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Evening Star, Issue 15073, 3 January 1913, Page 4

Synthetic milk has already been produced, and now we hear of the possibility of the synthetic steak and other articles of food. Laboratory-made foodstuffs having at their bases many of the waste products of present-day culinary routine are promised by experts. These foodstuffs may not reveal any of the physical characteristics of their components, but will, nevertheless, contain in concentrated form all the nutriments that are necessary for bodily health. A Belgian chemist. M. Kfrront. who has been conducting research, claims to have prepared a paste three times as nourishing as meat, and of similar taste, entirely from restaurant waste. This waste is sterilised to free it from any injurious germs, and then treated chemically. The result is stated to be a product perfectly adaptetd to human consumption. A Wellington message says:—"The Kahu. which arrived via the Kast Coast, saw nothing of the launch or its occupants. Search parties have set out," This refers to a telegram which we published yesterday stating that it was believed that four men had been drowned by the capsizing of a motor launch at Aohanga. A later message from Masberton fays :—ln connection with the supposed "drowning of four men at Aohanga, news was received this afternoon that the report of the finding of an oil launch on the beach is untrue. There is no news of the men or the boat.

Some idea of the great volume n{ passenger traffic handled at Dunedin railway station during the holidays may be gathered from the returns already published. Important facts in the same relation are that no accidents are reported, and that the trains, special as well as ordinary, have run to time. This is of great service to the public, especially in respect to homeward trains after a day's outing, for it means catching trams and keeping other appointments. aYc take the opportunity of returning thanks on behalf of the public to Mr T. \Y. YYaite (traffic manager), Mr A. llislop (station master), and the staffs working undpr their control. .Some acknowledgment of the sort is certainly clue, even if "only as a reparation for the wholly unnecessary crushing and fighting for seats that made things uncomfortable and difficult on some of the platform. At Waikouaiti on New \ ear's Day, for example, the crowd struggled frantically for places on the 6.5 train, and the train that left threequarters of an hour afterwards came through half empty. A little patience on the part of the crowd on such occasions would help the railway men and be much appreciated by women and elderly men who are not in training for the prize ring. It would be hard to get together any other body of men so well known in Dunedin as the directors of the Caledonian Society. For that reason, the large group of photographs recently taken by Mr Guy Morris,' and shown iii Chas. Begg and Co.'s window, is interesting. Judges of photography also highly commend the workmanship of the picture. The 51 heads have been separately taken so as to make each face the right way, and the product is a nicely-balanced * cluster of faithful likenesses that are well finished and in beautiful tone. It is one of the largest works of the sort ever turned out in Dunedin. and forms a worthy memento of the society's iubilee.

The touring team of bowlers from Lawrence, visited Port Chalmers yesterday. In the morning they were taken on the s.s. Tarewai to view the ponds, tanks, and the finny occupants of the fish hatchery at Portobello. The caretaker (Mr Adams') took the visitors in hand, and made the trip interesting and enjoyable. On the return to Port the freezing works and docks were inspected. The bowling match in the afternoon—three rinks aside—was won by the tourists in an exciting finish by 1 point. The Lawrence bowlers seem to have some cause for saying that they arc having a very pleasant trip.

With reference to the discovery of an ancient ship embedded in the Thames mud at Woolwich. Mr W. T. Vincent, president of the Woolwich Antiquarian Society, draws attention to the fact that it was in this neighborhood that Harry Grace a Dien, the first great warship of the British Navy, built by Henry VIII., met her fate by fire, as a contemporary record has it, "by carelessness of the mariners," in 1553. This vessel was built at the Royal Dockyard at Woolwich in 1512, and it was aboard her that Henry crossed to the Field of the Cloth of Gold. From the size and construction of the ship now being unearthed, it appears clear that

she was a large man-of-war, and the position in which she lies leads to the conclusion that she must have been run ashore in an ancient dock or creek, as she lies on an even keel just on a level with low-water mark, 20ft below the surface of the wharf in which excavations were being made when the vessel was discovered. A careful survey of the remains is being made by the London County Council. A visitor to Riverton during the holidays went for a stroll along the river bank towards the bar, when he was surprised to see a clog swimming round a trawling net pulled by two or three men. On asking one of the men what the dog was for, ho was assured (sa.ys the 'Western Star') that the dog headed the fish into the net.

As showing the practicability of persons of all ages doing the Milford track walk, Mr S J. Collett, Government tourist agent, has just booked a 70 year-old gentleman of this town for the trip.

_Mr PauJin advised at 2 p.m. .-—Strong IS.E. to X.W. winds, and fine for 24 hours ; barometer fall.

A well-to-do Sydney merchant states that a 10-months' residence of his family m T/ondon !iad cost him £IO.OOO. The tipping is abominable. A theatre programme costs. 6d, and the high-toned damsel who condescends to sell it expects a share of the change. The attendant who shows you «. scat must be paid lor his trouble, and if you use the cloakroom you are- in the clutches of another vampire. That the Londoner'should submit to all this imposition is an illustration of the snobbish reluctance prevailed to make the slightest question about cost. To raise a point about an exorbitant charge would be considered a dreadful faux pas. almost as bad as smoking a cigar without removing the band, which is the very lowest depth of social iniquity. If theatie managers charged £1 each' for stalls the Londoner and the people who come to London to amuse themselves would pay it without a murmur.

A most interesting experiment has been initiated in Xatal, whereby the evils of the native beer traffic have to a large extent been eliminated without robbing the native of his national beverage, which, manufactured under proper conditions, is a wholesome -natural drink made from a grain known as amabele, and only slightly at oholic. Laws ate in force in' the province under which local authorities have the sole right of manufacturing beer within their own district. .Many towns have availed themselves of this' privilege, and the improvement in the drinking habits of the native, as a consequence, has been most marked. Durban last year received no less than £26.182 in revenue from the sale of this beer, representing 314.241 gallons. The alcoholic strength of the leer is very carefully regulated, and never allowed to exceed much over 2 per cent. Analyses are taken regularly by the borough analysi.

At the Tort Chalmers Court this forenoon, before .Mr J. Watson, J.P.. two first offenders wore convicted of drunkenness and discharged. On Wednesday last (.\am>ary 1) the Methodist Church of Xct Zealand became a locally independent church, separation from the Methodist Church of Australasia having been completed. The public celebration of this event will take pla.ee at the ccr.ference which, is to meet in Wellington on February 11. It is anticipated that seme 250 delegates representing the Methodist and the Primitive Methodists of the Dominion will first moot in separate Ff£«iou and pass a formal resolution, and then meet jointly. The general conference will be represented by the president (Rev. Dr Youngman) and '.lie Rev. Dr Morley. The latter is well known in Xew Zealand, where he was ;i minister for many years, and was a leading advocate of the independence movement. The English mail which was despatched from Dunedin via Naples on the 21st November arrived in London on the 29th December, one day late. The number of Federationists in Waihi continues to dwindle, and of those remaining several intend leaving the district early in the New Year (telegraphs the correspondent of the Auckland "Herald - ). As u result of tlv; exodus there are numerous unoccupied houses in and about the town, but no d j.ibt some of them wiil be tenanted when the mining companies stait working a second shift, which will probably be alio it the end of March next. One of the exceptional features of the Otago Caledonian Society's annual gathering was i.h- Highland dancing. The judge (Mr W. Eraser, of Christchureh) said" that during bis experience of sports meetings for the past 30 years in New Zealand lie had never the exhibition of dancing yesterday smpassed. It is proposed to celebrate the discovery of gold in the Mount Ida district next Easter. The celebrations are. to be held on Easter Monday and Tucsdav. March 24 and 25. A committee, with "Mr R. F. Inder as secretary, have the. arrangements in hand, and are canvassing for subscriptions in order to enable the jubilee to be fittingly celebrated.

Our Wellington correspondent wire.-.: Revisiting his native Dominion is the Hon. W. D. Johnson, Minister of Public Works in the Labor .Administration of West Australia-. He will pay special attention to the working of the Xew Zealand liquor laws, and has several other interesting points to investigate. He savs that, as a .Minister of the Crown under a Labor regime, he is interested in ascertaining why the Xew Zealand democracy has taken what he considers to be a retrograde step with regard to its laud tenure. Tn passnig, he remarked that as a Xew Zealander he had been wont to point with pride to the land nationalisation poiicv of ihis country, and was at a loss to "understand now this fundamental principle of democratic reform was being disturbed. For the year ended last month the number of City building permits panted for the various wards were as follow :—Northeast A alley. 20 new buildings and 51 additions and repairs: Leith, 19 and 41Bell, 13 and 40 : High, 11 and 54: South'. 5 and 24; South Dunedin, 41 and 34Cavershain, 56 and 36. It is estimated that the amount spent in new buildings must have run into over £200.000.

The Police Court business did not last for any length of time this morning. A first offender, on a charge of dnmkennes. was fine*] ss, in default of 24 hours; and a man charged with having no visible means of support was remanded for a week for medical observation.

Never in this City ha,? there been a better show of beautiful and carefully-finished work than in the show cases of the. Acme Photo Company, George, street.—[Advt.'l Campers and week-enders! The s.s. Niwaru has just brought 12,000 bottles of Camp Coffee. Be sure and put one in your hamper. Easier made than tea, and so delicious.—[Advt.] A glass of Speight's beer at lunch and supper is better than all the tea in China [AclvL] There can be no better port: aits done than those exhibited by Mr -Morris, of Garden Studio, 554 George street, on left-hand side ot the Zenith vestibule, in Princes street. Appointments made in Zenith Portrait, Studio' or telephone 2,279.—fAdvt.] Ladies!— Mervoliz.ed Wax and Parsidium Jelly, the new skin preparations, now in stock. Wilkinson and Son, chemists.—rAdvt.l Visitors should not miss the opportunity of inspecting Chjaroni's gallery, noted for its great collection of pictures and artistic goods.—[Advt.l Just opened, new photographic goods: best brands of plates, papers, mounts, etc., always in stock. At Gill's, Frederick street: tel. 1,144. Agent for Harrington. N.Z. Ltd.— [Advt.] An advertisement appears in this issue in which the Railway Department extends the lime for receiving tenders for the supply and delivery of a 12-ton hydraulic crane until the 18th inst. The Maheno is advertised to run to Maori Kaik on Saturday and Sunday at excursion rates. Blueskin Show on Wednesday. Entries close on Monday evening. Train fare from Dunedin, Is 6d return. We have received from the Ota.go Harbor Board a useful booklet containing particulars as to channel depths, dock duos, hish water, and much other useful information.