LOCAL & GENERAL

Otago Witness, Issue 3347, 8 May 1918, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL

_ A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that regulations dealing with the use of labour and capital in industry fiJid the registration of companies, were gazetted on the 30th. They prohibit the development of works costing more than £3OOO "without the consent of the Government, restrict the registration of companies, and require that taie consent of the Government be given before any new capital is raised for any company.

A notice signed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Gazette declares the Grey seat vacant. The notico is issued under Section 30 of the Legislature "Act, and states that Mr P. O. Webb has forfeited his seat "by reason that for one whole session of the General Assembly— to wit, the session beginning on April 9, 1918, and ending on April 17, 1918—the said Patrick Charles Webb failed, without permission of the House of Representatives, to give his attendance in the said House."

The following >a a list to date of those who have given sums of £IOO to the Red Cross Military Hospital (each gift of £IOO endows a bed in the % ospital):—Mr and Mrs Do Beer, the Reynolds family, Mr Wm. Dawson, Miss C. Mackenzie, Mr and Mrs C. P. M. Buttcrworth; Mrs J. A. Roberts, Mr Thos. Brown.

A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that the Ministry of Forestry, to which it is announced Sir Francis Bell has beon appointed, is. a new portfolio, the creation of which was foreshadowed by the Prime Minister recently in response to representations of the Forestry League, who urged that this be the first step towards proper utilisation of the timber resources in the dominion.

The Telograph Department has undertaken the testing of fencing wire for the percentage of conductivity and also for galvanising. This step has been decided upon in view of the fact that much loss has resulted to the farming interests throughout the dominion in recent years from the uso of cheap Gorman and other low-grade fonolng wiro which has had a life :>f only half a dozen years or so. The 003 can, in the opinion of Mr Orchiston, Chief Engineer of Telegraphs, be safely placed at hundreds of thousands c/ pounds.

The rapid deterioration of modern wire, as compared with that formerly produced, is attributed to the admixture of manganese in the process of manufacturing the steel. Prior to 40 years ago, all wire was made of ordinary wire, and Mr Orchiston mentions, in proof of the quality of the wire that wr_j then produced, that although it was in 1864 that the Government commenced the erection of telegraph lines from Marlborough to Southland, a considerable quantity of the wire then erected is still in use. After 1882 a marked difference was observed in the class of wire that was coming to hand for the use of the department, and it was subsequently ascertained that the wire was steel and that, as the British Post Office had agreed to take steel wire at a cheaper rate than the iron wire previously in use, the manufacturers had practically ceased to make iron telegraph wire by the old process. The Germans, Mr Orchiston says, seem to have led the way in regard to cheapness and poor quality, and British firms had to follow suit or simply lose the trade, as the average farmer had and has no means of telling one wire f.-om another.

Fruit growing is likely to become an increasingly important industry in and around Kurow. Large orchards which were planted about five years ago are now coming into profit. This year the exceptional rainfall (our own correspondent writes) interfered somewhat with the crops of peaches and apricots, but the apples at present being harvested are of a splendid sample, and can compare favourably with anything in that line grown in the dominion. It has already been demonstrated that there is a good future before the fruit industry in the district.

Nearly all the men in Class B of the Second Division in the Kurow district were (our correspondent writes) drawn in the recent ballot, and it is anticipated that, in the interests of production, there will be numerous applications for exemption.

A well-known Southland farmer give 3 a glowing account of the success of farming operations in this province over the past season. He states that the 1916-17 season was considered by Southland farmers to have, been tho best experienced for many yearx, but that the 1917-18 season has been an oven better one. There was plenty of sunshine, and the rain fell at intervals just when it was most wanted. Farmers from

the North Island who have visited Southland this season agree that the country there is looking better than in any province of the dominion, and a visitor from Queensland also remarked on the splendid farming conditions prevailing there. Usually stock owners look to the grass only becoming sufficient to meet requirements for feeding about the middle of November, but the Southland farmer referred to stated that he had the unusual experience of finding that in October the grass was getting ahead of the stock. The oat crops in many instances have been very heavy, but in some cases they have been on the light side. A large number of farmers, however, retain their oat crops for chaffing The turnip crops have been particularly .free of blight. Taking the farming position all round, there isv, no doubt farmers in Southland have had a most prosperous year. They assert, howover, that land is cheaper than in any other place in the dominion. The vital statistics for Dunedin city and suburbs for April, together with the corresponding figures for the same period last year, are as follow: —Births, 136 (146); deaths, 86 (73); marriages, 41 (58). The Secretary of the Otago Expansion League (Mr W. B. Steel) has at present in his possession a sample of stone wool. This product, which resembles cotton wool, is made from ordinary blue whinstone, which, on being subjected to intense heat in an electric furnace, flows in a liquid form and is blown by a strong current of compressed air into fragments resembling cotton wool. The product is manufactured by electric power generated at the head of some of the Norwegian fiords, and is used for insulating purposes. The question is being considered whether the wool stone could not be manufactured economically in the dominion, but it is questionable if it could compete with pumice, which is so plentiful, and so easily procured in this country.

The military funeral of the late Private James Gilbert Taylor, of the Nineteenth Kenforcements, took place on the 30th ult., the place of interment being the Anderson Bay Cemetery. Major Fleming and Captain Myers represented the military authorities. The firing squad was in charge of Sergeant Boult, and Corporal Thomas, as bugler, sounded " The Last Post." Chaplain Fairmaid officiated both at the house and the grave. • Men mustering sheep in the Silver Peak district report that a good number of wild pigs are now to be seen in the locality. As the pigs are in good condition at present, and are being shot more or less promiscuously, it would appear that sportsmen could secure an addition to the family larder, and incidentally rid the Silverstream water race from a possible menace to health by visiting the district with their guns and a dog or two. In response to the Mayor's circular to business men asking them to help the Women's Patriotic Association to meet their financial demands, which at the present time are urgent, a preliminary meeting was held in the Mayor's room on the Ist instant. The Mayor (Mr J. J. Clark) presided. The position of the association was fully explained, and it was decided to make a big effort to enablo it to carry on its work without hindrance. A scheme was discusssed by which it is hoped a large sum of money will be raised. A committee was formed to arrange the campaign, which will probably commence at the end of this month. Misses Downie Stewart and Burt explained the work of the association and the present financial position. The association has done splendid work for the comfort and welfare of the fighting men, and the proposed appeal, therefore, is one meriting the cordial support of the public.

A Press Association message from -Christchurch states that the Board of Trade on the Ist amended the maximum prices of the 41b loaf of bread, which arc now fixed as follows : —Over the counter, 9£d ; delivered, lOd; booked, 10j,d; delivered to hotels, did. The total number of scarlet fever notifications for April in the Ota go health district, which extends between the Waitaki River and Stewart Island, was over 70. Many of those cases were in and around Dunedin more on tho flat than on the hills. The other parts of the health district over which Dr O'Sullivan has control as principal medical officer under tho Department of Pkiblic Health did not seem to bo seriously troublod with scarlet fever. Diphtheria, tho diseaeo .which conra next in order of the number of notifications, is still prevalent in Southland, but over the five hospital districts the total is not appreciably increasing. The outbreak in North Gta.go sensibly lessened last month. Dr O'Sullivan says that the knowledge of this disease acquired withIn the last 10 years, in regard specially to the use of anti-toxin and bacteriological diagnosis, it is now muoh less dreaded. The

important thing is to got the bacteriological diagnosis in an early stage, and therein lies the difficulty the department lias to grapple with, sinco many of the qualified bacteriologists have gone to the war. Speaking at the close of the City Council meeting, the Mayor (Mr J. J. Clark) described the policy which the council intends to pursue in the matter of appealing for thoso of its men who are called up for military service. He began by mentioning the interesting fact that no fewer than 20 employees in the various departments had been drawn in the last ballot. The heads of all the departments were going carefully into the question, and were re-organising their staffs in order that every man possible might be released for service. It was hoped that arrangements would be made that would save the Corporation from making any appeals. If it was considered that any man's services were essential in his particular department, the matter would be referred to the committee controlling that department for its consideration, but before any steps were taken in the way of appealing, the approval of the council would have to be obtained.

Mr F. Ferriman, of Ashburton, has contributed £IOO to a fund which is being organised by the Women's Christian Temperance Union with the object of presenting the Y.M.C.A. with a hutment in the war zone, to be known as the New Zealand W.C.T.U. hutment.

The new award oovcring the Otago Bakers and Pastrycooks' Union has been filed. As was indicated during the heading of the dispute before the Arbitration Court, foromen and journeymen have been granted an increase of 10s per week. The award states that the minimum wages for foremen bakers and pastrycooks shall be £4 per week, journeymen £3 10s, and bakers' labourers £2 13s. Youths may be employed to assist as bakers' labourers at a minimum rate of £1 12s 6d per week. Jobbers shall be paid at a rate of not less than 12s per day of eight hours, and not less than half a day's wages in any event. If a jobber is employed for more than four hours, he shall bo paid not less than Is 6d per hour up to a full day of eight hom-s, and thereafter overtime. The award is to come into force on May 20, and continue until May 20, 1920. Speed regulations were discussed at a special conference of representatives of the New Zealand Automobile Union, held in Wellington on 'the 26th. Delegates were present from as far south as Dunedin. It was resolved to recommend to the Minister of Internal Affaire: (1) That the minimum speed limit that should bo permitted to be fixed by city councils, borough councils, and town boards be 15 miles per hour, subject to a reduction to 10 miles per hour in dangerous places; (2) that such speed limits be in defined streets, subject to the approval of the Minister; (3) that speed limits across intersections of streets be not less than 10 miles per hour, and round corners of such streets eight miles per hour. Business men in Wellington have been asked to state their opinions regarding the new regulations just gazetted, in which the Government proposes to control capital expenditure rigidly in future. All of those who have been approached have preferred to give their opinions anonymously, but there is a general agreement that the regulations have not come a day too soon, although tho reservation is made that the regulations must bo administered with judgment if hardship is to- be avoided. This applies especially to proposals that may be made to increase the capital of running concerns. In every case it was agreed that this was not the time for going on even with so-called necessa/y works if they were to make heavy demands on aA'ailable capital and labour, and that fcba Minister should resist all applications for .the expenditure of money on wildcat ventures; but it was agreed also that the very ■ purpose of tho regulations would be defeated if they were administered without duo regard to the need for keeping commerce and production running smoothly. At the monthly meeting of tho Clutha County Council on Friday, Mr John Jacobs (secretary of the Otago Hospital and Charitablo Aid Board) notified that the levy for 1918-19 on the Clutha County Council would ba £2095 3s 2d, as against £2509 6s 7d. Tho total amount levied on contributory local bodies was £26,882 3s 4d, on a rateable value of £23,338,434, the rateable value of the Clutha County being £2,600,313. Cr Begg said tho levies were jumping every year, and a protest would have to be registered. The expenditure was now four times the amounted contributed a few years ago. A big sum had been put into a nurses' home by the Dunedin Hospital authorities and it was now found that the accommodation at the home wa3 inadequate, and the nurses were

overflowing into the old building. This showed that the authorities had deceived both themselves and the contributorylocal bodies. Cr Overton moved—" That a committee bo appointed to take the necessary stops for the erection of a hospital in •the town, and also find what the liability would then bo towards the Dunedin Hospital." Or Gumming (representative on tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Board) said that the position was partly brought about by the population of Otago decreasing in ratio to its wealth. Consequently a lower subsidy was drawn from the Government. Five years was looked upon as the period over which hospital buildings held good. Of course, at the present time, with the large number of returned soldiers who were in the hospital, additional demands were made upon the hospital authorities. There was no hope of obtaining a reduction in the levy for two or three years. The clerk said before they could break away and establish a hospital district a separate Act would need to be passed. Under the present law they could have a separate hospital, but would still have to contribute to the Dunedin institution. It was then decided, on tho motion of Cr North —"That a committee consisting of the mover, Crs Cumining and Christie, wait on Mr Malcolm, M.P., and make inquiries as to the possibility of erecting a local hospital." Somo interesting statements were made by Commissioner Hodder last evening in the course of an address at the Salvation Army Congress regarding tho work that is being done at the inebriates' homes on Pakatoa and Roto Roa Islands. Pie stated that the question was sometimes raised as to the results of this work, andl while it was impossible to givo the exact percentage of cures, he could say that, so far as the women were concerned, at least 75 per cent, of those who left Pakatoa never returned again, and it was therefore claimed that this number went away cured. During last year 100 men had been received at Roto Roa Island, and their position was somewhat different, most of them being elderly men. A census that had been taken showed that 20 of these were under 40 years, 30 were between 40 and and 50, and the remainder ranged from 50 up to 80 years. Uf these at least 80 per cent, out of the number who left the island never returned to. it again.

The proposal to purchase the Gladstone House property in Moray place for use as a soldiers' club has been abandoned, and arrangements are just about completed for the fusion of the present Anzac Club House Committee and the Soldiers' Club Committee. The present Anzac Club house, opposite the First Church, will now be utilised as a club for the soldiers, but as it is far too small to accommodate all the members, it is understood that as soon as sufficient funds are forthcoming arrangements will bo made to add substantial additions to the building.

"No jubilee plunger, no degenerate, drunken waster, ever squandered his father's heritage like our legislators have allowed and even encouraged the destruction of this magnificent inheritance bequeathed to their care," said Mr J. Christie, when dealing with the forestry question in his annual speech at the Clutha Farmers' Union meeting on Saturday last. Mr R. T. Sadd (Commissioner of Crown Lands in Otago) travelled to Oamaru on the 29th, and was met by the county engineer (Mr J. Cuthbertson). Both gentlemen then motored to Benmore, where an inspection was made of the different roads giving access to the settlement. This Ohau road leading to the endowment pastoral runs of the Otago University was also inspected. A visit was then made to the Maerewhenua commonage, the area of which is about 2000 acres, and regarding which some complaints had been made. At the Steward Settlement a deputation of settlers was received. The first part of the water-race, from the intake for about half-a-mile down, has silted tip very much, and the deputation desired to know if any assistance could be given them to clean out the silt. A number of soldier settlers at Benmore were also interviewed, and a few matters brought forward by them satisfactorily arranged. Mr Sadd states that the soldier farmers appear to be making satisfactory progress. Mr Sadd returned to Dunedin last night.

An intimation lias been received from the authorities instructing local traders in petrol not to sell motor spirit to anyone outside of their ordinary trading- limits. This means that orders received in Dunedin front, say, Christehureh, will not be executed. Otherwise no instructions have been r«5ceived in Dunedin, so far as can be ascertained, restricting the purchase or vise of petrol.

Our Oamaiu correspondent writes : —>-The North Otago effort in connection with the Y.M.C.A. Red Triangle, appeal is now at its close. The full details are not available, but it is fully established that the total will greatly exceed the £SOOO aimed at. A sum of £6OOO has already been transmitted to the executive at Dunedin, and it is anticipated' that this sum will be supplemented by at least £3OO. The following account of a legal action against the Rumanian Government begun in Berlin in January, was printed in a recent issue of the London Daily Mail: "Prussian cheek knows no bounds. Not satisfied with invading her, robbing her of her food, and enslaving her people, the Germans are now suing Rumania for damages ! In ihe Berlin law courts an action has just been begun against the 'State of Rumania by a syndicate of war profiteers to recover £3,500,000 as an indemnity for breach of contract. The suit is the- sequel to tho £20,000.000 German-Rumanian agreement entered into in the spring of 1915, whereby the Germans were to furnish Rumania with munitions of war in return for supplies of grain. Swedish and Danish capital was interested in the syndicate as well, with a view to transhipment of portions of the grain to Scandinavia across Germany. Before the agreement became effective Rumania declared its unwillingness to carry it out, much to the chagrin of the German Foreign Office and the then German Minister in Bucharest, Baron von dem

Busscho-Haddenhausen. The litigation was commenced in Berlin because the Rumanian Government has property there. To make euro that the Prussian plaintiffs will not loso their case, the German military authorities have taken the necessary measures to protect their rights in Rumania itself. The damages which are claimed represent the estimated value of the Rumanian supplies which were never delivered."

A Press Association message from Wellington intimates that the remaining members of Class B of the Second Division, numbering about 8000, will be called up en bloc by Gazette on May 21. The date of the first ballot for Class C men will probably be in June.

The Hon. Mr Guthrie will take the place of Mr Massey as head of the Imperial Supplies Department, which includes shipping and the utilisation of shipping space for outWard cargo to the best advantage.

In commenting on the Central Otago display at the National Apple Show, the Auckland Star says:—"From as far south as Alexandra and Clyde, in Central Otago, orchardists have sent a collection of fruit that goes to make an excellent exhibit. The feature of the exhibit is the apple section of 20 varieties of apples, chief amongst which are the Jonathan, De'icious, Cleopatra, and Munroe. The fruit is in a wonderfully sound condition, considering the long journey traversed and the handling attached thereto. For clean fruit, of good colouring, this exhibit should commend itself to the public, for the .winter frosts and the dry summers that prevail :'n that far-off locality have stood well to the orchardists in their endeavour to produce good marketable apples. Th<» collection of quinces and pears in themselves would make a fitting exhibit for any show. Since the show was opened to the public these two sections have been admired* by many, the sizes of both fruits coming as a surprise to Aucklanders. Tho opening of the duck shooting season on Wednesday morning gave opportunities to sportsmen to display their skill on the lakes, swamps, and tho watercourses in and around the Kaitangata district, but very few guns were out during the cold, wet, early hours. Several heavy bags were secured, although a brace or two ducks was the general result of the shootists' operations. In the dusk of Wednesday the frequent flashes from the guns on the swamps distinctly portrayed "the battle of the marshes," and produced a splendid sight when viewed from the higher parts of the town. Game is plentiful in the district

The war has greatly enhanced the value of rabbitskins, probably because of the great, tise rabbit fur is put to in the manufacture of hats for the soldiers, and this winter prices bade fair to soar as they did last winter, but apparently a check has occurred. The Clutha Free Press has been informed that there has been a drop in value of about 60 per cent, within the past few days, consequent on America stopping the import of skins. It is expected that the. market will recover before long. Meanwhile sixpence apiece had been the ruling local price for fair average skins, and several contracts had been fixed up on that basis. The paper adds that unless America reverses her decision the dealers seem likely to lose.

A serious case of pillage has been brought under the notice of a Taranaki Herald reporter. Several cases fr.om Home had just been delivered to a local firm, and upon opening one of them, which, according to invoices, should have contained goods to the value of about £l/0, it was found to contain nothing but two pieces of cottondress goods and a quantity of tape, of a total value of about £6. Dozens of cardboard boxes had had their contents removed and air-tight tins had also been cut open and the goods packed therein stolen. The oaso had originally contained crepe de chine blouses, fur coats, kid gloves, pockeb handkerchiefs, etc., in addition to the cotton dress goods and the tape. Before being opened by the consignees there was nothing to create even the slightest suspicion that the case had been tampered with It appeared to bo quite secure, even to the bauds oi hoop iron enclosing it.

A peculiar case came before the Military Service Board (reports the Nelson Mail). A resident of Singapore, with a family, spent fivo months in the dominion last year. Ho •went back to his home, and returned to New Zealand this year. Under the belief that he was liable for military service he enlisted and applied to the board for' six -months' leave to enable him to complete certain business matters in the Straits Settlements, India, and China, before proceeding to the front.

The chairman of the board remarked that it looked as if appellant had got tangled up by volunteering. Ho was only a sojourner in the dominion, and was not liable for military service. Appellant said he was under the impression that if he had not volunteered he would not be allowed to leave the dominion. The board decided to recommend the six months' leave asked for, and suggested that appellant should leave for England from the East, which would save time.

A Press Association message from Christchurch states: —An information has been laid against the Rev. J. H. G. Chappie for an alleged seditious utterance, made, it is understood, on the West Coast. It is also reported that the authorities are likely to take action in connection with two Second Division meetings held here this week . A number of applications have been received at various times for restoration of patents whioh have lapsed inadvertently, but until recently (the New Zealand Times reports) there has been no opposition filed against an application for restoration. Application was made by Baldwin and Rayward, acting for Ooutts and Davies, for restoration of a patent which had lapsed through non-payment of a renewal fee. This application was opposed by A. and T. Burt, Ltd. The Dunedin City Corporation also lodged opposition, but sxibsequently withdrew. The case was the first of its kind in the dominion. The Registrar's judgment disallowed the opposition, with costs against the opponents.

The volume of business of the Auckland Permits Office is stated by local officials to have increased considerably during the last six months. The bulk of the overseas travel is to and from Sydney, but bookings to Vancouver are fairly frequent. In reply to a suggestion that Australians might be coming to New Zealand, working here for some time, and then returning to Australia in order to evade the operations of the Military Service Act, the officer in charge said there was a possibility of such a scheme being in operation to a very limited extent; but the provisions of the Act prevented men of military age who wero not resident in New Zealand from remaining in the dominion for a 3onger period than three months without forfeiting their right to receive a permit to leave the country. An extension of time could be granted only on application to the Minister of Internal Affairs before the expiration of the three months originally allowed. If visitors failed to comply with the regulations—copies of which were given to all new arrivals —they were liable to be declared New Zealand residents within the meaning of the Military Service Act.

The spread of the disease known as miners' phthisis was discussed at a public meeting at Waihi. It was stated that the present Act does not allow any pension or consideration to a miner until such time as the doctor certifies that ho is totally incapacitated from following his occupation, which, it is contended, i 3 quite wrong and unjust. The Minister of Mines and tho Prime Minister are being approached in the matter. Tho meeting passed the following resolution: "That this meeting views with alarm tho increasing number of young men who are becoming incapacitated through contracting miners' phthisis, and also the largo number who are ordered out of the mines, having contracted the disease, and who are, for tho most part, married men with young families, with no source of income apart from the very meagre pensions provided by ' Tho Miners' Phthisis Act, 1915 ' —namely, £1 5s per week—and therefore entirely dependent upon the charity of their fellow-citizens; the meeting considers tho present position very tinsatisfactory, and humiliating, especially to men who have rendered such valuable service to the nation, and, in order that better provision nvny bo made for incapacitated miners, it directs the Government's attention to our request?." Immediately following the resolut : on the requests referred to are set out.

A member of the 1.W.W., whose home is in Sydney, was recently arrested on board an American mail steamer which was about to leave San Francisco for Sydney (says the Daily Telegraph). The American police and secret service men had an idea that members of that society would attempt to get away from Ameria in consequence of wholesale arrests during a recent round-up of those organisations. As a of the 1.W.W., life was not worth living in the United States after the round-up, and emigration to other countries, Australia for preference, was known to bo an-, avenue of escape, use of which was contemplated by those I.W.W. men who had not been arrested. The man who was apprehended on the American mail

steamer had with his baggage a quantity of I.W.W. propaganda, believed to be intended for circulation in Australia. He also had a plan of .the meeting place of the society in Honolulu, part of which contained detailed instructions showing how to find tho hidden room used by the organisation. A man who stated that he was a Socialist was also put ashore from the same vessel. In referring to the courage displayed by New Zealanders at the front, Bishop Cleary gave some personal reminiscences at the Anzac Day smoke concert in Auckland. He said that on one occasion the front New Zealand" line was being so heavily shelled that the air was "alive with shell" and the line was being torn to pieces. In one place, where the earth was going up like geysers, he saw six New Zealand soldiers. Four were calmly playing cards, and the other two were discussing the merits of a New Zealand racehorse. He had been asked if the "grouser" was not a "bit of a waster?" Ho was not. The " grouser" was a man who bore the biggest trials like a hero, and tho smallest troubles like a child. He would face a lion without a tremor, but would groan at the sting of a mosquito. Several Wellington men holding responsible positions with institutions and business companies, and in some cases principals of firms, have been called up in connection with the first ballot of the Class B (married men with one child) men. As a consequence there has been a good deal of hard thinking on the part of those likely to suffer by the loss of the services of such men, and from what can be gathered the Military Appeal Boards will be set an entirely new set of problems to solve when they sit in Wellington in connection with the heavy crop of appeals that is likely to be made (says the Dominion). There is, too, a deal of speculation as to what proportion of the 10,000 B men already balloted will pass the severe medical test that Is now being made as the result of so many men, apparently fit, being turned down after months of training here and in England as unfit for activo military service abroad.

Thursday, March 28. was a red-letter day in the 'annals of the Cook Islands. The Resident Commissioner (Mr F. W. Platts) reports the receipt that day at Rarotonga of the first wireless message. The New Zealand Electrical Department is now engaged in the construction of the wireless station at Black Rock, near Avarna, the capital of Rarotonga. The engineer in charge of these works (Mr I. R. Smith, of Wellington) has put up a temporary receiving plant, which he is- successfully operating. On the morning of the 28th the people woke up to find that their isolation had been broken, and that the island was actually in touch with tho outside world. A daily bulletin of war news is now published

A New Zealand soldier, writing to a friend in Dunedin, pays a striking tribute to the soldiers' hospital and invalid camp at Hornchurch. He says: "If ever there was a splendidly administered and faultlessly perfect 'joint' in the arniv it is this Hornchurch Convalescent Hospital. It is a home away from home for the patients, and it is really marvellous what is done in the way of curative and remedial work and in the infinite amount of patience that is shown by everyone connected with the medical and administrative work in giving every man's case careful individual attention, and the most up-to-date scientific treatment. The hospital is splendidly equipped. Constant additions are being made to its equipment and also to that of the minds of its doctors, who take periodical courses at other hospitals in up-to-date methods, so as to keep abreast of the times."

Owing- to the largo apple crop this year, and the impossibility of getting rid of the surplus, a serious position has arisen (says the Auckland Star), which is informed by Mr Harvey Turner, of Messrs E. Turner and Sons, who has made a tour of the dominion's fruit districts, that there are at present 250,000 cases of apples in the cool stores of the dominion, whereas at this time last year the accumulation was 150.000. In spito of the crowding of cool stores orders have been .placed in Canada for 80,000 cases of apples, to come in four shipments, arriving between September and December. It may bo said that tho apples now in storo will not keep until the end of tho year, but is stated that they will keep long enough to render unnecessary the importation of the first half of these Canadian shipments- By December other local fruits will bo coming on the market. Not only would these apples compete against those of our growers, who this year have been severely tut by tho war, but they would take up a

large amount of space that might be filled wita more essential goods. Forty thousand cases make 1740 tons of shipping space. Reference is also made to the importation of dried apples, said to bo not thoroughly peeled, and to 6how evidences of codlin moth. It is suggested that a large proportion of the New Zealand surplus could be dried for local use.

Monday was tho eighth anniversary of King George's ascension of tho throne. A portmanteau is not an easy thing to steal, but nevertheless one figured in a peculiar occurrence bearing the appearance of a robbery that took place in the city on Friday night. While a carrier was conveying a load of luggage from the wharf to the Railway Station a leather trunk mysteriously disappeared, and some hours later a police constable might have been seen searching the Market Reserve by the light of a candle for various articles of apparel that were strewn around in some profusion. The trunk, which lay near by, had been opened by the forcible means of cutting off tho 'ock, and_ the contents thoroughly ransacked. The perpetrator of this unusual act apparently did not- secure a great "haul," as it is understood the missing articles were confined to a few rings and some property documents. Tho trunk belonged to a resident of Green Island, who had returned to Dunedin that day by the Monowai.

A decided drop in the temperature took place -in Dunedin on Sunday, the day being one of the coldest experienced for some considerable time. Similar conditions apparently prevailed in the country districts, and snow was seen on some of the higher levels at the Taieri. Although some showers were experienced during the day, the night was clear, but intensely cold. Two young ladies who took their gold wristlet watches to the Woodhaugh Gardens on Saturday afternoon,and left them on the grass while they took part in a game of basket ball, have reason to regret their rashness, for both watches were stolen. Tho matter has been reported to the police. At tho Christchurch Competitions on Friday several Dunedin performers again figured in the prize-list. Miss Corrie Aslin won the operatic or dramatic solo for soprano or mezzo-soprano voice, scoi'ing four more marks than tho second prizewinner. In the story without words, Miss Bessie Thomson (partnered by Mr F. Hargreaves, - of Greymouth) secured second place, three points behind the winner, and Miss Thomson was also among the recalls for the Shakespearean recitation for iadies. Another Dunedin competitor, Aida M'Laren, was recalled in the piano solo for children over 13 and under 16.

Summonses have been issued against Messrs E. Langley, J. Flood, and H. Hunter to appear before the court at Christchurch on the Bth inst. to answer a charge of having made seditious utterances. It is imdcrstood that the charges arise out of certain incidents at the Second Division League meeting on Sunday night, 28th ult. The lighthouse on Dog Island, off Bluff Harbour, which was built of stone in 1864, was structurally damaged when struck by lightning some time ago. Mr M'Kenzie, district engineer of the Public Works Department, sent an officer to report on the oondition of tho lighthouse, and it has now been decided to build a reinforced concrete facing about 2ft in thickness round the entire height of the lighthouse—about 100 ft. It will take some time before the work can be completed, as communication with tho island is not too regular owing to the rough weather at times experienced in the locality. A Christchurch bootmaker, named Henry William Reynolds, who, when previously charged with having published seditious matter, had been ordered to come up for sentence when called upon at any time within 12 months, appeared before the court on Friday last on a similar charge, based on his having exhibited documents in his shop window that contained seditious statements. He pleaded guilty, and was ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution, and to enter into bonds of £SO, one in self and one surety for his good behaviour. Not long ago Reynolds served a term of imprisonment for sedition. The efforts being made by the Department of .Agriculture to combat fruit diseases wero explained by officers of the department at the conference of fruitgrowers in Auckland. Professor Kirk said that the department had decided to offer a small .bonus to growers in whose orchards experiments in connection with brown rot were carried out, this being in addition to tho

payment of labour, etc. Mr Campbell, assistant director, said that brown rot wcut the worst disease affecting fruit. The wet weather of the last three years had assisted development of this disease. The work of the department embraced the pruning of trees and a thorough cleaning up of the whole orchard. Spraying testa had been carried out, principally with recognised fungicides, and the department was prepared to extend its work to other district* if orchards were made available. Black spot had been proved to be a controllable disease.

A Press Association telegram states that the conference of the Fruit-growers' Federation terminated at Auckland on Saturday. The following officers were appointed :- President, Mr J. Longton (Canterbury); directors —Messrs H. Doldridge, E. B. Izard, and F. E. Nottage (Nelson), A. M. Robertston (Hawke's Bay), J. Bennetts (Otago). Up to the present time the- greater part of dried or evaporated fruit retailed in the dominion has been imported, but last week a meeting of somo 20 fruitgrowers of tha Hastings districts -decided to form a company to bo called the Evaporators (of New Zealand), Ltd., with a capital of £IO,OOO in £1 shares'. One thousand shares were taken up in the room. The Tribune states that immediate steps are to be .taken to secure a site and the necessary machinery to carry on the business (the evaporation of apples). It is expected that the company will commence operations next fruit season. Hie Government is being approached for a loan under the Fruit Preserving Industry Act.

The Arbitration Court has filed it* award in the Otago Timber Yards and Sawmills dispute. The court's memorandum states: —"The only substantial question left to settle was that of wages and definition of work. The court has granted a- general war bonus of 10 per cent., in terms of that recently granted in the Wellington industrial district, and has also granted slight increases in some of the flat rates. The definitions have been repeated from the old award; otherwise the award embodies the** recommendations of the Conciliation Council." The award comes into force on the 20th inst., . and continues for two years. The wages fixed are as follow: —First sawyer, Is 5d per hour; other sawyers, Is 3d; tailers-out, Is 2d; first-class machinist, Is 6d; second-class machinist. Is 4d; other workers at machines, Is 2d; head yardman, £3 5s per/ week; orderman, £2 17s 6d; yard, mill, and factory labourers, Is 2d per hour; wood turners, Is 6d; spoke turners and spoke finishers, Is 3d; sash and door hands, Is 3£d; benders, Is 6d.

There was a further crop of applications to the Second Canterbury Military Service Board on Friday morning for the return to New Zealand of men on active service (reports the Christehurch Press). The chairman (Mr H. W. Bishop) said a recent conference of chairmen of Military Service Boards had decided to recommend these requests only in extreme circumstances.The position was so serious that ho almost felt a traitor to the country to facilitate the return of a man from the front —ho felt he would be doing the country wrong. Speaking to one applicant, a mother, Mr Bishop said ■ the board sympathised with her, but if they recommended the return of one man, they would have to consider the right of all other mothers to hayo their sons returned. One man brought back might mean a loss of a very serious nature, and the board was not prepared to take the responsibility. An application was made to the Military Service Board at Auckland by Mrs A. B. Johnson, Ponsonby, for the return of her son, Private Joseph Johnson, who left the dominion with the 20th Reinforcements. Appellant stated that, as her son was only 17 years of age when he left, had enlisted without her consent, and' had now written home stating that he was suffering from a nervous breakdown, sho asked that he bo returned to New Zealand, or given homo service in England. He was her only son, and had refused to remain at homo. Tho chairman of tho board stated that he had received a letter from the Minister of Defence stating that he had communicated with New Zealand Headquarters in France, asking that Private Johnson be given work behind the firing line, or in England, until he was 20 years of age The reservist's mother expressed herself as satisfied with this arrangement.