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Grey River Argus, 22 February 1917, Page 2

The price of bread in Wellington has been increased to sid per 21b. loaf delivered and 5d cash over the counter. It was stated at the sitting of the Military Service Board at Wellington last week that eight new freezing works had recently been established in the North Island. Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lpnt. The usual services associated with, the day were held in the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches. „ ' ■ ■ According to advices from New York the recent submarine activity of the enemy has resulted in the sinking of a number of steamers, part of the cargo of which consisted of large shipments of American motor-cars and .mo-tor-cycles. I "".''. The Australian cracks. Gpullet and Grenda, carried off the Boston six days' Bicycle Race from the leading long distance riders in America. Of recent years the Australians have pra ticallv scooped all the 'big American six days' races. The Governor has received from jw r. Bonar Law a letter requesting him to inform the Native Minister that he placed before tho King the Minister's letter- of -October sth wHh regard to a donation of 30,000 acres; of land in the Ohdka block, between Napier and Taupo, by the . Maoris for the benefit of returned soidiers. Mr. Law adds: that ; His Majesty-instructed him to express high appreciation of the gift made by the 'Ngatitu-wharetoa .tribe.' Interviewed at Wellington on Saturday in connection with the strike at Bealey, the. Minister o£ Public Works (Hon. W. Fraaer) statjed that he had received the official report of the occurrence. It was to tne effect that one of the men at the Bealey end of the Otira tunnel was reported as having used insulting and obscene language to the overseer, who reported him to the engineer-in-charge, whereupon the engineer dismissed him. Shortly afterwards the rest of the men canie out and stated . that unless the man was reinstated they would cease work. The engineer declined to fall in with the suggestion, but reported the matter to the Minister. "My in* structions were," said Mr. Fraser, " that the man should not be reinstated. I cannot permit the men to take charge of the works in that manner. The men will have to make up their minds pretty soon. The present position cannot go on indefinitely, and 1 am in hopes that wiser counsels will prevail. " Two returned troopers at least aro assured of work — pick and shovel — and if the abilities of one of sthem turn out to be what he says the job he is going to . should be over very soon. It appears that this particularcontractor employs a man who can "shovel any navvy in the district stiff," but this ability does not seem to trouble the ex-soldier, who claims to be willing to have a fair week's trial at 13s. a day and if the boss is satisfied he will have a shot at 15s. a day, the wage paid' to the contractor 's crack navvy. "Come and give it a 'fair trial," said the contractor, "and if you can do as well as Bill - — - 1 will pay you 15s. a day." "But lam better than any man^in the country, I tell you, ' ' protested the late trooper. "I can use the pick arid shovel with any man on the job. and you bet I 'll get that fifteen bob." "Well your work will prove it," said the boss, "so if you come and give me a fair show I will give you a fair wage." This is the right spirit on both sides, and it is to be hoped that the valiant ( fighter "will be able to keep up withr! the other- man, and prove that he is as good a navvy as he was a soldier.

The immense value of motor-cycle ambulances on the French precipitous j mountain pathways, where a four j wheeled vehicle cpuld not penetrate, was recently referred to in London. It was stated that by means of English sidecar- ambulances the wounded are now conveyed to their destinations in i hour 20 minutes, as compared with 30 hours when the oxen-drawn French carts were used. We have received a copy of the first issue of "John Bull's Register," which opens its career in New Zea- | land in. the interests of British trade. The objects of tho new venture as stated by the management are: To cultivate as widely as possible an unof- 1 iieial combination among buyers and sellers to deal with no goods that can cither directly or indirectly be traced to enemy sources; to disclose those sources frankly wherever possible; to cultivate a strong spirit of trade Imperialism, . and in every way to further the trade interests of the Empire as opposed to the far-reaching commercial machinations of Germany and her Allies. Every care is being taken ,to ensure the utmost accuracy in the intimate details which we aim at securing in regard to "operators and .operatios" in foreign goods. "John Bull's Register" will bo published monthly. The issue to hand deals comprehensively with several aspects ac concerning the trade war which is , expected to follow the conclusion of , peace, and the statements made are an •.eye-opener to. the layman, and show 1 iplainly who's who in trading 'concerns ' vii the country. A meeting of the Westland Acclimatisation Society was held on Tuesday at Hokitika. The Internal Affairs Depai'tment asked for "suggestions as to dates for open shooting of imported and native game. It was resolved to suggest that the season for deor be Ist April to 30th June, and the season for native pigeons, ducks, pukaki and kaka be Ist May to 31st July, all game sanctuaries to be excluded from shooting area. It was resolved to suggest also an open season for opossums. It was intimated that hawks, shags and keas were not protected this year. A deer stalking license for far South Westland was granted, and another applied for. The Grey Society wrote accepting a proposal for joint action in stripping, hatching and distributing trout fry. ,It is hoped to strip the fish in the vicinity of Lake Brunner, and hatch them in Westland afterwards distributing the fry in both Grey and Westland. It is expected that the arrangement will result in a greatly increased number of try being liberated annually. The report of the caretaker at Lake Kanicri was of a satisfactory nature.