At Havelock, on Wednesday evening, describing his work amongst the Territorials in camp, the Rev. T. Fielden Taylor said he did not oppose the indulgence of sport on Sunday afternoons (says the Guardian).
He gave an amusing description of the horror depicted on the faces of a couple of Presbyterian lady visitors when they learned that the boxing matches they had seen in progress on a Sunday afternoon had received his full sanction and approval. He knew he differed from the majority of his brother clergymen, but he held that Sunday was a day of praise, pleasure, and recreation. He could see no reason why a man could not be a good Christian and yet enjoy himself on the Sabbath.
• There is still an almost unlimited demand for domestic servants in New Zealand, according to the officers of Wellington Immigration Bureau (says the Dominion). Nearly all the young women who come out as domestics are engaged before they land here, and there is little sign of the supply meeting the demand.
A good proportion of those who engage to work as domestics are said to be somewhat lacking in the training which goes to complete the calling as it obtains in New Zealand. Some girls have had experience as housemaids, some as waitresses, some are familiar with other duties, and some are inexperienced.
• Within easy distance of Invercargill (says the Tuatapere Guardian) there was 1,932,000 horse-power running to waste. From Manapouri alone 420,000 horse-power could be developed, and 100,000 horse-power from Lake Hauroto, or 520,000 from the two lakes.
The wealth of Southland's natural resources affords abundant scope for the employment of capital and labour; its copious rainfall ensures a succession of green and white crops; its thousands of substantial and well-kept homesteads tell of the prosperity that is being enjoyed, and foretell the prosperity that is to be; while its salubrious climate produces a physique and a mental activity, and gives a longevity, that is the envy of other less favoured lands.
The day is not far distant when it will attract thousands where it is only at present visited by hundreds.
• The Greymouth Star states that a record travelling performance was made last week by a gentleman who left Dunedin on Wednesday by the midday express, and arrived overland by the Otira express on Thursday evening at Stillwater, where he connected with the Reefton train.
Special arrangements had been made by Messrs G. W. Moss and Co. for Messrs Sunderland Bros.' motor car to meet the train, and the journey was immediately continued to Westport, where he arrived at 2 o'clock on Friday morning, thus making the trip from Dunedin to Westport in 37 hours.
• The Invercargill correspondent of the Lyttelton Times telegraphs that the streets of Bluff on Monday morning had almost the appearance of a horse parade, owing to a large number of owners of draught horses having waited for the superior accommodation that the steamer Maunganui offered for the conveyance of animals to Melbourne.
This service has been covered by slow and old-fashioned steamers, and, in consequence, the shipping of horses was held over. The Maunganui took away about 80 draught horses. Among the horses shipped at northern ports were a couple of good stallions from the Hon. J. D. Ormond's stud, and there was a consignment of 11 from Mr W. Charters (Taieri), who was a passenger by the steamer. - ODT, 3.7.1914.
