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Otago Daily Times, Issue 18541, 29 April 1922, Page 9

The price of milk is to be advanced to 6d a quart as from Monday. A remarkably good haul was obtained by a small motor trawler off the Otago Heads on Thursday night. The nets were cast in the vicinity of the Spit just before sunset, and big hauls of trevalli were made in a few hours. The trawler could have been filled twice, the supply was so plentiful. Coming up to Dunedin early yesterday morning, the trawler was deeply laden with over 3000 trevalli, many being of a very large size. The boat was berthed at the cross -wharf, and a crowd quickly collecting, the load was rapidly disposed of by two young 1 ' men who sold the fish at most reasonable prices. A good many people arrived too late, but the trawlers’ owners intend to bo at the wharf on Friday next with another supply. The Police advise that the young girl who has been missing from Ngapara, near Oamaru, since April 19, has been found at Timaru by her parents. It is not unlikely that on reading the announcement of the lowering of the price of Kaatongata coal, may people will jump to the conclusion that if the company can afford to make a reduction so considerable as is now to come into effect, it must have been making very large profits. But such a conclusion would, w® are assured, bo quite unjustified. This decision of the company is the outcome of several causes of which a few may be indicated. For a considerable time the company has been giving special attention to improvements' in the development and working of the mine, with the view of reducing the cost of production, and the result of such improvements is that the directors find themselves in the position of being able to bring about a considerable increase in the output. Only those who appreciate the amazing effect of increase of output upon the overhead costs can realise the effect upon the returns from such a concern os a largo colliery. It is obvious that to reap the benefit of such results, it is necessary to increase the demand for the coal. At the present time competition is very keen and the Kaitangata Company finds it necessary to take measures not merely to retain its trade but to increase it. It has decided to adopt the most effective method by reducing the price of the best coal produced in New Zealand (outside of the West Coast), oven below the price of inferior coals that are competing with it. The net result is that the company is in a position not only to give its customers the benefit of any reduction that may be effected in the cost of production, consequent upon any reduction that may be made in wages, but a good deal more. The Otago Hospital Board notified the Taieri County Council yesterday that contributory local authorities )vould be called upon to provide £45,000 (inclusive of half capital expenditure—viz., £2500) for year 1922-23; but such amount to he subjected to adjustment when the estimates were made up and circulated later. The amount required last year was £4268 9s, without capital provision. This early intimation was forwarded to enable the council to proceed with the preparation of its estimates. Mr Queloh (the council’s representative on the board) appeared before the council and submitted information concerning the need for the levy, etc. When Mr Quelch had retired, it was unanimously resolved : “That owing to the heavy and unjust taxation that is being levied upon the land, the County Council call on the Government to place this tax on a more equitable basts — viz., from the consolidated revenue and that all contributing bodies be asked to assist in having this change made. At the monthly meeting of the Taieri County Council some correspondence was placed before the council in connection with the setting up of an Electric Power Board for Otago. After some discussion it was decided to take steps to make certain that' only ; Strath Taieri riding of the Taieri County oe included in the localities which it was suggested would form the district. The attention of the Expansion League to be called to council’s letter of May, 1920. A very attractive series of lectures has been arranged by the Workers’ Educational Association, and will be opened this evening in the Upper Oliver Hall, Otago University. There are seven lectures in all, and they will be delivered fortnightly. The complete series is open to the public free of cost. The syllabus is as follows.— “Literature and Life: The Heritage of the English Classics,” Miss M. H. M. King (to-night’s subject); “Ancient Athens and Her Significance for Us,” Professor Adams; “The Past in the Present,” Mr H, D. Skinner; “Feeding the Family,” Professor Strong; “Individualism and Cooperation in the Animal Kingdom,” Dr Benham; “Modern Tlendenoie's fin Primary School Education,” Mr J. M‘K. Miller; and ‘‘Tile Position of Labour at Home,” Professor Pringle. Syllabuses may be , had from leading booksellers. , The Salvation Ariny is holding its Dominion Congress in Wellington this week (says a Press Association message). Commissioner Dodder's report shows an increase of 1041 soldiers and of 15,941 young people. The self-denial appeal fund had risen from £19,000 in 1914 to £50,000 last year. The Supreme Court at Wellington reserved decision on the motion for a now trial arising out of the case Eliza Jane Gallagher versus William Walker Bickpell. This action was heard at Masterton, occupying three days, and the jury awarded £BOO damages. The parties belonged to Greytown, and the ground of litigation was alleged breach of covenant to repair in a lease. The grounds on which the defendant is asking for a new trial (reports a Press Association message) are that the damages awarded were excessive, and 4 certain members of the jury had been guilty of misconduct in discussing the evidence with witnesses; that one witness for the plaintiff had been guilty of misconduct so as to affect the result of the trial, in that he informed the foreman and jurymen that the defendant made profits to the extent of £20,000 out of the lease from the plaintiff to defendant. A, letter has been received by the executive of the Wellington Automobile Club (says a Press Association message) stating that the Government will, during the recess, ask the local authorities of the Good Roads Association and the Automobile Association to meet and discuss with the Minister of Public Works the whole question with a view to arriving at a satisfactory understanding. The letter added that legislation will be introduced early next session. The Minister of Public Works has since confirmed this statement. In the meantime, by section 12 of the Finance Act, 1921-22, the tyre tax is .being paid into the special account of the public funds to be known as the Main Highways Account, and this money cannot be touched except for road purposes and on Parliamentary appropriation. An unfortunate fire occurred at Froshford (near Gore) on Saturday mornitig whereby the Kura Gold-mining Company’s dredge was destroyed. Hie dredge had not been working since the day before Good Friday as repairs to buckets and other parts of the plant were being made. When discovered the fire had too big a hold to be put, out, and nothing could bo don© to save the dredge. The whole of the outfit now lies in water and sludge 30ft deep. The dredge had been a profitable investment to the company during the past 17 years, and w r as the last of a fleet of 16 or 17 dredges in the Waikaia district. The dredge was insured with the Royal Exchange Company for £2OOO. Agents of London firms, it is stated, are at present offering to buy up the remainder of the output of the various dairy factories in the Palmerston North district at Is 4d per lb, f.0.b., Wellington. Some few weeks ago, when the market soared to beyond 190 s, the buyers were offering only Is 2d per lb. At a sitting of the Juvenile Court yesterday morning, Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.. presiding, four children, aged 12, 10, and five, and four years respectively were charged with not being under proper com , trol. It was stated that the mother was dead and a girl of 12 years had endeavoured to struggle on with the younger children. Evidence was given showing that tlie home was poor and not clean, and the children of school age had not boon to school at all regularly. An order was made committing all four .to the Caversham Industrial School ,to bo brought up in the Roman Caiholio faith.

At last evening’s meeting of the Otago Harbour Board a communication was received from Mr W. Hatton as to providing adequate fire-fighting appliances on the wharves. Mr Cable suggested that a small committee should be set up to consider the matter. Mr Moller said the board would no doubt bo prepared to pay half the cost if the City Council put down a larger main in Rattray street. Mr Loudon said that the matter rested with tho City Council, the Fire Board, and the insurance companies. Messrs Dickson and Walker stated that the City Council had been previously approached and had refused to pay portion of the cost. It was prepared to refer the matter to the Works Committee, and an amendment was moved that the letter be received. The letter was received. A letter from tho Dunedin Fire Board on the same subject was also received. A special meeting of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union was held yesterday afternoon in the Hanover Street Baptist Schoolroom. There was a full and representative attendance, of members. Mrs Hiett (president) occupied the chair. The business under discussion was the practicability of opening a hostel for working girls, under tho auspices of the union. All were agreed that there was need for such a hostel, but there was not the same unanimity in the belief that the time. for such a project was opportune. However, a very generous and tempting offer of a home having been made to the union, the matter was discussed very fairly and with due deliberation.’ The meeting resulted in a committee of members being formed who, in company with an advisory board of business men, are to thoroughly inspect the home in question and report at the next meeting of the union. While exploring in the fiord country of Southland, Mr F. G. Blake, of Invercargill, made a discovery that should interest dominion - geologists (wires our Invercargill correspondent). This was a mineral which Mr Blake thought to be Franklinito, and tests made by the Dominion Mineralogist proved that his surmise was 'correct, and that a find of mineral previously unknown in New Zealand had been made. Franklinite consists of about 67 parts of iron oxide, 17 of manganese peroxide, and 16 of zino oxide. The mineral is treated extensively in Pennsylvania where the constituents are extracted, the manganese being especially valuable for tempering various metals, including aluminium. Unfortunately, however, no process satisfactory for extracting the constituent metals on a payable basis has been yet evolved, unless the Franklinito is situated so that it is easily accessible and available in large quantities. A correspondent writes: “It will be of interest to farmers to know that Mr Wm. Bennett’s cow Pansy, which won the Dunedin Dairy Company’s silver cup. at the Middlomarch Show on Easter Monday, produced 2.961 b fat in 24 hours. The weight of milk for the two milkings was 47Jlb with a, 6.2 test—which means just about 901 b fat for the month. Under semiofficial test dhe would undoubtedly do over 6001 b in the 365 days, but being of no distinct breeding it is impossible to put her under test. It shows, however,, what can be found out by testing.” It will be remembered thatwhen the Hon. J. G. Coates visited Central Otago he recommended the formation of a power board, comprising Alexandra, Clyde, and Cromwell as well as the more settled parts surrounding the district. Preliminary steps were taken in that direction, and ah option, in the sum of £IO,OOO, was obtained over the Earnscleugh Dredging Company’s water rights and electric power plant on the Fraser River, reports and estimates of the completed scheme being obtained from Mr Aldridge. Since then Cromwell has decided that it will be better served by a closer scheme of its own, either from the Roaring Meg, or from the Development Company's scheme at the Kawarau Gorge. In view of this circumstance the Alexandra and Clyde ! districts , are considering the question of proceeding on their own behalf with the Fraser River scheme , which would have a capacity of about 600 horsepower, and would amply supply the requirements of the district. Regarding the question of the maintenance of main roads the Hon. G. J. Anderson yesiterday amplified a statement which he made at Cromwell on Thursday, pointing out that ever since the establishment of municipal Government it had been a policy of the Public Works Department to refuse subsidies for roads in boroughs. It was, of course, not' the policy of the department to decline to make subsidies for main roads outside of a borough. The third annual conference of the New Zealand Auxiliary of the Zenana Bible and Medical Mission was held in Christchurch last week. It was one' of unusual interest. Each year fresh sympathisers are being gained in New Zealand for the great work that this society with its 4DO women workers it doing amongst the needy women and children of India. The 1922 conference was the largest yet held, delegates going from as far as Auckland and Invercargill, and they are hopeful that definite arrangements will shortly be completed for the opening of a children’s hospital. The old trouble of school text-books was brought: up again at yesterday’s meeting of the Otago Education Board by Mr J. H. Wilkinson, who remarked that the Books Committee had met and considered the question. The result was that members felt it was too large to go into it, and it was useless attempting it" unless it were done thoroughly, and that the time was opportune to revise the whole schedule of books used. If that was to be done it should be by a committee consisting of the Books Committtee, the inspectors, and representatives of the Teachers’ Institute and the Headmasters’ Association. They found that certain publishers, when an issue of certain book ran out made a few changes, not of any importance, but sufficient to make the old issue quite valueless as a text-book. His opinion was that these changes should not be in the hands of t’ publisher. Ho moved that the department be written to, asking whether, in the event of a committee such os he f gested being formed, its recommendations would be favourably considered. Of course if they would not, it was not worth while asking men to give their time experience, and knowledge to the work which wc thus be valueless. Mr W. R. Brugh seconded the motion, which was carried. In reply to representations made by the Hon. G. J. Anderson, Sir R. Heaton Rhodes has telegraphed to the Minister that it has now been decided, in view of the impossibility of having automatic guns converted for use this season owing to the shortness of the time ,not to enforce the prohibition against the use of these guns for this season. A quaint figure at the Palmerston North Police Court yesterday (says the Standard) was an Indian named Nabi Bakas. He was dressed in blue dungaree trousers, tied at the ankles with twine, a blup shirt.and a brown hat’ the worse for wear, whilst his feet wore encased in light rubber-soled sand shoes. He had long black hair reaching to his coat-oollar, and a straggling beard. The accused pleaded guilty to a charge of being a rogue and a vagabond, in that he was found by night sleeping in the Awapuni railway station shelter. SeniorSergeant Fraser suggested that accused should be convicted and discharged. Bakas had come to Palmerston North some days ago in search of work, but he had failed to find employment and, his money running short, ho had been unable to pay for a bod He had slept at the Awapuni railway station for three or four nights and a complaint had been received, and he was arrested. There, was no suggestion that accused was in any way dishonest. Incidentally, said the senior-sergeant, he would point out to the court that there was a fai number of these Indians in New Zealand at the present time, and many of them were out of employment. Accused had previously been employed at a flour mill near Rotorua. In reply to a question, accused stated that none of his countrymen was in a position to help him. T Bench decided to convict accused and order him to leave the town within 12 hours, failing which he would be brought up for sentence. A young man named James Thompson was arrested at Masterton on a charge of receiving part of the proceeds of tho Paekakariki safe robbery (says a Wellington Press Association message). Two men named Beil and Carmichael were recently sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for tho theft of the safe from the railway station. It is alleged that Thompson was ■ implicated, and received part of tho proceeds of the robbery.

The Mayor of Port Chalmers (Mr J. Watson) is organising a campaign to raise funds for the starving children of Russia. A meeting of those interested in the matter is called for Tuesday evening in the Borough Council Chambers. The little casino roulette game of ( Put and Take,” which is enjoying a wide popularity at present, has oast its spell over the younger generation. Within the Redcliffs (Christchurch) tram shelter early one evening this week a party of boys were engaged for a lengthy period in spinning the fascinating wheel for pennies, pencils, and other stakes. The shelter was conveniently appointed for the purpose, possessing a series of benches for the accommodation of the “table” and the “school,” and a bright gratuitous light overhead. This, it is understood, is the first occasion whereon a minor tram shelter has been used as a social centre. In her address at St. Andrew’s Church Miss Constance Grant was reported to have said that at most 6 per cent, of the goods sent to Russia did not reach their destination. The figure she quoted was decimal five—i.e., one-half per cent. The Dfnedin Sta-rr-Bowkett Building Society invites applications for shares in No. 5 group. Mr A. Chiaroni, who has just returned from a two years’ visit to England and Italy, has brought out a fine collection, of oils, water colours, and etchings from wellknowp British and Italian artists. The whole of the collection, comprising some 300 pictures, is a fine collection of statuary, Florentine pottery, and Venetian glass, and will be on view at the Art Gallery next week. Mr Hugh Mitchell, secretary of the Dunedin and Suburban Mutual Money Club, advises that loans to the amount of £1425 and 16 shares were applied for at this week’s meeting of trustees. Mr Lind’s subject at the Tailoresses’ Uinion Hall, Dowling street, to-morrow night will be “Another War.” U.T.A. Spiritual Church Mission services will bo held on Sunday at Kroon’s Hall, Moray place. At the evening service at the Hanover Street Baptist Church to-morrow the Rev. R. H. Knowles Kemptoh will make reference to the Russian Famine Fund, and at the close of the service a social hour will ho conducted bv Mr V. T. Drew, of the Y.M.C.A. Harvest thanksgiving services will be held in St. Thomas’s Church, Outram, on Sundav afternoon. The Rev. C. H. Laws. B A., the principal of the Methodist Theological College and president of the Methodist Conference, will preach in Trinity Church to-morrow evening. As Mr Laws is a former pastor of Trinity, many old will welcome his visit. Special ijiusic will be rendered and a retiring collection will be taken up for the Famine Fund. The Rev. C, H. Laws, 8.A., will preach at the Central Mission. Octagon Hall, tomorrow morning. Mrs Geo. Scott will sing “For the Lord is Mindful” (Mendelssohn). The Rev. Clarence Eaton will take for his evening subject “The Church and Dancing.” The soloist will be Mr John Leech. The choir will render special music morning and evening.' Notices of the following Sunday services will be found ip our advertising columns; — Anglican: St. Paul’s, St. Matthew’s. All Saints’, Taierl-cum-Green Island, Woodhaugh. Presbyterian; First, Russell Street Hall. Knox. St. Andrew’s. Roslyn, f’hslmers. Kensington. Nortb-Kast Veliev, Opoho, Stuart H«I1. Pino Hill. Caversbam, T*>ith Valley. Methodist; Central Mission, Trinity. St. Kilda. Glenaven, Wnodbaugh. Street, Ravonsbonrne, Broad Bnv. Kensington. Macar.drew’s Pavi Hieheliff Baptist: Hanover Street. CongregationalMoray Place. Woslcv: Cargill Road. Salvation Army. Dowling street. Church of Christ: Tabernacle. Theosoohists: DowlinrStreet Hall. Pentecostal Mission: Orange Hall. Spiritualists: Hanover Street. Theomonists: Kroon’s Hall. Built for side-car work. 7-9 h.p. Harley Davidson motor cycle. Call for a demon stration. Otago agents: W, A. Justice and Co.. Imperial Garage, 292 Princes street Dunedin.—Advt. The run is on “No-Rubbing” Laundry Help. “Golden Rule” Soap, and “Keep Smiling” Floor Polish. Exceptional merit—that’s the reason why.—Yours truly. Consumers’ Co-op. Association (Ltd.), agents for “No-Rubbing.”—Advt. A snip: 100 dozen men’s wide-end tiej, stripe and floral effects, all shades; worth from 2s 6d to 3s 6d. Clearing price. Is 3d each. —Mollisons Ltd.—Advt. Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure, for Coughs and Colds, never fails.—Advt. Watson’s No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth the money Advt. A E. J. Blakeley, dentist, Bank of Aus. tralasia, coiyier of Bond and Rattray street* (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859. Advt. Save your Eyes.—Consult Peter G. Dick. D.8.0.A., F. 1.0., London, consulting and oculists’ optician.—“ Peter Dick,” jewellers and opticians, Moray place, Dunedin.—Advt.