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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 7, 14 February 1907, Page 19

The number of brick, stone, and concrete dwellinghouses in the Colony increased between the - last two censuses from 7517 to 8359, a rate of 11 per cent. Houses built of wood and iron increased from 153,945 to 178,551, the rate, 16 per cent., - -being somewhat higher than that which obtained for brick and - stone - dwellings. These figures do not include huts. The cultivation of ramie 'fibre, which is now- much spoken of as a competitor with flax, has been going ,on at the Momohaku Experimental, Farm since 1897. The manager of the farm' in a letter to the • Wanganui Herald,' states that several thousands of plants have been distributed all over the Colony/ So- far, he is not aware of anyone having followed up its cultivation to any extent. This, he considered, was due to the amount of attention required for its cultivation, and to the absence of local demand for the fibre. The need of a fair amount of attention was no reason why ramie growing should not be given a fait trial on a commercial scale.

Messrs. Holmes and Sons, bedstead, bedding, and wire mattress manufacturers, Tuam street,- Christchurch, were awarded , a silver medal at the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association's International Show for their display of bedsteads. They are now selling direct to ,the public at wholesale prices....