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Otago Witness, Issue 3277, 3 January 1917, Page 35

The Railway Department announces thai)' a special troop train will run from Invercargill to Lyttclton on Thursday and Saturday, 4th and 6th inst., for the conveyance of troops returning to camp on expiry of leave. Dunedin vital statistics for December were :■ Births, 147; deaths, 77; marriages. 84. For tho corresponding month in 1915 the figures were: Births, 139; deaths, 82; marriages* 110. The totals for the last quarter of* 1916 wore: Births, 482; deaths, 232; marriages, 170; and for the last quarter in 1915 the figures were: Births, 414; deaths, 227; marriages, 241. Tho figures for tho whole of last year were: Births, 1802; deaths, Csl; marriages, 617; as compared with • 1667 births, 936 deaths, and 716 marriages in 1915. A Press Association telegram states that tho statistics for Christchurch for 1916 were :—Births, 2170; deaths, 958; marriago notices, 917; marriages in office, 222. The figures for 1915 were:Births, 2157; deaths, 903; marriago notices 1108; marriages in office, 220. Tho Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald, Acting Minister of Trade and Commerce, has been advised from London (says a Press Association telegram from Gisborne) that tho whole of tho arrangements effected on behalf of the Imperial Government in respect of rcqirsitioning tho New Zealand wool clip have been approved by the Home authorities. Tin's places tho Minister in a position to complete all the arrangements immediately. A few details remain, which Mr MacDonald hopes to dispose of this week. Ho anticipates no difficulty in connection with tho requisitioning of hides and skins. Regarding tho Board of Trade and the cost of living, tho Minister hopes to submfl proposals which will place the position as regards meat for homo consumption on a better footing. Tho Board of Trade expect that the arrangements regarding wheat purchases will bo sufficiently forward for siibmission to Cabinet at an early date. The Minister also received a cable on the subject of cheese purchases, which will probably mean a settlement of that question this week.

A Press Association message from Christchurch states that advice has been received that a steamer on her way from Englandto Auckland, via the Panama Canal, called at Papeete on Friday morning and left in the evening for Rarotonga to pick up the Maifcai's passengers and mails and bring them on to Auckland. The vessel is due at Auckland at the end of this week. The mails are exceptionally heavy, comprising 1115 bags for Now Zealand and 297 bags for Australia. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that tho Union Company has received advice that the Maitai lies in a bad position, and that it is doubtful if sho can-be refloated. Mr Justice Sim has been appointed a Commission to deal with the circumstances connected with the purchase of the Wakari Hospital site by the. Hospital and Chantable Aid Board. It is reported that flying from tho trenches in Prance to London and back again in tho same day is becoming a not uncommon experience for officers of the British army. The story is told of how a soldier recently left, the trenches in France early in the morning, took a Turkish bath in London some three and a-half hours later, lunched at one of the leading hotels in the British, metropolis, and returned Lack to the trenches in the early evening.