Mr Anderton will leave Wellington by the Ionic on August 8, and on arrival at Plymouth will confer with Dr Allen, of the Marine Biological Laboratory, as to the procedure to be adopted.
After making arrangements with the engineers of the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company in London, Mr Anderton will visit a number of hatcheries in Britain, and then proceed to Norway, Heligoland, and any establishments on the Dutch, Belgian and North French coasts.
The ova will be collected near Plymouth in January, but elaborate preparations have to be made to bring them out with any prospect of success.
It is expected that they will come out in one of the large emigrant ships to Sydney and thence be brought direct to Port Chalmers.
This voyage usually averages 46 days, while experiments with herring ova at Home show that it is possible to retard their hatching for from 50 to 52 days.
The present experiment will be a very interesting one, especially as it is absolutely unique.
A large stock of lobsters and crabs will also be brought out by Mr Anderton, who will make an attempt to introduce some fish such as turbot, haddock, or cod.
Any of the last-mentioned that are landed will be liberated in the ponds at Portobello.
• A private exhibition was held yesterday of an entirely new design of fencing dropper or standard, which is on view in Messrs Briscoe and Co.'s factory.
The invention is the work of Mr W. Dall, of York Place, whose name is already known to the public in connection with several other inventions, notably his voting machine.
In the erection of a wire fence it is usual to put the posts in the ground at a considerable distance apart, droppers being used as intermediate attachments to the wires to keep them from opening or contracting so that animals are prevented from forcing their way through between the wires.
Various designs of droppers have been brought out and a good deal of money has been spent in the effort to produce a thoroughly efficient article, it being essential that the dropper shall combine cheapness, strength, durability, and easy attachment, with a tenacious grip of the wires.
It is quite evident, even to a novice, that Mr Dall's invention is simplicity itself, and it is well known that the simplest form of construction frequently secures by far the best results.
Mr Dall has called his dropper the "Samson", which name appears most appropriate.
We understand that he has applied for patents throughout the world for the invention and that he is leaving for Australia to complete negotiations for placing the droppers on the market there, Australia being a large field for their consumption.
The patent also applies to fencing standards. Both the Railway and Public Works Departments have already given considerable orders for the dropper.
• According to Mr G. Gillett, organiser for the New Zealand Rugby League (says the New Zealand Times), there are over 1000 league players in Auckland.
At the meeting of the Wellington Provincial Rugby League last week he said that shortly there would be the same number in Wellington.
He was sure the game was going to stay here.
In connection with Rugby football there was in New Zealand today a system of veiled professionalism.
Most prominent Rugby players were receiving, had received, and would continue receiving money "underneath the table".
- ODT, 28.5.1912.
