LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15132, 29 January 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Land costs up to .£IOOO a foot in Auckland, according to a statement n odd at the Leaseholds Commission in Wellington (says the Dominion). The Defence Department has agreed to increase the pay of second-lieutenants in the Expeditionary Force by 2s per day. •

Til© largest cheery tree grown in the Dominion probably belongs to Takaka, Nelson. It measures four feet from the ground, the ..branches spread 33ft from »the trunk each way, or 66ft across; pro* dvced approximately 50 cases of cher* ries, at an average of 10s per case An acre of such trees would be worth about £2OOO per annum

In his' bush missionary career, extending over a little more than 18 years, Mi Philip Lewie has travelled 76,800 miles, of which he has walked 40,000, in the outback districts of Australia (writes the Australian Christian World). His mission is to look after the spiritual welfare of shearers, boundary riders, miners, selectors and their families, and blacks in the lonely spots of New South Wales and Queensland. At Mergan, in Queensland, he visited a settlement of 600 blacks, with school, hospital, and other civilised institutions, which are due largely to the efforts of the Church. Mr Lewis is of Jewish descent, and is well known in the lonely places of Australia, where he is welcomed by families who seldom have the chance of taking part in a church service. .

A/record wool load was brought into Gunning, New South Walqs, a few days ago. ; It consisted of 75 bales, weighing II tons, and was drawn by’ 24 bullocks.

Masterton -lade have been making good money during the summer school vacation in\the gathering of cocksfoot;grass seed. ■ •■/ ", ■ “■

Some time ago Messrs Ewen, McGregor, and Alexander offered the Salvation Army a block of 2000 acres in the Putaruru (Waikato) district whereon to establish a training and finishing farm for boys. The 1 Army authorities have notified their accept-, ance of the magnificent gift, upon which they will start operations as soon as the transfers and necessary arrangements can be made. The smart passage of 35 days made by the barquentine City of Sydney between San Francisco and Melbourne was the general topic of conversation on ’Change (says the San Francisco Chronicle). This is the first time the City of Sydney has made a voyage under sail, and the venture was looked upon with, doubt by many shipping men. For#years the vessel as a steamer was engaged in the Panama service of the Pacific mail. When she became too slow for that service" she was laid up in Oakland Creek «net-her machinery removed. With the big demand by bottoms after the war opened she was resurrected from the boneyard, and, after several months of work, came out as a barquentine. She was’built in 1875 at Chester,, Pa., is 3016 gross and 1965 net tons.