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Otago Witness, Issue 3201, 21 July 1915, Page 52

A Tress Association telegram from Wellington states that the Prime Minister has received the following cablegram from the High Commissioner: —“I have been informed by the New Zealand Shipping Company that the East Asiatic Company, of Copenhagen, is approaching firms in New Zealand, asking them to act as agents for a steamer service from the Continent to New Zealand. This company has in the past had close working arrangements with German lines of vessels, and it is suspected f that the object of the jnoposed line is to protect the position of Gormans later on Any encouragement of this line might, in my opinion, indirectly assist German trade and shipping.” Since the latest advance in the price of butter, factories, so loading grocers state, arc supplying only one grade instead of three as formerly, and this one grade (says a Press Association message from Wellington) is the first, sold wholesale at Is 7gd and retail at Is 9d per lb. What has happened to the other grades?” one grocer was asked. “ They say they have none left,” was the reply. There is no compulsory grading of butter for the local market. That there are women living in 'Wellington who have a distinct leaning towards the Kaiser was brought home to two young women recently. While journeying in the tram car (says our Wellington correspondent) two young ladies were discussing the Kaiser in uncomplimentary terms. A middleaged woman was sitting opposite them, and heard the conversation. On alighting the woman passed the young ladies some distance from the tram terminus, and, turning round suddenly, slapped both in the face, remarking at the same time: ‘"Take that from the Kaiser.” ~ On the motion of Mr G. Hunter, M.P., the New Zealand Racing Conference on Thursday carried a resolution in order to allow of totalisator receipts being diverted to the patriotic funds. The resolution was: “ That notwithstanding the provision of Part VI, Rule 3, a club may, during the racing year from August 1 next until July ; 31, 1916, devote the-whole or any part of the not amount derived from the use of the totalisator during the previous year to any v. ar or patriotic fund, and any moneys so devoted shall not bo included in the not amount referred to in the rule.” The effect of the resolution is to suspend the application of the provision that no club shall give a loss sum in stakes than the net amount derived by such club from the use of the totalisator during the previous year. W*— Speaking on. the question of education leases at the meeting of the High School Board of Governors on the 19th, Mr D. T. Fleming expressed the opinion that, as a rule, educational authorities were not getting the full benefit of these leases. In , his opinion it would pay the department very much bettor if these lands were con--7 verted into freeholds. This he knew was a question of policy, but anyone who went round the country and was conversant with the conditions of these reserves in comparison with the surrounding lands, could come to no other conclusion than that the educational institutions and the Sltate would faro very much better if these lands were capitalised, and the interest paid to the institutions interested. The light winter rains which" have recently fallen, in South Canterbury have greatly improved the position in regard to the scarcity of feed for stock, ajid the warm days which followed caused the grass to commence growing. Another trouble is T now making itself felt, however, which is every bit as serious as shortness of feed, and that is a scarcity of water. A prominent Levels Counter farmer, in conversation with a Timaru Post reporter on Saturday, stated that his dam was quite dry, a state of affairs which had not occurred during the past 20 years to his knowledge, and that this was the case with hundreds of other dams throughout South Canterbury. Heavy and continuous rain was urgently needed to set this right, and failing this he predicted another dry summer to follow. Winter wheat was, he said, looking well, for there had boon a sufficient amount of rain to give it a good start, but without a wot subsoil tin's could not 4- iast, for the plant would have no moisture to keep it growing. On Friday, at 7.30 p.m., Constable Rowe, of Queenstown, received a telephone mes--dage from Craighton Station, 25 miles away towards Glcnorchy, and owned by Messrs Moiklcjohn Bros, and Stewart Duke, stat---iiig that Mr Duke was missing. Ho was last seen at 3.30 p.m. on Friday, close to his station and alongside Lake Wakatipu. lie was missed at 4 p.m., and a. search was immediately made by the station hands until "after dark, without success. Constable Rowe hired 'a motor launch and formed a search party, consisting of Dr Stewart, Messrs Edgar, W. Plank, and W. Robinson. They arrived at Craighton station at 1 a.m. on Saturday, and search was at once commenced, the station employees, consisting of about six hands, assisting. At 11.30 ,g».m. it was decided to search a deep creek

about half a mile distant. The missing man’s dog was found, and alongside the clog lay its master in a very weak condition. Mr Duke had lost his way, and had fallen over a sloping precipice about 60ft deep, covered with scrub and fern, which prevented him from falling heavily. Ihe scrub and trees also protected him from a severe frost. Mr Duke, who weighs 16st, and is 79 years of ago, had to bo carried a considerable distance on Constable Rowe s back. He had lost his hat, one boot, and his walking stick, and was slightly out about the forehead. Dr Stewart attended to him, and soon had him on the way of recovery. Messrs Meikcjohn Bros, and Dr Stewart deserve great credit for the part they took in the search, and the station hands did all that was possible. Mr Duke is a well-to-do farmer, and has lived on Craighton Station for over 40 years. He is very popular in the district. The men of H.M.S. Philomel, operating somewhere off the coast of Asia, arc having a strenuous time, but according to news received by the Defence Minister, they are doing well (says the Dominion). The harmonium sent to the ship from Wellington has not yet been picked up, owing to the ship having been moved about so much, but its whereabouts is known, and as soon as opportunity offers it will be taken on board. Inspector Norwood reports as follows concerning crime and police affairs in the Invercargill district during the year ended December 31: —1013 offences were reported, as against 903 in the preceding year, and 713 in 1913, being an increase of 110 for last year. Of the 1013 offences reported, 974 arrests or summonses resulted. Fiftyfive oases were committed for trial, resulting in 49 convictions in the Supreme Court. Throughout the district there has been no crime of an abnormal kind. Notwithstanding the increase of offences of the more serious class, the members of the force have, by assiduous attention to duty, successfully coped with the work, the criminal statistics showing only 39 undetected offences, out of a total of 1013. Our London correspondent mentions that in the report of the C.O. and D. Company, dated May 28, it is stated that frozen beef rejected by the Government has been sold at 7|d per lb for hindquarters and 6,jd per lb for forequarters. Good heavy beef, either Now Zealand or Australian, is hard to find, and is easy to sell at tall prices. The demand for frozen lamb continues to be surprisingly good considering the prices asked, and what slight weakness there was a fortnight previous has altogether disappeared. Canterbury lambs are again worth 8d to 3ld per lb, and North Islands have steadied at 7£d to 8d per lb. Stocks of New Zealand mutton have been steadily reduced, and the higher level of values nas been very fully maintained. The bulk of the business done is with contractors to public institutions, and the usual retail demand has dwindled to very small dimensions. Canterbury mutton is quoted at to 6|d per lb, and North Islands at fid to 6gd per lb. Ewes arc in good request, and have appreciated in value, light ewes selling at 6d per. lb, and heavier grades at a little less. An incident that is causing much amusement in a parish not far from Wellington (says the New Zealand Times) discloses an example of the old saying, “ Practise what you preach.” The vicar would not allow a raffle to be hold at any entertainment or function in connection with the church, and while the carnival was on in Wellington exhorted his flock from the pulpit not to take part in raffles or games of chance on the score of the element of gambling that presented itself in such like undertakings. The people, he stated, should give freely and not with the hope of gaining anything in return, as was the case with a number. Strange to relate the vicar’s wife has become the lucky possessor of the winning ticket in a raffle for a piano, .and now the vicar is wondering if ho has not made himself understood when his own household have failed to follow his instructions.