Untitled

Otago Witness, Issue 3111, 29 October 1913, Page 11

Our Wellington correspondent informs us that it is stated on good authority that a Licensing will be brought down this session. The Bill will be introduced as a Government measure, but the Prime Minisster has announced that members will be left free to deal with it on non-party, lines. It is expected that it will be proposed to' reduce the effective majority at licensing polls to 55 per cent., probably in the case of both issues, though possibly the reduced majority may bo made applicable to national prohibition only. The question of opening the Brighton road for motor traffic was before the Taieri County Council again at its meeting on Friday. The matter was raised by a letter from tiic secretary of the Otago Motor Club, repeating his club’s offer to find £250 towards the cost of improving and opening the Brighton road to motor traffic, provided it was opened within a reasonable time. This offer held good only, till the end of fhc month. Cr Christie said they had had no word from the Government yet as to the £3OO subsidy. He hoped the matter would be thoroughly discussed, Cr Freeman said the Motor Club was pursuing an unwise policy in trying to force the hands of the council by fixing a date for withdrawing its offer. As a matter of fact, the bulk of the money offered did not come from the Motor Club at all, but from outside individuals. It was decided to reply that the council could not come to a definite decision until a reply had been received from the Government.

At the Magistrate’s Court at Milton on Thursday, before Mr Bartholomew, S.M., William and Chas. B. M‘Donald were convicted and ordered to pay expense of summons for failing to attend parade. They pleaded “ Guilty,” and stated that on the night of the parade mentioned the river was in flood.

At a meeting of subscribers to the Scott Antarctic Expedition Memorial Fund on the 24tli at Oamaru (says our correspondent), a statement was submitted showing that the total amount subscx-ibcd was £209 10s lOd, and that, after dcfi'aying expenses, £205 4s 6d was available. It had been originally .hoped to obtain £250, and it had been decided to apply the interest earned by this to the payment of two prizes—one each for boys and girls annually—for essays on subjects of a suitable character. Some discussion took place as to whether the fund should be closed or a further effort made. It was finally decided to close the fund and carry out at once the original intention with prizes on a correspondingly reduced basis. The competition was fixed to be held in December, and the subject was ‘‘The Scott Expedition.” “ It is now generally admitted that Japan is dominant in the Pacific,” said Colonel W. R. Bloomfield in tho course of an address -on £< Defence” to the Women’s Political Reform League at Auckland. Tho speaker contended that Japan could secure possession of the Philippines, Samoa, and Hawaii in two or three weeks. On tho Californian. coast tho forts were not properly manned. It would take tho United States throe years to create an army which could turn the Japanese out if they once got possession. In quoting authorities in support of his statement, Colonel Bloomfield showed that the whole force of America on the coast amounted to 90,000—30,000 troops and 60,000 militia, —and most of these troops had never been together, even as brigades. In Honolulu, concluded tho speaker, there were 100,000 Japanese, all trained men, who by themselves might easily take possession in a very short timi. An unsually large number of steerage passengers arrived at Auckland from Sydney by tho Maheno on Sunday morning. The number in that class totalled 155, and included 54 Chinese, who were landed in Sydney early last weed: from one of tho China steamers. There were 11 Chinese women amongst tho number, and several children. All the women and 40 men and children left Auckland by the Taluno for Tahiti, where some of them will bo employed on the plantation#, and others will enter intp business on their own account.