travelled widely, and had resided for some years in California—noting the widespread destruotionl of valuable bush in New, Zealand, introduced the idea of Arbor Day, as observed in America. After, considerable correspondence in the Press the idea gained popularity, with the result that Arbor Day became a settled institution!' in tliio country, being observed with more or less consistency by most of our schools at the present time. •

"We are eating a lot of bread and butter while we are in New Zealand," said a member of General Birdwood's party to a Wanganui resident recently, and when asked if -this were due t6 the exigencies of continual travelling, replied: "By no means. We do it from choice, because we can have as much butter as we want, and real butter, too." In England, at the present time, he said, only an ounce and a half of butter per week was allowed each person, and often it was not butter, but margarine. As to food costs generally, he added, such a lunch lie enjoyed the previous day could not be had for less than twenty-five shillings in England, while as for fruit, "you dare not ask for it."

In the course of his speech in the House *of Representatives, Mr. C. E. Statham expressed the hope that the day would come when the political destiny of this country would be placed the hands of a Young New Zealand Party. This leads .the Wairarapa Age to remark: There are thousands in the Dominion who entertain a similar hope. Unfortunately, however, the rising generation (Joes not appear to be attempting to qualify itself for civic responsibilities. It -would rather engage in a game of football, or of billiards, .than take part in a discussion on good citizenship. Our education system does not appear to be providing young men with aspirations for public service. The consequence is that the leaders of the whole of our political parties —Reform, Liberal, and Labor—are men who have come to the Dominion from other countries. The New Zealtmder doeß not take a sufficient pride in his country. He does not appreciate the privileges or the responsibilities of citizenship. If a national sentiment could be awakened among .the younger generation, the outlook for the future would be better assured than it is at present.

A good "boost" for New Zealand lamb and New Zealand sheep-raisers is contained in tha weekly review (issued on April 24) by the U.S.A. Department of Agriculture. The review states: "There has been a good supply of New Zealand lambs on the market, whioh ®have sold very well. They are uniform in size and weight, short, blocky, well finished, with no waste. There is quite a contrast between our native product aiul these New Zealand lambs. Apparently there is room for our sheep-raisers to learn something about producing a higli-quality lamb, by a study of conditions governing in New Zealand, also for our packers to piok up some valuable information from the manner in which these New Zealand lambs are dressed and handled." The position in the Far East was recently described by Mr IJrank A. Vanderlip, a banker of New York, and student of international problems. Mr Vanderlip had just returned from Japan tfnd the Orient, where he had been as the head of a mission of ten American business men at the invitation of the Japanese Welcome Association to study questions on the reciprocal relations between the peoples of the East and the West. "The Military of Japan," said Mr Vanderlip, when addressing the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, "trained in Prussianism, has seen the downfall of its idol in the world war, and has realised with the rest of the country that Japan can never expect to ba successful in territorial conquest through, force." He added that the performance of the United States in transporting two million men across the seas in a few months during the European war had bereft Japan of hopes through military measures. The Military Party still, however, wielded an influence, but realised the change that had come over the national thought. He described Japan as a "living democracy with high ideals, believing her destiny was to serve in the leadership in the Far East, a service that she could assume in constructive evolutionary peace." 1

, America's grip on the world's oil supplies, and at the same time her growing dependence on imports of crude, are strikingly evidenced by official American figures published in the latest issue of the Board of Trade Journal. According to these- figures, the United States production of mineral oil has increased from 266,000,000 barrels in I!) 14 to more than 350,000,000 in 1918. On the other hand, imports have grown steadily, reaching a total of 1,978,951,002 gallons for 1910, against 791,137,399 gallons in 1918. These imports chiefly came from Mexico. In 1914- Mexico exported to America 737,712,569 gallons,- and in 1919 no fewer than 1,927,543,709 gallons. The use of fuel oil by the United States mercantile marine is growing by leaps and bounds, and the Shipping Board estimates that 252,000,000 gallons will be required in 1920 to supply its own vessels, Add to this the immense general substitution of petroleum for coal, and it will he realised that America's tendency must 'in future be to export less and import mor