COHHESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10088, 25 March 1896, Page 3

COHHESPONDENCE.

FRANKLIN AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—ln this morning's issue you credit Mr. T. R. Clow with first aud second honours in the class for " Berkshire sow, under six mouths." Your informant is in error, as, in addition to three first prizes aud one Champion, 1 took the lirst prize with my young sow, "Sultana," in the class mentioned, no other prize being awarded.— am, etc., Spriiwtield, Papatoetoe, W. J. Payne. March '23, lSOt'i.

MAGNETISM OP THE BLOOD. TO Tift! EDITOR.

Sir,—ln your issue of to-day Mr. Greenshields, under the above heading, calls attention to an experiment which is "neither new nor strange." In Mr. Herbert Mayo's work "On Popular Superstition," published in 1851, there are nearly forty paces devoted to a discussion of the matter Mr. Greenshields speaks of, with several diagrams and a large number of experiments—giving also what he considers to be the explanation of the facts observed. I have shown this littlo plieuomenon to dozens of people in Auckland during the past twenty years or so ; and had occasion to advert to it in a lecture as well (Jmie23,1893); but it is singular how few people seem to know of it. Various applications of the same thing are to be found in old books, and it was (I think) I resorted to under one of itj many forms, as a means of divination concerning the success or otherwise of an attempt upon the life of one of the lute Roman emperors. Those who dabble in what are called the "occult arts," or Bre partial to literature connected with mesmerism, etc., meet with many such curiosities, but do not usually think it worth while rushing them into the columns of the newspapers.—l am, etc., S. Stuart. View Road, Mount Roskill, '24th March, IS9G. LATE LETTERS ON THE MAIL BOATS. TO THE EDITOR, Sir,—Would you kindly allow me space in your columns for a few words re the above. On Saturday when posting the late letters on the Mariposa I experienced the greatest difficulty in persuading them to go into the receptacle tor late letters, and had actually to double them lip and use main force in getting them in, and then they were so situated (within an eighth of an inch of the openine) that, had any evil-minded person desired it they could have abstracted them with perfect ease, and not only mine but numerous others. I think that tne attention of the Post Office authorities, or the persons who are responsible for the safe custody of the letters, should be called to this most careless state of affairs. Surely two boxes, or at least one larger than the present one could be provided for late letters. It is not right that the general public after paying the postage 011 their letters should have them subjected to such a large risk of abstraction. Spielers and that class of men who always hang about steamers before departure, would just be tempted, by seeing letters sticking out in front of them, to take some oil the chance of there being something of value in them, and they could easily do it without being observed, for there is usually a moving crowd near where the box is placed in front of the gangway. lam not the only one who has been put to inconvenience by this want of room, as several others have been speaking about it. Trusting that better provision will be provided for the letters next mail day.— am, etc., Ralkiqh Peacocks,

Auckland, March 23, 1898

CITY WATER SUPPLY. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,— City Counoil have instructed suburban boroughs and road districts that they must be careful of the water, and urging these local bodies to prevent, as far as possible, any waste. The suburban consumers are the first to be cautioned. Why should there be any restriction when such a large supply is running to waste in the immediate vicinity of the Western Springe? Edgecombe's Creek is capable of supplying 200,000 gallons a clay, and this would be a welcome addition to the regular supply. Can wo not take advantage of this auxiliary supply, as has been dune in former years ?—I am, etc,, March 24,1896. . Delta. CORRESPONDENCE CONDENSED. J. F. Giambonini complains that he took out a ticket for Waiwera, but he was not landed. there. Passengers are transferred from a boat to a cart, which takes you on shore. For the passage in the cart you are charged 6d, and Gil for each portmanteau or parcel. Mr. F. Whitehead writes in reference to the proposal to amalgamate the Young New Zealand mine. Ho states the position of the miue as revealed in the reports, and contends that there is no need to amalgamate. Mr. Whitehead can take action as a shareholder.