King Country Chronicle Saturday, May 12, 1917.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XI, Issue 972, 12 May 1917, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Saturday, May 12, 1917.

Arrivals in Auckland by Thursday morning's express state that some 200 intending passengers for the north had to be left behind because of the lack of accommodation on the train.

The restriction of posting of newspapers and book packets to the United Stateß of America, except through news agents and publishing offices, is withdrawn. Private persons may now post freely.

A notice appears in this issue announcing the fact that Mrs Parry, gold medallist W'll be in Te Kuiti at the Chronicle Buildings on Friday next, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., when she will be pleased to meet anyone desirous of having lessonß in singing.

"In former reports we have found it necessary to draw attention to tbe reluctance of the returned soldiers to go on the land. Of late, however, more men have been inquiring after work in the country." This statement appeared in a report which was placed before the Auckland Patriotic and War Relief Association by tbe Discharged Soldiers' Employment Committee.

The Government Statistician, Mr Malcolm Fraser, points out how unavoidable certain mistakes are in connection with the military ballots. We had, for instance, on his reserve roll no fewer than 75 "John McDonalds,"' 68 "John Smiths," 70 William Smiths," 64 "James Smith" 53 "James Wilsons," 54 "William Wilsons," 47 "William Browns," 40 "John Campbells," 45 "John McKenzies," etc.

A meeting of ladies interested in the work of carrying on the Patriotic Shop, was held in the Municipal Hall on Thursday afternoon last. Mrs A. B. Jordan was elected convenor. It was decided that the work be carried on in much the same manner as last year. The shop will be opuried on the first Saturday in June, and the proceeds of the first Saturday in each month will be devoted to Red Cross work.

Now that the coal strike definitely seems to be a thing of the past, the Railway Department has lifted the embargo placed on certain classes of goods. This was done on Monday, May 7th. The Department now announce that from and including Sunday, May 13th, the ordinary timetable will be observed in the Ohakune district, which includeß the Te Kuiti section. The express which used to leave Auckland at 12.40 p.m and the one leaving Wellington at 9.10 p.m. will not be reinstated. Minor alterations have been made in the times of some of the trains.

The disposal of a certain class of timber from the State sawmills at a price lower than that charged by private mills was the subject of representations made to the Government by tbe Farmers' Union recently. The Union bas received a reply to their representation from the general manager of railways as follows: — "The position is that the timber is a by-product, not of first quality, and in its own interests, as well as those of the general public, it is considered that the Department should continue to dispose of the timber in question as it has done in the past."

The prospects of sport in the King Country were pictured in very bright colours by Mr N. 0 Matthew, of Te Kuiti, says the Herald, at Tuesday evening's meeting of the council of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society. He stated that the fishing last season was remarkably good, and that the prospects for the shooting season also were distinctly good. There was, he said, an abundance of quail in the district. On behalf of the local society he extended an invitation to members of the council to visit Te Kuiti for the purpose of indulging in this sport. Mr Matthew was heartily thanked for his invitation and his visit.

The First Military Medical Board will sit in Te Kuiti on Monday, May 21st

Offices have now been opened in German to<vns and village at which a,* medal or an iron watch chain is Ifiven to every person who deposits jewellery to a certain value, the jewellery to be u.sed as "cover" for the Keichs hank "notes.

Sailors aboard the steamers Manitowoc, and AUaguash mads charges with the port authoV.'Wßh at Saint Thommas, where the VGBBeIB 1 called en route to ttucnoH Aires, that underneath the cargoes of coal loaded at American ports were quantities of fusel oil and many other supplier, especially for submarines. Tha sailors assert that on a previous trip they got rid of cargoes while at sea to German submarines. Among the alleged supplies were chests of gold containing £50,000 each.

" J here in an fxce.ptionally large number of seamen m the Wellington district drawn in the latest ballot," remarked Mr W. T. Young, general secretary of the Federated Seamen'B Union, to a New Zealand Timea representative. The names of 58 members of the union appear. This is almost double the number drawn for the whole of New Zealand in some previous ballots. Following the usual procedure, appeals w ill be lodged in each instance.

A rather curious position wbb revealed at the unnuual meeting of parishioners ol' St. George's Church, the Patna Pres* relates. On a vote being taken on the question of allow-! ing the womenfolk the franchise inj< church matter:;, the motion was* carried by two votes, the men, of course, only voting. Out of curiosity the chairman asked for a vote of the women present on the question, and thia resulted in the proposal being negatived by three votes. There were about three women to each man present.

The Waikato Winter Show is an exhibition of the productß of the Dominion, ft is second to a National Exhibition only because of the limited amount of time and money available. Hundreds of schools show the work of its pupils, the boys exhibit their handiwork, the girls exhibit their cocking and household products, the farmer his products, the poultry farmer his poultry. In short, everything that is produced in the Dominion can bo shown. Write to the secretary, Mr W. H. Paul, Hamilton, for a prize list which will be posted free to any address.*

The illustrations in this week's issue of the New Zealand Sporting and Dramatic Review will be found of exceptional interest. The opening of the shooting season is depicted in a striking series of snapshots taken on the Waikato. The war is represented in remarkable photographs showing the up-to-date methods of the French in dealing with the enemy The transport of food to the British troops in the Western front is also the subject of special pictorial treatment, while the "Victory" war loan rally in London and a miscellaneous section throwing sidelights on the war, are comprised in a notable issue.

At a meeting of the Auckland Waterside Workers' Union this week the question of the nightly train services to the suburbs was discussed. It was stated that upwards of 200 waterside men will be affected by the curtailment of these nightly services. The men considered that it would bo impossible for them to work hours in accord with the agreement they had recently accepted if there were no trains to carry them back to their suburban homes after work. If some alteration in the existing railway services to the suburbs of the city is not made, it is stated, the union will have to consider the advisability of allowing the men to oeaßG all work at an earlier hour, say 5 p.m., so that they could get home.

Remarkable figures are]| required to express the magnitude of the business of Swift and Co., the big Chicago meat-packing (irm, in 1916. In all payment made by the company for live stock was in excess of £60,000,000, or £10,000,000 more than the total expended in 1915, The turnover amounted to no less than £115,000,000, as against £IOO,000,000 in the preceding year, and the net earnings reached the high level of .-£4,093,000, as compared with £'2,817,500. The dividend for 1916 was at. the rate of 8 per cent., which represented an increase of one-half par cent, on the 1915 disbursement to shareholders; and the accumulated surplus carried forward was £12,063,000, or an increase of £2.893,0<>0 on the sum which was brought into the latest balance-sheet.

A statement ol' particular interest to home-service men who are anxious to do their part in the present war was made by Mr T. A. Bamber, a member of the Second Wellington Miiltary Service Board, at a meeting of the Wanganui County Council's last week. The matter of farm labour was under discussion, and the fears of a shortage expressed on all sides, led Mr Bamber to make some remarks. He said he was not in a position to disclose all he knew, but he could say that the authorities were giving careful consideration to the labour problem. It was proposed to organise the whole of the male population hetween the ages of 16 and 60. He believed before long some drastic conditions would be put before the community. There were some, 20,000 or homo service men, and the proposal was to organise them and not let them go round to farmers asking lor the wages they wanted. The proposal wbh to send them round to Various districts to do essential work. Aliens who were naturalised, and in no division, would probably be taken for labour also. He V believed that the Efficiency Board would see that the necessary labour would be provided for the harvest.

A Salonika message states that a demonstration by 40,000 people, at which the Mayor presided, demanded the deposition of King Constantine and his dynasty.

The Corriere d'ltaila states that three shots were fired at the Kaiser While he was motoring to Berlin. Two of the shots struck the car. The perpetrator was arrested.

Thf> body of a single man named found*" at Taupo on Saturday with a pea-rifle wound in the head. The deceased occupied a small farm, and is understood to have been in receipt of money from England. Messrs J. Williams and Son, tailors, Te Kuiti, have a change ad, in the front page of this issue. A good stock of seasonable suitings is kept in stock and the latest merchants' patterns are always available for inspection and a good selection of material is thus guaranteed.

Word has been received in Palmerston that Lieut. Warburton, of the Flying Corps, previously reported missing, is a prisoner in Germany. He accompanied Lieut. Robinson, V.C., to France, and it is presumed was captured with him at Karlsruhe.

At a meeting of the Otorohanga Acclimatisation Society, held last Saturday, Messrs J. Parry and C. Elliott were appointed delegates to Te Kuiti to arrange the boundaries of the two districts, and to get information as to being a sub-branch of Te Kuiti or continuing as a , separate body. Mr Lloyd was elected a member.

The chairman of the United States Naval Problems Committee states that the committee is trying naval devices of great promise, and Mr Edison is making important experiments. The latest American battleships are equipped with a remarkable armour. It is said it will require three torpedoes to sink such a ship. An American inventor claims to have discovered an impenetrable armour.

Many of the German vessels seized by America were badly damaged in the engine-rooms, and, also structurally, but in the case of others the United States officials got in early and interned the crews before they could do any sarious damage. These vessels are now being put into commission as rapiidly as possible, and are being used to convey foodstuffs and munitions to the Allies.

Attention is drawn to the advertisement of Mr J. Cowper, general carrier, Te Kuiti. Mr Cowper has taken over the premises lately occupied by Messrs Charlton and Willis, and the large sample rooms attached to the buildings will be at the disposal of the public. Wood and coal yards will be kept well stocked, and a telephone ring No. 4 will be promptly attended to, and all orders accepted will receive prompt attention.

The first of a series of social evenings, which will be given throughout the winter months, in St. Luke's Hall, in aid of the church funds, was held on Thursday evening. A good number attended, and the social was voted to be a great success. Splendid music provided by Mr Christian and others, was much appreciated, as was Mrs Hewetson's kindness in supplying the crockery necesssry for the function.

The experience of the United States Bureau of War Risk Insurance prior to the extenison of the submarine activity, is rßther interesting. From September, 1914, to November, 1916, the bureau accepted risks amounting to about £33,000,000, and made losses of £IBO,OOO, from which £12,000 was obtained in salvage. The premiums collected amounted to £628,000, and claims paid to £155,000. A premium surplus of £473,000 was on hand, while unexpired risks totalled £2,900,00. Expenses during the 26 months were roughly £28,000.

The recent advance in shipping freights made by the shipping companies will necessarily add to the cost to consumers. The freight on barley, bran, flour, maize, oats, onions, pollard, potatoes, rye corn, and wheat has been advanced 2s 6d per ton, on oatmeal 3s per ton, and i on ryegrass seed, cocksfoot, clover, linseed 10s per ton.. Coekfsoot freight is now 45s per ton, ryegrass seed 40s, and clover 355, so the will have to pay more for his Chaff is now 35s per ton, an increase of ss. Being light, a ton of chaff necessarily takes up a lot of space. The proposal of the Returned Soldiers' Association ■ th&t there should be one Minister in charge of the administration of matters relating to returned soldiers was discussed the other day by the Hon. A. L. Herdman, Minister in Charge of the Discharged Soldiers' Information Department. "Such an arrangement," he said, "will, I imagine, be made ■when the war is over and the Minister for Defence is relieved of the work in regard to recruiting and the training and dispatching of soldiers. lam sure that the proposal of the Returned Soldiers' Association is sound." An impression haa gained ground that the financial assistance now being afforded soldierß by the Government is in the form of a loan. The board appointed to administer funds desires to make it plain that the assistance is not a loan, but a straight-out gift to the soldier. The regulations do not discriminate between officers and men. Each caae is treated on its meits, but an application is only considered after the applicant has been passed as medically fit. There have been 350 caßes dealt with to date, and as many more referred back for further information. The board is holding daily sittings to cope with increasing applications.