GENERAL ITEMS.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXIX, Issue 3939, 3 July 1918, Page 3

GENERAL ITEMS.

The Hawera Star in its report of the recent dog trials, tells the following story of the remarkable intelligence of one of the .dogs—Mr White's "Boy." The sheep had been brought back, taken to the pen, and almost yarded. They were a bit stubborn and gave the dog some trouble. He was backing them inch by inch until they stood with their noses out the gate. He then slowly and quietly moved up until he could touch them, and putting up his paw, gently pushed one sheep back, and the yarding wasi complete. It was a wonderful piece of work, and was greeted with enthusiastic applause. The older hands said they had never seen the like.

Mr Neville Mayman, president of the Benevolent Society of New South Wales, who was commisioned by the State Government to enquire into the methods enmployed by the New Zealand Government and by private organisations in New Zealand for the reduction of infant mortality and the welfare x>f mothers and children, has presented his report (says the "Sydney Morning Herald"). He suggests that the State might supplement the earning of fathers of large families by direct payments on a fixed scale for each child after the second. Preference in public and private employment to such fathers N would also be helpful, together with concessions in taxation and other matters. ..

The secretary of the Dunedin Patriotic Association has received information from the Commisioner of Pensions, Melbourne, that the mother of a soldier who was killed while serving with the Australian Forces has been awarded a pension of £4 6s 8d per month, which will be payable through the Commissioner of Pensions, Wellington. This application, which refers to the death of a soldier which occurred over a year ago, had been -made through several sources, but without success, and the case becoming known to the Patriotic Association, it was taken up, with the above result. The Commisioner writes that the pension will be payable from the date of the society's application, and is the highest rate paid under the Australian Act. The highest widowed mother's pension rate in New Zealand is 15s per week.

The "Otago Daily Times" states that a story is. going the rounds of how a Government employee made a great success'of his department in the face of discouragement from his superior officers. This employee was the head of a tree-growing plantation in the South Island, and as it appeared to him that if he were permitted to run some sheep a great saving would be made in the cost of keeping down-the grass between the trees, he made application to his Department for the ,necessary permission. The permission was at first declined, and the employee was informed that he was expected to grow treas not sheep. He was persistent, however, and finally he was granted £200 as a fund to do what he liked with in the direction he desired. The employee has now received a much better'position, and has left the Government employ. So successful were his operations, however, that the fund is said to have now reached the respectable total of £1500, and, in addition, there are 1700 sheep on the estate.

In an article dealing with the acclimatisation of animals in New Zealand, Mr Herbert W. Simmonds, F.E.S. says the marsh tit of Europe would doubtless help considerably in tJ»C

control of the flax grub, which is at present causing heavy losses to the country. There is much to be said also in favour of the despised mole which might control the grass grub, and would improve many of our soils, but dt would have to be first experimented with in light volcanic soils, in which alone it might make trouble.

It is stated by those who should know (says an exchange) that there is likely to be a severe shortage of seamen and firemen in New Zealand in the near future. The reason for this possibility is said to be consequent on the number of men who are deserting from New Zealand ships on each, of their trips to America and Canada. The wages for both seamen and firemen are considerably higher in America to-day than those ruling here, and this is put forward as the chief reason for the men thus taking the opportunity to leave their vessels illicitly for the purpose of signing on on American steamers. For instance, the rate for firemen on the Pacific Coast of America is 75 dollars a month, as compared with the award wage in the Dominion of about £13.