LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3335, 13 February 1918, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL.

A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that a Gazette Extraordinary | announces that the _Governor-general has j acoepted the resignation of Mr Herdman as a member of the Executive Council and as Attorney-general, and has accepted the resignation of Sir John Denniston as a judge of the Supreme Court. The Gazette also states that the Governor-general has ap- j pointed Mr Herdman to be a judge of the , Supreme Court. | Respecting statements that alien enemies have been acquiring land by purchase lately Mr Massey states (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington) that the law makes euch a thing impossible. j The Hon. Sir James- Carroll, ex-Native Minister, and Mr G. Witty, M.P., paid a visit 'to Puketeraki on the 4th inst. in con- i neciion with the present Maori bye-election. Mr Parata, Mr Erihana, and Mr Topi, the j three candidates from this end - of the j electorate, addressed the meeting and announced their determination to go to the poll. It was stated that the nominations i would close on the Bth inst., and the election ' take place on the 22nd inst. Mr Topi said the feeling in the south was that they j wanted a change. ! A Wellington Press Association message states that Dr Cockayne is investigating a serious fungoid disease in Manawatu flax. It is believed that the production will be reduced 70 to 80 per cent, if the disease is not arrested. I Early in March the foundation stone of the central building in connection with the cottages to be erected at North-East Valley | for old people will be laid. The Rev. A. E. Axelsen, superintendent of the Presbyterian Social Service Association, is receiving applications for admission almost daily. j During the year 1917 the coal mines of ' New Zealand showed remarkable freedom from serious accident, despite the fact that a record output per miner was attained. So far as the South Island mines are con- , cerned, the Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald, Minister of Mines, informed a representative of the Lyttelton Times that there was a clean sheet in regard to serious accidents, this being for the fourth year in succession. But, on the other hand, eye accidents are on the increase, and have been very wide- , spread. Mine officials and colliery managers are, says the Minister, to be commended for the good results shown, and he was pleased to say that the position in the North Island was - almost as good. The next Gazetto calling up Reservists under the Military Service Act for service in the Expeditionary Force will bo issued on February 19 (says the Wellington Post). It will contain the names of between 500 and 600 men, accretions to the First Division of , the Expeditionary Force Reserve (through coining of age, eto.) and about 150 accretions to Class A of the Second Division (married j men without children). It is intended to | issue such Gazette monthly, calling up all j accretions "as they become due. The date for tho holding of the next ballot in which . Class B of tho Second Division (married men , with one child each) will be drawn on has j not yet been fixed, but it is expected that the ballot will not take place before April. A relative of a Wanganui resident in- j vested £IOO in a shipping company in , England shortly before the war—lo shares at £lO each. Tho company was paying ! 15 per cent, before the war, and during , the three years since the dividends have been 20, 25, and '3O per cent., all free , of income tax. Recently the lucky inves- | tor received a further cheque for £2OO, with a circular saying that tho company ; had an accumulation of capital, and had decided to distribute " part " of it amongst tho shareholder— £>£) per share. , In little more than threw years the capital \ invested has been returned , threefold, and the investor still holds the shares. Tho introduction of a little " pleasant con- . troversy," as the Rev. A. Kinmont aptly ] phrased it, between himself and the Rev. A. Whyte, of Port Chambers, served to brighten last week the closing moments of , tho usually solemn —not to say sombreproceedings of the Dunedin Presbytery, j Mr Kinmont explained the controversy by j saying that the Port Chalmers Presbyterian | Church had recently brought out a little . historical booklet headed "Tho Second | Church of Otago." Now, of course, East ' Taieri claimed to bo the second church of , Otago. "We believe," he said, "that our caso is absolutely overwhelming."—-(Laugh- '. ter). Mr Kinmont offered to prove his caso to tho Presbytery in two or three ' minutes, but tho Presbytery showed a dia- I inclination to adjudicate at such short notice. Mr Kinmont asked tlio Presbytery to set up a committee to hear tlio case, j It might seem a small tiling in ono way, he said, but in a district where there were

a great number of early settlers and their descendants it counted for something. He moved that the Presbytery set up a small committee to report to next meeting. Mr Whyte would no doubt concur. The Rev. Mr Whyte said he thought this matter was somewhat apart from the deliberations of a grave and learned body like that. —(Laughter.) The Port Chalmers Session, in issuing the pamphlet referred to, had absolutely followed precedent, and had made no new departure. It celebrated its jubilee in 1902, and a pamphlet was then published embodying the same statements. No doubt the Presbytery had maole a great fuss over that jubilee in 1902. Did they wish to raise the question of the legality, of the Presbytery's action in 1902? The" clerk of the Presbytery (the Rev. J. Kilpatrick): Are you seconding Mr Kinmont's motion? — (Laughter.) Continuing, Mr Whyte said Mr Kinmont had naturally not raised the question without giving him due notice. The Clerk: Do you second the motion? Mr Whyte said it seemed to him the matter was one for'the- Kirk Session. The Moderator (the Rev. J. Miller): Do you second it ? Mr Whyte resumed his scat, and Mr Kilpatrick seconded the motion, and seized the opportunity of making reference to the chaplain's uniform Mr Kinmont was wearing. It was a pity, he thought, that hi a matter of such great import a man should appear before the Presbytery in military uniform. For anything they knew he might have arms concealed about him. He proposed referring the matter to the Ecclesiastical Committee. Mr W. H. Adams expressed a desire fliat the committee to adjudicate on the matter should consist of the Rev. Messrs Whyte and Kinmont, but Mr Kilpatrick countered this suggestion by exclaiming: " No, no I We want them both back at next meeting!" The suggestion to refer the matter to the Ecclesiastical Committee was adopted. • I It is expected (says our Wellington correspondent) that tho Government will have some difficulty in bringing the short session to a close at the time appointed. The first business will be the Address-in-reply 1 debate, and this may go on for an indefinite time unless measures are taken to curb the eloquence of members. After the Address-in-reply debate will come a Bill, probably to be oalled a Finance Bill, to give the Government supply to a date beyond that for the ordinary time for the ' assembling of Parliament. There will be no Loan Bill. After this has been passed ' members may go home again. It is understood that Mr W. J. Hunter has been requested, and has agreed, to appear at the trial in the Supreme Court, Christchurch, commencing on Monday, of William Frederick Eggers, who is charged with the murder of Messrs Coulthart and Hall at Greymouth in November. Mr Hunter had an interview with tho Hon. ' T. M. Wilford, Minister of Justice, concerning certain aspects of the case during the Minister's recent visit to Christchurch. ! A Press Association message from Wel- | lington states that in replying to deputa- ' tions on the subject of the heavy expense \ which the parents of large families had to , bear in the matter of purchases of school I books and material, the Hon. Mr Hanan : said ho had been gathering information I from different countries with a view to subI mitting to the Cabinet a practical scheane to reduce the cost of text books and I material. In the secondary schools there I were a multiplicity and variety of text books, ' tho oost of which was serious. He had ' asked the Director of Education to go into t the matter and report. j A determined effort is being mads by tho friends of Mr Webb, M.P., to have ! him exempted from milit<Sj-y service. This demand (says our Wellington correspondent) was not unexpected, but there is not the | slightest possibility that Mr Webb will I esoape his obligation to go into oaanp in March unless for a military reason. It is j suggested that there will be "trouble" I unless Mr Webb is allowed to go free. ' It is understood that the officers, engineers, and crew of an overseas steamer are showing a disinclination to "sign'on" t in consequence of their being unable to obtain better conditions, should the vessel j bo torpedoed, than those at present prevailing. Should tho vessel unfortunately meet destiaiction through an enemy sub- ' marine, the pay of the crew would autoj matically cease, this also being the custom ' in tho event of a vessel being shipwrecked. ■ Tho crew maintains, however, that some provision should bo made for them, in the \ eventuality mentioned!, as they consider ' that as this vessel is under the control ' of the New Zealand Government, they are j more or less on activo service. It is stated that a seaman on a New Zealand hospital ' ship lost his leg in 1916 through it being caught in o. hawser, and that nothing was ' done for him by tho New Zealand Government. The seamen maintain that in

this oase also their comrade was to all intents on active service, and that he should therefore participate in some way in tho pensions schema of tho dominion. A court-martial was held at the Central Battery on tho 4th, when James Gavin was tried on a charge oi desertion and sentenced to undergo nino months' imprisonment with hard labour. Tho court consisted of Major M'Lean (4th Otago Regiment), Captain Laeoy {Divisional Signalling Company), and Lieutenant Hunt (unattached list B). Gavin was a Paeroa man who was drawn in tho ballot, but failed to present himself for medical examination. He was arrested) at Macotown by the civil police.

Tho official opening and installation of the Marconi wireless apparatus at the Dominion College of Radio-telegraphy, Auckland, was performed recently by Sir Joseph Ward. In the course of a speech, Sir Joseph stated that tho college, with others, had been for a considerable time working under difficulties, inasmuch as it was without the necessary equipment, andl under the War Regulations this could not be installed without special permission being obtained. Permission to instal the apparatus was secured, and arrangements were made with the Amalgamated Wireless (Ltd.) for four complete sets of standard kilowatt Marconi apparatus. Provision had also been made for giving students at the college priority for appointments to the Amalgamated Wireless operating staff. The Dominion College had been incorporated! on February 23, 1917, as a private company, and during the year 250 pupils had received instruction. Eighty-nine students had taken up appointments, chiefly in war work, and four had made the supreme sacrifice during the past 12 months. Sir Joseph reviewed the history of wireless telegraphy, and gave examples of the wonderful development of the science since the outbreak of the war.. He expressed the opinion that, before many years, wireless telephony would be in universal use.

Considerable inter-est is being taken in chess circles in the "Good Companion" world-wide problem solving tourney, to be held on the 22nd inst. These annual tourneys, which are free to all solvers, whether members of chess clubs or not, are held simultaneously in practically every country of the world, the Good Companion Chess Problem Club supplying the printed diagrams of the problems, and Mr A. C, White, the generous American patron of chess, the book prizes. This year in New Zealand contests will be held at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, and the local event, by the courtesy of the Otago Chess Club, will be held at the club's room in the Y.M.C.A. building. Each competitor is allowed two hours and a-half for the solving of 12 two-move problems, and he can either solve from the diagrams or use chess material. In last year's tourney Mr K. A. Cleland, who solved 11 problems correctly in 2hr 7min, was the best of the Dunedin solvers, but Mr W. S. King, chess editor of the Canterbury Times and Star, solved! at Christchurch the same number in lhr 56min. Mr Leslie D. Coombs (vice-president of the Good Companion Club) has drawn up rules, and is arranging the various New ; Zealand contests.

Mr H. A. Young, S.M., presided over a short eitting of the Juvenile Court on the 7th instant, when a girl about 14 years of age, was charged under the Industrial Schools Act with being a child not under proper control. Her father gave evidence that his daughter had got out of control during the time he was in France on active service, and he desiredl that she should be placed in - a home. He was prepared to pay 7s 6d per week for her support. She was committed to the Te Oranga Home, to be brought up in the Wesleyan form of religion, the father to contribute 7s 6d" per week towards her support. A Press Association telegram states that the Wellington Plasterers' Union has passed a resolution emphatically protesting against the term of the present Parliament being further extended, as it is unconstitutional and not according to the Act, which limits Parliament to a term of three years. . Our correspondent informs us. that an up-to-date threshing mill is badly wanted in the Lauder district, where the crops are very heavy this season. No mill will bo available until the winter is well advanced. Before Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M., at Invercargill, on the 2nd, Horace Vernon Melvin,' an inmate of the Invercargill Borstal Institute, was charged with having committed an aggravated offence by-continuing to disobey an order given after having been twice punished for disobedience. He pleaded guilty. William Leggatt', gaoler, said that Melvin had been sent down from Trentham, where, as a soldier, He had refused to obey orders. He was a. conscientious objector, and claimed to be an Agnostic. His offence consisted in a' refusal to work on Slaturday mornings, thai, according to his belief, being the correct Sabbath. He worked well other days. Questioned by the magistrate, prisoner said that he only desired spiritual liberty on Saturday mornings. He could not work then. The magistrate found that it was merely a case of obstinacy, and the man was convicted and sentenced to 10 days' bread and water.

• At a meeting of the Stewart Island Fishermen's Union, held at Half Moon Bay, delegates reported that they had met the fish dealers in conference regarding the price of fish arid no settlement had been arrived at (says the Southland Times). A good deal of discontent was manifested by_ thoso present at the action of the dealers in not meeting them in a more generous spirit. The price the fishermen were receiving for the fish was 4s or 5s per 1001 b less than prewar rates. Taking into consideration the increased cost of benzine for running the motor launches and the high cost of living, the meeting considered that the price should bo increased rather than reduced, as was the case. It was unanimously resplved; again to approach the fish dealers with a demand for 25s per 1001 b, and a penny per lb for groper cleaned and cased, or 8s 4d per 1001 b. If no settlement is arrived at a case will bo filed for the Court of Arbitration. Members expressed the opinion that their demands were reasonable and if

j no settlement was arrived at they preferred to take on other work. It was pointed out that sawmill workers were ■ getting 15s or 163 per day, and it wa3 constant work in comparison with the fishing industry. It will be remembered (says the Christchurch Press) that the accused men in the court-martial conducted a fortnight ago in Ohristchurch caused somewhat of a deadlock for the time being by refusing to be medically examined, -and thus creating a question whether the sentences passed on them could be carried out or not until the examination took place. It has transpired however, that passive resistance to such examination avails the subject nothing. He cannot, of course, be forcibly examined, but if the man refuses to undergo medical examination a doctor can cast a professional eye over h:3 exterior and declare whether or •not he is fit to serve the sentence passed on him. This was the procedure adopted in connection with the recent cases, and the v two men are now serving their respective sentences.

The fascination of wireless telegraphy for young people was referred to by Sir Joseph Ward in Auckland when speaking at tlie official opening of the extensions at the Dominion College of Radio-telegraphy. . Sir Joseph said that since the entry of the United States into the war the courts had suspended from operation about 300,000 amateur installations of various kinds. Many of tin owners of plants regarded that action aa a hardship, and in order to detect the clandestine use of wireless the Government ~~ had found it necessary to mount wireless apparatus, on vehicles so as to patrol certain areas with the object of discovering unauthorised installations. What is reported to have been a successful exhibition of water-divining was made on "the Maitai Bowling Club's Green, Nelson, last week, by Mr Miller, • of Hawke's Bay. The Mail states that in the«course of his exhibition Mr Miller diecovered that there was a stream of running water beneath the south-western portion of the green. He did this by means of fencing wire. Taking a stout piece of wire, he bent it into a halfcircle, and then approached the spot beneath which the water was running. When ho got above the water the wire took charge of the demonstrator, and after a lively few seconds Mr Miller got away from tht» watery zone, when it was seen that the wire had bent itself tightly round each of his and in a wayj that would have taken a strong man a considerable time to do. The- presence of water was also demonstrated by Mr Miller with the more familiar twig. The following extract from the Manchester Guadian shows the enormous quantity of cotton that is being used on the battlefield:—A 12-inch gun disposes of half a bale of cotton with every shot fired. A machine gun operating will use a bale in three minutes. In a naval battle, like the one off Jutland, from five to six thousand pounds a minutes are consumed by ci-.oh active warship. It takes more than twenty thousand bales a year to provide absorbent cotton to staunch and bind the wounds of the injured. The change of apparel for all the troops now engaged in war represents more than a million bales! One hundred thousand bales will be required to equip the proposed aeroplane fleet, if cotton, as may "be necessary, supplants linen for wings. The United States is now turning nearly a million bales a year into explosives alone. Mr S. L. Beck (Mayor of Palmerston) has resigned from office, and will take up his residence in Dunedin shortly. Among the candidates mentioned for the vacancy are Messrs E. Lefevre, E. H. Clark, R. W. Wheeler, W. 11. Hopkins, and R. Cameron. All these' gentlemen, with the exception of Mr Cameron, are present members of the Borough Council. "One of the sources of Germany's strength has been her control of the chemical industries," writes Mr L. Birk's, electrical engineer to the Public Work* Department, in the New Zealand Journal of Science and Technology. "Hundreds of thousands of > horse-power of electricity arc used by Germany to manufacture soda, potash, acids, carbide, nitrates, explosives, and dozens of other essential products." As a, result of the war the cost of these chemicals in New Zealand has become practically prohibitive, and Germany has been enabled to carry on the war, which she could not have dono with- • put these products of electric power. Lake Coleridge power has already enabled sulphate of iron, formerly imported by tho gasworks for purifying the gas, to bo replaced by hydrate of iron produced from the bid tins from the destructor. A further development of the same industry will yield an iron-oxide paint previously imported. Other fcientific developments are in hand,

which will produce, in the near future" commercial results or the utmost importance in making a self-reliant community of New Zealand. Caustic soda cost £l2 per ton , before the war. It is now costing £45 per ' ton, and probably shortly be unprocurable. \ Arrangements are being completed for the local manufacture of caustic soda and hydrochloric acid by the electrolysis of common salt by means of Lake Coleridge power." In reply to representations made by Mr ' J M. Dickson, M.P., on behalf of the Port j Chalmers fishermen, -relative to the high i price of benzine, Mr Dickson has received \ a letter from the Prime Minister stating \ that the Board of Trade had explained to i the fishermen the reasons governing the in- | creased cost of the fuel. He also stated that, as a result of communications with : the High Commissioner in London, arrange- ! ments had been made for shipments of oil to I be brought to New Zealand, and ho hoped this would prevent any further increase in the price of kerosene, petrol, etc., for some months to come. It is stated that some of the local hotels are experiencing a difficulty in making ends meet as a result of the introduction of 6 o'clock closing, and that there is a likelihood of two, if not three, throwing up their leases. It would not appear, however, that this state of affairs goes to prove that there has been any great decrease in the consumption of liquor, but rather that the demand has been diverted to other channels. The demand, "in fact, for two and five gallon jars of beer is said to have largely increased, and the Otago breweries arc consequently paying greater., attention to this feature of their businesses. According to official information received by s the, Group Commander, Dunedin, all married men whether belonging to the First or Second Division of the Reserve, with the exception of CI men, will not be required to concentrate for .camp before April 2. These reservists may have their leave passes altered on presentation' of same at group office. CI men will go into camp on dates originally ordered. I Another landmark of early Dunedin is about to disappear. This is the building at the corner of Manse and High streets, j which is to be demolished this week to . make room for a warehouse.* The build- : ing was used by the Town Board and its staff prior to the dissolution of the board in 1865, and then by the City Council up to the time of the removal of the corporation ' offices to' the Octagon in 1867. , Subsequently it was used for offices.

At its last meeting, tho Kaitangata Miners' Union decided by an almost unanimous vote to support an application for a rehearing of the exemption appeal on behalf of. Mr P. C. Webb, M.P, It is generally considered by miners that the decision of the court that Mr Webb must go into camp means a serious blow to industrial unionism, particularly in relation to the mining industry. It is noteworthy that the decision was supported by erstwhile staunch supporters of conscription.

The spirit of enterprise that has marked the career of many present day firms of long standing in Dunedin is also manifest in firms of recent formation. It was largely owing to that spirit that Dunedin .was placed in the commercial forefront in New Zealand years ago, and its manifestation in more than one direction at present, even during war conditions, is an evidence that the position the city held in that respect in former times may yet return to it. The latest instance of enterprise is to be found in connection with the firm of Rutherfords (Ltd.), ■ which has entered into a contract with Messrs Fletcher Bros, to build for it a large and commodious brick building at tho corner of Manse street and High street to meet the requirements of its increasing business. Tho p/esent building, which is one of tho landmarks of early Dunedin. is to be removed this week, and a week later a commencement will be made with the erection of an up-to-date warehouse in brick, with tho main entrance from Manse street. There will bo two storeys and a basement at present, with provision for additional flooring space on top as iir may be required.- The plans show that tho facades are to be finished in white cement and red ,-brick, and, judging by other buildings of the kind, the new premises will present an imposing appearance in their commanding position and comparo favourably with other substantial and well-built houses in the vicinity. The interior, which i 3 66ft square on each floor, will be used for show rooni3 and work rooms. The quantity of glass required for tho many large windows is so great that to fill the order, very

serious inroads must be made upon the already short supplies in the city. The t warehouse is expected to bo ready for occupation in four months. Messrs Mason and Wales are the architects. j The superabundance of officers in the re- , inforccment camps in tho North Island is stated to be becoming more acute than ever, as, in addition to the Territorial officers called up some months ago, who have not yet been able to secure appointments with drafts, and have now been given further leave till March 9, there have reported for duty several officers from the front who have ..been sent home to be appointed to reinforcement drafts in which there are :.o vacancies. The trouble has been largely due to the reduction in the strength of the reinforcements. There are stated to be over 200 officers in tho camp 3 at present.

A young man named William John Murray was arrested on Thursday night at Lime Hills, jiear Winton, by Detectivesergeant Cameron, of Invercargill, and Detective Hall, of Dunedin, on a charge of a criminal offence against a girl, alleged to have been committed some time ago at Port Molyneux, near Balclutha. By a departmental blunder a boy of 11 years of age was sent to Dunedin on Thursday from an institution in the north in place of one about 18 years of "age, whose parents reside in the Otago province. What makes the error the more glaring is the fact that the l'ttle boy sent, although his name was the same as the lad expected, came from Onehunga, where his parents reside. The little chap is to be sent back immediately, but this blunder necessarily delays the homecoming of the other lad. A case of more than aA r erage interest to unionists is before the Auckland Magistrate's. Court. The Auckland and Suburban Local Bodies' Labourers' Union is suing the Avondale Road Board for £2O each, penalty for two breaches of clause 9 of the award, in that, in September last, the board, having decreased the number of men it employed, failed to give preference to either Bernard Clews or . George Walker, members of the union, equally competent with non-unionists to do the work, and each willing to undertake the work. The Union also sought the imposition of a fine of £2O for each of two alleged breaches of clause 2, in that the wages paid to the men mentioned were reduced below tho award rate. The defence is that the board is justified under the award in reducing wages, and that it was justified in dismissing the men in question on account of dissatisfaction with their w.ork. ...

On the last day of January, 1917, a Mr M'Kinnoll met with a wagon accident and fractured his thigh. The injury was one wliich necessitated many operations, and Mr M'Kinnell has been a patient in the Gore Hospital ever since (says the Southland Times). The floors of the wards in the Goro 'Hospital are, from a sense of cleanliness, treated with floor polish and so rendered very slippery. On Friday week a nurso was educating Mr M'Kinnell in the use of crutches. He slipped, and, in attempting to ,save his injury, fractured his sound thigh. Dr M'llroy, acting medical superintendent, wrote to the Hospital Board meeting suggesting that as the present linoleum was worn, cork linoleum bo laid in its place. This would militate against a recurrence of such an accident. Mr Smith remarked that to him it seemed "a mad business" polishing floors at all. Mr Robertson agreed. He didn't see the uso of all the floor polishing; it was only for looks. The idea of a cork linoleum did not commend itself to be more difficult to keep clean. The doctor's recommendation was received. The recent trouble in connection with the Goro Hospital, as made public by Dr T. Scoular Fleming's appearance before two local bodies to detail how he was refused permission by the medical superintendent to bo present at operations on patients whom he had sent in, was the subject of two letters dealt with in committee by the Southland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board on Thursday (says the Southland Times). The Mataura Borough Council forwarded details of the complaint, and added its opinion that the refusal was a grave injustice. In open meeting, the board confirmed "this resolution :—" That the board regrets that relations between tho medical men in tho Goro district should bo apparently so strained in tho matter of cooperating with each other in surgical work. But tho medical superintendent of the hospital has tho sole right under tho board's by-laws to obtain such medical assistance as may be requisite for the safe perform-

ance of 'all operations. The board therefore cannot interfere with the medical superintendent's authority in this matter." The Gore Borough Council asked the board to hold a public inquiry into the medical superintendence of the Gore Hospital. The board resolved: "That the Gore Borough Council be informed that a public inquiry is unnecessary, as no definite charge has been made against the superintendency of the institution." At a conference at -which both Dr M'Urvy and Dr Fleming were preset an amicable agreement was arrived at.

An inquiry was made by tho Returned Soldiers' Association recently, as to the arrangements arrived at by the * Government for supplying fencing wire to soldier settlers at reduced rates. The Prime Minister has written in reply, stating: " I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 18th inst., inquiring as to the arrangements made by the Government in regard to supplying fencing wire to returned soldier settlers at reduced rates, and to advise that in July and August of last year the Government arranged to indent a large quantity of wire, but owing to the disorganisation of the shipping, and to the restrictions placed on the export of steel and iron products by the United States Government, the wire ordered has not yet arrived in the dominion. I , am, however, given to understand that it is expected that this wire shquld reach New Zealand shortly, in which case it will be offered to returned soldier settlers at cost price, including freight and landing charges. v

As showing the remarkable development in wireless telegraphy since the'' Marconi system was patented in 1896, Sir Joseph Ward stated at the official opening ceremony of the Dominion Radio-telegraphy College extensions in Auckland, that the first exhibitions of wireless given in England were over distances of eight or nine miles. Somewhat later messages were sent a distance of 200 miles, and in December, 1901, communication was effected between England and Newfoundland, a distance of 1500 miles. It would doubtless surprise many people, he said f to learn that to-day messages from stations in Europe, America, Asia, and Africa could bo clearly heard in New Zealand. Speed in transmitting by wireless had also been wonderfully developed, and between San Francisco and Los Angeles the Poulsen wireless system had been worked at as t high a rate as 300 words a minute by the use of a special transmitter operating somewhat on tho Wheatstono automatio principle used in ordinary telegraphy.

The War Pensions Board —Colonel R. J. Collins (chairman), Dr H. Pollen, and Mr G. O. Facho (Commissioner) —returned to Wellington on the 2nd after a three-weeks' tour of tho South Island, during which time they held sittings at Gore, Invercargill, Dunedin, Oamaru, Waimate, Timaru, and Christchurch. Altogether they they dealt with 542 cases. Fifteen of these were claims of dependents, who name forward to make representations. The remaining 527 cases consisted of 475 claims of soldiers and 52 of wives of soldiers. Of tho 475 soldiers' claims, 385 were renewed for varying amounts; 105 men were granted permanent pensions, and the remaining 15 were adjourned for further information, to bo obtained from the records in Wellington. Claims of 52 cases of wives of soldiers wore for the most part renewed concurrently with their husband's grants. During its tour the ordinary work of the board was kept up in respect to dealing with new claims as they came in. No fewer than 1338 new claims were received —986 from soldiers and 352 from dependents. This constitutes a record for a three-weekly period. Tho high esteem in which the late Mr John Carson, late manager of the Hillside Workshops, was held was evidenced by the largo number which attended his funeral, which took place on Sunday afternoon. The cortege was one of the largest witnessed in Danedin. The members of tho Independent Order of Oddfellows, of which deceased was a member, headed the procession. The Grange Cricket Club also attended in a body, to pay their last respects to one who had been a vice-president of the club for a number of years. The mourners included between 4CG and 500 employees of the Hillside Workshops, who appeared to have turned out to a man. Tho principal mourners were Mr William Carson (Whangarci) and Mrs W. Mathieson, brother and sister of the deceased. Among tho other mourners were prominent railway officers, including Mr W. Bowles (district traffic manager), Mr E. Dobbie (station master, Dunedin), and Mr R. P. M'Crackcn (chief clerk). Mr W. 6 J. Strong, an old school-

mjfte of deceased's, was also present. ..Six apprentices from the workshops acted as pall-bearers. The services at the house and the graveside were conducted by the Rev. D. Dutton. A huge pile of beautiful wreaths was in evidence, among the sendlors being the employees of Addihgton, Hillside, and Petono Workshops, Mr H. H. Jackson (chief mechanical engineer), Messrs Chambers and Co., the inspectors of machinery (Dunedin), the apprentices at Hillside. Deceased's remains were interred at Anderson Bay Cemetery, and en route the streets were thickly lined with spectators. . ,

In order that the general- publio may have an opportunity of attending the University lectures delivered by Professor Bedfore! on History and .Economics it has been decided this year toehold these lectures in the evenings. The courso in history is ona of great interest, the subject of study being the history of the Great Powers during the Nineteenth Century. The- lecturer will bo almost exclusively employed in tracing tha course of the conflict between the principle of democracy enunciated in the French Revolution in 1789, and the principle of autocracy championed by Austria and Prussia. Ho will examine the roots of the present war, following closely the development of German militarism, snowing in contrast' the movement of the spirit of liberty in Franco, Italy, America, and Greal Britain, and indicating its influence on humane legislation and colonisation.

An unfortunate misunderstanding with the weather led to the abandonment of the Port Chalmers oldl identities' »picnio on Saturday, though as it turned out the day was an excellent one for such an outing. It was the second annual picnic held bj the association, and all arrangements had been made for it to tako place at Portobello. There was., some rain, however, at Port Chalmers in the morning and the committee met early and decided that the day was not a suitable one for the" old peopla to be about. A telegram was sent to Waikouaiti in time to stop a large party of visitors who were coming down by the second train, but not in timo to reach a dozen who had already left by the early train. Among these latter was Mr T. Allcock, the veteran secretary of the Waikouaiti Early Settlers' Association, who with Mrs Allcock went all the way. to Portobello. Mr J. M. Dickson, M.P., was also on the spot, and among a number of members of the Otago Early Settlers' Association who made the journey from Dunedin was Mr W. Paterson, the secretary o( the association. It is intended to maka another effort to hold-, the reunion at t later date.

News has reached Wellington that Mr Howard Matthews, of Khandallah, a niarinf engineer, who served his apprenticeship at Cable's foundry, has. for the second tiim been on board a torpedoed vessel, and one! more has come through the hazardous ex perience unscathed./ Last year he was on of the engineering staff of the Britis 1 " steamor Minne Tonkia, which was sunk by an enemy submarine in the Mediterranean Sea. This year, about the same time, Ml Matthews was third engineer on the steamer Minnie Nobber, and was again caught by a vigilant U-boat, and once more those saved found a haven in Valetta Harbour, at Malta. Mr Matthews'* mother resides at Khandallah. Mr Matthews left Wellington on tho staff of the Kia Ora at a day's notice, and has had as v much experience afloat in two years "as would' satisfy the average man for a lifetime.

The train leaving Dunedin'at 8.16 a.m. on Saturday for Oamaru was longer than usual in the sense that it included several extra carriages for the accommodation of the drapers' 'picnic, bound for Waitati. It was longer than usual in another and less satisfactory sense. The one panting engine showed early signs of exhaustion. Tho incline leading to Upper .Port Chalmers station was only negotiated after several stoppages. Thereafter the train's progress, was as funereal as it was persevering. Full opportunity was given the passengers«of inspecting the charming bush scenery bordering tho line, and high-spirited! youths beguiled the time by stepping from the perceptibly moving platforms and gathering the spoils offered by Nature. After effecting at last an. entrance to the long tunnel tho train cam© to a hopeless stop in the bowels of the earth. Groat was the reliei of all when it was backed out of the tunnel, after which it was divided into two which wero taken through separately,; Thereafter all went swimmingly. Purakanui, .12 miles from Dunedin, was reached in the remarkable time of two hours. Th& department is to be congratulated in achieving such results in the combination of ordinary and picnic trains.