Notes and Comments.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 830, 17 March 1909, Page 2

Notes and Comments.

When doctors (or experts) differ, ' who shall decide!' A warning went ' the rounds of the press against lovers of fruit eating their apples, Pars, plums, or peaches without first ' wiping them. The arsenic contain-' el in the spray was the dangerous ' e'einent. On top of this came a j counter irritant. Don't trouble about the spray — eat your fruit and b \ merry, for to-morrow you will not die! lint a little girl at Taihapo j Jus just died from all tho symptoms of arsenical poisoning, and we are t ;ld that the death was due to eating fruit that contained tho sediment from the sprayings. The moral of t'lis incident is in the strict observance of the first-named advice — wipe your fruit before you eat it. S.crvia equipped its reservists with weapons and ammunition, and Vienna, which is as sensitive as a b.irometer concerning movements in the Balkan atmosphere, felt uneasy. Then the Servians, who delight in monkey tricks upon the Austrians, replied that it was all right, they were only mustering for a Trentham meeting. "Servia's reply was conciliatory." For weeks past that powerful nation, proud Austria, has been looking for assurances from little Servia that she will keep the peace and not go around the magazine of Europe with a lighted torch. This is an odd position, for we are assured that Servia cannot do anything in the realm of commerce without the sanction of her great big neighbour, Austria. Pig-breeding is the one trade of Servia, and the haughty Austrian declares with contunpt.' like trade, like people— and yet calls for assurances of peace! S-rvia is certainly giving Austria more, than enough of the pig busin;»ss. Oe all tho appointments made by the Government of recent years none should meet with warmer approval than the promotion of Mr C. F. \\ . Palliser, auditor in London for New Zealand, to succeed Mr Watler Kennaway. C.M.G., who has just retired from the secretaryship to the High Commissioner's office, after neartly forty years' service. Everyone who his como in contact with Mr Palliser can testify to his unfailing courtesy, k ; ndliuess, and ability, while his services to the colony in his financial <v.pacity cannot be too highly rated. Jr?e seems to take a delight in making the path of the visiting colonist smooth for him, and the tales of his forethought and consideration even hi c( nnection with matters one would think hardly came within his ken are innumerable. lie possesses a grasp of the financial intricacies and problems of the Old World, a marvellous gift of forecasting the probable course oi ; events, and a caution and carefulness as rare as they are valuable, which will find even greater scope in his new position than when he was merely a brake on the wheel of our finance at Home. His remuneration in his position of auditor has been miserably small considering the ■expense attaching to residence in Lrmdon, and the promotion will be as acceptable from a financial point of view as it is welcome as a recognition of great talents and faithful! 1 and' sterling service. Mr .Walter Kennaway, who is retiring from the position of Secretary to the High Commissioner's office, is a j son of the late Sir J. Kennaway, M.P. He arrived in Canterbury in 1853. and devoted his attention to tanning. He was a member of the Canterbury Provincial Council from 1868 to 1874, and Provincial Secre- j tary and Secretary for Works from 1870 to 1874, during which timo he was instrumental .in haying a nonsectarian edticafjofi ordinance and iv ■ havin^pjygSPacres of land set aside ! aj^gggjl&f&itibn endowment. He was tfßOmmissioner' of Crown Lands, a Governor of Canterbury College, and a member of the Education Board. In 1874 he was appointed Secretary to the Agent^Geaeral in London, and lias done faithful and excellent service ever since. He will carry into his j retirement the grateful thanks of the ' community he has so well represent- I cd. Tins announcement that Mr. T. E. Donne, head of the Tourist Department (the functions' of which include the local government of Rotorua) has accepted the position of Trade Commissioner in London, will come as a surprise to most people unless a very much larger salary is paid him than the present Trade Commissioner receives. As to the wisdom of the appointment, there can be few doubts. Capable, energetic, enterprising, courteous and experienced in colonial affairs, Mr. Donne should be able to render efficient service to the dominion where there is considerable room for improvement. The appointment of Mr. T. H. Hamer, so long secretary to the late Mr. Beddon, and recently head of the Mines Department, to a position at Home, was not unexpected, although how the genial "Tom" can accept a sallary of £450 a year as a solatium for his translation to the Old World will puzzle those acquainted with -the expenses of the position. With the possible exception of the display of fruit, the annual exhibition of tha Kimbolton Horticultural and Industrial Association ywtorday

was all ahead of previous shows. The farmers of the district did themeelves full justice in the exhibits of vegetables and farm produce, and the ladies were in excellent form with their displays of flowers and home industries. This annual function is one of the best advertisements which the district receives, the capabilities of the rich river flats and the higher lands being well sot forth, and visitors to the show are always much impressed with the excellent character of the produce placed on exhibition . The officers and stewards of the Society have a oommenclable way of arranging all the details of the show, which affords satisfaction to exhibitors, judges, and visitors alike, and with liberal support from the whole district, it is little wonder that the annual functions are a procession of successes v