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Evening Star, Issue 16991, 13 March 1919, Page 4

The local of the European, American, and Expeditionary Force mail, which arrived at Auckland yesterday morning bv the Makura, will reach here on Saturday evening. It will be delivered in Dunedin on Monday morning nest. Housewives are joyous over what they hear from the grocer'’. that there is a tendency to a drop in prices. Salt, for example, is row being retailed at 2d instead of 3d. Inquiry of the wholesale merchants leads to the opinion that all imported provisions will soon be ea.sle-, and that further decreases are likely. Stocks are heavy, especially in the North Island. ‘‘So far as I am aware, there is no possible reason for the furthe' suspension of the retiring age, as fixed by law, at 65.” stated the Minister of Internal Affairs (Flon. G. W. Russell), when the matter was mentioned to him on Monday. “ Tire suspension of the law arose wholly from the emergency created by the wav, and now that the men are returning to the service 1 know of no reason why the law should not operate as previously.” When is a chicken a chicken no longer? Tins simple question exercised the minds of the Mount Fdc.n (Auckland) Borough Council during tho adoption of the new poultry by-laws at a recent meeting. One member argued that if 150 square feet was to be the space limit for 10 birds, chickens should be le f - oft’ half-price, as it were. Another wished to impose a three months’ infancy upon chick'"-us in .'moral. Rut the best answer to the riddle was that the laying of tho first egg should bo the first essential of qualification of fowlhood. Finally the matter was. left to tho superior knowledge of tho sanitary inspector. In response to a request by a deputation of Rotorua residents, Mr C R. Tapper has consented to become a candidate for the Rotorua seat at the General Election. The music cliweos at the Dunedin Technical School are to open for the session next Monday. One of these classes is for tho rudiments of music. This is for the benefit of students who are going in for the Associated Board or the Trinity College examinations, also for pupil teachers and all who value thorough knowledge of the foundations. Another class is for singing, with special instruction in breathing, phrasing, part singing, sight singing, etc. The third class is for those who wish, to use the voice for speaking only. Mr Sidney Wolf says that in the one term Last season ho 'found much encouragement in getting together persons who desired to Ram, and in obtaining good results considering the -short time available. From his long experience as a teacher of choral societies, orchestras, and so forth, he knows that many performers are not properly grounded, and therefore are unable to efficiently interpret. He seeks—and the managers of the school are with him In the endeavor —to correct this common fault, and to make students understand that music is not a subject to bo argued about from a democratic point of view, but is governed by laws that must be obeyed. 'hie Otago Land Board yesterday approved of 21 applications by discharged soldiers for advances, six of these being in regard to country properties

Mr Paulin’s forecast;—S.W. to N.W, winds and rain showers. The arrival of the mail steamers Makura and Niagara at Auckland at the same time {both vessels reached the northern port within IS minutes of each other early yestho alternate running programme somewhat the alternate running programme somewhat which has been followed up to quite recently. The position is due to quarantine and other delays, and also to the sunerioi speed of the Niagara. This vessel will proceed through to Sydney, but the Makura will return to Vancouver from Auckland, so that the regular time-table will again be resumed shortly. Mr I. W. Raymond (chairman of the New Zealand War Contingent Association In London) has cable to Mr Tripp (chair man of the Advisory Board of the Federation of New Zealand Patriotic Societies and War Belief Societies): —“184 wives sailed by the Athenic, and many others following. I strongly advise steps being taken to provide suitable temporary accommodation on pending permanent arrangements by the husbands. I suggest also similar action at other ports, and advise that you confer with the Ministei of Defence.”

The matter of assistance for New Zealand sea fisheries was mentioned by Mr T. A. H. Field, M.P., before the Industries Committee at Nelson on Monday, and the recommendations made to the Northern Fisheries Commission by Mr L. F. Ayson (Chief Inspector of Fisheries) have been published. In conversation with a reporter at Nelson yesterday the Hon. T. M. Wilford (Minister fo Marine) said that many of the suggestions made by Mr Ayson had not yet been considered by the Cabinet, but ho had already obtained the authorisation of £2,000 for the purchase of fishing material, nets, etc. at Homo in order that direct assistance could be given to those engaged in the industry. The Secretary of Marine was preparing an qrdei to be despatched to the High Commissioner giving the necessary details. Mr Wilford also stated that a grant of a very substantial sum for the provision of cool storage was not only necessary, but would have to be undertaken as soon as funds could be provided. An application for an increase in salary has been made by the Governor of Now South Wales, Sir Walter Davidson. The ‘ Sydney Morning Herald' says : “Sir Walter has demanded that his salary, at present £5,000 per annum, should bo increased by either £SOO or £6OO per annum. Accompanying this, it has also been stated, the Governor has demanded that there shall bo extensive renovations made to a number of rooms in Government House, and that the allowances attached to his position shall be substantially increased. Ministers who were interrogated observed a discreet silence, but it was ascertained that the Cabinet is not unanimous on the matter. One or two Mi hitters are said to be strongly opposed to the granting of these demands made upon the Public Treasury, while several others arc said to be favorable to the request. It has been pointed out that in prefederation days, and for a year or two afterwards, the allowances made for tho support of tho position of State Governor were considerably higher than at present. They now amount to something Hire £2,000 per annum.” [A cable message received a few days ago said that the application bad been declined.] Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M., presided in the Police Court this morning. _ Patrick Joseph O’Meara was charged with drunkenness, with a breach of his prohibition order, and also with using obscene language. He was fined 20s or 48 hours’ imprisonment on the first two charges, and £5 and costs (6s) or one month on the third. The funeral of Bombardier Thomas M‘Donald, at Anderson Bay yesterday afternoon, was with military honors. Deceased, who was the son of Mr A. J. M'Donald, of Macandrew road, served at Gallipoli,- returned to New Zealand, then served again in France, and was invalided for a chest complaint contracted during the fighting on the Somme. Captain M'Cormack represented the District Headquarters Office; men who had served with M'Donald were tho pall-bcarers; tho firing party was supplied by the military police, under Sergeant Smith. The Kev. D. Dutton conducted the burial service. On Monday afternoon a confirmation was held in St, Paul’s Cathedral, at which 44 candidates from Bavensbourne, Woodhaugh, St. Hilda’s College, and St. Paul’s were confirmed. The Primate delivered an impressive address, and tho cathedral was crowded with a representative congregation and friends of the candidates. The s.s. Kaikoura is on her way from Egypt with Draft No. 230, consisting of 32 officers, 7 nurses, and 1,073 of other ranks. The s.s. Manuka is bringing Draft No. 229, but it consists of only four men, one of them for Dunedin. At about 1.30 a.m to-day a fire broke out in a five-roomed wooden dwelling situated in Hayward street, Mornington. owned and occupied by Mrs Rose Conn. In response to the alarm, the City and South Dunedin Brigades turned out smartly, the machine from the South station being first on the scene. The house was in a very inaccessible position, and was practically destroyed before the firemen arrived. The building was insured for £l5O and tho contents for £SO with the Alliance office. It is hoped that the new' organ for St. Paul’s Cathedral will leave England in May and be in Dunedin some time in July. “ Australia is an ideal country for flying, and Melbourne is destined to become the great aviation centre of the Commonwealth,” said General Sykes, Controller of Civil Aviation, in a speech to the Australasian Luncheon Club in London last week. He said it must be ensured that the airmen of all parts of the Empire should be fitted for war if necessary, but meanwhile they should participate m the development of world-wide aviation. The route from Cairo, Calcutta, and Singapore to Australia was tho most important in the world. “We are now mapping a route to Australia by way of Cairo. Karachi, Singapore, ana Sunaay Islands.” he said. “At present we believe that Wyndham will be the first landing place, anci that landings will be_ made at Normanton, in Queensland, in New South Wales, and at Melbourne. Melbourne will become the centre from which services will radiate to Tasmania, New Zealand, Adelaide, and West Australia. Commercial aeroplanes would be most useful in carrying light valuables, and they might transport bullion from Australia and New Zealand, saving heavy interest. The lightest machines were now capable of carrying; 6721bs of mails." A Wanganui P.A. message says:—At the Patriotic Association meeting yesterday strong condemnation was expressed concerning transports, and the following motion was passed : —That the notice of the Government be drawn to tho facts (1) that a great many privates are applying for their discharges in order to avoid the extreme discomforts of the voyage out in crowded bottoms and holds of troopships, on an unnecessary restricted diet,- notwithstanding that much accommodation is vacant in passenger quarters reserved, for officers j (3) that no church services have been held on some transports, and that the Government be requested to alter such conditions.

The Chalmers supplementary roll, which is now in the_ printers’ hands, contains 2,22? names, this making a total, inclusive of the main roll, of 8,547. The 1914 roll, including the supplementary, contained 7,756 names, or 891 less than the present roll. A larger number of names than usual have been struck off this year’s main roll, this being due to an appreciable extent to the provision for lodging electors’ objections. It is said that some objections were lodged on very slender grounds, and that on© old lady who was notified that an objection had been lodged against the retention of her name on the roll, on the grounds that she no longer resided in the district, promptly replied to the objection, retorting that, as she had resided at her present address for many years, she would just like to know the name of the person who objected to the retention of her name on the roll. Messrs N. Dodds and A. Cable. J.P.s, at the Port Chalmers Court this forenoon issued a prohibition order against a Sawyers Bay resident, on the application of a relative.

In gratitude for the safe arrival of her soldier eon, Mrs Ada M. Oarr, of Epsom Auckland, natf given to the Auckland City Council a section of land at Epsom for a little park. The value of the gift is approximately £960. The site Is capable of being mtde one of the most attractive open spaces-in the city, and already carries eight or ten of the finest oak trees in Auckland. An exhibition of fire drill was given by the City and South Dunedin Fix© Brigades in Cumberland street last evening for the benefit of Inspector T. Hugo, Government Inspector ox Fire Brigades for New Zealand. He gave instructions for the South Dunedin men to be called up and informed that a warehouse in the city was on fire and to come in and assist. The alarm was received in the south station a few minutes after 8 p.m., and in a few seconds the powerful machine, fully equipped and carrying 10 men, was speeding along Cargill road. They reached the scene in just under six minutes, and under Foreman Price the men quickly had three loads of hose running into the building. The tum-out of the South Dunedin men was very creditable indeed, and the time taken on the run to the city was also smart, considering the heavy and greasy nature of the roads after the fall of rain yesterday. While the South Dunedin men were on their way in the City Brigade had been called upon, and the turn-out by them was equally as creditable. Three machines and the big electric extension, ladder, fully manned and equipped, were clear of the station in a few seconds, and several leads of hose were taken into the building, while the ladder was extended and a lead taken in the top storey from a good height. Inspector Hugo watched the work of the firemen with groat interest, and afterwards expressed himself as being well satisfied with the maimer in which the work was carried out.

Watson’s No. 10 is e little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth the money.— [Advt.] “ There is nothing succeeds like success,” so say the delighted users of “No Rubbing” Laundry Help. Is packet sufficient for seven weekly family washings. Hunter and Etheridge, Ltd,—[Advt.] ‘ A Practical Scheme for a Soldier Settlement on Cheap Lands ’ is tho title of a brochure published under the auspices of the Waiotapu Settlers’ Association. It is, in fine, an excellent “ boost ” or behalf of a fertile tract of 100,000 odd acres of land lying between the Waikato and Waiotapu Rivers. Influenza.—Doctors at Home recommend spirits. Watson’s No. 10 whisky is purest, best. —[Advt.] No lady should be without Martin's Apiol and Steel Pills. Sold by all chemists and stores throughout Australasia.—TAdrt.l