LOCAL AND GENERAL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XIX, Issue 2049, 29 November 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

While testing samples of milk at the Kaitaia factory, the herd-tester. Mr King, had the misfortune to have a bottle of sulphuric acid spilt over his foot. Before he could get his boot off the acid had burned its way through the leather and badly his foot. He will be laid up for a week or two. Railway travellers who like to "keep themselves to themselves" will appreciate this story. A passenger by train wanted to read a book, but a man opposite would persist in trying to talk. After several brief replies, the reader became irritated. "The grass is very green, isn't it?" said the would-be conversationalist, pleasantly. "Yes," was the answer, "such a change from the blue and red grass we've been having lately!" Silence reigned supreme, and the reader began another chapter. It may not be generally known that l-abbits were first introduced to New Zealand by Mr Charles B. Carter, Or gentleman whose name is perpetuated in a Wairarapa township. For the first few years it was regarded as a very serious offence to destroy a rabbit on Mr Carter's property. In ten year, however, the whole district was infested with rabbits, and it cost the settlers of the Wairarapa an enormous sum to rid themselves of the pest. It is not everyone who welcomes the introduction of modern methods and new inventions. A country correspondent, after reminiscencing of the good old pioneer days, continues:— "Those were the old days of my boyhood, and I would give all your telephones, wireless, aeroplanes and even Lizzie Ford to hear the crack of the bullock whip and the squeak of the woodhen again."

The following extract from a letter of a New Zealand lady now living in England has been forwarded "Church News": "We were delighted to see in the old parish church (Brockenhurst) the New Zealand flag hung in a prominent position, and a fresh large wreath of laurel hung above it. We are told that the wreath is always kept fresh, as the New. Zealand soldiers were so much liked and respected. There were thousands of them here, and one part of the churchyard is full of their graves, over a . hundred of them. A new bell been added to the peal in the tower in memory of the New Zealand soldiers."

Speaking to a reporter of the Southland Times, Mr S. E. Ferguson, of Gore, who has just returned from a trip to Britain and America, stressed the seriousness of the unemployment position at Home. He is of tTie opinion that the next five years will see the migration of many thousands of British people to Australia and New Zealand. Conditions in America were better, but the position of the farmers there could not be compared with their conditions in New Zealand. Theye were exploited by the middlemen and had to work very long hours. Their buildings were very poor, and many of those to be seen from the railways were little more than mere shacks. It took two days and nights to pass through the State of Montana, and here hardly a blade of grass could be seen. The Canadian farmer's plight was much the same as their American cousins, and many were selling out and going to Australia and New Zealand. At Vancouver conditions were not good, and land at present was sold at a very cheap rate.