ANGLO – NEW ZEALAND NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13875, 8 October 1908, Page 8

ANGLO - NEW ZEALAND NOTES.

. ' '[l-lWil Ottß OWN C'OIUtKSt'ONDHXT.J Loxdos, August 28. BRACKEN FROM NEW ZEALAND. X citkiotjs instance of the importation of a • Now Zealand bracken fern is given by the rector of St. lAndrew-by-the-Wardrobo. Recently lie caino across a small forn growing in the joint of a leaking pipe outside Sion College. He transplanted it to the greenhouse, .in his pretty little garden off Queen Victoria-street, and there it has flourished to an extent enabling authorities to class Hie stranger as a visitor from New Zealand. The theory is that the seed was blown on ro the embankment from a barge passing up the River Thames. IMPORTS OF APPLES.' Statistics relative to the suppiy from . abroad of apples into this country . show that the exports from New Zealand and Australia are increasing. Last season they exceeded 700.000 bushels. Tasmania can put 750,000 bushels of primo apples upon the , British market in any season provided that the prices justify this course. In spite of these huge importsl2,ooo,ooo bushels from . *11 applegrowing in England is a profitable business if it is carried out in a business-like. way. At the present rate of increase in planting there will soon be 200,000 acres of fruit land within tho United . , Vingdom devoted to apples alone. . PROFESSIONAL RUGBY. The Daily Express thus summarises the Rugby position in Now Zealand:—"lt . was thought, by the amateur rulers of Rugby football in New ' Zealand that the people were so wedded to amateurism that any at—tempt to introduce professionalism at the game would bo a dire failure. When the 'Pro-Blacks' toured in England ' last season it did riot affect New Zealand much, but when the men got home the real war was be'mn. ■ Of course, the Anglo-Welsh amateur tour was a*'strong card for the governors of' the great, 'unpaid.' but. even then the fact that he, 'pros, obtained £300 profit from a charity mutch played quite • recently at Wellington in aid of the widow of tho late A. H. Baskervillewho brought the team to England— plainly that people will watch tho Northern Union in Maoriland. It, must be remembered that gates in New Zealand are not nearly so large as in Australia. As a result of this professional ' match the amateur union are somewhat alarmed, and are calling a gathering of representatives to consider how Rugby can bo improved. It is understood that the question. of players' expenses will bo freely dismissed." .. . : .