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Otago Witness, Issue 3250, 28 June 1916, Page 5

The Hon. Mr Allen informed a Times reporter on the 20th that iio had received .nformation that the Now Zealand soldiers spend first a few days in the trenches, then some days in reserve behind the trenches, and finally are given permission to travel to England on a short furlough. The Minister added that he would like to make it clear that the amount on account of pensions and allowances to New Zealand soldiers now ran out at approximately £IIO,OOO per annum. The pensions have recently increased at the rate of £6OOO per week. The increases, however, fluctuate, and on occasions have risen to as high as £IO,OOO a week.

A Press Association telegram stoics that in the House of Repreeenta-fcivcs on the 20th Mr W. 11. Field asked the Prime Minister whether the Government intended to take notice of the publicly announced threat of certain men claiming to represent the ilaxrnill workers that they would resist the operation of conscription by striking. If the threat were fulfilled there was a danger of many law-abiding, respectable, married men with families being involved, and of serious industrial strife. Mr Massey replied that the matter had been referred to the Crown law officers.

Our Alexandra correspondent writes: "At a sitting of the Magistrate's Court (Mr Acheeon presiding) on the loth a case which caused considerable interest in pastoral circles was decided. For a long time past every runholder up here ha* been pestered with hordes of dogs running at large amongst hia flocks, and on this occasion Messrs Marshall and Iversen (trustees in the Iversen estate) proceeded for heavy costs against Mr A. Steele for damage done to the Iversen flock by hifi dogs. Ample evidence was adduced to prove that many of the flock had been worried and the balance badly harassed. The plaintiffs claimed substantial damage, and although the case was ably defended by Mr M'Kean, solicitor, of Clyde, the magistrate granted the full sum sued for—£B7 12s—and £l2 14s 6d costs. The case is looked upon a,s a test one, and as a warning to irresponsible owners of prowling dogs. Mr W. A. Bodkin acted as solicitor for plaintiffs, and stockowners generally are pleased to have got an example made in this matter." A letter received in Christchurch gives some interesting information concerning the Britannic, which is said to be the largest ehip in the world. The vessel was built by the White -Star Line in reply to the Cunard liner the Aquitana. The outbreak of war found her still in the hands of the shipbuilders. She was then a mere shell, and further construction was postponed indefinitely for 18 months. Then, owing to the Gallipoli campaign making such an unexpected demand on hospital ships, she was requisitioned and completed for the purpose by the Government. To show what a tremendous addition to the hospital fleet the vessel is, it is stated that when operating near Naples five large ships transferred their patient* to the Britannio, which possesses permanent accommodation for 38?0 patients, apart from the medical and nursing staffs and crews. In addition, she has operating theatres and X-ray rooms which ure claimed to be more up-to-date

than any thore hospital. Her dimensions are: Length C32ft, beam 94ft, while her gross tonnage is 23,157, and registered tonnage 24.592. She is fitted with reciprocating and combhied turbine engines of 50,000 horse-power, and has triple ecrews. A theft of ;i despicable nature was perpetrated at the Lawrence District High

School last week. A collection had been taken up from the, children in aid of the Sailors' Dependents' Fund, and the money was put away by the respective teachers in their cupboards. The fact appears to have been noted by sf veral boys, who surreptitiously entered the school the same night, and abstracted nearly £1 in silver from two of the boxes. The culprits were quickly found, and the bulk of the money was returned In a letter received from a Dunedin resident, at present on a visit to England, the writer mentions having been at Stratford-on-Avon during the Shakespeare Tercentenary celebrations, and states that conspicuous amongst the wreaths placed on the poet's tomb in Stratford Church was ono of laurel from the Dunedin Shakespeare Club.

Another description of the murder by Germans of those on the high seas is given in a letter received by Messrs Dawson and Maudsley, of Wellington, from Messrs Elders and Fyffes, owners of the Zent, .which was torpedoed on the night of April 5, when 28 miles south-west of Fastnet. Two torpedoes were fhed and the ship sank in less than two minutes, the engines having been destroyed and part of the starboard side of the ship torn away. Eleven of the crow, including the master (Captain Martin), were picked up, hut 47 others of the crew were lost. The captain, in Irs protest, mentions tho brave action of the wireless operator (Mr Pyoughton), who, by promptly sending the "5.0.5." call, was the means of saving the men. Mr Proughton went down with the ship. His devotion to duty was wonderful. The first torpedo destroyed the dynamo of tho ordinary .apparatus, but the brave operator managed to send out the call boforo "tho shi.j foundered. The Zent carried only ballast and no arms. There was no warning given.

A member of the Anglican Synod, speaking in support of a motion to appoint a committee to look into tho increased cost of living, remarked that the value of a sovereign was now said to be 16s. He found the value of his to be 14s.

In conversation with a reporter on the 21st the Hon. Jas. Allen (Minister of Defence) stated that the Otago military district had from tho beginning of the war sent more than its quota of recruits, that quota being as assessed after tho national register was compiled. When tho call on Otago began the number required was fixed on a population basis. Tin's was not considered to bo fair. The national register put the quota fairly, and on that basis this military district has sent forward, so far as his information went, which was of a very recent date, rather more- than the required num-

On the 21st the Education Beard received an intimation from the department that the Government had approved of an appeal made by the Lord Mayor of London tliat Monday, July 10, be recognised as a children's day on which special effort may be devoted by children throughout the Empire to raise much needed funds for Belgian children. Mr Mitchell's motion that the ap-peal-be sent on to all School Committees and head masters was adopted. The united intercessory service, held in Trinity Church on the 21st, led the Rev. Rutherford Waddell to make an interesting reference to the subject of union among the non-episcopal churches. 1 hoy would, no doubt, have noticed, he said, that the Trcsbyterian Church of Canada had resolved to go on into union with the Congregational and Methodist Churches there. Those who read British papers would know that a similar movement was being inaugurated in England among the Free Churches. That was hopeful. We here had no right to throw stones at our brethren at Homo for lack of union. "Wo oughl to have had more sense here," the speaker declared. "We ought to have been united years ago. The longer it is postponed, the more difficult it becomes. I had hopes that I might have eeen it in my lifetime, and I have not quite lost that hope yet." lie went on to say that, it, was ono step towards the desired union to have representatives of all the non-episcopal churches in tiie city gathered in stich a meeting.

Few people have any idea of the extent of the inroads of scarlet fever in Christchurch (sa.ys the Press). For the four months ending May 31 there were no fewer than 431 cases of this disease in the whole health district. This includes Westland, but the great majority of the cases were in Christohurch. There was an increase of 32 in the numbor of cases in April this year as compared with April of 1915, and the statistics were 94 in May, 1915, and 173 in May of this year, according to a statement made by l)r Chesson, of the Health

Department. rho Postmaster-general announces that in order to secure compliance with the War Office order that newspapers for neutral countries are not to be dispatched except through the oflico of the publishers or news agents, the same practico will be followed hero as is followed in the United Kingdom. Newspaper publishers and agents who desiro to send packets of newspapers to neutral countries must apply to the Chief of the General Staff, Defence Department, Wellington, for a permit empowering the despatch of newspapers to neutral countries. Having received the permit, they will stamp and address the packets of newspapers as usual, and [tost

them free of postage addressed to the Deputy Chief Postal Censor, Wellington, enclosing in each package a certificate in ■which the number of their own permit is to be named. No newspaper packets posted by other persons or prepared in any other Way will be accepted and forwarded to neutral countries.

In the House of Representatives on the 22nd Mr Ell asked whether in view of the shortage of iron the Government would extend practical assistance in the development of the iron sand deposits of Tarainuii. The Hon. Mr MacDonald stated that this question had been prominent for many years. Lately several special reports had been presented to him, but so far he had been unable to go into them or present them to the Cabinet. When that was done the whole thing would be carefully gone into.

An alleged "ring" on the part of the sawmillers of Southland was mentioned to the Prime Minister on the 22nd by Mr Walker (Dunedin North), who asked the Minister if his attention had been called to the formation of a combine, which had increased the price of timber all round by 3s 6d per 100 ft. Mr Massey replied that this seemed to bo a matter for the Board of Trade, and he would refer the point to it for inquiry.

. A special meeting of the City Council was held on the 22nd to consider clause "

of the Water Committee's report, hold over from last meeting of the council, and containing a proposal for augmenting the city water supply from Lee Stream, tit an estimated co*t of £140,000. The question was thoroughly discussed, considerable attention being devoted to an alternative proposal to bring in artesian water from the Taieri. An amendment by Cr 131 ack to authorise the committee to spend £350 on testing the feasibility of tho artesian scheme was rejected, and a further amendment by Cr White, to defer the question for 12 months, met a similar fate. The Lee Stream proposal was subsequently carried by a large majority.

On the 17th instant the Minister of ! Marine (the Hon. Dr M'Nab), accompanied : by Messrs W. T. Jennings. T. W. Rhodes, and C. J. Talbot, M.P.'s, Hon. J. T. Paul, M.L.C., and Mr Allport (Secretary of Marine), visited the training ship Amokura ! to present the gold medal for good conduct and best work during the past year. The winner was George Henry Kine, of Feild- j ing, who joined tho Amokura in January, ! 1914, and left in August. 1915. He is now ' on board the Wimmera, and advantage was token of his presence in Wellington to make tho presentation. Commander Hooper re- ! ceivod the visitors, and introduced his ' officers. Tho lads were then paraded, and : Dr M'Nab addressed a few words to them. Ho mentioned that of the 504 who had been trained in the ship sinco 1907. 105 were serving with the Expeditionary Force. The Minister also stated that he looked for- ' ward to tho time when a larger ship would be at tho cbsposal of the Government, so that greater conveniences would be available for the lads, and none would be required : to wait for long periods until vacancies enabled them to be received. Messrs i Jennings, Rhodes, Talbot, Paul, and All- I port also addressed the boys, stressing | various aspects of the ship's work, and con- I gratulated the medallist on his success. At a moeting of the Taieri County Coun- ! cil on'the 23rd a letter was received from Mr Uougald Matheson, who forwarded a cheque for £9, as the final payment promised in collection with the work on a section of road between Moonlight Junction and Middlemarch. He stated that tho work had been completed in a thoroughly efficient, satisfactory, and economical manner, and ho would like to thank tho councillors, tho engineer, and also the men who had carried out the work. The ratepayers had received a thoroughly adequate return for the money i spent. Tho reading of the letter was I greeted with a chorus of "Hear, hears," , : and other expressions of satisfaction.

The Perano party was successful in capturing threo whales in Cook Strait lust week (says the Marlborough Express). On the 13th hist, the Bolina made fast, and tlie whalo, in its violent struggles, managed to get tho rope round the propeller. The whale tried to sound, and everyone thought

the Bolina would be towed under. She appeared about to go down stern first. Tho j water ivas pour : ng into the engine room, and • Messrs Perano and Toms, with coats and ! boots off, were just ready to dive into the ' sea when the rope snapped. The Crescent ; next mado fast, and again the rope became j entangled round the propeller. • Luckily, ) before any damage was done, the propeller j cut the rope. The Cachalot then made fast, ! and this time tho party was successful in killing .its quarry. The Bolina was towed i in, and is undergoing repairs at Picton. Six hundred of the cadets in the. Dun- | edin Group are to be transferred to the Territorial Forces. Between 600 and 700 members of the i Wellington Waterside Workers' Union at- ! tended a special meeting to consider the | Military Service Bill. Mr F. Curtice (proJ sident) occupied the chair. The following ! resolution was eventually carried: —"That ! this meeting is of opinion that the Bill is j unnecessary. New Zealand has equipped

and sent away more men to the front (taking- into consideration the population) than any oversea country under the British flag. The Bill, in the opinion of this meeting, is for no other purpose than for securing- cheap soldiers, abolishing trades unionism and forcing the people of New Zealand under military and police domination. This meeting calls on the executive of the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Federation to immediately get into communication with the affiliated unions, drawing their attention to the drastic measures contained in the Military Service Bill, and to ask them to immediately hold meetings to consider the most effective means of preventing the Bill being put into operation. Also, that this meeting further requests the executive of the Waterside Federation to approach the Miners' Federation, the United Federation of Labour, the Railwaymen's Union, and other representative labour organisations with a view of arranging joint action to oppose the Military Service Bill." It is probable that tho annual competitions hitherto held under the auspices of the Otago branch of the New Zealand Pipers' and Dancers' Association during Show Week in Dunedin, will bo held at another period of the year in future, even if only for one occasion. At tho Mcsgiel Magistrate's Court on the 23rd, before Mr H. Y. Widdoivson, S.M., judgment was given for James Matheson in a claim against W. Proudfoot for £l, with costs (ss).

A Press Association message from Palmcrston North states that Mrs Levin, of Bulls, wife of Major Levin, who was killed at Gallipoli, died on the 23rd inst.

It is stated that prominent dairymen in the Cambridge district have expressed tho view that it behoves the Government to take into serious consideration the position of tho dairying industry. It appears that at present the Government demands not less than 25 per cent, of each company's output of chocs'";. In the case of the- Cambridge Co-operative Dairy Company the difference between the price received from the Government and that obtainable in the open market represents for the season a loss of £4OOO, or, in other words, a direct average tax of £27 per supplier..

"Take the freight on kerosene," said Mr Leigh Hunt at the Central Chamber of Commerce at Wellington on the 19th. " Kerosene cannot be termed a luxury. It is an absolute necessity in the country; but the freight is now 8s 6d per case from the Pacific Coast Before the war wo were selling a case retail at 65." This, Mr Hunt continued, was a point that should be emphasised—tho part that tho enormous freight had in the present high prices o; commodities. Many people thought that there were big mercantile profits, whereas the position was probably that merchants' profits were less than formerly.

According to advices received from Canada, Sir George E, Foster, Minister for Trade and Commerce, made important announcements, before leaving to attend the Economic Conference in Paris, relating to tho adjustment of the dominion's trade to new conditions which will follow tho end of the- war. It has boon decided to create a Canadian Bureau of Commercial Information, the officials of which will be in a position to answer all inquiries regarding

trade in the dominion and in foreign countries. Sir George Foster will call to Ottawa a largo number of prominent business men to formulate the plans. The most, important of the trade commissioners, including Mr W. A. Beddoe, of New Zealand, will also ho summoned homo to Canada to attend the conference, which, as Sir George Foster puts it, should resolve itself into a heart-to-heart talk and have a far-reaching elfect on the trade of the country. A distinguished Now York artist, Miss Frances Del Mar, arrived at Wellington on Saturday by the Moana for the purpose of closely studying Maori life and customs in order to carry out the mural decorations of the South Seas Islands Hall of the Natural History Museum of New York. White pine is the most suitable timber in New Zealand for making butter boxes, and the. farming community, as indicated by a motion adopted at the Provincial Farmers' Conference at Levin recently, is becoming anxious bec-ar.se of a threatened scarcity. The remit was put forward by Mr Saunders, as representing the Shannon branch, and it rend: "That the Government be urged to placo a limit on the export of white pine timber." Mr Saunders contended that the end of the white pine was in sight, and said that it was a. serious matter. No other timber was so well .suited to tho making of butter boxes. The remit was agreed to unanimously. Members of the South Island Dairy Association have returned to Dunedin from the conference in Wellington, held to discuss the question of naming a price for the cheese proposed to be commandeered by the British Government. They state that the •Prime Minister made it clear that the British Government wanted the whole of tho dominion output or none at all. Tho actual price named to the Prime Minister was not divulged, but it is said that it did not meet with his approval. The Prime Minister said, however, that he would submit it to the British Government, but that he would not be surprised if tho price asked was considered too high. Members of tho South Island Association say that they were ep.iitc prepared to meet the Prime Minister, but that some of the North Island men stood out for the last eighth of a penny, It was further stated that the North Island men quite appeared to overlook the fact that, if the cheese output were sold to the British Government, the price would be assured for the season, and shipping facilities would be provided to transport it. If, however, the British Government turn down tho offer, the dairy factories will be faced with the difficulty of securing their own freight. It is understood that a further conference, between the two dairy associations and tho Prime Minister will take jdace next month. Referring to the cost of living in the dominion and tho allegations of exploitation which are being made, one of tho principals of a Dunedin hardware firm stated to a Daily Times reporter that people were inclined to overlook the fact that increased freights were to a very largo extent tho cause of advanced prices. To prove his assertions, ho allowed tho reporter to look over his shipping papers. The actual cost of a parcel of plaster of Paris was shown as £45; the freight from Canada, including exchange and insurance, camo to no loss than £144 12s. The freight charges, etc., on a line of nails amounted to £34 2s lOd, whereas the cost of the goods was £B2 3s sd. A cargo of shrimps, which cost 384 dollars in New York, had to bear an additional cost for freight, etc., of 158 dollars, plus 2g per cent, war risk; glucose, costing 10s per cwt in New York, had to carry a charge of 8s 7^d; wood buckets cost 33.15 dollars—freight, etc., 68.89 dollars; glass jars cost 210.94 dollars—freight, etc., 305.76 dollars.

Touching on ihc question of the increased cost of living, it is worthy of mention that, during a discussion in the House at the beginning of tho month, both Messrs Payne and M'Combs, in referring to tiie price of the 41b loaf of bread, stated that farmers wore getting as little as 4s to 4s od per bushel for their wheat. Millers in Dunedin, at any rate, have had to pay an average of from 4s lOd to 5s bushel this season for their milling wheat. The average prioo they are paying to-day for sound milling lines is from 4s 8d to 5s Id.

A leading Dunedin merchant is of opinion that, at the conclusion of the war, it will take a very considerable effort to heep out German goods, notwithstanding the drastic measures with this end in view adopted at tile important International Conference recently held in Paris. Ho stated, however, that, if the peopie were patriotic enough to purchaso only goods manufactured in Britain or in Allied countries, the resolutions of the Paris Conference could the moro easily be given effect to. He then proceeded to give an illustration of the pertinacity of a German merchant. This merchant has his headquarters in Sydney, and had a very extensive and lucrative business in tho dominion. On the outbreak of war the German took the precaution fo communicate with his customers informing them (hat he was a naturalised British subject. 'The Dunedin merchant, howevc r, at once cut him out of his list of business connections and left his letters unanswered. .Some nine months ago tho German came to New Zealand, and waited on tho Dunedin merchant no less than three limes in an endeavour again to ojjen up business relations. On each occasion he was politely, but firmly, informed that the Dunedin house had no further orders for him. Judge of (he Dunedin merchant's surpi ise when he received a communication from tho German last week offering for sale a lino of American paper. .Some of these German agents, he said, will simply not be "choked oil'." Tho

| Dunedin merchant continued that ho could not definitely prove that tho goods offered by the German referred to during the first months of the -war camo from Germany, I but, he had a deep suspicion that they j did. A most singular coincidence in the local Poiiee Court on the 21th was the occasion of not a little surprise and amusement to most of the parties concerned. Two middle-aged women and a little child sat awaiting a case in which they were interested. Presently tho name of James Carmichaol was read j out, associated with a charge of falling to ' provide his wife with adequate maintenance. • Carmichaol was brought in and placed in : the box, Senior-sergeant Hutton stating ! tltat he had been arrested on warrant. A ■ hurried consultation took place between Mr j Aspiuull, who was appearing for tho comj plainant, and one ox the waiting women. j Then ho spoke to tho Senior-sergeant, who i immediately announced to Mr Widdowson, 1 S.M. : "Tho lady says this is not her hus- ; band. It's tho wrong man !" A smile ! rippled right through, the court. The Seniorj sergeant added that the man arrested was ; named James Carmichaol, and that ho ad- | mitted leaving his wife. Mrs Carmichaol | was put on oath, and swore that the man \in the box was not her husband. "Some I mistake lias been made," said Mr Widdow- ; son. "Discharged." The position threatened j to be further complicated by the announcement that tho lady accompanying the complainant declared that the man arrested was : the complainant's husband, but Mr Widdowson dismissed the suggestion by remarking, i ''Oh, she doesn't want him, anyhow !" Mr Thomas 15. Phillips, an orchardist engaged by tho Cromwell Development Comi pany, who has had experience in the irrigated fruit lands of California, writing to Mr A. Moritzson, says: "1 was agreeably surprised to find such a good country up here, and I could just imagine that I wasback in California again. This country j is typical of a Californian valley, before I irrigation water is obtained for the land. I .ill this flat needs is water, and if the company puts in a good irrigation system and gives the settlers a good water service, there is nothing to prevent this Cromwell Flat becoming one of the most prosperous settlements in New Zealand. The soil is excellent for fruit, also for lucerne, and I think where Cromwell will score, over other fruit districts in New Zealand is in tho ! fact that the settler can grow something else besides fruit. 1 do»i't know of any other placo in New Zealand where fruitgrowing and dairying could be so successfully combined as here. Five to ten acres in lucerne would make a good living tor the settler until his fruit trees camo to bearing." There is a great scarcity of tin sheets in the dominion to-day. These may be taken as one illustration of how prices have advanced consequent on the war. When tho war broke out tin sheets were quoted at 16s a box; at the present time they canj not bo purchased at less than about 455. Tho reason of the local shortage is that I enormous quantities of tin are required by tho British War Office for the packing of jam, beef, and other articles of foods for the men at the front. Seeing that so many i hardware lines are now being placed on tho "restricted" list by the British Government, merchants in tho dominion are beginning to realise that, in tho near future, only materials required by tho New Zealand Government may be allowed to be exported from Britain. Fortunately, a, number of our merchants were carrying large stocks of goods before tho war, which it would now bo practically impossible to get from oversea, and these are not yet exhausted.

A Press Association message from Christchurch states that it is understood that tho Minister of Marine is communicating with Mr J. J. Kinsey, of Christchurch, and Mr John Mill, of Port Chalmers, with the view to securing their services as a working committee in connection with the relief of Shaeklctoirs party, who were left at Cape Royds. The work will include repairs to tiie Aurora, provisioning, and the appointment of officers and men. Messrs Kinsey and Mill will work under the Imperial, Australian, and New Zealand Governments.

As a consequence of an uncomplimentary exchange of courtesies between two member in tho House of Representatives on the 21 st instant, a scuffle subsequently happened in tho lobby, and several blows were struck on both sides. The numbers in question were also somewhat uncomplimentary in tho expressions they used to each other. Fortunately (says the New Zealand Times), when the scuffle happened, a burly member, of a peaceable disposition, was in tho neighbourhood, and, interposing between the belligerents, succeeded in putting an end to tho unpleasant episode. Subsequently there were mutual explanations and the customary withdrawals, and, hands having been shaken, the belligerents adjourned for refreshments.