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Otago Daily Times, Issue 17375, 24 July 1918, Page 4

A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that rumours have been in circulation to the effect that some mishap has occurred to the Thirty-ninth Reinforcements. The position is that the transport carrying the Thirty-ninths touched ground when entering a port of call, but was reuoated. There were no casualties. It will probably be about a week yet before another Homo mail reaches Dunedin. There were only four cases set down for hearing at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, but these were either adjourned or struck out. The Medical Board for the northern part of Otago, consisting of Drs Guthrie and Cameron (with the attesting officer, Lieutenant Moffatt), sat at Oarnaru yesterday. The board is to leave to-night for Dunedin, and will sit at Kensington about the end of the month. The military officers of Dunedin and surrounding districts are to carry out a " war game" at the Kensington Drill Hall on July 31 and August 1. Lieutenant-colonel Chalmers will command the invading force, and Lieutenant-colonel Strong will direct the defending forces, which will comprise the whole of the Otago troops. The exercise was originally planned for this week, ■but a postponement to the above dates has been necessary. Last evening Mr J. Jacobs (secretary of the Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board) received a telegram from the Hon G. W. Russell, Wellington, intimating that owing to the inclemency of the weather he would not arrive in Dunedin until Thursciay evening, and suggesting that the conference with the representatives of contributory bodies should take place on Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock. The Acting In-spector-general of Hospitals (Dr Frongley) will attend the conference. Mr Kussell was to have been the guest of the Expansion League at a luncheon to-day, but that function has been postponed in the meantime.

His Honor Mr Justice Sim, sitting in chambers yesterday morning, granted probate in the wills of Thomas Fairlie Denniston, uohn Frew, Charles Brood, Mary Matheson, Catherine Livingston, Edmund Edward Colston Quick, and Jessie May Ellis.

A Press Association telegram from Christchurch states that on her trip from Wellington on Monday night tho Maori experienced what was probably the roughest and most prolonged passage in her history. The vessel left Wellington at 3.19 in the afternoon, and immediately on emerging from Wellington Heads was caught by a south-west .gale of hurricane force. Tho wind and a heavy eea reduced the vessel's speed to about five or six knots per hour, and swept the docks frequently. At 9.5 p.m. she had reached Cape Campbell, where blinding snow showers were encountered. The vessel progressed about six or eight knots per hour, the opaque atmosphere making navigation difiicult. Captain Manning, however, managed to keep the vessel well within her course. The trip occupied 20 hours—roughly eight hours longer than is usually taken by tho Maori.

Tho names of the reservists in the Otago, Southland, and South Canterbury military districts who have been drawn in the twentieth ballot under the Military Service Act, will be published in our issue of tomorrow.

Tho delegates from the Otago Harbour Board to attend tho Harbour Boards' Conference in Wellington are Messrs W. Wilkinson, J. Loudon, H. E. Holler, J. Tait, and tho secretary (Mr W. J. Bardsloy). Iho delegates will leave for the north on .Monday morning. There arc six or seveu remits from Otago, two of tho most iaiportant dealing with the question of i ucs on transports, and the matter of tho permanent employment of waterside workers by harbour boards, 'lwo remits from the North Island that are bound to be vigorously discussed at the conference are in tho nature of a proposal to do away with tho special representation on (Jie boards—one member appointed by the Government, one elected by the payers of dues on shipping-, and two elected by tho shipping interest— and in lieu of that arrangement have all tho members of tho boards elected by tho people.

When the work train which had conic from Dunorlin to clear tho Puku.rn.ngiMaturae snow drifts reached Middle-march after completing that task, the leading engine! pr< sented a unique spectacle (says our Middle-march- correspondent). From the cow-catcher to the top of the funnel it was enveloped in a shroud of .snow, hard packed and brilliant in its whiteness. The sides were equally white, and so tightly packed was the snow that a run of 12 miles had not, served to loosen it from the hot engine. Evidences of the depth of the drifts wore also found in tho amount of snow which had clung to the other vehicles cf the train.

.Recently tho board of directors of the Bank of New Zealand voted £1000 to the Red Cross Fund (copper trail), to be apportioned equally between IJunedin, Cliristchurcii, Auckland, and Wellington. On Friday the board decided to donate £200 to tho French Day (s;iys the New Zealand Times). The bank also lias contributed to the Italian Fund in Sydney und tho French Fund in Melbourne.

Sir Janiea Alien's announcement that tho December draft of recruits will bo dropped means probably that not more than 500 or 600 additional iJecond Division men will receive orders to mobilise this year (says the Dominion). The July draft entered camp last week. The August and September draits are full, each containing nearly 1400 men. The October draft is closed aa far as Second Division men not yet medically examined are concerned, since there is not time enough now for 12 weeks' leavo before the October mobilisation datts. Some married num who' have been medically examined, but not yet posted may be available for this drait. Second Division men who are examined acd passed fit before August 13-17 (according to their districts) will be available for the November draft. But this draft is to bo based on tho reduced reinforcement quota, and it will include a proportion of First Division men, comprising 19-year-old and 20-yoar-old youths and men transferred from the CI Camp. Probably most of tho Class C m:u cirawn in tho last ballot can be examined before- the middle of next month. The Tit men among them will then'be available for the November draft, but it is fairly ck-ar that they will not all bo rec|iiired then, -ihc October draft is to mobil s<> in thcperiod October 8-12, and the November dralt in the period Nov-tmbcr 5-9.

A function to celebrate the piercing of the Otira tunnel will be held on August ill (says a Press Associat.on message from Wellington), when a Ministerial party will visit the scene, and the block dividing the headings will be broken away.

At the conclusion of the annual meeting of members of the Dunedin Bowling Club last night, the retiring president, in thanking members ior tho support accorded him, said that if it had not been for tennis, football, hockey, and other forms of sport it would not have been possible for the dominion to send such men away to the front that wo had. These men had done such great things at the front that at the present time New Zealand stood very high among nations. Elderly men could not go to the front, but they could do their part in the direction of sending comforts to the boys at the front and see that they were comfortable when they returned and had what they required. He also mentioned that £35 was required to provide a second cot for the Convalescent Home at Montecillo, and the secretary was prepared to receive donations from members for this purpose.

A correspondent, Percy R. Selby, writing from 107 ColLugwood street, Nelson, to tiie Wellington Post, says: "As it is still an open question as to who was the first person in New Zealand to observe Nova Aquila, I beg to state that 1 saw it from here on the jiignt of Sunday, June 9, shortly aftor hal£-past 8. Do you know if anyooo is reported to have seen it earlier than this? For the earliest reports I've heard of so far have been 10 m.nutes past 9 from Duned.n, and 10.45 from Wellington, on the night in question." The particulars of the New Zealand discoveries are as follow:—It was reported to the Government Astronomer (1) by Mr G. V. Hudson, of Karori, Wellington; (2) by Mr Alex. G. Crust, of Dunedin; (3) by Sergeant-major L. J. Comrio, active service. 1. Mr Hudson reported the discovery by telephone l on the evening of Sunday, June 9, N.Z.T. 2. Mr Crust reported by letter dated June 10, received June 13. 3. Sergeant-major Comrie reported by cable, received June 14. Mr Hudson's time of discovery was lOhr 45min p.m. on Sunday, June 9, equals 6 June 8d 2£hr 15min. ? G.M.T. Mr Crust's time of discovery was 9hr lOmin p.m. on Sunday, June 9, equals June 8d 21hr 4-Omin., G.M.T. Information has not yet been received from Mr Comrie as to the time of discovery by him. In regard to Mr Selby's letter, his notification has come very late. The star has now been under observation for nearly six weeks. The scientific practice is to record only the names of those who furnish the information to the Official Astronomer promptly.

A matter that is particularly interesting to the Second Division League is tne examination of soldiers for insurance purposes. Mr R. A. Armstrong mentioned at the annual meeting of the Wellington .League last week that several cases had been brought under the league's notice where men passed " fit A " for active service wore turned down by the insurance doctors. This meant that men were being sent away without having an opportunity of insuring their lives, and thus providing for their dependents in case of death at the front. He considered that in all such cases the league should insist on re-examina-tion by the military doctors. a ferry service has been recently established on the main road between To Kuiti and Pio Pio, owing to the excessive rainfall during the past month (states the Taumarunui Press). This has been caused by the Mokau River overflowing and inundating the level country, including the metalled road. Passengers by coach and motor services have to transfer into a boat, and are rowed across a hundred yards of newly-formed lagoon. The Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald and Mr W. T. Jennings, M.P., had this experience on going to Aria to officially open the post office. The whole cause of the trouble is the choking up of the Mokau River by willow trees near Pio Pio, where the stream is very narrow. For the current year the estimated value of supplies for New Zealand's military purposes is £L300,Q00. The value of orders placed to date is £789,000, leaving a balance of £511,000 for any purchases that may bo required. The allocation of expenditure so far is:—Auckland, £144,820; Wellington, £363,225; Canterbury, £124,293; Otago, £156,662. " Speaking generally," states the Hon. A. M. Myers, " the conditions still prevail which make it impossible for advantageous purchases to be made by the tender system in all cases. As a result of this, the department has compiled a complete register of suppliers of various lines, and of necessity is purchasing direct from primary sources of supply where possible." America is dealing firmly with the question of Gorman influence in civil life. A correspondent has forwarded to the Wellington Post the following resolutions passed by the New York Athletic Club:—"That the use of the German language for any purpose by members or their guests in either the city clubhouse or the clubhouse at Travers Island or on the grounds thereof is prohibited during the period of the war. Violation of this rule by a member or his guests will be deemed sufficient reason for the expuision of the member." "That any member who introduces an enemy alien, whether man or woman, to the privileges of the city clubhouse or the clubhouse at Travers Island during the period of the war shall be expelled from the club." Acting upon a decision given by Mr S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., in a case where a young man was charged with failing to attend territorial parados, Harold L. Esau discontinued to drill. He was brought before Mi- S. E. M'Carthy, S.M.. by the military authorities on Friday (says the New Zealand limes). Mr 11. F. O'Leary, who appeared- for the defendant, said that Esau had been eulied up in tho eighth ballot, and classed as C2. After attending territorial drill for some time he saw a decision of tho court, where it was decided that a person who had boon called up by ballot, and classed C2, was ;:o longer * member of tho Territorial Force, but was liable to bo culled up for home service with tho Expeditionary Force, and had not been to a parade since. The information was dismissed.

'" It. is not generally known that, lightning-, with its aUeiidant, torrential rain, partly acts as a natural rcplenishcr of the nitrogen lost by cropping and lire," said Mr J. Orchislon, in tlio course of an address to the Council of Agriculture at Wellington on the subject of "Nitrogen From Air." " Practically every flash of lightning: burns some air, and tins coming in contact wit.li the hydrogen in the drops o! rain, combines to form a dilute nitric acid. It has been calculated that in countries where lightning is more prevalent than in the temperate zone, no less than 11 pounds of nitrogen are deposited per aero per annum, and this is claimed to be one of the causes for the tropical lands being invariably richer ♦vlis.n those of tho cooler regions."

A representative of an Ashburton dairycompany, in conversation with a Guardian reporter, suggested that wlven granting exemption to daily factory ei..:>loyees tliu Appeal Boards should go a further and stipulate to the employee appealing that he must remain in his present factory. At the present time, he said, employees who had obtained exemptions wero readv to chop and change their berths every "time they could get an advance in wages. This system of constant changing from one factory to another, and trading on exempwas a great drawback to the. dairying industry.

In the course of liis remarks at a conference with the Education Board on Wednesday .liternoon the Hon. J. A. Hanan (Minister of Education) referred to the importance of technical education, and stated that, as in the naval and military forces, all those comprising the industrial forcce of the nation should be eflicicnily trained (reports the Auckland Star). It was the recognition of this fact that was causing thinking men to turn their attention towards the further development of scientific, industrial, and technical training. If it were true that the industrial life of the future would be based on the machine and extra human power, then the industrial training should b<. , a training in the use and understanding of machinery. It should be noted by workers that machinery was gradually suppk.nting manual labour and physical tasks, and that labour tliat did not come into competition with machinery had a higher value than that which did.

As shown by the cost-of-living thermometer in the current official monthly " Abstract of Statistics," Wellington is in the unenviable position of heading tho four chief centres in respect of everything but meat. On the recent thermometer Wellington is away up above all the rest of New Zealand, with an index figure of 1532, as against Auckland's 963, Dunedin's 879, and Christ-church's 872. For groceries, Wellington's index figure is 1471, Gisborne heading the list with 1503. Dunedin's index figure is 1369, Auckland's 1323, and Christohurch's 1310. In dairy prodiice, Napier comes top with 1473, Wellington being second with 1467. Then comes Diinedin (1417), Auckland (1403), and Christchurch (1266:. For meat, Whangarei ai:d Rotorua are well at the top, with 17C7 and 1699 respectively. Auckland's index figure is 1574, Christchurch's 1534, Dunedin's 1499, and "Wellington's 1155