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Otago Witness, Issue 3333, 30 January 1918, Page 3

The Hon. Sir J. Allen (Minister ot Defence) stated on the 22nd (says a Christchurch telegram) that men of the Second Division classified as C2—that is, medically unfit —will not bo re-examined, as has been the case with First Division reservists. The ballot taken by the Dunedin Tramways Union to decide whether the union should join the central secretarial office resulted in the proposal' being defeated by 100 votes to 65. Mr Jesse Haymes is tho present secretary of the union. Count Felix von Luckner, commander of the German raider Sea Adler, Lieutenant Carl T. F. Kir3cheiss, navigating officer, and an orderly, have been Dlaeed on Ripa Island, in Lyttelton Harbour, a 3 war prisoners.

The request of the president of the Wellington Esperanto Society that Esperanto be included as a subject for the Bachelor of Commerce Degree was rejected on the 22nd by the Degrees and Commerce Committee of the University Senate. Reference to tho request in the committee's report occasioned some interesting remarks on the subjects of Esperanto and of Spanish from the Chancellor, Sir Robert Stout. Esperanto was an easily learned . language, he 6aid, and he himself had learned it in about six weeks though he was not good at languages. Ho believed it would yet play a very prominent part in our commerce, though ib might be too soon to include it as an examination subject. Continuing, ho said, that if New Zealand is to play any part in commerce in South America,' wo would have to make the teaching of Spanish popular. Speaking in, Christchurch of tho enormous loans advanced by Britain to her Allies during tho war, the Hon. G. W. Russell said that after the war Britain had to get tho money back, and the only way in which it could be repaid was by produce shipped to tho Old Country. When that timo came New Zealand would have to compete with the Allies in tho production of meat, wheat, cheese, and butter, at a very great disadvantage, owing to the higher cost of production entailed by the freer conditions in the dominion, and the ablest men of the country would have to put their heads together to co-ordinate every industry, and regulato labour so that

not an hour would be lost. It might be that this would be the severest crisis in the country's history. Ho was glad to say that the futuro relation of science to trade, commerce, and production was being carefully considered already, with-the object among other things, of turning waste lands into productiveness. It only remained for the Government to grant £IOO,OOO for the extension Of chemical laboratories for Boienoo to com© to the aid of the people in bearing their tremendous war debt at the close of the war. Kaka Point is a well-known resort for holiday-seekers, and this year ha 3 been exceedingly well patronised. The Presbyterian Church at Port Molypoux has been removed to a new site in the vicinity of Kaka Point. This work was undertaken by Messrs Paul Bros., of Milton, who took the building round in one piece on a trolly drawn by two traction engines. The church -Vyas built in 1874, in the palmy days of Port Molyneux. The late Dr Bar.: "rman was the minister at that time. Notwithstanding its ago the 'building, which is capable of accommodating 250 people, is in a very good state of repair. Mr W. Clarko (who secured 865 votes) has been appointed secretary of the Dunedin branch of the Seamen's Union, hi 3 opponent in the ballot being Mr F. Smith (who secured 340 votes). Mr W. T. Young h>s been returned (unopposed) to the position of general secretary. Mr T. F. Anderpon (774 votes) is the secretary at Auckland, having defeated Mr J. Jack (436 Totes). An entirely now method of treating decayed teeth is described in tho Dental Cosmos by Dr Percy R. Howe, of Boston. This, which is tho rosuit of 'many experilavents in the research luboi-.atory of tho

Forsyth Dental Infirmary for Children, consists in injecting into tho tooth a solution of nitrate of silver in water and ammonia, and following this with an injection of a 25 per cent, solution of formalin in water. Tho effect of these injections is to impregnate all tho diseased tissue with metallic silvsr in a very finely divided state. The silver perfectly sterilises whatever it penetrates, and it does not affect the healthy, live part of the tooth at all. When injected into the root canal it sterilises this, desensitises whatever may bo left of the pulp, and, if it goes out through the apex of the tooth, makes tho tissues so sterile that there is no danger of tho formation of an abscess. Examination of teeth extracted after being thus treated shows that the silver has impregnated every part of tho diseased tissue, turning it absolutely black. The new treatment is advocated especially for the preservation of six-year molars, the first permanent teeth to bo cut, and generally the first to go. Corporal J. €r. Swanson, of Masterton. who is attached to the Australian Forces, writes to his mother from France, under date November 4, as follows: —"I got a surprise the other day when I received a letter from the Comforts Fund people of New Zealand in'London,. asking after me. and would I drop them a line if I received it, which I did, and about a week after I was told there was a big parcel for mo at tho post office. I thought first it must have been one of yours for last Christmas just arriving. It wasn't; it was from the Comforts Fund people of Pig Island. There was a steak and kidney pudding, and a gooseberry pudding, trench cookers, and lots more. The letter wanted me to 'write again, which I did; it also said that tho peopl© of New Zealand were tryujg to keep

in touch with all her men, even though serving in other armies. I tell you I felt proud that I belonged to the little place." Since the British occupation large whoat crops have been planted in Mesopotamia under the direction of the Indian Government, and the harvesting of this will commence in April. Labour conditions are not too settled in that country at the present time, and in any case the native harvesting implements are, for the most part, of a primitive kind. Australia has been asked to help in this matter, therefore, and the Argus states that Mr Hugh M'Kay (proprietor of the Sunshine Harvester) has arranged for the desputch to Bagdad of a number of harvesters of the latest type, with petrol motor-driven mechanism, and of twenty-eight skilled Australian workers to look after the machines. The men and machines will be despatched shortly, and at the end of harvesting operations the men will return to Australia. In order to provide for repairs a small plant, specially constructed at Sunshine, will be carried also.

A great irrigation scheme is nearing completion in the Riverina district of ffew South Wales (says the Melbourne Age). In another 12 months or 60 the whole of the flow of the Murrumbidgeo River will be harnessed and made available for the purpose of intense culture. The great Burinjuck dam has already piled up the Murrumbidgee waters into an immense inland sea; miles and miles of irrigation channels are conducting them on to fruitful soils, and in their wake (all within the past few years) prosperous townships of irrigation settlers have been dotted over the countryside. But the Burrinjuck dam is hardly finished. There is yet a deal of its upper masonry and reinforced conorete to lay in place, and it is expected that 18 months will elapse before it will be able to deal, as planned, with the whole of the Murrumbidgee. catchment. When it does the vast inland sea it is forming will carry a stupendous amount of water—roughly 33,000,000,000 cubic feet, or. a greater volume of water than is contained in Sydney Harbour.

A telegram from Wellington states that ifc is understood that circumstances have arisen which may result in the postponement of the Hon. Mr He'rdman's resignation from the Cabinet. Our Wellington correspondent wires: "The statement has been made that the resignation of the Hon. Mr Herdman as a member of the Government and a member of Parliament has been indefinitely postponed. This is not true. In all probability Mr Herdman will resign in about a fortnight. It is the intention of Mr Justice Denniston to resign at the end of the present month, and Mr Herdman will in the ordinary course of events take his seat very soon after that."

It is understood that a movement is under way to establish a Labour party in Dunedin on moderate lines, as it is felt in some quarters that the Otago Labour Council, as at present constituted, is too extreme in'its views, and does not represent the opinions of the majority of the labour unions in Dunedin. The folio-wing notification appears in Trentham Camp orders: —"The Camp Commandant has pleasure in recording his appreciation of the action of Corporal J. F. Maddern, 39th N.C.O.'s, in pluckily rescuing, in the Boat Harbour, Wellington, on Jarfuary 13, 1918, a boy who fell into the water from a dinghy. This prompt action possibly averted a fatality."

An Auokland Press Association message states that at the local court on the 23rd John C Griffin, licensee of the Oxford Hotel, was fined £5 Is for exposing liquor for sale before 9 a.m. James Shaw and Frederick Morgan were each fined £2 for being on the premises. Out of 1771 candidates who presented themselves for the matriculation examination of the Nov/ Zealand University at the end of last year 611 are recorded as passed, 108 having completed partial passes previously obtained and 232 have qualified for a partial pass. These figures were submitted to the Senate last week in a report from the Recess Committee on December Examinations.

The following letter has been received by Mr P. C. Webb, M.P., as the outcome of an interview with the Minister of Defence (Sir James Allen) as to whether coalminers, who had been in the habit of spending this portion of the year in harvesting operations, could do so this year without forfeiting tho exemptions to them under the Military Service Act: —"You will remember that about the middle of last month you 6aw me with reference to the position of Blackball coal miners, who have been in the habit of going harvesting, and desired to know If the3e,men could do so this year without violating the condition of

the exemption granted to them by reason ol their occupation as miners. I have made careful inquiries with respect to this matter, and am now advised that, owing to the present necessity of maintaining the output of West Coast coal at the highest possible rate to supply tho needs of essential industries, shipping, gasmaking, etc., and to the fact that indications point to other labour being available in sufficient quantity to copo with the harvest, it is not considered desirable that coal miners should leave the work of coalgetting in order to go harvesting or for any other purpose. Coal miners, therefore, will require to continue their occupation in the mines in terms of the conditions imposed by the Military Service Beard In granting them exemption from military service." The National Efficiency Board has lately been making inquiry throughout Otago and Southland as to the labour prospects during the harvest season. So far as the south is concerned, it will be some timo yet before harvesting is in full swing, but from reports already to hand, little if any difficulty is expected in carrying out the work. Even in ordinary times, there is a good deal of co-operation amongst farmers at such seasons, arid this seems likely to b'.* considerably extended this year. No doubt long hours will bo worked, and some delay experienced, but given good weather tho crop should not suffer for want of labour to get it in. In the north, conditions are hardly so good, and the returns from the Oamaru districts indicate that tho lack of labour will be more keenly felt there than farther south.

Commenting in November on the shortage of paper, a London trade journal said: —Owing ' to the paper shortage no more foolscap paper will be issued for official correspondence. Quarto and octavo sizes will take its place. . . . We venture to predict that if the war is still going on in six months' time there will not only be further reductions" in sizes of all publications, but that serious consideration will have to be given to further increases in price. If the paper shortage continues prominent wholesalers forecast that the publications to go first will be the cheaper novels, then periodicals and luxurious papers, and last, trade papers and newspapers should continuance of publication become impossible.

. Astonishing disclosures of the recent achievements of -wireless telephony were made by Dr Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, in a speech to the Canadian Club at St. Catharine's, Ontario. ,l Ji the telephone has reached its extreme limits, what next?" said Dr Bell. " I cannot say what next, but I can tell you of something lhat happened in Washington a few weeks' ago. The telephone has been applied to wireless, and a man in Arlington, just across the river from Washington, talked with a man on the Eiffel Tower in Paris by telephone without wires. But that is not all. A man in Honolulu heard the conversation 1 From Honolulu to the Eiffel Tower is 6000 miles, one third ot the circumference of the globe. Does this not mean," ho added, "that we can talk from any part of the world to any other without wire?" Dr Bell, in detailing the development of his telephone, stated that a few days previously he had whispered a message from New York to Chicago—a distance of about 900 miles—and had received a whispered reply. A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that t'he price of newspapers in the Auckland province will be raised to 2d on and after February 11.

At the meeting of the Otago Education Board on Thursday morning Mr W. R. Brugh moved—" That this board protests against certain clauses in regulations under tlio .Statute Law Amendment Act, more particularly sub-clauses 4 and 5 of section 2 and section 9, being of opinion that these provisions are unworkable, and likely to, interfere with the board's administration; and, further, that any such drastio regulations should not bo made by regulation." The point in these regulations to which Mr Brugh took exception was tho ppwer conferred on the Minister to appoint temporary teachers at a reduced salary, his contention being that this matter was much too important to be brought into forco by regulation instead of by Statute. The motion was carried unaimously. The establishment of a national school of horticulture is in contemplation by the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald). At the Nurserymen's Conference in Christchurch he stated that the department had been inquiring into tho question for some time, and he had inspected certain likely properties. Tho matter had not yet been fully dealt with by Cabinet, but would be submitted when in concrete.

form. He believed that a suitable central horticultural station could bo purchased at a reasonablo figure, to include fruit, forest, and plantation trees. Ho had also been requested to include a small poultry run and apiary. When the-site had 'beeii decided on the whole matter would bo submitted to Cabinet. Such a place would be of great benefit to the industry, and would be most instructional to visiting orchardists. The site would be tho most suitable possible, either in the North or South Island. Returns laid before tho meeting of the Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board on the 24th showed that at the beginning of December there were 270 patients in the Hospital, and 200 had been admitted during tho month. A total of 254 patients had been discharged, and 11 had died, leaving 205 persons remaining in tho iiwtitution at the end of the month. It is understood that Mr Henare Parata has been definitely selected as the Liberal candidate for tho Southern Maori seat, and that he will carry tho Imprimatur of the National Government. Other probable candidates aro Messrs J. Elison (Puketeraki), W. Barrett (Kaiapoi), and J. Tikao (Lyttelton). A telegram from Wellngton conveys the further information that Mr Alfred Rore, a chief of the Wairau Pa (Blenheim), will also bo a candidate. Mr Rore unsuccessfully contested tho seat at the last election. At tho meeting of the Otago A. and P. Society oh Thursday morning strong exception was taken to certain remarks made by the Coroner (Mr H. A. Young) in giving his verdict at the inquest on the late Mr A. Hamilton. It was pointed out In the first place that the horse in question was not a quiet one, but had shown its restive disposition in several show rings. Reports submitted by tho stewards in attendance on the jumping events also proved to the satisfaction of the meeting that the enclosure was arranged in the best interests of the safety of the public and also of the exhibitors. Tho society claims that before it was condemned evidence should have been called on its behalf. In presenting his address at the annual conference of the v New Zealand Nurserymen's Association on Wednesday, the president (Mr T. Waugh, of Wellington)' remarked that few even among tho nurserymen themselves realised what the nation owed to their profession. "Its orchard trees, its trees for forest planting and [ for beautifying the parks, gardens, and farms, the flowering and decorative plants that go to make our homes truly homelike," all these como "from the nurserymen, who anticipate years ahead and prepare for the demand that they know should come. It is the nurserymen, practically without State aid, who have brought horticulture up to tho standard which it has' reached iir this dominion. While the great majority is cutting down and destroying, the nurseryman is propagating and planting so that the face of Nature may be improved."

A soldier named Private C. Biggar, son of the late Mr John Biggar, Kaikorai Valley, died in, the Dunedin Hospital on Wednesday. He went into camp with the 10th Reinforcements in November, 1915. He was, however, detained in New Zealand by a serious sickness in his family. Ho was employed in the Quartermaster's Stores at Featherston. He took ill and came to Dunedin nine weeks ago to consult Dr Barnett, and had been in the Hospital ever since. He made no progress towards recovery. His remains will be accorded a military funeral. A remarkable development has occurred in a murder trial at the Old Bailey, in which. Arthur Destamer, Boldier, was charged with the murder of Captain Tighe. The latter was kiUe'd with a poker, under mysterious circumstances, at Wimbledon. According.to a cable message published in Australia, Destamer asserted that another man accompanied him for the purpose of burglary, and that his partner murdered Tiglie. Giving evidence on the 11th insfc., Destamer said his partner was an Australian deserter named Reginald Fisher. .The prosecution alleges that Destamer's story of a partner is mere fiction, and that Destamer alone was the author of 'the murder. A verdict of wilful murder was returned, and the jury added that there was no such man as Fisher.

He has a wooden leg, yet he is a soldier in the British Army, and will shortly proceed to Egypt on military duty (says a Home exchange). The man to whom this refers is Private J. L. Jones, of the Army Ordnance Corps, and he hails from Liverpool.. Ho is a strapping, muscular fellow, 23 years of age, 6£ft high. Ho made no concealment when ho went up for enlistment, and was marched before the military medico, where his wooden leg was fully displayed. Jones gave such proof of his physical stamina, marching power, and so on that he was at once accepted, wooden leg notwithstanding. When a boy of 14 Private Jones, while pushing a safe into a lift, got his right foot caught by the lift, and the limb was cut off completely as if by a knife. He made a marvellous recovery in three weeks, and for six months used crutches. Then he was recommended to go to a firm of artificial limb-makers, where he was fitted with an artificial limb. He walked out of the shop with this new "armature," leaving las crutches behind. He gained such expertness in his movements that he quickly grew to be a marvel to the medical profession.

A telegram from the Bluff informs us that, in response to a deputation that waited on him on Wednesday, Mr John Topi Patuki, of Bluff and Ruapuke, has consented to nomination for the Southern Maori seat. Mr Patuki is the son of the late King Topi, chieftain of the Ngatahu and Ngatimama tribes. Ho is said to be well equipped for tho position he seeks. He completed his education at The Auto College, following -which for several years hij had a commercial training -svith Messrs M'Pherson and Co., of Invercargill. Later he made two trips to' tho Old Land, an<j has seen much of the world. He is a man of independant means, is in the prima of life, and is without ties. He has frequently attempted' to get to tho front by

enlistment, but an accident to the ankle in his football days at Te Aute has prohibited his acceptance. He claims to be a supporter of the National Government, and will seek nomination for the vacant seat from. Sir J. G. Ward, , who, in accordance with the compact of the two parties, has a right to nominato the successor to the late Mr Charles Parata. Mr Tait, at a meeting of the Harbour Board last week, said he would like 'to get a report as to what it would cost to deepen the harbour to a depth of 40ft, in terms of .the Dominions Trade Commission's report. The chairman said that, speaking from memory, he thought the cost was estimated at £50,003. Mr Scollay said he was surprised at the statement made by' the chairman. Ho thought the estimated cost was nearer a quarter of a million. The secretary undertook to see that copies of .Mr Blair Mason's report on the estimated cost would be furnished to each member of the board. , Professor Trueblood, of Michigan University, who is at present touring New Zealand 1 , returned to Dunedin on Thursday night from a visit to Lake Wakatipu where he" was greatly impressed with the splendid mountain scenery which- this province affords. In conversation with a Daily Times reporter on the 25th inst., Professor Trueblood said: "I enjoyed the trip immensely, not only the beautiful farming country between here and Kingston, but the ruggedneas of the scenery all along the Jake. While there is not so much variety perhaps as there is about the Swiss lakes, there is a more uniform ruggedness and a greater degree of grandeur than T have seen in any other lake district that I have visited. This ruggedness grows more and more marked as one goes up the lake, where snow-capped mountains and glaciers are seen, similar to those in Switzerland, but there is this difference, that many of the Swiss mountains are heavily-timbered, while those at Wakatipu stand forth in a naked grandeur that commands instant admiration."

At the sitting of the Afilitary Service Board in Wellington on Wednesday the Commissioner of Police (Mr O'Donovan) J fas granted exemption in the case of the ollowing Otago members of the force: F. J. Hcise, Dunedin; G. Macartney, Dunedin; R. Young, St. Bathans; J. A. White, Invcrcargill; A. Cameron, Invercargill. Rumour has been current in Wellington during the past few weeks as to the financial troubles left behind him by the late Mr A. S. Biss. It is now generally known (says the New Zealand Times) that the defalcations in his accounts amount to anything from £20,000 to £25,000. The deficit is made up principally of misapplied trust moneys. A private meeting of deceased's creditors was held last week, and it is believed a further meeting is to bo held, but it is unlikely that the matter will come before the Bankruptcy Court. It is believed that the biggest sufferer is a local lady, a relative by marriage of deceased. She suffers to the extent of. about £12,000 or £13,000. The 'remainder of the money is made up mostly of trust moneys of various companies. Several local professional men suffer heavily as a result of the defalcations. ' On the morning of the day Mr Biss died proceedings were to be instituted l for an investigation of accounts in connection with his estate.

Interesting facts are contained in the ■weekly reports received by the Central Labour Department from the four chief centres—namely, Auckland, Wellington, Ohristchurch, and Dunedin (says the New Zealand Times). The details are as follow : Wellington, 23 applications received for employment and 19 placed; Auckland, 19 applications and 10 placed; Christchurch, 8 applications and 7 placed; Dunedin, 31 applications and 16 placed. As regards Auckland, there were in addition several voluntary farm hands, who sought temporary Employment. These could not be placed. In Dunedin 10 out of the 15 unplaced were harvesters and two were general farm hands. It appears that the farmers are generally averse to employing inexperienced hands, and this accounts for the number of unsuccessful applicants at the various labour bureaux.

Last December the Manufacturers' Association convened a conference of delegates froEl the Ofcago Employers' Association, thft Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, tho Ota.go Expansion League, and the Trades and. Labour Council in order to oonsider the formation of a permanent joint committee or conference representative of those bodies- to meet on occasions to discuss questions of public interest, and, if possible, arrive at decisions that would

pave the way for unanimity of action by all the bodies- concerned. The delegates from these bodies met again on Friday night, and all reported that the organisations they represented were- favourable to the idea. It was decided to form a committee to be called the Public Questions Committee, to consist- of the following representatives :—Manufacturers' Association, Messrs William iStevenson, John A. Brown, and A. E Usher wood; Chamber of Commerce—Messrs W. Gow, H. K. Wilkinson, and J. B. Waters; Employers' Association —Messrs F. W. Mitchell, G. Fenwick, and G. Simpson; Otago Expansion League — Messrs J. Inglis Wright, Charles Todd, and W. Stuart Wilson; Trades and Labour Council —Messrs John Mitchell, J. D. Smith, and L. F. Evana. Mr W. Stevenson was appointed chairman, and Mr W. E. C. P.oid secretary. It was decided that all business should come before the committee in the form of remits from the .separate ' bodies, and that every remit should be referred to the separate bodies at least 14 days before being discussed by the Public Questions Committee so that each body could frame its own conclusions and instruct its delegates accordingly. It was also decided that, any final action arising out of the decisions come to by the committee should be taken by the separate bodies under their own names and not by the committee itself. The committee is to meet onoe a month or oftener as required, and it is anticipated that many important matters of general public interest will receive attention at the-committee's hands.

In connection with the accident on board the s.s. Monowai in September, 1916, through the bursting of a drum of sulphuric acid, claims for damages amounting fco £BOOO are to be heard at Melbourne in March. ,-The plaintiffs are the waterside Workers, who it is alleged sustained serious injuries through the accident, and the defondants are the Wischer Proprietary, Ltd., of Melbourne.

A five-roomed house at Roscneath, Sawyers' Bay, occupied by Mr Jolm Main, was destroyed by fire between 1 ancl 2 a.m. on Sunday. A brother of the occupier, Mr Alexander Main, was badly burned about the neck and head, and was removed to the Dunedin Hospital in a motor car. The outbreak occurred through window curtains coming in contact with a lighted candle. The house was insured for £350 in the Standard Office, and the furniture for £IOO in fchc same office.

A military funeral was on Sunday accorded the late Private J. C. B;ggar, who died in the Dunedin Hospital. The cortege, whioh left the residence of the deceased soldier's brother-in-law, 3 Gamma street, was a lengthy one, and a large «umber, of people lined the streets en routo to the Northern Cemetery, where the interment took place. The Band of the 4th Regiment, under Lieutenant George, headed the procession, which included some 50 returned soldiers. The firing party was also drawn from the ranks of the returned soldiers, who were in charge of Lieutenant M'Dougall. Major Fleming and Captain Myers, had chargo of the funeral arrangements, represented the Defence Department. The Rev. W. Greenslade officiated at the houso and the graveside.

At the Nurserymen's Association Conference last week, Mr R. Nairn moved:— " (1) That the National Association the attention of the Minister of Agriculture to the anomaly of bedding plants being outside the operation of the registration of nurseries; and (2) that the public should receive some protection by way of the inspection and condemnation of worthless plants offered for sale." Mr W. Jones said that thousands of boxes of absolutely worthless plants were being offered for sale. They were sent to tho auction rooms, and thence to shops, and peoplo thought that because these plants were, offered in a respectable shop they were necessarily good. As a nationul association it 'was their duty to protect the public. Mr Pope (Director of Agriculture) said that a now Act of Parliament would bo necessary to give effect to the remits. Both remits were passed. At tho Nov/ Zealand Nurserymen's Association's conference, Mr Kirk (Director of the> Horticultural Division of tho Agricultural Department, made reference to the spraying of fruit trees. Some people who became ill after eating stone fruit, he said, considered tho cause lay in the spraying mixtures used to combat fruit pests. Some years ago a child died in the North Island, supposedly from the effects of poison on peach skins! The peaches had come from Hawie's Bay, and his department had mads full inquiries and discovered that the

pcaoh trees had not been sprayed for months before the fruit was picked. Experiments had been made, and had proved beyond all question that where arsenic was used in spraying it would be, necessary to eat one bushel and a-quarter of fruit, skins and all, to have consumed a medicinal dose of arsenic, Jet alone a fatal dose. No doubt, under these conditions, one would get a pain in the stomach, said Mr Kirk, but the public could rest assured that no ill effects oocurred from eating fruit that had been sprayed. Experiments made with fruit sprayed with Bordeaux mixture, arsenic and lead, showed that an hour after treatment several pounds would require to be eaten before any effect was to j?e observed. Illness in the case of fruit eating was due to causes other than the spraying. A delegate mentioned that a horse on his place had taken a copious draught from a barrel of spraying mixture, and the only effect noticeable was that the animal displayed more " ginger " "*in his work. It does not appear to be generally known that a person is required to notify the local authority into whose district it is intended to remove a house. A case of this kind came before the Taieri County Council on Friday. The re-erection of the house in question was proceeding, but it was stopped by the inspector until it was ascertained that the timber, etc., was up to requirements. The parties concerned were totally ignorant of any need to notify the local body in the matter.

That doctors differ was again borne out at Napier last week, when an apparently healthy man presented himself to the Medioal Board for examination. He got a shock on being rejected on account of having a very bad heart. He was told he had leaking valves, and was advised to consult an independent doctor at once. This he did next day, and received another shock on being told that there was absolutely nothing wrong with him. Another man who went up for the same examination armed with a sheaf of medical certificates was one of the only two of the married men who were passed for the expeditionary force! • Oregon shipments from the Pacific Coast are becoming hard to secure. The wellknown Oregon exporters, Messrs J. J. Moore and Co., of San Francisco, advise that the United States Shipping Board is' now exercising supervision over sailers as well as motor ships and steamers. The Pacific Coast shipowners and charterers have accordingly to »send all copies of charters for vessels which have not yet completed loading for Government approval. A further restriction on the export of lumber is the appointment of a commissioner whose duty it is to check all export specifications and eliminate therefrom such sizes the export of which will interfere with the shipbuilding programme. The above restrictions make business practically impossible. Further shipment to New Zealand and Australia is unlikely until such times as the United States Government policy in relation to past charters, fixation of freight rates, and approval of export specifications is further defined. The disappearance of a document from the Federal Premier's office during the Australian referendum campaign has resulted in a strict inquiry being instituted. It now appears that the document, jwhich was prepared by the Premier at the request of Ministers to furnish suggestions for securing better reinforcements for the front, was copied and supplied by some unauthorised person to those likely to make political capital out of it. The publication of the document by the anti-conscriptionist organisation wa3 withheld till a little while before the vote. Its issue was timed at what was considered the psychological moment. An officer in the Premier's department will be the respondent to the allegation that he infringed the obligations of his office by surreptitiously copying the document and supplying it to a member of the anti-conscription party.