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Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14039, 23 April 1920, Page 3

I Mr T. L. Roberts presided over a [ general meeting of the Waitaki High School Old Boys' Association in the Waitaki County Council Chambers last evening. The reports presented showed the reunion, to have been a thorough success. Various accounts were passed for payment. Votes of thanks were passed to members of the Old Girls' Association, for the hearty and efficient manner in which they assisted the Old Boys at the Easter reunion, to Mr F. Milner. M.A., for all he had done to make the reunion a success, and Mi - C. Mollison for his work in regard to the dance. A Committee was set up to bring the Old Boys' register up to date. Votes of thanks to the County Council, for the use of the rooms, and to the chair, closed the. meeting. "Experience during the war showed clearly the injurious effects upon national efficiency of the excessive consumption of strong drink and the amelioration both in health and efficiency which followed appropriate measures of regulation and control." The sentence here quoted was not uttered by an , advocate of Prohibition. His Majesty the King it was who used the sentence, and he did so in opening the present session of the Imperial Parliament.

The result of the final of the Association Pairs Match at the bowling tournament of 1906 as given by our contribu-. tor "Old Fogey' : in our last issue should have been reversed. Mackie, of the. Taieri Club, having beaten Waddell (Phoenix) by 31 to 13. Sir Joseph Ward, who. with Lady Ward, returned to New Zealand from a visit to Australia a few days ago. intends taking a trip to the Old Country. At the close of an interview given to a New Zealand limes representative, Sir Joseph said:—"l am glad to be back in New Zealand, but it is only for a short time, as T expect to leave" for England early next-month. Lady Ward accompanies me, and T am not able to say definitely at presenthow long we shall be away. It may be for as much as 12 months." The Prime Minister has repeatedly implied that the provision of land for returned soldiers is ample, and we have as often disputed this optimistic view. Land for soldiers i& not only scarce in proportion to the demand for it, but it is outrageously dear, though the soldiers seem determined to get it no patter what it may cost them. At Gisborne on the 19th' inst. balloting for the Repongaere Estate took place, when for each of 12 sections there was an average of 40 applicants. When is the Government going to deal with the question of settling the soldiers more in conformity with the principles they would- pursue in transacting their own businesses, unless they were hopelessly inept and courted bankruptcy? The law provides for the resumption of land at prices based on State -for the purpose of taxation, and there would be ample land for' the soldiers if the larger I properties were subdivided. But it is folly to wait- till the owners offer their jproperties to the Government . They are not so anxious to part now that there is a prospect of the prices being I based upon the taxation values instead of being in accordance with their fantastic imaginings, and demands. But the Government only bring into operation such laws as they choose, and the power to take land at valuation is retained merely as a beautiful theory. Mr and Mrs Alfred Headland left Oamaru for Palmerston North to-day. where they will spend the winter, and where Mr .John Ireland, to whom their daughter is married, is carrying on a milling business. Mr and Mrs Headland were farewelled at the station by a number of friends, who will regret -their severance from the community of'which they have been much esteemed for so many years, Mr Headland having been one of the earliest of our citizens, for. indeed, when he first appeared upon the scene, there was no Oamaru. only an expanse of grass, on. which stock* were depastured. Mrs Headland, too, has played her part well as a. citizen, in war work and other directions, and she will be missed. Ifc is probable, -however, that she and Mr Headland will return to Oamaru for a short while in August next. The United Friendly Societies' Picnic Committee met at Mr J. Moore's residence last night. All Lodges were represented- Mr Moore presided. . The statement of receipts and expenditure showed a creditable balance, of which it -was decided to donate £2 2s to the North Ot-pgo Highland Pipe Band. It was decided to increase the standing offer of £lO towards the cost of waterfront improvements, provided a similar amount is donated by other residents, to £2O, with the object of arousing interest in the work. Messrs J. Moore (president), A. A. Stock (secretary), and R. C. Main (treasurer) were accorded a hearty vote of thanks for their efforts during the past year. The second annual ball of the Territorial Signallers was held in the Drill Hall last night, with a. large attendance of dancers. A good floor, and slipper provided by, Bart rum's, contributed to ■an enjoyable function. Messrs W- Kiely and.J. Meible acted as M's.C., and excellent music was supplied by Mr C. Ashton's orchestra. It is notified: that gold coin may not be taken, out of the Dominion without the permission of the. Minister of Finance. . ,

A meeting of: the Oamaru Orchestral Society was held last night, at which it was decided' to commence practice again, and to invite new members. Violinists are especially required. A. concert will be given at an-early dato, A meeting of the Potato-growers' Association will be held in the County Council Chambers "on Saturday afternoon, at ;2 o'clock. ■ Mr J. A. Mathieson is in town making arrangements for the appearance of the Alsace Company at the Opera House on Friday next. •, Messrs Crow and Go. have sold the Maheno district stores to Mr A.. Halcrow. For'some eight years Mr Halcrow had the general store art Ngapara, and his experience in the-various brjanches of the country store is broad. Residents of Maheno and district are assured of a. first-class service from Mr Halcrow.

j A rise in the retail price of coal is , to be announced shortly, the' Board of Trade having sanctioned it in order that the retailers may be allowed a larger and. fairer margin of profit. It is a pity that the Board should be compelled to agree to this increase in the price of so indispensable a commodity. It was not established to increase the cost of living, but to make it more tolerable. Was there no ; possibility of reducing the cost to the coal merchants, instead of making it dearer to users so that the merchant might be reasonably remunerated for liis share in distributing it? Two men who were in charge of a horse and cart at Green Island were drunk. So said Mr Widdowson, the Magistrate, when hearing th& charge brought against them by the police. He also expatiated on the danger not only to themselves, but to the public, arising from the incapacity of the men to control the horse on a main road where there was considerable traffic, and fined each offender 20s and. 6s 3d cab hire. This treatment of persons who had quite innocently, in the exercise of liberty in the use of the l facilities for getting intoxicated sanctioned by the State, enjoyed the privilege to their fill, shoulcf have been eulogised for such a practical expression of gratitude. As to the danger to the public who may happen to> be in the way of such pereons when they are displaying and celebrating the eifects of the State's beneficence, that is their look out. The liberty of the subject must be respected, if the liberty is that of a drunkard. The 6ober have 'no such rights. And if there is liberty to get drunk why should the liberty to enjoy it be interfered with by a. magistrate and a number of police nuisances? The weekly four-rink matches between the Meadowbank and Phoenix Bowling Clubs will be continued to-moi-row on Phoenix Green at 2 o'clock, the following being the Meadowbank rinks: Howe, Bull, Watson, Bee (s) ; Sinclair, Hedges, Blacklock, Martin (s) ; Patterson, Donald, W. Denholm, J. Denholm (s) ; Kelly, Cuthbei-tson, Bastings, Whyte (s). In addition to his usual weekly sale of furniture held at Tattersall's to-mor-row, Mr Walter Sumpter will, instructed by the Public Trustee, sell a freehold farm on the North Road, adjoining the Pukeuri Works. Mr Sumpter has also a quantity of almost new furniture for sale on account of a client leaving the district. Referring to the fact that there was only one entry for a. ladies' walking event at last Saturday's local athletic sports,* the Wanganui Herald says: ■ "Apparently the ladies in the Dominion are not so keen on walking as they were some years ago. At the present time there "is a lady resident of. Wanganui (Mrs J. T. Lound) who, in her younger days, was a champion long-distance walker. Nearly 40 years ago, at Auckland, she accepted a challenge to cover 100 miles in 24 hours, and succeeded in winning the wager with 20 minutes to spare. She also won a large number of shorter distance events both at Auckland and • Wellington. . Mr John King, of Awamoko, has met with a painful, but fortunately not serious, accident. While harnessing a horse the animal became unmanageable, and he sustained a fractured rib. Another anniversary Anzac Day is at hand, and the Ladies' Committee of the Beautifying Society are arranging decorations for the "day." Tributes from all sources will be welcome.