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Otago Witness, Issue 3234, 8 March 1916, Page 5

A Press Association message states that a warning that the delay in the delivery of goods is likely to become worse has been received by an Auckland firm from a large London house. "We have to contend with endless delays and obstacles on the railways, 1 " the firm wrote on January 18. The shipping situation has become really distressing, and each day a new record of freights is established." During the course of her address at the Women's National Reserve meeting at South Dunedin on 29th ult. Mrs Patrick Marshall, when emphasising tho need for organising the women of Otago, said, "If wo can have capable workers ready, we can take away one of tho reasons the 'shirkers' give for not enlisting—that, if they enlist, their absence at the front will cause them to lose their positions, which, probably, will not be kept open for them, —for it must be clearly understood that our National Reservists aro asked to carry on the work, but to withdraw at once when the men whose substitutes they aro return from serving their country." Tho births in the Dunedin district for tho month of February, as compared with February, 1915, totalled 147, against 140—an incrcaso of seven. The deaths show a decided decrease, the figurea being 54, as against 74. It is to bo hoped that a similar state of affairs will continue throughout tho year. Last year holds the unenviable distinction of showing tho second largest number of deathg in the history of the city—936,—being exceeded only in 1913, when the number was 955. The marriages last month showed an increase of 18 over February, 1915, numbering 48, as against

30. The increase, no doubt, is largely attributable to the fact that a great many soldiers have been getting married since the beginning of the year. A Press Association telegram states that the vital statistics for the Wellington district for February aro as follow, the figures for the corresponding month last year being given in parentheses : Births, 180 (168); marriages, 103 (76); deaths, 69 (53). Tho figures for January and February are as follow: —Births, 374 (355); marriages, 193 (163); deaths, 145 (110). Speaking at tho Women's National Reserve meeting at South Dunedin on the 29th ult., Mrs P. Marshall said: "In England the Women's Emergency Corps was actually in existence within two days of the declaration of war. Its original object was to give employment to middle-class women thrown out of work by the war. With amazing celerity, in two weeks it had received and classified over 10,000 candidates for service—doctors, dispensers, nurses (trained and untrained), interpreters, chauffeurs, and motorists; also, in place of men. tram and 'bus conductors, lift women, ticket collectors, taxicab drivers, etc. At first there was little or no demand for these energetic feminino substitutes; but tho pioneers of the enterprise had faith, and more than faith. They had forecasted the future, and with accuracy. As tho war drafted more and more men into the armies, the women, quite proficient, ably replaced them." In tho Legislative Council of Fiji, on February 11, the Hon. Mr Scott moved — "That, in the opinion of this Council, early steps should be taken to prevent enemy tradora carrying on business within the colony, and. if necessary, special legislation should bo passed to deal with the matter." After considerable discussion, in the course of which the Attorney-general laboured tho difference between naturalised and unnaturalisod Germans and the legal difficulties in the way of taking drastic action, the Acting-Governor agreed to receive the motion "as an expression of opinion from the elected side of the House," and to submit it to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

The Bill imposing an export duty of 5s per ton on sugar passed through its final stages at the sitting of the Legislative Council, Fiji, last month. The duty came into operation as from January 1 last. In the course of the debate on the Bill the Hon. Mr Kennedy declared that the duty would be passed on to the planters, and it was a mistake to imagine that the planters were well off. Three-fifths of the planters on the southern side of the island, he said, were heavily in debt, and lived upon the generosity of the Sugar Company, which made them a living allowance. Many who started planting 10 years ago were to-day no better off than when they started. The general manager of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company, in the course of a communication to the Government, remarked, in reference to the continuation of the duty of 2s 6d per ton of cane to the planters : "We shall, of course, take all the taxes we now pay into account in the matter." A cable message has been received at Christchurch from Mr W. G. Jamieson (chairman of the New Zealand National Committee of the Y.M.C.A.), now in Egypt, as follows: —"Arrangements have been made to specialise on New Zealand inquiries for New Zealand men and others. Get the Press Association to discourage sending money to soldiers." With regard to the latter part of the cablegram (a Press Association message says), it is thought to refer to bogus applications for money which have been occasionally mado to parents all over New Zealand. Mr Jamieson's appeal has probably been mado to prevent people in the dominion from being victimised.

"The sooner corporal punishment is abolished in the schools the bettor," said Mr G. J. Garland (chairman of the Auckland Education Board) in the course of an interview recently. He added that he had held tho opinion for the past 30 years, and had seen no reason to change it. Corporal, punishment, except for very grave offences, such as lying, thieving, or grave misconduct, should not be tolerated in the service, as a teacher has a remedy by securing the expulsion of the offender from the school. He knew of schools where corporal punishment had not been resorted to for 13 years, and of others in which it had never been inflicted. The work in such schools had been shown to be excellent. " Not during tho 15 years I have been an officer have I seen so much poverty as exists in Timaru at present," said Adjutant Smith, of tho Salvation Army, to a Post reporter on the 29th ult. Adjutant Smith has had long experience in working among tho poor, his experience reaching even as far as South Australia, in which State of tho commonwealth he was stationed a few years ago. "Conditions arising from the war," added tho adjutant, "and the present high cost of living havo had a most disastrous effect, and never within my knowledge have I had so many appeals for assistance as during the past few months. Wives and families of casual labourers are finding life a particularly hard fight in these times, and in several cases tho struggle has proved heartbreaking, and tho women folk havo been compelled by circumstances to appeal for assistance." That the appeals havo been genuine goes without saying, for a man who has had such long exporienco of work among the poor, and who is engaged at this work in Timaru at least six day 3 a week cannot easily bo imposed upon. Adjutant Smith is doing everything in his power to relievo the cases which are coming under his notice, but his task is by no means an easy one, for funds are short. He mentioned several instances of poverty which have come within his experience—in one case a wife and five child-

en being- practically on the verge of starva-

ion, while the children were without proper

clothing-. That was the worst case, but others were almost as sad, and clothes and food were the urgent need.

Sir W'estby Pcrcival, writing from London on December 24 to an old friend in Christchurch, says : "This country is at last taking tho war seriously, and after making our usual blunders we have learnt our lesson and are tackling the job properly. We shall win, right enough, and handsomely, but a little more forethought and tho application sooner of business methods would have saved millions, and thousands of valuable lives. Tho New Zealand and Australian troops havo done wonders, and earned the admiration of all classes, especially the military critics. In fact, tho dominions are fast coming out on top, and will, by their virility, save tho Empire. This looks like 'big talk,' but there is much truth in it. On the whole, I suppose Australasia and Canada are making more money out of the war than they arc losing—poor compensation for tho loss of tho valuable lives, but something to set against tho bill." Mrs Patrick Marshall gave some of tho younger members of her sex in Wellington some good advice on 29th ult., when she said: "Wo want to spread such a spirit among our girls that they would scorn to do as wo hear has boon done in Wellington. SSomo girls havo actually been taking the pay of men, and sometimes of more than one man, and living on it, rather than do honest work to keep themselves." South Otago farmers arc asking that thero shall bo no prosecutions this year on account of Californian thistles. The harvest has come on rapidly, and at an earlier date than usual, and there is a shortage of labour. These facts alone would, they hold, justify the Department of Agriculture in publicly notifying that there would be no prosecutions this year. But tho thistle has ceased to bo a terror to farmers. They declare that it is not the noxious weed it was thought to be, and, if cut as the farmer can find it, and allowed to wilt in tho sun, it makes a splendid food for stock just at tho time grass is often going off. Farmers complain that their views have little weight with the department, and they aro being urged by some of tho more active to lose no chance of putting their case before a Minister of tho Crown whenever one visits Otago. The resentment against prosecutions grows from year to year.

An interesting innovation will in all probability bo introduced into the Wellington Technical School in the near future. Tho director (Mr W. S. La Trobe) informed tho board at its meeting on tho 25th ult. that ho-vhad been in communication with tho Government biologist in connection with tho question of establishing a course suitable for produce- managers and others who had to deal with seeds, manures, etc., and often had to advise farmers in such matters. There was every prospect of establishing an exceedingly useful class, provided they could secure tho services of a competent instructor. That, Mr La Trobe hoped, they would bo able to do by co-operation with tho Agricultural Department.

In the gazetted list of clergymen licensed to officiate at marriages appear the names of 10 Maori members of the Ringatu Church. The Ringatu form of religion is practically the Hauhau form of worship, of which the high priest ut one time was To Kooti, and later the wily Urewera recalcitrant, Rua. The scheme of worship is a continuous uplifting of the hands, and tho rupid chanting of a mixture of Old and New Testament phrases interlarded with Native ideas regarding tho Deity. Tho 10 ni"n who represent the Church have now tho right to claim tho prefix of jroverend to their names, and their right t« that honour has already been accepted by the Government Printer.

"This is tho most extraordinary case I havo ever come across in my experience, stated Mr W. A. Barton, S.M., at the Gisborno Police Court the other morning, when an application was/lmade for the cancellation of an order which was made against the defendant, by consent, in an affiliation case (reports the Poverty Pay, Herald). Tho solicitor' who made tho application said that at cording to his instructions it was impossible that defendant

j could have been the father of the child. ■ This was quito clear from 'what ho had ; since learned from defendant and complain- : ant's mother-. His Worship made the comI ment given above, and said it was a parti- ! oularly peculiar case, seeing that defendant had admitted the allegation, and hail con- ! scntcd to an order declaring him the putaI tive father. The ajjplication was granted, j and an application for sureties was withdrawn.

A derangement of tho egg market seems 1 to have occurred, the primary reason attributed being tho importation of large quanti- ! ties of Asiatic eggs (says the Wellington j Post). Mr Simpson, manager of tho New ! Zealand Poultry Industries (Ltd.) stated on ! tho 26th ult. that fresh eggs, wholesale, in j Wellington on Thursday were Is 9d a dozen; ! on Saturday they were, a glut at Is 7d. ' Asiatic cgg3 were quotod at Is 5d a dozen, 1 and it was this importation from China [ which was causing the slump. Ho added ! that a good deal was being said about ' patriotism, but hero was a practical illustration of how our own industries could be | affected by tho pursuit of foreign articles. i Fowl food was extremely dear as the result of tho war, and, if tho industry was further threatened, as seemed likely, many poultrymen would have to go out of business. It might be recalled that, prior to tho war, i many hundred thousand dozen eggs were imI ported by confectioners from Germany. Tho j fact that this supply, which was suddenly j stopped, has had to bo met has no doubt j affected the position.

A Press Association message from Wellington states a Gazette Extraordinary has been issued empowering tho Minister of Defence to exercise censorship and prohibit the exhibition of moving pictures representing events in the course of or relating to tho present war. Another Gazette prohibits the export of any goods to Switzerland without tho Customs Minister's permission.

"What is there a married woman with little time to spare can do?" was a question asked at tho meeting' of tho Women's National Reserve at St. Clair on tho Ist. Miss M'Lean was ready nt onco with a good answer. Married women with young families wero fully occupied, ehe said, and they were certainly occupied in tho very best possible way for the country. But perhaps even they might do a little more. They might look after for part of tho day the child of some other woman who was an expert in some particular line, and. so free her for national service. "It would not make much difference, would it," said Miss M'Lean coaxingly, "just to have one or two more children to look after for an afternoon?" Tho laughter that greeted the question seemed to indicate some doubt on tho point among tho ladies present.

A short and impressive service was held on tho Ist inst. in tho chapel of St. Hilda's College, when, in tho presence of tho school, the Primate dedicated a window, erected in memory of Lieutenant Ilobert Richards and Lieutenant. Hugh Licldon Richards, sons of the Von. Archdeacon Richards (tho school chaplain), who wero both killed at the Dardanelles last year. The subject of tho window is St. Michael, tho Warrior Angel, treading under foot the dragon.

When a settlor was approaching tho Minister of Public Works (tho Hon. W. Fraser) at Invercargill, with reference to a backblocks road, a member of tho Wallaco County Council said that thousands of acres of splendid country were locked up, and, to all appearances, would continue to bo locked up for years to come, becauso of tho absence of roads. Hates were altogether inadequate for the construction of those roads, and ho thought that people who had tho pluck and enterprise to take up bush sections wero entitled to consideration in the matter of obtaining access to their holdings. In reply, Mr Eraser stated that such roads could bo provided by means other than the expenditure of county rates. It had been made possible for local bodies to create special rating area 3, whereby money might bo borrowed by the settlers immediately concerned. Tho interest payable on such loans was only a small matter when compared with the benefits obtained. Roads such as theso benefited only those who used thorn, and it was decidedly unfair that those gum-

iv.g the benefit should expect the whole of tho people of the dominion to contribute towards it. It was not to bo expected that such a policy would be pursued. The Government was certainly prepared to lend assistance, but it was not prepared to improve tho value of a man's property—and roads must be looked upon as improvements in values—unless the settlers did something in tho direction of helping themselves. He was convinced, as the result of years of practical experienoe, that thousands and thousands of pounds had been thrown away in both islands by the forming of roads through bush country and leaving them unmetalled. It was far better to have the road formed, and then, right away, to get Government assistance in metalling it. He would have to be satisfied that; when grants wore being made for the formation of such roads, local bodies were prepared to find their share of tho gravelling cost, £> for £.

If tho young lady who has managed what she possibly imagined is smart business in the securing of absent soldiers' pay could have boon present at the Women's National League meeting on the Ist, and h(ard Miss M'Lean describe her, she would certainly have felt the reverse of comfortable. Miss. M'Lean had just been paying a fitting tribute of reverence and respect to the women who have bravely given up husbands, sons, and sweethearts, and then sho referred to the other side of tho picture. "Tho women who don't 'work, and won't work," she said, "I don't know what to say about them. It. is dreadful -when you hear of a caso as we did tho other day of one woman, who, to prevent herself having to work, is in receipt of part of three separate soldiers' pay. She is not a woman!" declared Miss M'Lean with vehemence. "She is a disgrace to her sex."

At a well-attended meeting of the Balclutha branch of the A.S.R.SL, the following resolution was adopted:—"That thi3 meeting of the Balclutha branch of tho A.S.R.S. is unanimously of the opinion that any effort 0:1 tho part of the Government to ease tho burden of the high cost of living has been too long delayed to benefit us; therefore that we unanimously support our Executive Council in its demand for an increase of Is per day to all railway men; that, failing a satisfactory reply, the council bo asked to take immedata and drastic action."

Some candid expressions of opinion round tho Porfcobello Road Board table on the 2nd throw light on the varied points of view from which members of local bodies view the Government's proposals to assist recruiting. Mr Johnson, for instance, probably spoke for a good many when ho remarked, with reference to " eligiblea " 1 "I don't like rousing them out myself, but I wouldn't mind laying someone else on to them." Tho Chairman (Mr Fulton), on tho other hand, remarked decisively, " I, for one, will take a jolly good hand in it. I don't care whether they are annoyed or not." A curious comment was ins do by Mr D. Seaton, on the commonwealth's Premier's offer of " tho last man and tho last shilling." "There would always be ono man left in this country," he said, " and that would bo me. I was not going to stop any bullets if I could help it."

Subscriptions amounting- to £2072 3s have boon made towards tho cost of equipping and furnishing tho liomo for girls which the Salvation Arm;' has decided to open in Auckland as part of its plan for tho caro of orphans of tho war (says tho Now Zealand Herald). An appeal for £2OOO was announced by Sltuff-captain H. P. Sharp on January 18, and tho greater part of this amount has been subscribed in liberal sums, including 15 of £io'o each, seven of £SO each, and four of £25 each. Tho homo will accommodate 40 girls between tho ages of six and 14 years. Tho army has obtained a lease on very liberal terms from Mrs W. 11. Smith, of her property, known as Tho Grange, in Clifton road, Homo Bay. Builders arc now engaged in the alteration of iho existing buildings and the erection of additions. It is expected that tho homo will bo ready for occupation in about two months. The cost of adapting, equipping, and furnishing the homo is estimated at £2OOO, and Optain Sharp stated on Friday that any surplus of tho amount sub-

cribed would be devoted to the equipme f a bovs' home in the south.

or tlTeTßruce Woollen Mil have adopted the course followed by var ous other milk throughout the dominion, an decided to grant the employees a 5 per cen war bonus. The bonus takes effect froi last month.

In reply to inquiries made by Mr Malcolm, M.P., the Hon. Mr Herries states that he hopes to be able to make an inspection of the South Island railways after Easter, and that ho will advise Mr Malcolm of the dates in a short time.

Much annoyance has been caused to the people of Tawanui. in the Catiins district, by tho Postal Department's proposal to change the name of tho post office from Tawanui to Papatupu, which is the name of the railway station. Trcrn its origin the township has always been known as Tawanui, and that narao has been associated- with tho struggles and trials the settlers have met with in hewing for themselves homes out of tho bush. Extensively-signed petitions have been sent to the Postmaster-general, and the assistance of Mr Malcolm, M.P., was sought in tho matter. Mr Malcolm wrote to the postal authorities, and also to the Minister of Railways, explaining the position, and asking that tho name of tho railway station be called Tawanui instead of Papatupu, and that thus the conflict of names might be prevented. Mr Herries has replied that he i» having inquiries mado as to the suggestion.

Surgeon-general Kendcivon, Directorgeneral of Medical Services, accompanied by Colonel J. Cowio Nichols (0.0. Otago Military District), on the 2nd inst. paid a visit of inspection to the camp of the No. 2 Field Ambulance, and No. 7 Mounted Ambulanco, at Wlngatui. General Henderson stated that ib was very gratifying to notice the very advanced nature of the work, despite the fact that tho men were carrying on under difficulties as regards limited equipment and other things. He gave particular praise to the first aid work of tho rank and file. In the afternoon General Henderson paid a visit to the Military "Ward in tho Dunedin Hospital. He said ho con-

sidered that the men were very well looked after, and that it was a fine hospital in which they were placed. Ho also referred in highly complimentary terms to the capable administration of the matron (Nurse Mylcs). General Henderson returned to the north on the 3rd inst. At a fully attended meeting of the Otago Metal Workers' Assistants' Union tho following resolution was passed unanimously:— " That this union strenuously protests against the Ordor-in-Ccuncil, providing for the suspension of awards, nominally in the interests of returned soldiers, as an insult to them, and a flagrant shirking of the State's responsibility adequately to provide for them."

Our Queenstown correspondent informs us that tho local police received advico on tho Ist inst. from Mr John Patrick M'Bride, station owner at Kawarau Falls, Frankton, that three men, named Edward Waters, Joseph Scollaic!, and Alexander Cameron, were missing from his station. They left the station at 6 p.m. on 27th ult., stating that they would not be long away. They crossed tho Kawarau River, and were seen at 10 p.m. by Br Edie, of Frankton. He gnvo them a lift in his motor" car, and took them close to tho edgo of tho Kawarau River; which they had to cross by boat, and left them. Tho boat has been found about five miles down the stream, bottom up, and it is feared that tho men have been drowned. Arrangements have been made to drag tho river, which is wide and in places from 20ft to 40ft deep.

A Press Association telegram from Wellington Btates that tho total arrivals in the dominion, from oversea last year was 25,551 and tho departures 22,476. These figures do not include the members of tho Expeditionary Forces.

"This war is no child's play. It is war

in every se.i<o of the term," said Captain Hardham, V. 0., "at Wellington on tho 27th ult. It war, going to take a great many mora men, and tho sooner they went the sooner it would bo finished, It was better to lose a hundred thousand in a year than draff the war on for a couple of years and

waste thrco or four hundred thousand*

wo had had the men there we would have won through on Gallipoli. All the time I was there wo woro fighting edds in men, munitions, and other ways. That may surprise you, but it is a fact. Those men of ours fought it, and took it, and stood to

Another instance of ihc danger of the indiscriminate use of pea-rifles was furnished by the following incident, which was reported to the Ponsonby police on the 26th ult. (says the New Zealand Herald). A married lady was walking up Wallace

street, Ponsonby, about II o'clock, on her way to do some shopping, when suddenly she. felt a stinging sensation in her left arm. Glancing down, she noticed a trickle of blood coming from the place. She at once, wont to a neighbour's house, and .a medical mail was summoned. Later she was removed to a private hospital, where, with the X-rays, a small pellet was located and subsequently. extracted.

A Press Association message from Wellington states that a regulation has been gazetted making the branding of imported eggs with the name of the country of origin compulsory.

Two young men were received, into the camp hospital at Featherston last week (says the Ilorowhcnua Chronicle). One died after an operation; the other. Cecil Duff, was merely put under an anaesthetic to have his teeth attended to. Their beds were sido by side, and when a telegram was despatched announcing the death Cecil Duff's name was used in error and the message sent to Cecil Duff's mother at Bulls. It was a great shock to her, and she at once telegraphed the sad news to all her friends. To the military authorities at Featherston she telegraphed, asking that the body of her son be sent to Bulls for burial. ■ Erie Barratt, onco a schoolboy at Levin (who is now in camp) happened to go into the hospital, and went over to see, as he expected, the dead body of young Duff, who is a cousin. To his amazement the supposed corpse put out his hand to be shaken, and then it was discovered that a mistake had been made in the identity of the dead man. Duff was. that .day granted leave of absence and took the first train for his home. After a little delay another telegram was sent to Mrs Duff, stating th it her son was well.

In thpir reply to the proposals submitted by tlio Ohinemuri Mines and Battery Employees' Union for a new agreement with the mining- companies, the mine owners' representatives state that they arc not prepared to consent to any increase in wages or to shorten hours of labour; also that they are unable to agree to any other clav.se that differs from the ok! agreement. The reply points out that, although the cost of living has risen during the past 13 months, tho cost of almost all mining stores has also risen considerably, and, in addition to ihis, tho mining companies are now paying very heavy increased taxation. The owners' representatives conclude with the statement that they aro satisfied - that the mining industry as a. whole cannot stand increased wages.

Mr A. S. Shepherd, an employee at Messrs Parr and Co.'s engineering works, Timaru, has invented a. device of a very elaborate nature- by means of which he claims it will be possible to keep a ship afloat for an hour or two after she has been torpedoed or mined. The details of the. invention, of course, are Mr Shepherd's secret, but his device has been tried in the presence of expert engineers appointed by the Now Zea« land Government, and it is no secret that they were unable to pick holes in it, the objections that they raised being easily removed by Mr Shepherd. Now Zealand, however, cannot well take up an invention of this nature, end Mr Shepherd, therefore, has decided to place his ideas before the Admiralty and prominent shipowners in Great Britain. "With this purpose in view he is on his way to London. With the ready help of Mr James Craigie, M.P., Mr Shepherd was able to obtain a permit to leave Zealand.

"Don't forget that the best of your men went to Anzac," said Captain Hardham, V.C., at Wellington on the 28th ult. I think that the best are those that went first, and wo must have the very best too." lie regretted that in some cases the medical men were not strict enough in their examinations. Sick men were of no use; they were only an crcumbranee. "We must have men physically fit. I don't care whether a man is short, so long as he is sound. Wo will train him. Wo cannot add inches to Ids height. It doesn't matter so much whether he salutes or walks erect, so long as ho knows how to handle a rifle and can stand the physical test." In Egypt the Main Body of Australians and New Zealanders would march 25 to 30 miles a day, with full packs, over the heavy sand, under the heat of the sun, and would afterwards be ready to epend an evening in Cairo. They went to the peninsula as tho most perfect body of men physically that had ever been trained.

Somo plain speaking was indulged .'n by Sir Justice Biggins at the Arbitration CourE in Melbourne when the Waterside Workers' Federation was called upon to show cause' why penalties should not bo imposed in consequence of the refusal of members to load flour end butter at Melbourne for oxport. The Paloona, bound for New land, was one of the boats affected, and eho sailed for New Zealand without the flour. Affidavits were read asserting that, officially * tho union knew nothing of the trouble, and repudiated, absolutely, tho action of the men. Under those circumstances, tire summons was withdrawn. Before agreeing to that course, however. Mr Justice Higgins said:— *' It is a fatuous absurdity that a few men at so'ino port in Australia should dictate what is or is not to bo exported. I

pan only say thai if I find tliis course of lotion repeated; if I find members of the union breaking their contracts; if I find that the union does not exert sufficient control Over its members; I shall regard it as my duty to reopen eomo of the questions settled by my award, and order. For instance, I have fixed the minimum rate?, which havo been an immense relief to members of the tuiion. These minimum rates are binding on the employers, but I shall decline to continue to givo the protection of the court to a union whose members are trying to make a law for the publio by breaking their own contracts. I state this for the guidance of unions if similar cases should occur.

Mr W. D. R. M'Curdie, the city engineer. Spates that there was only a slight increase in tho stream supplying the city reservoirs OS a result of tho rain which fell on the fend inst., and that the water in tho reservoirs is still falling. Unless some rain falls Mr M'Curdie states that the reservoirs jwill be practically exhausted at the end of about 14 days.

Tho forecasts of the coming seasons, as made by Mr Clement L. Wragge, are of a distinctly reassuring nature to farmers and pastoralists of tho dominion. Mr Wragge began seasonal forecasting in 1901, he told an audience in the Burns Hall on tho 3rd, and though ho never dared to lay claim to absolute accuracy he did at least, claim considerable accuracy. His forecasts had proved, correct in 95 per cent, of cases. He wa3 prepared to say that when 1916 came to an end we would be able to say that it had proved a good year for New Zealand. Certainly it would be for Australia. The years 1917, 1918, and 1919 would also bo good years, but as for what is to happen from 1920 to 1930 the curious were referred to the little book that Mr Wragge has written on tho subject.

A Press Association message from Auckland states that owing, to the lato arrival iof a steamer the .Southdown and Horotiu •Freezing Works will be closed down from March 17 till March 23. In preparation for next season the company has decided tjo increase the total storage capacity for meat from 140,000 carcases to 220,000 car'jbases.

In the course of a few remarks at the meeting of the Western Taieri Land Drainage Board on the 3rd, Mr Strang, the engineer who has completed the works he was .engaged to carry out, said he would like to emphasise -what had been said by Mr Kempshell and by the late Mr Elliott before he left the board, respecting the " River Question," particularly the Waipori River. iVcry little had been heard about this question during the last two years on account Of the dry seasons which had been experienced. Silting up had, however, been going on all tho time, and it was getting ■worse. Only people who saw it understood what it meant, both in the lower reaches and in the neck of tho Waipori River. Tho position was getting worse, and it was about time something was done to abate this nuisance.

At tho monthly meeting- of the 'Western Taieri Land Drainage Board on the 3rd, Mr Kempsheil brought up the question of tho S ( silt nuisance " at Berwick, and suggested that the board, the City Council, the Bruce County Council, and the Taieri County Council should jointly send a deputation to Parliament when it meets with tho object of getting the Government to do something in the direction of having this matter attended to. He pointed out that' unless something was done to remove this nuisance the whole of the board's drainage scheme would prove abortive. He moved that tho clerk communicate with the local bodies mentioned with tho object of getting a conference between them, at which this question would bo discussed and some definite action decided upon. This was seconded by Mr C. Campbell (acting chairman), and carried.

The Moa Creek correspondent of the Alexandra Herald states that operations at the Ida Valley irrigation works have been very slack of late. Tho majority of men employed have been transferred to either Chatto Creek or Clyde, and, rumour has it, that other transfers aro pending. There is still a great deal of work to do before tho Scheme becomes a revenue-producing concern. A great deal of doubt exists locally as to tho department's intentions. Onco the scheme is completed and all is in proper working order, the estimated revenuo to bo derived therefrom will bo somewhere in the, vicinity of £7OOO annually. Already, something like £IOO,OOO has been expended.

Thrashing cereal crops is tho order of the day throughout Otago, and the hum of the iniil is general from daylight till dark in the country districts. Thrashing is fully a fortnight earlier than usual, on account of the exceptionally favourable weather experienced. .The dry weather in tho north has materially Interfered with tho yield, and the results aro not such as will gladden the hearts of the farmers, although some very good crops have been thrashed. South of Dunedin there has been no such drought, and ideal weather for growing ripening, and garnering has been experienced. Splendid crop?, with a large yield per acre, are. the common experience, 'although in some cases the elements have interfered with all tho farmers obtaining the full rewards of their labour. This was tho Case on tho Tokomairiro Plain, where a heavy hailstorm some four weeks ago left a quantity of grain in tho padcTock. This storm appears to have affected some farms 'pnly, leaving others almost untouched. [Farther south tho crops aro exceptionally good, and, if this dry weather will only Continue for a few weeks longer, it will enable tho farmers to gather in their crops Jinder ideal mmri. d thus enjoy the full fruit? of I lalx While tho north is prying out for ruin tu moisten tho parched

land, and the city dweller is doing likewise to fill the corporation reservoirs, the southern man has no such wish. His prayer is for good, dry weather until ho get 3 his crops safely gathered in. But oven hero his turnips would do with moisture, as they are showing signs of suffering from the dry weather experienced. Providence is up against a big and unsolvablo "proposition" if all of us are to be pleased

Owing to there being some uneasiness among users of the water supply in tho city, caused by an impression that they had been drinking water from tho upper basin whero tho body of -the ill-fated woman, Isabella Hitchcock, was found yesterday, a Isabella Hitchcock, was found on the sth inst., a Da'ily Times representative interviewed Mr M'Curdie (city engineer) on the subject. Mr M''Curdie stated that the water in this basin was shut off from the pipes on on tho Ist inst., and only water from the Reservoir was being used. Ihe- water from tho basin was not being, and would not bo, used. On the 4th inst. tho police received word from the Oity Council employee stationed at Morrison's Creek, where water works are in progress, to tho effect that cries of a woman calling for help in tho bush had been heard by a farmer who was driving homewards. It was thought that this might possibly bo the missing woman Isabella Hitchcock, and a search was made, but, no trace could bo found of the person uttering the cries. Ihe subsequent discovery of the woman- mentioned leaves the cries heard in tho bush at Morrison's Creek something of a mystery.

The labour problem is one of the difficulties which the farmer has to contend against, and, as illustrating this, an incident is reported to have occurred on the 4th at a farm on the Tokomairiro Plain. The mill was busy thrashing from the stook, and the farmer had engaged four extra hands —that, is, in addition to the complement of mill hands —to assist. These men are said to have worked for tho first few days at the wage agreed upon—viz., Is 3d per hour and found, and to have earned 16s for tho previous day. The thought appears to have occurred to them that their services were indispensable, and that, at this critical time in tho year's work of the farmer, they could successfully demand an increase to Is 6d per hour. Tho demand was made, but the farmer was adamant, on principle, and he told the four men to go about their business. The result of this was that the mill could not bo fed, and had to shift to another farm. Meanwhile the farmer will be at tho trouble and expense of stacking his remaining crop, and will have to await the return of the mill to finish his thrashing.

A well-known Auckland citizen, Mr E. W. Alison, celebrated his fifteenth birthday on 29th ult. (says the Herald). To those who know his mature years, tiiis may appear either a mis-statement or a joke, but it represents simple fact. Mr Alison happens, like the hero of "The Pirates of Penzance" opera, to have been "born in leap year, on February 29." Consequently his birthday comes round only once in four years. By letter and telegram Mr Alison received more than 100 congratulations upon tho event. It is reported that a resident of Hokitika, although 32 years of ago, by the same reckoning, celebrated the eighth anniversary of his birthday. He was born on February 29, 1884, and therefore his birthday came round only every four years. The secretary of the Hawke's Bay Education Board informed a Napier Telegraph reporter that, at the request of the civic, medical, and health authorities at Gisborne, it had been decided to close all schools in tho Poverty Bay district within a 10miles radius of Gisborne, as a result of the epidemic of infantile paralysis. Tho Education Board has undertaken to refund to the school committees who have disinfected schools, and who intend to disinfect schools, the cost of materials used, and is forwarding to them pamphlets suggesting how the work should be done. It is understood that most of the schools in the Napier, Hastings, and Gisborne districts have already been disinfected.

An epidemic of mild enteritis, similar in character to tho complaint recently reported among the soldiers in Featherstori camp, is prevalent in Wellington at tho present time (says the New Zealand Times). Many people have been inconvenienced by slight attacks of illness during the last fortnight. The suggestion has been mado that tho trouble may be due to the presence of undetected "carriers" among tho returned soldiers, and a somewhat similar epidemic during the South African Avar is recalled. Tho complaint does not appear to have been of a serious character in any cases.

Attention is being more and moro attracted to the remarkable increase of trade generally between Japan and Australia (remarks tho Sydney Morning Herald). Japanese newspapers are urging their post offieo authorities to take into consideration tho improvement of the mail service between Japan and Australasia. They say that trade between the two countries is growing to such dimensions that it is imperative that something should be done in tho direction indicated. Mr Minoru Oka, "Director of tho Commercial and Industrial Bureau of the Japanese Agriculture and Commerce Department, in the course of an interesting letter, said:— " When tho European war broke out, by virtue of the Anglo-Japanese x\lliancc, Japan was given an opportunity to show her goodwill towards Great Britain and Australasia by an active movement to destroy tho enemies' stronghold on the Pacific. In consequence of this international commerce has been allowed to bo carried

on continuously in peace and security. r iho fulfilment of an obligation on the part of our country has brought a very pleasing reflection io the people, of New Zealand and Australasia, and has aroused in them a strong communicative feeling towards -Japan. There aro evidences to prove that our people are beginning to look to- Australasia as tho market for their manufactures and, at the same time, as the source from ■which to obtain supplies. It may bo viewed with satisfaction that so much has been attained in this direction. There is" abundant room for increase in tho trade between tho two countries." A remarkable accident befell a returned soldier, H. Cropper, who enlisted 12 months ago, and saw a deal of fighting in Gallipoii, and who recently returned invalided from the front. Cropper was occupied in grass-seeding on M'Lcnnan Eros.' farm at Taringamutu, and was carrying a loaded revolver in his trousers pocket with tho intention of shooting rabbits. Ho slipped over a bank, rolling to the bottom. The revolver was accidentally discharged, and the bullet entered his leg, striking the bone and travelling to tho knee. lie was taken to the Taumarunui Hospital, where Dr Mac Knight removed the bullet, which was considerably flattened.

The official allowance to soldiers in hospitals is only 15s per fortnight, and representations have been made by the Auckland Patriotio Association that tho literal observance of the regulation involved hardship in some cases (says the Herald). In response to its request for a modification of the rules, the association has been advised by the Minister of Defence that he has no objection to the Patriotic Association advancing 15s per fortnight to tho men against their pay, providing that it is immediately stopped if the medical superintendent of tho hospital notifies that such a courso is desirable in the interests of. tho health of the patient. The advance will bo mado about the 7th and 21st of each month, and tho refund will bo mado by tho quartermaster-general. If the arrangement proves satisfactory in Auckland it is proposed to extend it to other centres. Mr Adrian Knox, K. 0., who for some timo past has acted as commissioner for the Red Cross Society in Egypt, has arrived back in Sydney, and has given somo idea of the nature of the work which lie was called upon to supervise. His statement is of great interest to New Zealanders. Referring to the enormous difficulties at first encountered in the organisation work in Egypt, Mr Knox said that to begin with they had only a sergeant, six men, and two boys, together with a few Arabs, to. do tho heavy work of moving cases. When it w-as realised that every week huge shipments arrived, representing six or seven truckloads of heavy eases a day, which they were unable to leave on the Cairo station for more than 56 hours, according to tho regulations, and that at that time thoso who did the packing of the goods in Australia did not realise the great necessity of only packing certain goods in one ease, but forwarded very many cases of miscellaneous goods, some idea might be formed of the confusion and stress under which thoso few workers were then living. Mr Knox went on to describo how, as things progressed, tho work of distribution and organisation was gradually straightened out, until now order reigned in every department. lie assured the members of the committee that they could rest absolutely satisfied that the best use was being mp.de of every consignment of goods sent out. Tho organisation for tho supplying of hospital requisites, the arrangements for fitting up outgoing transports, tho work in the hospitals and convalescent homes in the various cities and ports, was being carried on on thoroughly business lines, and with satisfaction to all concerned.