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Evening Star, Issue 16662, 19 February 1918, Page 4

riow that the fbt. Kilda revaluations are becoming known, many of the ratepayers calling to inspect tho lists, there is a considerable amount of . argument and some chaffing over the outcome Th-» re valuation was mado by the Government Valuation Department at the request of the St. kikia, Council, that body havinobeen waited on by a deputation of rat»° payers who claimed that the old valuation was inequitable. The result is a material reduction m come parte of the borough and a perturbing increase in other parts The Regent Park subdivision goes up appreciably, and there aro many sharp rises —of £3O and more—i c properties between the trotting track and St. Clair, and tho? 0 persons who are inclined to treat the blatter as a joke are finding amusement in the fact that some of the residents in that western area were the chief agitators for a revaluation. Much debate is heard at street corners over the outcome as it affects the Forbury Park Trotting Club Ihe capital value of this club's propertv previously assessed at £20,085, is now reduced to £19,850, and the unimproved « a /- ll i?L ls Drou g llt down from £11,735 to £6,400. A rofusal to work for tho Government without payment is the somewhat unusual stand taken up by an inmate of tho Invercargill Borstal Institute, who appeared before Mr G. Crack-shank, S.M., at Invercargill on Saturday (savs the 'Southland Times')—unusual because the man, Stanley Fountain, is " doing " two years for a military offence. Presumably he had tho opportunity of "working for the Government "- for 5s a day. Having refused that, he now further refused to work for nothing. Fountain pleaded guilty. Gaoler Leggatt said that prisoner had "been twice punished for {he same offence, although the work assigned to him" was not heavy. Prisoner had nothing to say, and, with "a remark that obedience must he rendered, the Magistrate imposed a sentence of 10 days' bread and water.

Mr Paulin telephoned at. 1.30 p.m. : S.W. -to S.E. winds; fine for 24 hours. We have been informed by Mr E. L. Macassey that the net amount realised by "sweet pea day" fete comes to £504 16s 4d. ■ '

One. of the jobs no;y being pushed en by the Public Works Department, Mr C. J. M'Kensie, district engineer, having control, is of high importance to the farmers in the coastal area of the Clutha district. A new tide-gate at Kaifcangaia is being constructed of concrete, this undertaking being carried out by arrangement with the Bruce County Council, and the repairing of the Puerua tide-gate is being done conjointly by the Government and the settlers. These works are necessary in order to make good the ravages oE the floods that occurred last May and to ensure against similar damage in future. Pains are being taken to make the works permanent, and they will probably not be finished in less than six months.

A few days ago we printed • a short statement as to the decision of the Otago Land Board with respect to the subdivision of the Gladbrook Estate. Persons concerned may be interested in the actual wording of the resolution :—" That the scheme of subdivision be approved. That an area of 3,534 acres be opened for public selection in 10 sections in June, 1918. That it be a recommendation to the Government that an amendment be made in the law to enable soldiers on active service to participate in the ballot with discharged soldiers, and that the ballot be deferred in the meantime. That the homestead and adjacent buildings with 136 acres of land be offered for sale by public auction. That in the event of tho proposed postponement of the ballot not being agreed to sections 33 to 35, 39, 40, 19, and 20 be opened for selection' by discharged soldiers in June. 1918, and the balance withheld from disposal in the meantime. That the area to be withheld for the present be let to Mr John Roberts until 28th June, 1919, at a rental of 4A per cent, on the purchase price. That a 21 years' license be granted to Mr Roberts over the run he selects, and that an extension of the license of the balance of the pastoral run be given until 28th June, 1919. That Mr Roberts be given right of access to remove Jiay from stack on section 6S up to November, 1918."

Owing to the prevailing conditions, and tho Monowai being the only available steamer between Dunedin and Auckland on the East Coast, it has been found impossible to confine her sailings to a set time-table. _ In future her movements will be fixed from time to time. It is doubtful whether her calls at Gisborne when coming south will be at all frequent. The Monowai has, been delayed at Auckland this trip owing to very stormy weather. She will leave the northern port to-day for the south, her ports of call bcinf Wellington, Lyttelton, and Dunedin. ° She should arrive hero about Sunday next, and is fixed to snjl on Tuesday, February 26, for Lyttelton, Wellington," Xanier, ' Gisborne, and Auckland. A regular passenger and cargo service is maintained bv the Arahura between Auckland, Gisborne', and" Xapier; while the. Union Company run an occasional steamer with general cargo from Auckland to East Coast ports and Dunedin.

t " If a man wants a telephone in Wellington now ho cannot get it, and it has been the same for practically six months. This state of affairs is rapidly extending to other countries." So said an officer of the lost and Telegranh Department givi'nnevidence before the Military Service" Board on Friday.

A deplorable state of affairs was revealed at a recent meeting of the Hawke s Bay Education Board. It was stated that 80 children at Motuliora. north ot Gisborne, were being taught in one room, 53ft by 20ft, by two teachers. The ceiling was less than Bft higli. and the windows could only be opened at the lower end, and thera was a/loft overhead m whicn workmen had to move about In addition, there was a tool cupboard 111 the schoolroom, and workmen were frequently m and out. During the lunch hour .and before school hours the children had to wait about 1 in a timber mill. The secretary explained that the residents had promised to erect a school, and nothing had been done. The board decided tS request the Department of Education to make a grant for the erection of a school and residence.

Sir I homas Mackenzie, High Commissioner for Xew Zealand, noticing i n Leicester square two soldiers from his own country, went up to speak to them. .But they, having been duly warned of the danger of the affable stranger, first asked his name and his place of "abode (says the London 'Evening News'), and it was not until these details had been writuen down for them that they felt it was safe to converse.

The gloving is a selection from the books added to the lending department of the Public Library during the week ended ■Saturday, 16th February :—Barber (Major n wl'e ??**&* Kut and After': Corbett-Smith fA.), 'The Marne and After; ;^ells(HG.),' God, the Invisible King <; Gelbert (Leon), ' Songs of a Campaign-; Marchioness of Dufferin, •My Russian and Turkish Journals '; Williams (Hal), Mechanical Refrigeration'; Gil- £?"■ ! Tho Potato 1 : Moore (A. YV.), For My Musical Friend ': Cimnin"ham CW), 'The Progress of Capitalism m England ; Blackmar and Gillin, ' Outlines of Sociology.'

The Taien Collie Club, whose annual meeting was held on Saturday evening resolved to continue the trials* this year as usual. The annual report showed the past year to have been a successful one, all prohts being devoted to patriotic purposes, ino membership had been large, and the support of the public good. A strong committee was elected, with Mr William Blackie as president, to carrv on operations during the ensuing year. _ A largely-attended meeting in the Muiiilpcal Theatre ab Napier last night p;i« e d a resolution calling on the Government to removo from our midst all those of German or Austrian blood, and to remove officials of the same nationalities from Government positions: calling upon the Government to intern all pure-blooded Germans and Auswithout any exception whatever during the period of. the war, and to utilise the services of sujji enemy aliens in a manner which will return value to the State; and supporting the future definition of a natural-bom British subject as a person whose father was, at the time of such person's birth, a British subject. At a. meeting of the Christchurch Typographical Association the following resolution was passed:—"That this union view with approval the reported statement of tho_ Secretary of Labor that he thinks it desirable that the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act should be amended at an early date to enables unions to make provision in their rules for the pavment of benefits; and, further, that this union urge the Government to pass the necessarylegislation during the next session of Parliament to give effect to the views of the Secretary of Labor." A deputation from the New Zealand Typographical Federation will wait on the Minister in support of the resolution. Mr Justice Stringer lias been speaking pretty to Auckland juries. Li one case,_ addressing the prisoner, who was acquitted, His Honor said: "-You can consider yourself a very luckv man. Tho jury say yon are not guilty. "You are discharged." Addressing the jury, His Honor said: " Please retire to the body of tho court," and then, " Gentlemen, 'you say the prisoner is not guilty. One hopes your consciences are clear; however, that's your affair." In another case Mr Justice Stringer said he must confess that he did not quite und-srstand tho process cf reasoning by -which tho jury had arrived ab their verdiot.' Addressing the prisoner, His 'Honor addedi "It is not a verdiot I would have found myself, but the jury are the judges; I have to accept their verdict," Addressing a jury in a later oase, His Honor said he desired to impress on members that it was the duty of a jury merely to determine the guilt, or otherwise, of an accused person on tho evidence adduced, and not on any other consideration. He had a growing feeling that juries ;■ sometimes allowed outside considerations -to influence them in arriving at a verdict. That should not be so. Outside circumstances, no matter how slender or for what reason they were introduced, should have no effect on- the minds of jurors, otherwise the value of evidence was lost*

Mr W. Stormonth, of Drummond, reports a disastrous visitation of caterpillars to his Italian ryegrass crop, which covered an area of about 25 or 30 acres, says the 'Western Star.' When the grass was ripe and ready for harvesting a mass of caterpillars appeared, climbed the stallcs, and completely ate off the ears of the grass seed. The visitation represents a loss of •about £2OO. _ Neighboring fanners had harvested a little earlier, and their returns were handsome. Mr Stormonth's crop was a perfect picture prior to the appearance of the caterpillar ravage, and gave promise of an unusually heavy yield. The caterpillar is about long in its normal state, with brown 6tripes on the back, a pinkish tint through the body, four pairs of feet on the forepart, two blank ribs, and three pairs of feet at his rear end. Old settlers say they liave known and experienced this pest before, though not for many years.

A radical change is pending in the matter of the lifebelts supplied to passengers on board ships. This change was o.fticially notified some 18 months ago, tho date of the change to be July, 1918. It is now decided that the change shall take place on the specified date. This means a good deal to shipowners who have a stock of old-fashioned belts on hand, and in consideration thereof tho lengthy notice of impending change was given. Tho oldfashioned belt, which is about to be discarded, was fastened round a persons waist, and tape bands went over the shoulders to prevent slip. The main weakness in the design of this belt was that it did not keep the wearer's head out of the water, and a temporary faint or other form of unconsciousness resulted in drowning, through the head falling forward into the water. The new type of belt has pads on each shoulder, and aims at keeping the head of the wearer clear of tho water even though unconsciousness may take place. 'This is a vital consideration. This war has proved it. The war has also proved that with the old typo of belt the shoulder tape bands were unsatisfactory. Drowned persons, with lifebelts on, have been found floating head downwards. The shoulder bands had slipped or broken, with the result that tho belt itself had shifted its position, thus forcing the lower part of tho wearer's'body to theism-face. The new typo of belt also aims at eliminating tins danger. Altogether the new lifebelt is'a hotter life saving apparatus than the old one it is superseding. The belts may be made of kapok or of cork.

A Wellington P.A. telegram says: Tho message reporting the discovery of another mine should have stated that "tho locality is off Cape Farewell, not Cook- Strait, Detective-sergeant Kemp and Detective Hammerly to-day arrested Daniel Livingstone on a charge of being a rogue and vagabond.

Thescutching and fibre sheds of Mr Geo. Petrie's flax-mill at Romahapa were destroyed by fire yesterday afternoon. It appears that a spark from the engine was blown among the fibre in the shed. Luckily half a dozen bales of dressed fibre had been removed just prior to the fire. A P.A. message from Wellington states that at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers Mr S. A. R. Mair was elected president. Mr A. J. Patcrson vice-president, Mr F. W. Furkert lion, secretary, and Messrs Charles Banks, J. Blair Mason, and W. J. Roche to vacancies on the council.

"hi the days of Elizabeth, for example, an_ Act was passed that for every cottage built at least four acres of land" must be provided." This _is tho statement of a writer in an English magazine commenting on the effects likely to "follow the utilisation of unused-."allotments" to grow food' 111 war time. The writer goes on to state that unhappily the Elizabethan Act referred to did not become operative. "Had it become so, tho position of Britain to-day would have been very different from what it is—dependent upon the harvests of other lands or to chance shot of a German submarine." This writer, in reply to the rationing demand to "eat less" "in England, states that the solution is not to be found in eating less, but in growing more; and this could be done if the Government, as they should, would pass legislation compelling all lands nowjying unusued, or unwisely used, to be placed in the hands of those able and willing to grow food. Evidently, however, the allotment system- is already increasing the food supplies'of England, to an appreciable extent, for this writer quotes the case of a patch of some 24 acres of "derelict" land in a London south-western district, which was handed over to 500 allotment holders in December, 1915, and in December, 1917, foodstuffs had been produced from that hitherto unused land to an estimated value of £4,000.

The Council of Conciliation, convened to consider the Taratu coalmine dispute, djd not arrive at an agreement yesterday. Nor was the business finished by lunchtime to-day, and at 5 o'clock the mi-tics were still discussing. Good progress is being made with the construction of the race that is to carry water from Quailburn Creek to the Benmore settlers. The race is to be fivemiles long. Water has been run into two miles of the race. Sitting in Chambers to-day. His Honor Mr Just-ice Sim granted probate in the estates of William John Millar, Duncan King, Margaret Cameron, Alexander Matheson, John Mackay, jun., Robert Young, William Wright, James Courtney halconer, William- Lockver P.ains Mar garet Hodge, Charles " William ' Ciark James Thomas Pink, Arthur Coulter' Tompson Lamb, and Thomas Patrick Hoga-n. Letters of administration were granted in the estates of Emily Dinah Bailey, Kobert Kirk, jun., Agnes Barnett, and Elizabeth Jane Smart. You can rely on Watson's No. 10 bein<* good It has a world-wide reputation'.— [Advfc.] The Port Chalmers Old Identities' Association are holding their second annual picnic at Portobello oh Saturday. This picnic was to have been held at an earlier date, but the weather was -so unsettled on the moVnin-* of the day arranged for that it was postponed until the end of the present week The special miming of the ferry steamer Ta-rewa i in connection with the picnic is announced in our advertising columns. Dunedin ladies are greatly pleased with the quality of " No Rubbing " Laundry Kelp and " Golden Rule" Soap. Wardoll Bros and Co.—[Advt.] A kiaorna to graph picture of ifeo faJtin" of the great columns in the Kawarau River "was taken by an operator on the spot, and will bo displayed in iDunedin next week. Watson's No. 10 whisky is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth the money —[Advfc.] ! - ' The annual meeting of tho Otago Mutual htarr-Bowkett Society will be held on Thursday, when appropriations of £1,500 will he balloted for. Applications arc invited for shares in No. 2 group. Ladies iccoromend Martin's Apiol and Steel Pillo. Sold by all chemists and stores. se« you get the genuine.—fAdrt.l