SOCIAL AND GENERAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16296, 1 February 1915, Page 1 (Supplement)

SOCIAL AND GENERAL

PERSONAL. Mr F. M. B. Fisher's resignation as a member of the Executive has been accepted by the Governor, and tho departments which he recently administered have been tuken over by other Ministers. The Prime Minister takes charge of the Electoral Department, Mr Ilerdman Marine and Customs, Mr Bell Insurance, Mr Rhodes Pensions and Mr Frasor Legislative and tho Printing Department. Miss M. E. Allman-Marchant, M-.A., formerly the principal of tho Otago Girls' High School Dunedin, has been appointed head mistress of the St. Mary s School foi Girls, which has been established under the Church of England auspices at Stratford. Dr William John Anderson, Deputy In-spector-general of Schools, who succeeds Mr G. Hogben, C.M.G., as Inspectorgeneral of Schools, will also afisuni® the position of Director of Eduoation, a position newly created bv "The Education Amendment Act, 1914.'* Dr Anderson, who was born in 1854, is a native of County Armagh, Ireland. He was educated at Queen's College, Belfast, and was first-class honoureman at Queen's University in ancient classics and anoient history. In 1877 he was principal of Upper Sullivan School, Holywood, Belfast. Three years later he sailed for Queensland, and 1884 he began his career in New Zealand ae inspector of schools for South Canterbury. In 1886 he became inspector for North Canterbury, and held that position until 1906, when he was appointed Assistant Inspector-general. Lieutenant - colonel C. J. Reakes, M.R.C.V.S., V.D., principal veterinary services and remounts, has been appointed , colonel. The following majors are appointed lieutenants-colonels: — John G. Clayton, M.R.C.V.S., principal veterinary officer, Canterbury military district; William D. Snowball, M.R.C.V.S., V.D., principal veterinary officer, Otago military district; Alexander R. Young, M.R.C.V.S., principal veterinary officer, Wellington military district; Joseph Lyons, M.R.C.V.S., principal veterinary officer, Auckland military district.

CASUALTIES & OFFENCES. A bathing fatality occurred off the Tiniaru mole. Two brothers, aged eight and six years respectively, wflose father, Mr Bartley, is employed at Islington, weie bathing with a number of others, when they were observed to be floating heads under water too long. Other boys fetched them out and medical aid was procured. The elder was past recovery, but the younger was brought round after an hour's work. They were not beyond. their depth, and it is stated that the two boys were going to see which could hold his head under water the longer. Herbert Maclean, traveller for Messrs J. Griffin and Co., of Nelson, was drowned while surf bathing on the Waikanae Beaoh Gisborne, on January 2L Hie beach iete was in progress, and hundreds of people were about at the time. Efforts at rescue were unavailing, as Maclean was not seen after he first sank.. The body lias not yet been recovered Another traveller named Giichrist, who was bathing with Maclean, had a very narrow escape, being rescued; at the last gasp. A nasty surf was running, as the result of a marine disturbance, and several other parties -were in trouble, notably the life-saving team while giving a demonstration with their reel. Maclean, who was North Island traveller _ for Griffin and Sons, biscuit and confectionery manufacturers, was a native of Melbourne, wirere his selatives, except for two brothers in New Zealand:, reside. He was 29 years of age, and had been in the firm's employ lor ?2 months- Mr Maclean was a single ihan, But was shortly to have been married. The body of Elizabeth Lindeay Murphy, a married woman, was found floating in the Hutt River on January 22. Deceased lived near Petone, and had not been seen or heard of since the 19th. Steve Begish, a young man, was thrown from his horse at JKumeu and sustained a broken thigh and internal injuries, which resulted in his death. While a motor 'bus, owned and driven by W. H. Wiison. was proceeding to Castlecliff with a load of passengers on January 24, it ran over and killed a man named VV. M'lntyre, aged 42 years, employed as a motor wagon driver by the Borough Council. It appears that, while M'lntyre was endeavouring to cross from one 6ide of the road to the other, in front of the 'bus, his bicycle skidded. He was caught in the gear of the 'bus and killed instantly. At the time of the accident the deceased and his son were cycling to the Heads. James Thomas Dockrill, a labourer, affed 45 years, committed suicide near Timaru on January 23. He lived by himself in Watlington, a suburb, and had been in bad health. The doctor, on Friday said that he was suffering from drink, and should go to the hospital. The deceased said that he would rather drown himself. A woman saw the body in the creek near his house. He left a note, saying, "Look in the creek at the bottom of the lane." An inquest wa6 opened and adjourned. A brother-in-law said that he did not think that Dockrill had been in his right senses for the last three years. William Green (18), a seaman and a native of Liverpool, was - killed at Lyttelton on] January 25 while assisting to berth the steamer Wirral. He was caught in a hawser and dragged overboard, striking the propellnr. 'Hie body has not yet been found. A sad accident occurred at Holdo Beach. Mr T. Broome, Mrs Broome, their daughter of 11 (of Levin), Mr Carey and Mrs Carey (of Birkenhead, Auckland), and Phyllis Chapman (of Levin), while bathing got into a hole. All got ashore except the girl Chapman. Mrs Broome went to her rescue, and got hold of her, but was forced to let go. Mr Broome then attempted to save her, but was soon in difficulties. He was rescued by Mr R. Smith. It took about an hour to bring Mr Broome round. Meanwhile the girl Chapman disappeared. She was 12 years of age. The body of an old man was found in the scrub at Springhills, Invercargill. The remains are supposed to be those of William Ackers, an old-age pensioner, who has been missing for some time. Mr V. G. Day, S.M., district coroner, held threo inquests at Ashburton recently. The first was touching the death of John Sheehy, who was found in an unconscious condition in a whare at Tinwald on December 19 with his throat cut. After hearing the evidence of the police and the doctor, a verdict that deceased died from injuries self-inflicted while of unsound mind was returned. The second was on the body of Joseph Nicholson, who was found on the railway line at Chertecy with a fractured spine. A verdict that deceased died through injuries to hie spine, accidentally caused on the railway line, was returned. The third was on the body of Joseph Clinton, who was knocked down by a horse at Lowecliffe on December 7, and suddenly collapsed in the Ashburton County Hospital on December 31. The doctor's evidence showed 1 that Clinton had not died from the effects of the accident, but from apoplexy, and a verdict was returned accordingly. Albert Bazer, 17 years of age, was drowned whilo bathing in the Puhoi River, Auckland on January 11 Charles Brown, aged 50 years, who came from Hamilton, and was working at the Thames, committed'suicide at the hospital on January 11. He was admitted to the institution a week ago suffering from delirium tremens, and was progressing well. Ho tore the bedclothes m his room at the shelter shed into strips, and strangled himself. When discovered he was practically dead, and medical assistance was unavailing.

A serious blasting- accident occurred at the Patutahi quarry, Gisborne, on January 6. Jas. Green, foreman of tho quarry, aged 40 years, and Archie Bugden, aged 30 years, were putting in a charge on top of a 200 ft face, when a premature explosion took place, toppling both men over tho face, whenco they rolled 200 ft down a slope. Both wero badly cut about and very seriously burned by powder, and eventually suocumbtd to their injuries. A drowning accident occurred in Lake Rotoma on a rccent Sunday (says the Auckland Star). From the evidence given at the inquest, it appears that, a young man named S. V. Bates, aged 21 years, accompanied a picnic party on the lake, and, having no swimmuitf costume, bathed some distance

from the others. He was seen in the water, but was not missed until about an hour and u-lialf later. A search was made, and his towel and clothes were recovered, but there was no sign of liatea. A boat was secured, aJid after M-arching in the water for about a quarter of im hour the body was seen by the members of the party lying at the bottom of the lake in 25ft ol water. With the assistance of poles and ropes the body was brought to the surface, and life was found to be extinct. At the inquest the coroner, in returning a verdict ot accidental drowning while bathing, pointed out that, as Bates had taken a meal before entering the water, the probability was that he had been seized with cramp. A sad drowning accident occurred in the Waikato River, near Mercer, when an Auckland boy named Clarence Norman Lythall, 16 years of age, lost his life. The brief particulars of the fatality state that the boy was standing on the brink of the river, when the sand on the bank gave way, and he slipped, into the water, whore it was deep and running swiftly. The lad's companion made an attempt to savo him, but was unsuccessful. Lythall, who was cmployed at Laidlaw, Leeds' warehouse, had been spending a holiday at Mercer. lie was the only son of Benjamin Lythall, a tea dealer, in Upper Symonds street, and they came to New Zealand from Queensland throe years ago. William Lewis Giffen, 18 years of age, was drowned whilst bathing in a gravel pit on the Surrey Park Estate, near Invercargill. Another lad named Donald Erio Barclay attempted to rescue him, but failed, and was pulled down by the deceased. On January 7 the body of a man was noticed floating in the harbour close by the Victoria wharf. When it was brought ashore it was seen that it had been in the water only a few days. It was identified by a wharf labourer as that of James Smith, a single man, aged between 25 and 30 ycapj. For the past two years Smith has been living in a boarding-house in Maclaggan street, and ho has been employed as a waterside worker. Ho was expelled from the lodgings about Christmas time, and was last seen alive on the evening of the sth. Deceased 1 does not appear to have any relatives in this country. A fatal accident occurred on board the American four-masted schooner William Bowden at Bluff on January 5, whereby a member of the crew named Andrew Straonan was killed. Strachan had only three days previously joined the schooner as ship's carpenter, having arrived at Bluff 10 days before from an up-country stat on in Soutliland, it is understood. Deceased was engaged in uncoupling the hose from a tank, when it came away unexpectedly, and he fell down the hold. His neck was broken, and death was instantaneous. Deceased, who was unmarried, was 47 years of age, and, so far a 6 is known, has no relatives in the dominion.

John Daniel M'f'arlane, aged 45 years, ■who has been missing from his home at Waikiwi, Southland, was found in Thomson's Bush with hie juguiar vein severed. It is apparently a ease of suicide. A sad double tragedy is reported from Rongotea. Two old men, who wore mates, had been engaged rabbiting. They had been drinking heavily in their camp, and Robert Paterson died practically in delirium tremens. His mate, named Emanuel White, went to Rongotea to report the matter to the police, and he, too, dropped dead. The doctor said that death m both cases was due to heart failuro. Thomas Ecclesfield. an old and highly respected settler, was gored by a bull on his farm on January 12. He died later from the injuries received. The following particulars are available concerning a fatality at Te Horo, by which Mr Herbert Hodgo and hie son Alfred lost their lives. It appears that the Messrs Hodge, who were well-known and well-to-do farmers in the Te Horo district, were net fishing in company with Mr Udy, of the Wairarapa, on the Hth inst. Shortly after 8 p.m. they were dragging in the net. Mr Udy was on the beach, and the Hodges were up bo their necks in the water, as owing to the rapidly-shelving beach the net had to be lifted ae well as dragged. Mr Udy heard a cry, but took it to bo a signal to haul away from the men, whose heads he could see above the water in the gathering gloom. Later on, looking out to sea, he missed them. He called out and rushed to the water's edge, but could seo nothing. He then reported the matter to the police. The beach is known to be infested with big ground sharks this summer, and it is thought the men were attacked and dragged under. The deceased was evidently seized by a shark, as one arm was almost bitten through, and the body was disfigured. The body of Herbert Hodge has been recovered. At the inquest a verdict of accidentally drowned was returned. A collision which occurred between a motor cycle and a trap just outside the borough boundary of Milton about 10 p.m. on Monday, January lb, was unfortunately attended with fatal consequenoes to ono person, whilst others received injuries. It appears that a young man named Charles Lane, aged 28 years, was motoring from a northerly direction homewards, with another young fellow named Hugh Tweedie riding on the carrier behind. When about 200 yards from the bridge at the north end of Milton the cycle crashed into a trap driven by Mr James Grey, farmer, of Milburn, and also containing his wife and daughter. The impact was terrific, and Lane was thrown on hie head, and sustained ooncufision of the brain and other injuries, from which he succumbed about 4-.30 on the 19th, without recovering consciousness. The occupants of the trap were thrown out, and Mrs Grey sustained a fractured arm and had one finger dislocated. Mr Grey received several bruises, although no bones were broken, and Mies Grey escaped without any injuries. Tweedie was severely shaken, and in a stunned condition, and unable to answer coherently any questions regarding the accident. Constable Fox stated that the injured young man, Tweedie, was still suffering from shock, and was unable to attend. The inquiry was further adjourned until Monday, February 3.5. A sad shooting accident occurred at Waitati, a youth named George Williams, 17 years of age, being shot in the abdomen, and expiring almost immediately afterwards. The unfortunate youth, with his two brothers, set out on a shooting expedition, and while getting over a stone fence a short distance from the township the gun exploded, the bullet piercing the stomach and inflicting a fatal wound. The deceased was a son of Mr H. G. Williams, managing director of the Otago Brush Company. Ephraim Griffiths, aged 63 years, a retired farmer, of Hilton, and living at Timaru, was killed by a motor car at Terauka on Jon. 25. He was leaving Temuka for the railway station, and in the station yard J. Wright, a farmer, came up behind in a car. He sounded Lis horn, and the deceased seemed to iiear »«, and stepped to the left out of the way. Then ho suddenly stepped right in front of the car, which was too near to avoid an accident. Griffiths was struck by the off wheel, and the car passed over him. He was removed to a private hospital, but was dead when he arrived there. Fatal injuries were sustained by James Porter, a carpenter, in the employ of the New Zealand Government Railways, who fell from a signal post at Auckland on the 25th January at Henderson. Another carpenter, named Thomas Anderson,

had a narrow escape from a similar fate. The accident occurred through a shunting train striking one of the ropes which held in position the gear used in erecting the signal post, causing it to collapsc. Anderson clung to the post, but Porter fell a distance of 30ft, fracturing his right thigh and sustaining severe injuries to hie spine. The injured man wa/s conveyed by train to Auckland, but death occurred before the Mount Eden station was reached. A young labourer named Barnaby Turner, who was found on January 23 lying unconscious beside his horse at Waiuku, died in the hospital on the 27th. He never regained consciousness, and it is believed his 6kull was fractured. Hugh M'Quillan, engine-driver at the Ross Goldfields mine, Ross, was killed instantly about 5 o'olock on Jan. 27 through coming into contact with a live electrio wire when turning off the power. Ho leaves a widow and one young son. A Christchurch Press Association message states that the body of a man, horribTv mutilated, was found on the Waltham railway crossing one morning last week. It was cut in halves, the legs broken, and the hands severed. The body was identified as that of William Challingor, of Lower Ricearton. He left a letter announcing his intention of committing suicide.

MISCELLANEOUS

"We are going to beat last season's figures this year, and last season was a particularly good one," said the Prime Minister on January 5, speaking of the possibilities of tho export trade for the year (reports the Dominion). "So far as it is possible to judge, exports from New Zealand this season will exceed in volume those of last season. The drought on tho East Coast of the North Island, and in tho Auckland district, will undoubtedly affect the output of dairy produce from those districts, but this deficiency will be made up by other districts. In flax and kauri jum our exports \s ill be reduced, but I am confident that the total value of our exports will bo greater this year than last year." In conversation with a Daily Times reporter on the 20th the Hon. Mr

Allen, Minister of Finance, remarked: "It has been said that the Government is shutting down on advances to settlers and advances to workers, but I have figures to prove it is not so. The actual amount paid over to settlers for the month of December was close on £70,000, and tho amount authorised by the lioard for the month was nearly £28,000, while the amount paid over to workers for the same month was about £19,000, and the amount authorised for the month was £21,300."

Two shipping records have been put up at Dunedin and Port Chalmers respectively within tho past few days. In the first instance the Delphic, which arrived in Dunedin on Sunday, the 17th, and commenced the discharge of her 2465 tons of cargo at 12 o'clock on that night, had completed tho work at midnight on the 19th—which must be considered expeditious handling. Fivo hatches wero worked. In tho second instanco tho Maunganui has been taken into the Port Chalmers big dock when drawing 19ft lOin —the deepest draught yet recorded for a steamer roquiring docking at the port. The Tahiti, drawing 19ft 9in, which occupied the dock just prior to the Maunganui being pulled in, was tho previous record holder. There is 21ft of water on the sill of tho dock, but it is understood that tho maximum draught of any steamer desiring to dock at Port Chalmers is 20ft.

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

During th© year 1914 the number of plaints issued in the Magistrate's Courts at Dunedin was 41)85 (amount claimed £35,525 lis 4d, amount recovered £17,725 17s 4d), as against 4472 in the preceding year, when £37,911 13s Id was claimed and £20,801 Cte 5d recovered. The Police Court records show that last year 3364 persons (3092 males, 272 females) wero either arrested or brought up on summons. In the preceding year the total was 2948. There were 109 juveniles dealt with (94 males, 15 females) as against 102 in the preceding year.

Tho bankruptcy returns for the Dunedin district for the year 1914 are as follows:— Petitions filed by debtors, 18; adjudications on petition of creditors, 4; orders of immediate discharge granted by the court, 8; cases in which orders of discharge were suspended by the court, 1; assets (excluding Amounts secured to creditors), £1696 10s lid, amounts secured to creditors, £2172 15s; liabilities (excluding amounts secured to creditors), £6504 3s 4d; amounts realised by the assignee, £1401 5s 7d; amount of debts proved, £7853 2s 2d; amount paid in dividends, £830 6s 4d; amount paid for preferential claims, £77 7s 6d; amount paid for secured claims, £206 8s 3d; amount paid for Government commission, £42 5s 2d; amount paid for costs of actions and solicitors' and supervisors' fees, £220 3s 6d; expenses incurred in carrying on estates for tho benefit of creditors, £61 5s Id; other charges, £61 8s 3d. The bankruptcies comprised seven 'employers, 11 men working lor wages, and four working on their own account. There was one estate valued at under £50, four estates from £50 to £100; 12 from £100 to £200, three from £250 to £500, one from £500 to £1000, and one over £2000.

During December the estates of 234 deceased persons were assessed for death duties. UlO largest being that of Alexander Duncan M'llwraith (Canterbury), £71,695 The Otago estvtes were: Chas. J. Brown, £6468; Terence O'Brien. £4934; Frederick Johnston, £4995; John Mackie, £4909; George M'Callum, £4573; Ellen Foster, £4173; John M'lver, £2763; Jas. Callander, £1G52; Ellen Dawson, £1504; Mary Maley, £1441; Thomas Houston, £1420; George A. Goodall, £1286; George G. Main, £1255; Henry G. Gould, £1214; George Wilson, £822; Charles Bowie, £784; .Ann Ross, £672; David S. Stewart, £670; Henry Skey, £527; Harriet M'Kay, £518. Banking returns for the closing quarter of 3914 aro now available, and, judged on the whole, the figures disclose a very satisfactory position. There is an increase in the advances of £1,294,489, but a decrease in the discounts of £203,016, so that the actual increased accommodation given by bankers to the public, as compared with the December quarter of 1913, is the moderate sum of £1,091,473. Turning to the other side of the account, the free deposits show an increase of £1,381,604, and the fixed deposits an increase of £182,275, together totalling an expansion of £1,563.879, which is decidedly good. Bank notes being legal tender, the note circulation has expanded by £942,509, but the banks have ample cover for this, as the total of coin and bullion has increased by £918,930, or practically the same as the note circulation, and, taking first the advances, the total for the past quarter is £23,121,235, as compared with £21,826,746 for the December quarter of 1913. The increase is not large, and indicates that traders, farmers, and others are able to get along without requiring very much help from the banks. Tho increase in the advances is shared in by all the banks, as the following table shows: — A Press Association telegram from Christchurch states that, in reply to a request for the latest figures showing the Post and Telegraph revenue and Post Office Savings Bank business of the dominion, the Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes (Postmaster-general) stated on the 15th that, notwithstanding the war, the revenue lor the December quarter of 1914 showed an increase of £14,000 over that of the December quarter of 1913. The Savings Bank results were also most satisfactory. Tl.e excess of deposits over withdrawals amounted last quarter to £433,347, as against an excess of only £73,248 in the December quarter of 1913, while the excess of deposits for the calandar year 1914 amounted to no less than £1,301,305, which was a record for the dominion, the previous record having been established in 1907, when the excess of de-

posits amounted, to £1,226,541. It has been computed that during the year ended June 30, 1914, over 3,500,000

quarters of chilled beef, 2,500,000 quarters of frozen beef, 7,250,000 carcases of frozen mutton, and nearly 60,000,000 carcascs of frozen lamb, besides a vast quantity of dairyproduce, fruit, etc., were imported into the United Kingdom in steamers fitted with refrigerating installations The Department of Labour is at present collecting statistics regarding the member ship of industrial unions throughout New Zealand. The secretary of the department has forwarded to union secretaries forms to be filled in, and what amounts to an industrial unions census is now in progress. No person who is one year in arrears of dues may be included in the roll. The figures asked for are those on the union's books on December 31, and the last day for sending in the returns is January 31. The census of workers' unions for 1913 showed a total membership of 71,544, which represents a 10,000 increase on 1912, but it is not expected that tho 1914 figures will be as high as those for 1913, because in 1113 new unions were formed at about str'ke time, and some unionists were counted twice —in the new and the old bodies.

The total amount collected in Dunedrn and suburbs and country districts on Hospital Saturday waa £1730 10s Bd, of which amount £1500 has been distributed to date, aa under: —Dunedin Hospital, £375; Belgian Relief Fund, £375; St. John Ambulance Association, £322 10s; Karitane Home, £217 10s; Patients' and Prisoners' Aid Society, £105; Queen Victoria Jubilee Convalescent Fund, £67 10s; Dental School, £37 10s. Tile remaining sum of £230 10s 8d (lese expenses) will shortly be distributed in proportionate amounts among the same institutions.

A Now Zealand merchant who is an undoubted authority on the subject, has (says the Wellington Post) written to the Prime Minister pointing out that, comparing the present pricey of wheat and the prices at which the Government made its purchases in Canada and Australia, the Government has saved the dominion something over £20,000. In addition to tho wheat that is on its way to New Zealand from Canada and Australia, the Government has purchased 300 tons of flour from a northern firm to be delivered at tho rate of 50 tons

per week. Perhaps one of the finest examples of colonial patriotism is that of a young man who arrived in Timaru on Jan. 25 to join the reinforcements to the New Zealand

Expeditionary Force (says tho Post). Having

had previous military experience as an artilleryman, the call for men for the front found euch a ready response that this man

left his work on Mr Jeffries's station, Aspiring Inlet, Lake Wanaka, and walked 30 miles to Pembroke Continuing on foot, he set out for Timaru, travelling up the central route to Lake Pukaki, Lake 'I'ekapo, Fairlie, and thus to town. He tramped without any swag, sleeping by the roadside, and was 12 days on tho road. It seems regrettablo that, owing to orders received by the Defence Oflice, this enthusiast should be unable to join for three weeks, tho date set down for sending forward tho next batch to Trenthairi.

A striking example of patriotism and fortitude came to tho notice of a Wellington Times reporter on the 22nd ult. A French naval reservist by force of oiroumstances found himself on the 15th at Taumarunui. He desired to get to Wellington to make arrangements to rejoin a French vessel, but had not tho means wherewith to carry out his desire. Ho was too proud to beg for money to accomplish his purpose, so ho set out on foot. Then ensued a long and weary tramp of 250 miles; each night the cold earth was his bed and tho olouds his blankets; he would not accept any money from kindly-diaposed persons he met on his journey—only a little food to sustain his strength. His purpose was steady, and the long tramp was safely accomplished at about midnight on the 22nd. His last day on the road was perhaps his worst. Not a morsel of food had passed his lips from the day before, the howling gale had chilled him to a frozen walking automaton, whilst the driving rain had completed his distress by drenching him to the skin. It was this piteous spectacle of a an heroic victim of an heroio fortitude —that accosted Constable Chapman, and asked to be locked up, so that his case could be brought to the notioe of the French Consul. Upon hearing the man's story, however, the constable refused to tako him in oharge; instead he provided him w.'th a decent supper (which the man ato ravenously) and with a decent bed. "A remarkable recovery has taken place in the Post Office Savings Bank returns since the Government assumed office," remarked the Hon. J. Allen (Minister of Finance) to a Daily Times reporter on the 28th. "Before the Government obtained administrative power there was a serious drop in the excess of deposits over withdrawals. That continued for some considerable time, but gradually got better and better. Now the country may congratulate itself upon the strong position of our Post Office Savings Bank funds. Take the last quarter, ending December 31, for example. The excess of deposits over withdrawals amounts to the huge sum of £433,346. In the samo quarter of the preceding year the excess of deposits over withdrawals totalled £73,247. The month of December was even more remarkable. As a rule the need of withdrawals for holidaying and the like causes a shrinkage in the deposits in the saving's bank, but last month the excess of deposits over withdrawals was £144,708. Hitherto, the returns have generally disclosed an excess of withdrawals over deposits. A year ago, for instance, the withdrawals in December exceeded the deposits by £18,775. The alteration is reassuring proof of the remarkable manner in which New Zealand is escaping the shocks of war." "We are desperately short of male teachers," observed the secretary of the Hawke's Bay Education Board in conversation with a Napier Daily Telegraph reporter. A large number of teachers had gone off to the war, and the board has the greatest difficulty in getting applications of any kind, let alone the right class of person to fill the positions. It has been extremely c.ifficult for some years past to induce young men to take up this profession, and, as a consequence, with so many of our male population drifting to the field of battle, a very difficult problem is confronting tho authorities. In advertising for applicants for the many vacancies, the board has held out better inducements in the matter of conditions and salaries, and it is yet hoped that these will result in attracting the required number of qualified persons for tho positions." In reply to a further inquiry, the secretary stated that the board was also having difficulty in securing the services of suitable female teachers.