The Oamaru Mail. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1909

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 10242, 3 September 1909, Page 3

The Oamaru Mail. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1909

The attempt' of the Agricultural DeX?artment to withdraw The Butter the charge it brought Prosecution. against the New Zealand Dairy Associifcion' of exporting from the Dominion butter which contained more than 16 per cent, of water was impolitic as well as unjust. If the charge was not justified then it ought not to have been brought—if it can be substantiated, then, in the interests of the dairy industry, it should be carried to a conclusion. So far, evidence for the prosecution has been given, and it remains _for the defendants to meet the charge and to refute 'it, if possible. As Mr Hanna, in behalf on the accused Association, objected to the withdrawal of the charge, it seems that the defendants did not influence the Department in its desire to withdraw it, without affording them an opportunity to rebut the evidence given against them. The- discussion in Court when the case was resumed and counsel for the prosecution, at the instigation of the Agricultural Department, expressed a desire to retire from the position he had taken up, was singular in the extreme. The excuse for it was that, as attention had been drawn to the prosecution, there was no necessity to proceed further! But, if the oifence was really committed, the case having being placed under the jurisdiction of the Court, the Department was unduly stretching its privileges in seeking to take it out of the hands of that tribunal. If such interference with the course of justice is to be permitted by a governmental department there is no knowing where it may end. The magistrate, therefore, acted in the public interest and in the cause of right when he protested against the extraordinary step which it was proposed to take in the name of the Government. It would be interesting to know by whose authority such a blunder was made. The prosecution ought not to have been instituted, or, having been instituted, it ought to have been allowed to proceed. The merits of the case are, of course, not yet known, because the Association's side is not before the public; but it is obvious that no infringement of the law which insists upon certain qualities in our dairy exports should be permitted to pass. The restrictions were placed in the statute in order that exporters might be checked in the tendency to send out of the Dominion produce" which would, by its inferior quality, bring the dairy industry into disrepute. It is the law that must be obeyed, not the Agricultural Department or any other department.

A year ago the Maliono Brass Band's existence was in the balance and a special meeting was called to decide its fate. Less than a year previous the bandmaster had decided to relinquish his position owing to the irregular attendance and tendered his resignation, but the few members present made such excellent promise that the resignation was withdrawn. Since commencing regular practice again last year the attendance has been very encouraging, with the result that a very successful period both musically and financially has just ended. The band starts the new season with a concert and dance on Friday, 3rd September. Last year, on resuming, the band had to face liabilities amounting to £2l Is Bd, principally on rotunda and instrument account. During the year £7 18s 6d was earned by engagement, £8 lis 9d by concert and dance, and to close all existing accounts a small loan of £7 without interest was secured. The band now appeals to a loyal district to assist it to repay the loan and place it on the right side of the ledger. Perspiring and puffing, with his collar limp and his clothes covered with dust, a weary man struggled into the Colo Vale post-office on Tuesday night (says the Sydney Morning Herald of the 26th of August), and asked if he could send a telegram -to Goulburn. On receiving a reply in the affirmative, the travel-stained one dashed off his wire, and then asked, "Where can I get a drink?" He was a member of the House of Representatives trying to keep an appointment to address a public meeting. His name was Mr Hall, who represents Werriwa. His explanation of his being at Cole Vale in such distressing condition was simple. That night he was to deliver a speech at Goulburn. He missed" his train at Syd- ■ ney, and, being determined to reach his destination, engaged a motor-car to take him there. All went well until he was within eleven miles of Colo Vale, when the car . stopped. The chauffeur said the trouble was only trifling, and as he set about rectifying the mishap, the legislator sat on a stump and glanced through the notes of his speech. Half-way through he was startled to see flames burst from the car. The speech was cast aside, and Mr Hall, instead of preparing to throw mud at the fusion, busied himself digging up sand from the roadway to throw on the fire. The outbreak was soon subdued, but it lasted long enough to completely disable the machine, and Mr Hall was left stranded eleven miles from the nearest railway station. Nothing daunted, he set out, and walking and running, reached Colo Vale in .time to get a telegram off to his friends in Goulburn. He then caught a slow train to Moss Vale, and. picking up the express went on to Melbourne.

By far the most valuable item of it was but a small line—brought by the Huddart-Parker steamer Ulimaroa from Melbourne, was 25,000 sovereigns for the Bank of New Zealand. The bullion, which probably more than equalled in' value all the other cargo brought by the steamer, was landed at Lyttelton, "in good order and condition" yesterday morning," and brought to Christchurcn.

Describing the mode of life at the Otira tunnel works a representative of the Lyttelton■.-Times .states that there was a certain amount of casual insobriety among the men, but only one

I man was mentioned as an habitual drunkard, and he was referred to pitifully and scornfully as "boozy." All the men who were asked the question =mid it wtis possible to save a considerable sum of money annually on tunnel work, and many of thorn said they had 1 bank halluces for goodly amounts. As one of them put it: "If a chap puts in his time running to the post office instead of the pub he can save a lot in a year." It should be explained that the Post Office Savings Bank is the on!y institution. The men at Otira are, as far as education and working experience goes, a mixed lot. Some of them seem to have had the advantage of a really good education, speaking fluently and correctly, and even the least educated are well ablo to read and write. Gambling is rather prevalent among them, and some of the most intelligent and sensible of the men admitted that they occasionally formed part of a "two-up" school, betting anything from half-a-crown to a sovereign upon a single throw of tho kip.

The schedules in connection with tho forthcoming Agricultural and Pastoral Association's show are now being sent out. and arrangements generally tiro well'advanced. A number of new members have joined the Association, and the prospects for a very successful exhibition are favorable. The draft constitution for the Young Men's Institute will shortly bo submitted for approval by the special subcommittee appointed for tho purpose. It is probablo that an appeal to tho public will not bo made for some little time, as some of tho supporters counsel delay until a suitablo opportunity comes for an effective campaign. Tho gum industry in the Kaipara has received a little impetus lately by several good finds. A short time'ago (says the Auckland Star) a large piece weighing 2201b was found by Croatians at Maiigawhare. The finders, instead of selling, decider! to put the specimen in a glass case, and to allow tho sun's rays to operate on it, and the exposuro is having a remarkable effect, for the ■gum is becoming quite transparent. The find is regarded as being one of tho lai-gest ever made in one solid mass on tho 'VVairoa gunilields, and tho owners anticipate that when it is quite clear they will be able to get a record prico for it.

Compulsory medical inspection of school children is being urged by sevcrnl Education Boards, and would meet with a great deal of support in Parliament, at any rate among the older members judging by their speeches. It has been assumed during the recent discussion that some alteration in the law is required if this desirable innovation is tov come to pass, but the law already provides everything except that most vital necessity, the money. Two

sessions ago the Education Act was amended so as to empower the authorities to carry out a medical inspection of school children if they thought desirable, but the clause lias only onco boon utilised, and that by the Wellington Education Board, with most valuable results. As there are over 140,000 children attending our elementary schools and the secondary departments of district high schools, the carrying nut of a systematic medical inspection would involve an expenditure of probably £SOOO to £6OOO. At a time when

retrenchment is being practised rigidly and works of importance have to stand aside, it is unlikely that Parliament would sanction such an expenditure, thus further cutting into the resources intended for more pressing requirements.

Much controversy has arisen of late iu connection with the substitution of Chinese for British crews in ships of the mercantile marine. According to statistics just received from the Board of Trade by the Imperial Merchant Service Guild the numbers of Chinese shipped at eighteen of the principal ports in the United Kingdom during the years 1906, 1907, and 1908 arc 3190, 4952, and 4463 respectively. From this, of course, it would appear that the new language test for seamen imposed by the Board of Trade has arrested the influx of Chinese seamen iu British ships. Au interesting feature in connection with this matter has just been brought to the notice of the secretary of the guild by one of the members of the. guild relative to a curious law or belief which prevails in China. It is said that if a Chinese saves the life of another, he has, by Chinese law, to keep him and feed him for the rest of his life. This, the guild's correspondent remarks, is rather the reverse of Western ideas, but explains to a large extent why Chinese are not of much use in cases of emergency. He quotes the following personal experience:—"ln the steamer of which 1 was chief officer, Chinese firemen were employed. We had the misfortune to. sink another steamer, and although boat drill was held regularly every week, these firemen would not attempt in any way to save life, this being left to the British officers and sailors. I did not understand their reluctanco to take part in the rescue, as there was so very little danger connected with it. I now believe that the law existing in China of having to keep a man on saving his life was the cause of the reluctance of the firemen referred to." The occupant of the see of St. Peter is frequently the recipient of strange gifts. Some time ago a present of lions arrived. These are fortunate animals, and the Pope • at considerable expense has had them secured in large dens, in which they can ramble at will. All they can desire is free run of the gardens. Another remarkable gift, according to a Paris contemporary, was a colossal group in iron of St. X. driving back Attila from the city of Z. Tho names are purposely omitted because our contemporary does not wish to identify the diocese which in an inopportune moment of generosity forced upon his Holiness this darnnosa lucrcditas, which now reposes, covered with rust, in the Vatican gardens. Such gifts innumerable are constantly arriving from all parts of the world, and no place can be found for them among the marbles, the antiques and the paintings of Michael Angelo, Raphael, and I'mturiccbio in the palace of Bramante. Possibly the motor car will find a place beside the nameless saint who turned back "the scourge of God" from the unnamed city. "Lincoln, Gladstone, Chopin, and all the great ones who would have reached their hundredth year had they lived till 1909 lie decently entombed, each in tho country to whose' history they gave lustre," says Paul Herden, in the Berlin Post. "Some rest amid pomp and splendor, others simply, but all decently—all except Haydn, whose body lies in the Esterhazy vault in Eisenstadt, while his head is in Vienna. Of courße the story is not a new one, but the hundredth birthday of the composer recalls it. The head was stolen by a scientific ghoul named Peter, ten days after the burial. Peter had a collection of skulls, which he was compelled, however, to break up, and the Haydn skull went to one Rosenbaum, through whom it was conveyed, years later, by a circuitous route, to the Vienna Conservatory. Dr Lueger, the Mayor of Vienna, showed great anger at a recent meeting when he referred to the body of the composer of Austria's national anthem lying in Hungary, but was consoled when the fact of the head's being in Vienna was mentioned." It is in France that the frog was first generally used for food, and it is in that .couutry"that the industry of frog farming has been most largely developed. The green frog exists abundantly throughout France, wherever there are marshes, ponds, or sedgy margins of rivers or bays that contain fresh or slightly brackish water. The best outfit for frog raising is one or more shallow ponds or reservoirs filled with grasses and other water plants. It should be so situated that the water can be partially drawn off so as to facilitate the labor of catching. If, as is often the case, the pond already abounds in frogs, they are simply protected and left for a year or two to propagate. If food does not prove abundant the owner throws in live earthworms, as the frog is a carmvorouß animal and prefers the food, whether worms, larvse, or insects, fresh and in normal, living condition. If no frogs exist in the water they are planted either living or in the form of eggs, which hatch when the water becomes warm in April. The polar bear is the only wild animal that likes a trip on the water, according to a French scientist who has studied its behaviour at sea. He is quite jolly when aboard ship, but all other animals violently resent such ft

voyage and vociferously give vent to their feelings until seasickness brings silence. - The tiger suffers most of all. He whines pitifully, his eyes water continually, and he rubs his stomach with his terrible paws. Horses are bad sailors and often die on a sea voyage. Oxen are heroic in their attempts not to give way to sickness. Elephants do not like the sea, but they are amenable t<J medical treatment. A good remedy is a bucketful of hot water containing three and a-half pints of whisky and several ounces of quinine.

The Hinemoa has- returned to the Bluff from Campbell Island, bringing seventy-four bales of wool, making the total dip for the season 114 bales. The steamer also brought whalebone and oil from seventeen whales, a party from Picton having had a very successful whaling season. Only one member of the Picton party returned by the Hinemoa. A party of Faroe Islanders has been visiting Edinburgh. ' Many of the men were attired in native dress, which while it is picturesque is not showy. On the head is a read-and-black cloth cap, somewhat resembling the tam-o'-shanter in shape, the coat is of serviceable brown wool, while black breeches with silver buttons at the knees are worn. The vest is fastened by means of a number of silver chains. Stockings and shoes, the latter with silver buckles, complete the outfit. The Scottish capital, which is within walking distance of the docks at Leith, has been made a halting place, and the islanders are on their way to Aarhuus for the Danish exhibition. Most of these tourists had never before left their island home. A boon to late sleepers who own horses and care for them themselves has been invented by George A. Elicker, a young farmer living near Spring Grove. Its chief feature is an alarm clock which automatically gives a horse its breakfast. A closed box contains the proper amount of feed, and a wire connected with the sliding bottom of this box winds about a shaft on a common alarm clock. Elicker sets the clock for the hour at which he.wants his horse fed and slumbers undisturbed.

Yarmouth is living up to the reputation Charles Dickens gave it when he advised the purchase of an annuity and residence at Yarmouth to attain the age of Methusaleh. The annual report of its medical officer of health, issued yesterday, stated that in 1908 the average rate of mortality was much below the previous ten years and was 2 per thousand lower than the corrected average death rate for the 76 great towns, so that on its population of 50,000 no fewer than 100 lives were saved last year as compared with tho mortality in the country generally. For the first time in its history, covering a period of over two centuries, the Corporation of Lloyds, of London, has bestowed upon a woman one of the silver medals wliich it presents to those "who have by extraordinary exertions contributed to the saving of life at sea." The woman who receives tins recognition was the stewardess of the Sardinia, destroyed by fire off Malta, when her duty, as she saw it, led her to brave the greatest dangers to minister to the needs of others.. Her courage, displayed so fearlessly, has resulted in placing her among a splendid company of heroes. That child is too thin! Is her school work too hard? No; she needs new vitality. Stearns' Wine of Cod Liver Extract gives children a healthy appetite, and builds op their bodies. 14 It is a bit of a shock to a woman wearing a hair pad to pall it apart and discover the centre is stuffed with dyc-d wool or some other such rubbish. There are nuny such on the market. To ensure gettuw a GENUINE HAIR PAD ask votrr draper for the BELGRAYTA. Every pad is branded with the registered guarantee. Take no others. Obtainable from Farmers' Co-operative Association and mannfactarer, A. M. HENDY, Hair leadinsr drapers. All colors, price Is. Sole Specialist, Donedin.