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Otago Daily Times, Issue 14380, 25 November 1908, Page 7

The mail which was despatched from Dunedin, via Suez, on October 15 reached London on the afternoon of the 22nd inst.

On the occasion of the agricultural show at Tahuna Park to-morrow and Friday, a telegraph office will bo opened on the show grounds in am easily accessible position, from which telegrams may be trar.o■mrtW to any part of the Dominion or elsewhere. ' ■• A well-attended meeting of ladies was held at the University yesterday afternoon in connection with the movement to provide funds fcr a students' building. . The method proposed to raise funds was by holding a bazaar, preliminary arrangements 'for which had already been made. The General Committee ...was considerably strengthened by the addition of several •ladies, and the. heads of stalls associated ,«th tho executive. Tho heads of stalls were ako decided upon, and) a large amount of -routine business transacted.

The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court are proving more lengthy than uSual. After two days' sitting 'one case •ut of eight has been dealt with and two caifii have been partly disposed of. Yesterday the rearing of the charge against Mr and Mrs Smith, of Green Island, of ill-treating a girl about -16 years of age occupied nearly the whole hay, and was unfinished when the court rose. In the case of William Luby, charged with ■vagrancy, the jury, after a retirement of four hours, brought in. a verdsci. of "Guilty." His Honor said he would pass sentence on acouscd this morning, Henry Blair and Daniel M'Corkindale, charged with forging a school certificate, were admitted to probation for six months. Tho remaining cases on tho list are :'-J<slm Webster,■ attempted murder; Mary Crosswell, illegally using an instrument; Ben. jam-in Barker, indecent assault; William Walquist anid Alexander Walquist, assault and robbery; and James Wood, rape.

At the close of the Drainage Board's meeting last night Mr Slinger, the hoard's nngineer, produced a flask containing an evil-smelling fluid the colour of chocolate. About half a pint of this was poured ijito ball a bucket of water, a,nd a match war applied to the decootion. It at once blazed up three or four feet, and continued burning for a. few minutes. The flask in questa'on was filled from the refuse coming from tho railway Piiisch gas plant. The railway authorities wish to run this by-product into tho city sawens, but the demonstration given by Mr Slinger last -.light proves conclusively that suoh a means of disposing of highly inflammable matter Would be very dangerous as well as offensive, for if a workman, in cleaning out Were charged with the refuse, were to light his pipe below ground a serious and probably fatal explosion wonld.be the result.

The demand for farm labour at the present time in a very large measure exceeds the supply. Sucl/ ,'s the demand that, it is reported, a Duncdin labour agent last Week placed as many ai 72 hands. There are a few pick-ami-shovel men out of employment a I present.

The Manuka, which arrived at Auckland from Sydney on' Sunday, brought a ship-' m?nt of about 200 ca.*s of oranges from Sydney. On examination of the fruit (.says the Pre* Association) it.was found that many of the oranges .vcre infected with thn fruit fly, and 40 caws had to lie condemned.

It is worthy of nolo that not a single one of tho Papanui'e immigrants who woro destined for Dunedin havo as yet called on .the Government labour Dcpartmen:,

The anmo of Lieutenant H,' T. C. Knox, R.N., was very much in evidence at yesterday's meeting of tho Navy League Committee. The date of his lecture, "Tho British Navy and Foreign Warships," was fixed for Monday, Deceml>er 7, at, the Garrison. Hall, and, that Duiiedin might benefit to tho fullest extent by his visit, il. was decided lo make no charge-for admission. In' tho Police Court, yesterday}', before Mr 11. Y. W'idilowion, S.M., Thomas Smith, oharged with having been drunk on Monday in High street, did mot a~ppcar, and was fined ss, or the usual term of imprisonment in .default. Tho fine of £75 imposed upon Leah. Myora as the result- of her conviction, on a charge of sly grog-sclJing has teem paid, and she has-teen, released from prison. A Press A-aoelatio'n, telegram from Christcburch stalta that tho lituipehu brought, a number of stud sheop from England. They went into quarantine." The consignment, includes, two Leicester ewes and orio ram for A. Archibald, from the Barcclwcll flock: a Komney ram, from ,C. File's'flook, for. W. (J rant; and two Romney rams from the same flock for Sir Joseph Ward. A Napier message elates that, the stipendiary magistrate gave judgment for Nurse Brown, in a claim against the Hospital Trustees, for £120 for wrongful dismissal. The amount of the claim was £200. i -' A Ciirjslclmrch telegram 'states that on Monday evening the City Council received a letter from flic Inspector of Polioe stating | that tho police were quite willing' to enforce the by-!isw regarding tho obstruction of Cathedral square by mass meetings by bringing u tefc ewe if evidence of obstruction could bo pre'eured.' A difficulty was likely to arise in prooccding.s under tho. present by-iftw against parsons- hold ins meetings in tho square, and he. suggested that the bylaw be amended to prohibit a meeting without pc'iMiwaiion being first, obtained, from the council Such a by-law 6Comed necessary for tho protection of citizens, -from the dwturbanow that frequently occurred at night, when large crowds assembled to hear speeches on matters which should be discussed in- halls, where- there would'- be ample power to deal with .disturbers. Councillors seemed.to think that it was absurd that a by-law should allow a constable to "move on" a man in the street, but not in the square. The matter was referred to tho By-laws Committee. . '

A South Canterbury correspondent of the'Lyttelton Times states that a -farmer in South Canterbury who was refused money on good security at a high rate of interest before the election was sought out by a bank manager the day after the election and offered the money at a' lower rate. In another ease a man who had, been refused money on first-class security before the ejectionVvas offered tho advances tho day after the election. Tho Correspondent suggests that tho recent tightness of money may have been due in some degree to the banks fearing a Government reverse at the general elections.

Should a three-quarter caste Chinaman who has been in the Dominion'before pay the poll-tax? Of course, if in possession of the' proper papers, ho would not. be asked to pay, but, lacking 'them, a Chinese who arrived from Sydney'by the Maheno ,om Wednesday, and who was unable to pay the poll-tax, is being shipped back to Australia. The Dominion / describes hitn as* a smartdooking fellow,' rather ,flashly dressed, wearing a goid nugget pin, and a gold dollar pendant on his watch-chain. He belongs to Sydney, he says, and certainly speaks as if he did. When' stopped by the authorities he said: "Whatbeats me is, why should they blook me when I've been here before? It's pretty' hot!" This man, whose mother was a, half-caste and his father a full-blooded Chinaman, passed, tho education test easily.

. A campaign against the wearing of hats by women in churches and chapels has been started in Brooklyn, and it .promises to be a remarkably vigorous campaign, too. In America, and elsewhere the absurdest of fashions dictates that women should now wear hats built on a colossal scale, with brims as large na - umbrellas. Dr Myers, an influential Baptist minister, leads the Brooklyn Wmpaigri. His argu,ment is that the huge artificial flower, decorations which tho women carry on their, heads obliterate the preacher from tho view of most of the congregation. Moreover, the " glorious creations of ,the milliner's art" distract the wearers and their neighbours. Mr Myers haa succeeded in inducing the women of his church to surrender their hats and join with him in his crusade. The milliners, who may be looked i(pon as a threatened vested ,interest, are hostile, and St. Paul's counsel to the Corinthians is being used to oheckmato the crusaders.

A Sydney medical man just back from his first tour through the far-out country gasps with' horror when poison is mentioned (narrates a Sydney exchange). " It's marvellous there's a man alive-out thore," he exclaims. He tells of the careless ways in' which bushroen handle arsenic, strichnine, and other deadly drugs.-, "I've seen rabbitskins, painted with arsenic, suspended over a shearers' dining table. I've seen the stuff dripping on to the table within half a foot of a round of salt.beef. On the table in the cook's galley I've counted threo strychnine bottles,' two halffull, jumbled up with sauce and pickle bottles in constant use. Men treat. skins with poison, handle them, pack them up, and, without washing their hands, grasp theirjjocd and help themselves with their fingers. ' Don't eat that,' said a cook to me. It was a bit of damper I picked up; I didn't mean to cat it; I was merely smollihg it and wondering what is ' was composed of. 'A bit of poison slipped into the dough,' remarked the cook." \

In a speech at Brighton a few days ago tho Premier of Victoria (Sir Thomas Bent) announced that the first instalment of the port improvement works would bo-the construction of a- new pier at Port Melbourne. Although the Premier explained that- a number of timber piles were being procured, the question as to whether the pier is to'bo of wooden or concreto construction has -not been definitely settled. In his report on Melbourne harbour improvements, Mr Ferguson, of New Zealand, recom r mended that the pier be constructed of reinforced concrete. The proposal made by 'the Railway Commißsioncrs some time before was, -however, that timber piles and decking should bo used. Wiith a view to obtaining an independent report on the question, the Stale Ministry has, it is understood (sn.ys the Argus), now decided to send an independent officer to New Zealand to report on the concrete pier works at Auckland. Some doubt arose as to whether it rai-id be advisable to solcct. m officer from the Public Work? or the Railway Department, It as probable, however, that an official from the engineering branch of the railways will bo entrusted with tho mission.

Two of the men employed by Mr Mouat on (bridge construction had a thrilling experience a few days ago (says the Grey River Argus). A young man named James Fitzgerald was working on a clilf overhanging Ford's Crock in a . most precarious position. One of his mates, who was working some 10 or 12 feet above him, missed his footing and was being precipitated headfirst down a nearly perpendicular incline, when, just at the critical moment, as he was going past, Fitzgerald grabbed him by the ankle and held him till a rope was obtained, and both were rescued. Fitzgerald deserves the highest praise for his plucky act ion iii saving his mate from cprfain death at the imminent risk of Ids own life.

_ Although nobody knows how much opium is successfully smuggled into the Commonwealth' (says the Argus) the Customs Depart, mont keeps accurate records of the seizures and conliscalions. During the first quarter of .this financial year 41 offenders were convicted in the Commonwealth. The amount of opium seized was 2021b, valued at £606. Each of tlies-3 offenders was dealt with, and penalties amounting to £349. 8s 6d were imposed. Usually about, half the penalties

aro recovered, and for' Ihis quarter the amount was larger than usual, since £235 14s was paid in, penalties. It is a practice of the department to reward informers whose information helps in the detection of smuggling. Mr Austin Chapman circulated placards ottering tempting rewards lo the informer. During the quarter considered only £34 10s was paid in such rewards.

When a shipment of 'American apples' arrived at Sydney recently codlin moths were found between tho boards of the cases. A number of cases comprised in the ship-ment-after having been emptied of their Contents mid dipped in boiling water-were refilled and forwarded to Melbourne. Fruit inspectors slate that the apples arrived in excellent condition, and perfectly free from the codlin moth. The fruit, "which comprises, amount other varieties, the Wealthy, Rod Pennnain, and the Baldwin, was grown in California.

At a. meeting of the Anti-sweating league at Melbourne recently charges were formulated against a softgoods firm. The secretary had written to tho firm as follows:-"Before dealing with the subject, the Vigilance Committtee thought, it bestto acquaint you of the'statements, the gist of which is as follows :-( a ) That there are thoroughly capable salesmen in. your employ, with five, six, or seven years' experience, receiving- only £50 per annum; (b) that there are packers employed by you receiving only 25s and 30s per week; (o) that, you have invoice clerks receiving £20 per annum, and tlrat your maximum for these, as a. rule, £40 per annum; (d) that there are married men in your employ in receipt, of only 30s per weok; (e) that workin the entering rooms and office previously required to be (lone by men is now being performed by boys or youths of from 15 to. 19 years of age, the payment made to them bailiff £10, £20, and. £30 per annum; and (f) that others in your employ who have boon thero for three'or four years are only receiving 12s 6d per week." The firm was '.asked to state its side of the question. A reply was sent stating that, the firm was not in-the habit of divulging'details of its business upon ex parte statements. To further requests the reply was sent that the firm was not prepared- to discuss,,.'the management of its business uh'th anyone who it did not think had commercial experience sufficient to enable him to gragp all tho.points that might arise, and, until the committee could overcome that difficulty, could'not see its way to do anything in the matter. ■ ' '

A proclamation wa3 gazetted; a few days ago in Australia forbidding the'importation into the Commonwealth of "matches and vestas containing the substance known as white or yellow phosphorus." The prohibi-. Hon will taketeffect from January 1, 1009.V This action was taken by the late Federal Government, and the proclamation' was issued by the Customs Department, which was being administered by Senator Sir Robert Beat. The intention of the Administration was to discourage. the use of phosphorus in tho manufacture of matches, and so reduce the evils arising from it, The complaint known as " phossy-jaw," which is common amongpt workers in match factories, is attributed to the use of phosphorus, and the effect of the Australian action will tend to restrict to some extent ( the output of,,these matches. It, is hoped that 't will have a more- direct effect, so far as Australia is concerned, by influencing any of the States in which this process of manufacture obtains to discourago or prohibit the use of phosphorus. *

The council of the Royal College of Surgeons has at length agreed to tho following resolutions:—" (1) That stops be forthwith taken to admit women to the examinations of tho Joint Examining Board iii England, and to the examination for the diplpma in publio health; (2) that women be admitted to the examinations .tor the Fellowship of the Royal College of Sur-' goons and to the examinations for the license in dental surgery." Recently the council took a poll of the fellows and members of tho college on the question, and there was a majority against the admission of women. The council, however, has now decided in favour, of women students being admitted .to .the college diplomas. ■ -These include'- the : F.R.C.S., M.R.0.5., D.P.H. (granted in conjunction with the Royal College of Physicians);, and ihoL.DISi" qualifications. . ■'_ .

Exhaustive' experiments are now being conducted at the Dookie Agricultural Collego, Victoria; with a view to lessening the damage done by rusts and smuts wheat. The experiments have been conducted on ovor 200 plots, and they are the most comprehensive ever carried, out in the Commonwealth. Various varieties of wheat, thoroughly infected with the spores of smut, were sown by the side of similar wheat which had not been so /infected. It was 1 found that while the infected-seed generally produced a large proportion of smutted plants, the uninfected seed, under the same conditions of soil, olimate, and season, gave a perfectly clean crop. However, the Stanley (a selection made at Dookie), Mudgee, and cedar varieties of seeds, though thoroughly infected when sown, produced crops which wore quite free from smut, The value of this striking result, though it cannot be taken as, a final test on one season, lies in the suggestion, Mr M'Alpino (Government pathologist) says, that strains of wheat have been obtained which can resist stinking smut. Special interest attaches to these experiments' because some leading American investigators declare that no known variety of wheat possesses the hereditary qualify of being smut-resisting,

Tho Pioneer' is the possessor of a variety company which has frequently given enter, tainments on shore for worthy objects. Ono of those will bo given on Saturday evening. Particulars will be given later. The gold medal for quality in the whisky section of the Franco-British Exhibition has been awarded to the "?Vhite.Horse" whisky belonging to Mackie and, Co,. JJistillers (Ltd.), Islay and Glasgow. It was only last month this old-established firm were honoured with the- appointment by Royal Wawant to His Majesty the King.—Advt. The "En Tout Cas" lady's glace shoe is the latest style, and can bo worn as a lace, buckle, or bow shoe, 205.-Simon's Continental Boot Depot, Princes street (opposite Post Office), agent.—Advt. All sufferers from rupture will do well to fully investigate Dr J. A., Sherman's modern method of treatment. One glance over the illustrated book of cases photographed be/ore and nfter treatment will satisfy the most incredulous. Some of these cases baffled the skill of the best surgeons of England and America. A'o operation and no detention from work. Send for two free booklets. Consultations free. Hours, 10 a.m. to 12, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.; extra hours. Friday evening from 7 to 9. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 12 noon.— A. W. Martin, Stokes's Buildings, 91a Princes street, Dunedin.—Advt. Nothing cheaper than a good steel trunk for travelling. We have placed on safe a big lot that we know are. good value. As an''instance of how cheap they are, we mention a 20-inch trunk with brass lock, 12s 6d. Mollisons Ltd.-Advt. ' \ Keep Red Cross Ointment on hand; cures pimples, skin eruptions, sores, scalds.—Advt. AVe recommend for watch, clock, and jewellery repairs A. J. Shaw, 13 Rattray street. Absolutely tho test in Dunedin — Advt. To Bowlers.~Our new season stock of Taylor's bowls is to hand. They are a specially fine lot, and those requiring a- set should innko a point of seeing them.—G. and T. Young, 88 Princes street.—Advt. Business men! Don't bother with drugs. If your Stomach or Blood is out of order get " Sulfarilla Tablets." Is, box. All chemists— Advt. Wno is Petbr Dick?— The most reliabla Watchmaker and Jeweller, opposite (ioffee Palace, Moray place, Dunedin. Charg«s strictly moderate.—Advt. /