LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3103, 3 September 1913, Page 9

LOCAL & GENERAL.

A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that Patrick Donovan and Thomas Lewis, two prisoners of gaol-break-ing notoriety, have been transferred to Auckland .and Lyttelton respectively. En route Donovan was found in possession of a skeleton key that could have opened his handcuffs, while Lewis had a eandbag tied round his waist.

A story of the. struggle, of a woman to provide her children with food and clotlrng was before the Hospital and Charitable A:d Board at Wellington on Thursday (says the Post), when the Charitable Aid Committee its report on a statement at a previous meeting by Mr G. Ga'loway that a person owning £6OO worth of property with a mortgage of only £25 on it had been receiving assistance was presented. The report stated that probably Mr Galloway referred to the case of a widow who had been left with four young children. She lived in a five-roomed cottage (left her by her mother) on which there had been a mortgage of £l5O, which she had reduced to £2B. The last Government valuation was £6OO. Her income had been, from daylabour, £1 10s a week, and her expenditure in rates, interest, and insurance 7s a week, and the task of providing for her children had pulled her down to such an extent that she had been ordered a month's complete rest by- the then senior house surgeon at the Hospital. Possessed by a fear of the consequences of running behind to too great an extent she made up her mind not to cease work altogether, but to work only half time, and her income was then reduced to 15s a week. She applied to the lioard for help to tide her over the time she was not working all day. The point was. the committee added, whether it were best to help her and her four children, to support whom she had worked herself to the verge of a collapse, over a temporary stress and to give her the independence she was striving to preserve, or to add to the burden which might ultimately crush her. The extent of the assistance given was fcod rations for the four children for a 'couple of months at a total cost of £3 19s. The board decided that the committee’s explanation was satisfactory.

Last year the Government passed the County Telephones Act. empowering county councils to rate small communit’es who were willing to be so rated, with the object of putting them in touch with civilisation by means of the erection of telephone lines to the nearest bureau. The object was, said Mr W. J. Paulsen (Wanganui) at the Counties’ Conference on Friday, a laudable one, but unfortunately during the same session the Government by means of another Act deprived local bodies of the right to borrow mo'ney for such purposes. So what they gave with one hand they took away with the oilier. Parliament also Stipulated that money borrowed for telephone construction must be repaid in 12 years. This meant that the counties had to put a considerable sum aside each year as a s-'nking fund, which, with the interest, brought the rate up to about 12 per cent. The counties were unable by law to borrow money at a higher rate than 5 per cent., and they found it impossible to negotiate a loan from private lenders at that rate. The ruling figure was 6 per cent. Mr Paulsen accordingly moved: “ That the Government he requested to amend 1 The County Telephones Act, 1912,’ so that counties may borrow the money to erect such lines from the Government, or in the alternative that counties may borrow at a higher rate than 5 per cent.; that the period of repayments be extended from 12 to 20 years; thatr where counties erect lines out of county funds they may make provision for by-laws and regulations in the same way as when linos are erected out of loans.” The remit was carried.

“ I realise that owing to the shortage of officers, not only hero, but in other parts of the Empire, the mercantile marine is suffering under a considerable disability, * remarked the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, Minis-

ter of Marine, at the annual social gather-

ing of the shipping companies’ staffs at Wellington on Saturday week (says the Post). “By a recent amendment to the Shipping and Seamen Act,” he continued, “ the Government has endeavoured to assist companies in this respect, and I propose to go further. At the present time negotiations aro proceeding with the Union Steam Ship Company by which tho boys of the Amokuna will have an opportunity of becoming qualified officers of the mercantile marine as well as seamen, and I hope the day is not far distant when the Government will bo able to pass the smartest lads from tho Amokura to the Aparima, so that they may qualify as officer

Preliminary arrangements in connection with the Australasian Medical Congress to be held in Auckland next February are well in hand. Over 600 visitors are expected, and some difficulty is being experienced in finding the necessary accommodation. The honorary secretary (Dr Dudley) has so far booked 100 rooms. Dr J. R. S. Elkingfon, of Brisbane, has accepted the of the Public Health section. The executive has also created a eub-eection of Medical School Inspection Hygiene, under the direct control of Dr C. S. Willis, chief of the Department of . Public Instruction, New South Wales. The special reports to be brought before the congress include one on “Specific Disease in New Zealand ” (Dr Hardie Neil); another on “Contract Practice” (Dr Tracy Inglis); and also one on “Hospital Abuse’ (Dr Robertson). “ Both from the workers’ and the employers’ point of view conditions at Waihi have never' been better than they are at present,” remarked Mr A. Butler, president of the Ohinemuri Mines and Batteries Employees’ Union, in an :ntcrview (says the Press). “ The conditions of life are better, and the wages are also better, and since the strike the class of man employed at Waihi might safely be said to be the equal of any in Now Zealand. There has been work completed in the Waihi mine of late that had never pre-vicu-aly been approached, that is with regard to the breaking out of the ere. There are fewer men employed now, but the tonnage worked per man has been largely increased, all of which goes to show that the company is getting better work from its employees. Three years ago there was always dissatisfaction, hut there never has been before such harmony as exists now.” During the period of the strike, ns was well known, and even before, there was a feeling of unrest, which at times amounted to chaos, among the business people in the town. Now the tradesmen, Mr Butler said, were s satisfied as it was possible for them la be, and they had been showing their appreciation of the now labour regime in a very practical way by according the union strong financial support.

In reply to a deputation concerning the question of free place pupiis who had qualified for adm : ssion, to college but could not be found a place, the Hon Jas. Allen said on the-25th (a Press Association telegram states), that he would have the matter carefully inquired into. There were two or three important questions to be dealt with. One was as to whether the standard of free p’aces was a proper one, and another was as to whether the State could afford to make provision for- all those who had passed the examinations for free places. It might bo that certain additional accommodation might be secured by utilising to its fullest capacity the buildings for secondary education alone. That would have to be looked into. With regard to the general question as to a higher standard it was a difficult matter to decide. Mr Allen pointed out that there were some pupils who went to these schools who did not stay very long. That was another matter to be investigated. It was impossible for him to deal with the whole matter of free places during what was to be a very busy session. He would take time to go into the matter together with that of staffing and teachers’ salaries carefully after Parliament rose. He would have the main question looked into immediately, As far as he was concerned there would be no discrimination. Personally he could see no reason why the method of Selection should not be according to merit. Ho oould see no difficulties in the way of that procedure. Ho thought that unless there were some unforeseen difficulty in the way immediate* provision could be made for selection in order of merit. If the expenses in this direction became very much heavier there might be a demand for local taxation. He did not want to have to advocate that. The ordinary meeting of the West Taieri Drainage Board, held on Monday morning, was attended by Messrs J. T. Gibson (in the chair), W. Lee, and W. Thomson. The following general rate that had been levied at the previous meeting was confirmed: —On land in class A, 3s per acre; in class B, 2s 9d; class C, 2s 6d; c’ass D, 2s 3d; class E. Is 6d; class F, Is l£d per acre. The meeting then adjourned till Thursday as the river was reported to be rising and members decided to take the opportunity of reaching thoir homes while the roads were open. The Otago Acclimatisation Society on the 25th received a copy of the following motion from the Otago Anglers’ Association:—“That in out opinion the time has arrived when it is considered necessary that an alteration in the method of stocking tho rivers should be made and a system instituted of placing two-year-old fish in the ,rivers instead of fry, it being considered that the liberating of fry has proved futile.” It was decided to refer the motion to the society’s Angling Committee, Mr S. Peden stating that he expected to receive a report on tho matter from Mr Steven, of the Clinton hatcheries In the course of an address at Masterton last week, Mr W. A. Bcddoo stated that during the financial year ended March 31 last the Canadian imports from New Zealand were valued as follows:—Hides and skins, £248,827; pelts, £5976; butter, £308,829 ; wool, £54,316. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 1910. the imports from Canada to Now Zealand totalled £200.818; last year they bad increased to £416,861. Tho exports from New Zealand to Canada in 1903 were valued at £11.248. and last year £588.701. In regard co frozen meat New Zealand in tho first seven months of 1913 forwarded 22.755 quarters of beef, 1554 carcases of veal, and 2291 carcases of mutton. The number of boxes of butter cx-

ported from New Zealand to Canada for the seven months ended May 31 was 57,048. The exports to Canada from New Zealand for the June quarter this year had increased by £38,550 over the corresponding period last year, while the imports from Canada ’.n the same quarter had increased by £32,225. At the Kaitangata. Magistrate’s Court on the 25th, before Messrs W. Wilson and P. Souncss. J.P.’s, James Jar vie was charged with drunkenness, obscene language, and with resisting Constable Henry Martin in the execution of his duty on Sunday. Andrew Ivan Jarvie was a'so charged with inciting a man to resist arrest, and with obstructing Constable Martin in the execution of his duty on the same date. Constable Martin, in his evidence, explained that James Jarvie was arrested at 2 o’clock on Sunday morning on these charges, and while the constable was effecting the arrest he was interfered with by Andrew Jarvie, with the result that he was arrested too. The presiding justices took mto consideration the hour at which the offences took place, and fined James Jarvie 5s on the charge of drunkenness, 20s on the charge of obscene language, and convicted and discharged him on the charge of resisting Andrew Jarvie was convicted and discharged on his two charges, the bench issuing a warning that interference with the police in the discharge of their duties would not be tolerated in the future.

Thirty designs have been received from 23 competitors in the competition for the Dunedin Town Hall and Concert Room. These are preliminary sketch designs, and from them the assessor (Mr S. Hurst-Soagcr, F.R.1.8.A., of Christchurch) is selecting the four best. The authors of these will take part in a final competition. The assessor hopes to be able to make the_ selection and return the drawings in about a fortnight.

It is of interest to note in connection with the recent jubilee celebrations of the Otago Boys’ High School that the first school in Dunedin was started in First Church, under the control of the first minister, the late Rev. Dr Burns, and those associated with him. The first school master was Mr James Blackie, who came out in the 1 hilip, Laing with Dr Burns, in 1848. The founding of a high class grammar school was steadily kept in view by the officers .of First Church, and in the report of the session sent Home, in 1851, the following is to be found; —“ If the colony were a. little further advanced, we must have an academical institution of superior character in Dunedn, for it is felt to be of the last importance towards the best and highest well-being of the settlement tha*t the means of a thoroughly good education should be within the reach of the rising generation.” In a communication to the High School Boaid of Governors the First Church Deacons Couit states that it is a matter of great joy to it that its ideals thus expressed have been so worthily carried out by the Otago High School.

The financial statement of the Otago "Harbour Board from January to July shows that the ordinary revenue amounted to £57,400 8s Id (for the corresponding period last year the total was £55.584 Is Id); expenditure, £60,980 Is 9d (£57,350 14s 2d). The loan expenditure for the six months came to £24,530 17s 6d. The revenue from the dock account for the period under notice amounted to £4624 8s (corresponding period, 1912, £3802 14s sd); expenditure, £6338 6s 3d (£5900 11s sd). Of the loan of £150,000 authorised in 1909 debentures havo been issued of a value of £14,300; balance unissued £135,700, the debit balance on this account at July 31, 1913, being £26,747 7s 4d. The dock loan of £25,000 shows a credit balance at July 31 of £4367. Mr E. H. Clark has given notice to ask the Postmaster-general whether he will authorise the erection of a wireless telegraph station at Port Chalmers, or subsidise the equipment of a wireless plant on the new tug which is being locally built for the Otago Harbour Board. In a note he says: ‘‘Just the other day the Suffolk failed to find the entrance in a fog, and was only picked up by the pilot boat after a wireless message from the steamer to Wellington notifying her position had been transmitted by telegraph from there, which surely proves that seafaring men and sea travellers arc entitled to the consideration of the Government by giving them the advantages of wireless telegraphy, especially at the main shipping ports of New Zealand.

Among the recent entries in the visitors’ book at the Government Tourist Bureau occur the following:—From English tourists: “No better place”—‘‘delighted with country.” From Western Australia: “ From north to south of New Zealand—a delightful and wonderful place.” From Launceston: ‘‘Think highly of the method? of New Zealand Tourist Department.” A Melbourne visitor makes complimentary remarks as to the good looks of the Dunedin ladies, and a South African enters: “A nice fresh country.”

The powerful rotary drill obtained from America by the Bonithon Oil Company, New Plymouth, is giving entire satisfaction. It began work on Thursday, July 24 (says the Wellington Post), and up to Monday last at noon it had bored to a depth of 907 ft, a rate of progress which easily constitutes a record for New Zealand. For four days during the period mentioned the drill was idle while the casing was being fixed and set up, the new boiler being installed, and the workmen fishing for the lower part of the casing, which had broken off a few hundred feet below the surface of the ground. It took 27 hours to effect the last-mentioned operation. The drill has had to go through some very big boulders, and when these are encountered the nro-

gress is necessarily slow. The other day the country was so hard that only six feet was bored in 24 hours When Mr M‘l»ean, of Wellington, managing director of the company, was at the works at 6 a.m. on Monday, the drill was going through hard shell formation, and a little oil and gas were in evidence.

A curious letter has been received by the president (Mr A. E. Jull) of the Counties’ Association. At the conference on Friday {says the Post) Mr Jull told the delegates that a man had written to him protesting against a county ranger acting in the dual capacity of a ranger and undertaker’s assistant. The complainant said that his horse had been caught by the ranger and tied behind a hearse, with the same rope that was used .for the purpose of lowering coffins. The owner of the horse vehemently protested against both the ranger and the rope serving in the tw-o capacities, and, in verification of his story, forwarded a photograph of the strange cortege. A delegate from the county in which the incident took place rose to explain, but the chairman smilingly asked him to keep his seat, with the remark: “ Don’t; it would spoil the whole thing.” The Rev. W. A. Sinclair, who returned to Christchurch on Thursday, expressed himself as delighted with his visit to Dunedin in connection with the Methodist Orphanage, as over £IOO was collected Mid many sympathisers have promised help and have yet to subscribe. There will be no difficulty in reaching the amount allocated to Dunedin by the Orphanage Committee — £125. Mr Sinclair visited the new Presbyterian Orphanage at Anderson’s Bay under the guidance of Mr W. H. Adams, and speaks in high praise of the enterprise of the sister Church in this important sphere of work. He obtained much valuable information on the subject. It is expected to commence work 'with the Methodist Orphanage in the South Island in a few months’ time.

At the beginning of last week there were 148 patients in the Dunedin Hospital and just two less at _ its close. Thirty-eight patients were admitted during the week a.nd the same number discharged, and two deaths occurred —namely, those of Patrick Hogan and Josephine M‘Cauley.

In replying to a quest;on by Mr Anderson in the House on August 27 about wireless instruction in technical schools the Hon. R. H. Rhodes' said that no hindrance was placed in the way of h;gh and technical schools teaching wireless telegraphy provided that outside aerials were not erected. In some cases such schools bad applied for permission bo carry out instruction in wireless telegraphy, and it had been granted subject to the installation of such apparatus indoors as would not interfere with public correspondence between the coast stations and ships at sea.

Mr M. J. Mack, general secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, writes to the Railway Review advocating the erection and maintenance of a convalescence home for raihvaymen. The sum required for such a home would be £4OOO. Mr Mack urges that if members of the society agree to subscribe 6d per month per member, to be used solely in the maintenance and upkeep of such an institution, the thing would be done. “If the subject is worthy of consideration,” Mr Mack says, “ let us start at once, and do something which will be a lasting monument to the A.S.R.S. and a benefit to our fellow workmen.”

A medical botanist of Auckland, Mr Herbert Clapham, claims (says the New Zealand Herald) to havo discovered and perfected a now curative process for the relief of tuberculous patients. IPs friends have forwarded a petition, bearing 7111 signatures, to Mr A. M. Myers, M.P., who has promised to place it before Parliament. It asks that Mr Clapham bo given a Government grant to enable him to initiate his methods of treatment, and as a guarantee of good faith it states that Mr Clapham will undertake the treatment of any number of sufferers up to 25, under the supervision of any officials the Government may select. This he wall do at lus own expense. In the House of Representatives last week Mr Clark gave notice to ask the Prime Minister whether he wou'd take steps to prevent the dredging away of beautiful and valuable agricultural land, which was being done in Otago at the present time. He said that in a great many cases the returns from the dredging operations had been only sufficient to pay bare working expenses, and the land, which was firet-class being river flats, was practically ruined for all time. Such land should be reserved for agricultural purposes as the supply was very limited.

Mr Clark asked the Prime Minister last week whether he would place a sum of money on this year’s Estimates for the purpose of having the Taieri River deepened, as the river was fast filling up. dhe bed of the river had silted up several feet during the last decade because of the mining operations in Central Otago. The effect of this was to depreciate the value of the land on the Taieri Plain very considerably. The landowners had no control over this, and were suffering a less, which was a national disaster.

A correspondent of the Taumarunui Press, describing a journey from Ruurimu to Kaitickc t in the back-blocks, says:—“About a mile from Raurimu the mud began. It was a yellow, plastic substance, into which the horse sank nearly knee-deep at every step, pulling his feet out one by one with a noise like a cork being drawn from a bottle —a good King Country simile—and varying the monotony by occasionally sinking to the girths. This went on hour after hour as I wound round the hills and looked down into the deep gorges below me, every turn of

the road being notable in local history for the fall of some poor pack-horse into the depths. Some two or three miles of my journey had been accomplished when I met a settler returning to Raurimu with a waggon and team of five horses. It,was impossible to tell what the original colours of the animals had been, for they were all wrapped in a yellow uniform of wet mud. The clay hung in heavy lumps to the wheels. It takes this settler six hours to do the 12 miles from Rees’s to Raurimu. It is a scandalous thing that after 12 years’ settlement such conditions shou'd still attain. Another writer records the fact that a settler was five hours covering four miles of x’oad with a flock of sheep as a result of the frightful state of the roads Canterbury College- has the privilege each year (says the Lyttelton Times) of nominating a male student for a sholarship at Trinity College, Cambridge, and some time ago the chairman of the board (Mr J. C. Adams) conceived the idea of securing a scholarship for Canterbury female students at an Eng.ish women’s college. Last week he was able to announce a satisfactory conclusion to his negotiations with the Royal Holloway College, Surrey. The governors of the English college wrote agreeing that Canterbury College should propose each year, not later than May, the name of a woman student at Canterbury College whose performances in any of the subjects recognised in honours examinations in the University of London had been of such distinguished merit as to make it especially desirable that she should come into' residence at the Royal Holloway Col- ■ logo and continue her studies with a view to proceeding to an honours degree or a higher degree in due course in the University of London. The governors were prepared in any of the five, years from 1914 to 1918 to award a scholarsliip of £SO a year for throe years to a student nominated by Canterbury College without further examination.

During the past 12 months the Salvation Army lias spent the gum of £10,316 18s lid in the erection of new buildings, renovations, etc., in connection with its social serv:ce. Included in this total were :• Erection of maternity home at Auckland, £3516 9s 3d; purchase of and additions to maternity home at Wellington, £2424 Is 9d; improvements to People’s Palace, Wellington, £llOO. For the coming 12 months the following programme, involving an expenditure of £12,250, mostly upon new buildings and additions, has been drawn up by Commissioner Richard'S : New boys’ home, Wellington, £3000; additions to new maternity® homo. Wellington, £1000; improvements Roto Roa wharf and sea wall, £750; new maternity home, Dunedin, £3000; old men's home. Island Bay, £1850; painting various institutions, social buildings, £650; upkeep of institutions above earnings, £2OOO. The Public Petitions Committee of the House \of Representatives reported on Aug. 28 that it had no recommendation to make regarding the petition of Mr J. T. Sullivan, of Dunedin, for reinstatement as inspector of fisheries, or compensation for services rendered.

At the meeting of the Western Taieri Drainage Board on August 23, the clerk (Mr W. M‘Lean) stated that a copy of a proposed award for the working conditions of labourers had been received from the Otago General Labourers’ Union. He stated that if the conditions suggested by the union were adopted it would mean that the wages bill of the board would-be increased by 154 per cent. Several members of the board expressed the opinion that if the award became law the board would bo compelled to give up office. It was decided merely to receive the letter. The ballot taken by the members of the Dunedin Tramways Union on the following different issues has resulted as follows:—In favour of affiliation with the United Federation of Labour and the Social Democratic Party, 15; against, 132. In favour of affiliation with the United Federation .of Labour only, 3; against, 140. In favour of affiliation with the Social Democratic Party only, 8; against, 139. In favour of continuing with the United Labour Party,- 36; against, 109. It will thus be seen that the local tramway men have decided to have nothing to do with any outside labour organisations, their intention being to help to try to re-form the New Zealand Federation of Tramway Employees. So far the Union Steam Ship Company has not received many definite inquiries for space for shipment of eggs to Vancouver under the arrangement made with the Department of Agriculture. The only real inquiry has come from Christchurch. Unless the consignments can bo considerably supplemented, the company will be unable to provide accommodation for them. The prospective cargoes were 203 cases spread over steamers running from August to November, whereas from 270 to 300 eases would be required to fill a chamber on one steamer. An early indication was desired as to the quantities likely to be sent forward, and , the department urges private producers and poultry farmers to make arrangements for the shipment of sufficient quantities to fill the space in order to test the Vancouver market on a proper scale this season.

A story is going the rounds that one day last week a young man, with a well-assumed air of dejection, waited on the senior member of a well-known firm of undertakers. He stated that his little daughter had just died, and that he wished the firm to undertake the funeral arrangements. Ho also gave his name and address and the name of the doctor who had attended his child in its last illness. The undertaker was professionally sympathetic, and took a note of the information detailed to him. The young man then unburdened himself cf the

fact that he had been employed in the country, and as he had had to leave his work in a hurry to come to town,-and had not had time to collect his cheque for wages due, he did not suppose there would be any objection to the undertaker waiting a week or two for his payment. The undertaker had no objection—he often had to wait for his money. being thus arranged satisfactorily, the young man made to depart, but with hand on the handle of the door, and with fitting hesitation, remarked that, as he was a bit short of money, perhaps the undertaker could lend him 10s to tide him over a day «r two, and this amount could be returned when the total amount came to be paid. Seven shillings, however, were all the undertaker had on him, and this was at once handed over. The climax is that the people at the address given knew of no sick child, and the doctor named had likewise never heard of the case. The ingenuity and impudence of the confidence trick man are apparently unlimited. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that news has been received that the Royal Society has awarded its silver medal to Sir Joseph Ward for the paper on “ New Zealand as a Place of Residence,” which Sir Joseph read before, the society.

On Tuesday, August 25, Miss Hetty Wright, aged 22 years, the eldest daughter of Mr W. Wright, Balclutha, disappearjd from her home. On her parents making inquiries in the evening, they learned that she had been seen walking towards the Clutiha River. Her footsteps were traced to the river bank, and the last of them showed that the heels had been placed firmly together just at the water’s edge, where the river runs deep and sryift right into the bank. Since Tuesday night the river has been dragged for several r ilos, but nothing further has been found, and it is generally feared that the young lady has come to a sad end. Beyond the fact that she ;hqid not enjoyed good health lately, there is no known cause to suggest reason for a self-inflicted end to a bright and promising life. The cutter Antelope is reported to have returned to Bluff a few days ago from the vicinity of Dusky Sound with about 70 sealskins, as the result of a seal hunt along the West Coast. From all accounts the fur seals are very scarce, and it is freely surmised that more than one well-stocked rookery was depleted by poaching vessels during the past year. According to one statement, a large cache of sealskins was discovered hidden in a remote spot on Stewart Island, and it is said that one enterprising individual improved the shining hour by annexing 300 skins from the hidden store, but no information has been vouchsafed regarding his disposal of the booty. Our Greymouth correspondent states that in the opinion of the Greymouth Harbour authorities, tha rais ng and extending of the north breakwater wall has already resulted in a marked improvement to the bar.

Mr Howton, a resident of Ranfurly, who has been engaged in carrying the mails from Palmerston to Ranfurly during the d slocation of the service on the Otago Central line, met with an accident on his return journey on Thursday afternoon. He was bringing down the mails in a motor car from Ranfurly, and carried with him a lady passenger. On the road between Kycburn and Pigroct the car skidded and went over the bank. Fortunately neither of the occupants was hurt, but the car had to be abandoned, apd the mails and the passenger were taken back to Kyeburn in a horse conveyance. It is understood that Mr Hewton, who has been doing* very good work with the mails, secured another cur, and hoped to reach Palmerston with the mails at midnight.

English files recently to hand show that in Northumberland and Durham much is being done to perfect colliery rescue appliances. Three hundred ans fifty collieries are affiliated with the coal owners’ association in laying down three new stations, which aro to be equipped with the beat fire-extinguishing appliances that can bo obtained. With one exception, in Northumberland, the whole of the 350 collieries can bo covered by four stations. Distinct from the fire engines, the rescue tenders arc powerful motor cars fitted with special accommodation for rescue dresses, portable telephones, canaries for detecting the presence of gas, pumps, and other sundries of an essential character. Liquid air is to be carried in vacuum flasks introduced into the rescue dresses. The fire brigade is extended to cope with pit head fires and protect colliery property. In Durham and Northumberland about 60 per cent, of the m : ners’ houses belong to-rtho coal owners, and as very few villages have adequate fire extinguishing appliances, the coalowners have offered the use of the fire brigades to the local authorities. The amount of money to bo spent on the scheme by the coal owners is £40,000.

The curious case of a rnarc suckling a calf is recorded in the Journal of the Agricultural Department, which publishes a photograph of the young bovm e drawing nutriment from its strange foster-mother. The marc referred to is the property of Mr A. A. Mitchell, Ngamatca. It is stated that in previous years the mare has been in the habit of allowing calves to suck her, and, says the Journal, the very complacent manner in which she submits to the operation indicates a considerable degree of self-satisfaction and acquired indifference. There is reason to believe that this phenomenon is unique. There are on record numerous cases of young animals being suckled by foster-mothers of a different species, but the combination between the mare and the calf is certainly exceptional.