Untitled

Otago Witness, Issue 3298, 30 May 1917, Page 36

The Hon. W. Frascr. Minister of Public Works, who arrived in Dunedin on the 28th from the north, informs lis that the Government is continuing tho public works it took in hand during the last financial year. On March 31 there was a balance of between £IBO,OOO and £190,000 available for roads and bridges. That sum is, however, not available for new works, having all been allotted to local bodies. The Minister says that he is adhering to the principle which he adopted some time ago that local bodies should reduce their demands as much as possible. A Press Association message from Wellington states that tho Aet : ng Postmastergeneral announces that the Postal Department has arranged with the Union Company for tho steamer Maori not to leave Lyttolton on Tucscliys, Thursdays, and Saturdays for Wellington until after the arrival of tho 6.55 p.m. train from Christchurch. This arrangement will avoid the overnight stop at Christchurch for mails and passengers from the West Coast for the North Island. Tho Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. G. W. Russell) has received from Mr A. H. Miles, managing director of Murray. Roberts and Co., a letter covering a cheque for £IOOO, as a. donation towards the funds of the National War Funds Council. The Council administers the affairs of the Westport and Buller districts, which have handed over to it the whole of their funds, the local patriotic committees being advisory committees in allocation of grants amongst returned soldiers and dependents. A well known and hitherto greatly appreciated public benefit in the Waibemo district is about to disappear in consequence of a stern edict issued by the Orchards Department. For several years tho fruit garden of the old Waihcrno Hotel (one of (ho regular dinner and breakfast stopping places in the stage coach days of the past) has been dedicated entirely to the use ot the local public by its present owner, who had purchased and demolished the hotel and its annexes, and thereupon thrown open the acre of fruit trees for the exclusive use of his neighbours. Tho ylace grows quantities of apples, pears, apricots, etc., and is a favourite summer resort for picnic parties, whose conveyances generally leave tho premises well stocked with the spoil of tho trees. Pears are especially abundant, and in their green cooking stage have annually stocked many a local larder. Owing to the distance of the place from the owner's homestead, where also an extensive orchard absorbs all the available means of attention, the trees are not pruned or sprayed, and, in fact, being mostly of the inferior kind compared ruth those favoured by the more modern orchardists, would in any •vase be doubtfully worth such treatment. In view of the value of the fruit to the local publro, and of the fact that his own homestead orchard is the only one within .several miles of the place in question, tho owner requested the Orchards Department to relax the rigidity of its rules in this instance, pointing out, however, that to himself personally this could not be considered any favour, inasmuch as the produce of tho place went to whomsoever else it might concern. The reply of tho department being an uncompromising refusal accompanied by a formidable list of Latin atrocities which it declares to be rampant in the place, and a grim threat of prosecutions and penalties, tl>e owner has had to consider whether it is practicable to bring this ancient fruit farm into lino with modern orchard practice, and permanently to appease the authorities by undertaking and continuing at that distance, and for the benefit of others, the various operations on which they insist. This being, in the present state of the labour market, at lerst, beyond reasonable possibility, the alternative of the destruction of the orchard has been officially ordered, and will doubtless bo considered locally a rather remarkable display on the part of a Government Department of " war economy" in connection with the food supply. A case containing some unusual features was heard at YYanganui recently, when George Bristow, a carpenter, proceeded against Myrtle Trayiior, on a claim to recover moneys advanced for a specific purpose, the ultimate outcome of which was to be a marriage, which did not eventuate, 'the facts, as stated, were that the plaintiff and defendant were mutually attracted to one another, and it was arranged that ihey should be married when tho latter succeeded in obtaining a divorce from her husband. A decree nisi was obtained in December, but in the meantime Bristow had given her several sums of money, one amount being to assist her in tho divorce proceedings. Then he alleged, when the marriage was dissolved, he gave her £lO4

with which to purchase furniture in Wellington. She did not return, however, and as a result of investigations it was found that she was keeping a boardinghouse at Taumarunui. The defendant denied the allegation, and maintained that Mic money she received for divorce proceedings was obtained from her brother. The magistrate found in favour of the plaintiff, and gave judgment for £2OO, the amount claimed, with costs. There were some unusual features about a civil case heard by Mr W. G. Riddell, .S.M., in the Magistrate's Court at Wellington on Tuesday. The disputants were Dr Cahill, of Wellington, plaintiff, and Thomas K01i3% settler, defendant, a claim for £65, being balance of money duo in respect to operations performed by plaintiff on defendant's son. Evidence was given by Drs Ewart and Martin that the charges were very reasonable. Plaintiff stated that altogether 45 operations had been performed on defendant's son, the instructions being that no expense was to be spared in saving his life. The defence was based on the Statute of Limitations, and that en this account, as the account was more than six years old, it could not be legally sued for. r lhe magistrate said he must nonsuit plaintiff on this point. The evidence showed, however, that the charges made were undoubtedly reasonable. No costs would bo allowed defendant. In the Hcdgehope district there are 25,000 acres of rough country set apart for landless natives. 'The member for Mataura lias urged to havj the area made available for settlement, but the departmental report is against any action being taken during the war It was stated that the land -vas rabbit infested and overgrown with noxious weeds. One of the owners informs the Western Star that tho land is nearly all covered with virgin bush, some of which is already taken up for sawmilling. Also that tho Hokonui coal seam runs tcrough it. He dor.iecates the action of belittling the hind, therefore depreciating its value. The natives would be willing to dispose of the land for soldiers' farms. On January 1 there wore 833,233 men in Australia between the ages of 18 and &5, which constitute tho recruiting limit. Of that total 378,129 are single men and 455,109 aro married. Queensland holds the unique position of being the only State wherein single men arc more numerous than married mon. Tho totals of eligible men in the various States are: Queensland, 126,400; New South Wales, 320,948; Victoria, 217,711; South Australia, 68,235; Western Australia, 65,428; and Tasmania, 32,516. Deducting the total of 20,000 enlistments for the period from January 1 to April 29, there are still 813,000 men from whom reinforcements could bo drawn. A member of a family with a fine record of military service asked the First Military Service Board at Auckland to grant him leave until a brother returned from the front. The reservist, William B. Ross, telegraph linesman, of Onehunga, said ho wa-s one of seven sons. Four were at the front, one had been rejected, one had just returned from the front, and appellant had also volunteered two years ago for servico with the engineers, but had not been called up. The board showed some surprise when appellant stated that his father had also just returned from the front. Appellant was granted leave until July 26, in view of the possible early return of a brother.