LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3071, 22 January 1913, Page 7

LOCAL & GENERAL.

TLe correspondent of the Gisborne Times states (says a Press Association message) that the Hon. W. H. Homes and the Hon. .W. Fraser arrived at Opitiki by motor on Saturday. Mr Herries received a large Maori deputation, and Mr Fraser was waited upon by representatives of the County Council, Railway League, and* Settlers’ Association with reference to railways and a loan of £4OOO for a dray road to the Waioeka. Mr Fraser said that until the Hon. J. Allen had raised a loan the Government would have only half the amount required to meet the votes already on the Estimates, but as soon as it was available money would be provided for the work in question. The Railway League asked that the railway be started at Opotiki, or in that vicinity, and it was suggested that when the Gis-borne-Rotorua line reached Motu the 'whole of the money available for the line be spent in the Bay of Plenty, and that the comparatively unsettled portions between Motu and Opotiki be linked up last. The Minister said he could not say whether the money ■would be divided between the two ends of the line, but there was something in the argument that Opotiki should be connected with the port of Ohura. and he would give the matter consideration. Ho expressed the opinion that there was a great future before this country. The Ministers were entertained at a social in the evening At the beginning of last week there were 116 patients in the Hospital, 56 were admitted during the week, and 34 discharged. Margaret Bcrty and Bella Brown died in the institution. This leaves a total of 136 persons remaining in the Hospital. Permission to capture a couple of kiwis and send them to an institution at Chicago, U.S.A., is sought (says the Dominion) .by a Marton resident, formerly a school master in the United States. The exportation of the kiwi, which grows rarer year by year, is not readily permitted by the authorities. Not long ago a person who bad obtained a number of kiwis, at a cost of £SO, was successful in conveying them os far as Sydney, but there the birds were seized, on the ground that no permit had been obtained for their exportation. The birds themselves are probably almost as difficult to obtain as permits authorising their removal from the dominion, but they are reported to bo still fairly numerous in dark, sunless gullies round about the upper waters of the Wanganui River. “ A leaflet has been issued by the Duncdm Expansion League, in which arc set out in emphatic terms the many climatic advantages possessed by Dunedin and the whole of the province of Otago as against the climate experienced in other parts of the dominion. “ Far from the tropical dankness of Auckland, the windy bluster of Wellington, the parching ‘ nor’-westers ’ of Canterbury.” it states, “ New Zealand s climate is found at its best in Dunedin, the capital of Otago ” Tabulated figures are given showing the number of days on which rain fell during 1911 at the four main centres (Auckland 220, Wellington 161, Christchurch 122, Dunedin 118), the highest temperature recorded and the date, and also the average rainfall for a period of throe years to 1902. extracted from the “ Transactions of the Now Zealand Institute.” The leaflet is part of a quantity of printed information to be distributed outside tho dominion in accordance with the league's programme, and being nicely got up and set out in succinct terms, should go far to accomplish the object in view.

A Press Association message from Wellington states that no new appointment will be made to the position of secretary to the Cook Island Department. The department will in future be carried on under a chief clerk. An incident reminiscent of the good old days when prisoners in Dunedin wore threatened with being locked out if they did not return in time occurred on Saturday night. A prisoner under reformative sentence had been in the Dunedin Hospital for some time under medical treatment. At dusk on Saturday he eluded the nurses, and proceeded to do a round of the hotels. Warders searched the grounds and surrounding streets -without avail, and one of them, on going into the ward at midnight, found the prisoner safely under the blankets, sound asleep. Sunday morning saw the prisoner back in his cell. A visiting angler who has been fishing in the Kakahi for some little time had a narrow escape from certain death the other evening. He had been fishing for trout till a late hour (says our Auckland correspondent), but when darkness set in he turned for homa He had climbed the track that led up from the river, but soon lost his way in the manuka scrub. After wandering about for a considerable time and still failing to strike an exit to the road, he struck a match in order to look at his watch and find out how much time ho had spent in his attempt to get out of the maze. On throwing away the match, which was Still alight, he was startled to see it fall 80ft to the river below. Had ho taken another step before striking the match the angler would certainly have been killed. Ho then sat down and waited for dawn. A singular accident happened on board the Tyaer steamer Star of India while on the voyage from London to Australian and New Zealand ports (says the New Zealand Herald), yhe vessel was running her easting down in fine weather, and a number of apprentices and engineers had grouped themselves on the fore deck to have their photographs taken, when a largo albatross flew over the •hip, and in its flight struck one of the

stays. The force of the bird’s impact with the wire smashed one of its wings to pieces, and it fell headlong to tho deck. In its fall it struck an apprentice named H. Hyams on the head. He was picked up in a dazed condition, and was confined to his bunk for several days suffering from a slight concussion of the brain. A remarkable thing is that Hyams does not now remember what struck him, although he has completely recovered from the severe blow which he rccclived. Tho bird’s wings measured 12ft from tip to tip, and in its fall these swept several of the group off the bridge ladder. Tho albatross, which weighed 161 b, was killed by the force with which it struck the deck. For tho year 1913 all drivers of motor vehicles in Christchurch, will (says tho Press), under tho by-laws coming into force immediately, be required to possess certificates of proficiency. In the case of owners and drivers of privately-owned motor cars or cycles these certificates are called “certificates of ability.” In the case of drivers of vehicles for hire they are called “ certificates of competency.” The former certificates cost 10s: the latter Is. Motor cyclists pav 5s for their certificates. To carry out the duties created by the new bylaws, a motor inspector has been appointed. His duties, which start from to-day, will be “ to examine and inspect all licensed motor cars and all motor delivery vans, to examine applicants for cerrificatos of ability to drive and handle "-private motor cars or cycles, and for certificates of competency to drive licensed motor cars or motor- delivery vans, and to ensure the carrying out of tho provisions of all by-laws of the Council relating to motor cars, motor cycles, or motor delivery vans.” Six months’ grace will bo allowed to owners of private cars and cycles to secure certificates of their ability to drive. In tho case of visitors (a “visitor” is one whose usual place of abode is more than 100 miles from Christchurch) 28 days’ freedom will be accorded. Among the New Year honours not previously announced was a baronetcy conferred on Mr J. K. Gaird, jute merchant, of Dundee. Sir J. K. Caird has made many handsome contributions to deserving objects. He has presented large sums for the building of a cancer hospital, a maternity home, and a sanatorium for consumptives, it having been computed that during the last 10 years he has donated over £IOO,OOO to charities and other objects, chiefly associated with Dundee. About three years ago he gave £IO,OOO for tho furtherance of the freetradc movement, and a couple of months ago gave another £IO,OOO to tho British Association for the Advancement of Science. The honor of C.M.G. was conferred on tho following Australians: Mr G. T. Allen (Secretary of tho Commonwealth Treasury), Engineer-Captain Clarkson (member of the Commonwealth Board of Naval Administration), and Mr T. F. Quinlan (ox-Speaker of the West Australian Legislative Assembly).

The matter of finding a suitable name for the Federal capital is receiving further attention in Australia, and some new suggestions have been made, but apparently none has received general acceptance. Mr Fisher is said to prefer Myola, which, according to him, is a Queensland aboriginal word, meaning “ meeting-place.” The High Commissioner (Sir George Reid) favours Pacifica. He admits it is not an ideal name, but says that of the many ho has seen, it is the least objectionable. Hundreds of other names have been suggested to the Federal Home Affairs Department. One of them is Fishervillo another Kookooburra another Deakinburg, another Waratah, another Parkcs or Parkeston. Mr.O’Malley has stated that his own choice was Shakespeare, “ but since they won’t have that,” ho declared a few weeks ago, “ I am for Federalia. which seems to mo to fill the bill completely.” At the meeting of the Dunedin Branch of the Overseas Club, on Friday evening, it was resolved to cable the sympathy of the branch to the Duke of Connaught in regard to the illness of the Duchess. Mr J. K. Macfie, the secretary, accordingly despatched the following message : —“ A large meeting of the Dunedin Branch of the Overseas Club hope the Duchess will soon bo restored to health.’’ His Royal Highness replied on the 13th in the following terms; —‘‘Duchess and myself very much appreciate kind message; Duchess improving.—Arthur.” An alloy, called monel, first attracted wide attention through its successful use for the roof of the Pennsylvania Railway Station, at New York, in 1909. The metal is obtained from the smelting of copper-nickel ores (writes the Financier). The characteristics of monel metal arc now being regarded as having great value for numerous engineering purposes. The two essential constituents are nickel and copper, the proportions being approximately —nickel 70 per cent, and copper 30 per cent. It is sold in the United States at about two cents per lb higher than copper. One of the most surprising qualities of monel is that it possesses a higher tensile strength than nickel steel. Also, it retains its mechanical qualities at a high temperature to a phenomenal extent. At 1000 degrees Fahrenheit it retains 80 per cent, of its tensile strength, as compared with 71 per cent, in cast steel. On this account the alloy has been adopted for locomotive fire-boxes in Germany. But perhaps the most important application is in connection with marine work. The United States navy used the alloy, experimentally, for propellers on ships of war, and the result of a year’s test has been so convincing that the navy authorities have specified monel for propellers in future contracts. It nat only resists corrosion, like bronze, but also wear, and it takes a fine

polish. It would appear that the demand for the alloy is increasing, and the commercial value of suitable copper-nickel ore is likely to be favourably affected. The Hon. W. Fraser on the 13th received a local deputation (says a Press Association message from Rotorua). Both the Chamber of Commerce and the County Council urged the construction of a railway from Rotorua to Paengaroa to connect with the East Coast railway. The Minister realised the advantages of the line, but said that no money was available. The works now under construction must bo completed before now ones were started. A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that the recommendations made by the conference of medical men held in Wellington on the treatment of consumption will be published shortly. The Minister (the Hon. R. H. Rhodes) stated yesterday that there would be no delay in giving effect to the advice of the conference. The methods adopted include the establishment of public dispensaries for combating the disease. Mr Rhodes added that upon the announcement of the Friedmann treatment ho had cabled to the High Commissioner asking for full information. If the treatment was as effective as had been reported, a supply of vaccine would bo secured without delay. The General Committee of the City Council decided at its meeting on Monday afternoon to recommend the council to call for tenders for the killing at the abattoirs, the contractor to have full control of the killing, and to be responsible for the proper slaughter of the animals. The committee also decided to recommend the council to take in hand the piping of the intake to the Roslyn swimming baths. The Dunedin Expansion League, at a meeting of one of its sub-committees held on Monday afternoon, decided to hold what it hopes will prove to bo a monster baby show during the month of February. The sum of £lO 10s will be awarded in prizes to those infants who oscel in physical fitness and size, and whose general pretensions to beauty arc considered by a committee of medical men and a vote of the public to be the greatest. On an afternoon to be fixed the show will bo hold in His Majesty’s Theatre (which has been kindly lent by Messrs. John Fuller and Sons rent free), when all the competitors will be carefully judged by throe judges who will all bo medical men. Each competitor will be photographed by a kinematograph operator in order that the photographs of the competing infants may be shown to the public at an evening entertainment which will be arranged in connection with the show. On the occasion of the evening entertainment the films will be thrown on the screen, each infant having its number attached, voting papers will be handed to each member of the audience, and the three children getting the largest number of votes will be awarded further prizes. The age limit has been fixed at 15 months old on February 1, and babies over that age will not be eligible. A Timaru message states that the Hessian fly is reported to bo doing damage in some parts r.i the Geraldine district, and the turnip fly is also in evidence.

Consequent on the unfavourable season, exceptionally light crops are anticipated in tho Tokomairiro district this harvest. At tho meeting of the Milton branch of tho Farmers’ Union, tho doleful anticipation was expressed by one farmer that tho same amount of hinder twine required for one acre last year would suffice for 10 acres this season. A quantity of the cheese-making plant for tho Milton Co-operative Dairy Factory Company’s now factory has arrived, and a commencement has been made with its erection. Tho factory, it is anticipated, will be in running order this month. A Press Association telegram states that from the Government Savings Bank in Auckland and from the Auckland Savings Bank during tho 10 days preceding Christmas tho withdrawals totalled £139,000, anel during tho three days that the banks wore open between tho Christmas and Now Year holidays, another £53,000 found its way buck into the pockets of depositors. Tho total withdrawals for tho holiday period, therefore, were £192,000, which mainly represented the financial requirements of the people for tiding them over tho holiday season. A Press Association telegram states that an unusual case was heard in tho court at Auckland on the 13th, when a man was charged with having harboured his daughter, knowing her to have absconded from licensed service. The girl was under the control of the Auckland Industrial School, and while in licensed service she absconded. About three months afterwards she got married, and the two nights prior to her marriage wore spent at the place whore tho defendant was boarding. A fine of £5 was imposed. Mr A. Moritzson, has received a telegram from the Prime Minister stating that tho Hon. W. Fraser, Minister of Public Works, will bo the Minister to represent the Government with tho party of North Island members and representative local gentlemen who intend to leave Dunedin on the 23rd inst. on a visit to the Otago Central district. Tho members of Parliament who have intimated their intention of making the trip are as follow: —Messrs R. F. Bollard (Raglan), J. H. Bradnoy (Auckland West), J. S. Dickson (Purnell), J. H. Escott (Pahiatoa), D. 11. Guthrie (Oroua), A. Harris (Waitemata), J. B. Hino (Stratford), F. W. Lang (Manakau), F. Mnnder (Marsden), H. J. Okoy (Taranaki), T. W. Rhodes (Thames), G. R. Sykes (Masterton), C. A. W’iikinson (Egmont), C. K. Wilson (Taumarunui), J. A. Young (Waikato), and R. Scott (Otago Central). The following Dunedin gentlemen have also accepted in-

vitations to accompany the party: —Messrs J. Wilson (Mayor), J. H. Walker (chairman Otago Harbour Board), Jno. Loudon (president Dunedin Chamber of Commerce), Wm. Burnett (president Otago Central Railway League), A. Bathgate (president Law-rence-Roxburgh Railway League, president Cromwell Flat Irrigation League, and president Dunedin Expansion League), H. C. Campbell (secretary Otago Central Railway League), Albert Cohen (Evening Star), Guy Morris (photographer, Otago Witness), and G. N. Arber (secretary Dunedin Expansion League), while the . organiser of the tour, Mr A. Moritzson, will be in attendance. The Dunedin Merchants’ Association and the New Zealand Warehousemen’s Association have also been asked to appoint representatives to make the visit. Most of the North Island M.P.’s will arrive on the 21st, and will be the guests of some of the Dunedin citizens during their stay. On the morning of the 22nd they will be conducted over the Portobello fish hatcheries by Mr G. M. Thomson, M.P., and in the afternoon they will bo driven round the city environs in motor cars, and in the evening the visitors will bo entertained at a gym nastic display and an exhibition of swimming. life-saving, etc., in the Y.M.C.A. athletic rooms, and a visit will bo paid to the Carnegie Library. Next morning all the visitors will leave by train for Alexandra, where eight cars will be waiting to take them on through the districts to bo visited. A baby was born in a motor car in Auckland one day last week (says our own correspondent). The mother had just arrived by steamer, and was being driven in the early morning to a nursing borne, accompanied by her husband. When the nursing home was reached there was an extra passenger in the car —a baby boy. Latest accounts stated that the mother and child wore both well.

Two deputations waited upon the Electric Power and Lighting Committee of the City Council at its mooting on the 14th. One, consisting of the chairman, engineer, and secretary of the Western Taieri Drainage Board, discussed with the committee the question of installing electricity for the board’s pumping plant, and an agreement was come to subject to it being ratified by the council at its next meeting. The other deputation was from the master electricians, and the subject discussed was the suggested by-laws as to licensing men, etc. The committee altered two or three clauses to meet the wishes of the deputation, and the amended clauses will be presented to the City Council for ratification in due course. Mr S. J. Collett informs us that in course of conversation Mr Stephen Demoter, an Austrian scientist, who is on a two years’ tour round the world with his wife, expressed his opinion that the ornithological exhibition at the Dunedin Museum was absolutely the finest he had seen in any part of the world.

Mr Heinrich Hemmer, a German visitor, who told an audience in the Burns Hall on t.ho 14th an immense amount about the character and customs and progress of his people, is evidently a shrewd observer who knows how to put his observations in pithy form. He made many suggestive compr isons, one of which concerned the English housekeeper and her German sister. “ Tho German woman keeps better house,” lie said, “ the English keeps house more quietly. The English lady can better entertain ; tho German makes more allowance for the personality of the man. The English woman educates her children better; tho German is the better mother, and, by tho way, never sends them to a boarding school. The English idea of dressing is to bo fashionable; the Gorman one to bo artistic.” The conclusion the lecturer drew was that tho English woman and the Gorman woman had much to learn from each other. A suggestion that something should bo done to commemorate tho life work of the late Sir Harry Atkinson was brought before the Prime Minister at Cambridge on the 10th (says the New Zealand Herald). Mr Massey expressed his sympathy with the proposals, and stated that ho considered that much of the prosperity of the dominion was due to the work of the man who he described as one of the greatest patriots Now Zealand had known. He pointed out that it might bd difficult to rouse the interest of the people after 20 years, but he would place the matter before his colleagues. Under a codicil to tho will of tho lute Mrs Jessie Blair (of Lee Creek Farm, near Outram) a bequest of £llsO is divided among several local societies. Tho Presbyterian Church of. New Zealand receives £250 for the benefit of tho orphanage at Grant’s Braes, £2OO for St. Margaret’s College, and £3OO for Knox College endowment fundA sum of £2OO goes to the local corps of the Salvation Army, and a similar sum to the Society for the Promotion of the Healtli of Women and Children, for the benefit of the Karitanc-Harris Hospital. An invention which promises to be of great value to settlors along the Clutha Valley has been patented by Mr James Templeton, of Albertown (says our Hawca Flat correspondent). The invention consists of an apparatus designed to raise water from the river by tho power of its current. A small model is at present working near Mr Templeton’s residence, and by its use water for domestic purposes and irrigation is elevated to a height of 60ft. With a larger machine greater levels can bo commanded, and the supply of power is inexpensive and inexhaustible. It is understood that tho rights of the invention have been placed under offer to the Government. In reply to representations made by the secretary of the General Labourers’ Union regarding matters connected with the tunnel

contract at Lake Coleridge, Mr H. J. H. Blow, Under-secretary of Public Works, has (says the Christchurch Press) written as follows: —“ lam directed by the Minister of Public Works to' state that careful inquiries have been made in the matter, with the result that it is found that there is considerable room for dissatisfaction with the action, or want of action, of the contractor. The Minister has consequently directed that a formal legal notice is to be served on Mr M’Williams, requiring him to make better progress with his work, and to carry same ouc in a • more satisfactory manner, and failing due compliance with these requirements the contract will be determined, and the work taken entirely out of Mr M’Wiliiams’s hands.” The use of light railways for opening up back-country lands was referred to by the Hon. W. Fraser, Minister for Public Works, at Te Puke a few days ago. He hacl at the moment strongly discouraged the proposal to begin the construction of a branch from the East Coast railway at Paengaroa to Rotorua., He added that in his opinion the first stop that should be taken, if it wait decided later to make such a branch, ought to bo the construction of a light railway. The branch did not deserve a heavy passenger-carrying track in the meantime, but a light railway of the same gauge, with sharper curves, and run slowly, could bo built and run much more cheaply, and with as good results. Ho regarded the light railway as an important clement in the future development of’ the country as jet unopened. Au interesting analysis has been made by Mr J. R. Collins, Commonwealth Commissioner of Pensions, of the invalid pensions granted during a period of 12 months. It shows that 238 were granted to invalids between the ages of 16 years and 20 years, 626 to invalids between the ages of 20 jeans and 30 years, 536 between 30 years and 40 years, 764 between 40 years and 50 jears, 1673 between 50 years and 60 years, 685 between 60 years and 70 years, 112 between 70 years and 89 years. It will be seen that 2964 pensions were granted to invalids under 50 years of age, and 2470 to invalids over that age. Mr Collins stated that invalid pensions wore, to a considerable extent, early old-age pensions. A number of persons over 60 years of ago, who were really qualified for old-age pensions, had been granted invalid pensions on account of difficulty in proving the age and residence qualifications for the old-age pension. It is urged by the New Zealand Farmers Union Advocate, in its last issue, that an effort should be made to organise the fruit-growers in the various districts in the dominion and standardise methods of grading and packing on American lines. A step has already been taken in Victoria in that direction. Packing sheds will be oonttructed, to which growers may take their jrtiit and pack it under the supervision of

experts and in standard cases. The fruit will all be packed and graded under one brand, to be decided upon by a committee of growers in the district. The Advocate suggests that New Zealand should follow the Australian example. “ All that is required to make the scheme, a success in the dominion (says the Advocate) is organisation. With the calibre of many of the men now engaged in the industry, it is surprising that a strong co-operative organisation has not already arisen to modernise the packing and marketing of fruit, and thereby place the business on the stable footing it should occupy.” A Press Association telegram from Invercargill states that a peculiar case was hoard before Mr Cruickshank, S.M., on the 15th, when Archibald Derbie, a letter carrier, was charged with sending an indecent publication through the Post Office. Derbie wrote a letter under an assumed name to a girl with whom ho was casually acquainted, making a certain proposal to her. She showed the letter to her mother, -who took it to a detective. A reply dictated by the detective was sent, arranging a meeting, and Derbie fell into the trap, meeting the girl at night, when her mother and the detective W'ere in concealment near at hand. They listened to the conversation, and eventually the detective arrested the accused. The magistrate said that women must be protected from suen conduct, and he sentenced Derbie to a month’s imprisonment. The case was reheard on the 16th, when the S.M. reviewed his decision. He remitted the term of imprisonment, and fined Derbie £2O. Under the new management (says our Wellington correspondent) great changes arc being made in the New Zealand Times. The Labour page, edited by Professor Mills, has been dropped, and the general make-up of the paper has been altered hack to the old style. It is stated that important changes in the editorial and managerial control are also ponding Dr Alice M. Burn, a New Zealand lady doctor, who is now medical inspector for the County of Durham, has just won her point in a rather interesting income tax case (says our London correspondent). Dr Burn went to England from Dunedin seven or eight years ago to study medicine and public health. Her husband remained in New Zealand, and has been here ever since. When Dr Burn was approached for the payment of income tax she refused to pay on the ground that she was a married woman, “living with her husband,” and this plea the Commissioners of Taxes have upheld. The contention of the appellant was that her separation from her husband was purely a geographical one, and could have no legal consequences. The Crown contended that sho could not claim the exemption, since sho was not living with her husband in actual fact. After hearing evidence and argument the Commissioners decided that Dr Burn was living with her husband, and

that therefore she is not liable for income tax. The Crown had intended to take the matter to the High Court, but the Board of Inland Revenue has now decided not to go any further. Needless to say, married women who are living with their husbands, in fact, are now thinking of refusing to pay the 'tax. Dr Burn was before this test case threatened with arfest and committal for refusing to pay. Wool and flax are arriving in Wellington in unusually large quantities This summer (says a Press Association telegram), and the number of bales handled during the past few weeks is easily a record. No fewer than 42,215 bales, 37,566 of which were wool, came to hand by rail during the four weeks, or 17,753 more than the total for the corresponding periods of 1911-1912., A special meeting of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce will be held next month to discuss the resolutions passed at the conference held recently in Christchurch to consider the question of trade reciprocity with Australia. The Grain Merchants’ Association will be asked to send representatives to the meeting. The latest demand of a crew of firemen has just come to our knowledge. It appears that when the Moeraki w r as at Bluff on the 15th the men gave a virtual 24 hours’ notice that unless the shift coming off work every morning at 4 o’clock was supplied with meat—which the men were to cook themselves—they would leave the boat on her arrival at Dunedin. It should bo noted that the firemen are always supplied with cold meats, etc., on knocking off work, but they maintained that, as they were not up in time for the ordinary breakfast, meat should be supplied to them, so that they could cook it and have it hot. The company finally acceded to the request of the men, and the boat sailed from Dunedin at her time-table hour yesterday afternoon. The bankruptcy returns for the past year show that Queenstown maintains its enviable reputation, not a single bankruptcy having been recorded there for a number of years past. .Five people were adjudged bankrupt in the Gore district during 1912, the liabilities as per filed statement being £798 15s 9d. The total assets were set down at £25, but these actually realised £35 2s 7d. Four bankruptcies were recorded in Gore for 1911; liabilities, £399 Vs 7d; estimated assets. £46; realised, £2l 17s Bd. The figures for the two bankruptcies recorded in Oamaru last year prove that the creditors were not much out of pocket, and one estate actually paid 20s in the pound. The liabilities as per filed statement arc given as £920 5s Id, but though the assets were valued at £944, they realised only £776 11s 9d, which sum, however, as stated above, did not leave a groat margin of lose. In 1911 nine people were adjudged bankrupt in Oamaru; liabilities, £1736 19s 4d; estimated assets, £420; amount realised, £330 9s

Information received from Roxburgh os regards the fruit prospects there for the eeason is not very assuring, it being, reported from an authentic source that there will be very little fruit from that district this year, and that the peach and apricot crops will be only about one-fourth of the usual supply. As regards the other fruitgrowing districts in the Otago Central it is anticipated that good average returns will be Teceived from both the peach and apricot trees. Mr George Livingstone’s term of office as the Crown tenants’ representative on the Otago Land Board will expire next month. It ia understood that Mr Livingstone intends to seek re-election. A Press Association telegram from Gore states that John Atwell was charged at the Magistrate’s Court on the 16th with purchasing liquor on January 10 and taking it into a no-license district and stating to the vendor that he did not intend to take it into such a district. The Magistrate said the ease was one for the full penalty, and he fined the defendant £2O, with costs (£1 11s). “To defeat Mr Massey and his crowd at the next election ” is said to be the reason for the holding of the conference of unions which has recently been called by the Federation of Labour. The federationists cannot forget Waihi, and naturally enough they feel vengeful. This was the statement made to a Dominion reporter by a Labourite who knows a little about the business to come before the conference. The Minister for Marine (the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher) has (says our Wellington correspondent). notified the manager of the Union Steamship Company that there will shortly be put into operation in New Zealand regulations making it compulsory for passenger ships to carry wireless apparatus. The Minister suggested that it might be advisable for the Union Steam Ship Company to Lave an installation placed upon the Wahine, the new steamer which is coming out for the Wellington-Lyttclton ferry service, before she leaves Home. The Maori also will require to be equipped, but exactly how far the regulations are likely to apply to passenger ships the Minister Is not at present prepared to state. “I am perfectly satisfied as a result of travelling during the holiday season,” Mr Fisher told a reporter yesterday, “ that no adequate provision of life-saving apparatus is made on our coastal boats for the number of passengers being carried, and it would con tribute greatly to the public safety to know that, should any accident befall one of our ferry boats between Wellington and Lyttelton, there would be certain help within six hours’ range to be called up by wireless. I hope there will be little difficulty in making arrangements between the shipping company and the Postal Department under which the latter will take wireless messages on board the ferry boats at considerably reduced rates, thus enabling the company and the Government to recoup themselves to some extent for the cost of installation.” All the intercolonial steamers and those trading to the Islands are already fitted with wireless apparatus. The Wanganui Herald of January II gives some interesting particulars of the success which has attended the Harbour Board’s consulting engineer, 'Mr Leslie H. Reynolds, in his efforts to improve the entrance to the port and the depth of the river itself up to the town of Wanganui. A report submitted to the board shows that in 1909 the depth on the bar at average high water spring tides was lift; it is now 25ft. showing a scour of 14ft. An important fact is that the scour, which extends for over 2600 feet beyond the north mole, has so increased the depth of water that the proposed extension of the moles can be reduced by several hundred feet—that is to eay, instead of going out 2600 ft on the north and 2200 ft on the south mole, the same depth can now be obtained by making the lengths 2100 ft and 1800 ft respectively—a clean saving of some £20.000 in cost. In view of the fact that the improvement is so much better than expected and that it may bo . possible to get the required depth at a less cost than anticipated, the present position may perhaps result in some modification of the board’s proposals for the future, and a wish has boon expressed that Mr Reynolds should be communicated with. That the depth of water has increased out of all knowledge is demonstrated by the fact that one of the coastal steamers with 1200 tons of coal on board was recently able to be navigated right up to the township. The personnel of the proposed Forest Commission has been decided upon by the Minister of Lands (the Hon. W. F. Massey), but has yet to be submitted for the approval of Cabinet. It is understood that the commission will include two or three departmental officers, a botanist, and a representative of the farming interests—probably five in all. Speaking to an Auckland Star reporter at Helensville the Minister remarked that the Government felt that serious attention was due to the question of reafforestation. It was a very complex problem, he said, because there was such varied interests at stake. They had to consider the interests of primary settlers, also the reservation of existing timber areas, and. further still, the question of planting trees to supply the timber of the future. Ho expected practical results from the recommendations of a practical com mission. A frank acknowledgement of the fallibility of past Administrations was made by Mr Frank Lawry, formerly member for Parnell, and a supporter of the Ward Government, in his speech at Papakura -Mi Saturday afternoon (says the New Zea-

land Herald). In complimenting the Hon. W. F. Massey on hie succession to tho Prime Ministership, Mr Lawry said ho readily admitted that the present Government wits a strong and progressive one. He now realised that had it been possible to ruin the country by bad legislation New Zealand would have been ruined at any time during the 20 years in which the Liberal party controlled its legislation. A story of a bride who was “ waiting at the church ” for a bridegroom who did not appear was told during the hearing of a case in the Magistrate’s Court at Christchurch on Wednesday (says the Press). Arrangements had been made for the wedding which was to take place at a church not far frpm Christchurch, and at the hour fixed for the ceremony the bride was there and the church was filled with many friends, but there was no appearance of tho bridegroom. After some delay, the bridegroom, following the example of the bridegroom in a popular pantomime song, sent along a note to say that he could not attend the ceremony that- day. He left the district, and although ,he again corresponded with the young lady, matters have not been advanced sufficiently to bring the parties to the church.