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Otago Daily Times, Issue 17093, 27 August 1917, Page 4

Tho Governor-general is a passenger by the hospital ship which will arrive at Port Chalmers this morning. Another American mail, with probably an English mail, should arrive in Dunedin about Wednesday. A Press Assooiation telegram from Wellington states that a Gazette containing the names (approximately 15,000) of the men in the First Division who were drawn in the last ballot will be published on Monday, September 3, instead of on September as originally intended.

A meeting of the residents served by the Elgin road tramway route, Mornington. was held in the school gymnasium on Saturday evening to consider the evidence to be given before the commission which will sit on Tuesday in the Magistrate's Court, iho matter was fully discussed, and so executive committee was formed. At tho conclusion of the mce/.ir.f the chairman expressed tho hope that r.\i interested would make a point of stteD<i jg the inquiry, which will be opened iOZO am,

The hospital ship that is due here to-day with a number of returned soldiers on board is expected to reach Port. Chalmers about daylight. The men will bo brought up to Dunedin by tho 7.7. a.m. train, arriving hero at 20 minutes to eight. Relatives art , advised that it is no use going down to Port Chulinc'rs by train, as the first train leaving Diinedm will pass tho one bringing, the men up to town on the journey. The men for tho north will leave by the express at 8 a.m., and those for the 6outh at 8.30, while tho Central Otago men will be placed on board the 7.52 a.m. train. The Otago Motor Club arranged to havo a number of oars waiting at the station to meet the midday train, but car owners are now requestt.u to meet tho earlier train in order to convoy tho Dunedin men to their home's.

The manager of the Perpetual Trustees Company asks u s to state that, through some misapprehension, ho was reported to say when g.ving evidence at the proceedings of the Military Service Board's recent sitting at Gore, in reply to one of the members, that Lieutenant Herbert had said lie considered the family had done its full share. Mr Park says this puts Lieutenant llorbert in an entirely false position, as the latter had certainly never expressed such an opinion. Mr Park's version of what happened is that Mr Payne, who appean d tor thp Perpetual- Trustees Company, in its application for exemption for Lieutenant Herbert's farm manager, said that tho Herbert family had done a lot for tho country, and that under the circumstances some should be given. The boar'd quite agreed that tho family had shown its patriotism. Mr Park wishes it to be clearly understood that he did not make the statement attributed to him.

Among the cases to corne before tho City Police Court this morning will be a charge against a Government official of refusing to produce his certificate of enrolment when requested to do so by Plain Clothes Constables M*Cartney and Munro, w>lo have been detailed for special duty 'in connection with this portion of the Military Service-Act.

Representations were made last week by a number of Otago members of Parliament in a deputation which waited on the Hon. G. W. Russell, urging the introduction of legislation dealing with the establishment of a municipal fish market. Certain statements were made by Mr Dickson alleging that the fishermen were under.the thumb of the middlemen, who pleased themselves as to what purchase price they imposed Mr R. J. Gibbs, of the Otago Fish Supply Company, in conversation with a Daily Times reporter on Saturday, repudiated the statements made by Mr Dickson. The member for Chalmers, declared Mr Gibbs, had been rather misinformed, especially in regard to the prices paid to the fishermen at the Port. Mr Gibbs said he presumed by the middlemen, the hon. gentleman meant the auctioneers and wholesale agents, in which case the statements made were misleading, because for every consignment of fish sold by auction, the auctioneer received a commission on a 10 per cent bas;s. Again, the . Otago Fishermen's Union had! a tally clerk at the market every morning, and his duty was to take a note of every sale made on behalf of the members of the union. Therefore, the middleman ■ (presumably the auctioneer) had absolutely no privileges in the way of regulating the prices, which solely depended' on the supply. 'In conclusion, Mr Gibbs said that as the auctioneer here, he could furnish Mr Dickson with the account sales and the prices paid to the fishermen for the last six months or six years,/ if need be and thereby allow him to judge for himself whether or not the fishermen were under the "thumb of the middlemen." In support of his statement he submitted the following details of the average prices paid .to the fishermen on Friday last (an average day), these prices, of course, being subject to the usual 10 per cent, .commission to the auctioneer:— G roper, 8s Id each ■ soles, 5s 6d to 6s per dozen • red cod & 6d to 6s.per dozen; ling, 2s 6d to 3s eachflounders, 6d to 7£d each

Messrs Fletcher Bros, hare received advice that their tender, for the building of the Dominion Farmers' Institute, Wellington has been accepted. This, together with the foundations, which are well in d^A brings the total cost DP to between £54,000 and £55,000.

Two steamers from Greymouth, laden with timber, are at present in Sydney ■ It is understood (says the Evening News) that word has been received that one of these commenced discharging on-. Monday

Tho resolution of the conference of Second Division Leagues in the Canterbury military district, that members of the First Division who enlisted and were rejected, and who afterwards married should be transferred to their respective classes in tbe Second Division was referred to the Minister of Defence by our Wellington correspondent yesterday. Sir James Allen in reply, said: "We have got something under consideration, though I don't say we will put these men into the Second Division."

The annual home mission services took place yesterday at the Dundas Street Methodist Church. The morning service was conducted by the general secretary, the Rev. T. G. Brooke, who, instead of preaching a sermon, gave an account of the work the Church is doing amongst the Maoris especially in the North Island. In many districts, and notably in the King Country, where the Maori war had resulted in an apostasy from the Christian religion, there is now a general return to tho old faith, and the ministrations of the Church are being cordially received. In tho evening tho Rev, R. Raine took as his text the at.fiuitu inquiry: "What doe>t thou here, Elijah?" from which he preached an impressive sermon on tho voice of God. Alluding to the war, he said he did not believe Uoa was the author of the war, which was the result of sin, yet God was undoubtedly speaking through the great conflict. During the service Miss Uemeni sang a solo it was announced 'that on the following evening Mr Brooke would address the annual home missionary meeting on 'The Back-lflooks of the King Country."

Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., in the Port Chalmers Court on Friday, Eva Watson sued Donald MacGregor, as executor in the estate of tho late Grace C. Hodge (deceased) for the sum of £51 4s for services rendered to the deceased. Mr Bru"-h appeared for ■pla.ntiffl, and Mr Haggitt for defendant It appeared that Graco Hodge was an old lady living by herself, and for some years prior to her death was practically an invalid. The plaintiff lived near, and as a schoolgirl used "to do things" to help Mrs Hodge. After leaving school Miss Watson was prevailed on to undertake to go in and look after the old lady and her house every day. Miss Watson alleged, and her mother and sister-in-law corroborated uer statement, that six years ago she and Airs Hodge discussed terms of remuneration. Five shillings a week was agreed on as a fair basis, plaintiff to receive 3s weekly, the balance to bo made up in deceased's will, as deceased said she was not well off. The matter, however, was not mentioned in the will, so Miss Watson sued for the balance, which represented the amount stated. Mr Haggitt said deceased lived on 10s per week, supplied by relatives in Great Britain. m h e estato at death consisted of £130 in cash and a house built on leasehold ground, and thia, under tho will, reverted <»■ the said relatives. The alleged agreement in respect to a balance of remuneration under the will was disputed, also the amount of the actual payments made. Evidence was called and the hearing of the case took about' two hours. His Worship said that tho evidence for_ the defence contradicted that for the plaintiff, and one of tno witnesses for the defence was very unfair and unjust to Miss Watson, who, it was satisfactorily shown, had rendered very good service indeed to Mrs Hodgo. As, however, the evidence on behalf of plaintiff could hardly be held to bo quito "the independent corro borative evidence" stipulated by statute plaintiff would bo non-suited ;

Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., presided at the sitting of the City Pol.co Court on Saturday, when four cases of drunkenness wero dealt with. A first offender wn s remnndod until to-day for medical treatment. Pon?ld to' Donald was fined 10s, in default « i rfu, ,m P ri sonment; James Linton Beck Cottle was fined .82s, or 48 hours' imprisonment, and James Jackson (who w.v. drunk while in charge of a horso am! vehicle) was fined 40s, the alternative being iixed at seven days' imprisonment.

In the Magistrate's Court at Fort Chalmers on Friday afternoon, J. H. Hinton at-d Co. applied for an order on a judgment summons against Alex. E. King for the sum of £6 lls Bd. Defendant pleaded inability to pay, and the Magistrate (Mr J. iv Bartholomew) declined to make an ottier.

A typographical error occurred tn the report of the Chamber of Commerce meeting published by us on Saturday, individual appearing in place of undivided. The latter portion of the resolution dealing with taxation proposals should read "To this end it is suggested that companies should be allowed to pay a moderate dividend, and only pay tax upon the excess, or undivided profit, etc." . Mr J. Cable, J.P., presided over a short sitting of the Port Chalmers Police Court on Saturday, when a first offender waa charged with drunkenness during the currency of a prohibition order. A plea of not guilty was entered. The case was adjournea, and will be heard at a later dato before a magistrate. Judge Jones, of the Native Land Court. has been revisiting Gisborne on departmental business (says tho Herald). Hia Native Land Court district now includes the whole of the South Island. On being questioned as to the main feature that bad struck him about the Natives in the south, he said one point was that nearly every Maorr of military . age had joined tho eolours, and another feature was the eagerness to contribute to patriotic funds. In fact, he had in some instances, while warmly commending the spirit 'of tho Natives, to explain to them that he could not legally sanction some of the suggestions made to the court for setting aside certain funds for patriptio purposes. With the object of affording to Dalmatians in tiio north facilities to volunteer for active service in the Serbian Army, the Ka:para Chamber of Commerce recently communicated with the Government, and received a reply to the effect that the Government had 'communicated to leading Slavs in the dominion tho terms upon which , the Serbian Government was' prepared to accept a Slav regiment. They had however, stated to tho Government that the men wanted the same rate of pay as waa allowed other soldiers from New Zealand, iho Government had refused that demand and no further action was taken in the matter. At a meeting of the chamber the President stated that at tho last census there were 1105 of these men fit to be classed in the First Division. Of that number 765 were naturalised. The married men of military age totalled 340, and others over military age' 255. After allowing for the medically unfit, there should be 1300 men fit for service. A motion was' moved to th u effect that all nnnaturalised Slavs of military age and medically fit be called upon to take up military service in the berbian army at Serbian rates of pay, and that unnaturalised Slavs refusing to comply with the foregoing conditions be interned, not meet with general approval, ami tnp following amendment*was carried: J. hat this chamber recommends that the services of all Slavonians in New Zealand oe utilised on war service by the military authorities at the same rate of pay as New soldiers, and suggests that a conference be arranged in Auckland between representative Dalmatians and the military authorities to discuss the matter."

The dividing line between the useful in the censorship and the ridiculous is" sometimes not very widely separated. A large number of wounded New Zealand soldiers have just arrived back home, "; but the people here are not permitted to know the route the vessel traversed which carried them. In a paper which is printed in English m a town many miles nearer to the enemy country than the dominion, a large heading announces "Wounded Anzacs arrive on way to New Zealand" and several other smaller headings are subjoined. Many details regarding the soldiers are supplied for the edification of the people of the town in which the paper is printed, and also of the trips and drives they were taken, etc.; the name of the port whichthe vessel will next reach is given and finally it is announced that: " This is the nrst hospital ship to come through, although several small parties have already passed on passenger ships, but from now on it is anticipated that they will arrive regularly on their way to Australia and New Zealand." It is also suggested that a fund should bo started to be devoted to entertaining subsequent visitors. The name 'of the vessel is practically the only, information which is omitted. In all of the large Ausuaw dafly eTS a' list is supplied by the Post Office announcing the time and date when mails for England, America etc will close. In New Zealand such information is strictly prohibited.

' Mr D Tannock will give a popular lecture, with lantern illustrations, on "Potatogrowing in the Roslyn Presbyterian Church Hall this evening. We have received 5s from A. Allison (Waitepeka), for Dγ . Barnardo's Homes Fund, and £1 from "A. O. C.," for the Y.M.C.A. Fund. • \ "Stuart Wilson serves Otago" with motor « cycles. Write for particulate of the HarleyDavidson, the motor cycle magnificent, 290292 Princes street.—Advt. If you want to sett your house, farm, or section, see Tamblyn, MTTenzie, and Winton, expert land salesmen, 42 Princes street Dunedin.— Adro. A. E. J. Blakeley, dentist, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond, and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859 Advt. Extraordinary sale of assigned stock to be sold at half-price, commencing Wednesday . next. See advertisement on leader page, Advt. The "Thinker's" Notebook given free with every Is packet of "No Rubbing" Laundry Help, ia greatly appreciated by housewives. It's so handy.— J. Peterson arid Co., George street and Walker street. Advt. Which won? Well, if you mean'whisky, Watson's No. 10—easily.—Advt. For Influenza take Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. ■ Never fails. Is 6d, 2a 61— Advt. . To Users of Electricity and Others. Wβ invite you to i call and inspect the very complete range of heating and cooking •apparatus, etc., displayed in our show rooms. —Turabull and Jones (Limited), eleotrical engineers, Lower Stuart street, Dunedin.—Advt. E;-e Strain.—Consult Mr Peter G Diok, D.8.0.A.. F. 1.0. (London), consulting and oculists' optician.—Peter Dick, jeweller etc., 490 Moray place, Dunedin.—Advt.