LOCAL & GENERAL

Otago Witness, Issue 3348, 15 May 1918, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL

The Hon. J. A. Hanan paid a visit to tho Dunedin Hospital on the 7th for the purpose of seeing two of his nephews, who are patients of the Soldiers' Ward. Theso are Sergeant Newton Hanan, who was wounded on the Sommo about two years ago, and Mr L. Hanan, who broke down in health while serving on a hospital ship and was afterwards secretary of the Returned Soldiers' Memorial Fund Committee.

Local bodies appear to be finding the rapidly rising levies made by the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board exceedingly burdensome, and the annual demands from the boards can generally be counted on to raise a chorus of protest. The board's amended estimate of expenditure and income for the year ending March 31, 1919, as received by tho Bruce County Council on tho 6th

Tho operations of tho new coal mining company that has recently started work between Stirling and Benhar were brought before the Bruce Coimty Council last week by Cr Boyd. Ho said he understood that this company was now preparing to send hundreds of tons of coal to Christchurch, and that meant heavy wear and tear on a county road that had been metalled out of special loan money. He moved that the inspector bo instructed to find out whether the new company was prepared to maintain part of tho road between Benhar and tho Stirling railway station, and if not, to have the by-law relating to heavy traffic nut in force at once. They should either levy tho tax on heavy vehicles, or suspend tho work for three of the winter months, as they had power to do. Personally, how-

ever, ho did not wish to see the enterprise impeded in that way. There was only half or three-quarters of a mile of road involved, and perhaps the company would undertake to keep it in repair. . The motion was carried.

showed the rateable value of Bruce County to be £1,4-86,490, and its proportionate levyto the board at £1712 4s 2d. Several members expressed extreme dissatisfaction with the constant and rapid increase in these rates. Last year they were £I3OO odd, and the year before £llOO odd. Cr Clark said there was a proposal to open a hospital at Balclutha, and the Bruce County might get some relief by joining in with that scheme. He moved that the Bruce Council support the Clutha Council in any means that would give relief from the hospital rates. Cr Boyd seconded the motion, and said that though a hospital might be erected at Balclutha, they could not get a separate hospital district and would have to pay rates to Dunedin just the same. Personally he gave his hearty support to the Balclutha hospital proposal. The motion was carried.

A foreign visitor to the National Apple Show at Auckland declared that the fruit exhibited would compare more than favourably with fruit produced in any other part of the world.

It remains for Mr Keith Murdoch, the special representative at the front of the Sydney Sun and Melbourne Herald, to givo some faint idea of the fruitless attack on the German,lines at Bellevue Spur by the New Zealanders —an attack which cost the lives of many hundreds of the brightest and bravest of our young men. He says: "I watched every feature of that battle, and am sure there will never be anything but admiration for the gallant and devoted New Zealanders who failed that day—failed as the best troops in the world, which perhaps they are, would have failed, against deep belts of uncut wire and pill-boxes protected by unfordable morasses. The men do not like to think of October 12. Terrible physical strain, water and mud, long .calls on endurance, deeply-protected enemies,

'high percentage of losses —these are their memories of that day." Speaking of the Australian Force, he says it is perhaps a little war-bitten, with more of the sustained capabilities of veterans and less of the exuberance of the Anzacs. But it is none the worse for that. Fearlessness of danger, thoroughness in operation, vigour in attack, are still priceless possessions, and valued as such by every man. The force is so merged in greater armies that the Anzao pre-eminence in fame and in recognition is achieved only spasmodically, as during great offensives; but it is recognised un r grudgingly, among those whose good word is praise indeed, as the best striking army on any front.

At a returned soldiers' concert at Palmerston North, Private Keaney, of the Awapuni Camp, threw a new light on the problem of the absorption of returned soldiers into civil life. The opinions he gave, he said, were those of Father Dore (who was chaplain to the forces on Gallipoli), who had been operated on, and who could not, unfortunately, attend the celebrations. Father Dore had said that the returned soldier should be trained to re-enter civil life. Ho hadl been taken from civil life and trained to forget it. Ho must walk like a soldier, talk like a soldier, and think like a soldier. He was perhaps under this regime for threo years. He came back here with his nerves shattered and with the military routine ground into his soul. He was expected to at once get into a job and assume his pre-war work. It could not be done. Pcrhap6 the secretary of the Patriotic Society found him one job or six jobs, and he could not retain them. Ho should not bo abandoned, but the process must bo continued until he adapted himself to conditions that suited him. " War does not make wasters. It makes men. It is the people here in New Zealand who make the wasters. Train them back," says Father Dore.

In a letter to his wife in Masterton a New Zealand soldier says:—"You may have heard or read about the pill-boxes used by the enemy. They are concrete houses built to accommodate 20 or more men. There are hundreds of them about, and were used by the enemy as machine gun strongholds. It cost thousands of lives to take these places, yet they are built from cement supplied by England to Holland, thence to Germany. Thousands of cement casks are lying about near them (the pillboxes) with the name of the manufacturers still on them. Someone has a lot to answer for in this blunder." Australian exchanges report the good news that Professor Lefooy aoid the experts who have been experimenting under his direction with the weevil plague have at length dofinitely succeeded in mastering the problem

of eradicating this pest without injiiring the grain on which it preys. The key secret of Professor Lefroy's invention is contained in the recently demonstrated fact that whereas wheat and flour can be subjected without detriment to a temperature of approximately 160 degrees, a temperature of from 10 to 20 degrees lower will effectually destroy the weevils and sterilise their eggs. A machine has been elaborated, and is now being constructed to treat all weevil-affected wheat by a process of steam heating. The machine gives perfect control over the temperature equation and is at the same time simple enough to eliminate all the risks of operation by unskilled labour. It is estimated that the cost of treating will not amount to more than 3d per bushel. The probabilities are that Professor Lefroy's discovery will save the commonwealth and the Empire many millions sterling in respect of current accumulations of Australian wheat alone. The ultimate value to the world of the discovery is too vast (says the Industrial Standard) to be calculated except in terms of the higher I mathematics. j Last month Mr T.-K. Sidey, M.P., wrote ' to the Minister of Railways in regard to the transfer of engine-cleaners from Dunedin to the North Island, pointing out that these transfers not only helped to swell the ; losses of population, but led to the breaking up of homes. The Hon. W. li. Herries states that the Railway Department is making every possible effort to release the maximum number of its staff for military purposes, and this results in an acute shortage of the staff, which necessitates 'the members being removed from place to place, so that their services may be used to the best advantage. It has been found necessary to transfer a number of men from Dunedin, as well as from other centres in the South Island, to the North Island, and the Minister regrets that under prevailing conditions it is not practicable to discontinue this practice. > ? The drawing of the art union in connection with the Garden Fete that was held some time ago on behalf of the Returned Soldiers' Memorial Club, took place in Mr E. S. Wilson's board room on Wednesday afternoon in the presence of a small gathering of representative citizens. Those present were Messrs J. H. Walker (chairman of the Garden Fete Committee), E, C. Reynolds, A. G. Fenwick, R. Bcnnell", and W. H. Woods (members of the committee), Constable Kelly (representing the police), and a member of the staff of this journal. Mr R. W. Gibbs (manager of the Bank of New Zealand), who had been asked to attend specially for the purpose, conducted the drawing, which was carried out in a manner that left no doubt as to its fairness. The drawing resulted as fol- ■ lows: —First prize (picture, valued at £25, ' for which a cash offer has been received), ticket No. 17,916, B. Newlands, Y.W.C.A., Dunedin; second prize (set of furs), No. 26,505, Mrs S. Currie, Mount Pisa; third prize (automatic repeating gun), No. 4992, Miss M. Spence, 16 Wairoa street, Kaikorai; fourth prize (Chesterfield settee), No. 29,292, R. M. Stuart, Alexandra; winning programme (pony), No. 986. The name was, of course, not available in connection with the last-mentioned drawing, the competition being introduced for the purpose j of pushing the sale of the programmes. A circular issued from the administrative headquarters of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in London sets out the conditions on which officers in the force may avail themselves of the offer of a special course of instruction at Oxford University. One of the conditions is that no officer may apply unless ho is likely to be unfit for military duty for a period of at least four months. Preference is to be given to men whose incapacity is likely to extend to six months, and especially to those who may eventually read for a degree. Officers selected will reside in one or other of the colleges of the university, and ; will be amenable to university and college rules and discipline. The cost of residence and fees will be about £SO, and this cost will be borne by the officer himself. To be a resident in the Slouth Island and ■ not to have received or seen a newspaper lor letter for "eight months in the present ', stressful times, is a statement hardly possible to give credence to (says the Bluff Press). Yet that is the experience of Mr J. M'Ken- ; zie, of Martin's Bay, who was in Bluff ' on Thursday. Mr M'Kcnzie is a rimholder with his brother on the West Coast, in the vicinity of Martin's Bay, which is situated about 20 miles up the coast from Milford Round. The brothers run cattle, and once a year drive their surplus stock overland to : Lumsdcn, a journey occupying six weeks. There is no other civilisation near them, as Greymouth is 200 miles up the coasb, and their mails are expected quarterly by the Hinemoa, which 'failed on her last two trips to call. Neither of thei brothers, de-

epito their hardy existenoe, was able to pass for military service, oven the fact that they made an overland trip of 200 miles to tho Medical Board failing to satisfy the examiners that they were up to military standard. Shortly after Christmas a great deal of drift entered the bay, no fewer than 26 sliips' hatches coming- ashore, but despite a most careful examination the brothers could find nothing which would point to the name of the vessel evidence of whose disastrous ending seemed to bo present before them.

A Press Association telegram from Christchurch says it is understood that the internment camp on Ripa Island! is to bo closed, and that von Lucknor and Kirscheiss (German prisoners of war) will bo transferred back to their old quarters on Motuihi Island. During the summer months the accommodation on Ripa Island for the prisoners and their guards was quite satisfactory, but in winter time Ripa Island is unfit for an internment camp, the general surroundings not being conducive to the good health of tho men. The Southland Times states that Constable Carroll recently accosted! a young lad with a pea rifle and cartridges, and, as both had been secured without the issue of a permit, he was charged under the War Regulations at Riverton on Tuesday, before Mr G. Cruickshank. This led to another lad, who procured the cartridges, the shopkeeper who sold the cartridiges, the person who gave the rifle to the boy as a birthday present, and thei shopkeeper who sold the rifle all being charged with contravention of the War Regulations, in which, it is necessary to get a permit from the local constable to purchase or deal with the articles mentioned. Defendants pleaded guilty. The constable stated that all were frank in their-admission of the facts, and ignorant of the regulations. All were convicted! and ordered to pay 7s costs. The rifle and cartridges were returned to the owner.

A party of Education Board carpenters, who are at present building an addition to the Moa Creek School (writes a correspondent), were diesirous of inspecting the Manorburn dam, whither they proceeded by motor car. During their inspection of the dam, snow began to fall and soon four inches of snow covered the ground, Unfortunately the car could not be started and, when darkness came on, the party were faced with the alternatives of camping at the diarri or walking 15 miles to Moa Creek. They chose the latter course, and after four hours walking through the snow and over a little-known and scarcely discernablo track they arrived safely at their destination. Those who know the track will appreciate the courage displayed by the carpenters, whose hammers were again sounding at 8 o'clock next morning. The election of a member of the Senate of the University of New Zealand to represent the graduates of Otago University was decided on the Bth, when the votes posted in from various parts of the dominion were counted by the Registrar (Mr H. Chapman). The two candidates were Dr Marshall (Wanganui Boys' College), for many years well known here as professor of geology at the Otago School of Mines, and in numerous other capacities, and Dr Gilray (professor of English at Otago University). Dr Gilray was declared tho successful candidate, gaining 225 votes as against 96 cast for Dr Marshall. Dr Marshall has represented the Otago graduates on the Senate for a number of years, and holds the scat at the present time. The issue was fought largely as between the interests of tho science and the arts faculties, and tho result was no doubt influenced by the fact that tho sciences are already heavily represented on the Senate as compared with languages. Altogether, 660 voting papers were issued, and 15 of these were returned as informal.

It is understood that the offers by the Roslyn Tramway Company and the Kaikorai Tramway Company to sell their plants, etc., to the City Corporation, will be declined, the respective prices asked being considered more than the corporation would be justified in paying. The position now is that the Kaikorai Company will be granted a renewal of the right to run its trams for a further period of 21 years, at the end of which term the lease becomes extinct, without any valuation. As regards the Roslyn Company, its lease will bo for another period of 10 years, when the council will have the option of purchasing, if it so desires, at a valuation to be arrived at between the two interested parties.

Considerable additions are being made to King George V Hospital at Rotorua, with a view to facilitating the orthopaedic treatment of disabled New Zealand soldiers and restoring them to spheres of usefulness. The preecnt accommodation for 200 patients is being enlarged to take another 100, and still further extensions are contemplated. Orthopaedic treatment has now been in vogue at Rotorua for some 12 months, and has been produceive of good results. The treatment being given there has lately been inspected by a medical officer who has had considerable experience at Home. He expressed himself as extremely pleased with the work being done at the New Zealand sanatorium, which, ho said, in some points had anticipated work now being done at Shepherd's Bush, London.

The contractor for the new Anglican Cathedral has reached the highest point of the building, and on Thursday morning Archdeacon Fitchett placed in position the finial on the northern turret. After testing the stone the archdeacon eaid: "On this Ascension Day I lay this stone, to the glory of God, as the stone of this Cathedral Church farthest from the earth's surface beneath, pointing heavenward, whither our Lord Jesus Christ hath ascended, teaching us that wo also may. in heart and mind thither ascend, and with Him continually dwell. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." The tops of these towers are 130 ft above the lowest step at the Octagon entrance. Owing to the fact that the platform %pac© was rosricted, and had to be reached by a series of long ladders, no representative gathering was possible.. Besides the arch-

deacon, the Rev. H. 0. Fenton, Mr Basil Hooper, Mr Stanley Smith, Mr M'Lennan (the contractor), and Mr Haig (tno clerk of works) were present. The finial on the south turret was placed in position last Saturday by Mr Basil Hooper, local representative of the Home architects. The scaffolding is being removed as the stonework is cleaned down, and a good idea of the final appearance of the west front will soon be obtainable.

The first cargo of Melbourne potatoes for the season has arrived at the Dunedin wharf, but the business has proved disastrous for either the consignees or consignors. There were just over 1300 sacks in the shipment, and the whole cargo has been condemned by the local Government inspector (Mr Dyke). An inspection of the potatoes showed that Derwents, White Elephants, and iSnowflake were included in the line, and that the tubors were very badly graded. Mr Dyke had made a comprehensive examination. The peculiar part of the transaction is that each of the lots was accompanied by a certificate from the grader in Melbourne that the potatoes were free from disease; but there was no doubt about

the prevalence of blight and scab in the shipment. Some of the potatoes were & rotten, and emitted a very bad smell. Allowing that the potatoes cost £5 10s, f.0.b., sacks in, Melbourne, the loss on the transaction, not counting the freight, etc., runs out at about £450. The potatoes must either be shipped back, or the merchants to whom they were forwarded must take steps to destroy them. It seems a pity, in view of the shortage of locally-grown potatoes, that the whole cargo should have to be destroyed, as a great quantity of the imported stuff is sound. Mr Dyke's duties, however, are clearly defined, and he was left with no option. The effect of the condemnation of the Melbourne line should be to further firm the already very firm market in Otago. A Press Association message from Christchurch states that steps are being taken to secure the remission, as an act of Government clemency, of the sentences passed on Wednesday on Hunter, Flood, and Langley for sedition. Mr M'Combs, M.P., and Crs Howard and Sullivan waited on the Mayor, and asked for permission to place a petition in Cathedral square for signature by the public praying for the release of the three men. The Mayor gave his consent immediately. The members of the deputation state that both the Mayor and Mr J. Gresson, late chairman of the Second Division League, have expressed their willingness to sign the petition. •

Two divorce cases have been set down for hearing in the Supreme Court, before a judge and a jury of 12—namely, John Douglas M'Neil (storeman, also a soldier, of Dunedin) v. Mary M'Neil and Andrew Crichton (engineer), petition for dissolution of marriage and £SOO damages; Ellen Alberta Baker v. John Baker (returned eoldier, of Dunedin), petition for dissolution of marriage on the ground of cruelty. At a largely attended meeting of the Otago Nurserymen's Association, a resolution was passed unanimously that the action of the Government in supplying trees and seeds to the general publio, in direct opposition to the nurserymen and seedsmen of New Zealand, should bo srongly condemned, and that the attention of the Hon W. D. S. MacDonald (Minister of Agricul-

ture) be drawn to the matter. During the past year the Portobello Ladies' Guild has either made or renovated no fewer than 480 garments, which have been Bent to the Men's Mission House, Filleul

street, for distribution to the needy. Each of the garments has been cleaned and made thoroughly serviceable. At the annual meeting of the guild the hope was expressed that even this large number would be exceeded during the coming year. It is reported that a nativo crow in Australia is attacking sheep in exaot)y the same way as the New Zealand kea, by a perverted taste, has learnt to attack them. The- report is a note by Mr J. A. Hill, of Golton South, Victoria, in a copy of the Emu, tho journal of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. "This year," Mr Hill says, " the crow has been a terrible Bcourgo among our ewes and lambs, and often before the owe could get up the crows had tho eyes plucked out and the lamb killed. But another feature has come under my observation lately, which has not been noticed in this district beforo. The crows actually picked a hole in the sheep's back right into the kidneys, to get the fat! This sheep I had to kill, as tho poor thing would Hot have lived much longer. I thought that this was an isolated case, but one of my neighbours had three or four, and

another neighbour had one, the crows doing exactly the same thing. This would almost point to a time in the near future when the crow will be as bad as the New Zealand kea."

A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that the term of office of Mr ( Hiley as general manager of railways will expire on August 8. Mr Hiley is desirous to return to the Old Country at the conclusion of his term, but in order to avoid a break in the management in the absence of the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister, and in order not to have a change in management at the present time, it has been arranged by the Minister of Railways that Mr Hiley shall continue in office till the end of the financial year. The question of a successor will bo decided on the return to the dominion of the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.

A War Regulation issued last week provides that " without the previous consent in writing of the Attorney-general, it shall not be lawful for any person to issue or be concerned in the issue of any process of execution against the property of a guarantor of a soldier in. pursuance of any judgment, decree, or order of any court in its civil jurisdiction obtained against the guarantor in respect of the guaranteed obligation, whether so obtained before or after the making of these regulations, or to continue or be concerned in the continuance of any such process of execution, whether commenced before or after the making of these regulations; also without the previous consent of the Attorney-general, it shall not be lawful for any person to file a bankruptcy petition against a guarantor of a soldier in respect of any debt or liability incurred by reason of the guaranteed obligation." "Guarantor of a soldier" means " a person liable upon any covenant or contract in respect of the obligation whereof he is legally or equitably entitled to be indemnified by a soldier." Private Bert Anderson, a well-known Leeston farmer, makes the following reference to the pluck of a Leeston soldier in the course of a letter from the front to his brother, Mr James Anderson, of Leeston: "Eric Donald and five other men were complimented in brigade orders about a month ago for raiding a disabled tank that old Fritz had a machine gun in. Our artillery put a shell right through the tank a day before, and a certain sergeant got Eric and five others to go over with him to the tank. The Germans within were all dead, but our chaps carried off the machine gun and got back without a scratch. The sergeant got the Military Medal, and Eric and his mates were complimented by the colonel." Private Donald is a son of Mr J. F. Donald, of Leeston.

The Hastings police made a raid on a big " two-up " school on the Hastings racecourse on Sunday week, and as a consequence, the names of some dozens of persons were taken. It is understood that there were nearly 200 per;ons present, and when the police arrived on the sceno there was a wild scramble to evade capture. The Tribune states: The crowd made off in all directions, and the tall iron fence surrounding the course rattled like musketry with the noise made by the enemy, retreating over it. One party arrived at the course by motor car, and, scenting danger, one of them was told off to give warning to the others on the course. This man was captured, but the other occupants of the car seeing a man in blue approaching, made off. Some amusing scenes were witnessed during the raid. The question of tho sizo of fruit cases- eanio before the Fruitgrowers' Conference at Auckland. It was admitted by all present that the time had come for the compulsory adoption of standard cases, but discussion showed widely divergent opinion as to what tho measurement of tho cases should bo. Tho principle was laid down that to the public a case of fruit was merely a caao and not a bushel or half a bushel. One grower saw difficulties in tho matter, because tho weight of apples which a caso contained varied with the sizo of tho apple. He said he could pack 441 b of ono variety in a case which would hold only 561:1) of another. Tho conforenco finally fixed on standard bushel and half-bushel cases for pip fruit, and standard half-bushel cases for stone fruit's, as well as a standard tray of ono layer. The department will bo asked to make the iiso of these cases compulsory. Professor Kirk gavo tho assurance that the department would not interfere with the use of cases already in stock.

Tho new Bank of New Zealand tenshilling note has something to answer for during one day's activity at Waihi last week (says the Auckland Star). A wellknown Katikati farmer unconsolously ao-

cepted one of these notes for a pound note, and shortly afterwards unwittingly tendered the same note as a pound note at a public institution. Tho attendant official discovered his mistake a little later, and. went after the farmer, but in the meantime the note was passed on to another caller as a pound note. The latter recipient could net be located. The farmer made good the difference to the official, but in tho change of hands during the day the elusive note was responsible for the loss of ten shillings each to the farmer and the person who received payment at the public institution, while tho latter andi the person who made payment to the farmer in the first instance are each ten shillings to the good. It appears that such errors occur because of the general similarity between the new ten-shilling and one-pound Bank of New Zealand notes.

Marriage is not always a thing of bridal veils, confetti, and a formal ceremony to the music of the Wedding March. A few days ago, when the rain was coming down with unsympathetic violence, a quiet-look-ing young woman walked up to the Featherston Camp with a friend. They were met by a corporal, and the three, turned to enter the camp. The military police—ever watchful and attentive to duty—accosted the party and pointed out that people could not wander at will past the gates; but the corporal gently volunteered that fact that he wanted to be married. Within quite a short while 'the wedding party entered one of the institutes, where the padre made them "one," and without any superfluous ceremony they walked out of the camp well wrapped in raincoats, etc., and looked very unlike the. happy participators in a marriage. A taxi was hailed, and they travelled away along the country road with a kerosene tin rattling along behind them. Some "wag" had, added at least one true wedding touch to the event.

Owing to the latest drastic restrictions in tonnage for paper, newspapers are faced with the greatest crisis in their history (says the London Daily Mail of-March 6). More than ever is it necessary to devote available cargo space to the transport of troops, food, and raw materials essential to munitions. Further, the Government itself makes enormous demands on what paper is available. For printing and stationery official departments need over 1000 tons of paper a week. Newspapers are recognised as essential, but they have to adapt themselves to the changed conditions. Since the paper shortage fir3t became serious 823 daily and weekly newspapers have raised their prices. The situation is now more critical than ever. Further tonnage ha 3 to be saved, and the question is how that end can best be achieved while enabling the newspapers to carry on their public work.

A Press Association message from Christchurch states that von Luokner and Kircheiss and their servant were removed from Ripa Island on Thursday night and sent north by the ferry steamer to bo interned at Motuihi.

A meeting of members of the Otago Fruitgrowers' Association was held on the 10th, Mr E. C. Reynolds presiding. The secretary reported he had inade two entries on behalf of the association in class 80 at the Otago A. and P. Association Winter Show. Mr Hinton reported that as ho was going out of town ho would not be able to assist the Staging Committee. Mr H. Turner was appointed a member of the Staging Committee. Tho association intends to make a comprehensive display at the show, and arrangements were made regarding the necessary exhibits.

At Wednesday's meeting of the Otago Land Board several applications were dealt with under section 2 of the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act, which allows advances to be made to discharged soldiers to enablethem to acquire residential sections _ with buildings upon them. The Clifton settlement (eight miles from Balclutha), which has been open for soldiers for some time, appears to bo coming into the favour it deserves. Five sections have now been selected, and inquiries are being received respecting tho remainder, 17 in number.

A fair chance for first-offender girls to begin a better life is the wish of tho Minister of Justico, as expressed in a reply to a deputation on Wednosday. 'I want a reformatory for young girl first-offenders, so that they may havo a chance," said the Hon. Mr Wilford. " The present position of affairs precludes this. No good result is obtained by allowing young girl first-offenders to mix with irreclaimable women whom we have in our gaols. Sentiment qannot influence them,

and some of them are bad through and through. We have a reformatory institution at Invercargill for young men, and thus keep them apart from those men who are criminals by instinct and inclination. My policy is to help thoso prisoners who can be helped and to refuse license or allow any concessions to those who are determined to live a criminal life. Unfortunately, it is no use being generous to the latter class. They do not appreciate it." Mr Wilford hopes to obtain for the girls in question the Education Department's Burnham institution, or the To Oranga Homo at Ohristchurch.

Some of the reckless acts of the colonial soldiers at the front are highly diverting in their absolute impudence. Witness the case of an Australian subaltern at the battle before Strazeele, south-west of Bailleul, fought on April 14. The assault of the Germans was met iby tho Victorians and New South Wales battalions, who fought a sturdy infantry battle for the whole day. At tho height of the action the subaltern mounted a parapet with a tin whistle, and played "Australia Will Be There," to the great joy of the surrounding men, who .cheered and laughed as they fed the machine guns, declaring that he would attract the Huns in greater numbers, and they would thus bo a better target. He proceeded to play " The Watch on the Hhine," upon which the enemy machine gunners, who were greatly annoyed, concentrated their fire on him. The cablegram omits to mention whether the daring soldier was hit, but presumably he safely reached the shelter of the trenches. There is no oause to fear for the morale of the colonial soldiers.

Two Benmore settlers have been granted exemption from residence on their runs for six months. In ono instance it was shown that the roads were in a bad state, and in the other that tho present price of building material was very high. Recently Mrs Davcy, tho widow of a discharged soldier who held a run on tho Benmore Estate, applied to the Otago Land Board for an advance to enable her to carry on the work of tho farm. There is no provision in the Act, however, for advances to the relatives of deceased soldiers, and the. board, though viewing the application sympathetically, could not comply with it. The case was accordingly brought under the notice of the Government, which has decided to make to Mrs Davey tho advance she desires, and an item will be placed on the Estimates next session to meet the liability. It is understood that, in conformity with thi3 action, steps will be taken by the Government to prepare regulations to enable advances to be made in similar oases in tho future.

. The movement by the Rod Cross Society to obtain donations of £IOO towards the endowment of beds in the Convalescent Military Hospital—each gift of £IOO endows one bed —is proving very successful. Additional gifts of £ICO have been received from tho following:—St. Andrew's Church congregation (per tho Rev. Dr Waddell), Taieri Women's Patriotio Association, Union Steam Ship Company, proprietors Gladbrook Estate, Green Island Nursing Division. Late on Friday afternoon "Anonymous" created a stir in the rooms of the society by sending in £2OO.

A list of Maoris selected by ballot from tho First Division of the Native Expeditionary Force Reserve for military service abroad was issued on Friday. It contains 200 names, but the whole of them seem to bo those of North Island Maoris. Proof that strawberries can be ripened in the open thus late in the season as far south as Dunedin was furnished on Friday, when a pottlo of luscious berries thus grown by Mrs Edge, of Elm row, was sold by auction. Tho fruit was a splendid samplo of Laxon Nobles, and the opinion was freely expressed that it should be exhibited at the Auckland show. Competition for the pottle was very keen, and it ultimately realised 325, which, in accordance with the instructions of the grower, will be handed over to the Y.M.O.A. It may be mentioned that a fortnight ago pottles of strawberries were on sale in fruiterers' shops at Wellington, the fruit having presumably been grown in tho North Island.

A considerable number of business men visited the Victoria wharf on Friday for tho purpose of inspecting the tig shipment of Melbourne potatoes which has- been condemned as being affected with Irish blight and scab. There is no question that the potatoes are affected with disease, but the opinion was freely expressed that if the tubers were picked over a large proportion could be saved, and that consequently the scarcity of locally-grown would be to some

extent relieved. It ia also stated that no great -danger would result if some of th* • potatoes which were picked over were afterwards found to be suffering from blight, in that the Irish blight is not unknown in the locally-grown tubers. If any action is taken to save the sound potatoes it will have to bo done quickly, as the shipment is, of course, deteriorating all the time. It ia rather remarkable that a parcel of potatoes brought over by tho same boat for the Auckland market shows no sign of disease, and is of first-class quality. As a result of the subdivision of the Omarama and Benmoro stations the population of that ' district has increased considerably. Since the indxiction of the Rov. John Craig 0 into tho Presbyterian parish of Ivurow services have been commenced at Omarama with much success. Some little time ago a church site right in Omarama was presented by Mr T. A. Munro, and in time a church suitable to the district will bo erected on it. Last week a deputation from tho KJurow Church Committee, consisting of Messrs N. Hayes and J. M'Gimpsey, visited tho district and had a conference with tho people concerning the local organisation of churoli work. Tho first year's receipts from the amusement tax turned out to be scarcely mora than 50 per cent, of the anticipated revenue of £BO,OOO, and it ia expected that tho exemption from tax, provided in the recent amendment of the law, of all gatherings not conducted for profit will make a farther inroad intp this source of revenue. It is held ,that racing clubs are not conducted for profit, and that race meetings, therefore, cannot be taxed. This will, bring about a big reduction in tax receipts. A. petition signed by 194 residents of Mataura was forwarded on Thursday to the Commissioner of Police, Wellington, protesting against the action of some person in complaining of Constable Barrett (states the Mataura Ensign). The petition pointed out that since tho outbreak of war increased duties have been allotted to Constable Barrett, which prevent hirn from being always on duty in the town. It is also stated that the peace and good order of tho community have never, been better than at the present time, owing to Constable Barrett's energy and tact, and that residents have every confidence in the way in which he performs hia duty.

At a sitting of the Magistrate's Court at Tapanui on Thursday, Thomaa Hindle, tha owner of a small grazing run at Rankleburn, was fined £2O and costs for failure to attend to the rabbit pest. Mr H. A. Young, S.M., presided. Mr Grimsdale appeared for Hindle, and Mr M'Gillivray appeared for the Department of Agrioulfcure. In accordance with a promise made after the settlement of the recent strike at tha Otira tunnel works, the Minister of Public Works (Sir William .Fraser) last week visited Arthur's Pas 3 and Otira, and received a deputation from the workers during his visit. The Minister, accompanied by Mr G. Witty, M.P., arrived in Christ-church on Thursday evening. In tho course of a three minuted interview on the railway platform (says tha Lyttelton Times), Sir William said that ho had spent three days on the West Coast, and had found that the work on the tunnel was proceeding very satisfactorily. On the day 1 of his arrival at Arthur's Pass, the men at work at that end of tho tunnel distinctly, heard shots being fired at tho Otira end, and that their hearing was not at fault was subsequently proved by telephonic oonfixniation from Otira as to the time and number of shots fired. The working heads at Arthur's Pass and Otira were now only 11J chains apart. The Minister stated that h« had met a deputation from the Tunnel Workers' Union, and a number of representa* tions had been made to him. He had pre* mised to give those representations carefu( consideration, and to convey his decision* to the union later on. When asked if there were any prospect of the tunnel work beinjf accelerated, the Minister said: " How oan it be accelerated ? There are five or six men fewer on. the works now than before the. strike." He added that in his opinion the strike was in a largo measure due to the agitation in Christehurch and elsewhere for tho speedier completion of the tunnel, and the strife had hardly been conducive to a speedier completion.