LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14427, 21 July 1910, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

A CONTRADICTION. Sir,ln a number of newspapers, including your issue of July 12, is an account of the dinner of the Waikafco Co-operative Dairy Company, held in the Town Hall, Hamilton, on July 8. You report me as stating that while a director of the New Zealand Dairy Association I advocated the home separation system. ■ This I did not do, nor did I make such a statement at that meeting. In -fairness to me, I must ask you to publish- this letter. , Thanking you in anticipation. J. G. Penniket. - [The report which we published was an official report supplied by the company.— Ed.] .

GOVERNMENT HOUSE RETENTION PETITION. Sir, — (trust that every democrat will sign the petition in view of' getting Government House grounds at some future time as a public park for the people, in case it is not wanted for a residence _ for future Governors. There is any quantity of land available for the -University. If -this siteia now allowed to "go it will never be available for the people as a reserve for public recreation. When the Governor is not living there the grounds should be open to the public. , I am told that the' general publio have lately been shut out from the grounds, even when the house has not beeri occupied, which is in my opinion a mistake. A. Sanfobd.

UNSOUND FRIENDLY SOCIETIES. Sr, —In a recent issue of your esteemed journal you quoted from the report of the Registrar of Friendly Societies, wherein it is stated that some of the friendly societies operating in the Dominion are proceeding on " unsound" lines. That is a very serious statement to make, land for the protection of the general public, and in justice to those societies which are not included in that category, the names of the societies whose methods are " unsound" should be given. "Worker. ,

DECAY OF THE TEETH. Sir, This is a matter of vital importance to us, and I wish to state what in my opinion is the cause of the trouble. About ■40 years ago, when residing in England, the flour in use then was made by what is called the " stone process," and many people used what is called " seconds" flour» that is to say, the whole wheat less tho outer husks arid coarser bran, and people with faulty teeth were the exception rnd not the rule. About 30 years ago the roller flour process was introduced ■ here from America, and was also brought into use in England about the same time. The . result has been a great falling off in the stamina of the New Zealanders and Englishmen of to-day. The stone process flour contained the salts, phosphates, and lime which are necessary to build up" healthy teeth and bones in young people and conserve those of the older people. The only white races who are not decadent at the, present time are tho Scandinavians, Germans, and Russians, and they use whole meal or black bread. Neurasthenia is setting very prevalent in. New Zealand, especially amongst women, and this is solely duo to the want of phosphorus, lime, etc., in the presentday bread. G.H.N.

THE USE OF CONCRETE. Sir, —With rospect to the method of formation of concrete under water by the forcing of cement mortar through the aggregate from the surface by means of pipes, and reference thereto by M r - G. M. Fraser, contractor for the erection of the Hamilton traffic bridge, in your issue of Saturday last, I have to remark that, in building the Bean Rock Lighthouse in Auckland Harbour, 39 years ago, I adopted that method. The seven hollow piles on which the structure stands were set in position surrounded by the open 6tone embankment extending in height to half tide. The requisite quantity of cement mortar was then forced through from the platform. I was for some years under the impression that the scheme was original, but found that it was being used by the late Mr. Kinniple, M.lnst.C.E., and in his obituary ♦ notice I observed that •he had invented it some years before I did. But the adoption of the method in question here in 1871 is, I am sure, the first of its use in the southern hemisphere. / James Stewart.

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. . The Editor cannot undertake to be responsible for the return of rejected communications. • Correspondents are requested to note that room cannot be found for long diffuse letters on any subject, and that many, communications otherwise admissible are rejected simnly for want of space. No notice can be taken of letters imaccom panied by the names and addresses of . the. writers. '*,