HERE AND THERE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7933, 5 January 1906, Page 7

HERE AND THERE.

A letter written from Christchurch to the Birminbatn Mail compares this colony to a Sahara, while the writer states that he "seed soup kitchens open to relieve the needy," and "can honestly s;ate that thousands would leave here to-morrow if they had their fares." To see some of the potato and grain crops which were destroyed the other day by the hailstorm at Mauaia (says the ' Wairnate Witness; one could scarcely credit that hail could do so much damage. All that is left of the grain crops are the dried stalks, the grain heads having been cut off as with a scythe. As for the potatoes, there is just a trace of withered leaves lying on rows of mounded earth. During last year 4372 persons called at the Christchurch Tourist Office, an increase of 247 on the total for the previous twelvemonths. There were 634 visitors during December against 586 for the corresponding month of 1904. What might be regarded as a human certificate was accepted by Mr O. A, Wray, S.M., at the recent sittings of the Old Age Pension Court •at Ashburton, says the Guardian. The sole evidence of date of birth iproduced by a Dane, who was apply-, ing for the pension, was> a tattooed inscription on his arm of the date of •bis entrance for a term of service in the Danish Army at the age of •twenty-one. This the Magistrate -accepted as sufficient proof of age, -and the pension was granted. It is the intention of Mr Joseph JBdwardß, of Dunedin, vice-presi-dent of the New Zealand Cb»'Sß Association, to propose to the Council of that body that the next New -Zealand Chess Tournament should be held in Christchurch during the Exhibition. If that is agreed to, the tournament will probably be made an international one, and ■competitors will be invited from all .parts of the Commonwealth. For years past the Australian Militia and Volunteer forces have 'been bandicappsd by not being able to obtain new barrels for their worn out rifles, while this privilege was freely afforded the members of the reservists' rifle clubs. The matter was placed before the National Rifle Association, and that body called the attention of the Federal Government to the unfair-way in which the soldiers were treated. The efforts of the Association have borne fruit, for in the New South Wales d'striot orders it has been announced that the Military Board has decided that M.L.E. rifles and barrels might be sold, when available, to members of the Militia and Volunteer forces de- j sirous of purcnasing them, at cost , price for casta, but not on the deferred payment system. During the past shearing season 29,773 sheep have been shorn at the jjewly-erected Chersey Saleyards Company's shearing shed, Canterbury. The highest total shorn in one day was 1014, and the largest ■ number shorn in one day by one man was 196. The season lasted for fltfy-four days, and forty clients patronised the shed. The Federal Treasurer, Sir John Forrest, states that he has made arrangements with the State (Jovernaaents of Victoria, South Australia, West Australia, and Tasmania to take into the Commonwealth uervice those State officials wno have hitherto audited the books of the Commonwealth m the States. New South Wales and Queensland have not agreed, as they allege that, instead of cost being saved by the adoption of this method, the audit will be made more expensive. Miss Gertie Campion, formerly of the Pollard Opera Company, has had another serious relapse. Since" her return from Soath Africa—whence her New Zealand friends subscribed to bring her home—Miss Campion has been residing with her mother in Melbourne.. She was getting on very favourably lately. On Wednesday night, however, Mr Bert Royle, who was the moving spirit in connection with the fund raised for Miss Campion, received a cable from her eayiDg that the doctors had ordered immediate removal from Melbourne as her only hope, and asking whether it could be arranged for her to go to the Cambridge Sanatorium for Consumptives Mr,Royle wired to Sir Joseph Ward on receipt of the message in connection with Miss Camp.'on's admission to the sanatorium, and to the manager of the Union Steam Ship Company as to her pasasge to New Zealand. Be has every hope of these appeals on Mies Campion's behalf being successful. Mr George Sprott, the Ashburton agent for Messrs Borthwick and Sons, •of London, has returned from a visit of four months to Australia, in the course of which he investigated the possibilities of Victoria and the Eiverina for fat lamb raising. H« states that he was very favourably impressed with what be saw, and is of opinion Victoria will soon be a formidable competitor of New Zealand on the London lamb market. The cost of production in Australia is much less than iu New Zealand, as the iambs are raised on native grasses. Moreover, prime quality lamb, from the Riverina could reach London by August, whereas the first New Zealaand lamb gets Home in December. Mr Sprott predicts that Gippsland and the west of Victoria will become to Australia what Canterbury is {to the Soufcb Island of New Zealand. The Victorian State Parliament has effected the irrigation of 150,000 acres of land in the Goulburn Valley, and the Murray irrigation scheme is looking more hopeful of accomplishment. The vital statistics for Wellington for the year ended Decernbor 31 are as follow:—Births, 1831; deaths, 703; marriages, 900. For the interest that always lies in a comparison, the figures of 1904 are given. They are as follow:—Birth?, 1588; deaths, 700; marriages, 895. There were 158 births, 52 deaths and 92 marriages recorded in Wellington •during December. Are you thinking of removing from Masterton ? Then write to Meßars J. J. • Curtis and Co., Forwarding, Shipping and Customhouse Agents, Customhouse Quay. Wellington, They will tell you the best and cheapest way to move and will quote you their price for doing all the work. They employ a large staff of experienced paokers.