IN OTHER LANDS.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXVI, Issue 3450, 27 October 1915, Page 4

IN OTHER LANDS.

WHBMI WATER RATES ARE LOW.

•■ Throughout th« Hsin Kiang or N«w Province of China are scattered the ruins of once populous towns, which have been forced out of existence by gradually increasing drought. A few \ hundred years ago caravan routes crossed this desert, Which aow proyides no sustenance for mai or beast. There are unmistakable signs that Lob Nor and the other lakes in the district were once much larger, and that the sources of the many springs which once fertilised the district are now dried up. WARFARE IN MINIATURE. .At Aldershot and other places our troops are trained to shoot at moving dummies of,horses and men, to accustom them as far as possible to use their 'intelligence and powers of observation in gauging distances, rate of moving objects, etc. To apply this to. miniature ranges is the aim of an invention known as the Solano Battle Practice Target which has recently been introduced into England under the patronage and approval of Lord Roberts who is most enthusiastic in all that pertains to the training of our youth in the art and practice of rifle shooting.

The invention represents landscapes with infantry, cavalry, and artillery at various distances, and all made most accurately to scale, -thus reproducing as far as possible war conditions. SPORT ON THE UPPER OTTAWA. Canada is an ideal country for the sportsman, Notwithstanding its commercial importance, it has still thousands of miles of unexplored, wild land, where man has seldom *ver trodden. In the Eastern provinces, within a very short distance of civilisation, wild animals -of many kinds —moose, caribou, elk, deer, and even bears still abound". Canada offers grand opportunities to the sportsman, whatever his tastes' may be ; big and small gameshooting, fishing, camping and canoeing—best of all is there provision for the canoeist, thousands of miles of navigable water, in grand surroundings. Splendid troiit fishing is to be had, and moose are plentiful. < ■ ;

A full-grown male moose measures from seven to eight feet at the shoulder, and ten xto twelve feet from the top of its antlers, and weighs anything* up to l,2oulbs. It is a difficult animal to approach, possessing very quick hearing, and a keen sense of smell. Once becoming aware of tlis presence of a foe it is off like lightning, getting over the ground at a great speed. Now and again a black bear may wonder down from the wilder parts of the North, where in company with wolves i£ is to be found, practically all tfce year round. ' .

CHRISTMAS EVE-AT BETHJJSHEM, , The royal city of Bethlehem, the birthplace of King David and after-, wards of Christ,, has been sacred to Christians from very early* times. Its modern name is Beit-Lahm, .and it is now a thriving t6wn of over B,QOO Christians, who make rosaries, crucifixes, etc., for pilgrims. /.There are Catholic, Greek, and Armenian Convents, but the greatest ornament of the place is the stately Church of the Nativity, built by Justinian on the reputed site of the manger. It is probably the eldest church in !he world, and here Christians of svery denomination collect to worship. The principal Christmas ceremony is the midnight 'service on Christmas Eve in the .ChapelNof the Franciscans, the largest chapel in i-the huge building. The. only entrance to the cliurch is by a small door which has been partly Luilt up since Turkish rule. This is known as the "eye of the needle," and all who would enter have to oow the knee in token of humility. Turkish soldiers stand around the entrance, for well they know—as did the Jew of old—how well these Christiana love one another, and their presence' is necessary to maintain order. ,