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Otago Witness, Issue 3196, 16 June 1915, Page 52

As there is reasonable ground to suppose that the persons, firms, or companies named below are engaged in business and communications of a nature injurious to the public safety, and the effective conduct of the military and naval operations of his Majesty during the present war, the Post-master-general of New Zealand has prohibited the forwarding of communications to them;—C. J. Gbaud and Co., Piraeus, Greece; Thr. Th. Alepondelis and Co., Piraeus, Greece; Stallknccht and Moyer, Copenhagen; Schweizerischo Aucr-Gcscll-schaft, Zurich; Socicte Suisse Auer, Zurich; Gautsch and Co., Amsterdam; Edward Dunoyer (Ltd.), Geneva; Max Lang, Genova; Gustav J. J. Witt and Co.'s Handclmaatschappij, Rotterdam.

Mr J. B. Laurenson (president of the Industrial Corporation) is considering further details of the scheme to establish a Now Zealand Board of Trade. Definite proposals, probably, will bo submitted to the Prime Minister soon before the session of Parliament begins (says the Lyttelton Times), and ho will be asked to introduce a Bill to establish the board.

At the Milton Court on Monday Clifford H. Hitchon was charged with driving a motor car at an excessive speed—namely, 18 miles an hour —on the District road. Tho speed limit is 10 miles an hour. The Inspector (Mr H. M'Gregor) said ho had tried moral suasion on a number of drivers in the district, but it had had no effect, and ho had been forced to take action. After evidence had been given, tho charge against tho defendant, who was represented by Mr Thomson, was dismissed.

A young Native tohunga named Nohi To Ngoho has been creating a good deal of interest and attention in the Waitara district by finding the locality of certain stones endowed with, great powers according to Maori tradition. Tho finding of a stone on Mr Bishop’s place at Bell Block is his latest achievement. A big crowd of Natives, as well as several Europeans, were in attendance, the Maoris wishing the pakoha to bo present. Tho tohunga chanted and then prayed to the God of tho Bible. The power, it is said, came to him, and he indicated tho spot where tho stone would bo found. Messrs Thos. Gardiner and J. H. Kirby took a hand with the spade, and after going down between four

and five foot they struck a hard substance. It was the mauri. It was rounded in form and carved on the top, with a hole in the side. In the hole the Maoris said there was a taniwhar-_J.t appears that this stone was stolon from Wainongoro some 45 years ago, since which time the Maoris there have had few fish. Now that the stone has been recovered it is believed that there will bo plenty. Mr Gardiner states that ho is convinced that the stone had lain where it was found for very many years. Laws are made by the people for the people, and may to some extent- be abrogated at- will. Thus on Saturday afternoon the spectacle was witnessed of lawabiding citizens hailed before a self-con-stituted tribunal and fined for imaginary offences in order to swell the funds being’ raised by the Queen Carnival for the dependents of our gallant soldiers who may bo killed or disabled, or for purchasing comforts for the -wounded heroes. This tribunal was constituted by those yvorking for the Queen of the Dardanelles. There wore ether supporters of the same aspirant for royal honours out on duty at night, as a party who had been assisting at an entertainment some miles out of Dunedin found to- their cost. They returned by a goods train, which landed them in Dunedin in the “wee. srna’ hours,” and were promptly “arrested'’ for being out after midnight on Saturday. A small fine, willingly paid towards a good object, secured their release, and it is not likely that anything further will be heard of their terrible offence.

A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that the wholesale price of butter has been advanced from Is 4gd to Is Sid per lb. The retail price is now Is 7d per lb.

The following telegram was despatched on Monday by Mr J. A. Johnstone (chairman of the Otago Queen Carnival Executive) to the Mayor of Timaru: —“Extremely gratified at splendid action of Timaru citizens in contributing over £2OO towards the Otago Queen Carnival on Saturday. Kindly extend through newspapers Otago’s heartiest appreciation and thanks.”