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Evening Star, Issue 16550, 9 October 1917, Page 4

A party of four or five men, described as of the seafaung class, had a warm debate an Rattray street just before 9 o'clock last evening. Presently two of them (it is said) engaged an a stand-up fight, and the crowd gathered just in time to seo one t?£ ™ T tl "' 0ll « h tlle plate-glass window of the D.I.C. crockery department, causing a fine crash. The whole party decamped down Rattray street, one of them bleeding profusely about tho face. Tho police, ai° raving upon summons, picked up two hats and two caps upon the glass-strewn terrain of the encounter, but these offer little clue to identity. The manager of the D.I.C. was summoned by telephone, and removed the unbroken crockery from the show window. A good half of the plate-glass was smashed, the damage to tins and to the crockery being estimated at £SO. The police are making inquiries. Dr Church, one of the vice-presidents of the Dunedin Male Choir, entertained members and their friends at a social in the Strand Tea Rooms last night. It was a very pleasant affair. During the evening Mr W. H. Hale was presented with the lb years service bar. Musical items were contributed by Miss E. Smith, Miss Stella Bayley, Miss L. James, Miss Florence Pacey, Miss Meda Paine, Miss Phyllis West, and Miss Theomin, also by Mr Ritchie and Mr James, and recitations were given by Miss Vera White and Mr Dugald M'Pherson. A vote of thanks for the hospitality tendered by Dr Church was moved by Mr J. A. Hopcraft (another of the vice-presidents) and carried with enthusiasm. The accompaniments were played by Mr J. Timson, Mr W. Paget Gale, and Mr F. Bayiley. Members were glad to see that Mr Timson had not suffered severely as the result of his fall in View street whilst walking down to the recent concert. He was badly shaken at the_ time, and went through his night's duties in pain, but is now nearly all right again.

The General Committee of the City Council havo under consideration the question of letting the Turkish Baths in-order to ascertain whether it is possible to make them attractive enough, to recoup the council for the Joss at present being made-on them.

His Honor Mr Justice Sim sat in chambers this morning, when probate was granted in the following estates:—Anthony Bott, Johanna Muller, Edward Davey, William Clyde, Eva Margaret Malloch, Frederick John Easther, and Christopher M'Donald. Letters of administration were granted in the estato of Christopher M'Donald. In re Michael John O'Connor, deceased, a motion for leave to swear affidavit of death was granted.

A deputation of residents of the Borough of St. Kilda waited upon ex-Cr J. Dove last evening at his residence in Council street, with the request that he offer his services again as a councillor, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Cr (J. J. Gore. Mr E. Long worth spoke on behalf of the deputation, and expressed the hope that Mr Dove would see his way clear to accede to the request. In reply, Mr Dove said that he would have much pleasure in offering his services as a councillor again, but he would need time to consider the request, as his present engagements might clash with his duties as a member of the counoil. It_ is anticipated, however, that any such difficulty will be overcome, and that Mr Dove will bo " right there " on the day of tho election.

The question of reducing the salaries of Civil servants was mentioned in the House last night by Mr Wilford, who asked if there was any truth in the newspaper report that the Government were contemplating bringing down proposals to reduce public servants salaries, and, if it was true, was it intended to differentiate between married and single employees. Mr Massey said emphatically that there was no intention on the part of the Government to bring "down proposals to reduce salaries in the Public Service. It was just possible, however, that Parliament would be asked to cut down the Public Service list, which was an entirely different thing.

Writing to the Wellington ' Post' the Government Statistician (Mr Malcolm Fraser) states: "I.observe that somo prominence was given in your columns to statements by correspondents regarding men whose names appeared in this ' Gazette,' who had been in camp, and were discharged. • The impression is given that these should not have been included in the ' Gazette,' but, as you are aware, unless a man is discharged from the Forces in consequence of disablement or ill-health after service beyond the seas in connection with the present war, he is still a reservist within the meaning of the Military Service Act. and liable* to be called up for service by ballot, or by special ' Gazette.' To avoid this anomaly, it has for some months past been tne practice not to discharge men, but to grant them leave without pay, so that they are still Soldiers, and subject to military orders.."

A isydney commercial travelhr, who succeeded in getting away from Australia when the last boat left Sydney, was visiting Gisborne last week. Relating his experiences, ho said that fully a couple of hundred intending passengers were left behind on the wharf. Regulations had l>oen issued prohibiting travellers' samples, but he was particularly fortune in getting his i" traps ' through. Commonwealth regulations nocessitato travellers' sample boxes being marked with distinctive colors, and, as luck would have it, lm small iron samplo boxes bore a yellow band closely resembling bullion boxes from the bank. Arriving at tho wharf in a grocer's cart, the boxes were promptly espied by a vigilant police officer, who stood immediately to tho salute while tho volunteer laborers safely transferred tho carefully guarded boxes aboard ship. To gain access to the wharf itself, however,, was not an easy tp,sk, as an armed, guard, with fixed bayonets, demanded tho production of passports. However, our commercial friend succeeded in gaining the ship, and his next concern was,his luggage and precious samples. Passengers' gear hod been stowed away all oy-.r the ship, and for the time being no trace of his gear could be found. Ho decided to risk matters, and trust to their turning up all right, and ho made-tho voyage with nothing more than he stood up in, borrowing a clean collar from one friendly passenger and the use of a razor frcm another. The missing luggago was discovered two days after the vessel's arrival in New Zealand.

_ Our Parliamentary reporter wires :—-It is clearly tho intention of the Government to proceed with the Social Hygiene- Bill, which has been characterised by some organisations as too drastio in several Tespects. In the House last m s g u Nl Mc C«mbs asked the Minister i. j ,f the Bill Avas S oin £ to be rushed through before the organisations had obtained full opportunity to discuss several important provisions of the measure. Mr Russell replied that last week an assurance was given to the House that there would be no attempt to rush the Bill through. The Government realised its importance but he thought reasonable time had now been given to the country to _ consider the points of the Bill. In view of numerous assurances of satisfaction from all over v, !> c P unfcr y and the fact that there had been an almost unanimous consensus of opinion in favor of the Bill in- the public Press, ho thought- the Government were justified in eoine on with the Bill. (Hear, hear.) If there were organisations that desiTed to make suggestions, their suggestions would receive careful consideration, but only a limited period for making such suggestions could bo allowed. He hoped that at an early date the Bill would be put through the House. (Hear, hear.) Tho only business before the Police Oourt this morning was an application by a woman for the issue of a prohibition order against her brother-in-law. The latter did not appear, and the order was made. Mr Young, S.M., presided. A new scheme has been initiated in Brisbane by the Queensland State Recruiting Committee in an endeavor to secure recruits. A returned Anza'c bugler sounded the call to arms outside the premises of one of the banks. It was advertised in the morning that the recruiting committee asked for one recruit from tne bank. A few minutes after the call sounded one of tlie employees walked out to the recruiting sergeant and volunteered tor active service. If the demands are not met at any institution visited the premises will be again visited a week later by a patrol of boy scout kettle-drummers, who will play the tattoo incessantly in relays. All institutions and business places in the city, both Government and private, will be systematically canvassed. The big strike in New South Wales will cost that State at least a million sterling. Ihis estimate is, of course (savs the Sydney Morning Herald '), a very rough one. The upheaval has been of so general a character, with so manv different unions involved, that the number of men directly concerned in it number about 70,000, while the number of persons indirectly affected whose means of subsistence, or earning capacity, has been adversely affected without their having gone on strike, is also -very large. A big industrial dislocation of this kind must inevitably have a serious effect upon industries in which the men have not been called upon to take part in the strike, and we see many innocent workers thrown out of employment for the time being, and many others reduced to working part time onlv. Thouph not actually participating in the strike, they come within the ambit of it. A charge of entering the Commonwealth without a passport was preferred against Joseph Wilson, 28, at the Water Police Court in Sydney recently. Captain Hinton, of the headquarters staff at Victoria Barracics, stated that the defendant declared ho was single, and a native of Forbes, New South Wales, and had been living m New Zealand since 1910. He had come to Sydney as a stowaway, and had no passport or permit to leave New Zealand. He had registered for military service in New Zealand, and was liahle to be called up in the next batch of men. Defendant said he had come to New South Wales to look after his mother. Witness asked him did he not think it was his duty to perform his military service for New Zealand. The defendant replied that he thought it his duty to look after his mother, and that ho would not return to New Zealand. Wilson pleaded guilty. Captain Hinton suggested that the Court should call the defendant up for sentence later, and so give him an opportunity of deciding whether or not he would return to New Zealand in the meantime. Wilson had £59 in his possession. He was remanded till October 8, on bail.

A P.A. message from Auckland states that in the Police Court to-dav Sarah Ellen Samuels was charged with bigamy by going through tho form of marriage * with Ernest Kemp in May, 1912, when she was already married to Harry S. Samuels, the latter being a seaman oii a warship. The accused was committed for trial. Messrs N. Dod'ds and D. Mawson, J.P.s, issued a prohibition order against a man at the Port Chalmers Court to-day. The recent heavy rains, imposing extra strain upon the capacity of the drain in Harbor terrace, have sounded another note of warning -n-ith respect to the condition of Lake Logan. Yesterday morning, we are informed, thero vras further evidence that drainage of a suspicious character was being discharged into tho lake. In consequence of this, and the unsatisfactorv state in which the lake has been left by the Otago Harbor Board, residents are greatly concerned as to the menace this locality—a populous, school district—may bo confronted with when the hot weather arrives. ,

Miss E. M. Chalmer, Upper Kew, writes us with reference to Mr A. Bathgate's letter re school correspondence with" the Homeland, inviting schoolmasters interested to communicate with her as an official of the Victoria League.

Watson's No. 10 is a little dearer than moat whiskies, but is worth the money.— [Advt.] A parade of returned soldiers will bo held *o-night in connection with a reception to Mass Ada Reeve. It is hoped that all returned men will maka a point of attending, in recognition of Miss Reeve's splendid work for the Australasian troops. The 4tb Regimental Band will attend the parade, the time and location of which will be found in our advertisement columns. ~ C°™mereial travellers are taking kindly to Golden Rule" Soap; so also are thrifty housewives, consequently its success is assured R. Wilson and Co., Ltd., wholesale distributors for "Golden Rule."—[Advt/| Millionaires cannot buy better than Watsons No. 10. Little dearer, infinitely superior.—[Advt.] The annual concert in connection with Trinity College of Music, London, will be held on Friday evening in Knox Church Sunday School Hall. No lady should be without Martin's Apiol and Steel Pill*. Sold by all chemists and itores throughout Australasia.—TAdvt.l