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Otago Witness, Issue 3169, 9 December 1914, Page 6

Richard John Packctt, who escaped from the train at Te Kuiti' while on his way from New Plymouth to Hamilton, and was afterwards recaptured near Rotorua, appeared at the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court on the 27th ult. to answer 17 charges of false pretences covering the period from February to November, and also with thefts under various aliases of sums of £lO and under at Matamata, Rangitikei, Kopakl, Wangamatu, Waingaro, Ohinewai, Putaruru, Ohura, Otorohanga, Ohaupo, Hamilton, and Frankton. Robert F. M‘Donald, land agent, of Otorohanga, said that the accused approached him and proposed to purchase a property, saying that he had £7OOO available. He paid £SO deposit on a property, giving a cheque, and then borrowed £2 to enable him to get back to Levin. “ There are a lot of. land sharks round Otorohanga and Te Kuiti,” was the accused’s comment, “ and when they get taken -down they feel sore.” Hackctt (says the correspondent of the Auckland Star) was committed for trial on all the charges. The,New Zealand flax industry is feeling the effects of the war probably more seriously than any other branch of primary production in this country. The chief grader (Mr Ferris) reports (says the Wellington Post) that, during the quarter ending in September, only 14,899 bales of hemp were milled, as against 28,651 bales in the corresponding quarter last year, and th : s notwithstanding a much more favourable period for milling this year, combined ■with a better supply of higher-quality fibre. The decline in production will be more rapid from now on, as the majority of the mills which have been operating have been only operating in order to complete contracts. In some districts milling has practically ceased. An interesting case has finally been decided in Perth (W.A.) concerning insurance and a racehorse’e pedigree. A Mr Campbell insured for £425 a racehorse shipped from Sydney to Fremantle, the policy describing the animal as by Marshal Soult out of a St. Paul mare. The York shire Insurance Company refused to pay on the ground that the horse’s breeding was not as described in the policy. The Civet Justice gave a verdict for Campbell, holding that the pedigree was merely deser ptivc matter, not material, as the animal was uncontcstably worth what insured for. On appeal the Full Court reversed this decision on the ground that the policy warranted the truth of all statements in the policy. Then Campbell appealed to the High Court. Mr Justice Barton held with the Full Court decision, but Mr Justices Duff and Rich, however, held that the words wore not ■warranty withing the meaning of the Act, and allowed Campbell’s appeal with costs, and restored the Chief Justice’s judgment. With her deck fittings still wearing their sombre coat of grey paint that was neces-' savy to enable her to carry out her important task, the steamer Buteshire, which was one of the first ships to carry British troops to Franco, arrived at Auckland on the 26th ult. (says the Star). The second officer (Mr A. West) gave some interesting particulars of the business of convoying the troops across the Channel. The Buteshire was one of about 10 troopships that left Dublin for Havre early in August, with some 10,000 British soldiers, most of whom came from the big military barracks at Curragh, just outside Dublin. The Buteshire’s quota of this number composed ot 100 officers and 2400 men, under the command of General Rolt. In addition to the men, who were drawn from the Manchester and Yorkshire Light Infantry, the vessel carried 300 horses and a number of guns. “When wo left the docks at Dublin,” said Mr West, “a storm of exceptional violence was in full blast, with tropical rain, thunder, and lightning. The men, however, were as cheerful as if a good picnic was in store for them. They were the finest type of soldier I have seen—sturdy, cheerful, re

sourceful-looking- Britishers, many of them wearing the crossed guns badge that bespoke expert marksmanship. Their happy mood never once slackened, until the landed at Havre, and, although the storm continued throughout the voyage, singing never stopped. Both officers and men wore the same uniforms, with tally-tags bearing their number, name, and religion tied round their necks. We arrived off Havre during an afternoon, and remained at anchorage until nightfall, when the men were taken ashore. They bivouacked outside the town until the next morning, and then took to the road for the front.” In connection with the statements contained in cable messages that the Germans have adopted the practice of mqving troops backwards and forwards on the railways in order to give tho appearance of large numbers, a Hawcra resident has pointed out (says the Auckland Herald) that the Maoris, at the commencement of the war in 1860, endeavoured to mislead the Imperial commander at Waitara by a somewhat similar ruse. This was during the attack on the L Pa —so named because it was built in tho shape of the letter “L.” A force of Maoris would come out from one part of the pa, and, with a groat warlike show, make for an entrance at another part, hidden from tho view of the troops. This was repeated many times, with the result that the British commander and his men were led to believe that a large party of Waikatos had come down to assist the Waitara Natives. It is a well-known fact that the troops suffered considerable loss at this engagement, and it was said at the time that the Maori ruse had largely contributed to the defeat of our men, because it was thought the numbers against them were double or treble what they really were. Mr Andrew Bain, who left for the Old Country about eight months ago, returned to Invercargill on tho 2nd ' inst (says the Southland News). Ho says that the immediate effect of the declaration of war was to spread alarm throughout Britain and a great change was noticeable in the industrial conditions, but after the expiration of about a month things largely righted themselves. Mr Bain is a native of Aberdeen, and spent some time there. No fewer than 15,000 were engaged in the fishing industry at the outbreak of war, and the daily catch was between 500 and 700 tone, but, owing to the risk to the trawlers from mines laid in the fishing grounds, the industry practically came to a standstill. The Government, however, took immediate action, employing a number of the trawlers at mine-sweeping, and when he left Aberdeen the industry was in a much better condition. After the European trouble commenced Mr Bain did little train travelling, remaining in his native country most of the time. Passengers on trains were not allowed to carry even hand bags in the carriages, as a precaution against the risk of damage being done to tho bridges passed over, and at any time they were liable to be closely searched by tho authorities. Mr Bain heard Lord Curzon delivering a speech, in which he referred to New Zealand as a striking example to Britain, and in eloquent terms praised the dominion for its loyalty and promptitude in coining to tho assistance of the Allies. Now Zealand, says Mr Bain, received a groat advertisement from its decision to send an Expeditionary Force to the front. On the Ist inst. (says a Press Association message) his Excellency the Governor sent tho following telegram to her Majesty Queen Alexandra: —“On behalf of myself, my Government, and the people of New Zealand, I bog to tender our respectful greetings to your Majesty on the occasion of your birthday.—(Signed) Liverpool.” A reply, as follows, was received by his Excellency:—“Please accept and convey to your Government and the people of New Zealand my grateful thanks for congratulations and good wishes.—(Signed) Alexandra.” A truck load of hay, destined for one of the troopships, caused some excitement amongst the passengers on the 10.15 a.m. train whilst'cn route to Port Chalmers yesterday. On arrival at Sawyer’s Bay tho hay was ablaze, the fire having been caused presumably by a spark from the engine. Being fanned by a strong S.W. gale the flames became so fierce that the task of isolating the burning mass was no easy one. Meanwhile tho danger of the fire spreading to other wagons further complicated matters, but after some difficulty the blazing wagon was shunted along to the engine water tank, and the fire was subdued. The contents of the wagon were destroyed, and the wagon was considerably charred. There were some thrilling moments at’ the Sefton level crossing on the Ist (telegraphs our Christchurch correspondent). The driver of a goods train saw a man crossing in leisurely fashion as lie was approaching and blow his whistle violently. The man took no notice of the warning, and walked slowly right in front of tho train, with the result that the cowcatcher struck him in tho side, and threw him off the line. It turned out that in addition to having lost an eye, the man is also stone deaf, and, therefore, had heard neither tho approach of the train nor the whistle, and had failed to see it on his blind side. Ho was bruised and badly shaken, but suffered no further hurt. At tho conclusion of tho Prime Minister’s speech at Hastings on the Ist inst. (telegraphs our correspondent), a veteran (Mr W. Y. Dennett), on behalf of the veterans of Hawkcs’ Bay, expressed gratitude to the Government for removing the restrictions regarding the granting of military pensions. It was, he said, left to this Government to take a commonsonso view of their position, and the Government’s action would be ro-

membered with grateful hearts by the veterans, Mr Massey, in reply, said that tho Government had thought it was only right to recognise tho services rendered to the country in tho troublous times years ago. A party of Maori veterans, occupying seats on the stage, displayed tho appreciation of the removal of the restrictions by dancing a “haka” of welcome to the Prime Minister when he rose to commence his address. A Press Association telegram from Christchurch states that Mr Acland, the Reform candidate for Avon, suggested at a meeting that tho Government, in addition to its purchases of wheat in Australia and Canada, might borrow sufficient wheat from Australia pending the harvesting of our own crop, and return it when our own was reaped. This would smash any possible attempt to exploit the public by bolding wheat or flour. On the Ist (says the Christchurch Press) a conference opened at the Foresters’ Hall, of representatives from six districts of the A.O.F. in the dominion. Bros. J. Shaldrick, R. G. Barnes, R. Darlow, and C. Strude represented Auckland, Bro. J. Redshaw Hawke’s Bay, Bro. A. J. Way Taranaki, Bros. W. H. Marks and W. W. Tanner Canterbury, Bro. G. H. Allan Nelson, and Bros. R. O. Wilson and Macfie Otago. Bro Allan was unanimously chosen president, and Bro. Tanner secretary. A resolution affirming the desirability of establishing a Subsidiary High Court for the dominion was moved by Bro. Darlow, seconded by Bro. Barnes, and unanimously carried. After some discussion a motion to appoint a committee of five —Bros. Rcdsnaw, Macfie, Tanner, Shaldriok, and Darlow —to draft a constitution was adopted, and the conference adjourned till yesterday to consider the report. It is not generally known that the pioneer of the frozen rabbit industry in New Zealand was Mr A. W. Rodger, sen., father of Mr A. W. Rodger, the Reform candidate for the Wallace seat. At his Birchwood meeting Mr Rodger created a good deal of amusement in relating the hard row ho had to hoe in this connection, as the pioneering shipments came under his personal supervision. Owing to lack of experience in freezing, the consignments arrived in an over-ripe condition, and had to be in consequence rejected. Instead of becoming down hearted, however, tho pioneers persevered and to-day Mr Rodger can claim to have laid tho foundation of an industry which has been the moans of landing a mint of money in Southland, and which has given profitable employment to hundreds of people. A distressing shooting accident occurred in the Patutahi Valley on the 26th ult. (says tho Gisborne correspondent of the Now Zealand Herald), when Mrs " Parsons, wife of Mr J. E. Parsons, an employee on the new Government quarry at Patutahi, was accidentally shot in the back with a bullet from a Winchester rifle. Mrs Parsons was walking across the section in the direction of the quarry line- to meet her husband returning from work. She was accompanied by her two young children, and had just turned to drive off a pup that was running at her feet when tho missile struck her between the shoulder blade's. Her husband was only a few yards away, and in the act of placing one of the children on a horse. Immediately across the bond of a creek a railway employee had taken aim at a bird parched upon a branch of a willowtree. The foliage of the tree quite obscured his view of tho people beyond, and tho pellet passed through the tree, striking Mrs Parsons, who was quite 90yds away. At the meeting of the Shipwreck Relief Society on the Ist tho secretary was instructed to send a telegram to the Collector of Customs at Napier, asking if any assistance was required by the men concerned in tho surf-boating accident which occurred while the Kahu was being tendered. A reply has been received by Mr Wilson to the effect that no assistance is required. About 9 p.m. on the 3rd an alarm oi fire in South Dunedin caused considerable animation in that part of the city. The outbreak was at St. Patrick’s School, in Macandrew road, a building which is well over 30 years’ old. The fire was discovered in two places—a considerable distance apart—and wag quickly suppressed by the South Dunedin Brigade, which deserves credit for a very smart response to the call. Incendiarism is suspected, as both fires evidently commenced externally. Had tho weather not been calm it is probable that the building would have been burnt down in very quick time. At his meeting at Balclutha on Wednesday, the 2nd, Mr A. S. Malcolm stated his belief that the 41b loaf would to-day have been selling in Dunedin at Is if it had not been for tho action of tho Massey Administration regarding foodstuffs. An interesting fact brought to light at the same meeting was an apparent difference of prices in the town. Mr Malcolm said ho had been informed that the price of the 501 b bag of flour was Bs, but a member of the audience said he had that day bought a 501 b bag for which he was charged 9s 3d. At the conclusion of the sitting of the Magistrate's Court on the 3rd inst., Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M., and Captain Beaumont (assessor) sat in connection with the Mispah incident. Tho Mispah is a fishing launch, and wag owned by tho late Mr F. J. Sullivan, and on October 4 another fishing boat, owned by Antonio Gacaloni, noticed tho Mispah showing signals of distress. Gacaloni’s boat went to the rescue, and finally brought her to Port Chalmers. As a result of tho incident Gacaloni sued Mr Sullivan for £125 salvage, and the case had been before Mr Widdowson and Captain Beaumont on two previous

occasions. On the 3rd a decision was given in the case, which was brought under the Shipping and Seamen Act. Mr Widdowson stated that the assessor and he had given the evidence careful consideration, and they were of the opinion that the only conclusion they could come to was that the case only amounted to one of towage, and they considered that £ls would bo a fair amount to pay claimant. Judgment would therefore be given for that sum, with costs (£7 ss). The costs included the assessor’s fee. Our London correspondent wrote as follows on October 16: —“Doan Rcgnault and the Rev. Father Prendcrgast visited the Hibernian central offices in Dublin to convey to the national secretary, on behalf of the Hibernians of New Zealand—and especially of the Wellington division, of which tho dean is chaplain —their congratulations to the Irish Party and the Nationalists generally of Ireland on the success achieved iu having tho Home Rule Bill placed on the Statute Book. It was tho crowrrng efforts of the last 40 years. He said that the agitation carried on for the winning of Irish rights had been watched very keenly by all the Hibernians in tho overseas dominions, and even in Ireland there was not greater rejoicing at the victory than among tho Irish in Now Zealand The Ladies’ Sewing Committee of tho New Zealand Contingent War Association is piling up a great supply of necessary clothing for the Now Zealanders who will see active service. Already (says our London correspondent) a good many things have been distributed, for Captain Lampcn and the New Zealanders already established at Bulford have been supplied with 200 mattress casings, and Colonel Cradock has had the same number of macintosh sheets given to him. Mrs 11. Alington is at work every day, Miss Reynolds (Dunedin) does a great deal of the cutting out. Lady Mills goes very frequently, and there are a number of New Zealand ladies who give up entire days to sewing, either doing the work : at the rooms of the League of Empire or taking it to their homes. Each shirt has two handkerchiefs put in its pocket, and a stud is to be provided for each collarband. Each garment bears a small tape with tho words “ New Zealand ” in red lettering. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that one effect of tho recent violent earthquake in Wellington wag the euro of a youth who had been suffering from complete paralysis from the waist downwards for 18 months. The shock caused him to spring out of his bed and walk across tho room. Two politicians in Hastings were discussing the question of whether the deposit of bank notes instead of gold on nominating a candidate was sufficient compliance with the provisions of tho electoral law. One of them (says the correspondent of the Hawke g Bay Herald) was in Napier next day, and met one of the candidates for the Napier seat, who told him that he had just lodged his nomination with the returning officer and had taken his solicitor with him to see that everything was correct. “ Did you deposit gold or notes”? asked his Hastings friend. The candidate then said, “ Look here, I am awfully glad I met you. Go along and order a suit of clothes for yourself and got them charged to me. I forgot all about the deposit, and will go and get 10 sovereigns immediately.” It may bo pointed out that in former years nominations could be advertised before tho closing time, but not so this year, so that there appears to be no chance now of a candidate finding out a mistake until after the date of nomination, when of course it would be too late. So the Napier candidate had a narrow escape, and finding out the mistake before hand was cheap at tho price of a suit oi clothes In addition to tho 50 tons of flour which arrived in Dunedin on the 4th from Australia, 50 tons arrived from Christchurch. This consignment was handed over to the Agricultural Department for disposal to those requiring it. On tho 3rd inst. (says our Auckland correspondent) the Prime Minister issued a £SO challenge to the Auckland Star over the Waiuku railway and ostrich farm canard. Last evening the Star had an apologetic sub-loader, in the course of which it said : “We hasten to say that we have not impugned the honour and integrity of the Prime Minister in this matter. This paper neither believes nor has suggested that the Prime Minister is open to a charge of political corruption in connection with this transaction. He is a shareholder of a company in which ho is associated with a number of bis friends, and in tho management of which we do not suppose he really has any say.” In the course of his address at Parca on Wednesday, the 3rd, Mr A. A. Paape, the Reform candidate for Westland, referred to the speech made on tho previous evening at Hikurangi by Sir Joseph Ward, wherein it was stated that ho (Mr Paape) was something of the ‘Red Fed” persuasion (says the Grey River Argus). Mr Paape said, as a matter of fact, ho had been approached some time ago by tho Ward Party to take an appointment as organiser of tho Liberal Party, but had refused to do so. Later, however, ho had been offered, and bad accepted, the position as Reform organiser, and it seemed peculiar that Sir Joseph Ward should turn round now and refer to him (the speaker) as a “Red Fed.” There were no “Red Feds” among the Reform Party, and they were not wanted. At a special meeting of tho Dunedin Horticultural Society on tho 4th, the date of the summer show came up for consideration. Reports from prominent rose-growers in dicated that the date previously fixed — December 11 —would be unsuitable, on account of the adverse weather conditions

recently experienced. Tin’s factor, and the inability of well-known Oamaru exhibitors to show on that date, necessitated the fixture being held some days later, Tuesday, December .15, being decided on. The net proceeds of the show are to go to the Belgian Relief Fund, and a stall for the sale of cut (lowers and pot plants will bo provided. On the motion of the president (Mr B. S. Irwin), seconded by Mr F. A. Hamel, it was resolved to record in the minutes that the society appreciated highly the action of its old committeeman, Mr R. R. Moss, in volunteering for active service, and wished him good luck, God-spcod, and a safe return to Dunedin. A cable message from Melbourne announces that the new tariff regarding New Zealand white pine and' rinru, undressed, on which the duty is fixed at Is per thousand feet super, came into operation on the 4th. The following report has been supplied to us: —“At a meeting of the Dunedin branch of the Social Democratic Party on the 3rd inst., Mr G. S. Thomson was allowed great latitude as regards the time limit to remove any misunderstanding as to the position ho had taken up in standing as an Independent Labour candidate for Chalmers. He invited questions from members of the branch, and several questions were put and answered; but he failed to convince the meeting that any good would result from his being admitted as a member of this branch, and the following resolution was carried unanimously : —‘That the branch would be pleased to reconsider Mr G. S. Thomson’s application for membership to this branch six montlis hence.’ ” Some months ago (writes our correspondent) the Lawrence Athenasum Committee applied to Mr-Andrew Carnegie, the -wellknown millionaire, for a grant of £ISOO for the purpose of re-crecting the Athenaeum building, which is in a very dilapidated condition. At a meeting of the committee on the 3rd inst. a reply was received from Mr Carnegie's agent, stating that the application could not bo favourably considered. “An institution with vested property returning a revenue of £9O per annum (and which would probably increase) could not,” he said, “require outside assistance.” The committee was rather taken aback at this rejection of its application, and, after some discussion, decided to confine themselves to a less ambitious scheme of renovation. At the annual general meeting of the Otago Employers’ Association the followingofficers were elected for the ensuing year : President, Mr F W. Mitchell; vice-presi-dents, Messrs E. C. Hazlctt and George Simpson; committee —Messrs J. A. Burt, E. Cameron, G. Fenwick, W. Fols, R, Glendining, P. R. Sargood, D. E. Thcomin, J. W. Henton, J. A. Roberts, and C. W. Shicl. The following were elected represen atives on the executive of the New Zealand Employers’ Federation :—Messrs Mitchell, Hazlett, Simpson, and Fenwick. Messrs Barr, Leary, and Co. were appointed auditors. The Secretary of Labour (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington) draws attention to the regulations under the Legislature Act relating to a holiday on election day. He points out that all shopkeepers who are required to close their shops for a weekly half-holiday must in election week close on the afternoon of election day. Factories need not close, but all factory employees entitled to vote must bo allowed a reasonable time, without deduction from their wages. A Press Association telegram from Oamaru says some indignation is felt there regarding the misquotation of facts regarding the Savings Bank receipts in the Oamaru district by the opponents of noiiconsc, as contained in a leaflet now being spread broadcast throughout the dominion. The figures showing the position before nolicense have been highly exaggerated, for the purpose of making the Savings Bank receipts appear to have fallen since noliccnso was carried. The figures complained of are very much m excess of those contained in the Government statistics. The English mail which was despatched from Dunedin, via Naples, on October 23 arrived in London on the 3rd inst. The mail, which was despatched from Dunedin, via Auckland and Vancouver, on November 2, also arrived in London on the 3rd inst. The ' Rev. Canon Curzon-Siggers announced at St. Matthew’s Church on the 6th that a cablegram had been received from Cairo to the effect that the whole of the members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force were in excellent health One hundred years ago, on Christmas Day, the Rev. Samuel Marsden and his little band of missionaries commenced in the Bay of Islands the first great missionary enterprise of the 19th century. The spot where Marsden first preached the Gospel is now marked by a stone cross, at the foot of which, on Christmas Day this year, there will bo a celebration of Holy Communion. It was at first proposed to charter a special steamer, to leave Auckland on December 24 tor the Bay of Islands, but events of the past few months have interfered with that programme, and Auckland people attending the service will have to take an ordinary steamer to Whangarci and proceed to Opua by train. An alternative route would bo to travel by steamer to Russell. It is expected that there will bo present a largo gathering from the north, especially of the Maoris, and it is hoped to raise a sum of money sufficient to erect a memorial church to Samuel Marsden at Russell. On December 15 the celebration of the contenary will be commenced by a gathering in the Auckland Town Hall (says the Herald). Tho Mayor (Mr C. J. Parr), will

preside, and speeches will be delivered by the Anglican Bishop of Auckland, who will speak on the life work of the great missionary, by Canon Mac Mur ray, who will deal with other of our pioneer missionaries, and by the Rev. F. Bennett, who will state the present position of the Maori race. Combined choirs will supply the musical portion of the programme. A Church Congress was to have taken place in Auckland at the beginning of the year. This portion of the programme has had to bo deleted, however, though it is hoped that the scheme to raise a centenary thanksgiving fund of £20,000 for education purposes and £50,000 . for augmenting the stipends of the poorer clergy will not bo abandoned altogether, and that something will bo done to show practical appreciation of the work of Marsden and those early pioneers of New Zealand. Miss Marsden, a relative of the pioneer missionary, is already in New Zealand, and a cable message was last week received from a grandson of Samuel Marsden, stating his intention to visit New, Zealand from Australia, and attend the celebrations, The special' services on Christmas Day will be general throughout the dominion. In the Magistrate’s Court at Pembroke on the 30th ult, before Mr H. A. Young, S.M., a case in which Henry Johnston, late of ITawea Flat, and now of Dunedin, claimed from Loren Christian Hansen (Hawea Flat) the sum of £43 Bs, balance of money owing by the defendant to the plaintiff. A good deal of legal argument was hoard as to the form of the statement of claim, arising out of the fact that apparently the parties had altered the incidence of the transaction by means of a document which turned out to be invalid. Eventually the Magistrate decided that ho was satisfied that the money was owing, although he could not agree "with the form of the statement of claim, which had apparently been drawn up after careful consideration of the facts of the case. He gave judgment for the plaintiff for £36, no interest being allowed. Mr D. Cooke appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr W. R. M’Kean (Clyde) for the defendant. A statement on the question of the treatment of enemy subjects in the dominion was made by the Hon. A. L. Hordman at Wellington on the 2nd inst. (says the Post). Immediately on the outbreak of war, In said, an entirely new condition of affairs arose in Now Zealand. People who belonged to an enemy country must bo treated under the principles of international law, which were those: “When war breaks oill between two countries, an enemy subject who has resided in the country of the other enemy, so long as ho behaves himself, is entitled to go about his business in the ordinary way. Those are the instructions we got from the British Government. Anybody who makes himself a nuisance and expresses himself in a disloyal way will be taken possession of at once. We have at present about 200 prisoners, and we have taken steps to provide that every German in Now Zealand shall report himself to the police, and shall not be allowed to go from one part of the dominion to the other without obtaining a permit from the police.” In regard to enemy subjects who are in the public service, the Public Service Commissioner asked for instructions, and directions wore given to him by the Minister of Internal Affairs that all Germans not naturalised were to bo removed from the service. All Gormans naturalised were to be suspended unless the commissioner was satisfied that such persons were absolutely loyal. All Austrians, except Serbs and Croats, were to be similarly treated. If there was any question or doubt about a naturalised German or Austrian, such person must bo suspended ponding enquiry. The same rule would apply to any Turkish subject