The Oamaru Mail. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1909.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 10241, 2 September 1909, Page 3

The Oamaru Mail. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1909.

The idea that prices in the retail grocery trade are cut to such a fine edge as to leave but a small margin for profit would seem to be based upon wrong premises. A grocer, giving evidence at the Supreme Court, Christchurch, the other day, stated that by careful buying and by paying cash for all he got, he made a profit of 20 per cent. .It was suggested to him that the retail price of sugar was subject to sorno cutting. This, however, he denied, and declared lie made a profit of 25 per cent, oil handling that article.

A witness at the Police Commission at Auckland, who asserted that there were a great many whisky stills in the Dominion, paid a high tribute to a constable, who, he said, had been sent to Kawhia to do a "dirty job" in regard to the suppression of sly grog-selling. "He .did the work well," said the witness. "He even went to the length of burying himself in the sand, leaving only one ear sticking out, which he kept open." The result was, he added, that with the assistance of Mr Northcroft, S.M., the place was made too hot for the sly grog-sellers. The English mail, via Wellington, Sydney and Naples, which loft Oamaru on Thursday, 22nd July, arrived in London on the morning of the 30th August. -

A reminder that to-night is the niglit of the dramatic entertainment "David Garrick," in aid of the Druids' Hall fund, is scarcely necessary, seeing thatso much has previously been written. Still it is as well to add that all the extensive arrangements have been completed, and what is now required is that the Opera House be well filled. Apart altogether from the interpretation of the comedy itself and its prelude "Gross Roads," the well filled orchestra, under the conductorsliip of Mr P. C. Burry, will pro'vTde an entertaining programme of music, so that nothing will be wanting in the way of a well-filled measure of enjoyment. "David Garrick" himself was an exponent of stage craft to a degree that rendered him an actor considered worthy of emulation, and it is fitting therefore that in the "comedy bearing his name, and which is founded on an episode in his life, there should be possibilities for work of a high-class nature. Constant and careful rehearsal by the company of amateurs, under Sir S. J. Davys' direction, have made it certain that only the best effort will- be put forward to-night, and there is little doubt that patrons will be rewarded with a representation of the piece quite in accordance with the traditions of local talent.

At yesterday's meeting of the A. and P. Association permission was granted to the North Qtago Mounted Rifles to hold their annual instruction camp on the Show Ground in October.

The practice of bringing his devotions into daily life is evidently believed in by the worthy Council Inspector, for evidence in a cattle driving case this morning showed that while on his way to Church, Mr Mathias picked up a drover and 40 cattle! Such attention to duty convinced the magistrate that a fine was demanded, and the drover, Charles Willett, left Court poorer by five shillings, but without costs of court to trouble him.

The historv of two bottles of beer was related in the Police Court this morning in a railway summons case. If it could be proved that the contents of the bottles had found a new receptacle, then there was an indication that a certain passenger was not sober! The bottles started from Glenavy and remained unopened, though the police elicited two "shandygaffs" from defendant in evidenced After a quiet and peaceful journey from Glenavy to Oamaru, the bottles left the carriage with defendant. TJnfortunately the train sat back on its haunches and beer and defendant disappeared temporarily from,sight. When the -purchaser had been extracted from a tight and uncomfortable position a doctor was hastily summoned. With his appearance the history ends, for, m the words of the jammed one: "He found there was nothing broke but the bottles."

An-interesting case was fought out in the Magistrate's Court this morning,. when an old man named Walter Finch pleaded not guilty to a-charge of leaving a train while it was in motion, at Oamaru station. Defendant was found by the guard iammed between the platform and tlie axle bos of tlie guards the evident presumption being that he had stepped off before the tram stopped and had slipped. The railway witnesses, who gave their evidence impartially and clearly, were unable to prove that the train was in motion when defendant fell. Finch stated , that'the tram had stopped and he was stepping out when tliere cairie a sudden recoil, apparently from the release of the brakes, and he fell. He was severely bruised, but Dr M'Adam had not found any other injury. The chief point for the prosecution was that defendant was found lying in a backward position whereas a recoil would have thrown him forward. Mr Hutchison said-that, technically, it a train was recoiling it was moving, but there was a doubt on the evidence and he would discharge the defendant with his bruises-and a caution. .

Apparently news of the Customs' seizures that have taken place in Wellington during the last few; weeks _pas spread abroad and produced its effect (remarks the Post). Members of the companies of vessels arriviiTft from over-

ißpuojij no patftjaq -oojtjdtjj 9 q^ uaiTA\ •xtoisssssod Jtaqq. ui ajopap oq. SuffitA aiou ]j« eat: sq.iod ess morning a rigorous examination of the ship was instituted by the Customs' authorities, even the bunkers, tunnels and holes beneath the engine-room being searched. Not an "undeclared" dubitable article could be found:—everything had been included in the l statements of the officers, "dowii' to toothpicks," observed one of the Customs' officers. "At Opunake, on the coast of Taranaki, near Cape Egmont, a few days . ago, some foolish persons loaded aii old piece of cannon which had stood 011 the cliff near the signal station for many years. The firing of the cannon shattered it to fragments and destroyed one of the most interesting historical relics of the district. The cannon was a mate of "Dicky Barrett," an ancient weapon which is preserved in the Public Gardens at New Plymouth. It belonged to the barque Harriet, a whaling vessel, which was wrecked on the coast in April, 1834. All 011 board, including the master, Captain Guard, and his wife and two children, were saved. They camped 011 the beach, and managed to get ashoro provisions and many articles from the wrecked vessel. A few days after the wreck a party of Maoris from a pa close by came down to plunder the Harriet. Disputes aroso between the two races, and the Europeans took up a position on the ton of a hill where the 'gun which a few days ' ago- was thoughtlessly destroyed was mounted. There was a good supply of ammunition, and when the Maoris rushed fiercely to tho attack the gun helped to keep them back. 111 a melee Mrs Guard and her two children were captured. Captain Guard and eleven members of his crew escaped to Moturoa. After many delays Guard placed his case before the Governor of Now South Wales, and H.M.S. Alligator was sent to the scene of the capture. Six months after the occurrence Mrs Guard, with one of her children, was rescued from an inland pa, to which she had been taken. Tho other child was recovered somo days later.

Modest New Zcalanders could scarcely suppress a feeing of chagrin at tho naval review (writes the Auckland Herald London correspondent) as tho baud of the King's Colonials played, and the audience loudly cheered the national music of Canada, Australia, and other parts of the Empire. New Zealand was .absent then, and will probably bo absent again from the series of national songs of the, overseas dominions, which "Britannia" has commenced to publish. The Government at present is exercised over the selection of a coat of arms for New Zealand, and the designs are now passing under the cold criticism of the College of Heralds. Would it not be a wise precaution against the jibe of posterity to bend our attention at once to the regular selection of a national anthem P Wo have lyrists of our own. We have a composer of outstanding merit. AVhy not call for tenders and set up a qualified committee to decide upon a national anthem, which will bo tuneful, poetic,, and inspiring?

Many' people imagine that travelling through the interior of China is an altogether dangerous undertaking, hut in this they are mistaken. Ac-cording to Mr C 4. W. S. Patterson, in a speech at tho banquet to the Chinese Consul at Auckland it is quite as safe as walking down Queen street. In narrating his experience of a journey which he made into the heart of China, he said: "Throughout the whole journey I received the greatest kindness and attention on all hands. The further one seems to get away from civilisation in China, the less trouble it seems to be. The Chinese arc remarkably kind and hospitable people. There are absolutely no difficulties in travelling through China so long as one minds liis own business and conforms to tho rules of the country. I have often been asked what it is like travelling through the interior of China, and all I can say is that it is just as safe as walking down Queen street. The people ore highly civilised, and are most hospitable in every respect." With a view to securing a grant for completing the Shearers' Hill road deviation, which will give access to the north-west portion of the Waikakahi Settlement, a deputation waited on the Hon. R. M'Kenzie yesterday. The deputation, which was introduced by Sir ffm. Steward, consisted of Mr R. H. Rhodes (chairman of the Waimate County Council), and Mr C. E. Bremner (county engineer). The Minister promised to give the matter his favorable consideration when Parliament meets.

Questioned yesterday as to the reasons which had led up to the decision of the Government not to proceed further with the prosecutions against the New Zealand Dairy Association for allegedly exporting butter containing more than 16 per cent, of moisture, the Hon. J'. Carroll (ActingPrime Minister) stated that there was nothing further to add to the instructions had already been sent to counsel appearing on behalf of the Department, viz., to withdraw the informations.

Writes the London correspondent of the Auckland Herald: According to tho opinion expressed at Smithfield market, the state of the frozen meat trade as to mutton and lamb is deplorable. The London stores are full to overflowing, and the discharge of vessels with meat from New Zealand has been retarded owing to the difficulty of getting warehouse space. It would be a great help if statistics were published periodically giving the quantities of frozen meat stored. Congested cold stores are a wonderful "bear" factor, and one does not necessarily know whether it is meat, butter, or hops which is the cause of the congestion, though at present frozen lambs are the main source of trouble. Very heavy shipments of mutton and lamb from the Dominion in May had much to do with the depression in the trade.

News received in Sydney by a recent Eastern mail states that this year, the season, so far, has been very favorable to the crops in Japan. The barley crop is larger than ever, and silk statistics show that the production of cocoons this year is greater than last, and the figures suggest a highly prosperous season. If the rice crop happens to be equally good, says a correspondent, it would be a record year in agricultural products. Japan's finance is now on a much firmer basis than formerly, so much so that she is able to pay off 60,000,000 yen (£6,000,000) of her national debt this year. Among the new enterprises that are springing up with Chinese exports is the shipment of beans from Northern China, and no less. than ten large steamers have left for Europe, loaded. Three thousands tons of pork have been shipped during the past month from Hankow to London by one of the P. a.nd O. steamers.

Few people idea of the extent of the rabbit plague, almost in the environs of the city (says_ the Evening Post). It will give some idea of the trials- of the settler when it is related that on one farm (something under. 2000 acres of hill land) in the Porirua district, there have been killed by traps within the last three months no fewer than 9000 rabbits. At first the trappers worked for tlie profit in tlie business, but as the bunnies decreased in numbers the farmer had to put them on wages to get them to continue the work. Poisoning is being extensively employed as well as trapping, and, now, thanks to effective supervision of the Department of Agriculture, the pest is being got under. Some interesting information on seaweeds is supplied by Mr R. M. Laing in au article in the recently published booklet on the scientific, results of the New Zealand Government trawling expedition. Writing on the seaweeds collected by the trawler, Mr Laing says "These are the first seaweeds that have been dredged at a greater depth than 10 fathoms off the New Zealand coast, and they are on that account of considerable interest. It is well known that the depth to which marine algae descends depends upon the amount of light received, and that those which can grow in the deepest shade near the surface are those which penetrate to the greatest depths. It is a mistake to suppose that new and; rarer forms will be found as we .collect at greater depths. This may be true, to a limited extent in depths between low-tide mark and five or ten fathoms, but it is not true of greater depths." . The latest nejvs about the Maori

••prophet" Rua in his TJrewera retreat (says the New Zealand Times) indicates that recruits are not coming to his banner j and the movement is gradually declining. Una's "mana" began to disappear with the lack of ready cash. He iiad boasted that God-given fivcpomud notes came to him at a snap of the fingers, but this has not stalled oS'a shortage of food which has been experienced among his foolish followers, wfio are helpless to improve their position while they remain, because all their property was placed at Eua's disposal. The eight good-looking young women who form Rtia's domestic circle are still with him, but a large number of native children who were withdrawn from the Government schools to secure instruction from the prophet have returned to the more orthodox education. The attendance at one school went_ down to twenty-nine owing to Una's influence, but it has gone up again to sixtv-nine, and the "prophet" is understood to be changing his attitude towards the pakena system. He is now anxious to have two native schools in his district re-opened. Without in any way making light of the misfortunes of the men who have lost their positions in the Government service as the result of the retrenchment scheme, says the Star, it may be mentioned that the volume of trouble is not so large, so far as Dunedin is concerned, as some seem to imagine. A careful inquiry instituted this morning shows a total of twelve men and two cadets whose loss of work is fairly traceable to the operations of the scheme. That is not a large number considering that the Government hope to save £250,000 throughout the Dominion. Big departments such as the Post Office, Telegraphs, Railways, Land and Survey, Education, and Public Trust altogether escape the pruning knife, and in Dunedin there are no discharges from the Public Works or Agriculture Departments, though in these two some hands are put off irom out-stations. The actual reductions in staffing —it is only Dunedin we are speaking of—-may be thus catalogued—From the Valuation Department, six men; from the Roads Department, two —the only two, thus closing the office, the duties being transferred to Public Works; from the Health Department, two, one being transferred to another office; from Customs, one; from the Labor Department, one inspector and one cadet; and from Old Age Pensions one cadet, who is removed to Invercargiil. Several weeks ago it was reported that leprosy had made alarming progress among the natives of the Cook Group. The Government resident medical officer was requested to report upon the matter to the Minister in charge of the Islands (Hon. James Carroll) and it has been ascertained that the original statement was exaggerated, the disease not being so general as was suggested.

Babies are for a time in disfavor with buyers of precious stones. Speaking at the general meeting of the Burma Ruby Mines, the chairman said that the falling off in the remand for colored stones had affected the company's income and compelled the reduction of the wages of the native laborers. "There is no doubt a temporary drop in the demand, and, consequently, the price of rubies," said an expert recently, "but it cannot be said to affect all colored stones. Emeralds and sapphires have taien their place, and the price of emeralds has risen as a result. The only reason for the falling off in the demand for rubies is the waywardness of fashion, and they will come into favor again before long. The lower price of the stones does not apply to the smaller rabies used in engagement rings, but only to the more important ones."

Convalescence is generaly slow after an exhausting illness. Stearns' Wine of Cod Liver Extract helps the patients to Tecover quickly by aiding: nature to build up the tissues and invigorate the whole system. " 12

Mothers who desire their children to have an abundant growth of soft glossy hatr should not allow them to "wash _it with strong soap*s, soda, borax, etc. Nothins: is so good as regular SHAMPOOS with HEXDY'S CELEBRATED JULEPTIA, leaves the hair beautifully soft and perfectly free from dandruff. Large bottles, la, obtainable in Oamara from A. BARSDELL, Hairdresser, Thames street. Try it. You will be delighted. Baxter's Lung Preserver will cure an ordinarv cold before it reaches tho chest. " Colds that commence m the chest are quickly cured by this famous rC por" V 'Children's backing Coughs at night use Woo'd's Great Peppermint Cure; Is 6d and 23 6d.

an outfit. Ail outfit for a man may be procured at H. Grenfell's Sale as followsiSuit, 17s 6d; singlet, Is 6d; pants, Is lid, socks, 6d ; shirt. Is lld;collar6d ; tie, 3d: studs, 2d; hat, Is lid; —£1 6s _d. Should an overcoat bo required a real Bargain can bo supplied at lbs lid, bringing the total for the complete outfit up to £2 3s Id. An umbrella can be added at a cost of 2s lid. For Children's Hacking Coughs at night use "Woods' Great Peppermint Cure; Is 6d and 2s Gd.