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Otago Daily Times, Issue 17630, 21 May 1919, Page 4

Tho public will be pleased to learn that, as the outcome of representations made to the Defence Department by the Mayor (Mr W. Bcgg) and the chairman of the Harbour Board (Mr H. L. Tapley), who are in Wellington at the present time, it has been decided that the transport Tofua, which is expected to arrive about the 27 th inst., wiE disembark her troops at Dunedin wharf.

_ A Press Association message from Wellington states that the Railway Officers' Institute has passed a resolution protesting against the Minister's exercise of his power of veto in tho Longton appeal case. The steamer Perth, from Newcastle, which will probably be berthed at Dunedin this morning, has on board 177 bags of Aus-' tralian mail for New Zealand. The Katoa, which is expected to arrive here about noon to-day, has also a shipment of about 170 bags of Australian mail for distribution over New Zealand. The next large European and English, mail due in the dominion will be brought by the Moana, which is duo at 'Wellin.gton on May 28 from' San Francisco, via island ports. The monthly meting of the Dunedin Fire Board was held yesterday afternoon; present —Messrs T. Ghalmer (in the chair), J. Hislop, J. S. Webb, and J. Arkle. Accounts amounting to £809 3s 2d were pasesd for payment. The financial statement showed a credit at date of £2672 8s 4d after\ the payment of accounts.

The Minister of Marine stated yesterday (says a Press Association, telegram from Wellington) that the two .shins offered by the Admiralty to replace tne Amokrura as a training ship were unsuitable for the dominion's requirements, and it had been d<* cided that Captain Hooper, of the Amokura, should go to England, select a ship, if possible. suitable for our needs, and bring the vessel to New Zealand.

The following communication (says the Press) has been received by the Mayor of Christchurch (Dr Thacfeer, MJ?.) from the Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs, relative to the peace celebrations:— "With reference to the desirability of sufficient notice being given to local bodies, as to the actual days on which the Peace Celebrations are to be held, I" have now to inform you that Cabinet has decided that the celebrations will take place on the second Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday after the receipt in the dominion of the official announcement of preliminary peace having been signed. In the event of the Imperial Government deciding that the celebrations should not be held until the signing of official peace or on some other dates than those above-mentioned, the Government will reconsider the matter, and if a change is determined on : n the dates for the celebrations due notification to the local bodies will be given." A fire in a chimney in a houso in Heriot Row was responsible for the City .Fire Brigade being called out shortly after 10 o'clock on Monday night. The fire was suppressed without difficulty, and no damage was done. The brigade received a call ftt 11.10 p.m. yesterday to an eight-roomed house at 18 Neidpath road, Mornington, owned and occupied by Mr P. Lang. It was found that a fire had. started in some outhouses, and two of these were 'destroyed, but the main building was untouched. The damage was estimated at £50. The building was insured in -the New Zealand office for £500, and the furniture for £400.

Two men who were recently arrested for desertion from a ship at Port Chalmers, and who wero said to bo aliens, approached the secretary of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers; Association with a complaint. They informed him that they were, respectively, an American and a Canadjgn, and that they had both served in their national armies in France. The substance of their grievance was, however, that a Wellington weekly newspaper, in reporting their case, had stated that " they seemed more squareheaded than ordinary Yanks," and they deeply resented the suggestion that they wero of Teutonic origin They asked that the Returned Soldiers' Association should take the matter up, and demand an apology from the newspaper concerned. In reporting the matter to the meeting of the executive of the association last night, the secretary stated that the men were still" in gaol as suspected aliens, but that their sole anxiety seemed to be to have the aspersion cast ori their nationality removed. The executive decided to take no action in tho matter.

The recently published " Soldiers' Guide" makes provision that returned soldiers shall in certain cases be immune from being proceeded against by legal process for recovery of debt, without permission having been first obtained from the AttomcygeneraL At the meeting of the executive of the Returned Soldiers' Association last night Mr C. L. Calvert stated that these provisions were apt to have the effect of rendering it difficult for returned men to obtain credit, since business people would tend to fight shy of every returned man when they knew that tho Attorney-general's permission was required before he could be proceeded against for debt " It may look on tho face of it," said Mr Calvert, " that these provisions are in the interests of returned men, since they protect him from process for debt. But such immunity will only protect one class of man —the man who is unwilling to pay his debts, and he represents a very small class. The law as it stands at present is adequate protection for any man who cannot pay his debts." In the case of a mun vho received financial assistance r rom the Government, tho speaker continued, permission to proceed against him for private debts would bo 1 very difficult to obtain, =f not in-possible, since the Attorney-general would be primarily interested in the debt which was owed to tho Crown. It would soon become known that returned soldiers were protected in this way, and the public would refuse to deal with them. Tho regulations were really designed lo protect tho money owing to the Crown, and ho contended that they were unnecessary and harmful for the "reasons stated, and should be abolished. No action jraa taken by tho eaceaiiiva tho matfec.

A mooting of tho Green Island Coal Minors' Union -will be held in the Fairfield School at 7 o'clock to-morrow night.

Many members of the Anzao Club aro apparently under the impression tliat they need not renew their subscriptions on their expiry on March 31, but may wait until tho new Soldiers' Club is established. It was pointed out at last night's meeting of the L '* ec utivo the Dunedin Returned Soldiers Association that such men were es.pocted to pay thoir renewal fee a3 from April 1.

The Mornington Welfare Association was lonnod eomo months ago to watch over the interests of the district and to agitate for improvements wherever these were doomed necessary. Tho members have not been idle since the formation of tho organisati6n, and thoy have drawn up a scheme covering an unproved tramway service for the' district, better roads, and increased amenities generally. Last evening- a meeting was held in the Methodist Hall at Belleknowes, and the members took part in a general discussion of iheir proposals for the advancement of tho district. On Thursday evening another meeting will be held in the Baptist Church Hall, Elgin road, when it *s anticipated there will be a large attendance of thoso interested.

The Rev. E. Palgrave Davy started his mission to the children in Knox Church Sunday School last evening. Mr Davy delivered a stirring address, using the Pilgrim's Progress by way of illustration. Tho speaker was highly successful in his appc-al to the child mind, and had no difficulty in holding the interest of his audience. Mr Davy will continue his series of addresses this evening. A meeting of shareholders in the United Sii.an' IU/ '.vkett Society was held last evening, and was presided ovor by Mr E. A. Rosevear (chairman of directors), who congratulated members on v the success of the society, which had four groups going. Applications for the No. 5 group were coming in freely, and hoped to start this group at an early date. lie urged those present to assist in placing the balance of tho in the new group. A ballot was held for the 6]st impropriation 1 in No. 2 group, cluster No,. 11 being drawn, representing five shares held by one membor, which means that this member gets a loan of £500 without any interst. A sale of £500 for the 55th appropriation in No. 3 group realised £40 per £100.

Mr E. L. Macassey is organising a Chrysanthemum Day, to he beld on Wednes day, June 4, the whole of the proceeds of which are to be given to the Returned Soldiers' Building Fund. Tho opening of the second session of the John M'Glashan College took place yesterday morning. The Rev. H. H. Barton read as the lesson, tho Parable of the Talents, and the Rev. G. 11. Balfour, chairman of the Board of Governors, the opening prayer, gave a short address. After congratulating the college on its continued development, Mr Balfour said' that in spite of all tne new buildings recently erected they were still being pressed for more accommodation, and the Board of Governors had decided to erect further buildings, so as to enable tho college to take up to 80 boarders and 18C day scholars at the beginning of next year. The board would provide the buildings, but the - scholars must see to it that they developed the, right tone and "esprit de corps" in the early years of the life of the college: Miss Grace Clements was accordcd a hearty welcome by the scholars on joining the staff. The number on the roll now exceeds 99, of wHbm 44 are boarders.

A development arising out of the apparently incurable difficulty in getting domestic help has taken place in Wellington during the past year, one that will doubtless cause a. good deal of surprise in some quarters. The new development is the result of tie enterprise of a firm which provides men to do N scrubbing, window-cleaning, carpet-beat-ing, and any other sort of household work almost, at so much per hour, and the firm's books disclose tha astonishing fact' that uiero are people prepared, to pay as much as 2s 6d and even 3s per hour per man for such labour. At this work (says the Dominion) a good scrubber can earn good money, and a general cleaner who knows his work can make quite enough to Jive comfortably on even in these hard times. This incursion by man into a sphere of labour usually relegated to the female general servant .s the first indication that he is not prepared to see all his avenues o! employment entrenched -upon by women without getting one back.

A petition to which numerous signatures are being attached in the Wairarapa p the Government to undertake the deviation of the Rimrutaka railway line. A route has been surveyed, and levels ta<ken for the construction of a line through the ranges, with an outlet at the' Tauherenikau Gorge! This route would give an easy grade, but the residents of the Wairarapa do not favour it,, on tho ground .that it would not open up any good coantry. Tho route most favoured is through the hill into the Wai-nui-o-mata Valley, then through the Orongorongo Valley, with an outlet into the Wairaiapa below Featherston. .By this means, it is stated, some excellent country would be opened up, and the saving in coal consumption, working expenses, cost of maintenance, and general upkeep of the line by way of the Summit would be sufficient to pay the interest on the construction cost. The petitioners intend to ask the Government to straighten the Ruamahunga River by directing its course through tho Pouawha lagoon. By doing so the Wairarapa Lake would be turned into a farming area of 43,000 acres, and the 60,000 acres which surround the lake and which are subject to Pood during six months of the year, would be kcrpt dry.

The Magistrate's Court yesterday morning was presided over by two J.P.'s, Messrs EL M'Lennan and H l . E. Moller. The business to be dealt with' was "very light. Judgment was given for plaintiff by default in the case of George Kirby v. John S. Worth (Port Ahuriri), claim £5, for payments guaranteed on behalf of a seaman employed by defendant, and costs (£1 0s 6d); and also in the case of the Otago Finance and Agency Company tt. Margaret Quinn, claim £2, balance due on money lent, and costs (10s).

Messrs K. M'Lennan and H. E. Moller, J.P.'s, conducted a sitting of the Polio© Court yesterday morning, whesn two female offenders were charged. Esther Fox, who did not appear, was fined ss,' with the alternative of 24 hours' imprisonment, for having been found drunk in a public place tho previous morning. Lily Brown, who appeared on remand, to answer charges of drunkenness and of committing- a grossly indecent act on May 12, was further remanded so that she might appear before a magistrate to-day.

Hie Dunedin Burns Club annual social ■will bo held" in -tho Art Gallery Hall tonight. A capital programme has been arranged, and soldier friends of members (in uniform) are invited.

Butcher, Baker, Grocer, Fruiterer, Land Agents-Yes, the Harley-Davidson Motor Cycle is a commercial proposition; an efficient aid to extra business. 1919 models now tQ. hand.—Particulars from Ofcago Agents, W. A. Justice and Co., 290 Princes street, Dunedin.—Advt.

400 boys' shirts for half-a-crown eachstrong, striped flannelette shirts, Hi to Id' with bands, 2s 6d (postage 3d).—At MoHieons.—Advt.

Nevsr too late to mend. To improve your drink order Watson's No. 10.—Advt.

Every husband who truly cares for his wife's comfort will not begrudge her tho trifle to purchase "No Rubbing" Laundry Help and "Golden Rule" Soaped all of us.—Allan and Smith, Eling street — Advt.

For Chronic Chest Complaints, Woods* Great Peppermint Cure.—Advt.

Electric Incandescent Lamps, Drawn Wire Metallic Filament, Philips Manufacture, 16 32, and 50 candle-Dower. Pdoe ii each. Special terms for quantitv orders — 1 urnbull and Jones (Ltd.), Eleitric Enirineers.—Adrt. "

A. E. J. Blakcley, dentist, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattrav (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859 — Advt.

Eyastrainl-Consult Mr Peter G. Dick, D.8.0.A., F.LO. (London), consulting- and oculists' optician.—Peter Dick, jeweller etc 490 Moray place, Dunedin.—Advt, '