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Otago Witness, Issue 3212, 6 October 1915, Page 13

A Press Association message from Wellington states that the Postal Department has decided that in future letters posted without a halfpenny war tax stamp will be surcharged one penny. The present Dunedin Gaol will shortly bo devoted to more peaceful uses than it has been in the past. It is intended to remove the prisoners elsewhere, and the present gaol premises will be used for offices, etc., a portion being utilised for the reception of the Supreme Court library. Details of the proposed alterations are not at present available. It is stated that in one of the huts at Trentham there are six men each of whom has an income of £2OOO a year. A resident of Taranaki, who enlisted as a private, has an income of £ISOO a year.

A Press Association telegram states that a deputation has left Westport for Wellington to make representations to Ministers in regard to the decision in the Public Works Statement to do nothing further on the Westport-Roefton railway this year beyond completing the faces. At a public meeting it was stated that close on £50,000 had been expended on the work, and unless the construction of the lino was expedited all this would be idle. The deputation will point out that the Government Geologist has stated that the Inangahua Valley and immediately surrounding districts, which the line would open up, contain one of the largest beds of coal in New Zealand. The timber resources are also known to be of groat value for mining and building purposes.

Writing to Mr J. R. Scott (secretary of the South Island Dairy Association), under date August 10, a London merchant has this to say; “Thoso who have visited London will know quite well Lyons’s refreshment shops, which in London alone numbersome hundreds, and are to be found in every quarter of the metropolis.- The same can be said of the Aerated Bread Company’s tea shops, and the Express Dairy Company, and the J.P. restaurants. All of these establishments provide cheese in thenmenu. If you require cheese you order what is termed a ‘portion.’ At the present time the cheese portion costs Igd and weighs loz, so these places are soiling cheese at 224 s per cwt. These cheese can bo purchased at 74s wholesale, so it leaves not a bad profit. Incidentally, the charge of l£d keeps people from dating cheese. During pre-war times the price of a portion of choose was Id for loz.” “There is a fiction abroad,” says the Public Service Journal in its latest issue, “that the average public servant is a fortunate individual who draws a high salary for doing very little work. An analysis of the last classification list produces the following result: 4392 officers drawing £260 or under per annum, and 977 officers drawing more than £260 per annum. The second group includes 401 officers drawing £315 per annum or less, and 383 officers drawing £425 per annum or leas. From the above it will bo seen that the rank and file of the service, that is to say, those officers who receive salaries up to £260 per annum, are in the largo majority, those

receiving higher salaries being responsible officers, experts, and professional men, and these two latter classes would, if not in the employ of the State, command equal or greater remuneration in private employment or practice. The Public Service Commissioner in his last report complains that there is a dearth of officers competent to fill positions of responsibility, but omits to state the reason- Wo believe this emergency arises from the fact that the salaries paid are too low to Induce many brilliant men to remain in the service in the hope of reaching what may be termed the prize positions. These men are attracted by higher pay and better prospects in employment outside the service, so it eventually happens that there is a falling offl in general efficiency.” A Press Association message states that the coal shipments from Westport last week wore: Westport Coal Company, 10,134 tons 14 cwt of coal and 17 tons 13 cwt of coke; Westport-Stockton Company, 4063 tons 18 cwt.

The term of leave of a large number of the members of the Seventh Reinforcements being up, they took train for the north on Saturday, leaving by the second express. A big crowd of friends and well-wishers assembled on the station, and gave the men a hearty send-off. Men who in summer time gather the dominion’s wool clip have many representatives on Gallipoli, and it is anticipated by people in a position to judge that sheep farmers will bo faced with difficulties during the shearing season (says the Wellington Post). Advices from parts of Australia where shearing has already commenced are to the effect that there is a marked shortage of workers; in consequence, a smaller number than usual will visit New Zealand this season. In quarters where this is ‘known it is stated that runholders would be well advised to commence shearing a little earlier than usual, in order that the shortage of workers may be mot by a lengthened season. Otherwise, when the season is in full swing, employers will bo competing with each other for the services of workers. Under such circumstances they would bo inviting requests from individuals for increased rates. It is this state of affairs, it is reported, which has led already to demands by the Native shearers of the Poverty Bay and East Coast districts.

An interesting point of law as it relates to the maintenance of illegitimate children was decided by Mr Cooper. S.M., in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday (says the Post). Some years ago William Klein was ordered to contribute towards the support of a child of whom he had been adjudged the putative father. Under the law as it then stood the order expired when the child (a boy) reached the ago of 14 years. The mother now sought another order for maintenance under the law of 1909, which makes the father of an illegitimate child responsible until the latter reaches the age of 16. Mr A. Dunn supported the application and Mr E. G. Jcllicoe opposed it. After hearing the argument, his Worship decided that he could make an order under section 85 of the new Act. Defendant was therefore ordered to pay 7s 6d per week, £3 15s for past maintenance, and £1 Is costs. Security for appeal was fixed at £7 7s. Addressing the Stoke Fruitgrowers a few days ago on methods of fruit marketing, Mr Torode, who will shortly proceed on active service, said (reports the Nelson Mai!) that some five or six years ago it was felt that the fruit-growing industry was in a very had way. In the formation of a company at Moutero a good many difficulties had to be faced. They had had in Mctucka several co-operative attempts, which had not been particularly happy, and it was quite impossible to get any growers to sign on. They started off 'without a single shareholder ; in fact, they had very little capital at all. Last year they had done £IO,OOO worth of business on a capital of £56. This year they were taking large orders for fruit at 4s 6d, 5s 3d, and 5s 9d a case, according to grade. Now cool stores were required, and instead of the Moutcre (Ltd.) issuing new shares a new company was being formed with a capital of £IO,OOO for this purpose.. The greatest difficulty in regard to companies of this kind was the handling of stone-fruit. The success of the Moutere Company he attributed very largely to the fact that growers were free agents. In spite of this freedom it was a fact that this year on going round not a single member had refused to sign on for his crop. In regard to being able to carry on with so little capital, Mr Torode said that export was sound business. Five days after the fruit passed through their hands on the Motucka wharf they were paid, and able in turn to pay the growers. Export amounted to’ £6700 of the total turnover of £IO,OOO. In regard to local trade, they obtained a cheque on the 10th of each month, and their arrangement was that each month they paid the grower for fruit sent in the previous month.

A find which would appear to open out no small field of possibilities was made by a resident of Kurow last week (says the Star). Ho was engaged in fossicking near his homestead, when he unearthed a small stone of peculiar colour. The discovery has since been shown to several who profess more than a passing knowledge of precious stones, and all t have expressed the belief that tne stone is an opal, coarse, but quite pure. Further prospecting is being carried out in the vicinity of the find.