Mr Keene states there are large deposits of gum on portions of the run, and the gumdiggers there are making as much as 3 and 4 a day - never less than 1 a day.
The best quality gum brings as much as 300 a ton, and is in demand by the American varnish-makers. Having in view the comprehensive working of the Parenga gumfields, Mr Keene has handed over to the company (which is being formed) the 40,000 acres where gum is located, and the company, in return for the annual licence fees, will throw the field open to diggers.
• Abbotsford, Green Island, and surrounding districts are rapidly becoming popular residential areas, and of late years there has been considerable expansion in both the population and buildings.
On Saturday afternoon, at the Early Settlers' Hall, a block of land comprising the sunny slopes immediately adjoining Abbotsford station will be offered for sale, and it is expected to meet a ready market.
The duplication of the southern railway and the probable installation at an early date of a fast and frequent service between Dunedin and Mosgiel, combined with water and electric light services, are no doubt important factors in tempting city people to get out into the country.
• The meals commonly provided for children do not conform with the professional ideas upon the subject, according to the opinions given by Dr G. G. Sweet, in a lecture before 250 school teachers on Monday.
He stated as an absolute rule that the growing child requires a substantial meal at midday, with time to digest it. Owing largely to the use of unsuitable foodstuffs and defective teeth, indigestion is rife among children of all ages during the school period.
The average school child makes a hurried breakfast of oatmeal porridge, which, Dr Sweet considered, is an indigestible and unsatisfactory food for a growing child.
At midday he ''bolts'' some pastry, jam sandwiches, and a banana, and hurries to his play and again to school after too short an interval for thorough digestion.
Various ill-assorted foodstuffs are taken later in the afternoon, and the much-abused digestive organs are finally laden with a heavy dinner of meat, vegetables, pastry, or pudding.
• An interesting budget of North of England news was given by Mr Helliwell, at a meeting of the Yorkshire Society, Wellington, last week.
Among other topics, Mr Helliwell mentioned the promising revival of the flax industry in the Selby district, where the Government is assisting the farmers, and also referred to the remarkable methods by which the cotton trade of Barnoldswick has been resuscitated after a lapse of 20 years.
An enterprising resident of the town some time ago built a large shed, fitted it up with spinning machinery and power, and let the machinery to individual workers and groups of workers.
So successful has this scheme proved that there are now several large sheds, fully occupied by busy people, all making a good living, and the population of the town has jumped from 4000 to over 12,000.
Great interest has been aroused in the city of Leeds owing to a movement which is on foot to construct a canal for ocean-going steamers from the River Humber to that city.
- ODT, 19.8.1913.
