Untitled

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16592, 15 January 1916, Page 7

EGa Excellency the Governor (a. Press Association telegram states) has received a telegram intimating that His Majesty King George V taa been graciously pleased to approve of the convalescent homo for soldiers at Rotorua being called the " King Georgo tile Fifth Hospital." Returned soldiers who are unfit for further active sorvico and who are willing to undertake dental orderlies' duties at the dominion training camps, aro requested to make application to the local military authorities. Two men aro required for Trentham, two for Tauiterenikau, one for one for Awapuni, and one for Narrow Neck. Applicants should know something about dental -work. The Auckland Star's Taumarunui correspondent states, on the authority of tho Hon. G. W. Russell (a Press Association telegram reports) that legislation will be introduced next session providing for a Government censorship of moving pictures, and that it will be on broad lines. A picture will not be censored out on tho opinion of one man. The Minister prohibited tho pxhibition of cue picture recently.

Passengers leaving Dunedin yesterday by tho Westralia were obliged to es;crci6e an unusually amount of patience, primarily due to tho marked shortage of labour. Tho vessel was timed to sail at noon, but did not dear till 6 pjm. The work of refitting the Mokoia has drawn a considerable portion of surplus* labour from the wharves to Port Chalmers, and the consequence was that tho Westralia had to bo handled with the limited number of wharf hands available. In addition a fair number of waterside workers in and about this port have enlisted. The position with regard to wharf labour was explained to a reporter by a well-known officer, who mentioned that thero was a prospect of a grave shortage throughout New Zealand. "There are shortages of officers, seamen, stewards, waterside workers, and other classes of labour in connection with tho sea trade —all the outcome of the war. We will all have to • go soon," he " Anyhow, oompulsory service should havo been brought in long ago,'" was his parting shot To meet the new conditions consequent on the alteration of the postage rate, tho Post and Telegraph Department has installed at tho Chief Post Office a stamp vending machine, from which tho piniblic can obtain a halfpenny stamp.' This madiine is in addition to tho ordinary machines vending penny stamps, and it is worthy of notice that tho inventor of the -vending machine has adjusted tho machine to take halfpennies. The public are particularly warned against placing pennies in the machine; it will act only if a halfpenny is placed in. The monthly meeting of the Tourist and Amenities CommittdS of the Otago Expansion League was held in the secretary's office, Stock Exchange Buildin<rs. on Thursday evening. Thero were present Messrs Geo. Fen wick ' (in the chair), A. Bathgate, A. Moritzson, Basil B. Hooper, S. Thomson, and J. Inglis Wright. The Ooean Beach Domain Board wrote stating that the league's letter suggesting 1 that arrangements be made for the opening of tho " Ocean Drive" for traffic had been referred to the District Public Works Engineer, with whom all responsibility with regard to the roadway recta The secretary was instructed to write to tho Domain Board remonstrating against the use of barb wire in fenoing the "Ocean Drive." It was resolved to write to the Government Tourist Department suggesting that arrangements be made for Mr Clifton, the New Zealand Government Commissioner at Panama Exposition, to give 50 illustrated lectures in ; different parts of the United States, with a; view to inducing holiday traffio from the States to the dominion. The secretary was instructed to communicate with the Queenstown branch of the leagste, suggesting that effective steps be taken to organise excursion trips in and around Queenstown, as is done at Botorga and other tourist resorts. The Otago Soldiers' and Dependents' Welfare Committee is leaving no stone unturned to se® thai the dependents of men leaving for the front are well provided for. On Thursday Mr F. G-. Cumming, representing the committee, travelled north with the troop train to get into touch with' the men and see that they had made proper provision for their relatives. Mr Cumming had interviews with some 47 of the men, and tho committee will see that the dependents of these men are properly pro-, vided for, and that provision is made for their welfare. If adequate arrangements are not made by the men themselves assistance will be given, by the committee. A girl named Lilian Amelia Jago was caught red-handed in Frederick street last night by Cansfcablo Beere, stealing a purse out of Mrs Struthers's hand bag, while the latter was in the act of boarding a tram car. It appears that she watched her opportunity and deftly and speedily opened the bag, took out a purae containing lis lid, and mode off, but was intercepted by the constable and taken into custody. She will be brought before the City Police Court this morning. I Another new and most attractive publication from the Otago Expansion League comes to us in the shape of a 16-page brochure on Milford Track, "the finest walk in the world." The league has issued this pamphlet for the Government Tourist Department for distribution in Australia principally. The leaflet, which is profusely illustrated with splendid views of different beauty spots on the track, gives a vivid and imaginative description of the walk, and if well distributed should do much to stimulate traffio to the greatest of Otago's tourist resorts. Copies may bo had at the league's office, Stook Exchange Buildings, or the Government Tourist Bureau, Rattray street. A general meeting of members of tho Wellington Waterside Workers' Union is to bo held on Sunday morning at 10 o'clock, to discuss proposals and draft demands to be submitted to the employers at an early date. The union executive finds it impossible to obtain a representative attendance at a meeting held on a week day at present owing to the exceptionally busy time at the port. The subject of wages is freely discussed along the waterfront, and a representative of tho New Zealand Times has endeavoured to obtain an oppression of feeling on the matter from the rank and file. Many men are in favour of demanding 2s an hour for general cargo, in place of Is sd, the present rate, and a corresponding increase for overtime and rates for other classes of work. Somo men urge a bedrock demand for Is 9d per hour for general cargo, and other rates in proportion. The men are mainly waiting for an official statement before making up their minds regarding the demands. Questioned yesterday regarding the position locally, tbo secretary of the Dunedin Waterside Workers' Union stated that no similar movement was on foot in this city. Tho Dunedin Union is merely awaiting the formulation of a national agreement, whkih will bring about a uniform rato of wages at all the different ports in New Zealand as a result of tto federation of the various unions—an object that was being brought about by the visit of Mr J. Roberts (secretary of the Waterside Federation), who left for the north yesterday. The conference to discuss this now agreement will Shortly be held in Wellington, when an all round increase will 'be asked for. Statements are frequently made by irresponsible individuals regarding tho neglect of the Otago Soldiers' and Dependents' Welfare Committee in attending to the welfare of the returned men. If all returned men who may be in need would oomrwunieato with the secretary at tho office, Stock Exchange Buildings, they would find that the committee is quite ready to assist ail deserving. cases.

Tho British liner, Star of New Zealand (writes our London correspondent on December 8) stranded one mile south of Molene, near Ushant, on Sunday, in a dense fog. She lay on the rocks with water in her hold, and is now written off as a total loss. Tho crew of 46 were saved, and sent to Brest. The Star of New Zealand •was built by Messrs Workman, Clark, and Co., in 1895. and was owned by tho Star Line, Ltd. She was of 4417 tons, was the oldest of the fleet, and tho market does not appear to be muoh interested in tho cargo.

The sales of curiosities at Stevens's Rooms, Covent Garden, have lately been well attended, and bidding has been brisk (writes our London correspondent on Decomber 3). Last week saw several lots of South Pacific interest. A New Caledonian devil worshipper's ceremonial jnask made £6 10s, an idol and a tempi o house door £13 103, and £12 10s respectively. An Australian mummy of a child, preserved with fat and red ochre, bound up with «vne, realised £24. A reconstructed New Guinea ohief's head, shell eyes, mado £12; New Zealand dried head of a chief, tho hair and teeth being exceedingly fine, £17 6s 6d; a somewhat similar lot going for 11 guineas. In the Police Court at Port Chalmers yesterday morning a man named Michael Towey was convicted of drunkenness and fined 10s, or 48 hours' imprisonment. Mr N. Dodds was the presiding JJP.

The Otago Land Board at its meeting this week considered a memorandum from the Under-seoretary of Lands with respect to the exclusion of applications for land from einglo men of military ago, and resolved as follows:—"That the board will exorcise the discretionary powers of section 60 of "The Land Act, 1908," ill order to excludo from ballots and selection of Crown or settlement land, during tbo "war, all single men of military ago who are unable to produoo evidence of rejection from service." In conformity with thie resolution tho board postponed a number of application from men for land, in order to ascertain whether tho transferees are eligible for military service. The cargo that was removed from tho hospital ship Maheno yesterday and placed in one of tho goods sheds at Port Chalmers was examined by the local transport officers, and tho packages were found to contain tho hospital equipment which had been given to tho ship on her departure from New Zealand. These stores will be overhauled and catalogued afresh before being returned to tho ship, where they will bo stowed so that no difficulty will be experienced in finding whatever is needed at any time. It is understood that there is no truth in tho rumour to the effect that these stores were intended for base hospitals in the Mediterranean. Tho goods shipped for those places, it is stated, were duly landed when the vessel was in the Mediterranean. Among those who visited the vessel yesterday were Lieutenant-colonels Elliott and Falconer —the former being the newly-appointed medical officer in charge of the Maheno.

Senator Pearce, Commonwealth Minister of Defence, recently made a statement, in reply to allegations that he had approved of the departure of munition mechanics from Australia, in response to the offer of Yickers Ltd., in which he denied the accusation. " Tho facts are," he said, " that tho agents of certain manufatcurers have engaged men in Australia to go to England, and these men have applied for passports. The External Affairs Department has therefore asked ns for a ruling in the matter. I havo laid it down that where men can produce documentary evidence that they had been so engaged, these passports should be issued. There is, however, one phase of tho matter that needs further attention. There are certain industries here which are closely connected with the munitions manufacture, not only here, but in Great Britain itself, as, for example, men employed in the lead, zino, and spelter industry. In these cases we havo decided that these workers where considered to bo indispensable, should not be permitted to take up engagements in Great Britain or elsewhere, as obviously permitting them to do so we might hamper these industries hero in their operations, and thus interfere with the production of munitions in Great Britain. Action is being taken to bring this decision under the notice of tho External Affairs Department and the agents of British' manufacturers in Australia." Tho remarkable wheat harvest in Canada last season was referred to by Mr Adam Watson, representing the Dominion Flourmills Company, of Montreal, Canada, who arrived in Auckland ,by the Makura, en route to Sydney and Melbourne. Mr Wat- . son stated (says the New Zealand Herald) that after providing for her own requirements Canada had 300,000,(XX) bushels for export, and the bigger part of this surplus was being sent to Great Britain. Yields in tho great wheat belt had averaged between 50 and 60 bushels per acre, and tho oat crop from 70 to 80 bushels per acre. It was recently mentioned (says tho New Zealand Herald) that the Salvation Army had decided to open a home in Auckland for the reception of the orphan children of New Zealand soldiers who have lost their j lives in tho present war. For this .purpose they have secured & residential property on Clifton road, Ponsonby, known as "Tho Grange," formerly occupied by the late Mr W. H. Smith, of the firm of Messrs Smith and Caughey. The situation is well out of rang© of tho business part of the city, CSiftan road being one of tho streets which runs from Jervois road to the Ponsonby waterfront, a abort distafico beyond the Tram Company's barn. At Wednesday's meeting of the Patriotic Committee, Christchurch (says the Lytteltpn Times), Mr A. H. Turnbull 6aid that a case had como under his notico of a Canterbury soldier who, while doubling over rough country in his final training at Palmerston, had put his foot in a rabbit burrow and dislocated his knee. He was told that ho would be laid up for a month or so, but a day or two later, while in hospital, he had been oalled on by a defence officer and handed his discharge. It was a dastardly shame to treat a man like that. He was quite satisfied that circumstances of tho kind narrated throughout the country would militate against recruiting. Tho accident had happened in November, and the man was now almost better and perfectly willing to go back, but he had had to pay doctors' bills, and had lost a lot of time, besides maintaining himself. He moved that the circumstances under which the man was discharged should be brought before the Minister, as an instance of lack of consideration and a due sense of responsibility on the part of tho Defence authorities. On Mr J. J. Dougall's suggestion, it was decided to obtain a written statement from the man concerned. Mr A. 0. Marwell said that the department's treatment of returned men was doing more harm than anything else to keep back recruiting. The motion was agreed to subject to an inquiry beforehand.

The Dunedin Starr-Bowkett Building Society will 'dispose of £1000 by ballot on Monday evening at 8 o'clock in the Oddfellows' Hall, Stuart street. A few shares in No. 3 group still available and will participate in the above ballot. The United Starr-Bowkett Building Society invites applications for shares in No. 4 group, and advertises £1000 for disposal. Mr and Mrs Firth will assist at the Central Mission services to-morrow. Mr Firth will preside at tho orcran. and Mrs Firth, a contralto singer, will sing solos. They will give a recital in the evening.

Notices for the following Sunday services will bo found in our advertising columns: — Anglican—St Paul's. All Saints, St. Matthews, Alexandra, Clyde, Cromwell. Presbyterian—First, Russell /Street, Knox, Stuart Hall, St. Andrew's, Kensington, Roslyn, North-East Valley, Opoho, Portobello, Maoandrews, Broad Bay, Caversham. Methodist—Trinity, Woodhaugh, Central Mission, St. Kilda, Highcliff, Broad Bay, Anderson Bay, Bay, Cargill Road, Benevolent, Dundas Street, Caversham, Abbotsford, Fairfield, Glenaven, Ravensbourne. Congregational — Moray Place, St. Clair. Baptist—Hanover Street. Church of Christ —Tabernacle, Roslyn. Salvation Army—City and Roslyn. Tlieosophical Society. South Dunedin Gospel Hall. Spiritual Scientists. The "Silent Grey" (the Harley Davidson) motor cycle is pre-eminently the passenger machine. Its equal has never been produced.—Wil6on and Co., Bond street. — Advt. Remember, " it's what they say it is " at Williamson's, tho quality jewellers, 31 Princes street. You get a choice selection. —Advt. Mollisons latest bargains: "Kobe" pile hearth rags, size 4ft x 2ft, 3s lid; slip mats, sizo 30in x 12in, la 3d each. Grand designs.—Advt. False economy: Buying inferior whisky, when yon can get incomparable Watson's No. 10.—Advt. A. E. J. Blakeley. dentist. Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859.— Advt. Who is Peter Dick? —Tho mcst reliable Watchmaker, Jeweller, and Certificated Con' Bultinc; Optician, 490 Moray place (off Princes street}, Dunedin. Charges moderate.—Advt