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Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 82, 5 January 1928, Page 10

One of the matters which has been considered at the Imperial Conference in England, at which Zealand has been represented by Dr. Reakes, Director-General of A„i cl ‘ is that of soil surveys (writes Bubticus in the “Otago Daily Times ). It »as disclosed that very little work ot .tins nature had so far been carried out m in the British Empire, but from now onwards regular surveys will be und. taken in all countries. There is a vast field open for research in this, matter, for there is tremendous waste m cveiy country, and particularly m those wit Ilin the tropics, through inadequate knowledge of the constituents of the so 1. The maps which have been drawn at the Cawthron Institute of some of tlie in the Marlborough district represent the only attempts so far made in New Zealand at soil classification.

Travellers along St. Aubyn Street New Plymouth, on a recent Sunday witnessed the somewhat unusual sight—in these days of motor traffic-of pm y on horseback (says .the News ). T partv consisted of two voting men, eac ridin cr a well-groomed horse, one carrying, in addition to his rider the rugs etc., while the other earned the cookin„ utensils and other impedimenta ot a camping outfit. The horses were evidently not familiar with town customs, as they approached the somewhat, gingerly. Indeed, m T 1?. ticularly crowded part of the road it was necessary for the tramcar to be stopped before one of the horses ; could be coaxed past.

A young man had a narrow eseape from being buried alive wltI J St Clair the other afternoon (states. t\ne "Otago Daily Times”). He and ai friend had excavated two holes in the band about seven "feet deeu. They ■ t■ ! en menced to burrow towards ear otl ei and when one of them was well in the tunnel the sand on top collapsed, buiy n” the unfortunate couth several feet ■ieop. The prompt efforts of the friend and onlookers will spades brought the victim of the mishap speedily to the surface little the worse for his short burial.