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Otago Daily Times, Issue 16477, 1 September 1915, Page 4

Th 4 Taieri and Peninsula Milk Supply Company announces a reduction of 2d pei' lb in the prico of its butter. Best factory brands are now quioted at Is 6d retail. In the circular intimating the decrease in price the company states:—"Wo beg to adrvise you that, on and after Wednesday, September 1, the price of our butter will be reduced by 2d per lb. . . . These prices obtain in the meantime. As the world's markets show that there is a slight falling off in prices, probably in the near future, should they continue to fall, tho local market will got the benefit of same." Association message from Oamaru states that butter is to be reduced by 2d per lb. making the retail price Is 6d per lb. The registrar (Mr H. Maxwell) reports the following vital statistics for the month ending yesterday : —Birtht, 135; deaths, 77: marriages, 53. For the corresponding month last ' year tho figures were : —Birtiis, 129; deaths, 79; marriages. 49. A Prese Associa.tion telegram states that the following are the •vital statistics for Wellington for August (the figures for August last year being given in parentheses): —Births, 153 (211); deaths, 83 (96); marriages. 104 (97). For the eight months of the year tho figures are:— Births, 1395; deaths, 610; marriages, 765. The figmres for the corresponding period of last year wereßirths, 1429; deaths, 603; marriages, 724. As an incentive to recruiting, the following extract from tho last letter received from Private Baxter, who was killed in action at the Dardanelles, should provo of value: — "Wo are all longing for the. war to end, but I intend to stiok to it until the last. The end of this war is only a matter of more men. Men will have to die, but we will get there ull the same. I think any mother ought to be proud of a son who dies for his country." Work at the Kaitangata mines, Nos. 1 and 2, has 'been suspended for a few days, owing to important alterations in the tip shed, where -big- improvements for the more expeditious handling of coal have been installed (says the correspondent of the Balcl'utha Free Press). The tip has been altered so as to manipulate three .boxes al; onco instead of one, u-ndi the screcns have been reset so as to take the increased quantity of coal. It was cxpectod to have hud the alterations finished yesterday.

A prominent member of the licensed trado has, at our request, placed his views before us regarding tho proposed now system of taxation, on beer. Ho draws attention to tho fact that the trade is already heavily taxed, but, at the same time, he clearly recognises the necessity for tho National Government to impose a war tax upon tho peoplo generally. Tho system proposed by the Government of taxing on tho specific gravity of beer, in place of charging an all round duty, will, in his opinion, bo tho means of inducing the brewers to manufacture lighter beverages, which apparently is the desire of those who framed the proposals.

The final scene of the Queen Carnival was ena/ctcd last evening, when the coronation ceremony was presented in the Drill Hall for the last time. Tho.rain, of course, had soino effect on tho attendance, but, nevertheless, it was voi"Y large, rei&ultinig in an accrued amount to the iund of £100. The proceedings wero conducted with .tho same soloinnity and success that havo marked each of the previous occasions, and the big audienco was as appreciative as tho former ones. Boiore the queen and her court made their finul progress through the "abbey'.' tho whole company, including the splendid choir and orchestra, wero photographed, and tho picture should bo very fine. The actual scene waa ccrtoinly brilliant, and if tho camera can only catch even a distant ccho of it the results should bo gratifying. The list of honours granted last night was a small one, embracing the Mistress of the Robes (Miss Vida Waters) and the Master of Ceremonies (Mr Owen Cardston). . On Saturday (6ays our correspondent) tho secretary of tho Invercargill Chamber of Commerce (Mr J. T. Prain) wired to ~ir Joseph Ward as follows: —'"Bo stamp duty 011 aubeales of land, my chamber is heartily in accord with this proposal, but strongly suggests that it should not be made retrospective, but appiy only to sales made alter August 27; otherwise serious hardships will result in some oases." Mr Prain has received the following reply from Sir J. G. Ward:—"ln reply to your- telegram, 28th, tho Act will not be resti'osjpective as regards subsales." In recommending that the Estimates for the year ending March 31, 1916, should be allowed to pass without amendment, the Public Accounts Committee of the Houae of Representatives yesterday added a note v that, in view of the large war expenditure, it was of opinion that economy in every branch of the public service was absolutely necessary.

. Under an arrangement between the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board and the Wellington Education Department, there exists a system in Wellington, and elsewhere in New Zealand, of boarding out destitute children with certain people who are recompensed by the State tlirough the Education Department by money collected toy the City Council and passed over to the Hospital and Charitable ( Aid Board. From time to time (says tho Dominion) over a period of many years tho system has been criticised as one that does hot altogether fulfil the intentions of the legislation provided for its operation. It is maintained that some oi the children do not get tho benefits of a oomiort&ble home life, a? was intended, but are "farmed out" to people who make a regular business of it. The Charitable Aid Board has. no jurisdiction to oversee the children or the habitations in which they are -placed. The matter has been brought .under the notice of the Minister (the Hon. J. A. Hanan), and a deputation of members of the board is to wait upon him to-day.' The appearance of clouds overhead yesterday afternoon gavo prospects of heavy rain, which was anxiously awaited in.many parts of Otago and Canterbury. Between 5 and 6 o'clock rain began to fall, and tpwards 7 o'clock the indications were that it would continue, but about 10 p-m: it ceased. Early this morning, however, rain was again threatening. A Press Association telegram from Oamaru stated that, alter an unusually dry and mild winter, stock and dairy farmers were looking upon the outlook as gloomy,' the district beiiig parched, and feed being scarce. Welcome rain began to fall there last evening, in heavy eho Wei's, which were continuing at midnight. Two or three inches of rain would be worth thousands of pounds to North Otago district. At a special meeting of the H&wko's Bay Presbytery last nigut (says'a Press Association message from Napier), concerning the resignation from the Gis'borno charge of the Rev. W. Grant, who is at the front as a chaplain, the following resolution was passed : "The Presbytery is convinced that it was possible to htuve given effect to its recommendation that Mr Grant bo granted further leave - of albsence; but, having heard the commissioners from St. Andrew's Session, Gisborne, in support of- the resolution of the oongregation that Mr Grant's resignation be accepted a§ from August 31, does most reluctantly accede to the request of the congregation. Had tho congregation shown the same spirit of self-eacrifice as was displayed by its minister, the Presbytery would have been relieved of dealing with a painful situation." >

A Press Association telegram states that the Wellington Education Board has decided to communicate with all the other education boards in the dominion suggesting cooperation to prevent teachers from being induced to leave for another district shortly after taking up a new appointment. At the Supreme Court at Wanganui yesterday, his Honor, addressing the jury, said that the only case that might cause, trouble was the charge of unlawful assembly against four persons. After explaining the meaning of " unlawful assembly,!' his Honor said the oocasion -was one' where hatred of members of the, German race (which was not surprising, when events in Eurppe were, remembered) had been given vent to .by means of a demonstration against a person—a naturalised German 1 . There was really cause to be indignant with the race, but, that did not justify the disturbance against a naturalised German, who ~ had for many years lived in Wanganui. Although the German race, by any means in its power,, was endeavouring to overcome tho British race, there were many thousands of Germans who had received tho benefits and blessings of British rule, who were not in sympathy with their compatriots' methods of warfare. This was, he said, tho first case of its kind in his experience.

For some time past a proposal has been afoot that Anderson Bay should fall into lino with several other suburban boroughs and amalgamate with the city. A meeting of residents of the district, was held in the Presbyterian Church Hall last evening to discus? the pros and cons of the position. The meeting appeared to be, very largely composed of "pros," while the upholding of the contra side of the argument was left to one gontleman—the chairman of the local Town Board. Mr Somerville, in the course of a speech which occupied tho test part of an hour, advanced a weighty array of facts and evidence why matters should remain as they are, but his eloquence was ofno avail, nor were his hearers to be diverted from their steadfast conviction by the citation of two legal opinions stating that, in view of the fact that tho boundaries of Anderson Bay and the City of Dunedin were not contiguous, a poll on the proposal could only bo regarded as an expression of opinion of tho ratepayers. At the conclusion of a discussion lasting over two hours a motion favouring amalgamation was carried on the voices—a feeble sound of ''Noes" corning from tho rear of tho hall. A Press Association telegram from Invcrcargill states that the Southland brancli of the New Zealand Farmers' Union receiver) a telegram yesterday from the Prime Minister stating that tJie Government kid dccided to allow a limited quantity of oatsi to bo exported with the consent of tho Minister of Customs, to whom applications for cach shipment should be addressed as soon as possible.

A petition is in circulation in the Milton district, addressed to the military authorities, taking exception to tho drastic com* ments made by MrJusiico Sim upon Lieu-tenant-colonel J, B. M'Clymont when summing up in the charges of alleged theft of moneys preferred against that officer at the last sittings of tho Supreme Court, on which chargos ho waa acquitted. The terms of the petition express the hope that the judge'* remarks -will not prejudice M'tilyroont'B private reputation or prospects ea a aoldier.. A well-known farmer of North Otago, oo a visit to Dunedin yesterday, told a Daily Times reporter that his district waa vecy badly in need of rain. Crops of wheat and oats sown two months ago were only now showing above the'ground in a patchy manner. He added, however, that, although the drought was in many respects a severe handicap, farmers in the district were quite cheery as to the They, were fairly well used to dry weather now; and that make* all tho difference. What was troubling them moro than anything eke was the prospect of trouble being experienced in getting labour. Ihis was the result of the war. 60 many, sons of the soil, labourers of all descriptions, shearers, and others necessary in dealing with sheep-farming and general agriculture had enlisted that there was a likelihood of a grave shortage having to be faced.. He felt sure that, in the special circumstances, farmers would do all possible to deal with. 6uch a contingency and courageously help to carry on and sustain, the dominion's chief industry.

In the City Police, Court yesterday Wit. liam Saunders appearod on a charge of fail-. ing to comply with an order of the court to contribute 6s each per week towards tha maintenance Of his two children, the arrears being £1 7s up to July 2. He pleaded "Guilty," and waa sentenced to one Month's imprisonment with hard labour, an ordei being made that he be released on payment of the arrears. Mr H. Y. Widdotvson waa the presiding magistrate. • ' ' , ' The New Zealand Council of Agriculture has recently -sent out a circular to country local bodies throughout the dominion submitting proposals for the creation of local agricultural committees. The circular waa considered by the Waikouaiti County Council at its meeting yesterday. Cr Orbell explained thai the proposal was to have local consulting , committees, representing agricultural and pastoral societies, county councils, and tho farmers' Union, that - might be . called together to consider matters of such general importance to the country districts as the. shortage of farm labour. Members < of the council were in sympathy with tha idea, and it was decided to appoint an Agricultural Committee to represent the Waikouaiti County. After careful consideration it waa decided that the committee should consist of . two members from the County Council, two members from the A. and P. Society (one representing Waikouaiti and one representing Waitati), one member from the Waikouaiti Borough. .Council,-)and ' one member representing the dairy factories. It was decided to ask the; Omimi factory directors, 'as theirs is: the oldest-ostabliehed factory in the district, to convene a meeting of representatives <rf .other factories, in; the ' oounty £b elect a delegate to represent them on the Agricultural Committee. The insidious form of Sunday trading practised by the penny-in-the-slot machines haa been detected by the Auckland Sunday Schools' Union (remarks tho Star). The 1 union has drawn the attention of the City ' Council to' the fact that the mechanical traders work on seven days in the week, and has urged a discontinuance of the practice. Tho town , clerk, informed the council on Thursday night that .all the penny-in-the-slot machines allowed by the council were weighing machines, and that' all such other machines were on private property. The council passed the ethical problem involved over to the Works Committee for consideration. '•' \ . V''"'

A sermon recently preached by the Rev. P. J. Wamwright,.at the Baptist' Church at ' Gis borne.' lias 'been the cause of much criticism among the church oongregation. Mr Wainwright tendered his resignation as minr ister after the congregation refused to ao- / cept a statement made by him for'tlbe pmr- . , pose of defining hia views more clearly. In tlio course of the sermon in question the preacher is reported to have. said that the \ w.ar would revolutionise eocial life; and *' many theories now existing would be • changed. A mother who read of her eon'i ddath at tho front would bo immediately confronted with the probleih, where has ho gone? Her creed, iif a narrow one, might. teach her that, if he has not led a Christian >" life, ho. Has' gone to hell. "To me such a thing is unthinkable, unbelievable," aaid.the. preacher. "Just as Christ welcomed those who knew Him .not, because they 'possessed His spirit, eo I think He willwoloomo thoee whp, not knowing Him, ehed their blood for their country, give thfcir life for what : seems to them right Not in: the, higher mansions of heaven, perhaps, will' they be " received, but in eome humble station, where they 'will grow and; develop , into, sointlineea ; ■ and Christlikenoes." • .

A mild sensation waa caueed at Cobclen on W odnesday when it became kno\vn that the Misses Rice (2), of Greymouth, and Mr, Barkhius, of the Government Life Insurance Department, Who had left in the afternoon to climb to the Cobden Hill trig' Station, had not returned home (says the Grey Rircc Argus). It appears that, oa'their homeward journey from the top of the hill, they got on the wrong: spur and lost their bearings, , and got into a rather steep gtflly, amidst supplejacks and lawyers, and were overtaken by darkness.' They, coooed, but without avail, and it was not until the family of the young ladies became uneasy and went over to, meet them that ony-iclea that they, were lost was entertained. The cry for help soon went out, &nd many willing helpers turned out to look for the party, but not riiiil midinght. were they locked, when one of the many searchers came across theiri practically none the ■worse, for the adventure, although, on inquiries fyeiag made, it was laarnt that one of the young ladies was very much, bruised through failing over logs and scrambling through scrub. It was, very fortunate that the weather waa fine and the bush dry.

The Executive Council of the Federated, Seamen's Union of New Zealand completed' its deliberations on Friday afternoon,, after having been in conference at Wellington since August 2 (?ays the New Zealand Times). The conference has been the lengthiest that has been held' by seamen's representatives in Now Zealand. Mr W. T. Young, tlio secretary, stated to a reporter that a lot of good work has been aocom-, plished, including the formulation of two codes of rules—national and local,—and ropiitration had been effected under the, Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration \Act under national rules. In respect to the rules, representatives of the council were able to come to Art agreement with the' officials of tho Labour Department on all . points in dis- 1 pute, and thus greatly facilitating the business of that organisation. ' O.H.M.S. military riders express the greatest confidence • in: the high quality of B.S.A. material and workmanship.—W. Stuart Wilson and Co., Bond street.—Advt. Mollisons are offering this week a shipment of Jap' pile hearth ruga, perfect de- : signs and colourings; size 5 x feet, at 5s lid—Advt. A. E. Boot, dentist, 63 Princes street— ; Gentleness and extreme oare.—Advt. ■) Watson's No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth the mpnoy.— : Advt. < • For Children's Hacking Cough at, night, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, Is 6d, 2a 6d. —Advt. * '..v i A. E. J. Blakeley, dentist. Bank of Aus-. tralasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets, (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859.™ Advt. ' - * Who is Poter Dick?—Tho most, reliable Watchmaker, Jeweller, and Certificated Con. suiting Optician; 490 Moray place (off iPrinces ; ■ street), Dunedin. Charges moderate.—Advt•'