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Otago Witness, Issue 3154, 26 August 1914, Page 7

The advance survey of tho Olydo-Crom-well railway has been carried up through tho Cromwell Gorge to well past the place known as Gibraltar Rock, and it is expected to have it completed to Cromwell by the end of this week. The trial survey will then be pushed on with alacrity, and in all probability will be completed within a. month from now. As the work of construction is now in hand as far as the permanent survey is completed it will probably be found necessary that another section of tho permanent survey will need to be completed in order to permit of the continuance of the construction work. The two most difficult portions are Gibraltar and Brewery Creek. These are now receiving special attention. Persons who are familiar with this gorge will know how much depends upon the location of the line, and recognise the heavy responsibility that rests upon Mr Stewart. The curves and grades are working out very satisfactorily, and it is pleasing to know, that tho grades will hot bo any steeper than at the section whore the work is now in course of construction.” Mr R. Scott, M.P., has informed all Earnscleugh fruitgrowers (says the Alexandra Herald) that the Government intends to send the Rev. Mr Mason, the well-known water diviner, to Central Otago very shortly, so that he can locate artesian water for irrigation purposes. It is understood that Mr Mason makes no set charge, but will accept donations for the church of which he is pastor. When the question of the necessity of having separate hospital accommodation for scarlet fever cases, apart from the main hospital, was being discussed at the Timaru Hospital Board meeting, Mr Maslin said he could not understand the doctors, for, the board had over and over again been told by hospital inspectors and medical men that it was essential that fever cases should be kept isolated, and now the doctors were advising (says the Post) that both scarlet fever and diphtheria cases should be treated in the general hospital. Dr Patterson said that nowadays they did not do things which their grandfathers did, and if they were to look back even 10 years to the way matters were conducted then, they would find the reason for the change. Writing from Buenos Aires to friends in New Zealand, Mr Harold Jennings, who has been in South America for the past two years, states that a severe depression has set in during the past six months. There have been many failures in business, and some serious fires have occurred. An Australian, writing from the South American capital to the Town and Country newspaper, in a recent issue, gives his impressions of the hitherto prosperous Argentine. Summed up, after three columns of detail, the depression is said to be due to over speculation in land, the driving out of the smaller man, and the consequent decrease in stock and produce generally —tho shrinkage being a startling one, as shown by figures published in the newspaper article. Professor Baillie, of the United States, arrived in Dunedin from Christchurch with his wife and daughter on the 22nd inst., and is at present staying at the Grand Hotel. Professor Conklin, who was to have also visited Dunedin, has returned to Wellington from Christchurch. Professor Baillio was formerly director of the College of Agriculture at Cornell, Ithaca, but has now broken. off his connection with that institution. Ho had intended to return by the Tahiti, hut this vessel has now been taken by the Government, and he is forced to remain in Nov? Zealand longer than he had at first contemplated. Since ho resigned his connection with Cornell he has been engaged in research and literary work, and, speaking to a reporter last week, he expressed pleasure at tho idea of spending a few weeks in Now Zealand. Ho

is interested m the flora, the life of the people, the agricultural methods, and also the Government of the country. He is particularly desirous of studying the land legislation, in which, he says, the people in the United States are all interested. New Zealand methods of Government, indeed, attract far more attention in the States than is generally supposed, and Professor Baijiio says that the arbitration system, and the prevalence of Government ownership are examined with great interest by his countrymen, and New Zealand is looked upon as an experimental station in governmental matters well worth serious study. “ New Zealand is an exceedingly interesting country,” said Professor Baillie. “ The scheme of State democracy is particularly arresting, and the experiments here are looked upon very hopefully in the United States. I expect to spend a useful month here.”