The Sydney Telegraph, in a leader in its special war edition, says: ''The action of Germany in declaring war against Russia raises a principle which is vital for the existence of the British Empire and which Great Britain has often drawn its sword to defend-namely, that no single Power or group of Powers shall be permitted to dominate the Continent. Because Russia failed to bow the head again at the Kaiser's dictation Germany has declared war.
"Were Britain to refuse to stand by her friend when assaulted in this way it would be to recognise Germany as the overlord of Europe. Britain has to fight now to defend the independence of Europe or fight later and alone to defend her very existence as a free nation.
"We cannot doubt what Britain's choice will be. Neither can there be any doubt as to Australian action. We must sink all party and sectional differences in the coming of a crisis which will test the fibre of the nation.''
• Wireless is to play an important part in the Australian geographical surveys now that Hertzian waves have been employed in making such observations.
Signals will be exchanged over land lines and by wireless between Sydney, Melbourne, and Port Augusta.
Arrangements have been made with Mr Balsille, engineer of the radio-telegraphy for the Commonwealth, to connect the Melbourne wireless station with the clock at the observatory, and it will be possible for the observers in Port Augusta to hear the clock beats through a special receiving set which is being installed at Port Augusta.
By comparing the clock times of Port Augusta and Melbourne, deductions can be made to determine the difference in longitude between the two places.
• Earnscleugh fruit-growers will be glad to know that the Postmaster-general has informed Mr R. Scott, M. P., that the work of erecting a telephone line and establishing a bureau from the schoolhouse to Clyde Post Office is to be put in hand at once.
This will fill a long-felt want, as now that fruit-growing has attained such large proportions in this locality, the growers were very much handicapped in not being able to get into rapid communication with the dominion's markets.
It is to be hoped that the work will now be pushed on to a speedy termination, so that during the incoming season this disability may disappear.
• In addressing the pastoralists at Wellington on Wednesday (says the Post) on the subject of workers' homes, Mr John Grigg (Canterbury), the chairman, stated that as far as his property was concerned the building of cottages for the farm workers had proved eminently satisfactory.
The dwellings were erected by his father, and some of the men now working on the farm were sons of the men who worked for his father.
Mr Grigg added that he had several men who had worked 20 years with him.
''You take your good man,'' he further observed, ''and if your good man can't get on with you then it is somebody's fault.''
• A meeting was held in Goodwood on Thursday evening, for the purpose of establishing a cheese factory there. Nearly 40 settlers attended.
Mr R. Cameron occupied the chair, and after the objects of the meeting were fully explained over 400 shares were fully taken up, representing between 400 and 500 cows.
It was resolved to apply for contracts at once for the installation of an up-to-date cheese factory, with two 900-gallon vats, with space for a third if required later on. - ODT, 3.8.1914.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
