Interprovincial

New Zealand Tablet, 9 December 1915, Page 31

Interprovincial

The military authorities at, Trentham made a final and exhaustive test of the machine gun recently manufactured in the Petone Railway Workshops, prior to taking delivery. It is understood (says the Wellington Post) that the results were - thoroughly satisfactory, and that the gun will now be placed in commission.

There has been a keen demand for shearers in Ashburton County during the last week, and every man who has any knowledge of shearing has been readily snapped up (says the Guardian). The demand for farm hands and unskilled labor is also good, and in consequence there is an almost entire absence of unemployed men in the county.

Otira, far famed for the rugged grandeur of its scenery, is intent upon achieving notoriety in another direction ; it aspires to be the wettest spot on the wet West Coast. The total rainfall during November was 42in, on 27 days. The 15th established the individual day’s record, 9.Sin. This is truly phenomenal, and is the highest registered this year.

The Hon. G. W. Russell states that there is a great rush for passports under the new regulations, something like 500 applications coming to hand in a fortnight. Every application has to be inquired into by the police, and the passports have to go to the Governor for signature;'therefore applications should reach the department at least a fortnight before the document is required, and longer notice should be given where possible.

Southland dairy factories have received instructions to forward about a quarter of the total amount of cheese requisitioned by the Government for Imperial Army supplies to the cool stores at Bluff this month. This cheese (says the Times) is being paid for at the rate of 7£d per lb, f.0.b., Bluff, but instead of being subject to a shrinkage allowance of 2ilb, as provided in ordinary sales notes, the Government will be content with ,21b in each cwt.

The Auckland City Library and collections of art treasures are highly praised in a report on City Council affairs recently received from Mr. Robert Anderson, a former town clerk of Sydney (says the Herald). Mr. Anderson, however, adds the following paragraph to his report: — ‘ It is probably difficult for your council to refuse gifts of pictures, but some of those exhibited in commemoration of departed citizens might, with propriety, be relegated to some special chamber where persons seeking depression or chastening of spirit might be confident of acquiring it by inspecting them.’

In the course of a speech at the Upper Hutt flower show, Sir J. G. Ward said; ‘We know there is a terrible war raging, but we ' are so happily circumstanced that if it were not for the press and for the activity in connection with recruiting we would not know there was a war going on. It is one of the marvellous things at the present juncture that while New Zealand is doing its part, and doing it well, people in ©very walk of life are carrying on their occupations just as though there. was no war at all. Yet our hearts are beating with our kith and kin and with our Allies in their splendid defence and their intrepid attempts to secure supremacy, which means the maintenance of the highest state of civilisation for the future and the benefit of their children and their children’s children. Let me say a word to farmers. One of the first duties of the Government in connection with the war is to provide money to enable it to be carried on. War taxes have had to be imposed, and money must be got. Too much is not being asked, and if the war is to go on for another year or two there can be no doubt that still further money will be required. I believe the farmers and every section of the community who are called upon to contribute towards the taxation will do everything in their power to meet what requirements there are on the financial side. Three inspectors in the Taxation Department are being sent to different portions of New

Zealand, and their whole duty will be to give information to those who are concerned in order that they may fill up their forms with as little inconvenience as possible.' , /,

A most successful demonstration of the new process of manufacturing iron from ironsand was given on Tuesday at New Plymouth. It is known as the Heskett process, the discoverers being Messrs. J. A. Heskett and W. P. Heskett, Melbourne, and S. E. Eraser, consulting engineer, Auckland. A syndicate has secured a sub-lease of the Parapara Ore Company's works at Moturoa, and, under Mr. Heskett, sen., has brought the present works up to date, erecting three blast furnaces, coke ovens, installing a 10 horse-power electric motor, etc. The process was developed until about three months ago it was conclusively shown that high-class pig iron could profitably be produced. Several tons of iron ore were run off, and afterwards tested at Auckland and Christchurch foundries, . and found quite satisfactory. Since then a great deal of pig iron has been turned out! .. .