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Otago Witness, Issue 3312, 5 September 1917, Page 3

The wheat grown in the South Island this season will be much greater than was expected. This announcement was inade in the- House of Representatives last wofk by Sir James Allen, who added that the statistics compiled by the Efficiency Board showed that there would bo sufficient wheat grown in the South Island to fulfil all the country's needs during the coming year. Our London correspondent says that the High Commissioner for New Zealand has just received from the dominion a consignment of 10 cases, of apples of the brands known as Cleopatra. Jonathan, Stunner Pippin, and Stayman Wine Sap, grown by. Mr F. G. Duncan, of Central Otago, A ! number of the cases have been presented to the King and to Queen Alexandra, and the remainder exhibited at the Horticultural Society's show. The fruit was sent through the agency of Messrs A. Moritzson and Co., Dunedin. Our London correspondent writes under date of June 29: —It is announced in N.Z.E.F. Orders that cases are continually cropping up where money has been subscribed by comrades of deceased soldiers for the purpose of erecting 'memorials over their graves. Such money cannot be expended at present, as it has been decided that no permanent memorials are to be erected just now. Men on service are therefore recommended not to raise funds for this purpose until the publication of a general scheme.

Among the returned soldiers who have just arrived back from the Old Country is a Wellington lad -who went away with the Main Body, and returns with 13 wounda to his credit. This i 3 Private Arthur A. Elliott, son of Mr D. A. Elliott.

The usual calm serenity of the Makarewa township was rudely disturbed on Sunday morning when It became known, that the

locality had boon the scene of the theft of a sum of several hundred pounds (states the Southland Times). Particulars are that about 3 p.m. on Saturday Mr Alfred Pay, ■who is an engineer in the Makarewa Freezing Works, left his home in the township, and, accompanied by his housekeeper, came into town. On returning home at about 10 o'clock. Mr Pay found a window smashed in and discovered that a wooden trunk in his bedroom had been prized open (apparently with an axe), and that from it had been taken a large cash box which had contained £3OO in gold, notes, and 6ilver,

besides life and property insurance policies, and the title deeds of the property. The sad feature of the whole affair—and the one which classes the theft as despicably mean —is that the bulk of the money represented the accumulated allotments of two of Mr Pay's sons who have proceeded on active service, one of whom, unfortunately, has given his life that some other being, unworthy of a better term, may stay here in peace and safety and be free to rob, as it were, the grave of one of his protectors. The other soldier Pay has been wounded lately, and it was the father's

pride that, should this son come safely homo, ho would have something to start with. Now that hopo is .shattered by the low-down action of the thief.

A suggestion that Saturday afternoon parados for cadets should be abandoned in the; country districts was made in the House of Representativeji last week by Mr Buick, who said that the Ix>ys were very useful on farms, and he did not think any good purpose was being served by the parades under present conditions. Sir James Allen said the lads, could secure exemption by applying to the group officers and showing that they were required in an industry. He believed that some amended plan should be adopted in connection with the territorial system. He had never had much faith in evening drills, and ho hoped that in the future it would be possible to increase substantially the amount of continuous training at week ends, once a month, and perhaps once a year. The matter, could not be dealt with at present. Mrs Arundel, Mosgiel, has received an acknowledgment from Mr W. 11. Leo (organising secretary in New Zealand for Dr Barnardo's Homes) of a draft for £25 4s 3d, the amount collected in Mosgiel towards the Barnardo Saturday Fund. In pointing out the splendid service thus rendered, ho remarked that within the past two years Mosgiel had sent forward as a result of the collections £46 8s 6d. As Mrs Arundel has found it necessary to resign as collector, Mr Leo is anxious to obtain the name, and address of some person who will act in her stead in this good work. The North Taieri collection, which was sent Home direct, amounted to £1 10s. At the Magistrate's Court, Milton, on the 27th, George Andrew Lilburne was fined £5 and costs (7s), in default seven days' imprisonment, on a charge of contempt of court at the July sittings. On that occasion accused became defiant to the magistrate (Mr Achcson) when in the witness box, and the latter ordered his arrest, when there ensued a rougn-and-tumbfe in the courthouse before he submitted to arrest. In fining the accused the magistrate severely commented on his conduct, observing that he had been 12 years on the bench, in districts occupied by Maoris and Austrians, and had never witnessed such disgraceful conduct.

Unusually high -wages are just now being earned by railway hands, engine fitters, and wharf labourers in the Northern Territory (states the Port Darwin correspondent of an exchange). A fitter recently received £47 Is for a fortnight's pay; another £37 18s 9d. One -fitter stated recently that he earned £7 for one Sunday. The enormously high rates are being obtained under a system which pays at treble rates when a certain number of overtime hours have been worked. The cost of living is by no means proportionate to those extraordinary wages. Out of £245,504 received in the year just ended by 1183 men and boys, about 13g oer cent, was put in the savings bank, 27g was remitted outside the Territory, 20.3 per cent, was " spent over the Government hotel bars," and 38.8 per cent, was accounted for by local living expenses. One of the most expensive flirtations on record has just boon revealed in the American Courts of Justice, in ,vhich, after many days' heaving in the New York State Supreme Court in Long Island City, a verdict of 225,000 dollars was awarded in favour of Miss Ilonora .May O'Brien, an attractive young woman of 27, in a breach of promise suit against John B. Manning, a retired banker and millionaire, 84- years oid. The plaintiff testified that she did not love Manning, but respected him as a man of brains, because of his business tuccess and high standing, and when he proposed to her one night after dinner at his home she accepted his offer of marriage. Re later changed his mind, she said, which was worth a million dollars to her wounded feelings ! The jury did not admire the coldblooded manner in which the dainty Irish lass spoke of her attempts to gain a "meal ticket," as so many artful and designing maidens of America flippantly term their husbands; but it gave her a little.less than one-eighth of her claim, considering that her feelings had not been very materially damaged. Manning is a widower with six children. Miss O'Brien departed from the court with her fortune highly elated, evidently worrying very lit tie at the loss of her millionaire swain. A number of letters have been received by the president of the National Welfare Association from members of Parliament in reply to the resolution forwarded by the association, protesting against the calling up of lads under 20. The Prime Minister, writing on August 23, states that up to the present no proposal has been mado by the Government to call up compulsorily youths under 20 years of age. The Minister of Defence, in the course of his reply, says:

l: It is quite true that the matter of reducing the age at which young men are to be called up for service from 20 to 19 years has been under consideration, but no definite conclusion has been arrived at. You may rest assured that before anything is done the gravest consideration will bo given to the subject. I might remind you that in all other parts of the Empire the age at which youths are called up for service is 18, whereas in New Zealand it is 20." Messrs A. S. Malcolm, A. Walker, C. E. Statham, and T. K. Sidey, M.P.'s, all state that they are in entire accord with the views of the association, and will support the resolution.

The Prime Minister states that the Government is in communication with the Imperial Government in regard to the question of prices for New Zealand scheclitc. Sir James Allen states that legislation is being prepared under which it is hoped that medical men will be available for an early examination of Second Division men.

The Hon. A. M. Myers (Minister of Customs)., in reply to Mr Isitt, states that the police have reported that brewers close to Invcrcargill have been selling beer up to 10.30 p.m., and even 11 p.m. The hoiirs of delivery from breweries are specified in part 3 of "The Finance Act, 1915." The hours for the sale of liquor wholesale are defined by the Licensing Act, section 189— i a.m. to 10 p.m. on week days. The premises of the holder of a wholesale license are regarded as licensed premises within the moaning of that Act. Mr Mat Bradley, bootmaker, of Maclaggan street., was assaulted by an unknown man in his shop on the evening of the 20th. It is customary for Mr Bradley to visit his shop in the evening, and on this occasion he arrived at 8 o'clock. Leaving his keys and coat on the counter, he switched en the light in his workshop and proceeded to the back of the premises. On returning he found tho light out, and saw the dim outline of a man's figure in the shop. Mr Bradley passed some remark about the failure of tho light, and he then received a heavy blow on the head, which knocked him down, and when he made a determined oft'ort to grapple with his assailant a second blow prostrated -him on the floor. On recovering consciousness an hour later he sent a passing boy for a policeman, and Oonstablo o'Connell,-who was accosted, sent for Dr Evans. Chief Detective Bishop, accompanied by Detectives Cameron and Hall, arrived a few minutes later, and found a broken beor bottle, which tho assailant had evidently used in his attack on Mr Bradley. With the keys which he had found on the counter the intruder had opened tho safe and stolen the sum of £2B in notes. Mr Bradley, who did not eco his assailant clearly, has fortunately not been seriously injured by the cowardly attack.

The Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald states that, until local supplies are largely increased, the Government docs not see its way to prohibit the importation of eggs in the shell, but the Board of Trade is making a full investigation as to the advisability of prohibiting the importation of yolk pulp and desiccated whites. On receipt of the board"s report the interests of local egg producers will be given full consideration. A novel method of discharging oil, and one that has probably been put into operation for the first time in New Zealand, has been adopted in connection with the unloading of a vessel now lying at the Rattray street wharf. The oil cargo was brought to' this port in bulk. A pipe has been laid under the wharf and the street, and the oil is being pumped through this pipe from the shin into tanks in the yard of tho Otago Iron and Steel Company. The total quantity is understood to bo about 10,000 gallons, and tho oil is crude oil, to bo used principally for the engines of the auxiliary schooner Houto, which is owned by the Iron and Steel Company. A solid silver model of a German eubmarino is at present on view in the shop window of Mr W. J. P. M'Culloch, Stuart street. The owner (Mr R. G. Osmond, an ex-Royal Navy man, and a member of the Southampton Seamen's Union), was, in August, 1915, employed as a greaser on tho oil tank San Mclito, bound from Southampton to a Mexican port. Thirty-six hours' steam, from Southampton a ship flying Dutch colours and showing distress signals was fallen in with. This vessel proved to bo a decoy, for it was shortly followed by the appearance of a German submarine, which opened fire on tho San Melito and kept tho shells going for 40 minutes. The ship had been built to steam only 11 knots. The engine staff, however, by opening the expansion valves, commenced to get 15 knots out of her, but not in quick enough time, and in response to tho order, "Abandon ship," all hands went on deck, excepting Osmond. He stuck to his post for six.

minutes longer, and pot the ship full-speed ahead, doing this contrary to orders. Then, with the assistance of a deck officer of the ship, lie got the vessel out of range of the submarino fire. In recognition of his remarkable coolness, the owners of tho San Melito, al a luncheon in London, presented Osmond with a substantial cheque and tho model of an enemy undersea craft. The deck of tho model, when opened, displays a cut-glass ink bottle. Mr Osmond is at present a member of tho crew of a hospital ship which has just reached New Zealand. Our Wellington correspondent states that the petition of John Peat (Duncdin) and John Sutherland (Mosgiel) for a refund of stamp duty alleged to have been overpaid has been referred by tho Public Petitions M to Z Committee to tho Government for favourable consideration. Tho Prime Minister made a statement on Friday to members of an Auckland deputation that has aroused the greatest interest. Ho said he had recently received information from a very high authority in London to the effect that tho war was going to end sooner than most people expected. Mr Marsey added that his informant knew as much about this matter as any man in Britain.

Tho General Committee of tho City Council has drawn up a proposed scale of charges for taxi-cabs plying for hire in the city and suburbs. The scale per mile (including return to stand) for one to four passengers is set down as Is, with a minimum charge of 2s. If charged by time, the rate is to be 15s for the first hour and 3s for each subsequent 15 minutes. A ret charge is proposed for a run to the different suburbs, ranging from 4s to 12s 6d. Tho charge for detention has been fixed at Is for each 15 minutes. An increase of 50 per cent, is to bo allowed from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Those recommendations will come before the council for final approval. At a meeting of the National Executive of the Second Division League (says a Press Association message from Wellington) an emphatic protest was entered against an erroneous statement made in Parliament to tho effect that the league had asked for the British scale of pensions for disabled soldiers. The demands of the league are based on the principle of that portion of tho British warrant dealing with disabled soldiers, with an additional 50 per cent., on tho rates embodied therein to meet tho different economic conditions as between Great Britain and New Zealand in normal times. The lcaguo further 'emphasises the point that all pensions shall be by right, as in the British pensions warrant.

The Governor-general has appointed Mr J. \V. A. Marchant, of Wellington, an unolncial member of the North Island Representation Commission in place of Mr H. S. Wardell (deceased), and Mr H. Reeves, of Dunedin, an unofficial member of the South Island Commission, in place of Mr C. S. Reeves (deceased). The Parliamentary librarian, in a report presented to Parliament last week, directs attention •to the increasing loss which goes on each successive session in the magazines and periodicals, despite the fact that each magazine bears a plainly printed label, "Not to be taken out of the library." Copies of certain magazines, reviews, and newspapers continue to be removed from the library and not returned. The librarian appeals to all who use the library during the session to assist him in preserving the files intact. The librarian's appeal was brought under the notice of the House by Mr Anderson and Mr M'Galium (members of the Library Committee). Mr M'Callum said the committee did not want to put up a notice threatening offenders with prosecution. The magazines never disappeared during the recess. The committee was not prepared to accuse any one member. Mr M'Callum added that some people went so far as to cut out portions of a book. He hoped members would be more careful to obey the rules of the library.

Mr Vigor Brown gave notice last week (says our Parliamentary correspondent) to ask the Prime Minister whether he had noticed the firm of Messrs Armour and Co., Australasia (Ltd.), with a capital of £20,000 in 400 shares at, £5 each, had hecn registered on October 3, 1916, Mr W. J. Cannery being allotted 398 shares, Mr W. J. Kingdon 1, and Mr, O. T, Alpers 1? . In a note to the question, Mr Brown says: "Messrs Armour has four freezing companies in New Zealand, with a registered capital of £20,000. This company, with comparatively such a small capital, may be formed with a view of avoiding New Zealand taxation. It seems that the enormous transactions that are carried on by this company cannot be done on a capital of £20,000, and the Government should do something to bring in taxation over such concerns in some different way than it does at present.

Sir James Allen stated in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, in reply to Mr Payne, that the only recent instance of complaint regarding the butter used on troopships -was in respect to an overseas liner carrying troops, and not in reference to a regular New Zealand transport. From, the brief reports as yet to hand it appeared that the butter was supplied to the ship and paid for by the shipping company concerned as best New Zealand creamery butter. Full inquiries were being made to ascertain upon whom the responsibility for this lay.

Mr C. J. M'Kenzie (district Public .Works engineer) returned to Dunedin from Wellington on Wednesday night. He left the Bluff in the Government steamer Hinemoa on Thursday, August 16, for the purpose of paying a visit to Puysegur Point, where his department intends to erect three cottages and a hut for the lighthouse-keepers. glome 60,000 ft of timber and joinery has already been landed by the Hinemoa at Puysegur, and another 30,000 ft is to be taken on in the next few weeks. About 10 men will be required for the construction work. The Hinemoa then steamed north, calling at Dusky Sound—where portion of the ill-fated Waikare is still showing above water —and at Milford Sound. Here the vessel spent the Sunday, and a party went ashore and called on Mr and Mrs Sutherland, of Milford. Messrs Orchis-

ton and Gibbs, of the Telegraph Department, set out from Milford to walk the overland track, rowing from tho head of Lake To Anau. They have safely arrived in Dunedin. The Hinemoa then called at Martin's Bay, and landed stores, but the Messrs M'Kenzie —the two settlers in this locality—did not come down to the landing. Presumably they were away from home at the time. At Bruce Bay, further north, two Hereford cattle were swum ashore, and at Jackson's Bay four more. At Jackson's Bay, south of Hokitika, a big slip some years ago came down on the small township, and practically wrecked the place. The cattle-raisers at Bruce Bay are reported to have had a very successful season. The rent of the leases is very light, but tho farmers have to drive their stock a long distance over rough tracks to reach the market at Hokitika. A lighthouse-keeper, his wife, and four children were taken on board at Westport to be landed: at the Kahurangi Point lighthouse, but the weather set in so rough that they had to be carried on. Shelter was taken under the lee of Cape Farewell. The Hinemoa called at Stephen's Island, in Cook Strait, where a lighthouse-keeper, his •wife, and seven children were taken off, the parents having decided to go in for farming. There is a school teacher on this island, and the departure of the seven sturdy little boys and girls—three of whom were of school' age—would seriously affect the school attendance. On August 24 the Hinemoa steamed into Wellington Harbour.

The statement of the Prime Minister (Mr Massey) that he was willing to hold a general' election at the usual time, was discussed at a special meeting of members of the executive of the National Welfare Association on Wednesday evening. The following resolution, which was passed, was forwarded on Thursday to the Prime Minister by Mr B. S. Irwin (president of the association) : —"The executive of the National Welfare Association views with satisfaction the expressed willingness of the Prime Minister to hold a general election at the usual time, and hopes that the Government will support Mr Witty's amendment to the Parliament Prolongation Bill." A letter has also been addressed to every member of Parliament by the organiser of the association (Mr A. J. Hardman) together with a copy of the resolution. This letter concludes: "Wo consider that a general election would clear the air and permit of Parliament settling down to seriously carry out the business of the country in accordance with the wishes of a majority of the people." A fine record of patriotic work has been accomplished by Mrs Jackson, aged 86 years, who lives in Cumberland street, and •who has recently completed her two hundredth pair of socks for the soldiers.

The record of Mr J. C. Mercer, of Waikari, who, after 19 days' tuition at the Canterbury Aviation School at Sockbum has qualified for h:ls "ticket," is one that will be difficult to equal in the dominion, and it is possiblo that few aviation schools outside of the dominion can produce many similar records (says the Cl.ristchurch Press). In addition to the comparatively short period of actual tuition, Mr Mercer, prior to his examination, had done only three hours' flying. His performance won very warm praise from Major Sleeman, the examining officer. Mr Mercer is 26 years of age, and was one of the first to register as a student at the Canterbury A'iation School, but was not accepted at firsc owing to the fact that he was over age. He is a prominent member of the Canterbury Automobile Association, and has tak-m part in several association reliability triala, winning oil more than one occasion.

A case of peculiar interest is being investigated by the Taranaki police, in view of developments arising out of a charge against a Reservist in the First Division for not making application for enrolment under the Military Service Act. The point of the case was the confusion which had arisen owing to conflicting statements made, by the defendant an to his marital 'condition in October, 1915. He set forth in his registration card that he was married in June last. Ho told the registrar of marriages at Opunake that he was divorced, and had applied for leave to re-marry, which was refused for want of sufficient evidence of divorce. In Hawera, a day or two later, he mado a statutory declaration that ho was a bachelor, and got a certificate and was married. Defendant now gavo evidence that he was married in England, and named the woman, th*e place, and other ciroumetances, but said his wife would not come Out to New Zealand, and subsequently Le bould hear nothing of her, and was unable Jo get the divorce he wanted. Ho was

specially anxious for a reason given to remarry, and at Hawera did not say anything about his previous wife. The police said tho alternative position of defendant was either that he had evaded military duty in the First Division by saying he was married, or that he had committed bigamy. The matter was adjourned for .a week to permit of further inquiry being made. A New Zealand orehardist "Somewhere in Franco" writes to a Timaru friend in words of great praise of the thoroughness of the French small farmers' methods in tho cultivation of their farms (states the Post). In his opinion, tho French are great farmers, and their crops of wheat, maize, potatoes, and clover all look splendid, and much superior to any seen in New Zealand. Every bit of land, even that under shell fire, is under cultivation. Tho orchards seem to be remarkably free from blight, and he considers that orchard sprayers would not earn a decent living at their calling in France. One French custom did not find favour with the New Zealander, and that was the almost universal way of keeping all manure, refuse, etc., in a big hole in the ground near the owner's dwellinghouse. This hole is cleaned out only about once a year as a rule. A disaster, the novelty and singularly inopportune occurrence of which but adds to its seriousness, was sprung upon residents of Tisbury about 11 o'clock on Tuesday forenoon (states the Southland Times). A five-roomed house, the property of Mr J. Hall, had just been thoroughly renovated inside and out in anticipation of the occupation of Mr Hall's son, who was to have taken his stand in the ranks of the Benedicts on Wednesday. On Monday the young bride-to-be and her prospective sister-in-law scrubbed the place out and saw to the laying of tho linoleums, while the furniture was being moved in and the various other little finishing touches attended to. On Tuesday, •at the hour mentioned, the new home was complete in the interior, save for a cart-load of odds and ends, and the exterior was receiving its farewell brightening at the hands of an elderly gentleman who was painting the verandah. Probably that same house artist has never previously had a

job terminate so abruptly. Of a sudden the dwelling rose, bulged outwards, lingered for a moment and crashed to earth in a sickening ruin. Houses 300 yards away shook, and the commotion in the school just across the road from the exploded house must have been more than ordinary. The painter was taken home in a state of collapse. It has been ascertained that a quantity of gelignite, intended for stumping purposes, was stored in the house.

A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that •the Minister of Defence informed Mr Okey on the 31st that regulations were being drafted to ensure that military funerals would be given to soldiers who died in the dominion. Tho vital statistics for Duhedin for August are as follow:—Births 142, deaths 89, marriages 35. Tho figureis for the corresponding month of last year were: Births 164, deaths 90, and marriages 50. It has been decided to organise a " Baby Week " campaign throughout the dominion, beginning on Sunday, October 28. The military ballots already taken have reduced the number of men left in the First Division to about 8000, and as 8000 is roughly tho number that may be needed (taking recent ballots as a guide), the question has arisen (says our Wellington correspondent) whether the authorities would deem it necessary to ballot at all. It was thought probable that the whole of the regaining names could be gazetted, provided that tho whole 8000 or so were to be called. It appears that according to the Act a ballot must be taken, but in this case it would simply be a ballot to comply with the Act and not, perhaps, entirely similar to previous ballots. To enable the whole of the remaining names to be gazetted it would be necessary to amend tho Act. j Mr H. O. Campbell raised a matter of j vital moment to the port and province of Otago at the meeting of the Otago Harbour Board, held on the 31st ult. He said he would like to bring under the notice of members the number of overseas ships which were arriving at Wellington with portions of their cargoes consigned to } Dunedin. This cargo, however, was being transhipped at the northern port. Of a j number of vessels duo to arrive in the do- ' minion only two were to visit Dunedin. j Every boat would have some cargo on ! board for Dunedin. Tho direct shipping trade with Dunedin was gradually getting less and less. He wanted to know If some means could not be devised whereby these

steamers would be brought on to Dunedin. The consignees had to pay just as much in Dunedin as those in Wellington, but they were burdened with an extra £1 per ton for transhipment charges. Dunedin importers, moreover, were not only being required to pay this extra £l, but there was also the question of the damage caused by the extra handling of the cargo. Mr Moller said he thought that the board was under a debt to Mr Campbell for bringing the matter forward. The .information supplied by him was a subject of the deepest importance to Otago. The Chairman (Mr Loudon) said he would undertake to see the managers of the different companies interested, and the reasons for the steamers not coming on to Dunedin could be submitted to the board at its next meeting. It was decided to agree to the chairman's suggestion.

The fact that it is proposed shortly to redistribute the Parliamentary seats upon the basis of the last census, notwithstanding the presence in Wellington of many soldiers and their relatives on the night the census was taken, is exercising the minds of the southern members of Parliament, more than one of whom is confronted with the unpleasant vision of seeing his seat wiped out. Dr Thacker has given notice to ask the Minister of Internal Affairs whether in the assessment of the last census return and in view of the redistribution of Parliamentary iseats he reckoned on the following fact: (1) That on the night of the census an Expeditionary Reinforcement was leaving Wellington and some 2COO extra people were in Wellington; and (2), that the persons on Somes Island were added to the Wellington list of census names? In a note to the question Dr Thacker says that by the last census return Christchurch fell from the second to the third city in the dominion.

The youth Frank Inkstcr, who is being charged with murder in connection with the' Wairongomai tragedy, continues to maintain an attitude of quiet unconcern. He was taken to Gisborne on Sunday afternoon. The youth did not appear to realise the seriousness of his position during his preliminary trial- at Waipiro Bay. When the statements he is alleged to have made were being related by the witnesses he listened attentively, and when a witness had concluded repeating a conversation the youth's features would relax into a smile. When travelling on the boat from Tokomar u to Gisborne he spoke freely to his qscorts, and in conversation with a Herald representative discussed all kinds of subjects. He showed no diffidence in referring to Waipiro Bay "to fill the newspapers." The youth is an artist in his own way, and on the walls of the cell at Tokomaru Bay, where he was domiciled for three weeks, are some grotesque caricatures.

Recently the Hon. D. Buddo asked the Government whether, owing to the high price of knitting-wool for soldiers' socks, the Government would supply wool and contract with the woollen mills of the dominion to supply the Rod Cross and Lady Liverpool Societies with knitting-wool at less than 83 lid per lb. The Hon. Mr Myers replied that, under the existing arrangement, each soldier 'Bias equipped with what was regarded as a satisfactory supply of socks. Arrangements were made lor these supplies direct from the New Zealand woollen miils. The socks given to soldiers were by way of an extra supply. In regard to the knitting-wool required, inquiries would be made with a view to ascertaining whether it was practicable to obtain the supply as suggested. A war trophy in the shape of a German machine gun, which was captured by the First Battalion of the Wellington Regiment, has been presented to the citizens of Napier by Lieutenant-colonel C. D. Cook, 0.0. of the battalion. Captured during the battlo of Messines on June 7, the gun is now in the hands of the Army Ordnance Services, and it will be despatched to New Zealand in due course. In all probability, however, it will not reach the dominion until the end of the war.

Painful caseis of distress are continually coining' under the notice of the Salvation Army, and a story related by Commissioner Hodder at the opening of the Boys' Home at Island Bay sounds almost like fiction. A man Irving at Taihape, who was a reservist from England, was called to rejoin the colours, and left his wife and two boys behind. It was not long before be was wounded and incapacitated by shellshock, and eventually he had to be sent to an asylum. The wifo was advised that her husband would never return, and to add to this severe blow the unfortunate woman was so severely stricken with consumption that she had to be confined to a hospital. The reisult was that the two

boy 3 were left alone in the world, and the Army came to the rescue. Those two boys were now inmates of the Army Home at Temuka. —(Loud applause.) Other instances of hardship were also related by the Commissioner, who stated that in one ease they had taken in a 10-months' old baby girl.

Advico has been received to the effect that the local approaches to the Albert Town bridge have been rebuilt, and that the bridge is open for traffic On Saturday afternoon 35 turbot from the fish hatchery at Portobcllo were placed on board the small steamer Kotare for conveyance to Tautuku Bay, where they were to be released

The Upper Clutha Expansion League, at a meeting on Thursday last, adopted the following resolutions:—"That each branch organise a public meeting with the object of raising funds in support of the Otago Patriotic Association; that the Otago Expansion League be asked to advocate the abolition of the present national endowment, comprising chiefly pastoral country; that all pastoral country, at the expiration of the present term, be subdivided and relet with the option of the freehold; that this meeting is firmly of the opinion that the welfare of Otago is bound up with this option of securing the freehold in limited areas."

Our correspondent informs us that the opening of a telephone exchange at Pembroke, Lake Wanaka, is a practical certainty. The exchange will have from six to eight local subscribers, and there will possibly be three party lines linking 10 or 12 residents of Mount Barker with the bureau.

Our Pembroke correspondent reports that a flaxmill is being erected at Makarora for Messrs Bcgg and Co., of Romahapa, and stripping will commence at an early date. There is a large quantity of flax in the district. Mr S. Patterson has started a sawmill in Makarora in connection with the Makarora station, but as a number of inquiries have been received for outside orders there is a possibility of the mill being kept in full operation for some time to come. Some bakers complain (according to the Lyttelton Times) of the milling quality of the wheat made from the Australian flour.

" Good wheat, spoiled in the milling," said a baker in reference to a quantity of the flour purchased from a Dunedin mill. He explains that the millers' silks here arc fitted for treating a totally different class of wheat, and that it would hardly pay to alter for the sake of the comparatively small quantity of Australian to be treated. What is considered to hold first place as a feat of endurance in horsemanship was achieved by Walter Thomas Darcy, who left Wyndham, West Australia, on the night of August 1 to see his brother, who was seriously injured, at Hall's Creek. He left with five horses, and rode 140 miles. He secured fresh horses some distance from Turkey Creek, reaching Hall's Creek early on Sunday morning, 80 hours from Wyndham, having covered 250 miles. For the last 110 miles the actual riding time was 15 hours, and for the last 21 miles two hours. The ride was accompanied minus blankets and with very little food, the man being in the saddle practically the whole time over some of the roughest country in the commonwealth.

Further evidenco is forthcoming to show that there is more value in stellar observation than is imagined by many. A shipmaster now in Wellington states that on one occasion when going from Dunedin to Westport, south about, he got into thick Weather off Puysegur Point, had no observations of land, or by the sun, for two days, but it cleared at night, and the position was determined by stars, by which ho steered and made Hokitika light in safety. It is believed that many ships which have been lost would have been saved if the Board of Trade had years ago instituted positionfinding by stars in its examinations. New Zealand's two high-powered wireless stations have had remarkably good results during the last 12 months, readable signals having been received from stations so far away as Europe. In the annual report of the Post and Telegraph Department, it is mentioned that the working of the wireless stations continues to be satisfactory. Improved methods of detecting signals by means of the ultraudion was introduced at Awanui, Wellington, and Auckland a few months ago, and apparatus for the other stations has been procured and will shortly be brought into use. The results obtained at Awanui, where the apparatus has been extensively experimented with, have been particularly gratifying, continues the report. The signals of stations using damped and undamped waves invariably come in of readable strength from American, Asiatic,

and European stations. The use of thia detecting apparatus with a particular combination of the receiving circuit has demon-, strated that daylight signals from stations using the ordinary wave-lengths can be rendered plainly audible, which by the ordinary methods and the use of the crystal detector could not be heard.

Our London correspondent states that Major W. A. Chappie, R.A.M.C., M.P., moved in the Houso of Commons to include in the Electoral Bill a scheme for the alternative vote. To meet the complaints which were raised as to the difficulty and complexity of the system, ho arranged for a ballot to bo held amongst, convalescent and wounded soldiers at the Pavilion Military Hospital, at Brighton, to which he if attached. Two limbless men undertook th«. arrangements, and supervised the ballot and counted the papers. The election waa carried out without any fault or omission. The three candidates for tho purpose were ! the inventors Marconi, Edison, and Maxim, and the last-named secured an absolute majority on the second count. Speaking at tho National 1. n~ .iy Ex-. hibition in London, Mrs Lloyd J*"'orge disclosed some interesting "Cabinet" secrets. "Perhaps you will not believe me," eho eaid, "when I tell you that when Mr Asquith came to 10 Downing street, nine years .ago, there was not a single bathroom in the whole place." '' At No. 11 Downing street, where wo went to live, t

about the same time, we found a basement scullery there with not a window, not a gleam of light or ventilation of any sort. It took me some little time boforo I could persuade the Office of Works to build me a nice little sculler;/. I did not rest until I got it. Now there is a good scullery, with a glass roof and a window which opena into the garden."

In her forced retirement the ex-Czarina of Russia is living a very lonely life indeed (writes the London correspondent of the Sydney Sun). In tho days of her greatness she had but few real friends. To-day she has none. Morbidly shy, fearful of revolution, often in bad health, she practically lived the life of a recluse. For 10 years there were no receptions at court, and during that time the Czarina only attended one function—a dance given ,in honour of her eldest daughter—and even then she only stayed for an hour. She never attempted to gain popularity with her husband's subjects, to whom she wae always " xhe German," just as Marie Antoinette was always "the Austrian" to the French.

Corporal C Richardson, of the Canterbury Infantry Battalion, Eighth Reinforcements, who is a prisoner of war in Germany, has written to his sister in Christchurch from Cassel, Hesse Nassau, to the effect that he is well and doing a little work. This consists of digging and planting potatoes. The work is not hai'd, but the hours are long, from 7 to 7. He speaks well of his treatment, and acknowledges receipt of parcels of biscuits, cake, tongues, and so on from relatives here. "I will be able to open a new cookery book," he says, "when I get home, and will probably call it 'the Gefaugenen's soups, stevjs, and puddings.' I have made some great mixtures or concoctions, and have kept an account of them all, so that you will be able to hav6 some new dishes."

Professor MacMillan Brown has returned to Christchurch after a trip of a moat interesting nature amongst the most easterly of the Pacific Islands, mostly those in French possession. After visiting several of the Society group he went south to Rapa and Tubnai, investigating and photographing the stone images which had never been subjected to the operation before. He also obtained a number of fine photographs of the natives, both men and women. "Visits were paid by the Professor's party to the Gambier and Paumotu group, and then a return was made to Tahiti. The United StateiS Consul happened to be there at the time, and the French Governor made a good deal of his visitors, who were treated to a round of festivities, feted, and complimented as being representatives of France's Allies. A State processional kind of trip was made all round the islands, which lasted for four days, and the whole experience was decidedly exhilarating. Professor Macmillan Brown also visited the Marquesas, which he said proved the most interesting of all the islands, with fine stone temples and intelligent and interesting inhabitants. The Leeward lislands were also visited, and the Professor was enabled to carry out a most valuable scries of original investigations and obtain a very fine series of photographs of the x e °pl° an< i their ancient architecture.