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Otago Witness, Issue 3100, 13 August 1913, Page 11

Last week members of the Land Purchase Board inspected properties in C'lutha and Bruce with a view to possible acquirement for the purpose of closer settlement. The properties inspected wore Mr D M’Donald’s Cartcrhope Estate of 344 1 acres, near Balclutha; Mr M'CTostie’s Lakeside Estate of 10,000 acres, near Kaitangata; and Mr Frank Smith’s property of 1100 acres at Ahuriri Flat, on the Gatlins line. On Thursday the board inspected properties in the Waitahuna district.

A meeting of the executive of the Wellington Master Butchers’ Association was held on Thursday night (says our correspondent) to consider whether in view of the advanced price of meat recently tho retail price should be raised. After consideration it was decided not to alter tho existing prices unless there is a further immediate rise. It was pointed out that the retail butchers wore losing money at present, but they did not consider it worth while to advance the prices in view of an early spring, when it is anticipated there will be a drop in the wholesale charges.

A most gratifying increase in business has occurred in tho Balclutha telephone exchange during tho last year or so. Only a short time ago the reejuired number of 51 subscribers was obtained to get tho exchange open from 8 a.m to 8 p.m., and such has boon tho steady increase in business since then that the comparatively new exchange

is now congested, and the present switchboard is full. A second switchboard is to be put in, and only a few more subscribers arc needed to complete the 100 required for the extension of hours. As there is no doubt about the additional subscribers being enlisted, the exchange should shortly be open from 8 a.in. till 10 p.m.

A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that Mr W. G. Wickham, the English Trade Commissioner, has been instructed by the Board of Trade to proceed to England at the end of January and spend two montlis in visiting the manufacturing centres. Before leaving he will visit Dunedin and the Auckland Exhibition.

Five Maoris in the North Island had up to June ,30 boon declared Europeans under the provision of the Native Land Amendment Act of 1912. \ An uneasy feeling that illegitimate babies arc being separated from their mothers soon after birth and get small chance of future health has been aroused in Melbourne by the evidence given in the recent maternity bonus case. Two mothers of illegitimate children, whose children were born at the unregistered hospital kept by one of the convicted nurses, gave evidence that their babies had been adopted by persons unknown to them. One mother said she had paid the foster-mother £3O. Detective Burvett, who investigated the matter on behalf of the Commonwealth, has ascertained that fictitious claims were made for the babies of 20 mothers who had parted with their babies. It seems to be established, therefore, that trafficking in babies is proceeding on a large scale in Victoria, although'it is expressly forbidden by the Infant Life Protection Act. Startling figures are supplied by the department for neglected children. It reports that it is believed that about 1500 illegitimate infants arc lost sight of by its officer every year, and that two-thirds of these are boarded out. The police say that the unregistered hospital is the source of the trouble. One woman gave evidence at the trial that she was at an unregistered hospital at Hawthorn when it contained quite 53 women who could not bo removed. As a result of Detective Burvett’s disclosures a demand is to be made for thorough investigation and tightening legislation. A cable message to the Sydney Sun states that three babies recently died under mysterious circumstances at Wenatchee, Washington. The doctors were satisfied that they had been poisoned, but how none of them could tell. The fact, however, that the infante had all been fed on milk obtained from the same cow, prompted the medical men to make an analysis of the milk, with the result that distinct traces of arsenic and load were discovered. The cow itself has since died, and it is now believed that the animal was poisoned while grazing in an orchard that was recently sprayed with a solution containing arsenic. According to a cable message to the Sydney Sun a great stir has been created in Panama by an outbreak among a lot of fanatics who arc preparing for the end of the world. The leader of these' deluded people is one Sagundo Sanchez, a native of Pononome, who has proclaimed himself the Messiah, and has predicted that the world will shortly bo destroyed by a deluge. Sanchez and 80 credulous adherents are therefore preparing for the great inundation. Like Noah, some of them are now building an ark, while others arc busy collecting pairs of animals of all species found in that region. The Messiah and his disciples have armed themselves, and the Government is taking stops to prevent any trouble.

President Wilson sat in liis study et Washington on May 24, and sent a message by phonograph to the American Indians. It will bo translated into the various tribal dialects, and taken on a 22,000 mile tour of Indian reservations by Dr Joseph K Dixon, of Philadelphia, of the Rodman Wanamakcr expedition. It is intended to let every Indian tribe hear the “ White Father’s” message. ‘‘l rejoice to foresee the day,” said the President, in the course of the message, and quoting Thomas Jefferson, “when the Red Men become truly one people with us, enjoying all the rights and privileges wo do, and living in peace and plenty.” A tribute to the enterprise vhe American nurseryman was paid by Mr 11. F. Hansen, a Christchurch gardener, who for two years has been in the employ of an English firm of nurserymen. Mr Hansen (says the Press) remarked that in carnation culture, America was instructing the rest of the world. Ho himself Had had experience of the American system of growing carnations over hollow tiles, by which means perfect blooms wore obtained in and out of season, but ho understood that a still better system had been invented by the irrepressible Yankee, in which concrete played an important part." Ho knew of one American firm which had glass-houses covering an area of 30 acres, yet confined its attentions solely to carnation culture. Mr Hanson added that he had seen 25 acres of tomatoes and cucumbers under glass at Waltham Abbey, but knew of no English nurserymen who operated on such a magnificent scale.

A letter has been received by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce from Mr Austin Wilson, who visited Now Zealand last year in the endeavour to induce New Zealand shippers to send their produce direct to the port of Hull. Ho stated (says tho New Zealand Times) that ho found in London that the New Zealand Shipping Company had already advised their people in New Zealand to arrange to load steamers to Hull next season. The Shaw, rsavill, and Albion Company had not yet corno lo a definite decision, but a statement regarding its intentions would bo made before

long. Mr Wilson asked the chamber to ud vise merchants of the intentions of ;he shipping companies, so tint they could make arrangements to ship via Hull for the North of England towns. He added that they had assurances of a good quant'ty of er.rgc outwards, as scon as the boats commenced loading from Hull. A Press Association message states that the ferry steamer Wahine, which arrived at Wellington at 8.15 on Sunday morning established a new record for the yuu from the Lyttelton wharf to the Wellington wharf, by covering the distance (175 miles] in 9 hours lOmiu. The vessel was not working at full power, two of her boilers not being in use.

The secretary of the Acclimatisation Society (Mr D. Russell) has been advised by the president of the New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies’ Conference that opossums arc protected over the whole of Otago as from last Friday. The Reform Government has already signified its intention of doing something towards improving the co-operative system on the railway works or doing away with it, and in many quarters (says otir Wanganui correspondent) it is considered the sooner the better. The good workman rarely if ever gets the full benefit of his labour. A further example is to hand from Whanganiomona, where it is stated that a large number of workers on the railway construction works were disappointed beyond measure when they were handed 5(.cl pet hour for the last month’s work. One man in one of the parties is the father of a largo family, who are living with him under canvas. He stated that for 15 years he had been working on different works for the Pubi c Works Department, and things such as these would not help even a man like Job to lead an honest life. He said that tea, bread, and butter alone for the maintenance of his family would ccst 5d per hour of his toil.

Our Pembroke correspondent states that the weather throughout tho winter haa been fairly good, and stock generally have not suffered much, if at alb Gardening operations are now being commenced. 'I ho autumn-sown crops are looking well.

*• Lie has a frightful record,” raid Sergeant Nicholson, when John Kennedy was charged at tho court in Ballarat (Victoria) recently, with having no visible means ol support. “Kennedy,” continued the sergeant, “ was one of Captain Scott’s gang when tho bushranger, bettor known as Moonlight, was imprisoned in the Ballarat Gaol, from which he and his companions escaped by tho aid of Kormody when tho latter was a youth, and tho junior member of tho gang. Moonlight was originally a bank clerk, and a Lay reader in an Anglican church at Ballan, and was subsequently hanged in New South "\\ ales. Kermody’s only failing during the past few years haa been that of drinking to excess, and he has not troubled tho police much.” Kennedy was remanded for seven days.

A hundred years ago to within a few days Australia’s first coinage went into circulation. As representative of his Majesty King George 111, Governor Macquarie, in July, 1813, issued 5s pieces and 15d pieces. Mr A. Chitty, numismatist to the South Australian Library, states that while New South Wales had the honour of issuing the first Australian silver coins, the first gold pieces were those of South Australia, which made their appearance in 1852. Gold pounds were issued first in oblong form, and later in round form. Silver shilling tokens wore issued in Tasmania in 1825, and penny tokens in 1850. The 5s coins issued by Macquarie were made by cutting a circular piece from the centre of a Spanish dollar. The ring (the piece with the hole in it) passed as legal tender for ss, being marked round the hole, “New South Wales, 1813,’’ on the obverse, and “ Five Shillings ’ on the reverse. It was called the Holey or Ring Dollar. The piece cut from ttu centre was known as a dump, and was ordered to pass current for 15d. The coins continued in use till 1829, and to a limited extent for a few years later.