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Otago Daily Times, Issue 19239, 1 August 1924, Page 6

The Customs returns for tho month of July, just expired, are as follow: —Net Customs, £73,305 18s 9d; beer duty, £16,897 Is 6d. -For July, 1923, tho Customs duty was £80,027 16s 2d; beor duty, £16,877 17s Bd. There has been an increase in the ordinary Customs duty of £6722; the beer duty remaining just about the same.

The vital statistics for last month are: Births 123. deaths 105, and marriages 47 For July of last year the figures were:— Births 154, deaths 171, and marriages 46.

A Wellington Press Association telegram states that an Order-in-Cbuncil was gazetted yesterday to extend tho embargo on imports from certain States of California, Oregon, and Washington to plants, fruits, and vegetables (other than canned, dried, etc.), and on all grain and farm produce in addition to oats, barley, maize, hay, straw, and chaff (already prohibited). To hear a Taieii farmer yesterday complaining about tho “terrible” weather seemed to a Daily Timas reporter to bo rather incongruous. The speaker wont on to say how greatly preferable 10 times more frost would -be. The city resident is quite content with the present conditions, but it may not have struck him that hard frosts are just as important as warm sunshine and an abundance of rain. Large areas of the Taieri Plain have already been ploughed, and the discs are now contributing their share towards tilling the soil. But, whereas frost breaks up the soil and reduces it to a state which facilitates the work of the harrows, the continual sunshine is making tbs .surface so hard that it cannot be brought to the condition ot fineness necessary to give the best results.

“I dislike hearing v New Zealand belittled in matters in which it excels,” said Mr J. B. Merrett to a Daily Times reporter last evening. “I hear of New Zealand's exhibit at Wembley being decried. It certainly stands in an isolated position and has not the advantage of proximity with other pavilions. Still, it is a practical display. The goods are not shown as artistically as they might be, though they show what New Zealand can produce. Let any critic tell us where there is a better display of frozen meat, butter, cheese, and wool. New Zealand excels all the other countries in those things, .Again, where is there a better booklet than ‘New Zealand in 1924?’ It is the most compact, best written, and illustrated booklet in the whole of the British Kmpiro Exhibition. The New Zealand representatives in charge of the dominion's section arrived late, mid even two months after the opening it was incomplete. Little weaknesses are gradually being rectified. Tho dominion lost a chance in not having a working exhibit of milking machines as there is not one in the whole of tho exhibition.”

Tho following telegram has’ been forwarded to Mr J. W. Munro (member for North Dunedin) by the Mai a Railway League: “Tho Maia Railway League asks tho Otago members to move and support a reduction in the railway estimates on account of tile vexatious delay in the matter of erecting a flag station. It asks through you that the Minister show some initiative in this connection by throwing over the dominating influence of the Manager of Railways.” Signed on behalf of the league by Messrs Cleveland, Taylor, Jones, Colder, and Christenson'.

The quarterly returns of business transacted at the Dunedin Supremo Court office shows that £6060 17s 6d was claimed and £795 15s 3d was recovered. In this cxu& nection it must be understood that the whole of the claims entered were not proceeded with. Of the throe claims tried and decision given all were in favour of the plaintiffs. As far as criminal business was concerned tho court sat on 12 days, five persons wore convicted and two were acquitted. In divorce 12 petitions lor dissolution- of marriage were filed, 10 of which were heard before tho judge alone. Eight decrees nisi were sealed and seven decrees absolute were similarly dealt with. Under the administration section of the courts work 112 probates and letters of administration were sealed and re-sealed. Under tho heading of chattels 265 securities and 74 satisfactions wore filed.

Four officers ;; d 15 n.c.o.’s under the charge of Lieutenant Christie, left ’Dunedin by the through express yesterday morning, en route for Burnham, in connection with the annual instructional course. Lieutenant-colonel Mitchell proceeded north to Burnham the preceding day. Within tlho month of July Bio parishioners of All Saints have been able to add £2OOO to the parish Endowment Fund. At the beginning of the month a former parishioner, now living elsewhere, having offered to contribute £IOOO on condition that an equal sum were raised locally, there was an immediate response, (ho required amount being made up by five subscriptions of £IOO each, one of £250, one of £SO, with others. The Endowment Fund, founded some years ago, bad made little progress, but will now begin to yield a useful income.

A strong effort is being made to encourage tho cultivation of tobacco in New Zealand for local manufacture. There are now about 40 growers in Nelson, as well as an increasing number in Auckland and Wellington, and a few in Hawke’s Bay. It has boon found that the best blends are obtained by utilising leaf from different districts, and the manufacturers are holding out every inducement to growers by, supplying them with the necessary seed and taking their output at varying prices up to 2s per lb. Just at present the factory is working at full capacity, but additional machinery is being installed to deal with the increased business offering, and during this month an effort is being made to increase tho cultivation. The seed is now being planted, for planting out in September, and Uie crop yields about 8001 b of leaf to tho acre.

“Travellers in this country should not complain of tho railways,” said Mr J. B. Merrett to a representative of the Daily Times last evening. “While our railways lack tho speed and comforts of the English and Continental railways, there are none so good in the facilities provided for the receipt and despatclv of telegrams from travellers. Nowhere in tho 10 countries I recently visited can you get so good a meal, even at double the price charged in our station diningrooms, while tho faro? compare favourably with tho best. There is less anxiety over luggage in New Zealand than anywhere I liave visited.”

Recently the Southland League approached tlim railway authorities with regard to the question as to how long the through express from Ohristchuroh to Invercargill could conveniently bo detained, when the ferry steamer was delayed, to permit of passengers connecting instead of being required to spend two days in Christchurch until tho next; through train. Tho secretary of the league (says tho Southland Times) has now received a reply from tho District Traffic Manager, at Invercargill, to the effect that *lhe general practice has been to hold the express for a period of 35 minutes at Christchurch if the ferry train can leave the Lyttelton wharf at 8.50 m. The Traffic Manager further states that tho question of enabling the steamer to connect with the train has always received most careful attention and the convenience of Invercargill passengers has invariably been carefully considered in con junction witib that of pasoAugec* foe other stations.

“The man who complains about the High Commissioner's Office in London must be hard to please,’’ said Mi - Merrett in an interview lost evening. “Some, no doubt, expect the whole staff to give up work and dance attendance on them. I met with every courtesy and attention; in fact, the hearty 00-oporation of Sir James Allen and Mr CVabbe (the secretary) enabled me to achieve what I desired in my mission in half the time I would otherwise have taken. I think matters might be improved if the work were divided. Sir James Allen's time is so occupied with social, diplomatic, and Government affairs that he cannot give as much attention to produce matters as he should. We ought to have a representative to relieve him of this department, one who could give hia whole time to the marketing conditions of the dominion’s produce.” A meeting of the presidents and secretaries of various trades unions (which was not open to the press) was hold in the Trades Hall on Wednesday night to discuss a circular from the Hon. J. G. Coatee (Minister of Labour) which dealt with the internal administration of unions. After some discussion the following motion was carried; “That in the opinion of this meeting section 3 of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act, 1922, already provides for the keeping Of union accounts in an efficient and simple manner, and the suggestions contained in the circular from the Minister of Labour can only be regarded as irritating, vexatious, ana uncalled for. We cannot recognise the Government’s right to interfere with the internal business of unions, and we deplore the action of the Minister in endeavouring to introduce by regulation anything that will interfere with the liberty of any industrial union or association.” It was reported that some Otago unions had received a circular from the Commissioner of Taxes asking for the names and addresses of members of the unions, and it was resolved — “That this section of the council enters an emphatic protest against the endeavour of the Commissioner to have the unions do work which rightly belongs to his department.” It was decided that the protests be forwarded through the channels of the Trades Council’s .Federation.

A youthful contributor to the Wanganui Chronicle relates that he witnessed an unusual sight near Aranioho—a duel in the air between tWo seagulls and a hawk. “When t noticed the conflict,” be writes, “it had evidently been in progress for some time, for the hawk was almost exhausted, although lua opponents were apparently qui,te fresh. The hawk’s defence lay entirely in his adeptness in swerving, for as the seagulls kept constantly rising and then swooping on him, he just ns consistently swerved sufficiently to avoid the attacks. Presently the hawk dropped exhausted to the ground, where his foes still maintained pecking and screeching until they suddenly rose and disappeared. The hawk remained on the ground tired out Soon the seagulls were seen returning with two more of their kind, and again they attacked their enemy. Although there were four gulls to one hawk, the solitary defender managed to ward off the swooping attacks for some time. Presently the gulls discontinued their fighting with the hawk, to fight with another seagull, which had just arrived. They soon flew away, screeching and fighting among themselves and the listless hawk, after a rest, waa able to make good his escape.” In a letter which Mr Louis Cohen, president of the Wanganui Rotary Club, has received from Mr- R. M. Delamere, the president of the recently founded Rotary Club at Nice, tile following passages make gratifying reading (remarks the Wanganui Herald). After congratulations and friendly greetings to the Wanganui club, he writes: “As a comrade in arms with New Zoolanders, I know myself how brave they wore even to recklessness for the cause of liberty which France, associated with her allies, has had the honour and the burden of upholding. I am therefore most happy to welcome your dub in participation in the world ideals of the peace which Rotary has the aim of establishing throughout the world. If in any way wo may be able to be of service to you personally or by members of Rotary in your own country, do not hesitate to appeal to us. Though so great a distance separates us, our hearts are very close and beat in unison. Is this no*, so?”

The Marlborough Farmers’ Union has resolved that the secretary slm.ll inquire into the position in regard to the inspection of internal combustion engines used on farms, as, in the opinion of the executive, it is unnecessary to insist upon an inspection. In moving the motion (says the Express) Mr Ferguson said it was ridiculous to think that a small, low horse-powered petrol engine used a few hours —or days, perhaps—a year, should have to lie inspected annually at the cost of the farmer by a Government official, while the high-powered motor cars which wore used every day and held a greater risk, were not subject to supervision. Inspection was all very well in the days of the steam engine, but now, with the safe motor engine, it was obsolete and only served to keep a host of inspectors in jobs at great expense to the country and annoyance to the farmers. In the course of discussion several members agreed that it. was perfectly right that all engines should bo inspected after installation to ensure that they were properly protected.

As the result of investigations made in connection with a series of burg-lari es recently committed in the city two young men were arrested last night by Sergeant Murray and Detectives Hart and IWquharson. They will appear at the Police Court (his morning, when a remand will b© asked for.

Tho criticism that has rested upon New Zealand, in that it has not appreciated its own painters, but has preferred to purchase inferior paintings by foreign artists (says the Auckland Star), is being lifted by the success of Mr Sydney Thompson, who lias recently returned homo after spending 13 years in France. His successful sales in Wellington of £BOO worth of pictures and a former exhibition in Christchurch, at which a sum of £7OO was realised, is being further augmented in tho latter city, where he has opened a second exhibition and within three days has disposed of £360 worth of pictures. It was his intention to take the rest of his pictures to Sydney and hold an exhibition there, but so rapidly have bis canvases sold in his own land that nothing will be loft for tho Australian public to purchase. Two Auckland men who have left New Zealand for the older world, Mr Frank M'Craekon and Mr John Weeks, are also obtaining success. They have had their pictures accepted by the Scottish Academy. Both exhibited two landscapes in oil, which have been well spoken of by the critics.

“Tho time for little wooden churches in both town and country is gone,” said Arohbtshop Julius in the oourse of his sermon at the new church of St. James, Lower Ricoarton, Christchurch, when complimenting the people of the parish on erecting such a substantial stone building. Tho Archbishop added that wooden churches were not abiding, and the time had oome when they should build nobler structures, as tibair fathers had done in the Old Land. Tho previous church in tho Lower Riocarton pariah had been destroyed by fire. ‘‘Wooden churches ought to bo destroyed by fine or in some other way,” tho Archbishop added. “Parliament, looked at through the spectacles of the average elector, is an extraordinary place,” remarked the Mayor of Wellington (Mr R. A. Wright, M.P.), at the official dinner to the All Blacks (says the Post). “The average citizen thinks that politicians are rail-sitters and twisters, and that time in tho House is wasted. It is absolutely impossible for public men to gw through their public career without changing their minds. Public opinion changes, and varies from point to point without at times any reason at all. That fact, is often forgotten.” He considered that in tho New Zealand Parliament to-day there wore fewer “rail-sitters” and “twisters” than in any other Parliament in the world. A middle-aged, well-dressed man, whose evident intention was to secure a free trip across the Tasman Sea, received a shook in Wellington last week when he was found in tho wow’s quarters on the steamer Hollywood, about to leave Wellington for Melbourne. The ship’s officer who made the discovery lost no time in parleying with the man, and told him in forceful language beloved of the American to show' what his legs were capable of hi getting him ashore. He had the good sense to accept his humiliation with apparent calmness, and, watched by the alert officers, picked up his large portmanteau and walked aShoro, where he quickly disappeared in the darkness. There was a clean sheet at the City Police Court yesterday morning.

Doer came in for unpleasant mention by Mr L. Macintosh Ellis, Director of Forestry, in the course of his address to the Farmers’ Union conference (says a northern exchange). “The door menace,’" he said, “to the forests and to pastoral lands has been tackled, and a beginning made in bringing this vermin under reasonable control.’’ He had a good word, however, for the native birds. and summed up his views in a plea for “ihe complete elimination of the deer and wild pig pests, and the conservation of our bird life so essential to tins perpetuation of the indigenous forests.” A musical feast is promised bv the North-East Valley Ex-pupils’ Association to-morrow night in Burns Hall. Port Chalmers.—J. Watson's winter clearing sale, general drapery, clothing, furnishings, boots and shoes, now proceeding. —Advt. A. E. J. Blakeley, dentist, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859. Advt. Save your eyes.—Consult Peter G. Dick, D.8.0.A., F.L.0., London, consulting and oculists’ optician.—" Peter Dick,” jewellers and opticians, Moray place, Dunedin.— Advt.