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Otago Daily Times, Issue 17636, 28 May 1919, Page 4

The mails which left New Zealand on April 19 arrived in London on the 24th inst. The mail steamer Moana is expected to amve at Wellington to-day, but it is not Known how many bags of mail she is bringing. If the vessel is berthed in time to connect with the ferry steamer the Dimedin mads should reach here to-morrow mgtot. The Vancouver mail steamer •Niagara is due at Auckland about the end of the week. The Otago men by the Rimutaka are expected to reach Dunedin to-morrow. There are five men f or stations a little north of Dunedin, 17 for Dunedin, and a number for places farther south. The notifications of cases of diphtheria axe decreasing- in number. Only one was sent to the Health Department yesterday, and the oases are still of a mild type. There is nothing at the Gleudining Home to cams© anxiety. Five rases,_ the symptoms of which suggest lethargic encephalitis, are reported to . have recently occurred in Otago—two in Uamaru, one in Dunedin, and two in country districts. Three of these patients died, and as the only test of any valuta post mortem examination—was objected to by the relatives, tie observations could not be followed up. Even with, a post mortem examination highly specialised observation of sections of the brain are necessary to definitely distinguish this condition from other inflammatory conditions of the brain. The Minister of Education hag expressed j his approval of the proposal of lie Dunedin ■ere© Kindergarten, .association for making provision for the housing of the pupils of the Yaralla School in North Dunedin The Mimster was at first disposed to stipulate that the site of the school should embrace half an acre of freehold, but he has now been impressed with the argument that the existence of a corporation reserve alongside a quarter-acre section, which the association proposes to acquire, between Leith and Clyde streets should sufficiently meet his views, and he has, 'as Mis Gilkison (presisident of the association) has now been advised by Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P., agreed to the payment by the Government of a subsidy of £ for £ upon the funds raised by the association for the purchase of the necessary land and the erection of buildings.

Mails from Australia arrived at Auckland yesterday morning (says a Press Association telegram). The Wanaaca, from Newcastle, and the Roggaween, from Sydney, anchored at 11 o'clock, bat owing to tho quarantino of the vessels tho Tnniki wtTI notbo landed until to-day. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that the Maori sailed for Lyttelton at 10.25 last night, the delay being caused by trouble with the firemen. Tho stokehold crew was three men short" of the complement, and the vessel will travel at reduced speed. The Maori will remain at Lyttelton until Thursday, and will then resume her usual running. The Maori and Mararoa have about 800 passengers. Two middle-aged men named Alexander Valentine Walquist and John Joseph M'Cluckey were arrested by Detective Sergeant Kemp and Detective TTArrym wly Canadian Flat, near Ranfirrly, on Monday on a charge,of setting fire to a hut at Canadian Flat, and wore brought to town yesterday. They will come before the City Police Court this morning. A youth named Lyell Hunt wae arrested by Detective Sergeant Cameron and Plain-clothes Constable Beer yesterday on a charge of stealing a bicyolo at Dumbarton. Tho youth will be called upon to answer the charge this morning. A wharf labourer who attempted to take a "short out from the Perth by jumping from the rail yesterday had the misfortune to take an involuntary plunge into the cheerless water between wharf and ship. Ready hands lowered a rope, and brought the shivering man to terra firma minus his hat, and he mounted his bicycle and rode off, wet but grateful. A diver commenced an examination of the hull of the Westmoreland on Monday afternoon, and in doing so found thai two plates on the starboard side of No. 1 hold were badly broken and cut. It has been definitely arranged that the frozen meat will bo transferred from the Westmoreland to tho chambers of the New Zealand Slipping Company's liner Remuera, whidi is at present lying at Port Chalmers. Bad weather prevented the work of discharging the cargo yesterday. Active preparations are being made for the Winter Show, which is to bo opened by tho Minister of Agriculture on Tuesday, June 3. The entries are considerably in excess of those of last year, and competition in most sections will bo keen. Stall-holders and others are busy fixing their stands and making tho necessary arrangements for their exhibits. Judging by tho number of applications received at the society's office for accommodation, it is confidently anticipated by tho committee that a record will be put up in tho way of attendance at this year's show. Tho exhibits of work done by wounded and invalided soldiers will bo a feature, and aro sure to attract the close attention of tho public. Tho committee again urges- those who have accommodation for visitors to notify the secretary earlv, so that tho list may be completed without delay. . At tho Provincial Conference of the Wellington Farmers' Union yesterday it was resolved that tho necessity for the deviation of tho Rimutaka incline bo brought before the Minister of Railways, as a work which should immediately be taken in hand. While the deviation was of vital interest to the Wairarapa and Bush district, it also < was of provincial importance, as it will en- 1 ablo a larger portion of tho Hawke's Bay ■ traffic being sent via Wairarapa, and thus 1 relieve tho congestion on the Manawatu 1 lino.—Press Association. 1

' . . many of you men are going to jom the New Zealand Territorial Force voluntarily?" was a question asked by tronera.l Richardson in tho Early Settlers' Jia l last evening, and greeted with a loud outburst of laughter. In these days of greater or less peace when thousands of men are throwing aside their uniforms and hastening back to civilian life, e.'giis are not wanting that military stars a« losing their lustro ajid some aro even in danger of falling from theor lugli places in tho firmament. It does not follow that because men submitted quietly to all tho inconveniences incidental to tho military system under the dire stress ot war, that they aro going to continue.to do so now that the strain is removed. In lact it is clear that some will not. An amiiisuig demonstration of tho returning s P' rlt civilian independence was given in a local military office the other day. Accordto usual custom a considerable number ot men had been summoned regardless of tho waste of their time involved to appear at the sama hour before a board. One by ono at long intervals the men were called upon, until the patience of one of the waiting ones was thoroughly exliafusted. He strolled forward to the table and demanded to know where this board was that he had neon summoned to appear before an hour previously. Ho proceeded to explain with some emphasis that ho had left his work in a distant country district suddenly to attend the board, and that ho was going back .that day, too. The sergeant-major addressed naturally resented such asseruveness, but ho was only met with further demands to know why only ono day's notice of the board's sitting had been giv-en. Commands to get back to his seat and wait his turn were quite unheeded by the indignant countryman, who now began to inquire who it was that sent out the offending notice. A sergeant-major present was brave—or incautious—enough to claim re sponability, whereupon the countryman proceeded with soldierly ornamentation to give him a piece of his mind." The sergeantmajor rose to push tho man back to his place, when he was met with several rapid ajad most ably directed blows that found their mark about his eyes and nose. For a few moments confusion reigned, and it is whispered that several highly placed officers executed strategic movements to tho rear. Then an officer who had stood his ground called on members of the staff to arrest tho disturber of the peace; but the response was most disappointing. No one seemed disposed to argue the matter further, and the country visitor having effectively registered his protest picked»up his hat and moved off to catch his train, leaving the scandalised staff to busy themselves over the formulation of charges in due order. It -is said that tho face of the sergeantmajor chiefly concerned will form invaluable evidence at the trial, even if that should bo delayed for some time. "Hie King's Admiralty Medal, awarded to Charles Glidden, a member of the Aurora expedition to tie Antarctic, was formally presented to him by the Hon. T. M. Wilf°l'd) at the offices of the Federated Seamen's Union at Auckland. Mr Wilford. stated that he would say no more than quote the words of the official records, which stated:—"Now began a'fight ■with death, which called forth qualities of self-denial, endurance and comradeship worthy of the highest traditions of Polar service." For those attributes possessed.by Glidden he had received this high honour. The Executive Committee of the New Zealand Counties' Association has decided to convene a conference of the county councils at a date daring next Parliamentary session. The exact date of the conference will be fixed when the date of the session is finally known. The question of the control of the main arterial roads of the country was discussed at a recent meeting of the executive, and the scheme of road control in Victoria was also considered. In order to bo able to secure for the conference the report of tho Victorian system, both from the point of view of the State and the local authorities, it was arranged that the president of the association should J visit Victoria for tho purpose of investigating the country road boards' system in operation in Victoria. A Press Association message from Auckland states that the Provincial Conference of the Farmers' Union decided yesterday that the incoming executive be instructed to draw up a political platform to bo submitted to branches for approval, with a view to having it placed before candidates at the next election. E - S - Green, agricultural instructor to the Otago Education Board, has submitted his report and the results of the schools* swede and mangel-growing- competitions conducted under the auspices of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society during the past season. The competition was not as keenly oontesfced as formerly, this being one in a large measure to the early closing 5 of schools on account of the influenza epidemic and also to the unfavourable season. A number of plots were prepared for the competitions, but the results, owing to the aWe conditions, precluded their entrance. ! Tile following are the prize-winners:— " Mangels: Benhar 1 and 2, Lowburn 3 ' owedes: Benhar 1. 1

*-i Thorp, at present acting as Orchard Instructor for Otago, gave a pinning demonstration at Birchdal© Orchard on Saturday afternoon (says our Roxburgh correspondent). There was a large attendance of growers, who evinced the greatest interest in the demonstration. At its condUai^, a vote of thanks -was accorded Air Thorp. In the evening he attended a meeting 1 of the Teviot Fruit-growers' Association, and gave a short address on Spraying." Black spot, peach curl, and woolly aphis were the diseases to which his address was chiefly applied, aad he gave the result of experiments he had made iA the application of different remedies for the control of these pests. The meeting- passed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr TSiorp, and invited him to address members at 'some future date.

A correspondent writes to us from Purafcaaui; "On Sunday afternoon about 4 o clock my attention was drawn to a commotion in the river amongst some sea-gulls. On. investigating, I observed a strange bird, with legs about 12 inches long, a slirrt body! a long neck, and a small beak. It carried iteelf very gracefully, and was pure white in colour. I have been told that this bird was seen a fortnight ago in the same pkoe. It appeared to be very unsettled, flying from place to place. Would this be the crano that has been seen lately? There is also at present in the river a most beautiful bird, not unlike the .other bird, except thai it is blue in colour, has not sucih long legs, and has a long beat I rather think it is a shag of an uncommon colour Numerous kingfishers are to be seen along the water's edge, and I have counted as many as seven to a dozen in the one place." Mr G. W. M'Lrtosh, president of the Otago Acclimatisation Society, to whom wo have referred our correspondent's letter, expresses the opinion that tho white bird was in all likelihood the whito crano.which has been' observed at Waihola, Stirling and Waitati. The white crane, however, has a long beak* Mr M'lntosh suggests, further, that the blue bird seen at Purakanni was probably a bhie crane.

Oa Eot. Palgrav© Davy, in continuance of his mission among the children of Dan. edm, began a eeries of addresses last evening -m the Trinity Methodist Church. The speaker had a largo audience of interested young people, and his address was based on portion of tho Pilgrim's Progress. Mr Davy has tho groat gift of humour, and tins, combined with the interesting manner m which he dealt with tho subject in hand soon had the ljtfclo folks' attention closelv fixed on his subject. The addresses •will bij continued at Trinity Church until Fridav" when a special address will bo given. A railway cadet, aged 17 years, employed U ty on before ; Mr E. Burton, S.M„ to supplying a Native with whisky. Acoused asked a fellow nulway official to order fivo bottlr* of whisky for him. 'Hie arrival of a3 of liquor was noticed by a Maori, who followedl Moused to Ins hut and asked him to sell him a bottle for £1. Accused did this, and later, sold two more bottles to the Native. Ho was convicted and fined £10 ccste on one of three charges, and con--rected without penalty on the remaining two charges. The railway offiokl who ordered the liquor pleaded guilty. He was convictcd and fined £10 and costs. Both parties were first offenders, and not, as the magistrate remarked, droppeza.' 9

Many exciting incidents occurred in the e of Captain James Alexander, who died recently in Auckland. On one occasion, he was sailing Home on the Waimate as chief ohcer, and a cabin boy, when the ship was off. liio <J 0 Janeiro, entered a room under the poop in which signal rockets and ? r explosives were stored. Nothing is "nown of what happened in the room, but ,f ern waa blown'away, and the boy was not seen again. The captain, W k nT'if was blown through a u v- ead, and, although badly injured, ' i® tiU i one of the spokes ... riipl-ri?* 2 m .the quartermaster P v up, ana Captain Alexander, who was, a moment before the explosion, stand- ' death only by being wiled forward. Tho ship was worked into Rw and later proceeded Home in command ox Captain Alexander. J* 1 "" J i. as J?* 611 discussion of the reform of tho liquor traffic," said Mr J F M'unnuigs, a visiting architect, at the Townplannmg Conference, "and one feels' that there would bo less talk of doin- away with the thing if some intelligent study were given to means whereby it might be improved, and something done to rid it of ita ' present dangers. The idea of introducing cates with music, and other interests open to the public gaze may perhaps be considered fantastic as far as New Zealand towns are concerned, but it is-one worthy of study, and perhaps if State control comes into force cafes as places of amusement, entertainment, and recreation wtrnld suggest a means of giving material expression thereto." A New Zealand firm has received from Scotland the following letter, stating that. the action of the dockers there may have the effect of lessening the export of Scotch w'hisky to the "dominion:—"We beg to advise you that export of whisky is meantime suspended indefinitely, owing to the attitude adopted by the dockers at Glasgow and .rpooL Apparently they have tho feel-' ing that no liquor should be sent out of ■he country when the Government fa allowing so little out of bond for consumption by the Home public. This impossible state of matters cannot, of course, continue, and we are just afraid that the Government will be forced to release more whisky ami other liquors from bond to appease the public clamour. Consequently, if this happens then the quantity of liquor available for export will be correspondingly curtailed." The speedy re-establishment of the sheei glass works in Belgium was one of the '' immediate results hoped for in English busi-'• ness_ circles following the signing of the armistice. A letter addressed to an Auckland firm from London on November 15 expressed the hope that these-works would be quickly re-started, and that, if all went well, supplies would be obtainable for shipment within about two months. That this hope has been frustrated is made evident in another letter received in Auckland, last week m which it is stated that labour troubles in Belgium had disorganised the trade, and only one works and the maker of machine-made sheet glass, were in full production. Prices were stated still to be exceedingly high, and information had just come to hand that two thousand 100 ft boxes of '.'fourths," stored at Amsterdam before the frar, had just been sold for shipment to Greece at the high price of 100s per box. These were purchased by Auckland merchants for about 20s before the war. For several years before the war brake out there lived at Feilding a German named aerr K. Berger, who made a name 'for : himself in the district as a music teacher and conductor. A few months before hostilities commenced Berger and family left for the Fatherland, and, as the result of subsequent events, tie suspicion was aroused that tile German was engaged in the Secret Service of .his country. Now that the war is over he evidently wants to return, as an application .with that object in view has been made to the authorities. Feilding was communicated with, but residents consider him an undesirable, and a reply to that effect was made. Berger, therefore, will . not be allowed to come back.

A silver cross for bravery was presented at a gathering of Scouts in WeEington, to tiie Rev. G. W. Dent, scoutmaster of 'the Brooklyn trqop, for his gallant attempt to save the life of one of the Eltham Boy Scouts, while bathing in Oponake Bay on January 1, 1917. Mr Dent was sooutmaster of the Eltham troop at the time. J.'hero was a picnic on the beach, and. numbers were bathing. The Scout, who was a good swimmer, went rather far out and got ioto difficulties. jVIr Dent &i once went to his assistance, but wajs dashed upon a hidden rook and though rendered almost helpless, bravely struggled on. Major Sandford, who had also started to tie boy's help, was also knocked about considerably. The boy in the meantime kept his wits and floated till he was rescued. Mr Allan, i provincial commissioner for Wellington, in presenting the modal, spoke of Mr Dent as first-cla&s Scout,, who tried to do his good turn even at tho rid: of his own life. A letter from Colonel Cossgrove (Chief Com- ' missioner of Scoots for New Zealand) was read, conveying congratulations and appreciation of the aotion of Mr Dent. Mr Dent, x in reply, said scoutmasters learned to love their boys, and added that any scoutmaster was prepared to risk his life to save any boy. He called on the boyß to live a straight life—it was for that the Soout movement stood. There was a dean sheet in the City Police Court yesterday morning. In the Port Chalmers Police Court yesterday morning a prohibition order was issued against a resident on his own application. Mr D. Mawson, J.P., was on tho Bench.