LOCAL & GENERAL

Otago Witness, Issue 3102, 27 August 1913, Page 9

LOCAL & GENERAL

As a rumour has gained currency to the effect that the Hon. James Allen contemplates taking up his residence in Auckland after the session, we have been requested to state that the Minister has no such intention.

Mr .Fletcher, a member of the Wellington City Council, has given notice to move that the corporation should consider the advisability of adopting its own fire insurance. Speaking to a Post reporter lie said that the property owned by the corporation which might be destroyed oi damaged by fire was valued at £124,000, upon which it paid £SOO or £6OO a year to the insurance companies. During the past 10 or 11 years the expenditure in that direction had amounted to about £SOOO, and the only loss sustained by the companies had been one of about £3OO. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that following on certain allegations made in the House of Representatives some time ago, one result of which was the inquiry into one particular appointment to the Westport Harbour Board, it has been decided that a Royal Commission be set up to make investigations in connection with that body. Hire© gentlemen have been invited to sit on the commission, which is to consist of three only. No order of reference has yet been arranged, said Mr Fisher to a reporter yesterday. iio far those approached for the office of commissioners have not replied. The report of the special committee noted above is expected to bo tabled about the middle of the week.

It is a month since the Tiinarn Harbour Board offered by circu'ar memorandum to its present debenture-holders and others throughout the dominion the £IOO,OOO loan which is due on January 1, 1914. The response has been marvellous (says the Tiinaru Post), the whole of the loan being now applied for. , The New Zealand Council of the Laymen’s Missionary Movement, which has its headquarters in Christchurch, has issued an appeal to every member and adherent of the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand (says 'a Press Association message) asking that something should bo done to make the movement a success. The immediate object of the movement is to raise £11,400 to help Dr Kirk in his mission work amongst the Canton villages. In order to raise the necessary funds it has been decided to conduct an “ Every Member Campaign” during the first 15 days of September.

The Union Company’s wooden hulk Devonport, at Wellington, having become unfit for further duty was taken out to Cook Strait by the Terawhiti last Thursday and scuttled (says the New Zealand Times). The Devonport was originally a barque, and was built in 1878 by J. Fairchild at Prince Edward Island, North America. Mr J. C. Thomson intends to ask the Minister of Labour whether he will amend the Accident Insurance Act in the direction of permitting workers of 60 years of ago and over to insure against accident; and whether he will introduce an amendment providing for the payment of the full amount of compensation in the face of a fatal accident without regard to dependents.

The s-arch lor Mr J. O Croft, late stationinaster at Granity, who has been missing for over a month, must now be considered as abandoned (says the Greymouth Star). There appears to bo gootl reason to think that on the day of his disappearance ho was seen in Derby street, and later in Henley street, Westport. Croft’s life is insured for £2OOO, but it is understood that, failing proof of death, the policy will not be paid for seven years. Th« Star adds that the missing man is reported to have property in Christchurch valued at about £SOOO.

An interesting budget of North of England news was given by Mr Helhwel! at a meeting of the Yorkshire Society, Wellington, last week (says the Dominion), Among other topics Mr Helliwcll mentioned the promising revival of the flax industry in the Selby district, where tile Government is assisting the farmers, and also referred to the remarkable methods by which the cotton trade of Earnoldswick has' been resuscitated after a lapse of 20 years. An enterprising

resident of the town some time ago bir.lt a largo shed, fitted it up with spinning machinery and power, and let the machinery to individual workers and groups of workers. So successful has this scheme proved that there are now several large sheds, fully occupied by busy people, all making a good living, and the population of the town has jumped from 4000 to over 12,000. Great interest has been aroused in the city of Leeds owing to a movement which is on foot to construct a canal for ocean-going steamers from the River Humber to that citv.

An interesting discovery was recently made by Mr Alex. Pauline, a Bombala resident, at Sawpit Creek, in the form of an irregular-shaped piece of iron, weighing nearly 80ll> (says the Sydney Daily Telegraph). When struck with a hammer, it gave out a bell-Hko sound. Mr Paulino knocked off a piece from the mass, and sent it to the Mines Department, and as a result of this a specimen of great scientific interest has been brought to light. This week Mr J. F. Harpur, geological surveyor of the Department of Minos, went to Bombala, and,, accompanied by Mr Pauline, visited Sawpit Creek, and recovered the whole of the specimen. Mr Harpur at once identified it as meteoric iron, and has taken it to Sydney for exhibition in the State Mining and Geological Museum.

An instance of th e effect of city life on the longevity of families was given in an incident related by Dr Florence Keller in the course of a lecture at Auckland last week (says the New Zealand Herald). Some years ago an American millionaire offered a handsome prize to any individual who could prove that the family to which ho belonged had lived continuously in cities for six or seven generations. Dozens of applicants for the prize came forward, but although many could prove city residence for three and some for even four generations, there was not one applicant who, on investigation, was found to belong to the sixth generation of a family resident always in a city. It went to prove, Dr Keller said, that the modern tendency to seek city rather than country life could not help but have a harmful effect on future generations, and it also proved that all hopes of the coming- race were in country dwellers and the people “on the land.” The officers of the steamer Matatua, which arrived at Sydney recently from London, via Capetown, reported that a roughly-constructed raft was sighted adrift off tlie Crozet Islands, and passed rnly a quarter of a mile distant. It was built of logs lashed together, but a portion of the raft had broken adrift. There were no signs of life, but the Matatua’s officers had not the least doubt that the derelict craft was sufficient evidence of a tragedy of the sea as yet untold. They think the raft was quickly constructed aboard some sailing ship which had lost all her Ixiate, and which was in a sinking condition. A little later on a lot of drifting planks wore passed. These had apparently come from the raft, and all were encrusted with barnacles, indicating that they had been In the water some time.

A correspondent, “ Ngaio.” wlio travelled to England by the lonic on her last voyage from Wellington, writes to the New Zealand Times pointing out the great opportunities which South America offers to apple-growers in New Zealand. There is an unlimited market, apparently, in Buenos Aires, Montevideo, and at Bio de Janeiro for apples from New Zealand,” ho says. “ At Montevideo we were asked Is 4d for six apples of very poor quality. At Buenos Aires, I am told, they are often Is each, while at Rio potatoes sell at £SO per ton, and apples often fetch 25s per case wholesale! It would well pay New Zealand apple-growers to have an agent of their own nationality in all these towns. On the lonic wo had a consignment of so mo 5000 cases of Hobart apples. These had been transhipped at Wellington from the Athenic, and fetched 7s 6d per case f.0.b., Montevideo. The agent adds eomo 5s per case on as his profit, and puts them up with 12s 6d per case reserve. The grower might as well share in this. New Zealand apple-growers have an unexampled opportunity to capture the apple trade of these ports, as within 21 dayo apples shipped at Wellington can be landed at

Montevideo, -which is only six flours’ steam from Buenos Aires, and four days from Rio de Janeiro. It appears, too, that a trade in appl© and pear trees might bo built up. At one time both the Argentine and Uruguay were celebrated for their peaches, apples, and pears, but various blights came in due course, and the people, with true Spanish lethargy, wore too lazy and indifferent to take precautions, with the natural result that the trees all died out.”

It is quite a sign of the times that a Melbourne Chinese pressman has become a proficient wireless operator (writes the Melbourne correspondent of tho Sydney Sun). Over the office of the Chinese Times, in Russell street, a plant has been erected, capable of receiving messages from vessels at sea, or from even as far os Sydney and Adelaide. Mr W. Ming, the translator for the Chinese Times, is the operator. As far as is known, he is the only Chinese in Australia who has mastered the intricacies of wireless telegraphy. He has gained his knowledge almost solely from self-tuition. Mr Richard Keene, the owner of an estate of 89,000 acres at the North Cape, known as Parenga (which was formerly owned by the -Yates family), returned to Wellington tho other day from a visit to the estate, some 40,000 acres of which comprise gum lands. Mr Keene states (says the Post) that there are large deposits of gum on portions of the run, and. tho gumdiggers there are making aa much as £5 and £4 a day—never less than £1 a day. The best quality gum brings as much as £3OO a ton, and is in demand by the American varnish-makers. Having in view the comprehensive working of the Parenga gumfields, Mr Keene has handed over to a company (which is being formed) tho 40,000 acres where gum is located, and tho company, in return for tho annual license fees, will throw the field open to diggers. Hitherto tho digger has bad to soli his gum to the owner of the land, but the new method will bo to allow him to sell it where he likes and to purchase his stores wherever lie may see fit. It is also intended to make arrangements for the diggers to cultivate tho land after the gum has been worked out. Tho company will liavo a capital of £40,000, a quarter interest in which lias been retained by Mr Keene. It ia stated that tho major portion of tho rest of tho capital has already been subscribed.

In giving evidence before tho Aborigines Commission in Adelaide last week, Ur E. C. Stirling (director of tho Adelaide University) said that he had been struck with tho mischief of putting natives into practically closed and scaled rooms, the conditions of which favoured tho development of tuberculosis and other lung troubles. In his native condition tho aborigmo lived in the open air, and was free from lung troubles. lie had seen aborigines, when in Central Australia, sleeping out at night stark naked, and in colder weather than that experienced in Adelaide at present, and yet perfectly free from tuberculosis and similar troubles. As soon as they got into stations and lived under civilisation they developed disease. Natives should bo housed in buildings with open sides, like those at a sanatorium, with coverings to keep off tho rain, and, perhaps, curtains to break tho wind, but with plenty of free, fresh air. Ho did not think that tho whites in tho Stone Age had been so subject to disease is was the case with us.

The present is said to have boon the mildest winter ever experienced in (ho North Otago district; in fact, at Otokaiko and Kurow the weather has been more like summer than winter. Rain was badly needed when the heavy downpour occurred the week before Last.

In a case in the Magistrate’s Court on the 19th inst., in which the Inspector of Awards sued for a penalty for a breach of an award, a defence of a rather un- i usual kind was successfully raised. The | defendants, J. and A Wilkinston (furniture j manufacturers), were proceeded against by j the department (which was represented by | Mr Browett) for failing to' give notice to ! the union within 24 hours of the employ- j mont of r. non-union worker. Mr F. B. Adams, for the defendants, raised the objection that the union did not oomo withui the scope of the preference clause of the

award, in that the rules did not-allow a man to become a member on mere verbal application, as required by the terms of the award. The Magistrate (Mr Widdowson) expressed the opinion that the objection was a valid one,, and would prove fatal to the department's case. Mr Erowett accepted a nonsuit, and withdrew another case in which A. and J. Watt wore similarly cited. Tho Tuapeka Horticultural Society hae fixed its spring show for October 8 and 9, the first-named date to be observed ns daffodil day. Messrs Simpson and Hart, of Wetherstonos, have offered to defray tho cost of conveying all the children from tho various Dunedin orphanages to Lawrence, and so give them an enjoyable day in the country. The offer, needless to say, has been accepted, and strong committees have been appointed to carry out the arrangements for tho children’s entertainment whilst in and also for their conveyance from the railway station to Wctheretoncs.

Two sections on the Conical Hills settlement —17a, comprising slightly over 56 acres, and 31a, containing 330 acres—are to bo opened by the Otago Land Board for application on September 9. On the same date section 5 196 acres, Elderslio No. 2 Settlement, will also be opened for application. There will not be a great deal of land opened up for a little time, as the present is tho off season so far as putting land on tho market is concerned. There is, however, a probability of two large estates being opened up for selection in the soiVthcrn portion of the Otago district in the near future.

The University Council has agreed to a proposal that Professor Park shall icpresent the Otago School of Minos at a conference of Mining School delegates which the Government has arranged to be held in Wellington early in September. Tho directors of the various Schools of Mines throughout the dominion will meet the boards of examiners under the Mining and Coal Mines Acte to consider proposals for the amendment of tho regulations governing mine managers, etc.

A fire occurred a few nights ago (says tho Bruce Herald) which destroyed the barn, stable, and implement shed belonging to Messrs Williams Bros., of Table Hill. Unfortunately they were unable to remove a valuable draught mare, which apparently perished from suffocation, as it did not scorn to be badly burned. Amongst other losses sustained were a bull calf, a dynamo, and 300 bags of chaff.

The committee of the South Island Dairy Association held a meeting on the 19th inst., when tho question of improving the quality of milk was discussed at length, w th the result that it was decided to issue a circular to suppliers at an early date dealing with this important matter. It is understood that tho circular will contain some practical information for farmers, in whoso interest the association bus taken tho subject in hand.

At the invitation of the director (Mr A. Marshall), the members of the Dunedin Technical School Board of Managers assembled at 1.15 p.m. on the 19th to partake of a dinner provided by pupils attending the cookery class at the school. Eleven members ot the board, together with the director and the board’s architect (Mr H. Mandeno), sa*. down to a daintily-equipped table, and did ample justice to a luncheon consisting of four courses, which would have brought no discredit to a high class restaurant. The excellent manner in which the food had been prepared and the way in which it was served fully demonstrated the thorough training which is given at the school in this important department of domestic economy. A hearty vote if thanks was conveyed to the chief instructress (Miss Little) on the motion of Mr T. freott (chairman of the board), who said that the cooking and serving of such an excellent meal by the pupils reflected the greatest credit on Miss Little. Mr Marshall said that a luncheon similar to that provided for the members of the hoard was prepared at the school every day for about 30 country pupils and teachers. A charge of 2a per week, or a little under 5d per meal, practically defrayed the cost of the materials. After the luncheon, the members of

the board proceeded to the site of the new school, in Upper Stuart Street, where sati»faotory progress is being made with the erection of the third storey. At a recent meeting of the Professorial Board of the University of Otago, tho following motion was unanimously passed “Iho Professorial Board of the University of Otago cordially congratulate the board and the rector and masters of the Otago Boys’ High School on the great success of the jubilee celebrations. The members of the board have followed tho proceedings with deep interest, and lake this opportunity of acknowledging the eminent services the High School lias rendered tlx University in supplying it with a constant stream of students thoroughly equipped for University work. It is also very gratifying to the board that eo many members of ih* High School staff are former students of Otago University. The board truata that the cordial relations at present existing between the two institutions will long continue.”

In replying to a question by Mr G. M. Thomson in the House on tho 20th an to whether the Government would consider the question this session of »o amending th« Teachers' Superannuation Act os to enable them to have their snperannnation allowance computed on the three best years of their service instead of on tho three laak years, the Hon. J. Allen (Minister of Education) said that the matter wan under consecration at the present time.

Tho Taranaki Education Board forwarded •to tho monthly meeting of the Education Board oa the 20th a request that it should co-operate in tho suggested cstablishmem of observation schools for tiio bensfit of young and uncertificated teachers. hi th® course of eomo discussion Mr Fergus said he had long boon of opinion that tho beard ought to get its inspectors to do something more than they already did for tho teacher* in the country schools. They could taka charge of these schools for a day or two occasionally and help the more inexperienced teachers to arrive at the beet methods o/ conducting tho school. In tho interests of education generally such a stop would bo warranted. Mr Scott said that what was wanted was the setting aside of a ooup ! o of tho board's experienced and best-tra.-nod teachers to go round and spend a week, or perhaps a month, in schools such us those they spoke oj, and bring thorn up to th® mark. After tho chairman had remarked that such a scheme would require an expenditure of about £IOOO a year it was decided to obtain a report from the inspectors on the question.

The Hospital Committee of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, after considering an application from tho University Council with respect to a course of tuition in massage and medical gymnastics, has decided in favour of granting rhe application to conduct the class at the Hospital. It also recommends. that the University Council bo advised that a medical gymnastic department will bo equipped at as early a dat® as possible.

The Wellington butter exporters to Vancouver, representing Taranaki, Wairarapa, Manawatu, and South Island interests, are much exorcised over the condition of export by tho Union Company’s steamers for tho coming season (says a Press Association message). Tenders for refrigerated space close on September 1 next, and tho exporters complain that they are required to take up space for 12 months or else run tho risk of not being able to ship a pound of butter to this fast-growing market. This they say they cannot do because they arc not able to say what butter Canada will want, nor what New Zealand will bo able to produce. The Wellington exporters wor* formerly placed on an even footing with Auckland, in that butter paid tho same freight from Wellington to Vancouver via San Francisco os it did from Auckland to Vancouver direct. Now it is proposed to charge id per pound, or 7d per box, additional on butter shipped from Wellington via San Francisco, and la 2d per box if shipped via Auckland. This will place the "cuthern butter exporters, they aay, at a tremendous disadvantage with Auckland. Fcarr. are expressed that if the space is no! taken up by New Zealand exporters then Australian speculators will take it. shut-

ting out New Zealand produce. This, it is alleged, was done last year-. The Prime Minister has been approached on the subject.

The question of teachers' salaries and, more particularly, those of teachers ;n the back blocks schools, was introduced at the meeting of the Education Board on the 20th by a letter which was received from the New Zealand Fanners’ Union, containing a copy of a resolution, passed at the last conference of the union, calling the attention of the Government raid of Education Boards to the neglect of backblocks schools. The letter also suggested that the salaries of such teachers should bo supplemented by a small subsidy. Mr Fergus said ho thought that school-teachers were in many respects worse off than people engaged in other occupations. When an official in the railway, or other service, was transferred he got his expenses paid, but a teacher did not. That, however, was a Email itsue. The whole question of teachers’ salaries was in the air just now, and ho believed they were going to get just 100 at last. From a conversation he had had with the Hon. Jas. Allen ho thought it was the intention of the Government to plane teachers more on an equity ■with other Government servants than had been the case in the past. The board decided to defer consideration of the communication till to-day.

A Press Association telegram from Christchurch states that allegations against tho police of “ third degree ” methods, made by counsel in a burglary case at the Supremo Court yesterday, gave Mr Justice Dcnnistou an opening to make some remarks. His Honor said the conduct of the police in these cases had been described as “third degree 1 ’ methods, both in Christchurch and other places. In America, where wleat was known as the 11 third degree “ was in operation, it was a system of authoritative examination accompanied by direct torture to compel accused persons to make statements. Nothing had occurred Uke that in Now Zealand, and his Honor thought that if allegations of “ third degree ” methods were publicly made in New Zealand hostile papers and people in England, not knowing the true facts, would connect the methods out here with those

appertaining in America. These hostile papers would take the matter up in the same way as they had done before. It was certainly a sound maxim for a policeofficer to keep his mouth shut and his cars open, but that did not prevent Crown officers from tak'ng any statement from an accused person if he voluntarily made it. Mr Justice Williams had said that if a prisoner voluntarily chose to converse with a police officer on any matter he had a right to do so. In conclusion his Honor stated tliat if a prisoner at eny time desired to make a statement there was nothing to prevent a police officer from taking it so long as he did not compel the prisoner to speak. Satisfactory reports of the oyster fisheries at Auckland and Foveaux Strait are contained in the Marino Department’s annual report (says our Wellington correspondent). There is mention also of an unsuccessful attempt to introduce the herring into New Zealand waters, but it is urged that this one failure should not deter the department from making another attempt. The introduction of quinnat salmon into the Waitaki and other rivers seems to have been successful, but the introduction of another shipment of Atlantic salmon ova to liberate in Lake Te Anau is recommended. The Sockeyo salmon introduced into Lake Ohau in 1901 have acclimat’sed, but the waters seem to have been unsuitable, and the fish when observed in March were in an unhealthy or dying condition. r Fho Sockeyo salmon is one of the n ost valuable.

When the Timaru Hospital Board was on tho 19th considering a recommendation by Ur Lindsay that a .consumptive patient, a young man, should be given sanatorium treatment by the board, for which he could not himself pay, Mr Norton Francis expressed a sentiment (says tho Lyttelton Times) which was heartily endorsed by his follow members. Mr Francis said that Dr Lindsay had said that the sanatorium treatment'would give this young man a chance, «nd therefore it was tho board’s duty to give him that chalice. As a board it was tneir duty to take every possible means to stamp out consumption, and the question of expense was neither here nor there. He was strongly of tho opinion that any patient who, on the doctor’s recommendation, would

benefit by the treatment, should be given ae chance, and it did not matter if the patients numbered 20 or 200. It was decided that application should bo made to the North Canterbury Sanatorium for the admission of the young man in question, and for another to the Palmerston (Otago) Sanatorium. It was mentioned by Dr Lindsay that the patients would probably have to wait some time before vacancies would occur, for there wore long waiting lists at both institutions. There is a possibility that the Opposition journal in Wellington will bo a party in a libel action. On Wednesday afternoon Mr Harris (Waitemata) made sonic strong remarks about the journal because of certain statements about dissension in the ranks of both the Cabinet and the party. After the report of this speech the editor inserted a footnote in which occurred the words “small, mean, and contemptible.” This lias caused some discussion, and it is considered probable that JMr Harris will decide to take action. The iM to Z Petitions Committee, of which Mr Okey is chairman, has recommended to the Government for favourable consideration the petition of Airs Smith, widow of the late Mr E. M. Smith, M.P., for an allowance in respect of the death of her husband.

Dealing with a case at the Auckland Supremo Court on the 21st (says a Press Association telegram) involving a charge of procuring a noxious drug for an unlawful purpose, Mr Justice Cooper made eomo remarks on the responsibility of chemists and assistants in the matter. “ I wish ;t to be distinctly understood,” said his Honor, “ that if a chemist or any person supplies young men with a substance, even though it is innocuous, with the intention that a mixture should be used for the purpose for procuring an unlawful object it is an offence making both the chemist and the purchaser liable to prosecution. They are equally guilty if the intention exists.” His Honor added that his experience in the Auckland Court, aa well as elsewhere, was that in some places it was pot at all difficult to obtain even noxious substances. Notwithstanding the fact that a largo sum of money has been expended upon the construction and upkeep of the abattoirs to

ensure the supply of wholesome meat to city resident's, it would appear that the manner in which slaughtered pigs are disposed of at times is little short of scandalous. Wo have been informed by several eyo witnesses that on Wednesday afternoon seven pig carcases arrived from the north by train, and were simply thrown out of the van on the mud alongside the signal box. Needless to say, the carcases had not a vestige of covering to protect them, and the ground being muddy after the recent heavy rains, the condition of the carcases after being dragged clear of the line and dumped into a heap, may bo easily imagined. It is almost unbelievable that pork intended for human consumption should be mishandled in such a manner.