"One such shipment arrived in London this week, per s.s. Ionic. They were collected and forwarded for the use of New Zealand troops who are assisting us in the war, by the women of the Motueka district in New Zealand. They were carried on the boat in chill chambers, in a temperature of about 40 to 42 degrees, and were landed in Tooley Street in first-rate condition. The quality was very fine, and could be sold in any retail shop as equal to `new-laids'. The size of the eggs was about 15lb per 100, nearly all white. The eggs were packed in oat husks, and very little breakage occurred. They were offered for sale, and bought in by a city grocer. The proceeds of the sale will be devoted to the necessary comforts for the New Zealand troops now in Egypt. Actually, this is not the first experiment of New Zealand eggs sent to the London market, as the Dominion Government sent a consignment in 1913, and the goods realised a satisfactory price.''
• A piece of free medical advice was given to the members of the Lyttelton Harbour Board on Wednesday morning by Dr H. T. J. Thacker, M. P. (says the Christchurch Sun).
The chairman of the board (the Hon. R. Moore) extended a welcome to Dr Thacker, who said that he had really been unwell and more than that he had almost read his own obituary notice: but, as in the case of Mark Twain, the ''report was greatly exaggerated''.
He would advise board members to make sure of oysters before eating them.
He had had an oyster supper a month ago, and had a severe attack of gastritis as a consequence, while his chauffeur suffered from violent dysentery.
He thought that the oysters must have been opened about 24 hours before they were eaten.
• There have been rumours from time to time of dissatisfaction on the part of the Allies with the treatment extended by Germany to her prisoners of war.
It has been stated that both France and Russia have had to take retaliatory measures with a view to impressing upon the Germans the necessity for an improvement in their methods.
In connection with the treatment of their prisoners of war the Germans are proving themselves unamenable to the dictates of humanity just as they are in connection with other aspects of their conduct as belligerents, and there seems little doubt, unfortunately, that on that score Great Britain among the Allies has the strongest ground for complaint against them.
The cablegrams of this morning contain some revelation on the subject which more than confirm previous reports and reveal a state of affairs that accords with the worst examples of German ''frightfulness'' in the conduct of war.
• American official representatives in Germany have frequently reported on the ill-treatment of captured British, on the insufficiency of their supply of food and clothing, on the harsh restrictions imposed upon them, on the cruelty manifested towards the sick and wounded, and on the savagery of the German guards.
Very painful reading is afforded by the evidence from independent observers which now receives publicity.
This discloses an almost incredibly shameful and revolting state of affairs. We are told of men and officers being practically starved, of their being forced to sleep in damp and dirty places where they have contracted disease, of their lives being made a burden to them with degrading work, and of their requests for more clothing being refused.
If a tithe of all this be true, and we cannot doubt that there is only too much truth in it, too many British soldiers will when the war is over remember as the most terrible incident of the campaign their experience as prisoners in German hands.
• Oakdale (California) has solved the problem of getting boys and girls to do the chores at home.
A new system of credits has been established in the grammar schools by which the students are to be credited for their work at home, such as washing dishes, weeding garden, making beds, splitting kindling, etc.
All the poetry is taken out of the time-worn excuse that ''I really haven't time to do this and that, because I have to get my lessons.''
The youngsters receive one credit at school for every 20 hours' work at home, the parents to keep the record. - ODT, 11.4.1915.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
