NOTES FROM THE EMPIRE CITY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9707, 1 February 1910, Page 3

NOTES FROM THE EMPIRE CITY.

(By Strayshot).

The Minister of Railways, Hon. J. A. Millar, has a worried look just now. His new time-table arrangements have provoked vigorous protests from almost every §distvict affected, and it is extremely improbable that they will be made permanent. The head office is at present employed reviewing the position, and it is not at all unlikely that, so far as the Wairarapa, Forty-Mile Bush and Hawke's Bay are concerned, important changes will be made. Notwithstanding that, in his speech at Hastings, th? Prime Minister assumed an air of optimism over the money market, much difficulty continues to be experienced in securing advances, either through banks or private institutions, at anything like reasonable rates. The Advances to Settlers Department has been making practically no advances for months past. Trade is still very dull, and empty houses by the hundred may be counted in the city.

The Wellingotn Education Board has decided to apply to the Government for a grant sufficient to erect a new.school on the Carrington Estate, near Carterton, as soon as a suitable site is available. It was recently stated that the settlers had offered a site of three acres, but; it now

appears that compensation is required. The Board is financially embarrassed, and does not feel justified in expending money in purchasing sites. The application for a grant will not be made until either the settlers or the Government provide a satisfactory site.

Some two years back [the Education Board acquired a site for a new school at Eketahuna. It was hoped that a sufficient sum would be derived from the sale of the old site an 1 buildings to warrant the erection of an up-to-date new school. Tender were recently invited for the purchase of the former, but, as not a single tender was received, there would appear to be no hope of a new school being provided for some time to come. Retail grocers will be interested to know that a German firm of manufactures of baet sugar have recently been offering sugar in Wellington at £1 per ton less than is paid tor the colonial article. Loud cohiplaints have been made of late that the Sugar Company, after declaring a dividend of 10 per cent., writing a considerable sum off its properties, and adding thousands of pounds to its reserve, has increased the price to the retailer. There is something of a monopoly in the sugar business, which should be enquired into. Meanwhile, one might reasonably ask if a profitable industry in sugar beet could not be established in New Zealand. Has the adaptability of the Wairarapa for the growing of beet been considered? A representative of the firm of Geo. Shirley, Ltd., " the well-known manure manufacturers of Sydney, is at present in New Zealand. It wi 1 be interesting to farmers to know that a large proportion of the superphosphates u«ed in this Dominion arc made from phosDhatic rock crushed,in New South Walea The

fertilising properties of phosphates are so well-known that the wonder is they are not more commonly used in New Zealand. At least one Wairwrapa woolprower will have reason to rtmtmber (he last wool sale in Wellington In ihe centre of one of bis wool bales was found a

log stained fleece. This was placed , at the top of the bale by the brokers, j and the buyers bought the line from this sample. The grower lost at least a penny per pound through faulty classing. There is a moral attached to this incident which should impress itself upon aheepfarmers generally. A very interesting course in agriculture has been arrangeby the Inspectors of the Wellington Education BoSrd for the Masterton, Carterton, Pahiatua, and other District High Schools. The courses tor boys and I girls differ, but Doth are comprehen- , sive. At the end of the third or fourth year stuients will sit for , matriculation, or Lincoln College , scholarship, or obtain a certificate from the headmaster, agricultural instructor and inspeccor, that an equivalent amount of work, practical and theoretical, has been done. A youn man from Sydney, who pos:es • ses excellent credentials, has been provisionally appointed (from ten applicants) to act as instructor in agriculture in conjunction with Mr W. C. Davies. The conference of 'freezing companies. held in Christcbureh last week, was productive of a good deal of talk, but very little benefit is likely to Accrue to the farmer for at least some time to come. With co-operative institutions, cropping up all over the counlry it is difficult to secure anything like

unanimity. The methods of distribntion at Home are in sad need of repair, but just how to effect reform is a problem which is not easily solved. At least, that is the opinion or one of the delfgates at present in Wellington. The Department of Agricultura isjust now in a chaotic condition. The expert officers of the various divisions are without initiative, and can do practically nothing withuut consulting their Minister, who is much of his time away. The usefulness of the Department is minimised by a system which has riot the sympathy of those who hold responsible positions. It would not be surprising to hear at any moment, that «ne or more of our best officers had left for other state?, where talent is more appreciated than here. The approaching visit of Viscount Kitchener is causing somewnat of a flutter in society and military circles. Tt need hardly be said that there is a ; run on fabrics of a khaki colour. The ' hope is fondly expressed that the distinguished Field Marshal will be as reticent here as in Australia. We would rather that he did not tell us what he thinks of our defences. As a matter of fact we have none. And there it is! But so Inn;* as he enjoys his trip, and tell us sweet nothings, and smiles now and again, we shall be supremely happy. We passed our Defence Bill without his assistance, and, as we lead the world in most everything, it would be undignified on our part to seek advice from strangers.