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Evening Star, Issue 16195, 17 August 1916, Page 6

Mr Hewitt, S.M., imposed substantial penalties upon defaulting Territorials at P-ahiatua yesterday. Two Civil servants who never attended drill were find £5 and £5 respectively. Alarm hand, who.had been previously convicted, was fined £2. The Magistrate said it was not fair to those who were doing their duty that others should escape,

The Hon. J. Allen, Minister of Defence, announces that New Zealand's' hospital ships (the Maraina and tho Maheno) are now doing splendid work in conveying, sick and woimicted soldiers between France and England. These well-equipped vessels are not being used exclusively for the transport of invalided New. Zoalanders; their service (as the people of the Dominion will be delighted to know) is Imperial. There is only one condition observed: the worst caees_ are token first, and equal comfort is provided for all. On several occasions both, ships have carried an immense number of wounded men, but the Maheno has a record which, as Mr Allen remarks, almost seems incredible. A telegram from Home to the Minister states that on the Bth of July hist the Maheno conveyed 1,141 sick and wounded men from Havre to an English port—a remarkable total. In view of the fact that our hospital ships aa-e rendering valuable service where tmest needed, it is unlikely that they will return to tlio Dominion for some time.

New Zealand experiences pleasing proof that there is now no "munitions diffi culty" at Home. The Minister of Defence states that we are being served with a substantial supply of small-arms ammunition, which is so vitally necessary in connection with the training of our reinforcements. There is also a prospect of the Dominion obtaining soon an ample supply of artillery ammunition. When questioned at Wellington by a reporter as to the methods to be adopted m regard to the payment of the war bonus to public servants, a subject which is arousing a good deal of, interest in Public Service circles just now, the Minister of Finance stated that the matter would come up for final settlement at the Cabinet meeting on Saturday, and that an announcement would be made as soon as possible. In the Supreme Court at Wellington yesterday Joseph Lewis (lion, secretary of the Wellington Patriotic Society) sued Stanley H. Horner for £5Ol damages for alleged slander in the statement: "There is some dirty work being carried on by the committee of the Patriotic Society, and your name is not too clean in it." The case excited considerable interest. Lengthy evidence was taken, and the jury returned a verdict for tho defendant. The Judge remarked that the result of the trial did not cast any imputation on the plaintiff or the Patriotic Society. The fund for providing comforts for our sick and wounded soldiers abroad is, states the Minister of Defence, quite strong, and sufficient for present requirements. The patriotic societies of New Zealand have been subscribing generously to the fund under the supervision of the Minister, and both tho High Commissioner and the NewZealand War Contingent Association in London have substantial funds in hand. "Alienist" writes to the > Melbourne 'Age': "As one who for the past 17 years lias had daily under observation many hundreds o£ insane persons of all imaginable types, I venture to predict that within the next two or three months Eie Kaiser's name will cease to appear in the cables as taking any active, or even passive, part in the war. This will be due to the fact that by that time he will be suffering from an attack of acute maniacal excitement—a condition that the lay person designates ' a raving maniac '—and the German war lords will be constrained to place him in seclusion. Naturally, some time will elapse before this news leaks out from Germany. The mental disorder from which the Kaiser has suffered for very many years past is called paranoia, or chronic delusional insanity, it is a constitutional malady, and in the Kaiser's case is due to the specific disease from which his father suffered, and which ultimately caused his death. The paranoiac, like the poet, is born, not made, and ho •is truly the victim of the moral delinquencies of his progenitors. .Sufferers from paranoia are peculiarly prone to periodical attacks of maniacal excitement, attacks which are ushered in with or without any obvious strain or stress. When the Kaiser's colossal egotism is pierced, and when his perverted judgment permits him to recognise that the supposed persecutors of Germany are triumphing, he will become actively insane. For many years past he has been a certifiable lunatic, and a dangerous one, as paranoiacs are always regarded as potential homicides. Does it not appear, sir, that something is radically wrong with civilisation's laws when a certifiable lunatic is permitted to plunge a continent in war?" The new Lewis quick-firing guns, which were recently supplied to the military training camps in the North Island, are working admirably. The Minister of Defence says that as a consequence our men are obtaining splendid training. Tlir-Yickers-Muxim quick-firers also axe proving efficient weapons. The organisation in connection with this important branch of tho training of the rein tor cements has now reached a high standard, and good work is being done, the records of practical results being very gratifying. One day this week a ' Star' reporter visited the Batchelor Ward in the Dimedin Hospital to see the wounded soldiers at their basket-making. Half a dozen men were thus occupied, and they seemed to be very much interested in their work. Six or seven ladies arc co-operating to manage, this affair, and the instructors in the basket-making, Miss Macassey and Miss G. Webster, find the men attentive and grateful. About 30 in all have taken up the work, but many of them are now awav or outpatients. That fact, however, "does not discourage the promoters. It serves their end if the soldiers who started to learn in.the Hospital continue the work outside, thereby giving them something to occupy their thoughts and perhaps make a little money as well. Miss Kelsey and the ladies who are associated with her in this matter frankly admit, however, that basket-making is not their sole concern.. They hope to start sooner or later to teach to out-patients, men who are likely to be partially'incapacitated for life, the way to make something that will pay better than baskets. There is a tremendous demand in New Zealand for better-made toys than those, which come to us from the Continent and Japan, and it is in this direction that there lies a great hope of enabling a cripple to substantially supplement iris pension. OtVr related industries may also be brought in. The ladies who have interested themselves in this national cause think that by the exercise of originality as to design and skill in making it may be possible to create a new trade here for the benefit of the greviously wounded. In this laudable endeavor they may rest assured of the good wishes and the assistance of the community generally. The oral examination of Territorial non-commissioned officers who wish to qua'ify for commissions took pl.ice jt the Central Battery to-day. About 20 caiiitjrlj.bes came forward.

.Many people with .relatives at the front appear to be in doubt still as to how tc address cable messages to soldiers on active service, and the Defence authorities have numerous inquiries on the subject. The Minister of Defence points out that it is not at all necessary to include in the address the name of the hospital to which (as it may have been reported) a soldier has been sent. All that is required is the official number of a soldier, his surname, and the -words " care of Vanquisher, London." The following can bo taken as an example of a perfectly-addressed cable to a soldier:—"s/555, Brown, care of Vanquisher, London."

The case of the Sbaw, Savill and Albion Company v. the Southern Steam .Ship Company, a claim for £l9B 10s 3d, damages for'short delivery of goods, which was to have been heard in the Supierae Court to-day, was discontinued. '.Mr "W. C. MacGroyor, K.C, represents the defendant company, and the question of costs will be considered at the next sittings in Chambers.

The solists for .the performance of Elijah' by the Dunedin Choral Society have been engaged. Mrs Astley Black is to sing the soprano part, Mrs Harold Browning the contralto, Mr Colin Gray the tenor,"and Mr Harold Browning has undertaken the important role of the prophet. The oratorio is to be heard in the first week of October. Mr Sidney Wolf says, in answer to a question, that he is very much pleased with the way the chorus are studying the work. It "is an original study that they ai'e gpias. tiixqujih.

Mr Panlin advised at 2 p.m. :—Strong N.E. to N.W. winds, and rain in about 24 hours.

Good hauls of soles have been rewarding the fishermen's industry this -week. These soles, which have been landed both by tho steam .and the motor trawlers, are known as " English " soles, the "lemon" solos having noWabout reached the end of their season.

In respect to 'the increasing, prices of commodities, the Mayor of Port Chalmers communicated a few days ago with the Prime Minister suggesting that before increased prices w-ere permitted by the Government the Board of Trade should first investigate the circumstances and report whether proposed increases were justified. Special /mention was made of recent increases in the price of butter and of certain household coals. In reply the Prime Minister stated that the suggestions had been noted, and that ho wae communicating with the Board of Trade who are at present in the Sonth Island investigating the price of butter and other matters. Mr E. C. Hazlett, chairman of the Harbor Board, and Mr W. J. Bardsley, secretary, conveyed the Japanese Commissioners on an inspection of our shipping facilities on Tuesday afternoon Motoring down to Port Chalmers, they were joined by the Mayor of that town, and the party made a tour of the wharves and the docks, the ship-repairing works and the wool-dumping plant being also viewed. The visitors represent a large Japanese shipping company, who contemplate a service to New Zealand, and they expressed appreciation of' the courtesy extended to them on their southern visit. The City Eire Brigade were called out at 8.30 this morning to a chimney fire at the Grown Hotel. No damage was done. Fewer travellers from Dunedin to tho Grand National races than there were last year. The bookings were 337 vast year and up to and including to-day' the tota 1 ' was 277. At Burnside yesterday the butchers talked over the subject" of a rise in the price of meat, and as tho outcome of the consultation a meeting was held last night, at which it'was resolved that an increase in tho retail prices by J,d and Id per lb is absolutely necessary." We understand that the supply is short, and on top of that buyers from Oamaru, Lawrence, Milton, and other place* are coming to the Dunedin market and pushing up the prices. During tho past fen- weeks the prices of cattle have gone up by from £4 to £[> per head. Bullo'cks that "were selling a year ago at £l4 10s to £ls are now £23 10s and £24 10s. In these circunr. stances, we are assured on authority, the local butchers have lately had a'severe" job to hold their own to escape loss over their retailing. We make bold to say that everv prosperous grocer in Auckland now stocks "No Rubbing Laundry Help," likewise ©very wholesale merchant. Tho run is on the Is cartons.—[Advt.]

. Cheer up! Watson's No. 10 whisky sends a glow throughout system. It's rare mialitv tells.—[Advt.] i 7

Mr Cussen, Government Poultry Instrucwill be in Dimedin next week to give advice to farmers and poultry keepers interested in the industry. A glass of Speight's beer at lunch and supper is better thau all the tea in China [Advt.J

Watson's is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth the money.—[Advt.] We have now opened the first of new season's suitings. Blue dyes guaranteed. * J Hendry and Sons, tailors, 52 George street' -[Advt.J °