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Otago Witness, Issue 3315, 26 September 1917, Page 36

A Pres? Association telegram states that Mr Massoy mentioned in Parliament on Monday that it was intended to hold a secret session of the House at 7.30 last night to discuss war matters. Mr Thomson gave notice in the House of Representatives on the 24th to ask the Minister of Justice whether his attention had been drawn to a recent case in Christchurch, in which a magistrate imposed a fine of a paltry 5s in a prosecution of a well known firm of food manufacturers for an evasion of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act by placing on the market an article of food 20 per cent, below the standard provided in the Act, and if so, whether he would take steps to impress upon magistrates the necessity for inflicting more substantial penalties in such cases in future in protection of the public and in fairness to manufacturers who complied with the Act. The possibility of another Liquor Bill being introduced this session is being discussed in the lobbies (says ov,'? Wellington correspondent). In the course of a recent speech Sir Joseph Ward hinted that the adoption of six o'clock closing might make furthor liquor legislation desirable. A Bill will certainly have to he passed this session if a licensing poll is to bo held before the next general election, and legislation will also bo required if tho Government feels that there should bo an alteration in the issues to be placed before the voters at the next poll. The question of State control or State ownership is now receiving a good deal of attention, and tho problem of compensation has also been forced to the front. It may be taken for granted that theso matters have been discussed in Cabinet, but no definite decision has been reached. At present all that can bo said is that there is a possibility of another Liquor Bill before "the session has concluded.

Henry Percy Pocook, a resident of Portobello, le/t his home on Sunday morning, about 10 o'clock, and has not been heard of since. The missing man is 52 years of age, sft 6in in height, and of heavy build. The matter has been referred to the police, who arc now making inquiries. Ruby M 'Knight, the young woman who is alleged to have been shot by a young man named Arthur Ledgorwood on March 17, was discharged from the Hospital some days ago. Ledgorwood will coino up for trial at the criminal sittings of the Supreme Court in November. A fire occurred at Kurow on Saturday, resulting in the destruction of a fourroomed house, which was occupied by Mr Frank Kirby, and owned by Messrs Barclay Bros. The house was insured with the New Zealand Company for £6O, and the furniture with the South British for £75. The Minister of Defence has been advised that the first and second portions of the Twenty-ninth Reinforcements have reached a port -of call. Applications for a variation of the order of the court in respect of the allocation of the income from the estate of the late William Indcr, solicitor, of Gore, were heard at the Supreme Court in Auckland on Thursday by .his Honor Mr Justice Cooper. By his will the late Mr Indcr excluded his wife from all benefits. On his decease application was made under the Family Protection Act by his widow for maintenance, and she was allowed £8 per month, which

was subsequently increased by an order of tho court to £lO per month. The second application was opposed by Miss Daphne M. Inder, a daughter of the deceased, who claimed certain maintenance on. her own account, and also by Miss Janet M. Matthews, of Gore, who benefits under the will to the extent of £IOOO. On account of a prior order of the court in favour of Mrs Inder, no legacies have yet boon paid out of tho estate. Application was made on Thursday to increase the widow's maintenance to £l3 per month. Miss Inder made an applicatoin for a reduction of the amount now allowed. Mr R. W. M'Connell appeared for Mrs Inder, Mr C. J. Tunks for Miss Inder, Mr A. B. Skelton for Miss Matthews, and Mr A. L. Denniston for tho executor (Mr David Harvey). After hearing counsel, his Honor dismissed the application for a reduction in the widow's allowance, and reserved: his decision in the widow's application, pending a determination by Mr Denniston as to whether he would call medical evidence as to the state of Mrs In dor's health.

The revenue received by the Otago Harbour Board for August amounted to £6,320, as against £9,628 for the corresponding month of last year. For the six months, January to August, the revenue was £66,468 (including £1257 for salvaging the Antiope, and £6500 balance of sale of dredge 404} ; for the corresponding six months of 1916 the figures were £65,689. The expenditure for August of this year was £6838; August, 1916, £7llO. January to August. 1917, £52,912; 1916, £62,662. The hospital ship had reached a land of soft balmy breezes and languorous odours. The residents of the town rose as one man and woman to welcome the soldiers. The wounded soldiers were besieged to tell of the happenings, on the blood-soaked fields of France, and the more remote incidents of tho days and nights at Gallipoli. Some of the residents of a town 50 miles away implored a body of soldiers to come homo with them and spend the evening. They could return by train. The men agreed, and were entertained in most hospitable fashion. At half-past 11 the visitors left by train for their main port to enable them to sail with their ship in tho early morning. Throe missed the train, but they did not miss their passage. "A. millionaire chap over there," as one of the belated trio put it, "hired a special train for us, and sent us along." After all, blood is thicker than water.

Private advices received from Wellington state that tho action of the Cabinet in attempting to have tho age at which men could be called up for active service lowered to 19 was taken in opposition to the express wish and opinion of several prominent members of the military staff. It is also alleged that the action of the Government in permitting youths who have attained their nineteenth birthday to enlist voluntarily has been decided on in a spirit of stubbornness following on the Cabinet's defeat of its former intentions.

Some of the settlers in the vicinity of Boundary Creek (Bake Waihola district) have under consideration the matter of privately carrying out works which will make better provision for banking the creek and prevent tho flooding. Strong comments were made by Mr Rawson, S.M., at Hamilton, after hearing the evidence in a case in which a young man was charged with having appeared in a public place while in a highly infectious condition. Inspector Bennett stated that the man, having been feeling ill, went to tho hospital and was told he was in a highly infectious condition. He came into town, visited a barber's shop, and next day returned to the hospital, where he had sinco been ill for some weeks suffering from diphtheria. Tho Magistrate said he felt inclined to impose the maximum fine. Tho defendant had done an extraordinary thing, and there were no extenuating circumstances. The man must have been a fool, for his action in visiting a barber's shop might have spread infection throughout the town and caused many deaths. It was either gross carelessness or the action of an idiot. A fine of £2 would be imposed. At a meeting of tho Standing Committeo of the Otago Harbour Board on the 24th inst. a sub-committee consisting of the chairman- and Messrs Wilkinson and Bridger, was set up to arrange the details of the sale of a large quantity of stock which members consider will not be required—at any rate for many years. The stock, consisting of piles, ironwork, etc., is estimated to be worth several thousand pounds. Lieutenant J. R. Stenhouse, well known in New Zealand as commander of the exploring ship Aurora, has been awarded the Distinguished Service Order. He was gunnery officer on one of his Majesty's ships which recently sank a big submarine. He is at present serving on a new warship. One of his comrades is. Lieutenant F. Worsley, who commanded tiie Endurance, the other ship used by Sir Ernest Shackleton's last expedition to the Antarc tic. No fewer than 35 members of the expedition aro now serving with the British Forces on land or sea. Mr F. Wild, who was left in charge of the party on Elephant Island when Sir Ernest Shackleton made his boat journey to South Georgia after the loss of the Endurance, has received a naval commission, and was recently serving in the White Sea. Dr Macklin, a member of the Weddell Sea party, is a surgeon with tho "tanks," and Dr M'llroy is with the West Lancashire ambulance. He was wounded recently. Major Orde, another member of tho expedition, is in the flying service. Sir Ernest Shackleton has undertaken war service.

Explaining the vote of £SOO for research appearing among the Dominion Laboratory estimates, the Hon. G. W. Russell stated that it was being placed at the disposal of the dominion analyst, Dr Maclaurin, and similar officers, who had never had a chance of demonstrating what they could do. Ho had seen a practical test in the Dominion Laboratory of research carried out in connection with kauri gum that would be worth, in his opinion, hundreds of thoxisands of pounds to New Zealand, became public it would be seen

that a discovery had boon mado of tremendous importance to tho whole North of Auckland), where kauri forests formerly existed. This had been due entirely to the work of Government officers. 'Half a million sterling would not be too much to spend on scientific research in New Zealand.