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Otago Witness, Issue 3214, 20 October 1915, Page 6

On behalf of tho Minister of Defence, tho Prime Minister said in tho House of Representatives on tho 12th that it was proposed to adopt the suggestion of Mr Malcolm, M.P., that returned wounded soldiers should bo used to assist recruiting. A beneficial result of the recent spell of fine weather is tho presence of large numbers of fish close inshore along tho coast, and local fishermen have reaped a rich harvest of late. It is stated on good authority that one oil-engined trawler, manned by two men, brought in a haul of 160 dozen flounders and soles a couple of days ago, and correspondingly good hauls have been made by other boats, few of which are, however, so well equipped as the one referred to. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that tho lion. Mr Russell asked leave to make an announcement in the House of Representatives on the 12th. Ho said that during the session many pleasant and gratifying announcements had been made of patriotism on the part of the people. The people of Otago had set a very fine example by establishing a fund for tho help of residents of Scotland and adjacent islands. During tho last few days ho had received a bank receipt for £IOOO, being tho proceeds of a fund which had been subscribed, and which had been sent to the High Commissioner for expenditure in the direction indicated, Tho whole oi tho details of the expenditure were left in the hands of the Hon. T. Mackenzie. Our Alexandra correspondent states that rain fell there all day on tho 9th. steadily, but lightly, 55 points being recorded lor tho day. The weather varies from tine, through mugginess, to tropical heat, and the growth is phenomenal. There is an entire absence of wind, and this has enabled the parched pasture to assimilate the moisture. A valuable experiment has demonstrated tho ability of orchardiets, fully equipped, to combat tho occasional frosts, which dealt a blow last year in places. This year frost was experienced one night, but did no damage. Some orchardiets, who are prepared for anything, tested the fire can experiment, using ordinary coal, and entailing little expense. They tested the ordinary temperature outside the orchard and fire-can area and that within the orchard and area, and the glass registered lldeg outside in ordinary atmosphere and 2deg inside the heated area, thus clearly proving that an extraordinary visitation of frost can be met with proper appliances and preparation. This war has brought out countless illustrations of the way in which the selfsacrifice and unselfishness of women may always bo depended on in a great crisis. Something of what they are now doing in tho Old Land is known to everybody, and here tho spirit is tho same. A prominent member of the Otago Women’s Patriotic Committee and Recruiting Committee proposes to give the lead in an avenue of service which, in the dominion at least, is practically untouched. This lady is offering her services to take the place of a man and free him for active service. She would not accept payment, but would hand all her earnings over to the dependents of the man whose place she fills. She is well qualified to undertake clerical work, and feels that there are many men who, if provision were

thus made for their families, would gladly answer their country's call in this hour of crisis. The lady indicated docs not desire for publicity, but agreed to this offer being made known with a view to leading other ladies with opportunities similar to her own to see if they cannot also be the means of freeing some man for active service. “I am exceedingly pleased with the work I have heard so far in New Zealand,” said Mr S. Myerscough to a Christchurch Press representative on the 10th. Mr Myerscough. is visiting Australia and New Zealand to conduct examinations on behalf of Trinity College of Musio. London. ‘‘The work, generally speaking,” ho said, “hac been excellent. I have examined some 1500 candidates so far, and only about 200 have failed. The schools have, on the whole, given excellent results of their training.” Mr Myerscough went on to say that what he particularly noticed was the excellence of the groundwork imparted to candidates. Their technique was splendid, “but,” ho said, “the higher work, interpretation—an intelligent conception of what their work really meant—was disappointing. Technique is only a means, an essential means, it is true, but the students seem unable to get beyond it. At the end of my examination I like to get hold of the teachers and talk to them about this deficiency, and bettor results, I hope, will bo obtained next year in this direction.” Although for obvious reasons details cannot yet be given, it is understood that there have been of late fairly substantial shipments of gold from Australia. The bulk of the consignments is believed to have been shipped for delivery at American ports. Soon after the outbreak of the war an arrangement was made between the Bank of England and the Australian Treasurer whereby gold intended to be paid to the institution was to be lodged to its credit in trust with the commonwealth authorities, the actual exportation of the metal being thus avoided for the time. Quite independently of that fund, which presumably is still held intact, shipments of rather considerable aggregate have been sent to New York, and by this means Australian debts to England have been partly liquidated, whilst by the same process a portion of London’s liabilities to Wall Street have been settled. The Melbourne Age, which records these facts, states that Nov/ Zealand also has drawn from the commonwealth a moderate total in specie, most of which reached the dominion in August. By an unfortunate mistake in our report, the recommendation presented by the Finance Committee at the meeting of the Patriotic and General Welfare Association on the 11th, relative to the investment of the Soldiers and dependents Fund, was made to bear an erroneous construction. The recommendation of the committee was that 50 per cent, of the sum available should be fixed for a term not exceeding 10 years, and that 40 per cent, should be invested by instalments extending over periods of, say, two, four, six, and eight years, leaving 10 per cent, for current requirements. It is understood that Mr H. D. Bedford, M.A., is being approached by a committee of the University Council with a view to his acceptance of the chair of history and political economy at the Otago University. This would moan the elevation of the lectureship that Mr Bedford now holds into a professorship. A well attended meeting of returned soldiers was held in the Otago Soldiers’ Club room, Y.M.C.A., on the 12th mst. to elect a management committee. After the Mayor had outlined the scope of the club, Mr Hughes (secretary of the Y.M.C.A.), informed the men of the facilities and privileges which would be extended to them. A provisional committee, consisting of Captain W. Fleming, Lieutenant O’Sullivan, Sergeant Johnson (secretary), and Sapper Clayton, was appointed to draw up rules and report to a further meeting. During tiro afternoon the Ladies’ Committee of the Y.W.C.A. provided an enjoyable cup of tea. At the meeting of the Otago Land Board on the 13th it was decided that no further money should bo expended on the experiments in re-grassing and cultivation that have been carried out on the Morven Hills run, and that the whole of the block, from the Main road to the eastward, be cut up into two small grazing runs. The Commissioner (Mr R. T. Sadd) said ho was satisfied that the land was too dry, and water was its chief need before crops or grasses could be more successfully grown than at present. The experiments had not been altogether a success, but lucerne and some of the deep-rooting grasses did fairly well. A Press Association telegram states that the wife of an Ashburton resident gave birth to triplets on the 12th inst., two girls (both of whom are well) and a boy (stillborn). The Glenorchy correspondent of the Wakatip Mail reports that recently the local postmistress had a very unpleasant experience on Lake Wakatipu in a small boat. The day before the incident she procured a small boat to cross the lake with a message for Kinloch. By the time she was ready to return to Glenorchy the lake was so rough that she was persuaded to stay at Kinloch all night. Next morning the lake was still stormy, but rather than bo late in opening the post office, she decided to cross at 6 a.m. She bad not got half-way across before the lake was so rough that it was impossible to reach Glenorchy or return to Kinloch, for if tho boat was put broadside to the waves it would soon have filled, so the occupant had to keep it straight before the wind and waves, and allow it to bo driven down tho lake. A man, seeing the danger, rode

rcmnd the head of tho lake and got another resident to go to tho rescue in his launch. When they reached tho boat it was nearly swamped, and the young lady was in an exhausted condition, her olocdirg hands giving evidence of the hard battle she had had with tho storm. However, she was not seriously the worse of her adventure.

At' a sitting of the Tapanui Court on tho 12th inst, James Duncan, alias John Duncan, alias Harris, was charged with forgery and uttering, and also forgery and attempted uttering (says the Courier). The accused pleaded not guilty,, and was committed for trial on both charges.

Nows ’has been received from Rarotonga reporting a rather serious state of things among the planters, owing to tho prolonged drought. It is stated that during tho past 12 months there has only been a rainfall of 20 inches, as against tho average of 70 inches. The effect of this abnormally dry season is evident in the banana plantations. Where at this time of the year the bunches should be packed with big well-developed fruit, the bananas are small and separately are wizened and sadly stunted. The Monana picked up some 2000 oases on her last trip, where in a normal season the number would have been nearer 6000 cases. Good rains are absolutely essential to tho banafia trees, but the orange crops do not suffer so severely from the drought. The latest development in planting is tho culture of the tomato, which in time will keep New Zealand supplied throughout the winter months. Some of the planters have something between 13,000 and 15,000 plants, and the climate and soil are said to be ideal for the perfect culture of the fruit.

An unusual application, tho first of its kind heard in New Zealand, was made at the Magistrate’s Court at Wellington on the 13th (says a Press Association telegram). The Director of Education asked to have a child committed to the Sumner School for Deaf Mutes. Its parents opposed tho application. The point at issue is whether tho child is, capable of receiving education in the ordinary manner. Mr Stevens, director of the Sumner School,' said tho child had become an expert in lip-reading—a result, no doubt, of instructions he had left with the parents some time ago. He thought it hopeless to attempt to teach the child in a public school. The child gave an exhibition of ability in lip-reading and answered questions shouted close to her ear. The magistrate agreed to Mr Wilford’s suggestion to send her to a convent for three months as a final test. The application was adjourned sine die. Second Lieutenant Hubert R. W. Meager, of the 3rd Australian Infantry, who was killed in action at the Dardanelles, soon after being given his commission for services in the field, was evidently well prepared for death. A letter received by his mother a few hours before the official intimation of his death reached her contained the following passage:— ‘ ‘During tho next few days we shall be facing death every minute. If lam taken off, do as the Roman matrons of old—keep your tears for privacy, steel your heart, and try and get a dozen recruits to fill my place. Pray hard for me, and, if God wills it, I shall ace it through with a clean heart, and if I emerge X hope I shall have proved myself a man and a leader, and thereby have justified the confidence of my commanders.”

The latest complaint to get a name of its own in this war of surgical surprises is “ trench back.” Many cases aro under treatment at the Kitchener Indian Hospital, Brighton. They come almost invariably from the trenches (says Captain Sandcs, ■writing in the British Medical Journal). Usually the injury is caused by sandbags or masses of earth hurled on the men’s backs by bursting shells. Some patients have been so seriously injured that they have had to be carried on stretchers; in milder cases the symptoms aro very like those of lumbago—the patient suffers severe pain and is unable to stand upright. Fortunately a rapid and effective euro has been found in ionisation with sodium salicylate, which is a method by which the drug is made to penetrate the skin by the agency of an electric current. Under this treatment, carried out in the electro-therapeutic department of the Kitchener Hospital, quite helpless men have recovered after a short course of treatment. A Press Association message from Wellington states that the first climb of Mount Cook this season was made on the 12th inst. by Mr H. Hanna, of Christchurch, who ascended the Hochstcttcr Dome (9258 ft), with Guides Ybung and Murrell. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that the arrivals in New Zealand from oversea during September totalled 1861, and the departures 1492, as compared with 2312 and 1 559 respectively a year ago. Official statistics in regard to immigration and emigration (excluding troops of expeditionary forces) show (says the New Zealand Times) that for August last there were 1124 male immigranfs and 795 females; total, 1919, of which 63 were Government assisted immigrants. For the same month, the emigrants were 1104 males and 661 females; total, 1765, showing an excess over immigration over emigration of 154. For August, 1914, the figures were: Male immigrants, 1670; females, 1157; total, 2827, of ■whom 415 were assisted by the Government; male emigrants, 1057; females, 526; total, 1583 j excess of immigration over emigration, 1244. For the first eight months of the present year, the returns show 9352 male immigrants, 6915 females, or a total of 16,247, of whom 344 were Government assisted; male emigrants, 9522; females, 6588; total, 16,210;; showing an excess of immigration over emigration of only 37. •For the first eight months of 1914, however,

there was an excess of emigrants over immigrants of no less than 1660 —male immigrants, 14,992; females, 10,070; total, 25,062, of whom 2446 were Government assisted; male emigrants, 16,414; females, 10.303; total, 26,722. Tho Rev. J. It. Sullivan-, assistant minister at tho Bank Street Methodist Church in Timaru,' who returned invalided fi-om tho Dardanelles, where he went as a corporal, has received word from tho Defence Department of his promotion to tho rank of chaplain-captain. It is understood that ho will be given an appointment by the department at on> of the training camps. Mr Sullivan received a bullet wound in tho jaw, injuring his vocal organs. For a time he lost his voice, but the treatment of a Wellington specialist has now restored the power of speech. While lying helpless on the battlefield, Mr Sullivan had an exciting experience, a Turk with a big knife coming up to him and cutting off his hoots, Mr Sullivan told a Timaru Herald representative that he intended going back to the firing line as soon as his medical adviser would permit him.

Captain J. A. Sloane, who arrived at Wellington from Sydney on the 11th inst. by the Moeraki, has had a remarkable experience during the present war, and has been recommended for the D.S.O. badge (says tho New Zealand Times). Captain Sloane proceeded with the Manchester infantry in the first expeditionary force from England, and went to Flanders, where he spent 10 months. He was present at the taking of Termoncle and Mahnos, the retreat from Mons, the battle of tho Marne, the great fight for Hill 60, and was stricken by gas at Ypres, which so affected one of his lungs that he is now on six months’ leave of absence to recruit his health. Captain Sloane has been 13 years in the Imperial Army, and has the silver medal for the Indian frontier campaign, and the King and Queen’s medal, with six bars, for tho South African campaign. He won his commission at Ladysmith. 'Captain Sloane has already much improved through his trip abroad, and is looking forward to returning to tho front on completion of his furlough. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that tho Appeal Court has reserved judgment in the case of J. Vigor Brown v. Knowles, affecting a bequest by the late Mr E. W. Knowles, of Napier, to charities, involving a largo sum of money.

As showing what straits some farmers were put to. in finding freezing space for cattle they could not feed last summer on account of the drought in the north, it is related that one stock-raiser at Te Tcko (Bay of Plenty) drove a mob overland to Rotorua, and from there entrained them to Hamilton, which place they reached on Christmas Day. They were fed in people’s backyards, and wherever there was a shimmer of green on the earth. After as long a stay as possible there the poor beasts were entrained to Wanganui, and were finally slaughtered there on May 26, exactly five months after they left homo. Another lot from Te Tcko met their fate at Wakatu (Hastings), the owner registering a loss of £6 a head by the time they were in store.

How the difficulty caused by the cessation of the supply from Germany of Stosfurhfe potash salts might be overcome was suggested in a letter that came before the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce on the Bth (says the Herald), from Mr R. R. Hunt. The writer pointed out that the price of caustic potash had increased since the outbreak of war from £25 to £IOO per ton. He suggested that the example of America might be followed, and seaweed utilised in the making of potash. Mr T. E. Cheescman, F.L.S., had informed him that them were immense beds of seaweed on various parts of the New Zealand coasts, notably at Akaroa and Stewart Island, whilst Captain Gocrtz, of the Northern Steamship Company, had stated that there was a largo bed off Mctiti Island, in the Bay of Plenty. Mr Hunt suggested that collecting and burning the seaweed would provide an industry for coastal dwellers, and that other deposits in the ocean or on other parts of the coast might be discovered if public attention .were drawn to the matter. The council decided that the matter was one for consideration by agricultural and pastoral societies, to whom Mr Hunt was referred.

On Monday, the jlth, a cargo of about 1200 cases of Californian apples was landed in Dunedin, and in due course the fruit was disposed of under the hammer, meeting with a ready sale. It has been reported to us that a largo portion of the apples was affected with Codlin moth, and inquiries made by a member of our stair would point to the conclusion that the allegation is fully warranted. One agent who received a few hundred cases was quite frank in the information ho vouchsafed. He said there was no doubt that the fruit was infected with Codlin moth, that it was condemned by the local inspector, and that ho was given the alternative of having his consignment burnt or reshipping it elsewhere. The agent decided to reship his apples to Sydney, which is an open port, and at once made arrangements to get them away. When, however, it was discovered that the fruit was held up, telegrams were sent to Wellington from agents, entering a protest, and the following day intimation was received that the fruit was to bo released, and it was therefore landed and sold at auction. We havo been unable to

ascertain the reason why the fruit was released, but one suggestion is that a parcel of fruit, grown by the same Californian orchardist who sent the consignment to Dunedin, -was landed in Weliington, when

it was presumably decided that that parcel at least was free from disease. Another agent who was interviewed on the matter of the Dunedin shipment, states that the fruit was not condemned by the inspector, it was simply held up on suspicion, awaiting instructions from Wellington. The agent first interviewed stated, however, that there was no question about the apples being infested with the moth, and he then took one of them, cut it in two, and gave our reporter ocular proof of the truth of his statement.

A commission will sit at Invercargill on the 21st inst. before Judges M'Gormick and R-awson, of tho Native Land Court, in connection with tho Waiau reserve case.

The following case of eagerness to fight for the Empire may prove interesting, and may act as a beneficial stimulus to some of our doubtful starters : —Corporal Herbert William Stevenson, of the 20th Battalion, London Regiment, is a Musselburgh boy, not yet 17 years of age, hut nearly 6ft high, was so keen to fight for the Empire that he went up to Christchurch and enlisted. Failing to get through there, ;oe went down to Lyttelton, and secured a situation as steward on the s.s. Mamari. He arrived in London on a Saturday, and enlisted in Kitchener’s army on the Monday, his memory probably being rather defective when the question of age cropped up. He must have reached the trenches in France at tho beginning of August. This must bo about a record, as he left Wellington on June 10. He writes to his parents under date August 23 from the Convalescent Hospital at Epsom, saying that ho had been three weeks in hospital, having been twice wounded by shrapnel—namely, on the fourth and fifth days in the trenches. He expected to get back to the base in France in three weeks from the time ho wrote.

Our Queenstown correspondent informs us that Francis Baton Philp died suddenly on tho 13th inst. A post mortem examina tion -was hold, and at tne inquest a verdict was returned that death was duo to pneumonia and heart disease, hastened by alcholic liquor.

At the monthly meeting of the Outram Town Board on Wednesday evening a quotation was received from the Dunedin City electrical engineer for the erection of five new street lights in extension of the present lighting system. Tho members discussed the question of proceeding with the work at the quotation given, which was considered excessive, and eventually decided to postpone the matter in the meantime. Nominations will close at Mcsgicl on the 23rd inst. for the election of a trustee for the West Taicri, Mom on a, Snow, Leo Creek, and Lakes subdivisions respectively of the Western Taicri Drainage Board. In the event of more than one nomination being received an election will bo held on November 1. At the Balolutha Court mi the 15th a youth named Campbell Gumming was charged with stealing a bod quilt from Cochrane Weir (Stirling) on October 12. The value of the article was sot down at 255, but Senior-sergeant Dart, who prosecuted, asked it to bo amended to 10s. Air W. C. Hay, for accused, pleaded not guilty. Evidence was given by Mr and Mrs Weir that Gumming had worked for them on their dairy farm for 14 months, starting at 10s a week, and finally getting £1 and board. His behaviour was good, and hitherto he had been honest. About eight months ago Airs Weir lent him.an old bod quilt fer his hut. On Tuesday morning Mr Weir found that the boy and the quilt were missing. Tho previous night he had paid Gumming £3 (his full wages), as accused said he wanted the money to pay a creditor. The accused did not say anything -bout going away. The accused, in ids evidence, said he had been given to understand that Mis Weir dirt not want the quilt returned. He had had some words with Weir on Saturday because the latter was reported to have said to someone that he was not a good worker. He got up at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, and walked to Balolutha, wherehe caught the 7.30 train. He did not intend to take tho quilt, but in his hurry of packing up he nut it with his other stuff. Tho Magistrate (Air Young) said that he did not think tho quilt had been taken with any criminal intent, and the accused would be discharged.

The New Zealand Board of Agriculture recently had a long conference with the Secretary of Agriculture (Mr Pope), MiBrown (Director of Fields), and Mr Aston (Agricultural Chemist), as to the best way of assisting the fruitgrowers and the local Agricultural Committees sat up on the recommendation of the Council of Agriculture to carry out useful experimental work in different centres. The matter of carrying out experiments to determine the most effective substitute for basic hag, the price of which (says tho Wellington Post) has been greatly increased owing- to the war, was also carefully gone into with Messrs Pope, Brown, and Aston, and arrangements were made to commence experiments in different localities, from which it is expected that valuable information will be obtained.

Education in the Auckland backblocka is still carried on under difficulties and limita-

tions which (says tho Star) serve to whet tno appetite for •■lie boon of schooling, and make tho school r .cl "'s governing committee an important institution among the bush communities. The enlistment of sc many school teachers, and the consequent reduction of tho resources of the Auckland Education Board, has necessitated the amalgamation under tho half-time system of schools in tho country. Tho Maroretu School Committee objected to the proposed system. Vainly the chairman of tho board appealed in board meeting to the country

districts to be loyal and self-sacrificing at a period of special difficulty. The residents pointed out that full-time teachers were being advertised for for schools with a less average attendance than theirs—which had grown to 25—and promptly resigned office to give emphasis to the protest. Tire Education Board proceeded to appoint a teacher, and duly despatched her to the district. Tho now schoolmistress found an empty school, for tho whole of the parents had joined tho school committee and had struck against the board. In duo course tho truant officer sent warnings to tho parents, and, in reply, received a bunch of telegrams, all couched in the same phrasco-

logy:—“Will send WilHo So-and-so to school when full-time school is restored.” A few of tho strikers later capitulated, but a dozen parents wore brought before Mr Page, S.M., who specially eat at Maungauroto to settle tho matter, and on Tuesday the Auckland Board was notified that the defendants had each been fined 19s, and costs.

Diminished purchasing power of money is tellingly shown by tho Government Statistican (Mr M. Fraser) in a table which gives the loss of 2s 4|d for the average of the four centres during the Juno quarter of 1915 (says tho Wellington Post). In other words, what one could buy for £1 in 1906 cost £1 2s 4|d in 1815. Taking the cities individually, tho amount of money required to buy what could be bought for £1 in the years 1909 to 1915, is in Wellington £1 4s 101 d; Auckland, £1 Is 8;]d; Christchurch, £1 Is l|d; and Dunedin, £1 Is lid. This is a practical proof of the rise in the cost of living. In tho prices of groceries, dairy produce, and meat the increase of all three combined in Wellington is 13.30 per cent, for August 14 last over July 31, 1914.

Referring in the House on tho 12th inst. to tho price of meat, Sir Joseph Ward remarked (says tho Wellington Post) that in New Zealand during tho months of July, August, and September it was almost impossible to get bullocks. If, as had boon alleged, fivo men had had to £0 out of business as butchers, because of the excessive cost of meat, what was going to happen if they took all the war profits away from all the people who were making those profits. At the present moment they were taking over a million sterling per annum out of the pockets of those who were making war profits. Other difficulties connected with the problem would bo considered by the Board of Trade which it had been proposed to set up.

There are now 93 men, women, and children under the care of the Jubilee Institute for tho Blind, Auckland, including 14 who live outside and go daily to work. Tho number who have benefited by residence totals 220, in addition to very many who have been taught to read and write at their own homes. The war has adversely affected the subscriptions and donations to tho institute’s funds. Pupils are taught pianoforte tuning, woodwork, shorthand, and typewriting. Some of the pupils have had great success at the university examinations. One of them, tho Rev. F. Chitty, AI.A., is a lecturer at St. John's Theological College, Auckland. Stocking-knitting by machinery is also being taught with success. For all the advantages that tho pupils receive in equipping them for their fight against tho world, it is stated that very few succeed in earning anything like sufficient to keep themselves. “ Too much care and thought, therefore, cannot bo given to the most important work of tho ‘ after care ’ of tho blind.”-

War increases in retail prices are eefc out in a lengthy table in the September monthly Abstract of Statistics. For the four chief centres the percentage of increase in prices ruling on August 14, 1915, as compared with those for July 31, 1914, are as rollcw; — Groceries : Auckland, 17.88 per cent, increase ; Wellington, 21.30 per cent.; Christchurch, 12.91 per cent.; Dunedin, 19.13 per cent. Dairy produce: Auckland, 13.10 per cent, increase; Wellington, 8.25 per cent.; Christchurch, 11.33 per cent.; Dunedin, 10.23 pc' cent. Meat: Auckland, 4.69 per cent, increase; Wellington, 7.43 per cent. : Christchurch, 15.42 per cent.; Dunedin, 8.90 per cent. Groceries, dairy produce, and moat combined: Auckland, 11.65 per* cent, increase; Wellington, 13.20 per cent.; C hristchurch, 13.44 per cent.; and Dunedin, 13.53 per cent, increase.

In its memorandum to the Inangahua Mine and Dredge Employees’ award, the Arbitration Court makes an interesting pronouncement: —“The court has not made provision for the employment of youths as requested by tho employers. Theso youths, to be suitable for the work, it was stated, would require to bo between 19 and 21 years of age, and bo strong and active. The court does not think it should offer any inducement to youths of this description to stay at homo and follow the inglorious occupation of raking stones down a shuts

when a nobler career is open to them in tho service of their King and country.”

During his sojourn in San Francisco, Judge William H. Taft, the ex-Presidcnt of tho United States, paid a visit to the Now Zealand pavilion at the San Francisco Exposition. Ho displayed tho utmost interest' in the exhibits of New Zealand, especially in the wool and woollen goods, and also in tho delightful pictures of New Zealand winch grace the walls of the national pavilion. Tire representation of New Zealand scenery, as cleverly depicted by Mr Worsley, tho well-known New Zealand artist, v, as greatly admired, and the exPresidoni appreciated very considerably the fact that the British communities had responded so liberally to the call of America to the Panama Exposition. Commissioner Edmund Cliftci, extended an enthusiastic

welcome to tho noted American juriststatesman, and, subsequently referring to

tho visit, Mr Clifton said: “Ex-President Taft hoped that New Zealand’s participation at the San Francisco’s World’s Fair would bring- about closer relations and greater bonds of friendship between tho two great Anglo-Saxon countries of tho United States and Now Zealand. Ho said that he had been a close student and admiror of tho legislation of New Zealand, and considered that nation ono of tho most progressive in the wholo world. Ho was particularly enthusiastic in hi 3 remarks anent tho freedom of tho great dependencies of Great Britain, and said that circum-. stances alone had led to tho best results from tho enterprising men who had settled in those oversea countries. Tho response of its sons to tho Empire, ho added, was but tho tribute to tho liberality with which the Mother Country had extended beneficent treatment to tho great daughter States of the British Empire. It had resulted in an outpouring of tho oversea dominions in a manner unequalled in the world's pasthistory. The independence of thought, tho characteristic of all thoso countries, concluded cx-PresJdcnt Taft, and the closer relationship between tho United States of America and those British dependencies were strengthening the minds of the men of those kindred lands, for the aspirations of all true Americans and Britishers were decidedly identical in character and aim.”-

Tho reason for New Zealand’s present prosperity is fully explained in certain figures showing the value of New Zealand produce exported during tho 12 months ended September 30, which figures wero made available by tho Hon. Mr Massey on tho 16th insb. (our Wellington correspondent telegraphs). In tho first six months of tho year under review the value of tho exports was £12.539.960. In tho next three months the total was nearly .doubled, rising to £23,644,783, and the gross total for the year was £29,341,179. Those figures do not include imports re-exported to such places oo Rarotonga, Tonga, and Fiji, which would amount to about £750,000. The total of £29,341,179 represents the dominion’s surplus production. “Tho man who stays at home —that is, tho man of military age, who has no obligations to keep him back, —is not a man at all, in my opinion,’’ was the remark passed to a New Zealand Times reporter by a wounded soldier who returned to Wellington from Gallipoli by tho Maitai. The spordter was wounded severely in the head in the heavy fighting against the Turks at Quinn’s Post,and he is most anxious to return to tho firing lino, but his wound is of such a nature that he is partly denf and his eyesight ia affected. This trooper expressed his hatred for the Germans, and stated that he had evidence of the cruelty practised by tlio enemy on harmless women and children. At Cairo, he said, ho saw a woman who had both her hands cut off at tho wrists by tho Germans before she escaped from Berlin after war was declared, while her little gu’3, aged about eight years, had both her eyes gouged out. The trooper also said that this woman’s husband was placed against a wall and bayoneted by the Germans in her presence.

When addressing the Ashburton County men who left on the 13th inst. for the training camps in the North Island, the Rev. Father J. J. O’Donnell gave a very vigorous denial to rumours, which, he said, had been spread about concerning him (eaje the Guardian). Ho stated that a report had been circulated to the effect that ho had advised members of his flock not to volunteer for active service. In refuting- such an unfounded and base charge 'he dared not trust himself to the use of the King’s English. Ho had to say, however, that tho charge was absolutely fake, and whilst ho said that ho would like to add the suggestion that tho people who had so maliciously spread such calumnies concerning him could be better employed at a time of national crisis like tho present. Ho asked j How could anybody with a sense of decency do anything but strive to swell the armies that were out to fight in tho sacred cause

of patriotism and freedom ? Who, he asked, would be so base as not to fight for freedom and for the honour of- the country of their -birth ? He said he trusted he would hear no more of such vile and untruthful rumours. A special Wanganui message to the Christchurch Press states that a matter of considerable importance to junior railway employees has been initiated by Mr P, C. Fan?, station master at Turakina—namely, a suggestion for dealing with the superannuation fund and tho subsidy of £25,000 which it is credited with annually. According to Mr Fans, this sum is invested, and earns interest ftt tho rate of about 3-J per cent., and ho suggests j that the department should utilise the £25,000 annually in the erection of dwellings in various centres for the ueO of junior married railway employees—tho proposition being a good one for tho juniors, and a sound and remunerative investment by the department, resulting in an increased 1 income for tho superannuation fund. * Supposing,” said Mr Fans, ‘‘the £25,000 were utilised in the erection of 50 houses 'per

annum, each hoirso costing, approximately, with land, £SOO. These houses could bo rented to juniors, say, at 10s per week, which would result in an income equal to 5 1-5 per cent, on tho capital invested. This in itself would he better than 3i per cent.

at present earned, besides which the houses would prove a distinct benefit to tho employees.” The average junior, he points out, is at present paying approximately 15s per week for house rent. Tho scheme suggested, it ia claimed, would save him at least ;Bi3 per annum in rent. The houses, hi.r Fans maintains, should bo erected only for the benefit of employees receiving less than £220 per annum.