GENERAL READING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 9184, Issue 9184, 7 April 1910, Page 8

GENERAL READING.

Instances of the sublime clement known as "colonial pluck" are ever recurring. One is afforded by the presence in Oamaru harbour■ of the yacht Redwing (says yesterday's Mail). The little craft, 110 longer than 23ft. was the last of the Otago Yachting Club's fleet to reach the haven which the port affords, having taken close on thirteen hours to make the journey from Dunedin. But the fact that she is here at all reflects the pluck of her crew of five—Messrs Goodwin (3), Kean, and McLean. At the time appointed for starting the sea was altogether unfavourable for such a small vessel, and it was only after a second thought and the encouraging cheers of brother yachtsmen that the spirits of the five voyagers, stricken as some of them were with mal-de-mer, became buoyant enough to encourage them to persevere. At the bidding of the stiff sou'-wester the Redwing made fair sailing until off Moeraki. Here misfortune awaited the crew, and the rudder fouled in the kelp, to remove which there was not a boathook on board. The wind, too, veered to the north-east, necessitating a dead beat for the remainder of the .journey. The wind increasing, the crew failed to clear Cape Wanbrow on the tack intended, and had it not been for the kind offices tendered by Mr "W. Todd, who was in the vicinity with his fishing launch, the trip would probably have been extended by an additional two and a-half hours. Tired, hungry, and drenched, they were brought to their destination, where they rceieved the heartiest congratulations of follow yachtsmen. Twice the Redwing had to be baled out, and for the whole journey the decks were awash. Notwithstanding the buffetings, the crew of the Redwing look forward to their return journey witli undiminished keenness.

A somewhat unusual case came before the Magistrate (Mr V. G. .Day. S.M.) at Timaru, when Alexander Copland sued William Stevenson for the sum of £5, damage caused to the plaintiff's sheep-dog by a stone "tossed" by defendant. Stevenson was loading a dray with old iron, and finding a stone among the rubbish, picked it up and threw it on the roadside, where it fell on the dog, which was lying there, and broke its leg. He did not see the animal, and claimed that, as the accident was not due to any malicious intent, nor to any carelessness on his part, he should not be held responsible. His "Worship held that the manner of throwing the stone was not that of a reasonable man, but that of a careless man. The fact remained that the throwing of the stone caused injury to the dog. However, he did not think that the broken leg of a sheep-dog six years old was worth £5 in damages. Judgment would bo given for damages 40s, and costs (465).

"How remorselessly the United States tariff is enforced, you may un-

derstand," says the New York corres-

pondent of the Daily Telegraph, "when I report that only a few days ago I was compelled to pay 4s duty on the English 'Who's Who' for 1910, while I am acquainted personally with numerous cases in which a duty equalling in amount the full value of the article imported is charged. This harshness fell last Christmas with special severity upon tens of thousands of people here of European origin, who had received presents by post from your side of the Atlantic. I know a Devonian hero whose sister in Exeter sent him a fancy vest of her own making as a present, value 10s. upon which the authorities promptly levied 10s, and would not surrender the article, despite remonstrances, till the uttermost farthing had been paid." Mrs Wilton Allhusen presided at the second annual dinner of women farmers and gardeners organised by the Women's Agricultural and Horticultural International Union, _ held in London last month. The Union, which comprises 200 members, exists for assisting in every way all women connected with the land either as owners, tenants, employers, or employed. The business-like overall, short- skirts, and leggins of the farm (the Daily Mail states), had given place to frocks that were smart and pretty, and the women farmers talked about matinees and "Chanticler" millinery, as well as their experiences on the land. Many of the women agriculturalists have farms of between 100 and 200 acres, but none approached the 320 acres which Miss Binnie Clark farms in Canada and to which she returns in a few weeks, taking with her four English girls as pupils. A tall, darkhaired, slim young woman, with pink malmasons clustering in her black evening gown, Miss Binnie Clark, replying to the toast of "The Colonial Members of the Union," spoke glowingly of the prospects offered to women by farming in Canada. Poultry and stock work were very good as side interests, said Miss Clark, but "the heart and soul of farming in Canada would go out of it if you haven't at least twenty acres of wheat." Sir Thomas Shaughnessy's scheme of ready-made farms was warmly supported by this enterprising woman farmer. Twenty-eight is the ideal age at which the Englishwoman should start farming in Canada, she said, and the most suitable women were ivhat she described as cultured and educated working women.