A good deal of disappointment was expressed yesterday over the non-receipt of letters by tho English and American mail which arrived on Monday night. Apparently the mail consisted simply, or mainly, of packets and parcels, and included no correspondence from Europe. It is expected that thb next mail will arrive in about a fortnight.

Tho Hon. Sir James Allen (Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Defence) arrived in Dunedin last night from tho north, companied by his private* secretary (Mr I. F. Dixon). To-day Sir James will remai. in Dunedin; to-morrow ho will visit J',i. clutha and Kaitangata, as promised some l.irao ago, to view local works; and on Friday ho will l>o in Dunedin again. It is pro bablo that, if arrangements can bo marie, tho Minister will pay a visit to tho soldiers in tho Dunedin Hospital to-day. He will also open the Rod Cross Convalescent Homo at Montecillo.

Tho Hon. T. M. Wilford (Minister of Justice and Marine) arrived in Dunedin by tho express from the north last evening. Ho will leave hero to-morrow morning en routo for Wellington. Sir James Allen stated last night that, though the shipping position was still unsatisfactory, Mr Massey hoped to be able to givo tho dominion better news by tho end of tho week.

Local merchants, storekeepers, and tho general public are anxiously inquiring wlietucr tile Government has made any new arrangements with the Coloniel Sugar ißelining Company regarding tho price of sugar. According to tile arrangement mado by tho Gvoernment last year tho prico was fixed at £22 f.o.b. Auckland, but this arrangement will expire at tho end of this month, and tho position for tho incoming year is so far unknown. Tho history ot tho prices of the Sugar Company sinco tho middle of 1914 should prove interesting, the prices being given as f.o.b. Auckland. On July 6, 1914, the quotation was £15 per ton; September 11, £i 6 ss; October 22, £17 ss; Novembei 7, £18 ss; November 26, £19 ss; December 22, £20. On July 1, 1915, tho price was raised to £21, and on July 2, 1917, the price was advanced to tho present price—£22. The later advancos were agreed on by arrangement between the Government and the company. It should not be thought, however, that the company has been unduly exploiting the public of New Zealand. As a matter of fact, the Government has, apparently, no control of the company's operations, so far as tho raw material is concerned, and it was shown shortly after the war that much better prices could havo been secured by tho company for its raw material than those obtaining in New Zealand had it decided to export the cane to other countries.

A Daily Times reporter last evening asked tho Hon. T. M. Wilford (Minister of Justice and Marine) what tho policy of his department would be in regard to appeals on behalf of magistrates for exemption from military service. In reply, tho Minister pointed out that ono or two magistrates had already been successfully appealed for, and he added that the department would continue to appeal for others as they were drawn in the ballot. The same policy would bo adopted in regard to surveyors of ships.

The life of a Minister of the Crown is not a particularly easy one, and even in these strenuous days of war there are many matters concerning the internal economy of the country that require attention. Judging by the number of engagements that the Hon. T. M. Wilford has to attend to during his present short visit of one day to Dunedin, his time will bo fully occupied. At 9.30 this morning he will hold a conference with representatives of the Invercargill Borough Council; and two hours later a deputation of women will wait* on him. In tho afternoon ho will take part in the opening ceremony at the new Red Cross Convalescent Home at Montecillo, and as soon as he is free he will be met by several members of the Otago Harbour Board who wish to discuss further with him matters connected with tho boiler of the tug Dunedin. In the evening Mr Wilford will deliver a lecture in His Majesty's Theatre on behalf of the funds of tho Red Cross Society.

A paragraph which appeared in the Otago Daily 'limes, giving publicity to a report that the German raider Wolf was at one time in New Zealand waters and cruised along the West Coast for some distance, is apparently corroborated by a report furnished by tho Stewart Island oyster-trawler Despatch. This is to the effect that on March 17 tho Despatch observed tho light of a vessel entering Codfish Island passage, coming from the westward, which was unusual. The captain, believing it to be the trawler Loyalty, endeavoured to overhaul the vessel, but, to his astonishment, she rapidly drew ahead and disappeared. On returning later to Bluff the crew of the Despatch learnt that tho Loyalty had been in port all the time. communication with Maoris at the islands resulted in the intelligence that during a heavy storm shortly after their arrival at the islands they observed a searchlight playing on the mainland of Stewart Island for 20 minutes one night. Thero wero no Government steamers equipped with searchlights south at the time. Possibly, it is fortunate for Bluff that when tho raider's aeroplane flew over the port thero was no shipping worth attention, as only the Union Company's Kahika was in port. A conference will be held this morning between the Hon. T. M. Wilford, Mr C. E. Matthews (inspector of prisons), and Mr J. B. Thompson (chief drainage engineer) on the one hand, and representatives of the In-vcrcaa-gill Borough Council on tho other, to discuss and, if possible, arrange terms for the reclamation of an area of 2200 acres of the New River estuary. Experiments which have already been carried out in Invercargill with prison labour have been so successful that it is now proposed to put the larger scheme under way if matters can be satisfactorily arranged between the Government and tho local borough council. The New Zealand Times states that much astonishment and no little disgust have been caused in Trentham Camp by the arrangements made with regard to the final leave for tho Forty-first Reinforcement. Tho Hastings men, though they have a much shorter distance to travel, go on leave one day earlier than tho Auckland men, and aro duo back in camp one day later and while

the Christcliurch and Dunedin men leavo camp on the same day, the Dunedin men, whoso journey each way is ono day longer than tho Christchurch journey, are due back in camp one day earlier than their Christchurch mates. " Ordinary considerations of fair play," say the men, " would dictate that

it should be just tho other way round—that the Auckland and the Dunedin men, who have tho furthest to go, should start a day earlier and bo due back a day later than the others." Mr H. A. Young, S.M., presided in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday, when tho only caso calling for a decision was that in respect of a judgment summons caso brought by Gavin Campbell M'Knight against James Arthur Perry for the recovery of £1 10s 6d and costs, money due to a money-lending firm in the city on a promissory note. Tho magistrate asked the judgment creditor how ho came into the case, and ho replied that ho had taken it over on tho understanding that he was to receive half tho amount if tiie whole sum was collected. Defendant said that he earned on an average only 10s per week. The magistrate declined to moke an order. In tho City Polioe Court yesterday, before Mr H. A. Young, S.M., a iirst offender was convicted and discharged for drunkenness; and another first offender, who did not appear, was fined tho amount of her bail, 20s, with tho alternative of 48 hours' imprisonment. John Hussey was convicted of drunkenness, this being his 6econd offence within tho past six months. Ho was also convicted of a breach of a prohibition order, this being his fifth breach of an order. Ho was fined £5, in default 14 days' imprisonment. Before the war aeroplaning was a very uncomfor' '-s mode of travelling, said Lieu-tenant-colo.Sleemau in an address given at Wellington on aircraft services. One of the greatest discomforts was the extremo cold at high altitudes, also caused through the high rate of speed tho machines travelled at. Now, however, tho military authorities had instituted a waistcoat for airmen. This waistcoat is lined with electric wires which, when charged with current, mado tht chilly airman quite warm. Some months ago a gentleman visiting Auckland went into a Queen street establishment, and, putting down a chequo for £25, said ho wanted parcels sent for that amount

to boys at the front who had no friends in Auckland to look after them. Recently tho recipients sent a flag out for their unknown benefactor, bearing their names. This was

handed to the gentleman when ho again visited Auckland last week, whereupon ho •wroto out a oheque for and said: " It's up to me to do it again"

A number of complaints have been lodged with tho police lately of the stripping of clothes-lines at night, and of tho disappearance of clothes left out to bleach. Yesterday afternoon, alxjul, 2 o'clock, as a result of inquiries, Delect jve -sergeant Kemp, Const ablo Coppoll (of St. Kilda), and Detective Ilammerly searched a house, No. 17, in Douglas street, St. Kjlda, where they recovered between £10 and £12 worth of household linen which, it is alleged, had been stolen from four different clothes-lincs in I,ho neighbourhood. The occupant of the house, Mrs Elizabeth Mn.lonoy, will !>o brought before tho court in a few days and charged with theft. It is thought that all tho clothes missing havo heen recovered. A great chango in popular sentiment in tho United States is evidenced in the universal approval of tho appointments of Charles M. Schwab, of the Bethlehem Steel Company, to head of tho Emergency Fleet Corporation, and of John D. Ryan, of the Anaconda Copper Company, to take charge o£ aircraft production. Before tho war (says tho Guaranty Trust Company of New York) tho selection of men of such attainments would havo been impossible for various reasons. Men of ability havo been discriminated against in response to political considerations. Even up to within a few months ago voices wore raised against tho appointment of those most ablo to manage largo affairs. But tho numbor of capitalists in this country has increased every time a 50-dollar bond has been subscribed for, and tho war has driven homo some lessons in respect of tho calibre of men who handle hugo enterprises. Actually tho feeling is gaining ground that a great railroad or a great mining enterprise, or a shipyard, or any other industry where thousands of men and millions of dollars' worth of materials are employed requires executive ability of the highest order. Out of this cataclysm of war is being evolved a better understanding of economic laws and a growing spirit of co-operation that recognises no classes except those naturally created by ability and a willingness to work.

It can bo asserted with some confidence that the area under wheat in North Otago tuis year will be less—much less—than that sown last year, and this notwithstanding the Government-guaranteed good prioe and an open market. We have the best of information for this statement (remarks the Oamaru Mail). In the first place we know, as the Department of Agriculture has learned by this tirno, that the output of seed wheat by merchants shows a considerable drop as compared with the experience last year at this time. It is, of course, possible that the decrease in that direction may bo compensated to some extent by farmers having retained whoat for the purpose. But it is absolutely certain that the autumn sowing fell a long way short of that of last year. That was not due to any waning of patriotism on the part of farmers. Two causes entirely apart from sentiment operated to produce the result. The first of- these was that in quite a number of localities, owing to want of rain, lea land was too hard for successful ploughing and proper preparation, and the second that labour was not available to do the work where the conditions were less favourable. Tho rain that has lately fallen will have put the land in a better state for breaking up, and much might be done to make up the leeway by spring sowing were tho requisite labour available. But farmers with whom wo have discussed the subject— men who aro roady to sow wheat—assure us that the class of labour required cannot be obtained in sufficiency to ensure large sowings. They say that could the means of getting the wheat in be found they would have no misgivings as to harvesting the crops, for they are satisfied that lads and townsfolk would be found ready to assist in the work.

Problems which had for ages checked progress in various directions had been solved by the internal combustion engine, said Lieu-tenant-colonel Sleeman, 1.G.5., in the course of a lecture to the Garrison Officers' Institute at Wellington. In tho air tho aeroplane, on land the " tank," under the sea the submarine; all owed their existence to its powers. In all three elements progress was practically unlimited. There was no reason why the aeroplane should not assume the dimensions of a modern ocean liner, combined with a speed greater than ever yet attained. Curiously enough, this was a great drawback from a military point of view, and would form the most difficult problem of the future in aerial defence. To maintain a largo accumulation of aeroplanes standardisation was essential. Yet this implied the retention to type of certain fixed classes. Just as tho Dreadnought type rendered obsolete all other types, so did a new aeroplane, possessing greater speed and climbing power, outclass all other existing types. And finality in speed, size, and climbing power was a long way off yet Among tho many topics discussed by Mr D. Tannock. superintendent of reserves, Dunedin, in an address in Wanganui last week, was that of afforestation. He stressed the value of tree-planting, especially for catchment areas. In DuneAlin the City Council planted its catchment area at a cost of about £10 por acre; in about 15 years they could thin out the trees and by the sale pw the cost of the planting; the trees could bo further thinned out at other periods and the salo go towards the cost of planting. The gaps could be filled up with plants, so that thero would be one crop growing while another was being cut. Tree-planting also served the purpose of keeping down gorse, and he recommended this for overcoming gorso in tho Wanganui district. The ordinary pine was the most suitable for this purpose. For afforestation Oregon pine was a most useful tree, quick-growing and most profitable. These oould be grown in warm places, while in colder and wetter places Menzies spruce or Tidelatid spruce was a valuable tree. For growing on dry ridges, yellow pine was a most useful tree. He | thought that, given an equal chance, trees would beat bracken.

To-morrow evening thp> Otago Mutual Starr-Bowkett Society will dispose of two loans in No. 1 group and a premium loan in No. 2 group. ' Highly-skilled inspectors, each a specialist in his own work, ensures the very finest work in Harley-Davidson motor cycles. W. Stuart Wilson. Dunedin.—Advt. Post free for 2s_: Ladies' good Black Cashmere Hose, ribbed or plain; worth 3s 3d pair. A bargain.—Mollisons Sale.— Advt. It is pleasing to see so many thrifty wivee paying spot cash—ls 3d—for a large packet, of "No Rubbing" Laundry Help. "No Rubbing" does awav with the old washboard slavery.—J. M'Farlane and Co. —Advt. Ladies, lighten the labour in your homos by usins a "Hotpoint" Electric Radiant Grill for all light cooking. Users state-. •'As indispensable as an electrio iron, and so inexpensive." Call and inspect.—Turnbull and Jones (Ltd.), eloctrical engineers.— Advt.

Like it! Man, it's just perfect is Watson's No. 10 Whisky ! —Advt.

A. E. J. Blakelev, dentiet, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859.— Advt.

For chronic chest complaints, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. Is 6d, 2s bd. Advt.

Eyestrain I—Consult1 —Consult Mr Peter G. Dick, D.8.0.A.. F. 1.0. (London), consulting and oculists' optician.—Peter Dick, jeweller, etc.. 490 Moray place, Dunedin.—Advt-