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Evening Star, Issue 18094, 9 October 1922, Page 4

■been a prosecution, that against a Laon manufacturer who claimed 13,000,000 francs, and has already been paid 4,500,000 francs, for a factory that cost him 250,000 francs before the war. There are many points about Germany’s evasion of payments sho has agreed to make, and the apparent condoning of this by Britain, whiclr are difficult to understand, but it is possible that the knowledge of what has been transpiring in Franco may supply some explanation.

It should bo welcome news to those who take a pride in the DunediiV'end of Otago Harbor, and should act as an antidote to the pessimism prevailing in many quarters, that a large Home steamer, with cargo and a few passengers, came direct from London to the cross wharf at Dunedin late this afternoon. Vessels have frequently come direct to Port Chalmers, but this is the first that has com© direct to Dunedin for many years. The steamer is the Waimnna, which has made an excellent voyage from London via the Panama Canal in under forty days. She is of 10,389 tons gross. The Waimana was one of the ships which took portion of tho Main Body of the N.Z.E.F. to Egypt. _ It is proposed to carry to completion before the approaching tourist season is over the track between the head of Lake Wakatipu and Milford Sound, thus giving access to Milford from tho east by either Greenstone or Routeburn. Travellers will thus have tho choice of a comprehensive tour, since they will be enabled to return, to Dunedin by way of the To Anau-Mil-ford track via Lnmsden. Another bit of good news for holiday-makers is in regard to the Hermitage at Mount Cook. The lessee is revising the- -charges in the interests of those who have to be careful about money, and there is to be a reduction not only in the tariff, hut in the road farce. Mention- in Saturday’s issue of the doings of the steamer Taknpuna brings to mind some of her express feats that were really wonderful thirty-five years ago. On one occasion she waited at Lyttelton to connect' with tho Dunedin express, and passengers by her reached Auckland In hours from the time of leaving Dunedin. She called at Wellington and Hew Plymouth. Tho schedule time from Dunedin to Auckland is -now 45h 23min, with tho help of tiie Main Trunk lino of railway, which in the Takapuna’s fast days was only talked about. At a daffodil show in a hall the beauty is individual rather than collective. One goes right up to a bloom and examines it at close quarters, then on to another. He does not stand back to got tho massed effect that roses or mixed flowers furnish. A moment’s reflection will supply the reason. Daffodils do not grow in vases. They look their best on the background of the earth, with which they are naturally related l . So do most (lowers, but the daffodil is peculiarly influenced in this way since it blossoms on a- long stalk and suffers more because it; is completely away from its proper environment. To got an expansive picture of daffodils that will impress the eye one must see them in a field. And that is the glory of the annual display at Wotherstones, where they have been put out by tens of thousands on the hillsides. A party of Dunedin visitors went thither yesterday, and report that Simpson and Hart’s property is this year a more wonderful sight than ever. It is questionable whether its equal can bo found in Australasia. Tho proprietors are addjng to the panorama year by year, and all previous experiences are now outshone. There is a practical side to this great show, in tho fact that on Friday of this week the Wether-stones daffodils are to be picked and sent- to Dunedin for sale on behalf of the Plimket Society, and other growers belonging to Lawrence will reinforce tho supply. Civil servants in Hew Zealand ns well as mercantile officers will marvel at, and perchance «ivy, the splendor and generosity of tho East (says the Mana-wat-u ‘Times ’). A gentleman now in Palmerston North is enjoying his triennial holiday of seven months, in which the time coming and going is not counted, provided he does not miss tiro boat at. every port. A very sad affair is reported from Levuka (Fiji). On September 24 a little boy named Eddy Pcckham, aged seven, was shot* through the head by a bullet from a loaded revolver. One report is that the weapon was being returned to a drawer by .another child, when tho unguarded trigger struck the edge of tho drawer, causing the explosion. Another report alleges that tho children were emulating some “star” heroes -they had been seeing at the movies, and, not knowing that the weapon was loaded, fired it, with fatal results.

What occupations (says the Wellington 'Times ’) furnished most recruits for our Expeditionary Force? Tho farmers say that they are tho backbone of the country. At all events they come first with a total of 22,864 men. Laborers are next with 12,590, and clerks third with 6,448. Other occupations in order are carpenters, 3,009; carters and carriers, 2,939; railway servants, 2,027; engineers, 1,821; bushmen, 1,801; miner-s, 1,748; Post Office employees, 1,277; motor drivers and mechanics, 1,271; butchers, 1,259; bakers and cooks, 1,133; seamen, 1,114; paperhangers and painters, 1,024; dairy factory employees, 968; grocers, 894; “no occupation,’’ 880; teachers, 810; storemen, 794 ; warehouse assistants, 777; printers, 727; horse trainers and jockeys, 725. Tho total of tho force was 95,808 men.

I Interesting details of tho punishments | imposed by tho governor of Pentridgc (Vicj toria) on prisoners for infringement of tho (prison regulations were revealed (says the j ‘Argus’) in a return tabled in the Legislative Assembly. Among tho 142 sentences is one whereby seven days was added to the sentence of a man because he had a, newspaper in his possession. Two other : prisoners found in possession of newspapers each received forty-eight hours’ solitary confinement. The list of offences gives some idea of the variety of articles which prisoners were able to obtain before the administration was tightened. _ Sentences were imposed for the possession of knives, hoop iron sharpened as a knife, i tobacco and cigarettes, books, tins of fat, ; meat, and papers. One man received two days’ solitary confinement for “being shaved without authority,’’ and another ■four days for “taking a dinner in excess.” Charges of embarrassing the warders by ! knocking needlessly in the cells for assistance were common.

There was a mild “ breeze ” in the Arbitration Court on Thursday following a remark made by His Honor Mr Justice Frazer in reference to Mr A. L. Montoith’s method of cross-examination. His Honor had occasion during the morning to comment on Mr Monteith’s tactics, which lie termed “ soap box oratory.” When the court resumed after lunch Mr Monteith drew His Honor's attention to the remark, and said he hoped His Honor would extend to him the common courtesy usually expected and shown. “If you have any fault to find with my method of crossexamination I would ask you to tell mo in a courteous way.” His Honor: I shall extend to you the same courtesies ns to anyone else, and I don’t want you to criticise in that manner. If I don’t like your method I will let you know all right. Mr Monteith: I only ask for common courtesy. His Honor; We try to put up with a great deal more in this court than oth»r courts would allow.

Many untoward things happened in the every-day life of the early pioneers of Australia and New Zealand which were regarded in those difficult times as mere incidents in the stem struggle for exist- ! cnee, but which, if they occurred nowadays, would cause a sensation from one end of the countr yto tlio other. One of the incidents which the late Mr G. ]T. J. Mason used to recount related to a ' party of mining prospectors who were travelling in Australia from one goldfield |to another. Provisions ran short, and they were reduced almost to starvation, having mothing left but some water. They jcame at length to a station and begged, for 1 flour, offering its weight in gold for payment. The owner was noted for his meanness, and, though well stocked, refused to supply their needs. They journeyed on, but at a short distance some of the party turned back, and, going to the station, they shot tho owner dead and took what supplies they wanted.

Mr Paulin's forecast: —N.W. winds, changing to S.W.; rain showers. The mayor’s unemployment relief fundnow stands: —Previously acknowledged-, £364 15s ; Mrs Alien, £2; Mrs MT-adyen, £2—total, £368 15s. t Increased activity on -the waterfront dur. mg the past five or six days has resulted in more prosperous times for many of tho local watersiders. More than half of tho members "of tho union were employed for several days last week in loading and discharging seven or eight ships of various sizes. Two large steamers—-the Katoa, from Auckland-, and the Dorset, from Liverpool via ports—reached port on Saturday, and both vessels provided employment for over 120 men. Three steamers and tho ketch Rira sailed on Saturday, all of which had provided work for many gangs. The Paparoa, a unit of tho New Zealand Shipping Company’s fleet, arrived last evening from London and Southampton via Wellington -and Auckland:, and took up a discharging berth at tho Rattray street wharf. Altogether the wharves present a busy appearance, and this increased activity was further enhanced late this afternoon by the arrival of the Shaw, Savill, and Albion liner Waimana, -from London direct. It was rumored in the city that the Waimana was carrying a large number of immigrants, but inquiries made at tho office of tho agents elicited tho information that, so far as was known, tho steamer has only one or two families on board. Tho aggregate gross tonnage of the four steamers berthed at the Dunedin wharves, including tho Waimana, is 31,357. The returns of the local Repatriation Department up to the end of September give another indication of the financial solidarity of Dunedin and Otago. Returns which wore made out covering all tho moneys advanced since the office was opened for the purchase of furniture, tools, business, and for other assistance indicate a satisfactory result. For evciy £IOO -paid out about £97 has been returned, the loss on account of bad debts, etc,, being only about 3 per cent. A jetty for tho landing of explosives to he conveyed to the powder hulk at Vanxhall is at present under construction _at tho wharf end of the southern retaining wall. It is a Government concern, and is being constructed under the direction of the Public Works Department. The explosives, it is .understood, will bo landed at the now jetty and carted along the retaining wall to the hulk. When completed, the jetty will extend 65ft out from tho retaining wall. Members of the Otago Rowing Club were apprehensive lest it should speffl their straight course along tho wall, but if tho jetty is not put out more than the 65ft they will not ho much affected.

Tho twenty-first annual festival, just concluded, of tho Dunedin Competitions Society proved very successful in every way. Tlic gross takings at the doors and bookings for the season amounted to £955, compared with £986 received from that source last year. Tho difference is probably due to the fact that members’ privileges were more availed of this year than in 1921. There was a record entry of competitors, and the decisions of _ tho judges were received in the main in a very sportsmanlike way. In short, tho members of the society have every reason to be well satisfied with tho success of the festival.

Tho assurance that Christchurch will have a new theatre in tho not very distant future has been given by Mr John Fuller, jun., governing director of Ben and John Fuller, Ltd. Mr Fuller slated that a start with a new theatre would ho made in the coming autumn, the plans were now definitely in train. “It will bo a theatre that Christchurch will be proud of,” ho said, but ho volunteered no further information.

A Canadian gentleman on a visit to Auckland told a 1 Star ’ reporter that New Zealand was infinitely superior to North America as the place for the average man to earn his living. Men lived here—and lived well—who would elsewhere be in the bread lino within six months, faced as they would be with stern competition in the race for existence. It was all very well to say that the general run of New Zealanders'were of a sturdy type, possessed of any amount of initiative, and that they ■ would come out on top and rise superior to the worst and hardest circumstances; the fact remained that the people of this young country were not educated to the hurly-burly of competitive business life on which the American thrived. It was not a question of adaptability; rather it was a matter of habit. To be really . successful in his country a man would have to be a “ dyed-in-the-wool ” stickler for business. Referring to tho recently-published statement that Rat-ana has decided to play a part in tho coming General Election, the Auckland. ‘ Church Gazette ’ states:—Mr Roweti T. Kohere has all along refused to accept the claims of Ratana, and has given warnings of the dangers ahead. He knows what happened to similar movements in the past. In a letter published in the ‘ New Zealand Churchman’ last February he referred to previous Maori faith-healers who went up like rockets , and camo down like sticks. “Those men,” said Mr Kohere, “make a groat stir and play upon the superstition and credulity of the ignorant and simpleminded; but before long are found out, and then get off the stage to make room for another. This fato awaits Ratana unless ho decides to lead a political movement. After his tour of the dominion and his big hui on Christmas Day ho will bo just .about played out.” Music hath charms, hut it rather detracts from enjoying even a good concert to lose a wallet containing £ls. This was the experience of a gentleman who attended the concert of the members of tho Sistino Choir last night (says the Auckland ‘ Sta" ’of Thursday). A friend asked him for tho loan of a shilling, as he was short of what ho wanted to purchase—a, ticket. A wallet was promptly pulled from the hip pocket and the shilling lent. This occurred outside tho hall, hut later tho gentleman had tho mortification of learning that someone else had abstracted his wallet. Tho vessel used by tho Auckland Harbor Board as a tug, the Te Awhina., is now over thirteen, years old (says tho ‘Star’), and may at any time have to undergo extensive repairs, in which case the (board would be loft without a suitable tug for tho harbor work. Inquiries have been made by Captain Sergeant (harbor master), who is now in 'the Old Country, with a view to obtaining a suitable vessel for salvage work. In a report written at Rosyth, Scotland, which was read at the meeting of the board this week, tho harbor master stated that he had approached tho Admiralty direct In the matter. At Portland Harbor ho had inspected the tug Roll Gall and several of the Rescue typo of tugs. The Roll Call was too large for harbor work, and would bo very cosily to run. The Rescue class were just the size and stamp required. They wore only single screw, but of good power. The Admiralty would Ibo prepared to accept £12,000 for one of these tugs. It would coat approximately £5,000 to install salvage pumps, wireless, and seaichlight. Tho estimated cost to take tho vessel to Auckland would be about £3,000. In 1918 this class of vessel cost. £60.000 to build. Hindus apparently find that the selling of fruit in the streets is not a very lucrative way of making a living (says the Wellington ‘ Evening Post’). It is noticeable that some of tho vendors must Ixi doing something in the way of a “freeze” for tho best part of the time, and the poor bidding at tho auction sale of fruit stands on Friday would indicate that tho Hindus are of that opinion. Fifteen stands were put up for auction by tho chief inspector, and tho only bidders were Hindus. Out of the successful bidders seven gave the same address (Tory street). The stands were auctioned for the October-December quarter, and the prices realised, with those for the corresponding quarter of last year in parentheses, were Twenty-three pounds fifteen shillings (£36), £ls f£l9), £7 10s (£l7), £ls 16s (£l9), £6 5s (£ll 10s), £ll 10a (£25 10s), £l3 17s 6d (£l3 17s 6d), £2l 15s (£23), £7 10s (£lO ss), £4 10s (£7 sa), £4 10s (£5 IQs'), £ll 5s (£10), £ll 5s (£2O), £39 (£47 Ss), £4O (£42), £l2 10s (£l2 ss) ; totals, £245 17e 6d (£319 7q 6d|.

A progress return from tho Repatriation Department (covering tiro period to September 20) states that the department has placed, 28,590 discharged soldiers m employment, and there are at tho present time 167 names on the “employment wanted ” register (Auckland 66, Wellington 55, Canterbury 14, Otago 22). In addition to 1,436 students who have been assisted financially with -grants for the payment of fees and the purchase of text books, the department has arranged vocational training for 6,084 partially-disabled soldiers, apprentices, etc-., and of this number 6,842 have completed their courses -and have been absorbed in various industries. During tho month of Sep tember twelve men commenced training and twenty-eight trainees completed their courses. There are 242 men still being trained—lsl subsidised workers and apprentices in private work-shops or factories, forty-one trainees at Euakura and Tftubercnikau Training Farms, etc., and fifty -others at universities. The total amount expended to date on the provision of facilities for training and for the sustenance of trainees is £393,193. Loads to assist discharged soldiers to establish themselves in businesses or professions have been granted in 6,300 cases at a cost of £1,146,266. A further _ 15,365 men have received advances totalling £731,147 for tho purchase of household furniture or tools of trade, and 4,540 have been granted financial assistance -in other directions. Altogether no fewer than 62,115 men have received assistance from the domrtment to tho extent of £2,283,786. Of tho total amount of £2,283,785 expended on behalf of soldiers £1',877,413 represents loan advances for the establishment of businesses, or for tho purchase of household furniture, etc., and up to August 31 last the department had collected in respect thereof £1,091,195.

A Balclutha family experienced a distinct shock on Tuesday (says the ‘Free Press ’) on receipt of a letter Horn friends in Invercargill condoling with them on having just passed the tribulations of a flood. Said family sat up to rub its collective eyes, and ask collectively “Are wo dreaming, or have wo been through a flood? Ispt a brain wave reacting from an affinity who lived in tho times of,Noah and_ tho Ark_ Just as they were on the point of despairing of a solution of their relatives’ odd letter, a little'Slip fell out of tho envelope, and /the printed words read as follows “ Balclutha was yesterday (September 26) visited by the worst flood that has been known for the past twelve and years. By midday all in the vicinigf. ef the post office had their household chattels under water, a-nd some left their houses. Boats were rowed up Clyde and Renfrew streets. The ‘Times’ hands are no to their knees in water sotting type. Almost tho whole township is flooded to an average depth of 2ft.” More brain cogitation and rumpling of hate, and then tho solution came “all of a. heap.” The par. -had been noticed by the sympathetic relatives in that usually reliable journal the Dunedin ‘ Evening Star ’ of Saturday last, where it appeared under tho modest heading "Forty-four Years Ago.” These old-established papers ought really to be more careful. Wo arc living in such a guileless age.

‘‘All other scenic drives in New Zealand pale into insignificance alongside the Mere mere Gorge, on the Opotiki-Motu road,” said Mr Lionel Walsh, of the ‘ Maid of the Mountains ’ Company, to a Gisborno pressman. Mr Walsh said that, all tho members of tho company were greatly taken with the beautiful scenery. He considered that tho beauties of the trip were not advertised enough. He pointed out how in Tasmania there were one or two decent trips, which were discussed from one end of the country to the other. The tourist traffic was enormous there. Hero in New Zealand, ho said, if a trip such as this was featured there was no doubt that it would draw largo numbers of touring motorists. Now that the Napier road was being metalled this would form part of a big round trip of the North Island. Tho great beauty of Meremere Gorge was, however, allowed to pass unnoticed. Tho position in respect _ to unemployment among returned soldiers is a great deal improved compared with what it ■was several months ago. During the winter months the time of the secretary of tho R..S.A. (Mr A. C. Laing) was largely engaged in dealing with personal applications of members out of work. In fact, for some time tho office was more like a labor bureau than anything else, and the number on tho list was on the way to a hundred. Many men were found employment by tho association, though it was a very difficult matter to placo those whose war disabilities precluded their doing anything but light work. -It is pleasing to bo able to record that, instead of dozens of men seeking liim daily for work, Mr L&ing now has only a few callers each day for that purpose. Our Clyde wires: All doubt about tho success of tho attempt to raise tho water in the Kawarau River at the Development Company’s work has been sot at rest, the insertion of the final grill sending tho water well over tho intake; indeed the race which was built to carry 1,000 heads was running bank high on Saturday. Certainly the river rose about Ift, but it is still at an unusually low level. Tho work is a triumph for tho engineer, Mr E. J. Res. tho annual meeting of tho South Otago Freezing Company the chairman -announced that it was proposed to change the power of the plant ironi steam to electricity, the Dunedin. Corporation, to supply tlio current. He added that thoro was a proposal to form a South Otago Power Board, but that would make it too expensive for the company. They could not take it from any power board, and if the Dunedin City Corporation could not supply it then the company would not have it at all. It would cost £4,000 or £5,000 to convert tho machinery at the works to make it electrically driven; but by doing eo the company would save at least £BOO a year, which was a big consideration. Mr T. E. Y. Seddon, M.P., has received tho following communication from tho Minister of Public Works “ With reference to the representations you made respecting tho desire of tho Grcymouth Trotting Club to have horses conveyed through the Otira tunnel, it is regretted that arrangement cannot made in this direction at present. The main desire of the Government is to have tho tunnel completed at tho earliest _ possible date, and if -requisitions of this nature are given effect to tho ultimate completion of the tunnel will be seriously retarded. Quite apart from this, I would point out that, owing to tho overhead electric wires being low, it would bo extremely risky to allow horses to be conveyed through tho tunnel at present, and in tho circumstances I regret I cannot see my way to accede to your request.”

New season's" photographic goods; excellent stock now arriving. Cameras from 6s. Send your order early to H. J. Grill, 11 and 13 Frederick street, Dunedin; 'phono 1,144. —[Advt.l Watson’s No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiskies, hut is worth tho money.— (Advt.l Tho “eing germ” is tho only germ that “ No-Rubbing ” Laundry Help wall allow -to live in the washhouse. R. Rutherford.— [Advt.] Non-burn Kettle Knells, easily fixed. Saves lids and fingers. Sixpence.—Todd’s White House, George street.—[Advt.]

The nip for nippy winter weather—Wateon’s No. 10, fine old Scotch whisky.— [Advt.l