Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 16664, 21 February 1918, Page 4

An inquiry as to a report that pearl barley has advanced in price—the answer being that it is up by £2 per ton to £2l 10s—leads to the information that not much pearl barley/ has been made in New Zealand during the past two years. It is cheaper to import it from Australia, for the reason that the Australian millers make it from Cape barley, which is of much less value than the Chevalier barley which is used for the purpose in New Zealand. Why, then, it may be asked, do not our New Zealand millers use Cape barley? The reply is that pearl barley made from Cape barley has a green tinge,- which our people do not like. Then why do they take it from Australia? Because the Australian manufacturers bleach the stuff with sulphur, and thus purge out the undesired tint. Why don't our New Zealand manufacturers adopt the same bleaching process? Because the Government department will not permit this to be done. Applications to allow the sulphur treat-. .ment have been refused. So in the result we have this peculiar state of affairs : that our millers must not prepare the goods as our people want them, and our people are compelled to give the profits of the manufacture to Australia. The ordinary meeting of the Drainage Board was held last evening and attended by. the Mayor (Mr J. J. Clark), Messrs Small, Kilpatrick, Kellett, Sincock, Lunn. Wilson, and Taverner. It was decided to appoint Mr G. A. Lewin secretary and Mr W. D. R. M'Curdie engineer to the boajd. The concrete foundations for the new bridge at Arthur's Point, between Queenstown and Arrowtown, are now finished, and the temporary staging for the big span is being fitted and put ipto position. All the material is on the ground, so tho submarines cannot now hinder tho job. It was reported to the City Council last evening that the time for making an offer for the purchase of the Kaikorai tramway -would shortly arrive, and it was decided Uhcit the council take no steps in the meantime to purchase the property. Under their agreement with-' £he company the council are entitled to make an drier for the whole concern, but are compelled to buy at the valuation placed on the property by the valuers. The effect of the council's decision will be that when the company's lease expires the property will be put up to auction for sale to the highest bidder.

A'memorandum from the Mayor informed the Citr Council last night that Mr Wm. J. Wadham, an English artist of considerable reputation, was at present "■n Dunedin, and had with him his private collection of pictures by leading English artists. At the request of several, lovers of art he had generously agreed to place these pictures on exhibition free for a week or so in the City. His' Worship suggested that the council bestow their patronage on the exhibition. The srcgge*-. turn was complied with. The City Council's enterprise of laying out grass strips and planting trees at Dunottnr and in Yalpy streot, St, Clair,* is now complete, and according to the report of Cr nt the City Council meeting last night, while the residents of Valpy street have displayed proper spirit in attending to grass cutting and keeping the plots tidy generally, the Dunottar residents have not been so public spirited. "It is expected," said the chairman of the Works Committee, "that residents take an interest in keeping the grass plots tidy opposite their frontages, and it is not gratifying to find that the Dunottar people have not stirred themselves to keep the frontages tidy." The Australian wheat that came to Otago_ in December is used, and the flour from it is eaten. Two or three of the mills in or about Duncdin have had to cease grinding for lack of grain, whilst others are working on their scanty reserves of Australian wheat, and supplementing it with wheat from Canterbury. Another cargo from tho other side is'expected before long, but by then the crisis will be over, as the new wheat grown in New Zealand will ho coming to hand. Some of the Otago millers were not at all satisfied with tho_ allotment of the last cargo. The distribution is supposed to be according to the grinding capacity of the mills, taking into account the stocks in hand. It is alleged that Oamurn got moro than its fair share of the last shipment, and we are told that in addition Oamaru got a cut in from the shipment that came later and was understood to bo meant for Canterbury. Timaru suffered, it is said, by Oamaru coming in on that occasion. It is to be hoped that tho Board of Trade will insist on a fair allocation of the next cargo. Another matter talked about in milling circles is an intimation that the velvet wheat from the limestono farms of North Otago is this season to be sold onlv to North Otago millers. The fear is that millers elsewhere will be in a fix for wheat of this particular quality, which is invaluable for mixing. The voting here for the Maori election took place in the Magistrate's Court to-day. Mr H. B. Eeid (clerk in the Court) acted as returning officer, assisted by Mr James Apes (of Puketeraki). The polling booth closed at 4 o'clock. The quidnuncs express the belief that Mt Harry Parata will be returned by a substantial majority. The secretary of the Otago Branch of the Amalgamated Society of Caroenters and Joiners, representng 560 members, has forwarded to the Prime Minister the following resolution, passed at a meeting on the 15th inst :-—" This branch of the societycall upon the Government to make a public pronouncement upon tho subject of a general election, which should be held this year, as we are of opinion that the people of New Zealand should no longer be deprived o ftheir consti tutorial Tights in being prevented from having an opportunity of electing their representatives for the future government of the country." Tho committee of Archdeacon Woodthorpe's tutorial class (Workers' Educational Association) passed a motion expressing deep regret at the loss sustained by the association through the death of Dr Bedford, and sympathising with tho bereaved widow and family. The conference of dele-gates of indnctrial unions convened by the Citato Labor Council was held in the Trades Hall last evening, when 61 delegates were present. The Hon. J. T. Paul was appointed 'to the chair. The Cordial Workers' Union submitted the following remit:—" That this conference deplore the attitudo which the present Government took upin relation to the extension of its life; and, in view of the serious misgovernment of the country and seething discontent of the people, is of the opinion that it s imperative that a general election should be held this year.".—After discussion tho remit was adopted. The Otago Metal Workers' Assistants' Union presented the following reriici :—" That unions be asked to consider and, if agreed to, to initiate a halfyearly prepay contribution card, such card to be issued at a reduced rate."—This was also carried. The conference then, adjourned until this night week, when' -,o other remits will be considered. ' This morning's session of the Police Court was brief. Jessio Harvey was charged that, between the Ist and the 19th Febxuary, she kept a house of ill-fame, the premises known as 124 Tennvsou street. Cliief-detec-tive Bishop asked for a remand of seven days, remarking that the case had connection with the cases of two others recently reminded on charges of being -rogues and vagabonds. The remand was granted. Tho Civil Court followed. Edward G. Price (Mr Irwin) proceeded against Peter Reilly, claiming £2 9s 6d on judgment summons, for work done. Defendant did not appear, and was ordered to pay the sum and costs (ss) forthwith, in default. three days' imprisonment. MiBartholomew, S.M., presided. At a special meeting of tho City Council last night a schedule of proposed alterations to street names was submitted, and adopted after amendments, as under : Alpha street becomes Delta street, Arran street is altered to Corrie street, Queen Alexandra street to Bedford street, Harrison street to _ Galloway street, Jeffery street to Hamilton street, Linden street to Wright street, Rochester street to Belmont avenue, Tolbooth street to Alton avenue, Spylaw street to Rewa street Walker avenue to Perth avenue, Zetland avenue to Owhaio avenue, and Duckworth street to Granby street. The original name suggested to replace Queen Alexandra street (which is changed because there is also an Alexandra street) was Denmark streot, but Cr Kellett conjured the committee to find a British name, and the sad circumstances of a few days ago suggested the commemoration of Dr Bedford's name, the suggestion emanating from Cr Hancock. The amendment and extension of a City , by-law caused some discussion in ho Citv Council last evening on the question of whether the council are able to exercise sufficient control over motor car drivers, whether of taxis or private cars. Cr Taverner said that the corporation should ! have the power to withdraw tho certificate of persons who drove recklessly, endanger- ; ing the lives of citizens. He recounted the fact that he had been an eye-witn«jss of anarowly averted accident, caused by : the insobriety of a driver: and, further, ; he reminded the council that thev had not been able to withdraw the certificate of a person who had caused the death of a citizen. _ Tho Mayor (Mr Clark) explained the position. The council had power to cancel or suspend the license of any licensed taxi-driver, but as far as private ' drivers were concerned they had only the ' right _ the legislature conferred—that of | deckling that he was competent to drive a car. However desirable increased powers were, the council had no legal authority. The proposed new by-law was confirmed as a special order with slight additions; one emanating from Cr .Shacklock, and ' providing that licensed taxi-drivers must wear on the lapel of their coats a badso showing their license number; and a minor suggestion by Cr Macdonald providing that the inspector may cali for the production of a medical certificate where the physical capacity of a person to drive is doubtful. You can rely on Watson's No. 10- being i good. It has a world-wide reputation / [Advt.] -^ 1 The delight of thrifty wives: "No Rubbing" Laundry Help, "Golden Rule" Soap Allan and Smith, King street.—[Advt.] The difficult question of social diseases and their relationship to yoimg man will form the subject of a lecture to be given by Cap- • tain Pettit in His Majesty's Theatre on Sunday night first. Dr Pettit's lectures have commanded great audiences wherever given, and the present lecture will doubtless draw a big crowd of men, young and old. Watson's No. -10 whisky is a little dearer than, most whiskies, but is worth the money. -[Advt.] ' -. J JNo laay should be without Martin's Apiol and Steel Pills. Said by ail chemists and ttores throughout Australasia.—{Advt.l