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Otago Daily Times, Issue 16916, 31 January 1917, Page 4

Mr Isaac Green has definitely announced that he will be a candidate for the mayoralty of the city. It is understood the present Mayor (Mr J. J. Clark) will also offer his services to the ratepayers. A Press Association telegram from "Wellington states that as a result of representations by the United Federation of Labour to the Minister of Internal Affairs regarding the reported influx of Hindus to the dominion, the Hon. Mr Russell states that the numbers are not so great as has been supposed. The Labour Department has been instructed to see that if Hindus are employed in any"' industry governed by an award they must receive the same wage as white workers.

The Drainage Board, at its meeting last night, instructed the secretary to take proceedings against various parties for failure to comply with notices to make drainage connections.

In Alexandra on Monday the temperature registered -vvas 130 degrees in the sun and 92 degrees in tho shade. The temperature in the shado in Duncdin on Monday (Mr Paulin's record) was 87 degrees. Yesterday it was slightly hotter, the thermometer registering 88 degrees. At Mosgiel yesterday 85. degrees were registered in the shade and lip degrees in the open.

At the Waikouaiti Borough Council meeting on Monday evening a letter was read from the Petone Borough Council asking support of several resolutions relating to an increase dn soldiers' pay and also advocating conscription of wealth. Cr Davis moved that the letter bo received, stating that, in his opinion, those on active service could rely on getting, full justice from the Government. An amendment was proposed by Cr Smith strongly approving of the suggested increase of pay to 10s per day. The motion was declared carried.

Mr W. Nosworthy, M.P., received the following telegram from the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, Minister of Agriculture, on Saturday:—"lf farmers think it necessary I will ho prepared to meet them in conference at Christchurch next Thursday, at 10.30 a.m., before announcing proposals regarding wheat. Reply urgent whether you think conference desirable." Mr Nosworthy telegraphed to tho Minister of Agriculture as follows:—"Not being cognisant of Government proposals regarding wheat, it is impossible for me to advise as to tho necessity of you again meeting the farmers in conference. I would suggest that you call a conference for Thursday as proposed, meanwhilo publishing tho Government scheme, thus enabling representative farmers to consider the , same before attending the conference. Any scheme that fails to provido for' sufficient competent men to enable prompt and vigorous cultivation of an increased area promptly is foredoomed to failure, as many teams are now practically idle. I sincerely trust the National Government will indeed rise to tho occasion, and so ensure the production of sufficient cereals within the dominion."

At ite last meeting the Taieri County Council was advised by the engineer of the damage caused to the Brighton road and the Alain South road by the excessive speed of motors using these roads, particularly at" holiday time. Delegates from the Otago Motor Club waited on the council at the same mooting, and made the suggestion that the rate of travel should be restricted not only for the sake of the roads but for the safety and convenience of the public. Aβ a. result of the conference, the council has decided that the speed of motors and other traffic bo restricted on both roads to 15 miles per hour, this speed to be reduced at certain sharp bends and danger points to six miles per hour. The council also g.wo ite officers instructions to measuro off certain portions of the road with the object of enabling the speed of motors to bo checked.

A new experiment is to be tried with the Wellington Municipal Fish Market. Instead of losing £200 to £300 each year (as Cr Godber explained on Friday night) the- City Council has agreed to accept an offer to rent the premises for a -period of six months at a rental of £1 5s per week, with the use of certain fittings, subject to the prices charged for fish being limited to the following :—Groper, 4d per lb; terakihi, 3d per lb; moki, 3d per ]b; schnapper, 3d per lb; flat fish, Sd per lb; oysters, 5d per dozen. It was explained that these prices were practically tho same as those which haro ruled all akrag.

It is probably not generally realised how large an amount of cargo space from the OW Country is being taken up at the present time by whisky and other liquors. One largo liner, for instance, due here next week, Ims over 5000 cubic feet of space occupied with whisky from Glasgow for this port. The weight of this quantity is about 130 tons.

Particulars have come to hand giving details of the recent severe flood in Poverty Bay, which was largely confined to Tokomaru Bay. The first report given concerning the loss of the child, Ken. Hanlon, was not correct, as it stated that the father handed tho child to his wifo, who tripped over an obstacle, and tho child fell from her arms and was drowned. Further details showed that it rained and thundered all day on the Sunday, and when the family rose about 7 a.m. on the Monday, it was still raining heavily and the river had risen considerably. Tho Hanlon family decided it was not safo to stay in the house any longer, and Mr Hanlon, taking the child, with his wife following, made for the bridge. On stopping from the verandah of the house they wero immediately knee deep in water. Mr Hanlon got half-way through the paddock, but the current was too strong for: Mrs Hanlon, who was gradually being carried towards the river, and he returned to her assistance. Losing her footing in an uncovered well she grasped him, and pulled him in and the child was washed away. Mr and Mrs Hanlon were now in extreme difficulty, and two Maoris on horses observed their plight, and went to their rescue. One of the Natives dived after tho child, but his gallant attempt was not successful, as ho was impeded by a fence. "With considerable difficulty, Mr and Mrs Hanlon were brought to a place of safety after a very trying experience. Mrs Hanlon is the second eldest, daughter of Mr and Mrs W. Richdale, of Ravensbourne, and sincere sympathy is felt for them and thq parents in the loss of their little one. Tho body of tho child was recovered on Sunday, and buried at Tokomaru.

A Little Rakaia farmer recently had a very distinguished gang bf harvesters at work on his farm. The farmer started to reap his crop, and as soon as tho machine, had got a fair start his son began stodking. In a short time a party of gentlemen from Christchurch ivho were spending the weekend at the Rakaia Mouth —solicitors and members of other professions, together with a well-known clergyman—scaled tho fenco and were soon hard at work in the harvest field. Tho amateurs shaped remarkably well, and in a comparatively sliort time tho whole of the crop was in stook. The kindly action of tho week-enders was much appreciated by the farmer.

Tho timber industry along the Main Trunk is reported, to bo slackening down somewhat (says tho Auckland Star). The conscription of men has reduced the number of builders very, considerably, and the scarcity of tradesmen, combined with the heavy increases in building material, has had tho effect of causing moneyed men to slow down in the building of houses for speculative purposes. The mills have been very active during the past year owing to erection of new freezing works and big extensions to others, including Taihape and Feilding. The only new works in courso of erection now are those being constructed at Kakariki, near Marton, for the Wellington Meat Export Company. Under the circumstances, therefore, a reduced output is forecasted.

It is understood (says the Wanganui Herald) that some prosecutions are to follow in the case of men who at tho time of enlistment make a false declaration of age. It appears that in the Manawatu district a number of cases had come under the notice of the military authorities where men under and over ago had volunteered for service with the Expeditionary Force, and had been accepted by making false declarations regarding their ages. " As all recruits are attested when passing the doctor, and are given a day's pay, the department intends to stop tho practice by instituting/ Police Court proceedings against such offenders on the charge of making a false declaration and obtaining money under false pretences. A grievance of long standing has been remedied by tho decision of the Defence Department to increase by 2s per day the pay of second lieutenants in the Expeditionary Force. The position of the second lieutenants in tho past has been anomalous, owing to the fact that in the case of married men they were often worse off financially than their own non-commissioned officers. Their wives and children did not receive separation allowance, and they had to meet various expenses, including mess charges, that did not fall upon the non-commissioned men. The addition now made tc the pay of tho second lieutenants will improve the position considerably from the point of view of the junior officers. Good progress was made with all the harvest operations in the Ashburton district last week, and the bulk of the .grain on the plains is either now in stook or in stack. A good deal of thrashing was done, with widely varying results. Many of the late-sown crops are not thrashing out well, more especially on the light lands and away along the eea coast, but good returns are being obtained where the seed was. got in early. On somo of the lighter lands, and in cases where the grain was not sown early, the heads, did not fill out well owing to the dry, hot weather experienced while it was in the milk stage. There will be some good yields of both wheat and oats in the Longbeach, Eiffelton, and Willowby districts. On the Longbeach Estate a'crop of Algerian oats thrashed last' week gave an average yield of 72 bushels per acre, though this will be above the general average. There will bo some good average crops of both wheat and oats all through tho Ahhburton Forks district, and also across the river, through parts of tho Westerfield and Lagmhor districts. Rain is again badly needed to help on the growth of rape, turnips, and to give the grass a fresh start for tho autumn and winter. Most of the pastures, except away towards the hills, still bear a parched appearance, but thero is plenty of good, rough, dry feed, and as practically every paddock throughout the Ashburton district has, thanks to the foresight of the Ashburton County Council, a water race running through it, sheep and lambs are doing fairly well. Tho wheat crops which have so far been thrashed out in tho Wokanui district have shown very variable results. Near tho sea coast tho average has been down as low as 15 bushels per aero, while on tho heavier lands over towards the Wakanui Creek and higher up nearer Ashburton, the yields have ranged up to 47 bushels per acre.

We understand (says tho Wairarapa Daily Times) that the recent examination of men in Mastcrton by tho Medical Board disclosed a very disquieting state of affairs. A very large proportion of the rejected men were found to be, suffering from tuberculosis. Tho disease is said to be moro prevalent among the Wairarapa men than has proved to be the case with men who havo come before tho medical boards in any other part of New Zealand. It would be unwise to publish tho list of diseases from which rejected men suffer, but we arc of opinion that the marked prevalence of tuberculosis disclosed should certainly be reported to the Health Department. Much disappointment has boon expressed that no woman's namo figures on the recently appointed Film Censorship Board (says a writer in the Sydney Daily Telegraph). There can be no question that this is a woman's work. Wisely tho caro of children has been left in woman's hands. Her judgment of what is likely to be misunderstood by tho littlo picture-goers cannot bo disputed. It will bo found that sometimes the moral of the picture lies not in tho actual performance itself, which may seem quite harmless, but for the childish interpretation of it. Asked her views on tho film censorship,' Mrs Bogue Luffman, 6ecretary of tho Woman's Reform League, said that it was most emphatically woman's work, for she had the bringing up of the human lace. She also could tell best what pictures distressed tho child, both in its physical and moral nature.

A "Wellington Press Association message states that strong head winds and heavy seas buffeted the Mararoa all the way up the coast on Monday night, delaying her arrival from Lyttelton from three to four hours. She had nearly 400 passengers on board, who had a trying time.

Battle practice was indulged in by the Twenty-second Specialist Company, under the direction of Major Fraser, macnine-gua instructor, at Papawai, on the hanks of the Ruamahanga River, on Friday (states the Wellington Post). Altogether 20 machine guns were brought into play, under what represented active service conditions as near as possible. The practice was the biggest of its kind yet attempted in New Zealand, and when the whole of the deadly weapons broke forth in unison the din created was something to remember. Tickers, ViekersMaxims, and Lewis guns were all brought into requisition and maintained a deadly fire, the effect of which could be observed in the "strike" of the flowing streams of bullets. The marksmanship displayed was generally good, showing the soundness of the instruction imparted. The divisional signallers also did good work in maintaining communication between the guns, brigade headquarters, and the camp.

Very important matters were brought before the conference of medical inspectors of schools held in "Wellington recently. Openair teaching, building of new schools, and extension of existing schools on the air plan, were approved of and 1 recommended. Tho need for further physical education was strongly emphasised. The present system of corrective classes, it was considered, should be extended. The interest and co-operation of parents should bo secured by frequent meetings for mothers, and the use of school nurses, to form a link between tho school and the home. It was considered to be exceedingly important that parents should realise the necessity for long hours of quiet, refreshing sleep for young children. Interesting information was given as to the actual attendance of school children at picture shows. The moral, and nervous effect involved made an interesting discussion. The conference was unanimously in favour of co-education of the sexes throughout the primary schools. The best means of attacking the problem of the feeble-minded, ill-nourished, and physically defective children was aJso discussed at length. ,

By tho English mail which arrived in Christchurch on Saturday, the Hon H. F. Wigram received private advice that the War Office and the Royal Flying Corps had granted official recognition to tho Canterbury School of Aviation, and that pupils who gain their pilot's certificate will obtain a commission in the Royal Flying Corpe Reserve, and receive a refund of £75 towards their tuition fees. The letter continued:—"When we manage to get an officer out to Australia, he can go to see this school and help it along." With such evidence that pupils are still wanted, it does seem strange that other Government departments should persist in blocking tho shipping of the aeroplanes which aro so badly wanted for training aviators. When tho last mail left, tho War Trade Department had, after months of delay, granted a permit for them to be shipped, but the French Government was -still holding back the engines "somewhere in France." By later cable advice it seems that tho difficulties about shipment are in a fair .way towards being removed, but the delay is as disappointing to the directors as it must be to the numerous pupils who have sent in their names. No effort has been spared at either end to hasten matters. In London the help of the High Commissioner and others has been sought, and inquiries have been made in Canada, to see if it was possible to, get machines more promptly from that quarter.

In the course of his address to the congregation in Christchurch on Saturday, the Jewish reader, Mr D. Schloss, referred' to the cable message received from Lord Rothschild, urgently requesting help for the Jewish refugees of Russia and Rumania. In consequence of the German invasion of Poland and Rumania, said Mr Schloss, it was estimated that over two million Jews were practically destitute, and at times such as these, when frequent calls are being made upon the generosity of the people for various other funds, one was apt to overlook the groat part that Jews are playing in this war. Not only were they represented in the armies of the belligerent nations in greater proportion to their non-Jewish brethren, but Jew is fighting against Jew. That, however, has not deterred the Jew from entering the contest and laying down his life for the cause he knew to be just, as daily casualty lists proved only too -well. "We over here, living in security, can have no idea of the misery and destitution in which these wretched beings, victims of Prussian oppression, are passing continued Mr Schloss, "and, grateful for our freedom, we should be prepared to make great sacrifices in order to somewhat alleviate their sufferings, and help them to keep body and soul together." We have received from Mrs J. W. Adams (Heriot) a contribution of £1 for the Barnado Homes Fund. The Rev. H. B. Gray, of the NorfltEast Valley Presbyterian Church,. has accepted a call to Hawera, and leaves Dunedin on Saturday. A farewell gathering- -will be held in the church at 8 o'clock this evening. Tho names of Dorothy Kirker Minytre, D. C. Williamson, and Stanley W: M*lntosh have been included in the list of winners of junior free places published by us. yesterday morning. The South African Motor Cyclists' Corps, now on active service, is mounted exclusively on B.S.A. motor cycles—4oo of them.—W. Stuart Wilson, Dunedin.—Advi. S. Matthew's Church, Stafford street. War intercession service, to-night, 7.45. AH invited.—Advt. Akaroa's seaside health resort year round provides safest bathing in the world. Motors to convey you there from Little River and Christchurch. Makes it least expensive trip in dominion.—Advt. Visit Mollisons sale to-day. Tho bargains are innumerable and irresistible. Something to interest everyone. Special displays daily. —Advt. You're getting tho genuine "No Rubbing," Laundry Help if a "Thinker's" Notebook is given you free. The Monday's washing is now little trouble. All Mornington storekeepers.—Advt. A. E. J. Blakeley, dentist, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859. Advt. Never neutral; always on the side of quality—Watson's No. 10 whisky.—Advt. Launch owners, motorists, and others, don't have trouble. Buy our Columbia Hotshot Batteries. We have a fine assortment of Dry Batteries, Accumulators, Lamps, Holders, etc., for ignition and lighting purposes.—Tumbull and Jones (Limited), electrical engineers, Dunedin.—Advt. Who is Peter Dick?— The most reliable Watchmaker, Jeweller, and Certificated Consulting Optician, 490 Moray place (off Princes 6treot), Dunedin. Charges moderate.—Advt. FIRST FAVOURITE WITH LADY DRIVERS—THE STUDEBAKER. Look at Pago 9. There you will find a statement of tho reasons w"hy ladiee find tho Studebaker the easiest and" most comfortable car to drive—S. R. Stedman, Princes street South.—Advt.