PASSING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3337, 27 February 1918, Page 3

PASSING NOTES.

(Prom Saturday's Daily Timet.l No one doubted that as soon as Mr Lloyd George found it possible or convenient to give .account of himself to Parliament he would score another forensic triumph. The forum is his playground; a political crisis with low . barometer and louring skies his congenial element; precisely there and then it is that he reaches his acme, is revealed the cloud-compeller, Rides in the whirlwind and directs the storm. For which reason, since we are a Parliamentary democracy—at present a Parliamentary democracy up to its neck in a deadly war—Lloyd George is the man for the nour. No "'wait and see" sagacity would serve our turn; the essential thing is a master of assemblies—all sorts of assemblies from the labour congress up. Policies and strategies let statesmen and soldiers supply; it is their business. The impassioned orator, who may be neither statesman nor soldier, comes after, and his business it is to win or compel the people's assent. And this is the allsufficing reason for a Lloyd George. At his Limehouse stage, Lloyd George was a malevolent portent, —to me, personally, an abhorrence. But since the war became his business I have surrendered to him absolutely. And so, it seems, has once more the House of Commons. The issue before the House and the country in this latest crisis was, on the one hand, victory for the Versailles policy and central stategic control, or, on the other —Mr Lloyd George's head in a charger. That was the choice. But as central stategic control turned out to be the unanimous policy of the Allies great and small, the issue was past argument. Then why a 1! this pother? Partly because Sir William Robertson, preferring the old order of things to the new, has left the War Office; and partly because Mr Lloyd George, in agreeing with the Allies, agrees also with the Northcliffe Press. And there's the rub! The Northcliffe Press consists of a score or . two of British newspapers headed by The Times; the anti-Northcliffe press consists of all the rest. And some of them are

capable of wild flights. Thus the Saturday Review, December 22: — There exists a political conspiracy between the Prime Minister, Mr Churchill, Mr Arthur Henderson, and the Northcliffe Press to remodel _ our ancient constitution upon a Socialist basis. Anyone who opposes the conspiracy is stoned with any brick thatcomes handy as a or a capitalist, or a pro-German, or (in the last resort, if he happen to be past middle age) as a dotard. The conspirators are State," and they can afford to ignore with a smile or to silence with a bribe those dumb dogs, the leaders of the Conservative party. A. cat, a canary, a mouse, and a puppy dog, caged in complete harmony, may sometimes be seen at country fairs. But a Happy Family of like nature is not found in politics. The Northcliffe Press, Mr Lloyd George, Mr Churchill, —and Mr Arthur Henderson! Tell that to the marines! The closing of our ranks is what wo must hope for; — that Sir William Robertson's great services may somehow be saved to the country; —■ and that the soldier at the front may continue to do his bit according to the simple-minded, philosophy wafted to us from the trenches in " War Poems, by X": So Johnny, keep your ban-el bright, And/go where you are told to go. And when you meet, by dav or night, Our friend, the enemy, lay him low; And you must neither boast nor quake, Though big guns roar, and whizzbangs whizz,— Don't die for your dear country's sake, But let the other chap die for his. Trotsky and Lenin as German agents in German pay—which is a reasonable supposition—have consummated their infamy but not their career. For that we can wait. A photograph in some of the illustrated papers showing the two side by side will be widely reproduced. Kerensky as seen in his photograph is a dreamer, Korniloff a hard-bitten Cossack; Trotsky and Lenin are a pair of criminal lunatics; if not lunatics, they are murderers in the dock at the moment when the judge puts on the black cap. No villainy would be beyond them, —not even the ivillainy of a Judas betrayal."*. According to the cables the Russian " intelligents " and "intellectuals," fleeing before the face of ■ these typical Bolsheviks, are gathering at Moscow, there :to seek obscurity and safety in such menial jobs as may be open to them. How much of intellect "and intelligence dwells in the Bolsheviks themselves may be inferred from a statement in their paper, the Pravda, that the King of England asked Mr'Balfour in the House of Commons a number of anxious questions about Russia. This comes of a vicious practice by Mr Joseph King, member for North Somerset, one of the standing nuisances of the House, whose habit it is to ask troublesome questions " not for information," as Mr Balfour tells him, but " to embarrass the Government." As seen from Petrograd Mr Joseph King is the King of England. Hereupon a London paper recalls an audacious music hall " turn " at the time when King George had been on the throne a few months. The business end of the turn, so to speak, "was a shepherd in a remote part of Wales who, on learning that his allegiance was to George, not to Edward, showed great astonishment, remarking that he knew him when he was a little solicitor in Llanfairfechan!" For a Welshman there is only one George in high places, and his name is "Lloyd." Our men have murdered prisoners in cold blood. The returned men have spoken enough to disabuse anyone who thinks like tho editor of the Times that Tommy Atkins is a saint. . . . Ask some of the Anzaca to tell you a little about tho, heroism of the English troops in GallipoH at the time that they left Colonel Malone to his fate. Thus the Tablet editor from tho pillory

in which the Daily Times has planted bim. Mouthings from- that coign of disadvantage serve only to invite brick-bate. It would have been wiser to squirm in silence. I have no disposition to waste a missile upon him. But;, over against the abominable libel contained in the words of Ms that I have quoted above, it is interesting to set the testimony of a man who was once as anti-English as the editor of the Tablet, and as intelligent a Sinn Feiner. An illustration of the chu-ifying effect v of association in a common cause is afforded by the following remark, made by tho author of one 'of the_ moot popular books of war exporiences. Scrgeant A. &. Empey, an American who had served in the British army, told his fellow oitizens after returning from tho front: " We don't understand England Over hero. I was raised in Virginia and brought up on M'Guffey's Reader, and I had the same opinion of England that a Minute-man or a- Sinn Feiner would have; but I found Tommy Atkins tho squarest man that ever drew breath." —{A writer dating "New York, 1917." in the Round Table for December.) M'Guffey's Reader," a one time American school book, in tone and teaching anti-Britiish ; " Minute-man," a Massachusetts militia man in 1775, when the revolt of the American colonies was incubating;—the " minute-men " were under engagement to mobilise against the British at a minute's notice. We understand then Sergeant Empey's original notions about the British. But after campaigning with British armies up and down the battle fronts he tells his countrymen—"We don't understand England over here. I found Tommy Atkins the squarest man that ever drew breath." It has never been pretended that Tommy Atkins can be presented to the world amid incense fumes and in stained glass attitudes. The canonising of doubtful saints may be left to another quarter. But any Sinn Fein" editor defaming the British soldier as a murderer who shoots his prisoners in cold blood is—what shall I say ? The adequate word is not available. It must suffice that the be abandoned in his ignominy to the public contempt.

I accept it as a delicate flattery when the Tablet editor proclaims me a Protestant "bigot." Not many weeks back an Invercargill Protestant was writing in this column: "After reading Passing Notes on Rev. Howard Elliott the conclusion is forced upon me that .' Civis,' in addition to' being clever and versatile, is also unscrupulous and wanting "in principle " —Protestant principle. This because of my hostility to the Howard Elliott anti-Romanist propaganda. Since, then, I am assailed from both extremes itjds plain that I can belong to neither. The provincial mayor boasted that during his term of office he had " leaned neither to partiality nor to impartiality." Same here. Between squabbling Romanist and Protestant I pursue, an even path (in medio tutissimus!), leaning as little to this side as to that, and administering a drubbing* to either or to both as occasion may require. What I told . the Livercargill complainant still holds: — . _■ -Anti-this or anti-that,—l am anti everything and everybody that at this critical time .is anti our solid unity. .Seditious Shin Feiners, whether undertho banner V>£ religion or not, .will be sbovvn no mercy. On the other hand I have just as sl«ider liking- for the Orange agitator. Believing that "Civis" is a Protestant " bigot," the hallucinated Tablet man is naturally capable of believing anything. And so he believes and affirms that the malcontent Irish are " struggling against the most intolerable Prussianism." Of course the "simple fact, patent to all the world, is that for many a year past the Irish have been spoiled children and spoon fed. Mr Birrell, chiefly responsible for the spoiling and the spoon feeding (and for the Easter rebellion which was its reward), has been superseded in office by Mr Duke. But the system continues. In the gossip of the lobbies, playing upon names, " Birrell has been made a Duke; that is all." "What is now happening in Ireland can be described in very few words," says the Spectator;—"it is Birrellism over again." But Birrellism is "Prussianism," and "most intolerable" insists the unhappy Tablet editor. Which " Prussianism " is. seen in the fact that Ireland is wickedly over-represented in Parliament, —population 4,390,219, members 103 ; whereas Scotland with population 4,760,904 has members 72. A few square miles of Irish bog with a village or two have more voting power at Westminster than many a populous town in England or Scotland. Then Ireland is exempt from conscription, only the craven spirit of Birrellism knows why. Further, thanks again to Birrellism, still ruling, the Sinn Feiners—under leaders with the tvpical Irish name 3 of Do Valera and (jountess Marcovitz —are able with impunity to tweak the Governmental nose and laugh in the face of authority. See

■ - —— "1 what, has happened at Ennis within the last week. But the Tablet editor with hia " Prussianism," poor man, the victim of hallucinations, inhabits a world apart, a world of gorgons, hydras, and chimaeraa dire, Of the anthropophagi, and men, whose heads do grow beneath their shoulders. Dear " Civis," —Your story of the snobbish "Sir Norman" recalled the difficulty of an American firm who received an inquiry regarding some of their goods from an English nobleman as to how thoy should address him. As they were a firm "My ,Lord" would bo bad grammar, and 'Our Lord i' savoured of the profane. After cor suiting the head bookkeeper, who suggested "Oh! Lord," which did .not mend matters, they solved the difficulty by replying by telegram.—Yours truly, A. B. This may be capped by the story—old, but still good—of "the page-boy who had been carefully instructed about the usagesp " o£ speech in addressing a bishop. Hd was to take up the bishop's shaving water, knock at his bedroom door, and say " The boy, my lord." Next morning at the stated hour he knocked. "Yes," said the bishop, getting out of bed, —"Who's there?" And there came the ominous answer, "The Lord, my boy."

Every other week or so I am invited! by some country, correspondent,' north or south, to exercise, a literary censorship over "our local organ," and seldom decline, though always tempering justice with mercy. Be it remembered that the country editor, like Gutenberg and Benja- * min Franklin, may embody his whole literary staff from the printer's devil up. ;..._» This week " our local organ " —somewhere north of Dunedin—reports the reassembling; of " the Red Cross Bandage League after two months' holiday; which " respite" (good word) "had served to Eromoto fresh enthusiasm for their umane work among the ladies.!' War time is fertile in leagues \ recently we started a new one in Dunedin—the Empire League, at present content to be merely ' nominis umbra, the shadow of a name. But the Bandage League does at any rate promise work —humane work among the ladies, though its nature is not clear. Anxiety is relieved, however, by the editor's hope that " the coming year's labours in the good cause will be productive of a large volume of bandages for the maimed." That's all right. Then follows a philosophical remark both deep and curious : Perhaps the best tribute to the \ earnestness of the work done by the league is paid hy mention of the fact that the attendance at their weekly' meetings has gradually dwindled until only "the faithful few" remain to \ carry on the good work. ,*> Increased earnestness is shown by a dwindling attendance. It is the old story, —here as elsewhere** in this perplexing war, things are not what they seem. • jc Crvis. A Press Association message from Wellington states that the telegram reporting the discovery-of another mine should have stated that the locality was off Capo Farewell, not Cook Strait. The subject of afforestation in Otago is beginning to receive a little more attention. The work being done by the State. Forest Branch is a great deal more extensive than is generally supposed. During the present season no fewer than 2;7O0,O0O young trees were planted into lines—a number considerably greater than that usually operated with. Of the foregoing, 1,210,000, were at Ranfurly, and 1,490,000 at the Tapanui State Nursery. At the Supreme Court, Christchurch, ok , the 18th (says the Lyttelton Times) f on the application of Mr S. Raymond, K.C., his Honor Mr Justice Chapman a.greed that the ... charge against Frederick William Egger 3, of attempted murder of William Hall, near Runanga, on November 19, should be held over until the sitting of the court on May 15. The Wellington correspondent of the same paper states that the Hon. T. M. Wilford (Minister of "Justice) received tho Judge's report and the evidence in the case of Eggers, and is considering tho matter, which will have to come before the Executive. A Press Association message from Wellington states that at the annual meeting of tli© New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers, Mr S. A. R. Mair was elected president, Mr A. J. Paterson vice-president, Mr F. W. Furkert hon. secretary, and Messrs Charles Banks, J. Blair Mason, and W. J. Roche to vacancies on the council. An address from' the Irish-Americans of Chicago to Mr Redmond, printed in The Times of December 29, conveys, a sharp reminder to the Nationalists that the attitude of their kinsmen across the Atlantio has been completely changed by the entry of America, into the war. These Irish-Ameri-cans have sent a large donation to the Nationalist funds because Mr Redmond, be

Sides advocating Home Rule, has supported tha cause of the. Allies. They point out . that any Irishman "who tries to embarrass Great Britain at this time is trying to emj>arrasa Amerioa, "There ia not a singlo I

honest and genuino Irish-American who does not stand behind the President and the I American Government and the American people in thia policy" of fighting a just war to a victorious issue. "The Irish people

now have to choose between the enmity and the friendship of America."' The Sinn Fciners, ' who openly proclaim themselves the friends of Germany, are stabbing 'America in the back. This plain speaking from Chicago should, the Spectator suggests, have a wholesome effect in Ireland. Scattered over the Waikato, Piako, Te Aroha, Ohinemuri, and Thames districts there are some 200 Silavs from the Austrian area adjacent to the Adriatic coast. These are mostly young men from 25 years downwards, and they are engaged principally on the drainage of swamps, farm labour, and gum-digging. Mr J. Cullen, head of the Organisation Office, who has returned to Auckland from the districts indicated, has (says the New Zealand Herald) been in personal touch with these Slavs inhabitants, and ascertained the direction in which each man can be most advantageously employed in the event of the Government deciding to call upon the Dalmatians to undertake work for the State. We are informed by Mr E. L. Maoassey that the net amount realised by the recent " Sweet Pea Day" fete in aid of tho Soldiers' Memorial Club project was £504 16s 4d. The Defence Department recently took over charge of Quarantine Island from the Health Department, and a number of improvements to the buildings are being put in hand. According to the report issued by Messrs John Dunn, Son, and Co., of New York,, under date, December 26, the American coal shortage has been acute, particularly in and around New York, the bad! weather adding much to the distress. There is some anxiety lest it be impossible all winter to do more.-than partially supply the needs of this part of the country. The production of the coal mines in" 1917 has been about 100,000,000 ton's more than in 1916, but there has been a great increase in the quantity used for manufacturing, purposes, and export shipments have also increased considerably. The question of the purchase of the. Kaikorai tramway came before the City Council last week. Under its agreement with tho company the council is entitled to make au offer for the whole concern, but is com. pelled to buy at tho valuation placed on the property by tho valuers. The council resolved that it would make no offer. It it understood that the effect of the resolution will be that when the company's lease expires this year tho tramway property will be put up to. auction for sale to the highest bidder. The Mayor of Dunedin (Mr J. J. Clark) and the city councillors have accepted an invitation to attend anniversary services at First Church on the evening of Sunday, March 24. - The Home Secretary decided recently to advise the release on license of Alice Wheeldon, who was convicted in February last at the Central Criminal Court of conspiracy to murder the Prime Minister, and was sentenced to 10 years' penal servitude. This . decision was taken at Mr Lloyd George's express request. In connection with the violent attack mado on the Rev. Messrs Stockwell and Miller at Feilding, it appears (says the corre-' spondent of the Dominion) that a man called at the residence of Mr R. Burne just before it occurred and asked to see the Rev. Howard Elliott. Mrs Burne -replied that Mr Elliott was still at the meeting. It had been arranged that Mr Elliott should stay with Mr Burne that night, but in view of tho visit of the man suspicion was aroused and it was considered prudent for him to stay elsewhere. That night a stone was thrown through one of Mr Burne's windows and two other stones struck the front door. The Oamaru Mail states that the police received a telephone message on Thursday morning from Mrs Boreham, of Pukeuri, stating that she had found a woman near her residence in a serious condition through exposure. She had taken her in and given her what assistance she could but her condition was such as required skilled attention. The authorities motored out and took the woman to the hospital. As far as could be gathered her name was Mary Rose, and she arrived in Oamaru from Christchurch by Tuesday evening's express. Apparently she has been sleeping out since then, as she was in an apparently lifeless condition when found and consequently when brought in was unable to give any coherent account of her movements or her identity. At tho monthly intercessory service of the United Christian Council Professor Dunlop occupied the pulpit, and delivered a most interesting and instructive address on "Some Aspects of Prayer, Particularly Prayer of Petition." He said that the words centered in his mind were: "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." He emphasised the necessity for daily prayer, and said it had to bo ad-

mittod that at a time like this there was much to divert the mind from this occupation. It -was also admitted that we were too apt to give ourselves to things, of less central moment: To fritter away moments on what we called, good. We were diverted by the situation of the world! at tho present time. Never more than now was it imperative for Christian people to keep" themselves to this privilege of prevailing with God for the. kingdom of our Lord and Saviour. Jesus Christ. Tho service cl6sed with the National Anthem. • A return laid before the Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board on the 21st showed that thcro were 205 patients in the Dunedin Hospital at tho beginning of last month, and during the month 329 were admitted. The number of persons discharged was 240, and 26 had died, thus leaving 268 patients in the institution at the end of the month. , Tire Otago branch of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners, representing 560 members, has forwarded the following resolution to the Prime Minister: "This branch of the society calls upon the Government to mako a public pronouncement upon the subject of a general election, which should be held this year, as it is of opinion that the people of. New Zealand should no longer be deprived of their constitutional rights 7n being prevented from haAdng an opportunity of electing their representatives for the future government of ~ the country." ' Five more pupils of the Canterbury Aviation School passed their flying tests on the 19th bringing the total graduates of the school to 4-1, which is regarded as a most • satisfactory result for the short time in which the school has been in operation. The new candidates were C. A. Fyfe (Du_nedin), J. It. Moncrieff (Wellington), Frank Hazlett (Livercargill), R. J. Sinclair (Paliiatua), and J. T. L. Knight (Christehurch). Tho pupils started their., flights about 11 o'clock, and had all taken their tickets by 3 o'clock. The conditions were good, and the candidates all flew well. Hazlctt's 'performance was especially striking, as he had undergone only a Tittle over a fortnight's training. In continuation of the announcement that, owing*to not sufficient boys offering, the Post and Telegraph Department was i employing girls for the purpose of deliver- ! ing telegrams in Wellington, Sir Joseph { Ward (Postmaster-general) states that the i girls are carryiiig out their -work most satisI factorily. They will bo equipped with a ■' suitable uniform, somewhat on tho lines • of that worn by the girls and women engaged in similar duties in England. The J uniform will take the form of a dark grey coat and skirt with red facings, and a hat to match. Each girl will be provided also with a waterproof coat, for protection against tho rain, and with a suitable hand- ' bag for -the safe custody and convenient carrying of the telegrams. The outfit will ' present a very neat appearance. At pre- , sent nearly 20 girls are engaged in the city telegram delivery, and it is possible that several more will be required. I ' 'I like New Zealand very much; it is God's country right enough," said Professor Trueblood to a Manawatu Standard reporter. The visitor pointed out how different were farming conditions in New Zealand, when contrasted with the United States. "Your farmers do not, have to grow the food ours require to," he stated. "In the States they plant from May to November, and wary i has the farmer to be to see that no sudden j frost comes along and cuts down his food j crops. When the cold weather comes, at the end of October, the ground is frozen hard. We have even to put our water pipes down several feet to prevent them from becoming frozen. In New Zealand grass i grows naturally and abundantly, and the : climate is good,^too." j The Gazetto issued on the 19th calling up accretions to the First Division and to Class ] A of the Second Division of the Expeditionary Force Reserve contained the names | of 1200 men in the first category —an unj usually large number, tho ordinary monthly quota of men coming of military ago in New Zealand being about 700. The reason ■ is explained by the Government Statistician ' (Mr Malcolm Frascr), who states that of the 1200 First Division accretions whoso names appear in the Gazette quite a number in their registration cards gave the date j of their birth as 1898. v This not being the date but the year of birth tho Government Statistician, under subsection 6, section 6, of j "The Military Service Act, 1916," has the right to assume that such men attained tho ago of 20 at tho beginning of 1918, and he included their names in the Gazette accordingly. Subsection 6 of section 6 of tho Military Service Act states: "If the Go- ' vernment Statistician is in doubt as to whether any man is a reservist or not, ho

shall enrol that man in the reserve; and if ho is in doubt as to whether any man belongs to the First Division or to the Second Division of the reserve, he shall enrol that man in the First Division." The reservists referred to should thus have given the actual month and date of their birth; i.f they had done so they would not have been called up until they attained the age of 20. There need not, however, bo any occasion for concern over the position thaj; has been created (says the Post). TJiO Government Statistician states that men who havo not attained the age of 20 and havd been called up havo the right of appeal, and on production of their birth certificates beforo a Military Service Board will have their appeals automatically allowed. On the other hand, those who do not wish to appeal, and, at the same time, do not wish to go into camp until they attain the ago of 20 years, may, on responding for medical examination, produce their birth certificates and automatically obtain leave to go into camp with the first draft after the date on which they become 20. One of the sharpest shocks of earthquake that has been experienced for some time past aroused most of the people of Wellington- about 1.45 on Wednesday morning lington about 1.45 a.m. on the 20th. Reports from Master ton, New Plymouth, Haw era, and Te Kuiti also refer to shocks being felt about the same time. The first of Thomas A. Edison's " invisible ships" to go'to Baltimore dropped anchor off quarantine (says an American paper). It is a new ship of British register, and has just been completed after the original plans by Mr Edison. As she appears in tho harbour the freighter looks like any of the other boats at anchor. The towering masts, with their massive derrick booms, form the chief feature of the invisible plan, for they are hinged at the deck. When the vessel is entering tho waters infested by U-boats these masts are lowered to tho deck in such a manner that they extend along each side near the rail. The smokestack is removed, and any breaks left in the top line are boarded so that the line is straight. In her neutral colours the ship can scarcely be detected on the horir, zon. The decks are low, and in the danger zone hard coal is burnedl so that there is no tell-tale trail of smoke.

When Mr Justice M'Cawley presented his commission as a Supreme Court judge to the December sittings of the Full Court in Queensland for the purpose of being sworn in, Mr Peez, K.C., on behalf of the legal profession, questioned the validity of the commission on several grounds. After argument, the Full Court reserved judgment, which was. delivered on the 12th inst. The Chief Justice (Sir Pope Cooper) stated that the question raised was not merely as to the validity-of Mr Justice M'Cawley's commission as a judge of the Supreme Court, under which he had not acted, but also as 'to the validity of his commission as a judge and president of the Industrial Court, upon which his commission was founded. On the constitutional question, the majority of the court was unfavourable to Mr Justice M'Cawley's claim.. He was not, in their opinion, entitled to ';■'■ have the oath of office administered to him ■ or to take his seat as a member- of the Supreme Court. 'The Attorney-general (Mr T. J. Ryan) asked, for leave to appeal to the High Court. This was-granted. A deplorable state of affairs was, revealed at a recent meeting of the Hawke's Bay Education Board. It was stated that 80 children at Motuhora, north of Gisborne, . were being taught in one room, 53ft by 20ft, by two teachers. The ceiling was less than Bft high, and the windows could only, be opened at the lower end, and there was a loft overhead in which workmen had . to move about. In addition, there was a tool cupboard in the schoolroom, and work- • men were" frequently in and out. During the lunch" hour and before school hours the children had to wait about in a timber mill. The secretary explained that the residents had promised to erect a school and nothing had been done. The board decided to request the department of Education to make a grant for the erection of a school and residence.

All interesting case affecting the liability of a vendor to pay commission came before Mr Stout, S.M., at Balclutha on Wednesday, when David Weir, a farmer at Puerua, sued Sievwright, Haggitt, and Co., land agents, of Dunedin, for the refund of £4O odd paid as commission on an exchange of properties (plaintiff's farm for Balclutha town properties owned by S. Harwood). The latter failed to complete the deal (says the Free Press), but it was held that as v the agents had *h e requisite authority under the Land Agents' Act to sell or exchange the property there could be no question about their being legally entitled to commission. Counsel for -plaintiff expressed surprise at the production of the authority, which ho had not known existed. The Act, it seems, makes it necessary that an agent should obtain such authority in addition to securing an agreement of sale or exchange between the parties. A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that the City Council passed unanimously a resolution urging on the New Zealand representatives at the Imperial .Conference the retention by Britain of the part of Samoa taken from Germany. The Christ-church Press.states that Count > von Luckner, who is now imprisoned on Ripa Island, in Lyttelton Harbour, has decided to write a book, giving his experiences since setting forth on his memorable voyage in the Seeadler. The Count, by the way, is said by those who know him, to be of very powerful physique. So strong are his hands, 'in fact, that it is possible for him to bend a copper coin by pressing it between his thumb and forefinger. "The family record is a splendid one," remarked Mr D. M. Findlay, chairman of the Third Wellington Military Service Board, on Monday, when the case of Duncan M'Gillivray (tramways traffic manager) was under consideration. Mr J. O'Shea, city solicitor, in supporting the appeal—a departmental one —said that Mr M'Gillivray was in control of the whole tramway service; in charge of 330 -or 400 men. The efficiency of the service would be endangered if Mr M'Gillivray were taken. Already

•ome 100 men had gone to the front from the traffic department, and there was necessity for good supervision of the new men. Mr O'Shea added that Mr M'Gillivray was one of a family of five; ho had three brothers and one sister. One of the brothers had been killed in action in 1915, another in 1916, and the remaining brother in 1917, while his sister is a nurse in a military hospital in England. Mr M'Gillivray's mother is alive,~ in Canada, and as ho is the only surviving son, provision is made by statute for his exemption. The appeal, however, was not lodged on personal grounds. The board granted an adjournment sine die. The following figures furnished by the Government' Statistician show the number of aliens who have been registered in New Zealand up to the 15th Inst:—Europe: Austria-Hungary 1126, Belgium 59, Denmark 581, Franoe 89, Germany 756, Greece 81, Italy 226, Netherlands 53, Norway 366, Portugal 10, Russia 500, Spain Z 6, Slweden 471, Switzerland 269, other 46. Asia: China 1830, Japan 8, Syria 142. Africa: Egypt 3, other 5. America: Argentine 7, Brazil 2, Chile 1, Mexico 1, United States 401, Uruguay 1. Totals: Europe 4669, Asia 1980, Africa 8, America 413; grand total 7070. The Rev. Father Doyle, of Remuera, who has returned from the front after being absent for two years, pays a warm tribute to the religion of the French people, whom he held to be pre-eminent in bravery and all the warlike virtues. After the French, thore- were none better than the New Zealanders. He had travelled imuch with them through France anji Flanders, and he could wish for no better companions for the journey through life. There were good and bad amongst them, as was natural, but as a whole they were loyal and kind, and his impression of them was that in their breasts they wished to do only what was right, just, and)- good, and to help everyone who needed help. The secretary of the Soldiers' and v Dependents' Welfare Committee informs us that' there are at present 24 men on the books of the Employment Bureau, seeking employment. In the"' Moegiel Methodist Church on Sunday a special service was held in memory of the late Private George Sparrow, who had always taken a very active part in the work of the church. Referring to the deceased soldier; Dr Pinfold gave a few outstanding features of his life, and affirmed that, besides being on the church honour roll, he was one of the dominion's heroes and* a martyr in the cause of righteousness. During the service the choir sang two appropriate anthems, and at the dose, the congregation standing, Miss Leary (the organist) played the "Dead March." The various bays down the harbour were the eccne of a number of picnics on Saturday, and as the weather was all that could be desired the large crowds greatly enjoyed themselves. The children from the various orphanages were conveyed to Broad Bay in motor launches placed at their disposal by the members of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat . Club, and on reaching their destination they were entertained by Mesdames A. C. 'Planlon, C. Speight, "Galbraith, R. Hudson, A. Begg, A. Miller, Dr E. Nees, and Misses Nees and Waters. The young folk were afterwards mustered at the residence of Mr Hanlon (commodore of the club), and each child was presented with a suitable toy, the gifts greatly adding to their enjoyment. Between 40 and 50 sick and wounded eoldiers who have recently returned from the front were taken by motor cars to Waitati on Saturday afternoon. The outing, which proved most enjoyable, was arranged by the Otago Motor Club, the club members supplying the cars. In November the Wellington Association approached the Minister of Defence (Sir James Allen) with the request that he should equalise the difference between Imperial pay and allowances and New Zealand pay and allowances in respect of dependents domiciled in New Zealand of reservists serving with the Imperial Forces. The Minister has agreed, in part, to the request, and instructions have been conveyed to the Treasury and to the War Expenses branch, to make up the difference. Mr P. Hally, of the 'Board of Trade, has returned to Dunedin from Invercargill. While in the south a deputation from the Trades and Labour Council, representing the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, waited upon the board respecting the increased cost of living since the outbreak of the war. The deputation particularly touched upon the increased cost of meat, and dealt in a general way with a large number of other main necessities. In reply to the representations made, the board gave the deputation a resume of its work, particularly in respect to the control of the dominion's primary products, and also its intentions in respect to imported goods. In regard to local meat prices, the board explained that this matter was now Vbeing attended to by Dr Reakes (Director of the Live Stock Division), to whom the matter would be reported. Two chemists—George Barron and Ernest A. Clark—were charged before Mr J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M., at Waihi, on Tuesday, with keeping alcoholic liquor for sale and with selling alcoholic liquor in the no-license district of Ohinemuri, contrary to the Licensing Act, 1908. A third chemist, William J. Woods, was charged with having stored liquor for sale. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the, breach of the Act, but did not deny selling liquor. The hearing was adjourned. In the course of an address on social disease, given to a largo audience of men in His Majesty's Theatre on Sunday, Captain Pettit expressed the belief that before long there would be insidious efforts made to spread generally among the young men of the community, a knowledge of prophylactic measures and to make these generally accessible. If the State, in reconstruction after the war, was going to towards the whole of our young manhood the attitude which the' military authorities hai felt themselves compelled to adopt as a measure of emergency in the «.ttu7 daring tho time of stress

and strain and spread the knowledge of these measures it would lead our young manhood to feel that sexual indulgence was necessary and natural, was under State patronage, and free from risks of disease. The danger would then be that they would induce a much larger number of men to run tho risks he had been depicting, and ho believed we would have not less but more venereal disease. That was taking it on the lowest material grounds, and was apart altogether from the moral aspect of the question.