Untitled

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17430, 26 September 1918, Page 4

It was proposed that the 44th Reinforcements, who havo been training at Featherston, should march over tho Rimutakas to 'Irentham to-day. A Press Association message from Wellington states that owing to tho unsettled weather tho march lias been abandoned, and tho troops will probably bo taken to Trentham by train in a few days.

There is an epidemic of in both of the camps at present (says our Wellington correspondent); but although the disease is very prevalent it is not in a severe form. There are about 400 men sick in Trentham and 150 in Fe-athc.rston; but it should bo understood that a man is sent into hospital and put to bed as soon as he shows signs of an incipient cold. Most of the men are sacrcely ill at all. So slight is their ailment that if they wero in civilian life they would not tliink of lying up. There have been reports that tho disease is assuming a virulent form, but these are absolutely unfounded.

\vhen Messrs C. Draper and E. Mce, auctioneers for tho Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, mounted tho platform running along their pens of sheep at Burnsido yesterday ready to commence their sale, Mr T. Smith said ho would like to ask Mr Draper, on behalf of tho Alaster Butchers' Association, whether he had a buying commission. Mr Smith said it was a wrong thing that an auctioneer should act as a seller tor a client and at the same secretly operate on behalf of a buyer. The butchers wanted to know tho position before tho pens went up to auction. Mr Draper said he had no commission to buy that day, but had had commissions in the past, the same as other firms. Mr T. Elliott said other firms did not make a practice of this kind of business, and they did not encourage it or like it. Mr Smith added that it was a most invidious attitude for any auctioneer to take up. Mr Draper reiterated that he was only doing the same as other companies. If his lirm received commissions to buy sheep they must execute them—it could not turn away business. Mr Elliott: You can't be a buyer and a seller, too. Mr D. Murray, of Clydevale, interjected a remark, but was told that the matter had nothing to do with him—it was the butchers who wero directly interested. Mr Draper said he was not prepared to say whether ho was going to carry on the business of executing commissions to buy— that was a matter for his employers—but as regards the present sale he had no commission. Another butcher eaid if Mr Draper had a commission to buy he could execute it before the butchers commenced to bid, and not compete with them, while at the same time acting as auctioneer. Mr Smith .went on to say that "trotting" had been carried on at the sales to a groat extent. The butchers expressed their ' intention of entering their protest to the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, and the sale then commenced. It was freely stated that the firm for which Mr Draper operated was a Christ-church concern.

The Dunedin branch of the Locomotive Engineers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association discussed,'"at its last meeting, a resolution that meal allowances should be granted to men employed in working long shifts, and tho caso was instanced of men engaged in running the express train between Dunedin and Oamaru. These men arc booked on duty at 6.50 a.m., and are not released again until 10.10 p.m.—a total of 15hr 2Cmin a day. An interval of some shr 40min in Oamaru, awaiting tho return trip to Dunedin, is counted as standing time, Shr of which are paid for by the department, so that the men lose 2hr 40min a day standing "away from home." The branch stoutly protested against the action of tho department in not reinbursing men for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing themselves with a hot meal, which was regarded as absolutely necessary if men are to perform properly the responsible and arduous duties connected with trainrunning. It was claimed that these men should be placed on the same footing as officers of the department, who enjoy the privilege of meal allowances. It was eontended that the time-table might without great difficulty bo altered so as to bring the north express train into Dunedin at least three hours earlier than at present. Such an alteration, whilst doing away with tho grievance mentioned, would, it was argued, be of benefit also in view of the staff shortage.

An instanco of tho acute stag© which the shortage of coal supplies has reached was. to be seen at Ashburton on Monday (says the Christchurch Press), when several trucks of coal from Mataura, Bcnhar, and as far back. as Cromwell, passed through consigned to Christchurch and Rangiora. Cromwell was famous in the early mining days for its output of gold, but it is about one of the last places in the dominion whence one would expect to see a supply of coal coming for outside markets. Some of the coal had evidently been in the tracks for a considerable time, and the exposure to the air had reduced that on' the top to the appearance of freshly-elaked lime, except, of course, in colour.

Very maiiy New Zealand people have seen and admired Sapper H. Moore-Jones's water-colour paintings p£/'Gallipoli. These sketches were produced while Sapper MooreJones was serving with tho New Zealand Forces at Anzac. They constitute a unique record of tho Gailipoli campaign and of scenes that are full of poignant interest for tens of thousands of New Zealanders. JN early a year ago Sapper Moore-Jones offered these pictures to the New Zealand Government, in order that they might be placed in a national gallery as a permanent record of this country's share in tho Gallipoli campaign. v Ministers stated publicly that the works ought to bo retained in New Zealand, and that they hoped the matter would be arranged. But nothing lias been done, and Now Zealand is in danger now of losing the pictures altogether. The Commonwealth Government has offered to buy them at Sapper Moore-Jones's price. Some people who are interested in of these paintings in Now Zealand are making another attempt to move the Government (says the Dominion). It has been suggested that if tho originals are not to become the possession of this dominion, Sapper Moore-Jones should at least be asked to execute a sot of oopics, which could bo placed in a war museum or a national gallery. A Press Association message from Wellington states that the price orginally asked for the sketches was £1000, the artist to have the right to publish reproductions. The price now asked is £1500. It is understood that an offer has been made from a private sourco to subscribe half tho cost of tho pictures; but, so far, the Government has not come to a decision in the matter.

Tho Medical Board commenced the examination of reservists 3rawn in tho twentysecond ballot at tho Kensington Drill Ilall yesterday. Tho names are being called alphabetically. At the present time, when- tho news of tho smashing victory secured by General Sir K 11. Allenby over the Turks in Palestine is on every person's lips, tho public may be interested to learn that Mr S. G. Smith, of this city, received an autograph letter from General Allenby, dated March 19 last, in reply to one congratulating him on the capture of Jerusalem. "I must thank you," General Allenby wrote, "for your kind and welcome letter of December 12. I have many New Zealanders under my command, and they, as well as I, will be glad to know that their work has received tho approval of their fellow-countrymen."

The highostgrade material is used and the most-skilled mechanics employed in buildinc Harley-Davidson motor cycles.—\V Stuart Wilson and Co.. Dunedin.—Advt. Just Opened.—4o-inch self-coloured voiles, white, cream, pink, saxe, brown, cerise, grey, and navy; price os 3d.—At MolL'sons. Advt.

It is pleasing to see so many thrifty wivea paying spot cash—ls ?d—for a largo packet of "No P>ubbing" Laundry Help. " No Rubbing " does away with the old washboard slavery.—J. M'Farkno atd Co —Adv*.

For children's hacking cough at night Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. Is 6d, 2s 6d. —Advt. Waiter! Yes, sir! Watson's No. 10, please. I want best whisky.—Advt. Ladies, lighten the labour in your homes by using a "Hot-point" Electric Radiant Grill for all light cooking. Users state: "As indispensable as an electric iron, and j 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 1859.— Advt. , Eyestrain!—Consult Mr Peter G. Dick, D.8.0.A., F. 1.0. (London), consulting and Sl oculists' optician.—Peter Dick, jeweller, etc., 0 490 Moray place, Dunedin.—Advt. a