NOTES.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 15113, 23 December 1921, Page 4

NOTES.

Every house in the city of Hamilton (Ontario) is to be equipped with electricity for heating and cooking. This decision has been reached by a commission that has been studying the scheme for some time. Electricity sufficient for cooking for a goodsized family and heating and lighting a six-roomed. house will cost about 14/- a month, the commission estimates, apart from the initial wiring expense of about £SO. "That New Zealand has no representative in New York city is a matter of regret," said a recent visitor to the Dominion. "Australia is represented in the person of Mr M. Sheldon. This representation covers many points, and gives Australia a status which New Zealand lacks. During the whole four months I was in the city, New Zealand was never mentioned in the Press, excepting in association with Australia, and then in such a way as to foster the common belief that it was a part of Australia. Our growing trade relations warrant representation, whilst the wonderful resources of this Dominion in minerals, climate and scenic beauty deserve mention in a country so full, of enterprise and ambition."

According to a recent cablegram from Washington, Britain, under the new naval agreement, will not be able to build the four super-Hoods provided for in the last Naval Estimates. Construction had riot been begun on these vessels, but much preparatory work had been done at the Clyde building yards. The cost of the Hood was about £6,000,000, or double that of,a battle-cruiser before the war, and it was expected that the four "new ships would be even more expensive. It was intended that they should embody the improvements which the war had shown to be necessary.

The gun-shields and barbettes were to be thicker, and the 15-inch guns were to have an elevation of 30; degrees, compared with 20 degrees in earlier British ships. There was to be a 3in steel deck over the magazines, and, generally, the deck towers would be more strongly armoured than" formerly. In- addition, a "blister" was to be constructed round the hull, for protection against torpedoes. The vessels were to be oil-burners, with ah armament of eight 15-inch guns, with the usual smaller armament and torpedo tubes. All the points described were embodied .in the Hood, but it . was expected that.the new vessels would be superior to anything afloat.