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Otago Daily Times, Issue 17376, 25 July 1918, Page 4

Tho Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Public Health, will arrivo in Dunedin this evening, and will remain here for two or threo days. He will confer to-morrow with the Hospital Board and representatives of tho contributory authorities regarding the utilisation of tho secondary hospital site at Wakari.

Addressing the City Council last night, the .Mayor (Mr J. J. Glaxk) said that next Sunday week (August 4) would be the anniversary of tho declaration of the wax, and on his suggestion it was decided to arrange for a united service to bo held in the Octagon Hall on the afternoon of that day. Mr R. T. Sadd (Commissioner of Crown Lands for tho Otago district) has arranged for a preliminary survey of tho Maercwhenua Domain, comprising about 2600 acres, with a view to cutting it up into two or three pastoral runs for soldiers. The survey will disclose two main pomts for tho Land Board to consider—the area of the domain now in tho occupation of miners and its capability for subdivision. A Press Association telegram from Christchurch states that on the passage from Wellington on Tuesday night the Mararoa had an experience similar to that of her two previous trips. She left Wellington at 3 p.m. sharp, and ran into a sweeping southerly galo at the Hoads. She battled against it till v/ell beyond Cape Campbell, wliieh she reached about 7 p.m. The vessel was unablo to make more than six or seven knots per hour until she was well past the limits of Kaikoura. The gale then abated, and she was able to proceed at something like her usual steaming rate. On arrival at Lytteltori at 8.45 a.m. the vessel bore ample signs of her buffeting. A feature of the pantomimo matineo yesterday was the attendance of 18 soldiers from the Rod Cross Convalescent Home, together with six members of tho staff and seven other soldiers from tho Hospital. They were all present by invitation of the J. C. Williamson management. 'Ihero aro still 18 men in the Home, as another soldier from .the Hospital has taken the place of one who has been discharged and returned home to Oamaru. The St. Ciair and Qaversham branches of the Red Cross have now endowed no fewer than six beds—a record of which they may justly feel proud. At the meeting of the City Council, held last night, it was decided, without discussion, to approve of tho following resolution forwarded by the Hastings Borough Council: " That, as a matter of the very greatest national importance, this council urges -upon tho Government the necessity of closelv looking into the manufacture and carriage of cement, as it is considered that cement can be made available to consumers at a very much lower cost than at present prevailing." A conference was held on Tuesday and yesterday (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington) between representatives of the butter-makers and the Ministers of Agriculturo and Imperial Supplies with reference to the Equalisation Fund for butter producers. Mr A. Morton (chairman of tho Dominion Butter Committee) states that an Equalisation Fund is now in a fair way to bs established, wherein producers who have exported and those supplying the local market will participate. It is expected that finality will shortly be reached. Mr Morton points out that the contract with the Imperial Government for the sale and export of butter will expire on July 31, and that subsequent arrangements will bo subjcct to the establishment of an Equalisation Fund, which should dispel any anxiety as to tho local prices for butter not being maintained at tho present rate. A chimney in some premises at the corner of High and Melville streets taking fire caused the City Firo Brigade to turn out on Tuesday evening.

A party of Dunedin sportsmen, in which wc-ro included Messrs K. Rutherford, a. King, J. W. Wilson, and E. How'iison travelled by motors to Kurow on Saturday with the object of carrying out a hare drive for the benefit of wounded soldiers in the Old Country, and for three days' shooting secured 400 hares, which wero railed to the freezer at Pukeuri Junction. The ground shot over included Haltaiaramea Station, and Messrs Norman Harris's and Kelshsr's runs. The party returned to town last evening, and report tho roads to bo in fairlv good condition as far south as tho Ej'lmog itill. From there to tho Upper Junction tho snow was still lying about, in places to some depth. Tho sportsmen did not forgot the needs of the soldiers here, as a number of hares were brought down for tho inmates of the Red Cross Military Convalescent Home.

The cases in which Thomas Padraie Cummins and Albert James O'Ryan were charged with sedition occupied the attention of the Police Court for tho greater part of yesterday. Tho court was packed with an interested audience, and on more than one occasion those whoso sympathies apparently lay w"? the accused, gave vent to them by applauding, and by stamping their feet. Tho court orderly (Constable Sivyer) quickly dc.tix-ted one demonstrative offender, and promptly ordered him out of the building. This had the desired effect, no further demonstration being apparent. • Mr Dolan (Napier), who appeared for both men, spoke for 2i hours, and manifested n. knowledge of Irish history which was doubtless envied bv many of his countrymen present. Tho accused were each sentenced to 11 months' imprisonment., with hard labour.

A typical instance of tho nature of tho British sailor in tho moment of danger to his ship unci shipmates was recounted by Mr C. A. Loughnan at ;i complimentary social to Mr H. M. M'Knighfc in Palmerston North tho other evening (reports tho Manawatu Standard). Mr Loughnan said ho had recently met a Now Zealand naval 'officer, Captain Cliff M'Culloch, who had been in tho battle of Jutland, and the captain informed him that at tho height of the uction pome cordito became loose on the deck of a battleship and foil through an opening into tho interior of tho ship. Tho explosivo caught lire, and thorn was danger of it exploding tho other ammimition, until a seaman _ scrambled down, and thero being nothing at hand to put tho Cre out, he simply rolled on it until it was extinguish"*].

Tho Government, says tho Acting Prime Minister (Sir James Allen), continues making inquiries in regard to possibilities in connection with the -National Service clause Oi tne I jnanco Act, but there is not vet •I!idefinite to submit to a. conference. Until tho Government, lias some concrete proposals to place before, representatives of Labour and Capital, a conference will not . convened. Meanwhile, the National I.fficieney Board is helping with the preliminary investigations. A full meeting of the executive of tho Independent Order of Oddfellows was held in Christ church on Tuesday (says tiro Press). Pi eaont Cr.il., Bro. \Y. Hunter (Christchurch), D.G.M. Bro P„. Robb (Gisborne), GAY. Bro. c. J. Talbot, ALP. (Fairlic). G.S. Bro. W. llcid (Dunedin), G.T. Bro. L Dcar.s Hne'nio (Dunedin), 1.P.G.il Bro. A. 11. Ballantyno (Dunedin). Such a gathering as a full executive of the order is stn.ted to be unique except at Grand Lodge sessions, whica arc: usually held every two years. Owing to the fact that the session has not been held since 1915, mostly on account of the dislocation caused by the war, it was dceiued t.o hold a meeting of all the executive officers. The sitting was a long one, much business of great importance to the being transacted. The officers that it is satisfactory to know that notwithstanding the heavy financial claims occasioned by the war the order is holding 'ts own, bo: n g still j n a specially strong financial condition.

A matter of considerable interest to book dealers who own circulating libraries camo befcro Mr E. D. Moslcy, S.M., at Auckland last week, when William Aislabie, proprietor of a bookshop, was charged with a breach of tho Second-hand Dealers Act, in that he exchanged a second-hand book, without recording in a book kept for the purpose the name, address, and calling of tho person who made tho exchango with him. Mr Chalmers, on behalf of the defendant, stated that defendant did a large business in exchanging books at a very small margin of profit, making a weekly exchange of about 2000 books at his Pitt street shop. Hitherto the clauses of the Second-hand Dealers Acthad never been enforced in the matter of book exchanges, and to enforce them wouid mean that persons in such business would have to get clerical assistance. Senior Sergeant M'Namara stated that defendant was quite a reputable book dealer; but the prosecution had arisen through a book, which was a rarity of its kind, and had been stolen, being found in defendant's shop. He had got it in the ordinary course of exchango, and as he had no record of those who exchanged books with him the thief could not bo traced. Books were easily stolon, and hard to trace, so that it was important that tho persons dealing in second-hand books should keep a record of their transactions. His Worship remarked that sccond-h.and book dealers would know in future that they should keep a record. Defendant would bo convicted and discharged.

A patriotic effort in a modest way, but of a kind that should make a quick appeal to tho sympathy of the public, has been organised by Miss Janet M. Reid, whose design it is to raise a sum sufficient to cable Homo to the High Commissioner for utilisation in giving the worst cases of blind and limbless New Zealanders in the Old Country a good day's outing and suitable entertainment. The soldier sufferers concerned will undoubtedly appreciate the more what may be dono to cheer their lot through this means by knowledge of tho source from which tho necessary funds have been directly provided. It is hoped to send forward between £30 and £40 to the High Commissioner. To realise this end-'-a sale of beads and art needlework is to bo held, when sympathisers with this laudable movement will find a capital stock of attractive goods, prepared for the occasion, to choose from. These will bo on view to-day at the Eclipse Drapery Premises, Princes street, where the salo will take place to-morrow.

There is a remarkable article in the Deutsche Zaitung, the leading organ of the profiteering warmongers, which throws an amazing light on tho weakness of the German situation:—"What would be the effoct on tho German people were our Government to conclude peace now with our western enemies? We should find ourselves bent beneath such a formidable burden of debt that to pa,y the crushing taxes wo should bo forced to practise the most rigid coonomy in every department of life. The only course left to us would bo to abandon marriage and stop the increase in the population, for children cost money. Economy in this respect would assume gigantic proportions, but with what results? It would bo tho beginning of the end. Think for a moment how very gravo is our situation already. Think of it—a monstrous burden of debt and an irreparable loss of the best, the healthiest., and most vigorous of the people through the war! No children. No future. Tho beginning of the end. That would be the effect of the pcace that is to-day demanded in such a loud voice by so many of the thoughtless and the unscrupulous."

"As 6urely ns you don't provide good reads for the small settlers you will drive them out, and the land will go back to big holdings," said Mr W. T. Jennings, M.P., who introduced a deputation to Sir William Frasor on Thursday* in request of the Government's help to metal tho Awakino _ road, North Taranaki (states the Evening Post). Mr Jennings said that some settlers in this district, disheartened by the hardships, had thrown up their pections and had drifted back to town. Tho Minister replied that his sympathy was with all settlers who were labouring under tho disadvantage of unsatisfactory means of communication. Ho gave the deputation an assurance that he would assist as soon as possible with the improvement of the road.

Tramway inefficiency and the importation of spirits were discussed at a meeting' of the Hataitai Municipal Electors' Association, held on Thursday night (states the Evening Post). The following motion was carried unanimously:—" In view of the inconvenience caused to the residents of this district by the inefficiency of the tram service, stated by the civic authorities to bo duo to the want of machinery awaiting shipment in England for 18 months past, this association protests against the largo shipments of liquor recently landed in the dominion, which as an article of commerce is absolutely non-essential, and urges the City Council to make an emphatic protest to the Minister of Munitions respecting the exclusion of necessary machinery urgently k quired for the efficient working of the electric light and tramway systems of the city; and further, that it be represented to the Mayor that the manifest of the s.s. alone contained a total of 72,507 gallons of liquor."

Referring to Russia, in a speech at the reunion of Thames old boys at Auckland, tho Hon. A. M. Myers stated that it was to be hoped that she would learn the lesson that Nemesis lies in wait for those countries who believe in democratic ideals, but who are not prepared to fight for them. Germany has exposed her own hand, and recent developments in Russia were an indication that the Russian people were beginning to awaken to the peril into which their revolutionary leaders had led them. America was more, than fulfilling her promises to see tho thing through, and if she continued to scud troops to Franco at the rate that obtained in June, by the end of the present year she would have sent such a considerable number that must play an important part in tho final issue. At the present time there was one great aim, one great, object animating the whole of tho civilised world, and that was to expend tho whole of their strength in tlie effort to mould a new and better world than we had hitherto seen, and fashioned' upon lines that democracy itself would formulate and uphold. The civilised nations of the world would light to the end to tho last farthing of their money, to the last uuneo of their strength, and to the last drop of their blood.

In a rrcont letter from Palestine, Major A. 11. Wilkie, of tho Wellington Mounted ivifles. writes:—''There were many exciting experiences during tho stunt in the mountain of Moab. Some of the greatest cutthroats on earth live in these regions, the worst being the Circassians, whom the Turks usually employ to exterminate .inconvenient races, such as Armenians, etc. In other rcords, the Circassians aro profesi sional murderers, and live on plunder. Wo protected them from tho Bedouins after wo had takon ono of their towns, and when wo were leaving they repaid us f-or our protection by trying to ambush us akin"- o deep ravine. They shot fomo of our "follows, but camo off very badly when our chaps retaliated."

Lieutenant A. G. Jackson, who left New Zealand with the Motor Patro! in November, 1916 ; writes stating that he took part in the raids at Ostend and Referring to this he says: "I was in the big stunts at Ostend. I can tell you the Dover patrol boats are doing their bit The night of the big raid several motor launches were knocked out. The heat from our own guns burned my face, and I was deaf for three days; otherwise I got through well. It was a wonderful sight. I would not have missed it oil any account—the blockships going into the harbour and sinking themselves. Our work was to go in and rescue the brave men off them, and the w ; ord brave is not enough for those men, they were great. Vv r e were under gun fire, and the bullets were dropping like rain. Six New Zealand boys took part in the raid. The three Wellington chaps were Tommy 'lurnbull. Bill Jones, and myself." Lieutenant Jackson states he is nearly always at sea now. and at. time of writing was commanding officer of his own boat at Dunkirk. He states air raids are numerous, and one night in May he saw over 100 machines making for London. Seven of them were brought down, one falling about two miles from his beat. It was a great sight. Lieutenant Jackson (states the Post) is well known in rowing circles in New Zealand, and was one of the New Zealand Champion Fours in 1911, and also rowed for Wellington, Picton, and Blenheim. He is a son of Mr James Jackson, 'i'e Awaite, Tory Channel.