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Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 76, 29 March 1920, Page 4

The Commissioner of Crown Lands for Canterbury (Mr. H. D. 31. Haszard) has issued a warning that he will publish the names of certain land agents if they persist in their practice of calling upon diecharged soldiers to forfeit deposits paid upon house properties for the purchase of which no Government advance is granted. Also, Mr. Haszard advises that it is useless seeking advances upon old, borer-,infested dwellings. During Sir James Allen's visit to soldiers at Kamo Sanatorium on Saturday, one of the inmates asked whether concession trips would be accorded at Easter to soldiers under treatment, also during the occasion of the visit of the Prince of Wales. Sir James Allen's reply was sympathetic, but he pointed out that in the case of Northern eoldiers this would involve the payment of soldiers' fares on a privately-owned steamship line. If it was only a case of a free passage over a Government-owned railway no difficulty would arise. The matter would be gone into, to see if any precedent existed to grant the soldiers' request*. Failing this, he would see :f a precedent could be created.

The new defence scheme, Sir James Allen told a, "Star" reporter this morning, has already been drawn up in fairly complete detail, and will probably be made public when Cabinet has fully approved it. Aeked whetner the scheme wou'd be embodied in a bill and submitted to Parliament next session, the Minister eaid that he was unable to make a definite statement, but it was possible that special legislation, would not be necessary. An order has been placed by the Now Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association with a Wellington goldsmith for the casting of the gold badge of the association to be presented to the Prince of Wales on his visit to New Zealand. The badge will be an exact facsimile of that, supplied to members of the associa. iion, and w.'ll be of l>s carat jjold. In place nf the regimental number, tlis word* "Life Patron" will be inscribed in the centre of the broouh. To-movrow morning at S o'clock, the Auckland waterside workers will hold their stop 'work jiieetiaig to consider the terms of the new agreement suggested in conference between the WaterMde Workers' Federation and thoir employed. The meeting will hear the report of the three delegates and will •disciufe the terms. Then they will hold a. secret ballot for acceptance .or rejection of the Agreement. Synchronised metings are to be hold by all the waterside unions in the land, and the ballot ■papers will all be sent to Wellington to be counted. Further cases were set down for hearing at the Magistrate's Court to-day against certaiu employees in freezing companies, for ceasing "work last November during the strike of butchers' assistants. Mr. A. K. Skelton, who appeared for the defendants, said he wiabed to ask for an adjournment of all the cases filed against workers at Southdown and Westh'eld freezing works until April 14. He explained that Mr. Selwyn -Mays, who represented Mr. (.!. H. Lightfo'ut, Inspector of Awards, had consented to thn adjournment. Mr. J. E. Wilson, S.M., said he would grunt the adjournment, and stated lie would aIRO reserve giving his decision in other cases heard until that date. The Hon. W. 11. Triggs 11.L.U, who is passing .through Auckland on hie return from the Islands with the I'n.rlianientarv Part 3", has kindly consented to give his! adress on "The iNavy an 1919" at The close of the annual meeting of .the N-avy League. which takes place in the rooms, Customs Street West, to-morrow Tuesday evening at 7-30 p.m. An all-round increase in wages has been awarded to the sewing maids of the Wellington Hospital. The wage ranges from 28/6 to £2 8/ per week. The Board has decided that the salaries of qualified maßseuses that are to be appointed to the staff shall be £230 per annum, and the masseuse in charge is to receive £260 per annum. A -well-known resident of Auckland for many years, Mr. Sigvard Jacob Dannefaerd, died at Rotorua, on Saturday, after a few days' illness from pneumonia. Deceased was born in Denmark 07 years ago. His grandfather was knighted for bravery during the war with Prussia and Austria in 1804. Mr Dannefaerd come to New Zealand 47 years ago, and for years carried on an* establishment in this city 'where, curios of many descriptions were on sale. He was recognised as an expert connoisseur in art, ( aleo ac a good judge of gems besides which he stood high amongst naturalists. Some years ago, Mr. Daflnefaerd removed to Rotorua. He. had been a mcmi i>er of the Masonic fraternity for 40 years, of which thirty was with Lodge Ponsonby, from which he transferred to Lodge liotorua. Deceased is survived by ten children, having been married A Hindu named Xundi Ram was sentenced to three months' imprisonment for breaking a telephone wire near Waimarino prison camp, and wa« committed for trial on a charge of hreaking and enter- ! ing and stealing clothing and money from Mr. Fanthope's premises at Tail'niarunui and money from Waimarino .railway station. In his annual address tif t-hareholders of the Farmers' Co-operative Auctioneering Co., at Hamilton on Saturday, the chairman attempted to enumerate the causes that contribute to the present high cost of living. He considered they were as follows:—(1) The war, its cost and consequences, including the enormous withdrawal of men from fields ol production; (2) speculation; (3) profiteering; (4) labour union*' campaigns, strikes, etc.,; (5) goslow policy; (<» high price of land; (7) the decreased eflicicncy of labour: (8) increased wages. "To my mind," said Mr. Barugh, " there is no doubt that these causes have in no small degree influenced the rising cost of living. It, therefore, behovei us all to do our most to remedy the position, which can only be effected by greater production (in quantity, not merely value), in every field and branch of manufacture, etc., "and to strive to bring all kinds of labour to a. higher plane of efficiency. Farmers will, I trust, heed the Prime Minister's advice in this respect, viz., •• Production and Economy.'" The last barrier to the widening of Willie Street, Wellington, has now been removed, the front of Mr. Smart's shop having been reduced ten feet, bringing the building back to Ihe new alignment. The "Dominion' , says that included in the building was an Sin by (iin kauri beam, which had to be sawn through in connection with thn alterations. It was perfectly sound. The rimu (heart) is also in a perfect state of preservation. The removal of the building means the passing of the last of the business j premises in Willis Street which have ' done continuous duty since the dawn of commerce. Manners Street and Old Customshouse. Quay still possess a few of these relics of Wellington's youth. The sacred rock on the shores o" Lake Kotoiti, where the famous Hongi forced a track through the bush, has been broken by some vandal who disregarded the histdric interest of this country. The rock stood on the side of the main road, not far from Hongi's tree., at the foot of which the Maoris of to-day place offerings of fern and flowers. The sacred stone was near the spot where a number of the Arawa chiefs were killed when Hongi raided their territory, and as it was composed of a soft sandy stone it proved easy work for some senseless individual to break it to pieces. The country on this road from Te Teko to Rotorua is" rich in historical associations, and those who respect 'the traditions of tlw Maori race will resent thi* vandalism, which robs the road of an historic landmark. The "Pelorus Guardian" published at Havuloek, ceased publication on Friday last. The editorial adieu nays: "It has been a long and weary struggle during the horrible war. Although the aftermath proved too powerful for our weakened frame, we have done our best in the interest? of the district and the colony."