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Evening Star, Issue 16516, 30 August 1917, Page 4

The Postmaster-General- states .that the additional cable across Cook Strait, connecting the North and South Islands, has been successfully laid ,by the-Eastern Extension Company, this arrangement effecting a saving; of £14,000 to the country.

The-scale of taxi fares for Dunedin was considered by the General Committee of the City Council this week. It is proposed to adopt the following scales—-By distance, per mile, including return to stand (ons-to four passengers). Is; per time, for tho first hour or part thereof (ono to four passengers), 15s; for each subsequent 15 minutes, 3s. Suburban and hill fares : St. Clair Golf Links and Wakan, 10s; Anderson Bay (beyond tram terminus), Mornington Extension, Kaikorai Valley, Opoho, 7s 6d; beyond Normanby terminus to City boundary on Main North road, 12s 6d; to Anderson Bav ter>minus, North-east Valley (on flat)*, St. Glair (on flat). Ocean Beach, St. Kilda Oaversham, and Woodhaugh, Ss; Momlngt°n. Roalyn, Maori Hill, and Northeast Valley (on hill), 6s; South Dunedin (to Bay View road and Forbury Corner). , , 9 ha fS 6 f ° r detention: For every completed 15 minutes, Is. Night fares: •fcrom 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., 60 per cent, increase on ordinary fare. Luggage: For each Package °f personal luggage carried exceeding 281b weight, 3d. 7

The Christchurch. Master Butchers’ Association held a meeting and drew up a retail price-list of meat, which is to bo submitted to the Board of Trade at ■ a meeting to-day. It is understood (telegraphs our “special") that the prices are based upon the price of 57s per cwt, but buteners state that they are prepared to sell at a loss for a couple v of monthj when buying values will decline arid restore the balance of profit.

? n , l . r ?^ erence to the memorial for tho establishment of a post office at St. Clair which Mr Sidey, M.PrT presented and heartily endorsed the Postmaster-General has written to the member for Dunedin have the honor to inform you that arrangements are being mado to lease the, two remaining rooms of the old school bunding, and to open a post office with tho full powers of a suburban office.” Tho telephone office and bureau hitherto conducted at Pargiter’f store will in due course be removed to the school building. The executive meeting of the Otago Expansion League was held last night, Mr \ Bathgate (president) in the chair. Corres^ pondence received from the Tourist Bureau re an offer of assistance 'in republishing one of the league’s guide books was referred to the Publicity Committee, and members expressed their gratification at tho result of the negotiation. Mr Bathgate and Mr Crosby Morris were elected delegates to the conference to be held in regard t 0 the question of land tenure. The question of suburban trains came up for fresh discussion, and a remit is to be forwarded to tho Hon. the Minister of Railways. A communication on the subject of‘the flat rate on consignments from or to Dunedin and Lyttelton in the new contract for transI acme steamer -was adopted, and ordered to be forwarded to Wellington. The bal-ance-sheet and reports were presented, and will be published in tho annual report for presentation to meeting of members next month.

A good start was mado with the six-' teenth _ annual festival o') the Dunedin Competitions Society yesterday. The arrangements are such as to make the listeners comfortable and put competitors at their ease. The reciting seemed to be quite up to the standard, also tile piano playing, and in the singing contests during the evening a finished performance was heard from Mr Arthur Alloo, whilst Miss Corrie Aslin sang brilliantly and Miss Elsie Macdougall and Mr Keith Muir earned hearty commendation.

The New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association, who recently reached the end of their financial year, have had a very satisfactory term (wires our Christchurch correspondent). The results of the year’s operations are sufficient" to enable the Board of Directors to make the same appropriations as were made last year; but in face of the new taxation proposals the board have considered it advisable to postpone definite action in that direction until the actual details of the taxation proposals are available. If the present proposals are carried out tho usual appropriations cannot bo made.

Dunedin is going to have a big slice of the War Loan. The demand for all classes of tho issue has now fairly set in and the officials at the Post Office are doing a brisk and increasing business. Quite a large number of persons who may be classed as the saving workers, possessinir anything from £IOO to £I,OOO, have been arranging to- draw from the Post Office Savings Bank as soon ns the August interest is earned, and put their money into the Post Office war bonds. These bonds are 01 face values ranging from £IOO to £SOO and they run for 10 years at 5 per cent. This is evidently going to be a favorite form of investment with “the small man” whose earnings come to less than £3OO a year, for to him the extra I, per cent, is a consideration, and he does not take heed of the fact that these bonds are not free of Income Tax, since he is free of it personally. There are signs, too, that tho big moneys will be subscribed freely in Dunedin. Those who know say there is plenty of money about. Many people criticise” the financial proposals, and thousands feel very sore and fightable over the gift of nearly half a million to the Civil servants, regarding this as quite .indefensible ; nevertheless, the duty of being loyal will override these considerations, and our people are going to grumble and pay. The following telegram was forwarded to the Right Hon. W. F. Massey, Prime Minister, by Mr B. 8. Irwin, president of the association, to-day “ The National WeiAssociation Executive view with satisfaction the Prime Minister’s expressed willingness to hold a General Election at the usual time, and hope that the Government will support Mr Witty’s amendment to tho Parliament Prolongation Bill.” The Minister of Marino (Hon. Mr Russell) stated in the House yesterday that the Marine Department had an arrangement with the police to report accidents to waterside workers, but considerably less than 246 have been reported. If the unions will report all accidents to tho department, this will enable it to make inquiry as to the cause, and who, if anyone, is to blame. The department has no control oyer cargo gear on wharves and on hulks in harbors where thye are harbor boards, the control being in the hands of such bodies. Legislation would bo necessary before the department could assume control. This is under consideration. It is not considered necessary to appoint works inspectors. In an interesting letter to a Dunedin firm received by this week’s mail their London buyer says :—“ You ask me to give you some little idea of the food question in. this country, and illustrate what the prices of food are. in New Zealand. Dealing with the items you refer to I shall just give you some idea as to what they are costing here. Butter, 2s to 2s 2d per lb ; sugar, sgd ; bacon, Is 8d to 2s per lb. Potatoes were sold at 3d per lb. but since tjie new ones came in they - have come down to about 2d. For mutton we have been paying Is 8d to Is lid per . lb, and beef much about the same price. I notice you say that you consider mutton at 8d and Bid for the best cuts fairly stiff. How would you like to pay the prices wo are Laving to pay? Eggs at the present moment are 2s 6d and 2s 9d per dozen. Apples. 8d to lOd per lb, Bread, s|d for a 21b loaf. Tea, 2s 4d Tip, whilst all articles.of crockery and glassware have risen enormously in price in the same way as in your country. Boots are very dear. The bread we are getting is sometimes anything but pleasant to eat. Instead of being white it is almost more like the ordinary brown loaf."

In the House of Representatives yesterday Mr A. Walker asked the Minister of Public Works whether, in view of the number of accidents to men employed in tunnelling works, he will fe o amend the mining law this session as to bring all tunnelling work and contracts for tunnel construction in particular within the scope of the mining laws in respect to safety appliances and regulations. Mr Fraser replied: “No safety appliances or regulations made under mining laws would have prevented such accidents as have recently occurred. I am aware that accidents in tunnels are not any more numerous /than on other parts of work; in fact, more accidents have occurred in the past in connection with bush work than probably anything else. . I do not see any necessity for amending' the Mining Act in the direction indicated by this question.” —Parliamentary Reporter,

.Mr Paulin's forecast: —Strong N.W. , to 8. W. winds; rain in about 24 Lours.

The Port Chalmers Borough Council have invested £I,OOO in tho War .Loan. . A disaster, the novelty anck singularly inopportune occurrence of which but adds 'to its seriousness, was sprung upon residents of Tisbury about 11 o’clock on Tuesday forenoon (states the ‘ Southland Times ’) A five-roomed house, the property of Mr J. Hall, had iust been thoroughly renovated inside and out in anticipation of the occupation of Mr Hall’s eon, who was to have on Wednesday token his stand in the ranks of the Benedicts. On Monday the young bride-to-be, and her prospective sister-in-law scrubbed tho place out and saw to the laying of the linoleums, while the furniture was being moved in and the various other little finishing touches attended to. Yesterday at the hour mentioned the now home was complete in the interior, save for a cartload of odds and ends, and the exterior was receiving its farewell brightening at the hands of an elderly gentleman, who was painting tho verandah. Probably that same house artist, has never previously had a job terminate so abruptly. Of a sudden tho dwelling rose,/ bulged outwards, lingered for a moment, and crashed to earth in a sickening ruin. Houses 300 yards away shook, and tho commotion in tho school just across the road from tho exploded house must have been more than ordinary. The painter was taken homo in a state of collapse. It has boon ascertained that a quantity of gelignite, intended for stumping purposes, was stored in tho house.

Our Christchurch correspondent telegraphs :—Mr Hiram Hunter, secretary of tho United Federation of Labor, lun? sent tho following letter to the Prime Minister:—“lt has been freoly reported that tho_ National Efficiency Board have placed fclioir resignation in your hands and that tho alleged resignation has been considered by the national executive of the United Federation of Labor, who resolved to urge the Government, to accept it. In urging this course we do not desire to reflect upori the members of tho hoard in any way, but to point out that in our opinion the Government are far too prone to evade their responsibility by appointing hoards and commissions to ‘inquire into and report’ upon questions which are vital to tho wellbeing of the community. We hold .that when the people elect 60 members of Parliament to attend to tho affairs of the btato they should do their duty. If they are not qualified to attend to the business of the country, or are too tired or are unwilling to fulfil their obligations to their constituents in general, as manifested by tho appointment of outsiders to these boards and commissions, why are they not straightforward enough to’ admit ‘their tailuro and insincerity and resign, end thus give tho people u chance to elect others more courageous and willing to render the service for which they were elected?”

Our parliamentary representative telegraphs : In the House yesterday after- ?> Oo n - s m Josep ~ Ward stafced that the £p-l' mo T ™ S L °w C 0 tended to invest £200,000 in tho War Loan.

ihe Prime Minister made it clehr in the House yesterday (wires our Parliamentary Reporter) that the 'Government have no intention of altering the War Regulations, or of giving the House an opportunity of reviewing them. A question as to whether this would be done this session was asked by Mr. Webb, and drew from tho Prime Minister a reply that tho Government did not intend to have tho War Regulations reviewed by the House. However a Bill to amend the War Resulatmns Act would be introduced. Although it dealt with a subject which the hon member probably did not contomplate the proposed amendment would also deal.with hours for tho sale of liquor. Sent : Then the regulations of beptember last are not to be amended?” »•> .ih«r «m n.t b.

or€Gt a new Anglican S'n iwTL ln Jvel£on > at a coat of Lou, to seat 1,000 people. If the scheme is adopted, a portion of the work (chancel, tower, and transepts) will be constructed as soon as £30,000 cr £4O 000 is in hand. ' ’

Although m the midst of danger and death, soldiers at the front are deeply impressed by accidents caused by circumot" actual warfare, savs the Wellington < Post.’ Gunner W. J. Wilson writing to his father from France, after refemng casually to several casualties, in which, he might easily have been the says: “ The saddest affair I have’ ever witnessed happened; not far from me the other day. A thunderstorm came on and/I was sitting in my tent out of the rain, when suddenly there was a terrific crack, far louder than the sound of any gun firing or shell bursting. We rushed outside, and saw that a tree had been struck by lightning about 20ft from our tent. At the foot of the tree was a cookhouse, in which 10 men of the 7th Battery had been sheltering from the rain. Our corporal was tho first man to go in. and a sad spectacle confronted him. The whole 10 men had been struck by lightning, and lay on the floor, some of them moaning. They were quickly taken out, and everything done to save them. One— Veterinarv Captain Primmer—had been killed, and most of the others were more or less injured. They were removed in motor ambulances, but I have not heard how they got on, although I believe some are all right. The veterinary surgeon was much liked and respected by us all, and his case was rendered particularly sad by the fact that his wife was !n Paris expecting him to go and see her. The affair created a deep impression among us all, for it seemed strange that, when the enemy’s efforts to kill had failed, Nature should tnke a hand in the business, with such tragic results.” Private letters received by the inward mad leave no manner of doubt that the latest air raids on London were of a much severer nature than the cables reported at tho time. In the neighborhood of Walbrook and Liverpool streets immense damage was done. A large exporting firm doing business in tho firstmontioned street in a letter to a Dunedin friend say :—“ Our premises were bombed by the German aircraft. As wo are only a stone’s-throw from the Bank of New Zealand and tho Bank of England, as well as from the Mansion House, you will readily believe that on this occasion the dastardly Huns have been oloso up to the very heart of London.” Another letter states that 30 German aeroplanes dropped bombs on a congested part of the residential area in Makla Vale, North London-. There was only one case in tho Police Court this morning. James Sutherland, charged with drunkenness, was ordered to pay £1 15s gaol expenses or seven days, and a prohibition order was issued against him.

A publican, carrying on business outside the town but within the City licensing district will be charged in the Police Court next week with selling niter hours. A town publican will also be charged with supplyihg a youth under 21 years. There was a noticeable activity on the Punedin waterfront to-day, and the majority of the local waterside workers found employment. The arrivals this morning were the Moijpwai, Corinna, Kaknpo, and Putiki, which all reached port within three hours of each other. The Putiki came from Wellington direct with about 200 tons of general cargo, and she is now loading a large quantity of merchandise for Oaxnaru, Wellington, and Wanganui. The Monowai came from Auckland, Wellington, and Lyttelton with passengers and several hundred tons of general cargo. The Kakapo brought a full cargo of coal from Westport, and the Corinna is discharging a quantity of cargo from Wellington. The schooner Houto. is now load--1I?J? a Ndl cargo of benzine for Invercargill. The Eosaqiond ia due here to-morrow from Bluff to load for Timaru and Wellington ; the Kittawa is expected on Saturday with a, part cargo of coal from Westport ; while the Storm is also due on that day from Lyttelton to load for Timaru, Lyttelton, Picton, and Wanganui.

It is said that wheat cannot be bought in the South Island, the farmers having sold all their stocks. The only recent transaction lias been the purchase of 300 sacks brought from the North out of a transhipment. But nobody feels uneasy, for tlie millers hold good stocks, and, of course, if there was a pinch the Govern-' ment could buy again in Australia.’ ’ ■. ■

• Watson’* No. 10 is a littla dearer than most whiikies, but is worth . the money.— [Advt.] - 1 - Ask grocers for the origind and genuine 11 No Rubbing ” Laundry Help every time; washes olothoa clean without rubbing or in. jurj'.—£Advt.] A meeting of members of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association will be held at the Anzao Club next Thursday evening, The traveller’s friend. • On cold journeys a ilaik of Watson’s No. 10 is real comfort.— [Advt.3 Ladles recommend Martin's Apiol and Steel Pills. Sold by all chemists and stores. Sea you get the genuine.—[Ailvt.l Speight’s ale and stout are acknowledged by tho Dominion public' to bo tho best on die market. —[Ad^t.")