NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Witness, Issue 3335, 13 February 1918, Page 25

NEWS IN BRIEF.

The Rev. W. T. Drake, of Nasoby, has accepted the curacy of Holy Trinity Church, Gisborne. The Right Hon. Lord Carnock, a director of the London City and Midland Bank (Ltd.) has accepted a seat on the London board o? the Hank of New Zealand. Tho Hon. A. L. Herdman was sworn in by the Chief Justice on the 11th as a judge of tho Supreme Court. It is understood that ho will be located at Christchurch. Tho Hon. G. W. Russell states that as from February 1 ah 1 foreigners entering Japan require to carry passports or certificates of their nationality, with photos. Captain Roland M. Quinn, N.Z. Army Service Corps, who returned invalided to New Zealand on December 29, died in Wellington Hospital on Saturday after an operation. Lieutoiiant-colonel Fitzgerald, N.Z.M.C., who haa been absent from Dunedin for 15 months on military duty, haa been released from service, and has returned to resume his .practice. A fir© gutted Cross's motor garage at Invercargill and destroyed five motor cars. The stock was insured in the Northern office for £IOOO, and the building in the Alliance for £350. In the Magistrate's Court Arthur Bradshaw, who did not appear, was fined £5 on a charge that, being a bookmaker, he trespassed on the Riccarton racecourse while a raco meeting was being held. C M. Saunders was fined 20s at Christchurch for selling artificial limejuice gordial without informing the purchaser the nature of the adulteration, and 60s for not having a label showing-the nature of the adulteration. The Conciliation Counoil a't Wellington heard on the Bth the furnituro dispute. The parties reached an agreement on the basis of tho old scale of wages, plus a 10 per cent, war bonus. No change was made in the conditions of work. An attempt was made by burglars during the night of the Bth to enter the Linwood 'Railway Station. The safe was shifted across the room; but the burglars were evidently amateurs, as they did not succeed in opening the safe. The Hon. A. M. Myers stated on the 29th that he had received a communication intimating that because of certain new arrangements made it would not now_ be necessary for firms ordering linseed oil and white lead from Australia to apply for priority permits. A shark of an exceptional size—about 15ft long—was seen in the Oama/ru Harbour on Monday, 28th ult. These particular- members of the finny- tribe, have been visiting this part of the coast with a frequency rather too great lately (remarks the North Ota-go Times). The Swan Memorial Children's Paddling Pool, Napier, was opened by the Mayor (Mr H. J." Hill) on the 2nd inst. The pool is a new departure in beach attractions, and is built in concrete, with an area, of 500 square yards and a depth up to 18in. The completed cost will be about £IOOO. A deputation from the Spiritualists' Association waited on the Minister of Justice on the sth, and asked for protection from prosecution of mediums who have been granted tho association's certificate, and that the law be amended accordingly. The Minister replied that he could not accede to the request. The Mayor of Wellington has received the following; cablegram from the Mayor of Brisbane :■ —"" Disastrous floods in central and northern districts of Queensland; relief fund opened; will you kindly solicit donations; please communicate with other cities." Mr Luke has opened a list here, and has headed it with a donation of £5. It is reported that tho Coal Miners' federation has made a demand on the Coal Mine Owners' Association for an increase of 20 per cent, in wages and hewing rates. The Auckland agreements, made last year and granting increases of 17i to 20 per cent., were for three years or for six months after the end of the war. Sir J. G. Ward states that the way was now clear in regard to the publication of the times of closing outward overseas mails, although the names of vessels are not to be announced. An alteration will be inaugurated very shortly, but he was unable to say whether a corresponding change would be made in regard to incoming mails. At 8.35 p.m. on the 4th an outbreak of fire occurred in Staples and Co.'s boot factory, in Wellington. The fire originated in the clicking room, which department a?nd contents were badly damaged. Other portions of the building suffered from heat, water, and smoke. The contents were insured for £12,000, the machinery for £3500, and the building for £ISOO. Oil-boring operations at Waipatiki are steadily proceeding by a company which some months ago took over the venture. The boro is now down 2600 ft. Slight indications of oil in the bore were observed yesterday. Similar indications were found by tho Kohiku Company, the original prorhotors of- the enterprise, at 1600 ft. Boring continues. As the reeult of representations to the British Minister of Munitions by Mr A. M. Myers, 497 tons of sheet iron, consisting of 347 tons corrugated and 150 tons plain, have been released for use in New Zealand. It is due to arrive shortly. _ The iron will be proportionately taken into store at the four chief centres and distributed for essential purposes. Tho price fixed is £7O a ton. Newspaper proprietors are advised that tho next cargoes of newspaper will show a "solid advance" on anything hitherto charged. It shows (says the Westpoit News), how absolutely lacking in enterprise this country is that it cannot, with tho vast timber areas on th& West Coast, supply its own needs in the way of news printing paper. No tariff that can ever bo imposed will allow such a margin of protection as is afforded now. Tho soldiers returning to camp from Christmas leave have brought with them an epidemic of German measles and a mild form of ordinary measles. Therefore, the departure of reinforcement drafts has been postponed. The Minister of Defence states that he regrets that he cannot notify the next-of-kin of the definite data to which departure hm been postponed. Numbers of the men in tho oamps have been isolated during the last month. The monthly meeting of the Gaelic Society was held on the sth inst. The Chief (Mr Dugald M'Pherson) and Chieftain |Cenneth Cameron presided over a crowded house, and Gaelic and' Scotch eong and Highland danciner were the order of the evening. Tho chief conveyed to the meeting New Year greeting from Chieftain Sir Thomas Mackenzie, and presented to the society Sir Thomas's gift of the Gesfo

Collection of Highland Music. An enjoyable programme of musical items and songs folio wed. N