DOMINION NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 54, 5 March 1914, Page 6

DOMINION NEWS.

NEW PRISOPJ CAMP.

[Per Press Association.] Taihape, March 4

In connection with the rumor that the Government was establishing a prison camp in Waimarino, it is now definitely annouced that the camp will be situated four miles from Waimarino railway station. Accommodation will lie provided fox fourteen officers ami men, but this will be increased as time goes on. The gang wiil be first employed in making the load from Waimarino to Tokaanu, reducing the distance over the present Waiouru route by over 11 miles. When this is completed the labor is to be used in forming roads and tracks about Mount Ruapehu, and otlierwi.se developing the I'ongariro National Park. OPENiNC OF OYSTER SEASON. Christchurch, March 2. After four days of a severe "blow," the weather suddenly calmed and enabled the Bluff oyster fleet to open the season right up to time. In 1912 the season commenced on February 1, but last year and this year the law stipulated that a commencement could not be made until March Ist. For ten hours' dredging the fleet took no fewer that 40 sacks, which is equivalent to 27,000 dozen oysters. This is far from sufficient to meet the orders merchants have in hand for the "first of the season" from retailers as far north as Wellington, and it will take two or three days' dredging to complete immediate orders.

Some excitement was caused through the season opening on a Sunday. The Invercargill oyster saloons found that the Sunday train could not carry freight, and so they utilised spring carts to bring supplies to Fnvercargill for Sunday evening suppers. Keen rivalry was displayed between the various saloons, and the carts covered the twenty miles of bad road in record time. The oysters this year have been found to be in splendid condition, befirmer than last year, and the experts prophesy that they will carry better than for some years past. This will be welcome news to retailers at a distance. THE CHURCH AND SPORT. Auckland, March 4. On Sunday, the Rev. Jaspar Calder, a young Anglican clergman, who is well known here as "the sporting parson," delivered a special address to sporting men, the gist of which was that there should be a stronger sympathy between active. Church workers and sporting men. Horse racing had come to stay, and the preacher thought it would be better for the Church to accept, that fact, and endeavour to make sport a good clean one, than to display antagonism towards horse racing, which would only alienate the sympathy of a large body of perfectly reputable men connected with sport. This address was considered at a meeting of the Diocesan Social Questions Cominisison last evening, when the following resolution was passed unanimously:—"That this Commission regrets, and strongly disapproves of the pulpit utterances of the Rev. Jaspar Calder, as reported in the Press on the 'betting evil.' " Interviewed to-day, Mr Calder was reluctant to make any reply to the Commission, which, lie said, was doing much excellent and very useful work. "But, as regards the gambling evil and racing generally," said Mr Calder, "the voice of the Commission seems to show that they have taken an entirely one-sided view. I believe I have had enough experience of racing myself to tiive both sides of the question. Until one can do this, one is bound to find a difficulty in gaining the sympathy of the sporting man in one's efforts."