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Evening Star, Issue 17314, 30 March 1920, Page 4

„ Ritchie, the Land Purchase Controller, who is chairman of the Dominion Land Purchase Board, accompanied by -.lr B. T. Sadd (Commissioner of Crown Lands), Mr James Smith, and Mr J M’Crae (representative of the Returned Soldiers Association) went last week on a visit of inspection to the Ormaglade Estate, which consists of 7,100 acres freehold and 4,945 acres leasehold, close to J tiller s Flat and adjoining the Teviot station, running nearly along to the Beaumont station, and as a result of the inspection negotiations will be entered into for the acquisition of Ormaglade for oqpupation by discharged soldiers. This is a very important step. It is doubtful whether in any other part of New Zealand so much has been done ns in Otago to provide gdocl land for our fighting men to settle on. Ihe poll of the ratepayers on the proposal to borrow £162,000 in order to augment the City water supply by bringing in the Lee Stream took place “to-day. °Up to a late hour this afternoon the voting was not heavy, and the prospects of the proposal being carried did not appear too bright. » In reference to the advertisement inserted by the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association, asking incapacitated men. who are unable to find work to inform the secretary, about a dozen men have so far reported. At the_ annual meeting of the Otago branch of the British and Foreign Sailors’ Society last evening the treasurer (Mr C. E. Bockingsale) made reference to the splendid work carried out by Mr and Mrs D. L. K. Walker in the way of attending to the social side of the society’s operations. The speaker said that he had been particularly struck by the amount of time ■devoted by Mr and Mrs Walker in entertaining visiting sailors. They were in attendance at the Rest almost every night, supplying refreshments to the men of the sea. Mr Wm. Buchan, the honorary missioned had also been a devoted worker throughout the year, and the speaker fe’t sure the society appreciated the efforts put forward by Air and Airs Walker and Air Buchan. Special mention was also made by the chairman of the splendid work of Alts.and Miss Inglis at tho Dunedin Rest. The Finance Committee of the Wellington War Relief Association are now holding more than £1,500 in respect to gratuities forfeited by men who are not maintaining their wives and t° retrospective married and children’s allowances that the authorities have asked the committee to disburse under the particular circumstances attached to these cases. A fair amount of business is steadily put through at the Dunedin office of the Tourist Department, and on top of the regular work there has been quite a rush since Friday last. Air ■ Robieson booking many persons for Wanganui, Alount Cook Queenstown, Stewart Island, ' and other resorts;. whilst some have arranged to spend their- Easter holiday on the Alilford track. Air Robison went over this track recently, and from what he saw and from the reports of returned parties he is satisfied that the accommodation is such as to meet the wants of tourists. i

The latest fish story was related in the Gisborne Supreme Court proceedings in connection with a claim by Maoris for compensation for loss of eels through the draining by settlers of the Repongaere Lake. The Maoris, who wore awarded by a jury £57 -d| mpensation, claimed that tho eels from the lake supplied all the food for huis in that and' other districts. Mr Justice Hosking became reminiscent, and said he had seen eels 6ft in length in Lake Manapouri. A Maori witness, Taki Kerekere, who was in the box, capped this by saying he had seen cels 18ft in length, and men had been used for bait. His Honor said he thought this was rather a tall -one, and adjourned tho Court for lunch. An autumn crop of strawberries has made its appearance during the last fortnight in the Auckland district. A few crates of these unusual products are coming to hand daily in Auckland city, and are realising Is 6d to Is 9d a chip/ Tliis late crop on last year’s beds is expected to have a deleterious effect on the next spring crops. In the view of Mr T. E. Sedgwick, who addressed some representative men last evening on the question of migration, some of the trade union restrictions at Home were good in some ways. “ But,” said'the speaker, “some men were afraid of doing too much work for fear of putting a mate out of a job. If thp Old Country only had a. Conciliation and Arbitration Act as you have in New Zealand they could got over that difficulty.” The statement evoked a smile of incredulity. The secretary of the Dunedin Returned Association has received a communication from the Deputy Public Trustee, Dunedin, advising that, under the conditions of tho will of the late Mr Janies MTiaren, £290 has been left to the association. The money may bo spent in any way the association may think fit. Tho Social Committee of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association have arranged a programme for the winter months which should provide a great deal of pleasant enjoyment for returned men. They are commencing activities with a social and dance, vrhicli is to 100 Ireld in tho Early Settlers’ Hall on Thursday, April 15, and will hold a similar function each month except in August and October. A hall is to be held during each of these mouths. The Workers’ Educational Association are making substantial progress. On Sunday morning last Mr- J. C. Stephens (president), Archdeacon Woodthorpe (director), and Mr George M‘Cracken (organiser and tutor) attended a meeting at the railway engine sheds fer the purpose of instituting a tutorial class for railway and tramway workers whose duties prevent them from joining one of the week-night classes. There was a good attendance, and reports indicated that a sufficient membership was assured. It was decided to recommend as the subject of study ‘ The Industrial History of England.’ It is_ anticipated that the Tramways Union will send a contingent of students to this class. Last night a similar meeting was held at Roslyn. The Rev. Dr Cameron presided, and there were 50 men and women present. Dr Cameron explained the aims and methods of the W.E.A.. and his remarks were supplemented by Messrs Johnson and M‘Cracl:en (tutors). It was unanimously resolved that a tutorial class he formed, the subject of study to be ‘ The Principles of Economics.’ "Sir Donald Reid was appointed class chairman, and Mr S. Edwards secretary. A comfortable class room will be secured, and it is confidently anticipated that 40 students will be in attendance. Both of the foregoing classes will begin work after Easter. EL forte are being made to establish a tutorial class for the residents of St. Kilda and Anderson Bay district. A meeting will be held at St Kilda on Thursday evening, under tho auspices of the Borough Council. The Mayor (Air A. D. Edgar) and several of the councillors are interesting themselves hi the movement. The_ organiser will next visit Mosgiel upon a similar mission, and later on Oamaru, Milton, Balclutha, and other towns will be_ offered the educational advantages now being enjoyed by the.workers of Dunedin. It should not be forgotten that at the back of the W.E.A. stand the University of Otago, and that the Chancellor and members of the council are solicitous that 'he tutorial class mos'eramt hculd be extended 1,0 all parts of the community, while at the same time the lectures are kept up to University standard. A splendid silver cup, named the “ Edward Cameron” billiard cup as a tribute to the donor, is to be competed for annually by members of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association. Rules and regulations for the first competition, to be held during tho next few months, have been drawn up by the Social Committee of tho association; and a cony may be seen at the office of’the association or at the Anzac Club. Entries are to close on Wednesday, April 7. /lie nine education boards in the Dominion were represented at the conference •of education board architects, held in Wellington under the chairmanship of Air G Penlington (architect to the Canterbury Education Board), at the suggestion of which body the conference was convened. Mr Penljngton informed a reporter (wires our Christchurch correspondent) that the conference had been -of great value, in giving an opportunity for the education boards’ architects to get acquainted, and as a result there would be no hesitation on the part of the architect, of one board approaching the architect of another far information and assistance. The climatic differences found between the North Cape and the Bluff were responsible for no very definite conclusion being reached on several matters, including open-air schools and the heating and ventilation of schools. Almost every aspect of school architects’ work was discussed, including the question of school sites, architecture, and school furniture. One case of theft came before Air H. Y. Widdowson, S.AL, this morning at the City Police Court. William John Quan was charged witli tho theft of. a watch and chain valued at £7 12s, the property of John Edwards, on March 8, at Dunedin. Chief Detective Bishop, who prosecuted, asked for a remand. The watch, h-s said, had been recovered, but the chain, which was the more valuable, had not yet been found, a ceased having made a statement that he had given it to some men in the street. Accused was a patient at the hospital, and was suffering from tuberculosis. In view of this circiimstanoe, the police did not wish to keep him locked up during the period of the remand. “ Did you go to the front? ” asked the Chief Detective cf accused, who replied “Yes.” The Magistrate remanded accused till Wednesday, April 7, and granted him bail in his recognisance of £2O, on the condition that he reported each day to the police, 1 Air A. Harris, ALP. for tho Waitemata i electorate in Auckland, is evidently a very keen business enthusiast, as he combined i his parliamentary duties in connection with the visit in securing substantial orders for several business firms in New Zealand. One is interested to know twhich was the first essential—the object of the visit to Samoa in his country’s interest or the business firms he represented. The Collector of Customs was alert, and collected the usual license fee.—‘ Samoa Times.’

A few light .showers in the back country a fortnight ago is the only rainfall which the (district, has experienced for many months (writes our Cromwell correspondent). This has revived the pastoral country and turnip areas to some extent, but everywhere there is anxiety in regard to the prospect of winter feed. A steady soaking rain would even now make the position secure, but the winter season is steadily approaching. the pastoral country on -the higher levels has stood the drought remarkably well, and it is on the lower reaches that the parched condition is more conspicuous. ' The same remarks apply to the whole of the inland district, and the turnip fields along the railway line are in striking contrast to those of ether years. Advice has been received by the local Defence Department that the troopship Corinthic, which was originally due at Auckland on April 6, will not arrive till April 9. She has only a small draft of about 50 troops. One hundred and six entries have been received for the Otago Rifle Association’s Easter meeting at the Peiichet Bay range.

Sir Paulin telephoned at 2 p.m.;— Strong N.E. to S.W. winds; barometer further fall; rain in about 24 hours.

Travellers by the Otago Central Railway are not altogether satisfied that departmental methods are so perfect as to be beyond all possibility of improvement. The train which leaves Dunedin shortly before 8 a.m. arrives at Ranfurly after spending some time at stations en route so as not to get ahead of the time-table. On Monday mornings this train is usually crowded. Both dining rooms at Ranfurly are rushed, so that two relays are necessary. But the 20 minutes allowed is not enough. The diner who is fortunate enough to get a seat at onoe has hie meal spoilt by having a prospective diner waiting behind his chair. Unless he is downright selfish, he has either to get up hungry still or with tho certain prospect of indigestion from bolting his food. With a little less of the “ go-slow ” policy on the journey up, there would bo the chance of a little more of it at tho dining table. The City Corporation advertise to-day, announcing a further reduction of pressure in the water mains owing to tho stored water being now down to tlis limit of safety for health and fire purposes. A correspondent draws our attention to tha waste of water at one of the hill schools during the long Christmas holidays, extended by reason of the influenza. He states that during all that time the automatic Hushes on this school’s premises worked with unfailing regularity. Ho desires to know the amount of water wasted through this cause, also whether the same thing obtained at any other school in the Dunedin reticulated area. Lots of business is being brought before the Local Prices Investigation Tribunal which sits at Dunedin on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; and there is every indication of the Tribunal being closely occupied after Easter. The majority of the complaints relate to retailers’ prices in regard to common necessaries. The outstanding features of the Dunedin Botanic Gardens during the Easter holidays will he the geraniums and the michaelmas daisies outside, and the begonias in the house. The Michaelmas daisies include sorts that are not commonly grown in small gardens. The most showy of the geraniums is that known as Soldier’s Tunic. If the dry weather continues there will be a very bright show; in any case the flowers will bo well worth a visit. Advice has been received by private cable from Melbourne that the recentlyrevised Commonwealth tariff includes a substantial increase in the import duty on New Zealand timbers to Australia. Hitherto the rate for white and red pine has been Is per 100 ft. but the new duty is 3s 5d per 100 ft, with the exception o'f white pine used in Australia solely for the manufacture of butter boxes.-—Hoki-tika P.A. message. Housewives will be wise to stock their pantries well before Friday, as nearly all retailers will be closed from Thursday night till Tuesday morning. Probably the only shops that will open on Saturday will be the fruiterers and confectioners. The bakers will carry on business as usual on Saturday. o Watson’s No. 10 is a little dearer than meet whiskies, but is worth the money. — [Advt.] “ Thinker ” school exercise books, and “ Thinker ” pictorial note books—ideal etationery for every homo and child. Duncan and Simpson, Ltd. —[Advt.] New Zealanders on sendee found that there is no brandy like Cognac brandy, and no Cognac brandy like Martell’s.—[Advt.] Our Sal© proved such an attraction that we were unable to serve all cur customers on Friday night, so wo have decided to continue it until Easter. Rusbatch, j&wellers.—[Advt.] “White House,” George street, —Beat value in fruit and jam jars. Todd’s, nest Plaza.— [Advt.] Blended correctly, aged correctly—Watson’s No- 10 Whisky, clean, soft, mellow.— [Advt.] The most popular Hotel m Dunedin is the City Hotel. High-class accommodation, liquors par excellence; in fact, everything is of the best.—[Advt.] Ladies recommend Martin’s Apiol and Steel Pills. Sold by all chemists and stores. See you get the genuine.—[Advt.]