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Evening Star, Issue 16988, 10 March 1919, Page 4

The fine weather of the past two or three weeks has worked wonders on the South. Island farms. North Otago is on the quiet rejoicing. Inquiries made on behalf of the * Star ’ in that district produce the belief that the farmers there are having the best season they have ever known. A competent and experienced yetflcr writes : “ I estimate that tho wheat in North Otago and South Canterbury will go fully 10 bushels to the acre over the average, and oats twice as much as last year. One small paddock of oats (10 acres) has yielded 105 bushels to the aero. Filty acres of wheat belonging to one man have threshed cut 70 bushels to tho acre. T b- - farmer who does not get 40 bushels of wheat thinks himself aggrieved. Barley is also good. I hare heard of a 70-acro paddock yielding 71 bushels to the acre. I’he prospects in North Otago are, the best ever enjoyed. The wheat crop I estimate at 55 to 45 bushels per aero all round, and oats about 50 bushels. Grass, turnips, and rape are also well above the average. Three acres will this year produce more than four in a.n average year, and more than five or six in a bad year.” It scorns certain that tho Dominion will soon possess a first-class port on the West Coart of New Zealand in New Plymouth. For some time past largo vessels such, as tho Mutate,a (which loaded there the other day) have been calling at New Plymouth, there being plenty of water at tho pierThe local ’ harbor board obtained power during last session of Parliament to expand £300.000 in lengthening the breakwater and in other fundamental works. It is expected that in two years improvemens will bo effected that will render that port a safe and sure harbor for tho largest vessels under every condition of weather. Mr Blair Mason, of Dunedin, who is professionally responsible for tho New Plymouth works, has also in hand a. scheme of works for the improvement of Wnangaroi Harbor, and a harbor and reclamation scheme for the Thames and, Wadion Diver is also being planned. Mr Ljair Mason loft this morning for' Wanw.mii to confer with tho harbor board t.iore on port and river improvement matters. The Maknra is bringing to Auckland two notable Prohibition advocates Professor John A. Nicholls has been Professor of History and K-comouiv at tho Boston University, which position ho resigned for tho purpose of undertaking a lecturing tour in England. He is said to be the greatest authority on Prohibition in the United States. Professor Nicholls is accompanied by an anti-saloon advocate named Mr Roberts, who, it is stated, lias been a powerful infliionce in Montreal

Au influential deputation of business men and otters called on Or Gilldson today requesting him to be a candidate for mayoral hm.ors. Or Gilldson acceded to Che"request, and agreed to come forward as a candidate-. At about 8.15 last evening the St. Hilda Fire Brigade turned out in response to a call from the direction of Foimuy crescent, but their services were not required, as the alarm proved to be a false one. -no northern express train arriving at Dunedin this evening lias on board _25 Otago and Southland, returning soldiers who camo back to the Dominion by the Port Melbourne. Sergeant-major Marlow is in charge of the party. The- City Corporation inspectors have furnished a report on all the piggeries. This report is to come before the General Committee to-morrow. We understand that one or two of the piggeries are praised, particularly one at Kaikorai, and tliat others are not. Prior to this report being called for the General Committee intimated that a licensing system was being adopted. Tho s.s. Westmoreland is bringing out 1,033 returning soldiers, draft No. 228. The draft includes the Pioneer (Maori) Battalion. This vessel is duo about the 12th April. The local Defence office does not yet know which will bo her first port of call. , An important deal in Princes street property has just been completed, the freehold of the land in whicli the , City Hotel ,is situated having been acquired by a syndicate (Messrs C. Speight, S. Solomon, and Arthur Barnett, Ltd.) for £13,000. Mr Quirk, of Tinxaru, becomes “ mine host ” of the City.

Mr Paulin telephoned at 1.30 p.m. ; Strong N.E. to N.W. winds; fine for 24 hours; barometer fall.

There is every probability that Mr H. Holland, M.P., will bo the Labor candidate for tho Wellington mayoralty. The chairman of tho Professorial Board, Otago University, informs us that there will bo considerable delay this year in the of tho results of the degi'eo examinations. _ The rcgiKtrar of tho New Zealand University, Wellington, advises tirat the examination papers left for Britain on December 1, but, owing to some unaccountable delay, they did not roach tho university agent in London' till February 20. The cabled results need not he •expected, therefore, till tho .last week in March. In_ consquence of the correspondmg delay an the receipt of the detailed report, it will bo veiy late in the year before results can be finally determined. ® a : l '‘ , holomew, S.M., delivered iudgment this morning in an action recently brought by George Gibson against the City Corporation, David Tannock (their superintendent of reserves), and John Peter Johnson, a gardener ip their employ. J. Jaintift claimed damages in respect of a mack mare purchased at what was alleged to hare been a pound sale. The genesis of this case is pot unfamiliar. In May last tho corporation impounded a mare valued at £25, the property of Frederick P. Smith. In June the horse was sold to the plaintiff Gibson for £1 Is, and on October O, by judgment oi tho Court, tho plaintiff was ordered to deliver the mare to Smith, tho Court holding that tho sale was void as not being a sale by tho poundkeeper. In giving bis judgment this morning Mr .Bartholomew said tho plaintiff now claimed damages for being deprived of tho horse. Ho had already decided at the hearing that plaintiff had no claim against the corporation, as Tannock and Johnson were not acting in tho course of their duties within the scope of their employment in the matter of the alleged sale. Defendants’ solicitor (Mr W. 0. MacGregor) contended that there was no warranty of title at a pound sale, and that tho title of tho original owner was not dispossessed by such sale. He held, however, that tho Impounding Act conferred a good title on the purchaser at a regular pound sale, to the exclusion of that of the original owner. As tho Impounding Act conferred a complete title on a purchaser at a pound sale, this was tho title tho poundkeeper warranted to give. On breach of such a condition a purchaser might either repudiate tho contract and recover the price paid, or treat the breach made as a broach of warranty. and sue for unliquidated damages. Thu damage tho plaintiff in this case had sustained was the loss of his bargain. There was undisputed evidence that tba animal was_worth £25, and plaintiff was entitled to recover this sura and the- sum of 8s paid for shoeing. Defendant Johnson, in selling by Tannock’s instructions, was the mere vessel for carrying nut his master’s instructions. Gibson’s right of action was based on tho warranty of title, for breach of which the vendor (that was. the person directing the sale, Mr Tannock) was liable. Judgment would bo given for plaintiff against Tannock for £25 8s and costs. Plaintiff would be nonsuited as against Johnson, and judgment would bo given for tho corporation in the action against them.

Bowlers who saw the play in tho champion of champions tournament at the Caledonian and other greens on Saturday week, and at the Dunedin green last Saturday agree that Mr W. Carswell, or Mosgiol, fairly earned hia win. He played steadily and consistently, and right through the tournament width seemed. to bo never a puzzle to him. Though not an impetuous player, ho really played as fast as some who deliver quickly, for he seldom went down to look at tho head and never had to stop and ask : “ Whose bowl is that one? ” Ho has excellent sight and he knows tho game, and ho is a worthy champion. In 1915-.no got very near it, 'being in tho final with J. Scott; in 1915 ho reached tho semi-final, and this is the climax of a wonderfully consistent career.

The Theological Hall, which is the collet of the Presbyterian Church for the elucation of students for the ministry, opens for the 1919 session to-morrow. The annual session synchronises with, that ot thu University. The meeting is to hold at 3 p.m. in Boss chapel in Knox College. The Eer. AY. Gray Dixon, Mod orator of the General Assembly, will preside, and the opening address will be delivered by the Ilov. H. \V. Burridgo, of St. Paul's Church. Invercargill, his subject being “ Ecligion at the Front. Mr Burridgo is a returned chaplain. It is of interest to note that quite a. number of men who liavo been carrying rifles and bombs in the strife with the Germans arc taking up their studios at the Hull, and wo learn from tho Eev. H. 11. Barton, convener of the Theological Committee, that things at the Hall generally are coming back to normal. Another point of interest and significance is that tho students of the Baptist Union are still making nee of this Theological Hall. Here we have a taste of tho church unity that we usually view with tho telescope as afar off.

The tale as to a. shark being- seen in the break .at St. Clair beach on Saturday afternoon eecms to be authentic. _ Tho ladies who were in the surf at tho time—about 5.50 —were warned by the local constable. The men who say they saw tho shark are credible witnesses. They describe it as 7ft or Bft in length. Wo mention the matter for the instruction of adventurous youths who swim out too far. In tho break a shark might not bfy able to do much harm : nevertheless he is an ugly companion. That a shark should come in so close is not unprecedented. One was seen in the curling water at St. Hilda three or four years ago. With; comparatively smooth water a hungry rover of tho deep may take a- risk after a meatless day.

New season’s photographic goods; excellent stock now arriving. Cameras from 6s. Send vour order early to H. J. GUI, 11 and 13 Frederick street, Dunedin. ’Phone 1.144. —[Advt.] . The newest styles of English suitings and costume materials have been received by Ansel I, Octagon. Cal! and see them.— [Advt.] , , Watson’s No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth tuo mone).— [Advt.] And no matter how dirty thp clothes are, “ No Rubbing ” works like magic in clearing out tho dirt; Is packet suflicient for seven weekly family washings. Hunter and Etheridge, Ltd.—tAdvt.J Influenza.— Doctors at Homo recommend spirits.’ Watson’s No. 10 whisky la purest, best.—[Advt.]