349 



CHAPTER XIV. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



CORN AVERAGES WEIGHTS AND MEASURES TITHE INCOME 

 TAX LAND TAX FOOD SUPPLY IN TIME OF WAR RURAL 

 WATER SUPPLIES BOUNDARY FENCES RIVERS CONSER- 

 VANCY AND PREVENTION OF FLOODS THE NATIONAL 

 AGRICULTURAL UNION AGRICULTURAL CO- 

 OPERATIONSPECIAL FUNDS SUNDRIES. 



ALTHOUGH this last chapter is but a sweeping up of odds and 

 ends, it deals with several important matters. Some of them 

 have aroused great interest for a time, only to drop back 

 into a forgotten corner, unless some chance circumstance 

 has galvanised them into fresh activity ; others have been 

 of purely temporary interest. It is curious to observe, ,too, 

 how particular subjects have thrust certain individuals into 

 the limelight ; what active members they have been for a 

 short time ; then how, when their pet subject has been 

 settled or dropped, they have resigned their membership. 

 Every organisation attracts enthusiasts and cranks. In 

 this period of fifty years many attempts have been made 

 to use the Chamber as an engine for furthering various 

 theories. Champions of causes have frequently tried to 

 capture it for their own ends ; sometimes they have partially 

 succeeded, sometimes they have failed ; but if they have 

 occupied many days of valuable time in fruitless discussion, 

 this sacrifice has not been unmitigated loss. It has enabled 

 members of the Council to acquire a degree of mental activity 

 which otherwise they would not have attained. They have 

 learned to hasten slowly before accepting new theories, or 

 giving their blessing to every new prophet ; and, though this 



