TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17702, 31 January 1918, Page 4

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Hie ferry steamer Maori from Wellington, which is running with one blade short on her centre propeller, is expected at Lyttelton at about 10.00 o’clock this morning. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that it has not been decided yet whether the proceedings, ot the Defence Expenditure Commission will bo open to the Press. Under tho auspices of the Hygiene Society, an address on “ Hie Care or Children ” will be delivered by Miss Edith Howes, the New Zealand authoress, at the Y.M.C.A. to-night, commencing at eight o’clock.

Last night the Sumner Brass Band, under Conductor W. Fenton, played an excellent programme at. the rotunda near tho pier. The evening was calm and warm, and a largo number of visitors and residents enjoyed tho performance.

Mr T. E. Barr-Smith’s Hummocks Station, near Snowtown (South Australia), comprising nearly 30,000 acres, and carrying 22,000 sheep, horses and cattle, including a valuable stud flock, has been purchased by the State. Government for £151,000, for subdivision for returned soldiers.

As showing the buoyant state of the stock market, it may bo mentioned- that the Now Zealand Farmers’ Co-opera-tive Association of Canterbury sold to a leading butcher yesterday 2000 lambs from their mothers- at 24s 9cl a head, for immediate delivery. Tho lambs were raised by Mr G. Sliiplev, at Island Farm, Harewood-

At tho meeting of tho newspaper proprietors of the provincial district of Auckland, at which it was decided to increase the price of papers to 2d por copy, it was pointed out that present landed cost was now 300 per cent above pre-war rates, and that papers had reached such a position that the greater the circulation the greater the loss.

A gardener who was digging a trench at the new quadrangel, near the School of Art at Canterbury College a few days ago, unearthed a human skull and leg-bone, about three feet beneath the surfaco. The skull has an excellent set of teeth, some of which are worn. It is believed that it belonged to a Maori, and that it lias lain there for about 150 years- Before the city of Christchurch was built upon there were fairly high sandhills in that part of the ground now occupied by the college, and it was used by the Maoris as a burial-place. Tho Americans are well known for “hustling” methods. At a lecture last night to fruitgrowers Mr T. W- Kirk gave a good example illustrating these. In San Francisco there is a hoard of horticulture, which has tho power of immediately-condemning any cargo of imported fruit in which a disease has been found. A consignment of apricots, sent from New Zealand for the Panama Exposition, was condemned because two apricots were infested by a certain grub. Otherwise the fruit was in excellent. condition. In New Zealand, said Mr Kirk, it requires two notices in the “Gazette” and an,order signed by the Governor-in-Council, before fruit, suffering from a disease, can be barred from importation. Colonel Purdy, Director of Medical Services, told the Third Military Service Board at Wellington on Tuesday that there are ten or eleven medical officers at Trentham and about tho same number in the Featherston camp. He was at the time supporting the Commandant’s appeal for exemption for Colonel Robertson, principal medical officer at Featherston. In reply to the chairman of the board (Mr D. M. Findlay), Colonel Purdy- said that Colonel Robertson was not unwilling to go, but if ho did go it would be In a medical capacity, and in that direction he was doing very much more valuable work than he would be “over there” Hie chairman: It appears to me that it may ho rather hard on Colonel Robertson (wflio has not appealed) if he desires to go and on your appeal we say ho must stay. Colonel Purdy: It’s not a question of his desiring to . go; it’s a question of his doing what hoG told—he’s a soldier. The chairman : The position is that lie is perfectly willing to go, hut tlnv'j he is perfectly willing to do what h(s superior officer thinks is most essential. Colonel Purdy: That is precisely the position. Exemption sine die was granted.

Certain consignments of apples w'hich are finding their way on to tho Auckland market. are suffering from a disease know n as “ black spot,” says tho “ Herald.” It is a fungus disease,, and affects tho quality of the fruit by stopping its growth before maturity. The apple season iu Auckland is not yet far advanced, but if much more of the fruit forwarded to the market is affected by ‘‘black spot” a considerable loss will result to growers and merchants. The spread of the disease commonly known as blown rot among apples is also causing concern to growers, and some consignments have been condemned in Auckland. As tho season has advanced it has been found that brown.' rot is developing to a serious extent among stone fruits, especially peaches and nectarines. Sometimes the fruit is in good condition in tho morning, and by the afternoon it shows signs of rotting, and in a few hours becomes absolutely decayed. It is believed that the disease was brought from America, either as germs on young plants, or m fruit. In the opinion of sonic merchants brown rot shows signs of developing to a much more serious oxtent this year than formerly. A proposal was put forward at the annual meeting of the Christchurch Orchestral Society last night that with a view to augmenting the funds all performing members should become subscribing members. It was pointed out that as thero were about fifty playing members the funds would thus bo increased by about £SO a year. Tho proposal was discussed at some length. Tho conductor, Mr A. J. Bunz, said that to an extent he favoured the suggestion. Quite a number of young insirumontalists joined tho orchestra and received a liberal musical education. Ho considered that a guinea a year was very littlo to pay for that education. Practices wore 'kept back in the efforts mado on behalf of the younger players, for they lacked experience and special attention had to be given to them in order that their work at a performance before the public should dovetail properly. Many good instrumentalists of the city had profited considerably by their association with the Orchestral Society. Members at present were not even asked to pay an entrance fee, while several were loyal financial supporters. He realised that some might not be in a position to give their services' ns instrumentalists and pay subscription as well, but he had no doubt the proposer intended a certain elasticity in that direction. Dr flight, Mr G. Bonnington and Mr G. Wilson did not favour the proposal, while several oilier speakers thought it required more consideration. On that understanding tho suggestion was dropped for the present. Trusses —Large shipment just landed. No extra charge for Loasby’s skilful fitting. N 1 Akaroa, where sea-bathing by electric light, motor trips on its beautiful harbour, brings rest and happiness to tired humanity. Two and a half hours motoring from Christchurch. 1989 Mr A. E. Bird ling, of Birdling’s Flat, topped the market at Addington yesterday, with some magnificent steers, indicative of the wonderful pasturage on his property. The buyer was Mr James Knight, tho well-known butcher from Lower High Street- This prime beef, and some particularly well-finished lambs, will form a feature of this next week’s business. 9 General carrying of all sorts undertaken by J. M Heywood and Co., Ltd. Their plant of horses and vehicles is one of tho largest in New Zealand. 2L3

A New Zealander, whose name appen red in the latest list of gazetted; defaulting reservists, is a prisoner or war in Germany. He was a marine! engineer on tho Gtaki, and sineje that time has been a prisoner. Ho has been it fairly regular communication with his relatives in Auckland. A mass meeting of married reservists will be held in the King’s Theatre, Gloucester Street, at 7.45 p.m. on Monday. Mr A. Williams, DeputyMayor, will preside. The meeting has been called to discuss matters of importance to the future policy of Second Division reservists. ' Proposed resolutions may be forwarded to Mr H. J. Hates, Box 1022, by Monday morning. Three more pupils of the Canterbury Aviation School passed their final tests yesterday morning. They are M. M’Donough (Christchurch), J. H. M Kendry (Lyndhurst),.and L. It. Harris (Waipawa). Colonel Cliaffey and Major Morrison wore the observers and they wore well pleased with the work of tho young aviators, who all qualified in excellent style, despite a high wind. Harris had only been in the school for three weeks. .

Much indignation was expressed by those present at Sir James Carroll's meeting last evening when tit was announced that though the. writ had been issued for tho coining election for tho Southern Maori seat, tho rolls had not yet been published, and people up to tile present did not know whether they were entitled to vote or not. It was suggested that an urgent wire should be sent to Sir Joseph w nrd asking for a weok’s extension before tho rolls closed. In the course of a lecture last night, Mr T. W. Kirk, Director of Orchards, said that, many years ago, bluestono sold in New Zealand had been of a very inferior quality. Later the quality improved; but since the outbreak of the war it had again deteriorated. A good method of testing Milestone was to dissolve it in a of water and then add a strong solution (98 per cent) of ammonia. If the bluestono were pure it would retain its colour, but if it contained impurities, tho colour would change first to dark bluo aud finally to jet black. The conference of tli\p New Zealand Boot Manufacturers’ Federation, which was held in Auckland, lias concluded. At tho final sitting the following resolution was adopted:—“That this conference of Dominion boot and shoe manufacturers hero assembled pledge themselves that so far as lies in tbcvr power they will, by encouraging thrift, efficiency and recruiting in tho industry, give their loyal support to the Government in tlilcir effort to free the world of Prussian militarism and the pernicious German industrialism that obtained before the war ”

A grievance in regard to the salary of tho local postmaster was ventilated at Sir James Carroll’s meeting last evening at Tuahiwi. “In Sir Joseph Ward’s time,” said one of those present, “ the salary was £2O a year. "With tho advent of Mr Massey’s party the sum was reduced to £l2, and at the present time the position is worth £7 a year.” Out of this a month’s salary was deducted owing to holidays, etc Mr "Witty said that the state of affairs in this respect was disgraceful, and he would be only too pleased to do all in bis power to have it rectified. A resident of Christchurch, who possesses the Now Zealand Medal, in a reminiscent mood yesterday said that when he was in the ranks that faced the Maori rebels on the west coast oi the North Island, some fifty years ago, tho soldiers were told that the Maoi is were present in their thousands, but later considerations had led him to believe that the relic Is did not number more than 800. They were very mobi e, lie said, and as they fought inside the circle, while the Europeans fought on tho rim, they could move about witn remarkable energy. Hostile Maoris appeared almost simultaneously at different places, but apparently they were the same old warriors every time. Me said that he was present at the funeral of Colonel Hazard, the officer who is said to have been shot by Kimble Bent, the renegado white.man, whose history has been written by J- Cowan, and he saw General Chute and his men) start out from Wanganui on their toilsome march to New Plymouth. They ran short of provisions, and had to kill the horses for food. Some concern hag been felt lately by North Auckland farmers at the presence among cattle, horses, dogs, and occasionally sheep, of a species or tick which is associated with a serious cattle disease in Queensland, tho limited States and South Africa, states a correspondent of the “ Otago _ Daily Times.” Questioned on the subject, Dr C. J. Reakes (Director of the Lave Stock Division of the Department of Agriculture) said tliat this disease, which was known in Queensland as “tick fever,” and in other countries by local names, was caused by the presence of minute parasitic bodies in the blood of affected animals in countries where it prevailed: The ticks,’ being blood-sucking parasites, were simply carriers of infection from animal to animal, in tho samo way that the mosquito was a carrier of malarial fever from man to man. “This disease,” said Dr Ileakes, “ does not exist and has never been known to exist in New Zealand, and though a number of cattle, together with other classes of stock, in tho north of the Auckland district have been found to be harbouring ticks, close observation and careful investigation have failed to detect in these cattle any trace of tick fever or any form of sickness resembling it. Ticks have been found in this part of New Zealand for some years past, but during the late spring they were unusually numerous, this being considered to be duo to the considerable duration of wet weather experienced being favourable to their dissemination. These ticks are of a different variety from those responsible for carrying disease in Queensland nnd America, though they are of an allied species and can only be differentiated by close examination. They are cuito common parasites in most countries. While there is nothing to fear from them in connection with contagious disease so long as we can prevent its introduction into New Zealand, they may bo mischievous in the direction of reduc- ; ing the value of bides if present on individual nnimals in sufficient numbers. Their blood-sucking habit will reduce the condition of an animal harbouring large numbers of them. Their appearance is seasonal. They first appear jn carlv spring and disappear about tho end of January.” Happy is tho man who knows itu liver; happy is tho man who, having knowledge of a liver, knows Primrose Perles, tiny palatable vegetable pills that keep the digestive organs right, the liver clean and the brain clear. Primrose Perles, Is 6d per bottle, from Cook- and Ross, Ltd., Victoria Square, Christchurch. 4 Sit for those New Year portraits today. Do not put it off any longer—and bo sure they are mado by Steffano Webb, Petersen’s Buildings, High Street. Telephono 1989. 1890 FOR SALE, loowt WOLSELEY i EXPRESS VAN, 200. Wo have for sale a 12-16 li.p. Strong, Economical, Roomy Express Van (brand new body, nicely painted), complete’with wind shield, .spare wheel, etc. Now on view at our garage. Price for quick sale, £2OO. Adams Ltd., 219, Tuam Street. 1989