Untitled

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17321, 22 May 1918, Page 4

A Press Association message from Wellii.gton intimates that the Acting Prime Minister has received a message from Mr Massey, announcing "All safe." The Hon. J. A. Hanan (Minister of Education) will return from the south to-mor-row night, and will rfcnain in Dunedin over Friday. The Victoria Leaguo will place a wreath on tho statue of Queen Victoria in the Queen's Gardens as usual on tho morning 'oF Friday (Empire Day). This year tho school bands and pupils of the Sixth Standard have been invited to attend at 10 a.m., and the Mayor will shortly address them. Members of the league arc invited to attend.

The polling for the election of a member of tho City Council will take place to-day. With a view to providing suitable sites for tho development of tho manufacturing and other industries of the city, the Otago Harbour Board is placing a large block of land adjoining the waterfront on tho market. Somo 60 sections will fce offered tomorrow for lease. As an incentive to settlement, the board has taken 25 per ccnt. off the upsets fixed by its valuer. We had occasion last week to refer to the arrival of a vessel with some 4000 tons of ooal from Newcastle. Tlio secretary of the Otago Harbo.tr Board mentioned yesterday, in the course of conversation, that the trade in Government and troopship coal constitutes a serious leakage in the board's revenue. The Government is by statute exempt from harbour dues, and tho Harbours Association has made repeated but unsuccessful efforts to secure a change. Last year somo 36,500 tons of coal passed over tho wharves, in addition to 4000 tons of other goods, for tho State. Had tho board received dues from this source, its revenue would have been increased by several thousand pounds. A specially unsatisfactory feature consists in tho fact that while tho Railway Department has great satisfaction, year after year, iu showing its financial results, it secures all its coal free of harbour dues, and, as it received 25,000 tons last year, it escapes payment of a very largo sum to tho Harbour Board. The Primate has just received from Mr J. T. Bryant, of Ratanui, the following letter and offering in aid of the Anglican Cathedral building fund:—"As in ancient times it was customary to offer up a sacrifice of oxen, or .bullocks, at the dedication of a temple, and as under the Christian dispensation the shedding of blood lias been annulled, instead, I send you the prioo of a bullock sold at auction, and reared expressly for tho bnilidng fund o? tho Anglican Cathedral in Dunedin. Herewith please receive tho sum of £12 0s 6d for that purpose." Mr Bryant's donation was reported to the Cathedral C'-hapter at its meeting yesterday, and was received with grateful thanks. Speaking of the New Zealand Division in France, Colonel Plogge, of Auckland, who has just returned, said that when tho recent Sommo offensive started it liM just completed fivo weeks' trailing and recreation behind tho lines. Tho i..cn were in splendid condition when they left to resist the great Germaa push. One battalion marched 38 miles from tho railhead to the trenches and went straight into the fight without a rest, and tho men conducted themsolves most gallantly. Such a feat of enduranoo, ho said, was noteworthy. Tho New Zoalanders filled a four-milo gap at a most critical time, and undoubtedly had dent their abaro in holding tho Germajis.

Tho arrangements in connection with tho despatch of reinforcements at the Dunodin railway sLation havo liitherto been carried out without a hitch, but yesterday a strong assault was mado on the railway gates by tlio general public, who for obvious reasons are excluded from tho railway platform whilst tho men arc entraining. At tlia entranco to tho platform women and others were carried oif their feet, and tho police force were powerless to cope witlw the rush. After some hundreds had gained admission to the platform tho police eventually succeeded in closing the gates. The mihtary police then busied themselves in clearing' tho platform, and passes wero demanded. At least two City Councillors wero among those escorted behind the barrier. A pressman, while in the execution of his duty, w;is asked to produco his pass, but replied that ho was unaware that any such authority was necessary. lie appealed to tho Mayor and a City Councillor, who wero standing by, and they instantly vouched for his bona fides. This, however, did not satisfy the military, and tho reporter suffered tho indignity of being mnrohed along tho platform between two military policemen to Major Cooper, military staff officer, who insisted that the pressman must leavo tho platform unless ho could produco a written authority to bo on tho platform. The incident certainly savoured of military oflie.iousness, but the question may bo asked why all those on tho platform wero not asked to produco passes?

Arrangements aro progressing favourably for tho opening of tlie Bank of Patriotism, a device that is to be put into effect in aid of tho funds of the Women's Patriotic As sociation. Tickets were issued yesterday morning, and were on sale at various business houses in different parts of the city. These tickets constitute drafts on the bank, and may bo presented any time alter tho opening of tho bank, which will probably take place on Friday. The exeoutivo desires to point out that as tho bank will operato for a period of about six weeks the public Bhould not make a point of rushing th-j bank on tho opening day. Tho number of drafts disposed of would serve to indicate that if all drafts were taken to the bank on the opening days its operation would bo seriously and needlessly impeded. At present the managers are completing the schedule of prizes and getting ready generally for the "pay out."

The Commissioner of the Salvation Army will visit Dunedin on Thursday night, with the object o£ performing a rather unusual ceremony in the Salvation Army Hall in Dowling street. The event is the installation of tho new Divisional Commander, Staff-captain Gunn, who is succeeding Major Colvin. The staff-captain is a New /.ealandef by birth, and hails from Auckland. He is a Salvationist of many years' standing, and has ably filled various important positions, the last being Divisional Secretary for the Auckland Division. Doubtless there will be a large gathering of officers, soldiery, and Salvation Army friends on such an occasion as this. The Commissioner will be accompanied by Lieutenant-colonel Bray (secretary for the men s social work), and in addition a new secretary for the Salvation Army Women's Social Work (Major Dobncy, from Canada) will reoeivc a welcome to these shores. Writing from France on March 14 to a friend in Masterton, the Rev. G. T. Brown, formerly minister of Knox Church, Masterton, says: " The other day another padre and I were about fivo miles away at another camp. Wo saw a piano resting in a Geld surrounded by about 100 men. Someone was trying to start the propeller. Slid donly it started to whir round. Tho machine began to movo along tho ground. It turned right round amongst the men, knocking many of them over. I noticed when it came round that there was no one in it. It_ had run amok, and there it was carecring round tho paddock uncontrolled, knocking men down like ninepins. There was a great scatter—some fled into trench holes, and others took to the hillside. Eventually the great mad thing took a little jump, and with a loud crash stood on its head and fell over on its back. A flame came out of the engine, and I tJiought the whole " shoot'' would go up in blazes, but with a puff of whit*> «moke it wont out, and tho huge thing lay still on its back. The aviator evidently intended some of the men to hold it until ho got in, but they must have let it go. Only four men had to be carried away, and I don't think any were killed." A meeting of the ladies of St. Kilda was held last evening in tho local Council Chambers for the purpose of arranging ways and means of raising £100 for tho Red Cross Convalescent Home. In the absence of tho Mayor, tho Rev. Mr Wing field occupied the chair, and arrangements were mode to canvass the district.

So far as the Red Cross Convalescent Hospital at Montocillo is concerned, the Dunedin Bowling Club occupies a unique position among the sports clubs of Dunedin and district in that it is the first to move in the direction of endowing a cot at the institution. A meeting of members was held Insr night, when the work of the Red Cross was extolled, and £100 to endow one cot was raised among those present. So enthusiastic were members that a committee was constituted to canvass their absent olub mates, in the hope of raising a farther £100.

Stuart Wilson for motor cycles.—Advt. Men's Ceylon shirts,. 10e 6d quality for 5s lid (size 16j only), on sale to-day at Mollisons May Bargain Fair.—Advt. Watson's No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth tho monev.— Advt. The supply of Golden Rule soap and candles is not equal to the demand at present. The demand for "No Rubbing" laundry help is also running strong. Advt For children's hacking cough at night Wood's Great Peppermint Cure. 1q m 2s 6d. —Advt. 0a ' Ladies, lighten the labour in vour homes byusms * "Hotpoint" Electric Radiant Grill for all light cooking. Users state "As indispensable as an electric iron, and so inexpensive." Call and inspect. Turnbull and Jones (Ltd.), electrical engineers — Advt. A. E. J. Blakeley, dentist, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 18S9 — Advt. Eyestrain!—Consult Mr Peter G nirlr D.8.0.A., F. 1.0. (London), consulting and oculists optician.—Peter Dick, jeweller etc 490 Moray place, Dunedin.— Advt. '