LATE HOURS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13874, 11 April 1907, Page 2

LATE HOURS.

Sir,—"Relato Refero," in your columns of thft 28th March, touches on a very ugly aspect of commercial morality. "Relato" wishes to obtain a list of the names of (the offending firms, ami also full particulars for publication, of the amount of nijflit work entailed on assistants. If our sleepy Labour Department would hilt wake up from its lethargy and resurrect from its dusty shelves the Shops and Shop Assistants Act, it would then find somethings interesting. In so far as the amount of overtime in offices is concerned, "Relato" can obtain from the Labour Department at Wellington tho full details of all network done in Duncdin offices during last year. Trusting that he will not lot this seamy side of commercial morality continue,—l am, etc., Duncdin, April 5, . Cleee.

THAT BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE. Sm,—"Ono of tho Doctors" writes this morning to say that he does not approve of the licensing law which rendered it illegal for a publican to supply a bottle of I'lumnafjno out of hours on a doctor's order. Now the question is up for discussion : "Of what value arc alcoholic liquors in medicine?" and I would like, with your pprmision, to propound a fuv questions to " One of tho Doctors." They aro as follow:— i l.'ls it not a fact that iho quantity-of " champagne" consumed is enormously greater/than the maximum production of that liquor in all tho wine countries of tho world? 2. What guarantee enn a- doctor give that liquor purchased in Dimcdin as "champagne." (or,' indeed, any μ-iiig of commerce) will be true to name? 3. Is there not at least n. probability that, it will be a concoction of distilled alcohol and chemicals? 4. Assuming that the. liquor obtained is true to name, what special property in iho liquor is it which renders the champagne of value medicinally 5. If that special quality is alcohol, in what docs it differ from tho alcohol in other alcoholic beverages? And why not prescribo pure nlrohol. disguised iii an appropriate prescription? 6. If tho special quality is not alcohol, hut something eke, why prescribo an alcoholic medium? I hope your correspondent will not consider himself debarred by tho cthice cf his profession from replying to these questions, which aro put with an earnest desire, to further tho elucidation of a very important, issue. As I do not wish to introduce any personal element into tho matter I will invoke the shade of anonymity.—l am, etc., ;EsCDLAnnS. THE BELL-BIRD. Sin,—A few weeks since there appeared very interesting accounts of visits to tho remote woods, lakes, and mountains of New Zealand, which must be appreciated by all who lovn the grand and beautiful wilds of our country. Not lers interesting' is the mention of birds some of which nro not now seen or heard in the settled parts of the,country, but were well known to tho early rettlcrs. No' mention is.nmde of tho bird known to tho first settlers as the bell-bird, whose notes resembled the ring of a ( black-smith's hammer on the anvil, and whicli was only heard after sunsot and before . dark. Tho bird was seldom seen. Tho _ writer has often listened in tho evoning to the strange notes, so loud and clear, and but once saw, the bird, somewhat in eho like a thrush, brown on the back and wings, and bright scarlet, with black bars on Iho breast. This can bt confirmed hy others who have seen the bird, and there aro those still with us who can tell of listening in tho evenings to tho Tinginp notes. It may bo, some of our brave explorers will yet hear the notes in some region not yet visited. Perhaps, with the beautiful nativo quail, it has entirely disappeared.— I am, otc, K.S. 0. [Tho bell-bird is still plentiful, but has not the vivid crimson marking of the bird described by our correspondent. It may bo of interest to "E. 8. 0." if wo reproduce from Hutton and Drummond's "Animals of New Zealand" their description of tho bell-bird (maitomako):—"Male: Yellowish olivaceous, the head tinged with steel black; wings and tail, brownish black; eye, blood red. Fomalo and youngr Brownish - olivnccous: wings and tail, Ivown: a \yliite line from the bill towards tho sido of tho neok."-Eo. O.D.T.]