NOTES AND COMMENTS,

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16097, 10 December 1915, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS,

♦ . THE DARDANELLES IN" 1853. Recent events in connection with the Dardanelles have prompted a diligent member of the London Daily Graphic's staff to turn up the scanty newspaper records of an important naval event in 1853. In that year, when Great Britain was backing the wrong horse and supporting Turkey against Russia, the Sultan invited the British and French Fleet*, then in Besika Bay. to come through the Dardanelles to "the protection of Constantinople, They accepted the invitation, but not in any undue haste. "The French Admiral," observes the Constantinople correspondent of the Times at that date, "was only waiting for a favourable wind to collect all his ships and proceed to Constantinople. The combined fleets will occupy three different points. One of the divisions will anchor oposite the Dardanelles, the second at Gallipoli, the third in the Bosphorus opposite Therapia. The latter division will consist of the British ships of the line, the Albion and the Vengeance, and four steam vessels; of the French ships of the line, Jupiter and Henri TV., and of four steamers, one of which, the Gomer, bears the flag of RearAdmiral Barbier de Tinan." These arrangements were carried out in a slightly different form, but all that can be found in the file of newspapers is the following brief reference late in November to a letter received from Constantinople on November 3: "Two divisions of the combined British and French fleets bad at length entered the Bosphorns, but not without some trouble. The Henri IV. was towed up on the morning of November 3. These divisions consisted of two ships of the line, two frigates, and two steam corvettes of each nation. The rest of the force was to follow soon, Admirals Dundas and Hamelin having 6hown their respective Ambassadors the necessity of not dividing their forces." More diligent search reveals the following equally brief paragraph : "In consequence of a conference between the French and English Admirals and their Ambassadors, twelve vessels of the combined fleet came up to Constantinople and entered the Bosphorus. A Russian vessel of war which had run on shore on the coast of Eregri. on the Asiatic side of the Black Sea, was seen in that position by a Turkish cruiser and was called upon to surrender. On the commander's refusing she was boarded by the Turks and taken possession of with the crew." HONEY FROM PALESTINE.

Palejtine is essentially an agricultural country, as it has absolutely no other resources, and in past times supported a large population. Although the Israelites came out of the very productive land of Egypt, their destination was described as a land flowing with milk and honey. This statement is most interesting in the light of facts concerning the production of honey in the Holy Land. It is well known to botanists, says a recent writer, that Palestine is the meeting-place of the flora of three different continents, and this circumstance combined with the varied altitudes produces a condition most favourable to bee culture. Some years ago two brothers living in Jaffa went into the apiary business. They conceived the idea of furnishing the bees with material for honey-making throughout eight months of the year by camping first at a low altitude and when the flowers of that locality were finished, moving the hives on camel back to a higher place, thus following up the consecutive blossoming of different wild flowers. They first let them work on the orange blossoms around Jaffa, and this fragrant honey was kept separate as was that obtained from each succeeding flower which pervaded any particular district. Thus, they were able to label their honey "Orange Blossom," "Thyme," etc. The data furnished by these experiments show a yield exceeding that yet known in any other country. By using modern American extracting machinery and replacing the combs, 100 hives produced six tons of honey during eight months. That is 1201b to the hive. The average vield id Australia and America is 501b to each hive, and the maximum 501b. From these facts it seems that this unique land is possessed f great natural advantages over other lands in the production of honey.

LONDON'S WAR ECONOMY. It is anticipated that the War Savings Committee of the London County Council will be able to recommend for tha forthcoming year economies amounting to nearly half a million, compared with £200,000 reduction made a year ago. Education will be hit hardest, as it is the most vulnerable of the departments. Among tho suggested reforms will be that whe->3 one school contains seven teachers ere should be dispensed with. Administration expenses will be further reduced ; the ago of children attending school to be raised to five years instead of a minimum of three years as at present. New books will not be bought. The cost of children's meals would also be reduced if the infants' age limit is raised. Nearly £30,000 was saved on books in the current year. The committee, which consists of 40 members, started its work at the end of July, and there has been a busy review of expenditure. So far as capital expenditure goes, the great reform which has been proceeding for about three years in reducing tho size of classes to an average of 40 in senior departments, and 48 in infants, has been entirely stopped. This scheme involved new schools and the enlargement of existing schools, and was proceeding by arrangement with the Board of Education at a cost of a million each three years. Educationists arc naturally against any reduction of the efficiency level which has been previously maintained, believing that whatever savings are essential, education should be one of the last, activities to be reduce!