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Otago Daily Times, Issue 16288, 22 January 1915, Page 4

The Hon. Mr Allen will remain in Dunedin for a few days. Speaking to a Daily Times reporter yesterday respecting the men in camp at Trentham, Mr Allen said the position at present is that two lots of reinforcements (third and fourth) are now complete—officers, non-commissioned officers, and men. The fifth reinforcement is almost filled up, and will go into camp next month. No difficulty has been experienced in obtaining horses for the reinforcements. It has been decided to get the harness for horees manufactured in the dominion, and it is hoped that the manufacturers will prove equal to the occasion in producing first-class material.

While there has been a general outcry for rain in New Zealand, Otago has experienced a thoroughly good season. Rejxirts of excellent grain crops, fruit yields, abundant stock feed, and of satisfactory wool clips indicate a pleasing measure ot prosperity and a continuance of the progress of the important resources of the province. North Otago, however, has hardly fared so well, although it is felt that even that district may yet recover very substantially from the dry weather. Crops in the Totara and Maheno districts are said to be in splendid condition. South Otago gives great promise from an agricultural point of view, wheat, oats, and turnip yields being of high order. In some respects that district, indeed, is a veritable picture, and the crops are everywhere well forward. Further south, in the confines ot Mataura district, particularly at the river, flat lands and in some of the valleys, the crops would gladden the heart of any farmer. The recent brief spell of exceptionally dry weather has not materially affected the crops. Central Otago has experienced a good season, although in various districts early frosts spoiled the fruit yields. On the whole, Otago can claim to have done well. The green pastures and other conditions prevailing oannot fail to impress visitors from the north. A North Island farmer at present in the south admiration yesterday at the flourishing state of affairs.

An interesting donation was made to the Ota/go Agricultural and Pastoral Society yesterday by Mr William Patrick. Some years ago Mr Patrick won tho challenge shield, valued at 50 guineas, presented to the society by Sir John Ben net Lawe 6 for the best managed farm, and this very handsome trophy Mr Patrick is now handing back to the society for competition at *he Winter Show, to be held in June. The committee, at its meeting yesterday, received the shield, thanking Mr Patrick warmly for his generosity, and decided to allocate it for competition in the factorycheese class.

A deputation from the Nureeryraen's Conference waited on the Prime Minister yesterday afternoon (a J'ress Association message stat.ee) with Mr T. W. Kirk, of the Agricultural Department, and asked that the preparation of the regulations for the registration and inspection of nurseries be pushed on with. Mr Massey repliod that he would have the matter attended to at once. Mr Massey also promised to introduce clauses in the Consolidated' Orchards Bill next session making provision gist, up a hoard of certificating and nomenclature, providing for the registration of new varieties ot plants and trees, and protecting the rights of growers. He also promised favourable consideration of a request that where plants are destroyed by order of the department the owners should be put on the same footing as farmers, who are paid compensation for stock destroyed.

A Press Association message from Wellington states that tho arrivals in New Zealand from oversea during tho month ot December totalled 3328, compared with 4878 in December, 1913. Tho departures in the same months were respectively 1801 and 2115

The resolution passed by the executive of the Dunedin Municipal Association disapproving of the Hospital Board's choico of the Wakari s:t« for a secondary hospital came before tho board last night. The executive of the association expressed its surprise at the action of the board in " (1) deciding to purchase the Wakari site and buildings for a secondary hospital when contrary to the express wishes of the Minister of Public Health, and thu6 act in; contrary to the Act. (2) In proceeding with tho purchase when contrary to the medical expert opinion as to its suitability. (6) That tho wooden buildings, which are apparently part of the purchase money, appear to be useless as part of a public institution, which in all eases must bo built of brick or stone. (4) That this executive respectfully suggests that the resolution dealing with the purchase of the above property should be rescinded without delay pending the decision of the Minister ot Public Health and Inspector-general of Hospitals." This resolution did not long occupy die attention of the board. The Chairman (Mr Walker) remarked that if the Municipal Association had been in possession of the facts they would never have carried the resolution, and the letter was received and disposed of without further comment.

For some weeks past the labour available has been unequal to the steady demand for the docks and shipping at Port Chalmers. This has been due partly to the fact that a considerable number of men have gone away with the Expeditionary Forces, and also to the fact that a good deal of additional labour ha« been required for the purpose of fitting out transports, and docking and overhauling a number of vessels belos®tti£ to the Union Company's fleet, besides other vessels that have undergone refitting and overhauling. Following upon all that activity comes a number of vessels seeking wool and other cargoes, and, haste being essential, large gangs of men have been requisitioned to carry out the work. Instead of decreasing, the demand for labour is still acute, and employment can be found for quite a number of carpenters and unskilled labourers and for men of the right stamp, there is a prospect of steady employment for some time to come.

The visiting and Dunedin members ot tho New Zealand Institute of Surveyors were yesterday taken for a trip down the harbour in the tug Dunedin, which was placed at their service by the Otago Harbour Board. The party oalled in at Port Chalmers, where several of the engineering works were visited, and the trip was then continued outside the Heads. A very enjoyable day was spent by all.

Richard Joseph Kelly appeared at the Police Court yesterday morning to answer a charge of being helplessly drunk in the street. He was remanded for a week lor medical treatment. John Robertson *as charged with disobeying a maintenance order. The man's wife appeared to oppose an application for a variation of the order. The evidence was to the effect that Robertson was out of work and prospccts of obtaining any at present were poor. He desired to enlist for service at the front, but there had been a dispute as to the amount he should contribute to the support of his wife and child. The case was eventually adjourned for a week to allow the defendant to ascertain if he was medically fit for military service. At the Police Court yesterday morning Mr E. W. Burton, S.M., delivered his decision in regard to the charge, preferred on the previous day against .Samuel Hill, of indecently assaulting a girl under ago at Abbotsford on January 10. He stated that he had carefully considered the evidence, aDd had come to the conclusion that there was a case to answer. The accused reserved his defence, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, bail being allowed in accused's own recognisance of £100 and two sureties of £50 each.

[ The "Customs scandal" appears to have raised deep distrust in the minds of the chiefs of the Customs Department in Christchurch—they even seem to doubt the probity of Mr Holland, "our worthy Mayor,'' as the provincial papers are alleged to designate anyone who holds that office (reports the Sun). Even Mr H. R. Smith, the town clerk, is suspect. It really seems unfair, since everyone knows how scrupulous these two gentlemen we to keep their characters above suspicion. Yet here are the facts: The City Council some time ago decided to import a tar distiller, and now the distiller has arrived on the wharves at Lyttelton, but it is not yet in the hands of the council. Before the customs authorities agree to hand the vehicle, or receptacle, or whatever it may be, to the council they require that either the Mayor or the town clerk shall call along and sign a bond guaranteeing that the instrument will not be used for the manufacture of whisky, rum, or other spiritous liquor. Of course, either the Mayor or the town clerk will comply with this request of the customs authorities eventually, for the council must have its tar-distiller. But the imputation is so grossly unfair. Even though the council does grow potatoes, that is no reason why it should be suspected of using its crops for the purpose of making whisky.

The Tourist Department is of opinion that so far as Australia and New Zealand are concerned there will be no curtailment in the traffic to the various tourist resorts this season (telegraphs our Wellington correspondent). There will be few alpine climbers from abroad, however. The Mount Cook region is growing in popularity, and the Hermitage has been crowded all the season with New Zealand tourists, and, indeed, many intending visitors could not be accommodated. Rotorua has not been quite 60 full as usual, hut the Southern Lakes have attracted many visitors.

The seventy-fifth anniversary of tho foundation of Wellington City is to be fittingly celebrated to-day. The celebrations will oommenco with an unique procession (says the Times), and many interesting displays have been arranged, contrasting the '■onditions which existed in 1840 with those of the present day.

" Do not let tho workers suppose," said Sir Robert Stout, speaking at Christchurch (says the Lyttelton Times) on Wednesday night, " that they are in a class by themselves. We who came here in the early days wore all workers, and those who think we did not have to do manual work are mistaken. When I came to the dominion I got 25s a week, and I was able to live on it and also epend time in study. All the young Englishmen had to do the same thing. I remember meeting a young man a day after we had landed and asking him if ho had got anything to do. He said, ' Yes, I have got a contract for fencing 15 miles up country,' I said, 'Do you know anything about fencing?' He said, ■ No, but I will learn.' That man died not long ago a wealthy man, and he won his position by hard work."

The unwritten law that yachtsmen shall always givo assistance in time of need resulted in a somewhat disastrous ending to a launching pie;iic at Auckland on Saturday afternoon (says the Herald). Hie launch was making its -way up to Pine Island when a yacht was seen to be aground just off the Chelsea beacon, having missed the channel. The launch at once went to the rescue. A rope was thrown from the vacfit.. and caught by tho launch party as it travelled past at full speed. In an attempt to help make fast tho end, a young lady belonging to tho launch party unfortunately got iier hand entangled in the swift-running rope and was instantly dragged overboard. iier brother made an attempt to help her, and the next moment he too was struggling in the water. Fortunately the water »vas not deep and both managed to reach tho yacht, although it was seen that the young lady's hand was severely hurt. In the meantime the launch itself had gona aground, and it waa some time before the others could be taken on hoard again. First aid was at once given, and the launch made with all speed for the wharf, ieavi.ig the yacht to tho kindly attention of the next picnic party. It was found that the little finger of the young lady's hand wa« dislocated and broken in two places.

An amusing incident of a march in Kent is related in the following letter received in Bolton from Cycle-sergeant F. C. Callis, sth Royal North Lancashire Territorials, in training at Seven oaks: —" Our battalion turned out in full marching order and proceeded to our usual practice ground, Knole Park. The cycle section marched in tho rear of the oohimn, and an ordinary-look-ing man came to me and asked me a lot of particulars about the battalion.' He told me that he had seen a lot of soldiering in his time, and said he must confess that our men struck him as being about the smartest on the march he had ever seen outside regulars. He asked me go many particulars about them, and also about their billets, that I thought I should detain him us a sort of spy. I excused myself and rode off to the head of the column and informed one of our majors as to the nature of the conversation, etc., and took the man later to the said major, and then left them and took my section on road-finding. An officer of ours stopped me to-day and laughingly asked me if I knew whom I had- tried to put under arrest. I answered in the negative, and he told me it was no lees than Rudyard Kipling." Mr W. G. Grave, of Oamaru, who was mainly instrumental in discovering a fairly good pass between the Hollyford Valley and Milford Sound, spent a good portion of his holiday on the line of route recently (says the Wakatip Mail). As a ress'oj of his previous investigations, District Surveyor M'Pherson (of Southland) made a survey and report on the new pass. The Public Works Department's district engineers (Messrs Monk and M'Ennis) alsp visited the route during the last 12 months. A certain sum of money was get aside by the Tourist Department for the purpose of making a track. The first stage of this was commenced about the beginning of December. It starts at Lake Howden and the track winds its way down into the Hollyford Valley and there follows the river to its head. This will constitute the first stage of the journey, and it is hoped to complete this this season. A hut will be erected at this terminus, although there is a fine bivouac at the spot. The next stag* will be over the pass into the Cleddau Valley and the final ran into Milford Sound. When the track is completed it will be possible to reach Milford Sound comfortably in five days from Wakatipu. Good walkers could do the journey in four days. The soenery en route is varied and glorious. The traveller passes through virgin country for nearly the whole distance. It embraces magnificent bush, rugged mountain passes, and snowfields. Exoellent views can be obtained of the Hollyford and Cleddau Valleys and Mil, ford Sound from either side of the pass, The new track will not be open to the publio for about two years yet. When it is opened it will undoubtedly _ fortoi a very popular route by which travellers to Milford Sound may reach Wakatipu or vie* versa. The work at present is being undertaken by five University students under Guide Lippe, formerly of Mount Cook Hermitage. Good progress is being made by the men, and they expect to finish tho first stage of the track by the end of February.

Special interest in Marton attaches to the case against Frederick Maurice Marlow, formerly court bailiff at Stratford, who dieappeared in September, and who was recently arrested and committed for trial at Rangiora on the charge of misappropriating £51 9s 4d (says the Wanganui Chronicle). Mr W. J. Reeve, clerk of the court at Stratford, in giving evidence for the prosecution, said that on August 11, 1913, witness received a distress warrant from the Marton Court for process, issued at the instance of Brice, Broad, Mid Co., and the amount due on it was £51 9s 4d. The warrant was handed to accused on the date mentioned to execute. It was the accused's duty to either return the warrant with money or marked "Nulla bona" to the clerk of the court, and the accused did neither. On September 25, 1913, the following note was left on witness's table:—"Mr Reeve: Have gone to the mountain quarry. The two warrants are settled. It may be late in the afternoon when I get back. It is a long way.—(Signed) F. Marlow." The accused in this memo, referred to warrant# in the cases of Brice, Broad, and Co. ▼. Cameron and Brooking. The total amount of his defalcations up to the present was £72 odd, including the amount of the pre-' sent charge. Robert Hugh Cameron, contractor, residing at Stratford, and partner in the late firm of Cameron and Brooking, said judgment was obtained in the Marton Court by Brice, Broad, and Co. for £51 9s 4d. The accused called on him, told him that he had a warrant for £51 9s 4d to execute against the firm. The amount was not paid at the time, but witness promised to pay him on a certain date. He saw the accused at the courthouse on the date promised, and paid him the sum of £51 9s 4d by cheque. The accused did not give witness a receipt at the time, but one was received later on, by post.

W. D. G. Ronnie, the B.S.A. representative, has just done an overland trip of 800 miles with a 4i h.p. B.S.A. motor cycle (three-speed countershaft gear) and sidecar weighing 8001b with passengers. From Christchurch he travelled through Arthur's Pa>-s to Ot:r.i, Kumara, Murchison, Nelson, Blenheim, Glenhope, Seddon, Kaikoura, Waiau. and Hanmer. The B.S.A. performed magnificently, tho capabilities of the 3-speed gear were fully demonstrated. A wellknown Dunedir. inan left Dunedin recently »n his honeymoon with a B.S.A. and sidecar. Another well-known Dunedin man went, to Christchurch and back during the holidays with his B.S.A. and sidecar, and had never u xxl a sidecar previously. All those men speak in glowing terms about these remarkable machines. Order early; the demand is going to be enormous.—W* Stuart Wilson and Co., Bond street, Dunedin.— Advt Mollisons offer to-day 30 dozen ladies' white woven spencere at one shilling each. Usually sold at 2s 3d.—Advt. A. K J. Blakeley, dentist. Bank of Aw* traJasia, corner of Bond and Rattray street! (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859.— Advt What men ask for, enjoy, recommend— Watson's No. 10 whisky.—Advt. Mr Erneet Boot, surgeon and mechanical dentist, 63 Princes street, Dunedin.—Advt. Who is Peter Diok? —The most reliable Watchmaker, Jeweller, and Certificated Consulting Optician, 490 Moray place (off Princes street), Dunedin. Charges moderate.—Advt.