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Otago Daily Times, Issue 18197, 18 March 1921, Page 4

* An Australian mail, which should have reached Dunedin, last night, was held up by the dislocation of the ferry service. The postal authorities had received no advice up to a late hour last night of the forwarding of any North .Island mails. A Press Association message from Christchurch states that there was a slight shock of earthquake shortly before 8 o’clock yesterday morning. No damage is reported.

In connection with the Easter holidays, the legal profession .will close their offices from Wednesday 23, to Wednesday, March 30, both days inclusive.

The terms of the settlement of the recent waterside trouble have been carefully guarded, but they are gradually beginning to leak out. The Dunedin Waterside Workers’ Union held a ballot on Wednesday on the question of whether they would accept a bonus of a penny an hour —k bonus which, in common with other unions, they “ turned down ” when it was offered to them some weeks ago, the refusal of the employers to concede more being the ostensible cause of the recent trouble—and this time, it is stated with authority, the members were practically unanimous in voting for the acceptance of the penny bonus. As regards the" assurance required from the unions that they would observe the terms of their own agreement—an assurance which the public was informed the employers were determined to secure before they would engage fresh labour—it is now hinted that this has gone by the board. At any rate the local Dunedin workers do not seem to have been asked to vote onq way or the other on this important point. Moreover, it is asserted that the unions’ executives could not give any such assurance, for the simple reason that they themselves could not guarantee that the men would follow out any instructions to carry on work. It would seem, therefore, that the position is one of “as you were ” before the trouble took place. One thing which is clear is that the general public have been'- victimised. What the direct cost to the country and to the workers was, and is going to be, can only .be surmised. The hold-up, for instance, meant a loss on the prices which would have been obtained on the date originally fixed for the Dunedin- wool salqs (February 21), as compared with those ruling fin Tuesday last, of about £IOO,OOO. A meeting of St. Olair residents was held last evening in connection with the, Dunedin War Memorial Fund. Mr C. W. Hayward, chairman of the Residential Committee, was present, and explained at length the method his committee suggested should be adopted so as to give every resident an opportunity of subscribing. Mcsdames Wakefield-Holmes. Macassey, and Jones were appointed a committee to divide the district so that a thorough canvass may be made.

There was a fairly large attendance yesterday at the sale of paintings in the rooms of Messrs Parle, Reynolds (Ltd.) The pictures are the work of the late E. W. Christmas, R.8.A., and the collection was well representative of his art. The majority were landscapes, of all parts of the world— Hawaii, South America, California, Scotland, etc. Most of the pictures found ready purchasers. Some unframed sketches brought from £1 to £2 10s, and the oils and water-colours from £2 to £lO. There was keen competition for the Californian sketches, which were among the artist’s last works, and only a few pictures had to be passed. The High Schools Board of Governors, at its monthly meeting yesterday afternoon, passed the following motion in connection with the recent jubilee celebrations in connection with the Girls’ High School:— “ That the board extends to the Otago Girls’ High School Jubilee Association its hearty congratulations upon the success of the functions connected with the jubilee of the school, and requests the lady principal to convey to the staff and present ’girls of the school the board’s keen appreciation of their sympathy with the movement, and also that she and the staff lose no opportunity of impressing upon each girl her duty to do all in her power to contribute to an' honourable school history.”

In view of the early retirement of. Miss F. M. Allan, lady principal of the Girls’ High Sqjjool, the Appointments’ Committee yesterday recommended the Board of Governors to invite applications for the position. and it was decided to advertise in the four chief centres of the dominion, also in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Edinburgh, and London, applications to close on August 1 The committee also reported having considered the matter of the appointment of an assistant master for the Boys’ High School. It was found that there were at present on the staff more assistants of Grade D and fewer of Grades B and C than were prescribed by. the regulations. The committee was of opinion that this and every opportunity should be taken of bringing the staff up to that prescribed, and had accordingly given instructions that applications be invited for an assistant of Grade B or O on the understanding that a B Grade man would be appointed, if one qualified for the work presented himself, and, failing this, a C Grade man. This was agreed to. The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr W. H Hagger) presided over a short sitting of the Conciliation Board yesterday morning, when four companies who employ drivers —Stevenson and Co., the New Zealand Express Company, Spencer and Dunkley, and H. C. Campbell—were the applicants in a case in which the Otago Motor Vehicle, Horse Drivers, and Stable Attendants’ Industrial Union of Workers were cited as the respondents. The employers offered the existing award—£3 6s per week, plus 13s per week bonus, for drivers of single -horse teams—and the union asked for a wage of £5 10s for this class of work, with corresponding increases for the other classes of employment. Mr Cookson, for the employers, explained that since the application for the hearing before the council had been filed ho s had been in communication with the employers in the other centres with a view to making the dispute in Dunedin a -dominion dispute. The employers in the other centres had approved of this proposal, and intimation had also -.been received from, the Drivers’ Federation in Wellington that it was agreeable to this course being followed. #Mr Herbert, for the union, said that he had received no information on the point. The matter was, however, in the hands of the federation, and if Mr Cookson’s statement was confirmed from headquarters he would have no objection to hffer. The hearing of the dispute was thereupon adjourned to April 5, when the assessors for the employers and the union respectively will represent the carrying trade of the dominion. Any agreement which may be arrived at will operate from March IJ. . It does not seem to be very generally known that the Dental Hospital is available for the treatment of adults as well as children. A large number of children are always in attendance, but there are facilities in this department of the University for the treatment of adults and the supplying of artificial, teeth, 1 which are not at present being taken advantage of by those in the community who require such treatment, and yet are unable to afford the fee of a private dentist. The Works Committee of the Harbour Board will recommend to the meeting of the board, to be held on Friday night, that the work of providing better fire protection appliances at the waterfront is not part of its duties. The committee considers that the responsibility for better fire figting facilities rests with the City Council and the Dunedin Fire Board.

Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M., presided over a short sitting of the City Police Court yesterday morning, when a first offender, for drunkenness, was fined 10s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment. Thomas Reeves pleaded not guilty to a charge of being an idle and disorderly person in that he had insufficient lawful means of support. Constable Coppell, of St. Kilda, gave evidence ' that on the previous night, about 10.15 p.m., he had found the accused sleeping in the lupins. He had very little money in his possession, and among, his belongings was a membership ticket of the Lyttelton Waterside Workers’ Union. The accused said he had come' south a few weeks ago and was looking for work either harvesting or on the water front. He had a relative at St. Kilda,’ and he intended to stay there for a day or tw t o until he obtained work, but he had not been able to find the place. The magistrate remanded the accused until next Wednesday in order that further inquiries might be made. In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, before Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M., judgment was given for plaintiffs by default in the following undefended oases:—Johnston, Sons, and Co. v. John Deans Baldwin (Gore), claim £7 7s, for books supplied (costs £2 Is); same v. George Frederick Sievers (Wellington), claim £3 15s, for books supplied (Costs £1 3s 6d);,same v. Peter Alexander Mason (Lower tlutt), claim £3 15s, for books supplied (costs £1 3s 6d); same v. Tom M'Namara (Masterton),'. claim £1 13s, for books supplied (costs 8s). At a meeting of Trinity Methodist congregation on Wednesday night, the Rev. M A. Rugby Pratt showed some interesting documents. He exhibited the original letter written by Mr John Jones whicji resulted in the Wesleyan Missionary Society sending the first Christian missionary to the South Island of New Zealand. He also showed a letter written by Captain Hobson, Lieutenant-General, relating - to the proclamation of the authority of Queen Victoria over .Now Zealand and conveying especial thanks to the Wesleyan missionaries for their active and able assistance during his negotiations with the Native chiefs for the cession of the sovereignty of these islands to her Majesty. Other documents included a letter |rom John Hunt, the. famous Fijian missionary of 80 years ago, and a copy of the deed of sale of the first land to the Wesleyan missionaries at Whangaxoa in 1823. Thjs was witnessed by Samuel Marsdeh and Samuel Leigh, the .pioneer missionaries of the Anglican and Wesleyan Churches. There was also the original deed for the mission land at Hokianga. This document bore the signatures, of two Natives famous in history—namely, Eruera Maihi Patuone and Tamati Waka Nene.

The system of the allocation of the supplies of sugar in Otago, under the direction of the Board of Trade, is causing grave dissatisfaction on the part of some of the distributing firms, which find themselves in receipt of quantities so small as to render them totally unable to fulfil the requirements of country clients. The following telegram was despatched yesterday to Mr E. P.. Lee, the Minister in Charge of the Department:—“ Sugar distribution unfair and inequitable. Some retailers entirely without supplies. Others receiving better treatment. Complaints already made to Board of Trade not satisfied. Position acute, requires readjustment. Kindly give matter attention and oblige.” There is no doubt that the City of Dunedin has a singular power to inspire love and patriotism in its citizens, and another illustration of this fact was afforded at the farewell tendered by the legal profession to Mr A. S. Adams yesterday. Mr Adams, speaking of his appointment, said the only fly in the ointment was that he would not Be able to remain here with them. There was something painful in pulling up one’s roots and departing from a city where one had lived for 50 years, but he supposed the wounds would heal. “ I love Dunedin with a passionate love,” he declared. “I have visited many cities in other lands and this land and looked on beautiful scenes in many countries, but I have never lived in a city nor seen a spot which so appeals to me as Dunedin, nor do I expect I ever shall.” Dunedin, he said, was most beautiful for situation, the elements were kind to her, the climate healthy and bracing, and the character of the people like the place where they dwelt.

A tress Association telegram states that the W.C.T.U Convention elected the following officers for tin) ensuing year:—President, Mrs W. R. Don (Dunedin); corresponding secretary, Miss Henderson (Christchurch),; recording secretary, Mrs A. R. Atkinson (Wellington); treasurer, Mrs Bendeley (Auckland). It was decided to hold next year’s convention in Hamilton. The March meeting of the Dunedin Photographic Society was very well attended, Mr T. •A. Dawson occupying the chair. A demonstration on enlarging was given by Messrs Devcreux and Sherriff, principally for the many new members of the society, as enlarging is a most popular branch of photography. The results of the landscape competition are as follow:—Senior grade— D. J. Sherriff 1, Rev. H. O. Fenton 2; Junior grade—S. Devereux I, -A. Champion a.

A Wellington Press Association message states that no arrangement has yet been arrived at in connection with the mayoral contest. Efforts were made to introduce the elimination process, so that one can-_ didate will oppose the Official Dabour nominee* but so far negotiations have failed. Six candidates are in the field.

Dr Newman yesterday asked the Minister of Agriculture if steps Would be 'taken in the milling of wheat in the dominion to see that the nutritive properties of the grain were embodied in the flour (wires our Wellington correspondent). Mr W. Nosworthy said the question was really one for the Minister in charge of the Board of Trade. He could say, however, that as the result of experiments made last year'it was found that it was impossible to have the suggestion carried out. There was, however, an assured supply of wheat in the dominion for this year, and he hoped that in years to follow there would be no necessity for putting the people on brown bread. Mr 'A. S. Malcolm has given notice to ask the Government whether, as some high scientific authorities believe it prpbabl© that the increase of nervous trouble is due to the use of highly refined flour, and as slightly brown bread is certainly more wholesome and cheaper than white bread, they will make the matter of the milling of a less refined flour an urgent one. Our Wellington correspondent wires that the report of Mr Cooper, S.M., on the petition of Donald M“lntosh to the House of Representatives in 1919 has .been laid on the table of the House. It shows conclusively that the allegations made regarding his medical and military treatment were not sustained.

A sum of a little over £IOOO was lost in, or near Cathedral square on Wednesday (wires our Christchurch correspondent). The money belongs to an elderly, hardworking wqman, and represents practically the savings of a lifetime. Intending to purchase a home, she drew £IOOO out of the Post Office Savings Bank yesterday morning, the money being represented by a cheque on the Bank of New Zealand. Instead of taking the cheque to her solicitor, and getting him to complete the purchase of the house property, die cashed the cheque at the Bank of New Zealand, receiving bank notes of large denominations, which she placed in a, little black leather bag "hanging by a strap from her shoulder. After leaving the bank the woman boarded a tram, and when ’ the conductor asked for her fare she discovered she had lost her bag. She went to’her solicitor and told him of the loss, which was thereupon advertised. The woman was in such distress and confusion, over the loss that she was unable to give any indication of how she lost the bag.

A definite tendency towards the reduction of wages for agricultural labour in Ashburton Oounty is said to have set in, according to local registry agents (says a Press Association telegram from Ashburton). Whereas before the harvest a weekly wage of £3 and “fpund” was offered to a six-horse teamster, the best nbw obtained is £2 10s. Farmers are showing a leaning towards getting on with less labour. The cause, it is stated, is that they cannot afford to pay out so Touch ready money when so little is coming in. ’The attitude of the farm worker has been at first not to take work at the lessened remuneration, but in many cases billets were finally _ accepted at the lower rate. It is recognised that at ■ the end of a few weeks, when thrashing mill? have paid off, labour will probably be in oversupply. 'This fact more than anything else makes tiro farm worker willing to accept the wages offering before the anticipated shortage of employment in winter.

A man named Francis George Yeats, who was alleged to be a member-of as “poker party’’ on the Wellington-New Plymouth express on December 10, was charged at the Magistrate’s Court, Wanganui, before Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., with a breach of the railway regulations. The principal witnesses were the guard on the train and the ticket inspector, who stated that they saw four men, one of whom was defendant, playing cards for money. The police said that defendant was “the pigeon.” The witnesses claimed £6 expenses, but the magistrate, in inflicting a fine of £l, said all the expenses should not' be put on to “the pigeon.” Charges against the other men concerned are pending.

While giving evidence before a sitting of the Canterbury Land 1 Board (says the Christchurch Press) a returned soldier, a T-B. case, who was applying for to enable him to take up poultry farming, stated that he was at present in receipt of £8 10s a week. Being a married man with a wife and two children, he was receiving a pension of £5 IQs a week, and since he was receiving instruction on /a poultry farm at Cashmere Hills another £3 was allowed him as sustenance money. The applicant was about 26 years ,of age, his occupation being given as that of a gardener. Apparently the Department of Internal Affairs is anxious to remove Hagley Park from the category of areas designated “No Man’s Land.” The Under-secretary of the department, in a letter read at a meeting of the Waimairi County Council, stated: — “ Referring to previous correspondence and to my letter of November 25 last, in connection with the area in your county comprising Hagley Park, I hare now to inquire whether this matter has yet been considered by your council, and whether you are in a position to furnish your views on tile matter.” It appeared from the discussion that ensued that the county had “but out” Hagley Park when defining the boundaries of the Fendalton Riding; but the Valuation Department, for valuation purposes, included it in the county, and the county pays hospital and charitable aid rates, on the park. The council decided to take no action as to including the park within the boundaries of the county. ,

, On Sunday evening, at 7 o'clock, Mr Colin Robertson will deliver an address, under the auspices of the Labour Renresentation Committee, _ in the Empire Theatre, the title being “Wage Slavery and the Way Out.” Built for side-car work, 7-9 h.p. HarleyDavidson motor cycle. Call for a demonstration. Otago agents; W. A. Justice and Co., Imperial Garage, 292 Princes street, Dunedin.-r-Advt. For washing printer*’, painters’, bakers', tennis, cricket, bowlers’, and all other clothes, use “No Rubbing” Laundry Help regularly. Result will delight you. Ask grocers.—Ad vt. “The World-lifting Association , favours” the formation of a huge “world-lifting combine,” embracing all labour and employers’ unions, all churches, Governments, newspapers, educationalists, theatres—in short, everybody' in every nation who can do some lifting iiF the direction illustrated by those wonderful lithographed pictures on the Golden Rule soap cartons. Obtainable from all grocers. ’‘Where no vision is there the people perish.”—Advt. .. Ladies’ Black Cotton Hose, double feet and tops, greatest value ever offered ; Is lid a pair at Mollisons, George street, Dunedin.—Advt. A. ii. J. Blakeley, dentist. Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859. Advt. .Here’s t» paradox Watson’s No. 10 is Al whisky.—Advt. Choice Jewellery,—Largo selection diamond rings, watches, brooches, pendants, and silverware. Compare our values.—Peter Dick, jeweilera, 490 Moray place.—Advt.