CHOICER LEGS OF MUTTON.

Mataura Ensign, 30 December 1911, Page 4

CHOICER LEGS OF MUTTON.

T In the latest arrangements for the expenditure of the money from the development grant quite an important part is to be played by Oxford and by Cambridge. It has just been settled that each takes up the sfudy of a particular branch of agriculture. Cambridge, which has taken so very leading a part in the breeding of new wheats, will receive some £4OOO or £SOOO a year to encourage this study. Experiments now in process suggest that their men of science may be able to do for animals what) they are doing for plants, and by working on this strange Mendelian law of heredity produce both animals and plants that may have the peculiar virtues desired : sheep that provide legs of mutton exactly to the gourmet's taste, or wool of finest merino quality, just as the wheats have been made of a particular "strength" and ability to resist disease. While Cambridge is studying these subjects Oxford is to take up the economics of agriculture, and will receive £ISOO a year. The agricultural school is being developed especially with the view to teach estate management to those who own or will own property, and it is hoped that .a large area of land may be acquired for practical work. In a similar way the whole of agricultural science is to be studied in departments by some dozen or so colleges, each college taking one branch of science. The Rothamsted experimental station, for example, which is doing work famous all over the world, will doubtless receive a grant for the study of the soil; and here it is hoped that science is on the edge of some curious secret's as to the way plants are nourished and the "beneficent bacteria" flourish.

It is understood that Fruitlands Estate, at Bald Hill Flat, comprising 1000 acres, has now been offered to the Government for purchase. At 9 o'clock this morning the radio station at Wellington advised as follows:—"The Moeraki will probably bo within wireless range this evening and the Manuka, to-morrow night."° A very valuable shipment of highclass pedigree stock arrived at Lyttelton by tho Federal-Houlder-Shire Line steamer Morayshire from England. The large shipment which has been imported by Mr J. Grigg, of Longbeach, comprises one bull, one bull calf, a cow, five heifers, and two calves dropped on tlie passage out, all South Devonshire breed; three Southdown rams, five twotooth Southdown ewes, three Shire colts, one Clydesdale colt, and one thoroughbred filly. The animals are a very fine lot, and have arrived in good condition. The shooting tournament which will open on the Gore range on Monday promises to be most successful. Already 67 entries have been received) while several more are expected to-day. This! is considered to be highly satisfactory when it is remembered that all tho rifles of the old 14 Regiments of infantry and mounted rifles in tlus* district have been called in by the Department. Had this not been done it was confidently expected that this year's "shoot'' would have been an easy record. As it is the fixture is expected to be about as good as former years. Tho firing will commence at 7.45 p.m. sharp on Monday morning. ' For some time past (says the 'Southern Cross') a woman has been going round the country selling postcards. If she stopped at that all might be well, but she solicits food and lodging and declines to leave except under pressure. She has all sorts of peculiarities and is in the habit of securely fastening the door of her bedroom with anything movable. She has caused no end of trouble and we advise farmers and others to turn a deaf ear to her pleadings for lodgings, although she may turn up at all kinds of unearthly hours. Recently it took a fanner and nis wife all they knew to get her out and the only sure way to deal with her is not to let her in. ( Tlie new steamer Zealandic, which arrived in Auckland this week on her maiden voyage to tlie Dominion, was specially built for the New Zealand service operated by the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, Ltd., by Messrs Harland and Wolff, Ltd., for the White Star Line, and was launched at Belfast on June 29 of this year. She is 447 ft long by 62ft 9in beam, about 10,000 tons gross register, and has been specially designed for the trade. She has very large cargo capacity in six holds — two for general cargo, and four holds insulated! for carrying frozen cargo, There is accommodation for a number of first-class passengers, with a comfortable saloon on the bridge deck, furnished in oak and unholstered in raoquette, with handsome piano at the forward- end. The smoke-room is also situated on the bridge deck, adjoining! tlie saloon. Ths room is panelled' and framed in oak, with furniture of the same material and moquette upholstery. A feature of the ship is the accommoda- ] tion specially arranged for over 1000 third-class passengers in enclosed rooms, with space on shelter deck arranged for third-class smoke-room and diningroom, and also a third-class ladies' room —a provision that will, doubtless, prove very popular. j

The Hanmer correspondent of the 'Press' writing in regard to the boring operations for an additional supply of hot water at Hanmer Springs, states that the contractor has now finished his contract to put down a six inch pipe 100 ft, and although a supply was tapped at a depth of 70ft, on going deeper this was lost. The contractor is at present at C'hristehurch seeing the Chief Public Works Engineer, and obtaining instructions as to what he is to do. As has already been pointed out, it is to be sincerely hoped that the Government will not be content with the present test. It is understood! that the contractor has now put in a price for additional borings with a 4in pipe. He is very optimistic wth regard to results. When at Hanmer Rev. Mr Mason sad most emphatically that he believed there was a large supply of hot water to be had, and placed several pegs in most likely places. If such were possible, the best idea would be for the Department to arrange for Rev. Mr Mason and the well-sinker to be on the spot together, when the affair could be settled' definitely in a few minutes. All the contractor's boring plant is now on the spot, and it would mean an additional £6O or £7O to take it down and bring it up again.

At an inquest at Auckland yesterday concerning the death of an old! man named Richard Walters who died suddenly at Point Chevalier a few days ago, an interesting story was told. Something of a mystery attached to the life of the deceased, who was a man of evidently goodl education and family, but who at the time of his death was filling the position of gardener to Mr Dignan at Point Chevalier. The impression had apparently prevailed that Walters was an old anny officer; but this the old man was always averse to discussing, and would never admit. Some months ago, however, a next of kin was advertised for in the name of Richardi Walters, and the estate involved (which had passed into chancery) was declared to be worth nearly three millions. An Auckland solicitor also communicated with Walters in connection with the estate and Walters, it was stated to the coroner, was clearly able to prove that he was the ]>erson advertised for, he being the only remaining member of a well-known Exeter family. Walters, the witness added', had refused to proceed with his claim, declaring that at his age (74 years) the time and worry involved in proving his title would not be commensurate with the ultimate reward; particularly as a good deal of money would, no doubt, require to be spent in making good his claim to the millions locked up in the close grip of chancery. The announcerrent that an licir was wanted was nvide known only a few months ago, and Walters, an ardent gardener, de-| elared that the few remaining years of his life he would prefer to spend l , as ho had lived so long free from publicity.

In our advertising columns will he found an attractive programme of Pathe lectures to bo presented in the Dominion Hull on Wednesday evening. The fine weather experienced during the past wcck lias gladdened tne hearts of the farmers of the district. Those who wero somewhat anxious about the prospects of winter feed were enabled to get their ground further cultirajed s.nd turnips sown, and "those who were were glad to get, that part of the season's work completed. Generally speaking, the week has lveen devoted to holi--1 w-making, but the small farmer has had one of the hardest weeks of toil experienced during the year. The following card of thanks appeared in a Kansas paper recently :—"1 wish to thank the city authorities for quarantining my family and mo for three weeks recently liecause one of them had the smallpox. During that time my wife caught up with her sewing; we had three square meals a day, as no one camo in, and she was not permitted to leave; we enjoyed three weeks of good ninghts' sleep; and, best of all, a cousin with four children had arranged to visit us, saw the smallpox sign on the door, and left town .so scared she will never eomo back again." Sarah Francisco, an old Port Adelaide identity, has been for some time out of gaol. It was thought that she would this year celebrate Christmas out of gaol. Sarah, however, had another lapse, and had to !>c locked up. At Port Adelaide Police Court she was charged with being an habitual drunkard. Sub-Inspector Bennett said there wero 21)0 previous convictions against her. The magistrate ordered her two months' imprisonment. Sarah mournfully exclaimed that the sentence meant her 20th Christmas in gaol. "What is my favorite role? Well, I haven't one," said Madame Melba to a Sydney pressman. "I am most impartial for the simple reason that I never play anything that I don't like and never accept a role in which 1 cannot entirely lose myself. I want to discourage girls who aspire to singing fame. Tell them not to. Tell them I said, 'Pass it, pass it by.' The world is not kind to anyone who dares lift head out of the ruck of mediocrity. Tell the girls of this our wonderland'that Melba' says, 'lf you have voices, if you must sing and the singing in your heart will i not be stilled, sing if you must, but not' for t'he public. Home is best,' Kus- ; band and child, hearth and limine, and i the lullaby is the sweetest of :ill melodies. Tell the girls that the struggle j for fame is a path strewn v. it!: thorns, tears and tribulation; the way is long, hard and dreary, and even when fame is readied that pinnacle but' silhouettes one against the, horizon and the penalty in secret is dead .sea fruit. The substance of life is home. 1 know it. Most women know it. too, deep down in their! hearts; and a career is a chimera. Sing, i sing if you must, but sing for your husbands, and croon love-songs for your babies. Triumphs are inspiring, hut they do not stand for true happiness. You remember what Frances E. Willard, that great woman, said before she passed away: 'All that the world has brought me would I willingly have exchanged for a pair of baby anns round my neck.' She knew, and I want your girls to know that before they east aside the substance for the shadow. If they wish to be happy, never wish to be famous." Gentlemen on holiday bent should see the stock which is being shown by Thomson and Beattie, comprising Cy-1 cling and Walking Knickers from Lis] 6d, Golf Hose from 4s 6d, Sort Tennis j Shirts with collars from ss, and an extra special line of Rain Coats at 25s (id and 29s 6d—worth 35s 6d to 39s 6d. Collie lost. Cook wanted. Maetaura Brass Band reruns thanks. To-morrow's church services announced. Tenders wanted for erection of grandstand, etc. Drag leaves Lamb's stables f : Wyndham races. Drag leaves Trembath's for Wyndhain races. Week-end excursions to Qncerutown from January 6. Waimea Plains school excursion to Riverton on January 17. Subscriptions to luvevc argil! StarrRowkett Society received on January 3. To those about to be engaged or married: Head Baker's advertisement; it will interest you; he is the man you should visit.