The North Island, though of smaller area than the South Island, is able to carry a much larger population, and it is because its development has lagged behind that of the South that it has in recent years become the more populous of the two islands. The Maori wars militated against settlement in the North Island during the period when the dominion was attracting immigration very freely from the Mother Country, and in later years the fact that very large tracts of land were locked up in the hands of the natives proved a stumbling-block to settlement. Now, however, that the North Island is being cleared and opened up for settlement, her progress is becoming very marked, and we must expect that it will continue to show increases in population that will be distinctly greater than those in the South Island. There are at the present time a great many blocks of land in the South Island that could and should be peopled much more closely than they are. The subdivision of these lands would be in the interests of the dominion as a whole as well as in the interests of the South Island, and it is important that measures should be taken as early as possible to meet the demand for settlement lands by securing that these blocks shall be cut up. Associated with this policy should be a progressive policy of irrigation, so that the arid lands of Central Otago may be brought into occupation and under cultivation. To arrest the tendency for a flow of population from the South Island to the North must be the aim of the politicians and the business people of Canterbury, Otago, and Southland.
• While the members of the Military Service Board were returning by motor car from the sitting of the board of Rangiora on Monday afternoon, they noticed that the rear portion of a house on the North road was in flames (says the Sun). The members dismounted from the car and assisted the unfortunate occupier of the house to save the furniture and contents of the building. While thus engaged a lady and gentleman on horseback appeared. The gentleman dismounted and added his assistance to the efforts of the members of the board. All proved themselves highly capable helpers, and the task of removing a large double bed, by the chairman of the board (Mr J. S. Evans, S. M.) and the horseman, was executed in a manner which would have done credit to experienced furniture removers. When salvage operations were completed the equestrians resumed their ride. They were the Governor and Lady Liverpool.
• The little owls which were introduced some years ago into the district as an antidote to the small-bird pest, after being occasionally seen shortly after their liberation, disappeared, and it was thought they had died out (says the Alexandra Herald). At the present time, however, many of the owls are to be seen about Alexandra, especially after sunset.
• In Timaru some 10 years ago a man was charged under the Gaming Act with playing a game of chance with dice at the Caledonian Grounds, and he was fined £10, and 9s costs. But he left the district without paying the fine, and the authorities had not been able to lay their hands on him. Last week, Detective Ward, of Christchurch, recognised a man in the streets as the culprit, and promptly arrested him. He was taken to the police station and there paid his long standing account.— ODT. 13.1.1917.
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