HERE AND THERE.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXII, Issue 63, 16 March 1910, Page 8

HERE AND THERE.

Ten new huts , are to be built at tlie flamner jSprmgs tree-planting prison camp. These are to be smaller than the other huts, and will accommodate one man each. When the huts are completed, the camp Avill provide accommodation for thirty-four men. The Bluff oysetr trade for February represented a take equal to 300,000 dozen. This is a somewhat lower average per boat than what is regarded as a uormal field. Allowance must be made for the start of the season, which invariably entails interruption of some kind. The wages earned may be approximately estimated at ■-£15.00.

One of -the provisions of the Defence Act gives power to the Government to select permanent training grounds for the use of the Defence Forces. It is understood that two such grounds will be required—one in each island. The selection of these grounds has been considered in a conference of officers commanding the districts, and a committee has been appointed to make a selection . The recommendation will then go before the Cabinet. It is understood that Crown lands will be selected for the purpose.

Into the portentous deliberations of the Otago Education Board on Thursday, says the Daily Times, there crept for a moment less weighty things—a suggestion, .as it were, of wedding bells and confetti. It was brought into that heavy atmosphere by the official resignation of a young lady school tea.cher, who, plea.ding ingenuousness, thus wrote : "At the beginning of the month you received' a formal notice of my resignation. I am leaving the service to embark on the placid—l hope to prove them—seas of matrimony. I cannot leave the service of the board, even for this happy venture, without a feeling of regret, and I wish to thank you and those in your service for the kindness and courtesy I have always received at your hands." The gratified board solemnly accepted the resignation. Mr George Aitken, farmer and stock dealer, at Musselburgh, Scotland, of which town he was a councillor, \vho died' recently, aged 70, while on a pleasure voyage to New Zea/land, leaving considerable property, inserted a curious provision in his will). He states that his -trustees, who include the provost and town clerk of Musselburgh, shall remove some house property at a street corner in the town and erect an artistic equestrian bronze statue of himself in an ornanientail plot to be there constructed. No cost is to be spared in carrying out the scheme, and provision is made for the upkeep of the plot and statue for all time. This is in commemoration of his family connection with the town for centuries, he being the last male and also of his having acted as "town champion", at the riding of the town's marcihcis.

When the Macedonia, on a recent voyage from London to Bombay, was in the-. Red Sea., a number of male first-cllass passengers sat down to dinner in their shirt sleeves. Their example was followed by all the men in the saloon. The commander requested them to put their coats on again, but they declined, saying that the ladies had no objection to their attire. Them the commander iss\ied aiL order stating that such behaviour wonild not be tolerated in, any club, military mess, or hotel, and anyone who appeared in the saloon in future improperly dressed would be removed. On Saturday afternoon, Mr J. C. Cooper, in company with some of the other directors of the Wellington Farmers' Mdat Company, visited the site of the works at "Waingawa. Mr Cooper stated to an Age representative that the contractors have made a. start with pegging out, and levelling the .site, and a commencement is expected to be> made with the work of erecting the building during this week.