PASSING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3304, 11 July 1917, Page 3

PASSING NOTES.

(Fxom Saturday's Daily Times.) We count ourselves happy in getting back safe and sound our two " leaders" (as we are schooled to call them), Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward; congratulatory meetings in Auckland and Wellington, not to mention press and Parliament, have told them so; it only remains that we now congratulate them on their having done with congratulation* Forthwith our affairs go back to use and wont. Already a homely feeling prevails as Sir Joseph rounds upon carpers who talk of a too protracted absence and Mr Massey silences the slander tliat he pocketed house allowance whilst junketing abroad and conceded himself an unnecessary special train on arriving home. This is quite like old times. But the close harmony of the two in good and ill is unlike anything known to history. David and Jonathan were not more of one huart and soul, nor were the Siamese twins in more vital union. Considering the antagonisms of Massey and Ward in the past, their reciprocal endeavours to exterminate each other politically, what we see is veritable miracle. But every miracle has its gainsaying detractors'. Sir John Findlav. having at last found a constituency willing to elect him, enters the House with high look and proud stomach, disposed to make his own game and play a lone hand. He declines to move the Address-in-Reply, tables a disagreeable motion about judicial appointments, and exchanges quips with Sir Joseph Ward across the floor. The ox knoweth his owner and the ass his master's crib, but Sir John recognises no obligation to Sir Joseph who made him a knight and first admitted him to the sweets of office. As for the double leadership, two heads are better than one, says the proverb. Not necessarily, nor in every case. For the purposes of parliamentary autocracy a single head is best. If vou get the right one--muses Sir John, reflectively, stroking himself.

The double-headed eagle, be it remembered, is a Prussian symbol. And there is just a suggestion of something Prussian in Mr Massey's tone towards a Six o'Clock Closing deputation in Wellington : Mr Gray: They demanded six o'clock closing'. If the Government refused that

Mr Massey (Sir Joseph Ward standing by): I have read somo statements of this kind that have been made, and I would like to say here that no selfrespecting Government can allow themselves to bo influenced by threats. No? Is that so? Not even by threats from the people within whose power it is to make Governments, and again to unmake them? The Kaiser, as he fondly imagines, is Kaiser and autocrat by divine right. The will of the people, has nothing to say to it. Nobody mad 9 him, and nobody can unmake ; —an error of his which we purpose correcting in due course. Any similar doctrine lifting its unholy head in this country will receive short shrift. For months past we 'have been hearing that this or that could not be done because our " two leaders" were away. Who on earth are these two leadei's, .or the whole Government, or the Government and Parliament together, that they should know better what the people want or what the people ought to have than the people themselves? I have always been a Masseyite of sorts, and in about the same degree a Wardite. To-day Tam for Massey, or Ward, either or both, or for neither, according a 3 they comport themselves. A Government that forgets its own origin and the nature of its authority, the rock whence it was hewn and the hole of the pit whence it was digged, is a Government that will have to go.

When von Hindenburo;, as reported this week, assumes the role of an optimist prophet, we may remind ourselves that it 1" not the first time. Thus in October l«>«t : " Tt is non r en ß e to assert that it is mv intention to shorten the western front. Wit should T do this ? Our front in the west is as firm as it could be." Again, in December : " Let them bite into the granite of our wall in the west!" Again, in April : Onr eastern front has been so consolidated and is now garrisoned by such a mass of men that General Brusiloff, even with the most ruthless sacrifice of men, can achieve no success. The western front has become so strong that we can withstand every attack. With absolute security on all our fronts we have to-day at our free disposal an army reserve of a strength and preparedness which have not been equalled at any other time during the war, ready for. defence or attack at any point wo may choose.

How many kilometres has Hindenburg advanced backward since these cocksure utterances? How many.hundred guns has be lost? How many thousand prisoners? What of Brusiloff, and Brusiloff's total inability to do anything? Let it be noted with satisfaction that British military critics say of Hindenburg—boasted and boosted by all Germany as a heaven-born military genius—that he is a failure like the rest, from the Crown Prince down ; moreover that the whole German military machine is a failure and was a failure from the start. I copv a sentence or two from the military correspondent of the Westminster Gazette :

It is too often forgotten in face of the spectacle of German devastations that this practice, an imitation of the barbarous age in Europe, is an imitation of an ago in which the art of war sank to its lowest ebb. Only by degrees were the principles of that art as exemplified by the great captains of antiquity recovered. The revival of needless barbarity is a degradation of tho army that indulges in it. No sign of unskilfulness and inefficiency is so sure. On the Marne it was an opposition of system against system: of ideas and training that were sound against ideas and training that were showy. It is not that in this present battle (the battlo of Arras). Of the merits of the systems and the ideas the test of the Marne was final—final because the whole course of the war has gone to affirm it. In this battle it is skill and efficiency opposed to a bad system gone into the stage of putrescence

What shall we say to that as a summing up ? Neat and forcible, anyhow. I invito myself and everybody else to subscribe to It.

It is the characteristic of German kultur, its hall-mark and sign manual, that it leaves the German a credulous fool. The German sends his Zeppelins to pepper with bombs the " fort of London," and next day gloats over staring headlines in all newspapers telling of half London in ruins, the British Government in flight for the provinces, the King, Queen, and Royal household hiding in tho palace cellars. And he believes it. Education forsooth !—what kind of education can that be which permits Professor von Harnack, the Berlin theologian, in face of the butchery of Belgium to boast of "our austerely virtuous army," and even at this time of day to set forth the Butc'her-in-Chief as a model of the true Christian and the perfect gentleman ? It is the fatuous belief of kultur that all things are well though Hindenburg is retreating, though America is coming in, and Russia has not auite dropped out, «nd that this is precisely the time for insisting on the restoration of the lost colonies, on the annexing- of Belgium, and on a thumping indemnity. The spirits of kultur fro up as tho national fortunes go down. It is Longfellow's lyric inverted.

" Our ascent to the sun makes our enemy envious."—Kolnische Zeitung. The night fell fast, but faster still A youth came down the- darkening hill, A super-youth, whose super-flag Flaunted tho strange but hackneyed brag, "Excelsior!" , ; . The sign-posts clustered left and right And waved their arms towards tho height; Ho heeded not, but through the mist Plunged steeply down and fiercely hissed, " Excelsior!" t " Beware the awful precipice ! Beware the bottomless abyss!" This was Discretion's last Good-night. He gurgled, as ho dropped from sight, " Excelsior!" Verses from' a late Punch, where there are more in the same strain..

Waterside workers and the railways. From the mayor of a waterside borough: Dear "Civis," —Can you imagine a situation in comio opera equal to this: '' The Canterbury members of the House are leaving no stone unturned in their advocacy 01 the restitution of the 9.45 p.m. train from Lyttelton to Christchurch, and are probably making the life of the Hon. W. H. Herries (Minister of Railways) a nightmare to him. In conversation with Mr Witty, the Minister stated that he feared if he put on . this train for the advantage of the waterside workers it would be availed of by other persons not entitled to use it. This fear is apparently the stumblingblock, and if some guara-.iee can bo made that it is baseless, the chances are that the waterside workers will secure tbeir train." Perhaps Mr Herries considered it a Witty conversation, and tried tq bo funny. Does ho really reckon it an objection that people of tho common or garden variety might use a watersiders' train and tho revenue be increased? Going into figures (where we need not fo.low him} this correspondent works it out that at the port of Lyttelton alone an essential industry loses over a thousand hours a week by the cutting out of the 9.45 train. " Yet Ministers have set up an Eihciency Board to teach other people how to economise f" There are signs not a few —and refusing a watersiders' train because other people might travel bf it is one of ihem —that we need to educate our masters.

Dear " Civis," —Looking casually over the map of Germany I notice innumerable "Durgs" (Mecklenburg, Brandenburg, Waidenburg, etc.) and also " bergs " (Konigsberg, Bromberg, Wurtemberg, etc). Will you kindly explain the ditferer.ee 'twixt a " burg" and a "berg"? That there is a vital difference seems evident, else why should the Battenbergs, who up to yesterday, as the saying is, spelt their family name with an " e," now substitute a "u"? There has been no such substitution; — the Battenbergs are still the Battenbergs. What has happened is this—that the Battenbergs along with other naturalised Teutons connected with the reigning house have taken British titles; —this at the King's desire. The Battenbergs have been naturalised since 1885. in which year Prince Henry Maurice of Battenberg was married to Princess Beatrice, daughter of Queen Victoria. A few years later he died of fever whilst serving with the Ashanti Expedition. Of this marriage comes the Queen of Spain. Naturalised Germans great and small are having an uncomfortable time, no doubt. Any mark of the beast still discernible they are eager to efface and get rid of. Even Lord Haldane, who is a Scot and as Scotch as they make them, is under suspicion. Did he not in an unhappy moment acknowledge Germany as his "spiritual home"? Mr Harold Begbie in a laboured apologia thinks it necessary to deny that Lord Haldane has a secret wife in Germany and is an illegitimate brother of the Kaiser 1 However, pass for that. As to the difference between "berg" and "burg," that is easy. " Berg " is a mountain or hill (whence "iceberg"); "burg" is a lower, or castle, or town (whence "borough").

Anything to oblige, of course;—but whjj not turn up a dictionary?

The "anything to oblige" rula has its limitations. This column exists for the people who choose to read it; but not many people would choose to read it if f. printed all the " Dear ' Civis ' " letter* that come. Many are let in, more are kept out.

What's done you partly may compute, But know not what's resisted. Some are merely dull; others would raise a conflagration. At present I am at peace with St. Joseph's, but could hardly hope to continue in that state of salvation if I allowed a certain " Miltonia," writing from Milton, to disparage tho Pope of Rome, discussing him as a harmless ol<| gentleman whose wing 3 havo been well clipped by the secular powers," to the world's great advantage. As if to justify his own suppression "Miltonia" con* eludes: "Nothing so rouses tho latenfc beast in the human heart as does religious controversy." Especially when the them© is Christian union. Anathemas are shuttleeocked from side to side. It is as it was with tho Red Revolutionists undei Danton and Robespierre: " Soyea moo frere, ou je vous egorgel" Another in this week's batch of correspondents would open a discussion on women shirkers" and the immoral limiting of families.

I believe (he says) in a tax op bachelors—and in the term " bachelors *•• I would, paradoxical as it may seem, include married couples under a certain, ago who have no children—that is, of course, where they are "medically fit." The sapient picture censor In Wellington is booming a risky film on this subject by limiting admission to persons over 18 years of agel Unprivileged by any such official patronage, I am left to be my own censor, and in that quality I rule " race suicide " out. "

Passing by altogether a correspondent who asks me to comment on a still more risky topic picked from the malodorous pages of the Sydney Bulletin, I spare a line or two for " Food Faddist," already known to us as an amiable crank who eats hl3 vegetables raw, —cabbage in par-, ticular, carrots and turnips likewise, no doubt; potatoes also we may assume, skins and all. Vegetables raw are not only more nutritious , than vegetables cooked but are of easier digestion. Read* ing which things I shudder. What a' fobd faddist calls digestion other people might take to be cholera morbus. Waiving that point, however, let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: " One of our University Professors has stated in a public lecture that meat Is more nutritious eaten raw." Exactly,—l knew it was coming ; we are to return to nature* roam about in skins, and bask and batten in the woods. All living. creatures—• beasts of the earth, fishe9 of the sea., creeping things and feathered fowl—■ take their provender as they find it, eat it raw, and do well on it. The human animal alone it is that cooks his food, incited thereto by the devil in the interest of the doctors. Civis.

In the House of Representatives on the 29th, Mr A. H. Hindmarsh had soma* thing to say on the rents of Wellington. The position was a very serious one. The legislation taken in this matter had, however, only helped to i*aiso the rent. Tenants, imposed upon by landlords, feared to brinff their cases before the court, as a valuer would be appointed who would give evidence before the court as to the high value of property, and judgment would bo given accordingly. He would ask the Prime Minister to follow the example of tho Asquith Government on the matter. There were cases of throe or four families living in the same house in Wellington. Soldiers went away to the front and left their wives and families at tho meroy of the landlords. He knew of a case where a woman with a family had had the rent raised 5s a week. Cries of "Shame!" In conclusion, Mr Hindmarsh made an appeal to the Prim© Minister on tho matter. Ho said that he was going to put the patriotism of the Prime Minister to the test, and see whether his patriotism was lip service or otherwise.

In reply to a question by our Wellington correspondent on tho 4th, Sir James Allen stated that tho enrolment forma for filling in by members of the Second Division would be available from July 11, and members of the Second Division would bo given a fortnight to register before the roll closed. Sir James Allen also stated that tho question of making a more liberal allowance for the Second Division when they were called up was tinder consideration.

In his speech in tho House of Representatives on Tuesday, 3rd inst., Mr Massey said he hoped that when the Avar was ovel the emigrants would be induced to go to British countries. Tho dominions had wide spaces to fill. According to a present visitor to Dunedin, who has travelled widely

in America and other places, the idea that there will bo a rush of emigrants from Britain and the European countries to tho dominions was quite unwarranted. He gaid that one had only to estimate the number 91 men killed, woundeu, and permanently Incapacitated in each of tho warring countries to realise that these countries would i>o very loth to let their jound men leave them. As a matter of fact,, if ono took tho average number of men ~ /ho had emi-

grated from their home lands over a number of years, it would bo found, he said, that the war had been responsible for such a loss of men as would vastly outnumber these emigrations. In some countries, indeed, the total departures of emigrants for the past 20, 30, or 40 years, added together, would not equal tho number of men these countries had lost in tho war. In the face of these conditions the visitor said he could not understand the opinions expressed in

regard to a large emigration. In France, for instance, he considered they would want all the labouers they could get for the next 50 years. Wages, too, would bo so high as to remove the desire —usually reluctant — on the part of rnvn to leave their homeland to better themselves.

A young New Zealand officer, writing to his parents, speaks in a teeling manner of the respect shown by overseas soldiers to the heroes who fought side by side with them and died. He says that on Anzao Day, April 25, sports were neld in Canada Pnrk, and while there he witnessed one of the most impressive sights. " The Park," fie says, "is next to the cemetery, where about 20 or 30 men are buried every day. A football match was in progress, New Zealand v. Australia, when suddenly the buglers at the funeral commenced to sound ' The Last Post,' that most beautiful of calls. Immediately the whole of the 10,000 Australians and New Zealanders present rose to their feet as one man, and remained at attention till the buglers had finished. This happened about twice during the afternoon, about 10 men buried at a time, and really I think it was as fine a funeral as a man could have. One can't afford to be sentimental at this game, but I am sure, from the remarks I heard passed, that most fellows were touched by the sight." An interesting statement indicating the number of New Zealand and Australian slaughtermen engaged in three big districts last season, and revealing tho total capacity of all the works within those districts, was made before the Appeal Board at Palmerston North by Mr M. J. Reardon, secretary of the Slaughtermen's Federation. In the Wellington district thu number of slaughtermen employed was 511, of wiiom 133 came from Australia. The capacity of the works was 703. The figures for Oanerbury were 216, 43, and 438 respectively, and those for Otago and Southland (combined), 97, 31, and 157. The total figures were 824, 207, and 1298, and showed, according to Mr Reardon, that the number employed was about one-third short of the total that could have been employed had they been available.

A question of which notice was given by Mr J. V. Brown in the House of Representatives on Thursday related to Private Nymott. It reads: "To ask the Minister of Defence whether he is prepared, in view of the fuller knowledge of the disastrous consequences that followed upon the traitorous desertion of Private Nymott, to publicly withdraw his former statement that Nymott was an honourable prisoner of war. Also, whether he will cause the traitor Nymott to be forthwith gazetted as a deserter?"

At a meeting of the Clutha b? . :ch of the Farmers' Union on Saturday Mr Stewart referred to the recent re-valuation of properties, which in many instances appeared to be excessive. He did not know if all the ridings were affected to the same extent as his riding (Richardson), but the new values there were very high. Farmers had received notice to lodge their objections, but in many oases the notices had been reoeived so late that hardly any time was left in which to state objections. He understood that several farmers who had appended to the Government valuer were taken little notice of. His own valuation had been increased £3 15s per acre, and he knew of cases where the valuation was absolutely excessive. The valuer had gone round at a time when the country had never looked better. He (the speaker) did not know how the values were arrived at, but no allowance had been made for deterioration. He thought farmers' appeals should be supported by the whole farming community.

Speaking at a meeting of the Second Division League at Wellington on the subject of the need for better pensions and allowances, Mr R. A. Armstrong said that for the year ended March 31, the excess profits of the New Zealand fat stock raisers amounted to £5,684,336 (approximately). The excess profits tax (45 per cent.) would take £2,557,951 of that sum for the State. That left £3,126,000 for the fat stock raisers. These profits, Mr Armstrong said, were made possible by the sufferings and sacrifices of our soldiers, and they would only be continued by the tearing apart of husband and wife and the loosening of lit tie ohildren's arms from their fathers' necks. The Government said it ..as going to carry this thing out. The Second Division League was with it. There was no man with any decent instinct in his nature who would not go, but let the fat man pay. In the House of Representatives on the 3rd Mr J. C Thomson asked the Minister of Defence if ho would make further provision for soldiers discharged from camp for health reasons until they were in a fit state of health. He quoted the case of a soldier who had been discharged from camp, had been refused work by his previous employers on account of his health, and was

eventually thrown on his lodge for assistance. If soldiers were thrown upon their lodges in this way it was going to create a serious position. In reply, the Minister said that four weeks' pay was provided after a soldier was discharged from camp. In addition, if his jllness occurred in or was aggravated by camp he had the right to apply to tho Pensions Department. In regard to lheir being iaken back by previous employers, this did not come within the administration of the Defence Department.

Mr W. Gray Young, of Wellington, has been selected by the Board of Governors of the Scots College to prepare plans for the new college building, which is to be erected near the golf links at Miramar. The intention is to erect a college for 225 pupils, with boarding accommodation for about 100 boys. Can sweet peas be grown in the open in Dunedin in winter time? Mr E. L. Macassey has answered the question by showing us some healthy blooms grown in his garden at St. Clair. The seed was planted in February in a warm corner. The indications are that the plants will continue flowering throughout the winter. Having tried the experiment of State butchers' shops in Auckland, the Government is about to launch out on a State bakery. It will be erected at Morton Junction. The new project will be in connection with tho commissariat of the Main Trunk. It is reported that it will probably cost the country £2OOO. The new venture has been taken up on account of tho intention to take off the dining-cars on certain trains within the next two months and substitute dining-rooms. Already the huge dining saloon is ncaring completion, and it is understood that passengers from Auckland and Main Trunk districts will have their first daily meal there; breakfast to be ready at 7 o'clock. In order that this might eventuate, the express, it is stated, will be despatched from Auckland about three hours ahead of the current timetable, reaching Marton at about 7. On tho journey north from Wellington the express will be detained at Marton for a further 20 minutes while the passengers have a meal. Bread is to be baked in the State's ovens, and supplies will be forwarded to Palmerston North and other stations where there are Government refreshment rooms. The State bakery will bo erected as quickly as possible. According to the Australian papers the Union Company's steamer Waitotara, which caught fire and was abandoned recently in the South Seas, had a largo amount of cargo, including 60,000 cases of petrol, consigned to the Vacuum Oil Company, a quantity of lubricating oil for the same consignees, extensive consignments of printing paper, valued- at nearly £IOO,OOO, a shipment of copra, together with a number of smaller lines of general merchandise. According to representatives of the Vacuum Uil Company, the destruction of the petrol represents a monetary loss of nearly £48,000, including freight and other charges in connection with the consignment; while owing to the shortage of the spirit at the present time the seriousness of the loss will be accentuated.

Our Wellington correspondent states that the accumulations of meat, butter, am! cheese in store amount to 3,458,364 carcases of meat of 601bs, 130,672 crates of cheese, and 235,566 boxes of butter respectively. It has been calculated that this- quantity could be consumed in New Zealand within the following periods:—Meat, at lib per head per day, six months; butter, at lib per head per week, 13 weeks; cheese, at £lb per head per week, nine months. This is taking the dominion's population at 1,000,000, but it is actually 1,100,159, exclusive of Maoris. Much of tho checso and practically all the meat lias been secured by the Imperial Government. The calculation is not concerned with fresh supplies of produce, which are ever being added to the accumulated stocks in varying volume. Lieutenant T. E. Y. Seddon, M.P., writing to Mr J. Colvin, M.P., from the Headquarters of the 4bh New Zealand Brigade, on April 11, supplies information as to tunnelling work done by West Coast miners. Lieutenant Seddon quotes remarks made by General Richardson, who had come from France, and who had seen a report from "a very exalted general," stating that the tunnelling work done by tho New Zealand's was magnificent. General Richardeon described great halls dug where tho battalions assembled. Lieutenant Seddon continued: "Old Fritz's fireworks and heavy bombardment had not the slightest effect upon the men, who were safe underground in tho shelter provided by our New Zealanders. These large dug-outs were lit up by electric light, and the great white, chalky walls looked like tho interior of a great town hall. From these places of assembly tunnels were dug in the direction of the German trenches. The bombardment

supposed to smash our battalions fell harmlessly in the rear. The general was enthusiastic about the effectiveness of our men's work. As many of tho men cam© from your district of Wcstport and Buller, I thought their comrades who are carrying on mining operations in New Zealand would be pleased to know what a great part in this world struggle for freedom tho West Coast miners in Franco are playing." An interesting cablegram regarding the rumoured co-operation between the steamship companies and tho American meat firms has been received by the Prime Minister from the High Commissioner. It reads as follows:—"There is no reason to suspect collusion between the steamship companies nominally trading to New Zealand and the American meat firms. Voyages to the Argentine and America are all undertaken under the instructions of the Shipping Controller in order to accelerate army beef supplies by taking advantage of shorter voyages. No excessive profits are being made on New Zealand meat except by the retailers who are uncontrolled. The reason for the high prices is that New Zealand meat is sold with other frozen meat, of which the price is higher. Home-killed mutton has been sold as high as 2s per lb." Tho message adds that the retail price of New Zealand mutton in June was Is 6d per lb. In tho course of a speech at the Farmers' Co-operative Wholesale Federation dinner at Christchurch last week, Mr J. Anstey, M.P., said that one of the effects of the war was going to be an alteration of our domestic and social relations. The principle of federation adopted that day was the principle they must adopt in remodelling conditions. The farmers must seek not to serve their own ends, but to work for the benefit of others. Tho farmers would realiso that their industry was the most important in the dominion, upon which its whole prosperity depended, and they must do all they could do to encourage a large increase in production. This was absolutely necessary in order to enable the country to meet the additional taxation that would be the outcome of the war. The farmers would expect the brunt of this new taxation to fall upon their shoulders, and they must not shirk the burden. They must see, too, that, however that burden was placed, it must not bo allowed to discourage production. Mr A. Leigh Hunt, of Wellington, also emphasised tho need for greater efficiency, and* greater primary production by scientific methods on the farm.

The mails for Nejy Zealand which, as reported by cable a few days ago, have been. lost at sea were those despatched from London via Suez by the P. and 0. Company on the 31st May. They comprised letters on hand from May 16 to May 31, and printed papers on hand from May 16 to May 30. The will of the late Mr Robert Glendining has been filed in the Supreme Court for probate. The value of his estate and effects is set down at about £360,000.

According to the latest allotments of shipping space for cheese Lyttelton will be able to send away 1500 crates, Dunedin 3000 crates, and the Bluff 8000 crates. In acknowledging a vote of thanks to him for presiding at a meeting of the Returned Soldiers' Association in Wellington the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) said It was only natural for him to take an interest in soldiers, as 29 of his relatives are at present fighting in France. " And two sons," interrupted a member, amidst applause.

Under date of June 22 a cable message to the Australian papers states: —Great Britain is investigating the finding of a Norwegian naval inquiry into the sinking of the Norwegian steamer Devrion, from Buenos Ayrcs. The evidence was that a seaman on the Devi-ion was caught signalling when the vessel was near the English coast. A submarine appeared and torpedoed the steamer, the explosion killing four men. It transpired that the seaman was a German naval officer.

A great future for the Panama Canal was prophesied by the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward in the House of Representatives on Tuesday evening. Ho said that the great American engineers were going to make the waterway deep enough to take any vessel in the world. The Panama Canal was going to have a greater effect on Britain's trade and the trade between tho East and the West than even the transformation in trade brought about by the opening of the Suez Canal.

A cable message to the Australian papers states that in the course of a lecture on the future of aviation, Mr E. S. Montagu, M.P. (ex-Minister for Munitions), said that the British Empire had numerous harbours and coaling stations in a favourable position for developing Imperial aviation. From London to Peshawar (India) in three days was possible, and at the rate of 1200 miles daily the voyage to Australia by aeroplane would save 24 days. Aerial police would soon bo appointed to enforce traffic regulations. They would fly high, and would pounce upon malefactors and take their numbers, or compel them to descend. Tho Methodist Conference of Now Zealand, which met in Wellington last March, resolved on a forward movement in connection with Foreign Missions. It decided in face of tho urgent claim 3 of the mission field that the New Zealand Church should aim at raising an annual income of £IO,OOO. This practically means the Church doubling its income for last year. A generous offer of £SOO camo from a lover of missions, who chooses to be known as " Investor," if the sum of £IO,OOO were raised. The response to foreign missions has been so liberal since the conference and the returns from the different churches so hearty, thai " Investor" has forwarded his cheque for £SOO to tho Foreign Missions Office. With It is estimated that there aro several hundred tons of potatoes in Dunedin storea at the present time and that thero are still fair stocks in the country. Unfortunately, a very heavy proportion of the potatoes ifl affected with frost and blight, and the holders of the stocks are therefore faced with heavy losses. Prime lines meet with a good demand, but buyers are chary about touching any sorts which are not sound*-

As regards the blight, a rather unusual state of affairs has to be i-ecorded, as whereas a tuber may look perfectly sound, when it is cut open portion of the inside bears a brown appearance. In past years the disease has always made its inroads from the outside. The species of blight which has broken out this year has not bo far been identified. One expert give 3 it as his opinion that the disease is what is termed the. Irish blight.

The Lutheran parsonage at Rongotea, which was being enlarged to seven rooms, pnd which was on the point of completion, has been destroyed by fire. The Rev. Mr Hassold, who had been occupying the parsonage, and who removed temporarily whilst the alterations were in progress, had a valuable library on the premises, as well as a large stock of furniture, and this was completely lost. There was an insurance of £450 on the enlarged building, held by the church trustees, and Mr Hassold had jBISO on the library and furniture. Messr3 Arnott, the builders, of Rongotea, lost all their tools, upon which there was no insurance.

By the last mail, a soldier in France writes to a friend saying that he did not receive any letters or parcels from New Zealand for about six months, but felt quite sure that his friends were writing to him regularly, and on April 19 he received a bundle of 37 letters, all in one mail, also a parcel containing a cake, intended for Christmas, but had taken_ six and a-half months to reach him. Fortunately the cake was in splendid condition. The writer was out of the trenches for a rest at the time, otherwise he might not have got sufficient leave to read all his correspondence, which would have been most disappointing. This case should encourage others with soldier friends who complain they are not getting letters not to give up hope, as the delayed correspondence will most likely turn up eventually.

Inquiries made at one of the leading boot manufacturing firms in the dominion go to Bhow that as regards boots for soldiers there are plenty in stock at the present time. These boots are made principally by Wellington and Auckland firms. So far as New Zealand supplies of sole leather and chrome leather are concerned manufacturers here do no!; anticipate a shortage, tut certain classes of leather, such as patents, willow calf, and box calf are already getting into small compass. The Kajority of makers, however, are holding rge stocks of glace kid, but these were purchased at high prices. Hides enly are now imported by Britain from New Zealand, but the tanners here can buv all the hides they require from the New Zealand Government, which has commandeered the output on behalf of the Imperial Government. Even without any importations from other countries it is confidently asserted that do minion manufacturers can cope with the demands made on them, though poeple may have to wear coarser tops. There is a rush of orders, however, and prices are rising. The absence of imports of high ©lass light boots has stimulated New Zealand manufacturers to make such footwear, and they are turning out a very fine article —one, indeed, which can hold its own with any class of imported goods. It is said that as high as five guineas is the price of certain very high grade ladies' boots on offer in Dunedin. These, of course, have been imported.

Our own correspondent at Wellington states that Mr T. K. Sidey is calling a meeting of Otago members of Parliament to discuss various matters brought imder their notice by the Otago Expansion League for the purposo of bringing them under tho notice of Ministers.

Shortly after 7.30 p.m. on Sunday the police were informed that an elderly Chinaman named Ah Sing had attempted to commit suiciclo by jumping into the harbour from tho cross wharf. A man who happened to be on the wharf, with some assistance, rescued the Chinaman, who was taken to the Dunedin Hospital. He was in a bad way, and by signs ho intimated to tho authorities that he wanted to kill himself.

A prominent business man who occupies a number of honorary public positions in Ihincdin, and who is, and has always been, a firm supporter of the Massey Government, informed one of our reporters on Saturday night that he learnt with a great deal of regret that the National Cabinet had declined to remit the sentences of those men now in gaol consequent on their public Use of seditious language. He said that ho isonsidered these men could now well bo et out, as tho War Regulations had been firmed up so as to peolude them from going far with their seditious talk, even

if they were inclined to offend again in this direction. "But the point that primarily appeals to me," he concluded, "'is that these men are not offenders in anything like the same degree as the Sinn Feiners. These latter were rebels pure and simple. I say it, and lam an Irishman. The British Government, however, has seen fit to cancel the sentences of imprisonment inflicted on these Sinn Feiners. The National Government, on the other hand, declines to release men the majority of whom, in my opinion, were foolish in the uso of their language. They were not rebels at anyrate. Anyhow, the police took these men far too seriously. The great majority of the people who listened to their harangues, smiled, and passed on." The Otago Harbour Board communicated with six Dunedin firms and two Port Chalmers firms, inviting them to tender for repairs to the boiler of the tug Plucky, which came out of dock at Port Chalmers on Saturday. The tenders were opened at noon on Saturday, and that of Stevenson and Cook, of Port Chalmers, being the lowest, was accepted.

Local merchants are beginning to get apprehensive as to the means' of obtaining supplies of the new season's Californian dried fruits, etc., which usually arrive here in November, in time for the Christmas trade. Advices from San Francisco have just been received on the freight question, and it is considered that on account of the British Government having commandeered the steamers , , , and , it will be necessa/ry for the Union Steam Ship Company to go out in the open market and charter outside tonnage to carry on its freighting between San Francisco and New Zealand. Owing to the scarcity of freight space and the excessive charge that will have to be paid for outside steamers, the shipping company, it is believed, will not be able to accept any freight at less than 30 dollars per ton weight or measurement, ship's option, and in all probability this rate will have to be increased. The ordinary rate between New Zealand port 3 has also advanced. There is just the possibility that later on a sailing vessel may have to be despatched to take out freight for New Zealand, but the shipping company will do all it can to charter sufficient bottoms in steamers to take care of the freight. San Francisco firms are now being instructed to use their own discretion in the shipment of orders and not to adhere strictly to given instructions. The Right Hon. W. F. Massoy paid a high tribute in the House last week to the wonderful efficiency of the British navy, which had been kept ready throughout the war to meet the enemy at any time. He hoped that some of the fine vessels added to the navy during the war would be seen in New Zealand waters after peace Was declared. Referring to the great efforts that had been made to strengthen the navy since the war began, Mr Massey said that a new type of ship had been built with great secrecy for very special work. They were built with such secrecy that they were called the " hush ships"; and ho only hoped that they would prove as effective as their builders and designers expected them to be.

Prisoners of war who intimate that they desire employment will be utilised on road work in Waimarino. This decision, according to the Hon. Sir James Allen, is the Government's intention, but the proposal has not been put into force as yet owing to tho period of the year, but steps will be taken to arrange for employment in the early spring. The Government cannot compel interned civilians to work, as such action would bo contrary to international law. Prisoners of war in internment camps are required to do so much manual labour as will keep them in good mental and bodily health.

General Birdwood (says the London correspondent of the Sydney Sun) has a rule that no man can take leave from France unless he has £lO credit in hi 3 pay-book. Mr Brown, member for Napier, asked tho Minister of Defence in the House last week whether he was prepared, in view of tho fuller knowledge of tho disastrous consequences to our eoldiers that followed upon the traitorous desertion of Private Minott, publicly to withdraw his former statement that Minott was an honourable prisoner of war; and whether ho would cause the traitor Minott to be forthwith gazetted as a deserter? To this Sir James Allen has replied:—"lt is presumed the hon. member refers to Private Nimot. Private Nimot was originally reported by cablo to have deserted to the enemy. Shortly after ho was officially reported by the American Embassy in Berlin to be a

prisoner of war. Latest advices are that he is still so held. A Court of Inquiry held in France in December found that, in spite of the fact that he was a prisoner of war in Germany, it was considered that Nimot had deserted to the enemy. No further action as regards gazetting is at present considered necessary. Nimot will be duly tried by court-martial under the Army Act when recovered at the end of the war."

On the first day of the session Mr Brown, of Napier, gave notice to ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of the widespread dissatisfaction with the defence administration, he would take the usual constitutional course to removo the Hon. Sir James Allen from the position of Minister of Defence and appoint in his stead a Minister more in sympathy with the soldiers and possessing to a fuller extent the confidence' of tho people. The Speaker has since pointed out to Mr Brown that as the question involves no-confidence in a Minister, he cannot accept it as a question and consequently it has not appeared on the Order Paper since. Soap, chocolate, and sugar —but above all soap —these are the articles most required by prisoners of war in Germany. Private Joseph Murphy, who is detained at Grissen, in a letter to his mother in Wellington says:—"When you are sending parcels you need not put in so much tobacco or cigarettes, as we are getting more than before from the High Commissioner, but always put in some chocolate, and a little soap*, and also sugar." In all his letters Private Murphy, who was employed at the Hamilton Post Office when he enlisted, temphasises the need for sending more soap.