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Otago Witness, Issue 3364, 4 September 1918, Page 3

A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that the Executive Council, on the recommendation of the National Efficiency Board, has approved of important regulations providing for the prohibition or restriction of businesses which compete with those of soldiers, and the unrestricted establishment or continuance of which may injure or destroy a soldier's business. Among the passengers by the Moeraki, which arrived at Wellington from Sydney on the 27th (eays a Press Association telegram), there were 152 returned soldiers, comprising draft 172. A Press Association message from Wellington states that a New Zealand hospital ship, which is on her return voyage to the dominion, is reported from a way port, all well. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that in replying to a question about a rumoured rise of £2 per ton in the price of flour, the Hon. Mr Mac- - Donald said the report was unfounded. The millers had agreed with the Board) of Trado not to apply for an increase in the price (£ls 10b) at southern ports until February 1, 1919, so long as wheat remained at the present gazetted price. The Australian wheat now being imported did not affect the price of flour, as it was being sold to millers at the same price as New ZcalanaV grown wheat. At a meeting of the Clutha District Returned Soldiers' Association on the 24th an important subject relating to soldiers' pensions was discussed. Mr T. J. Walsh said that in the case of a man who had his pension stopped, but later had a recurrence of his original trouble, which prevented him, from doing work, the pension would not be regranted. What was wanted was the suspension instead of the concellation of pensions. He moved —"That this meeting suggests to the committee the' advisablenes3 of going fully into the question of the stoppage or suspension of pensions with a view _to co-operation with other branifnes, the opinion 'of this- meeting being that pensions should be suspended rather than stopped." This was agreed to. A graphic story of the recent mishap to Messrs Burns, Philp, and Oo.'b steamer Tambo is told by Mr E. C. Eliot, Resident -©omihissioner for the Gilbert and Ellice Groups, who was a passenger. 'At the time of the breakdown the vessel was some 80 miles north-east of Oape Byron, with a heavy sea running, and) it was soon found that the break in the rudder post was of too serious a nature to be repaired on

board. The only means of steering the steamer was to attach a steel hawser to the rudder, and bring it amidships of the steamer, and to do this it was necessary that someone should go into the water to attach the hawser to the rudder. It was then, said Mr Eliot, that the native members of the crew showed bravery of a high order. They dived into the -water, Which was rather rough and infested with isharks, and accomplished the work, sometimes remaining in the sea for hours. All the time it was found necessary to cover the vicinity with revolvers to protect them from the sharks, of which two, between

10ft and 12ft in length, were shot, and two others wounded. Eventually the vessel was got moro or less under control, and proceeded to Tweed Heads, arriving there on August 3. After remaining there a brief time, she went on to Brisbane. Mr Eliot spoke in the highest terms of the captain and crew, who showed bravery and skill under very trying circumstances. An inquest was held at Gore on the 27th, before Mr A. Martin, J.P. (acting coroner), concerning the death of a swagger, whose body was found near M'Nab on Sunday. The body was identified as that of David

Gregg, aged about 60 years, who had, some 20 years ago, worked on Longbeach (South Canterbury). Since then he had worked in various parts of Southland. The medical evidence showed that tho " man had been dead for about a week, and that the stomach was absolutely devoid of food. Death was due to exhaustion, shock, and collapse following peritonitis, due to inflammation and perforation of the intestines. A verdict in accordance with the medical testimony was returned.

The Wellington Police Force is asking the Minister of Justice to consider the question of increased wages. Since the war broke out the policemen have been getting a bonus of £ls a year, which, of course, does not go far to restore the difference between the purchasing power of tho sovereign in prewar days and what it is to-day—between 13s and 14s. The force is also asking for an improvement in working hours. Tho executive of the general committee appointed by the Presbyterian; Methodist, and Congregational Churches in Australia to consider a scheme of reunion met recently (says the Melbourne Argus). After a long discussion, the basis of reunion agreed upon in Canada between the abovenamed churches was generally adopted, and will be presented at a meeting of the general committee to be held in Melbourne some time during the present month. Some difference of opinion was manifested concerning pastoral tenure, but the indefiniteness provided for in the Canadian scheme was finally agreedi upon. A prominent member of the executive stated there' was no discord among members on essential points of doctrine and policy, and whatever difficulty might be met with in the future would' be purely sentimental and rooted in- love for the old order of things Jior its own sake.

A Press Association message from Wellington reports that Sir James Allen (Acting Prime Minister) states that it is understood that arrangements are being made for the meeting of Parliament in the latter half of October, by which time the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance will have returned from their visit to England. The question has been put to us by residents in the country districts whether the fact that the mails close in Dunedin nightly before the time of the arrival of the north express involves any delay in forwarding correspondence addressed to southern offices that is brought by that train. The officials inform us that through mails are not affected by the present arrangement under which the postal facilities have been restricted in Dunedin.

A Press Association telegram from Wanganui states that at the annual meeting of the freezing company on the 28th the question of the shipping shortage was discussed. The company undertook to provide extra storage for 30,000 carcases, provided that £IO,OOO of new capital was subscribed. After the Manuka left Wellington for Sydney a fortnight ago (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington), the military authorities learned that six milita.ry reservists were missing. It was thought possible that the men had departed surreptitiously in the Manuka, and the Sydney polico were advised to watch the vessel on her arrival at Sydney. Search disclosed six stowaways. There were brought back on Tuesday in the Moeraki, along with a youth who stowed away at Sydney, and were handed over to the police. Each of the six stowaways was sentenced to three months' imprisonment on a charge of leaving New Zealand without permits. On charges of stowing away they were fined £9 each, the cost of their fares, or a month in gaol. The lad Duffy, an ordinary stowaway, was ordered to be detained for police inquiries. The task of fitting returned soldiers to resume their callings in civil life was touched upon by the Acting Prime Minister (Sir James Allen), at Wellington on the 24th ult. General Richardson was doing a great work in this direction in England, he said, and it was hoped to co-ordinate that work in New Zealand. They would have to deal with all classes of men, and he did not like to think they would neglect even the worst elements. The small percentage of men who came under the heading of "bad" would have to be considered just the same as the better class of men. If they succeeded in saving half a dozen of these men they would have done a very good work. Tho announcement was received with applause.

Referring fo tho war. on the 24th ult., at Wellington, the Governor-general said: "Slowly but surely we are progressing towards the goal, which we hope before long to reach. The path is very tortuous . . .

but we are now very near the crest, if we have not already reached It." Lord Liverpool added that tho people should not be deceived with the idea that victory would

see the end of our troubles. We had to face the work of reconstruction, and it would be many years before the nation could resume the even tenor of its way. Everything possible would have to be done to bring about a better understanding between capital and labour. The solution would not be found in any hard and fast regulations, but only by approaching tho subject in a reasonable, human manner. In giving evidence before the Military Service Board on the 26th (says the Southland Times) Mr A. L. Wyllie, senior inspector of schools for Southland, said: "As to the future supply of teachers, the outlook is most discouraging. The number of those offering themselves is much smaller, their initial qualifications'are lower, and the percentage of males is smaller year by year. In addition to this many of them apply for appointment as adult teachers before their training is completed, and the board is forced in many cases through the want of trained teachers to appoint them to such positions."

The Rev. R. S. Gray, referring at Wellington to tho issues proposed by the Moderate Party to be put to the people, said that if prohibition gained 39,000 votes, national ownership 36,000, and continuance only 50,000, yet because none had got a majority of the votes nothing would bo carried, and things would be "as you were." A deputation had waited on Sir James Allen, and had told him that if Cabinet allowed the issue of State-control to go on tho naper the Prohibition Party would demand an immediate poll, without compensation, to be decided by a bare majority, with preferential voting. Sir James Allen had expressed himself opposed to State control. . .

For some time there has been a war risk of Is per cent, on coastal shipping traversing in the mine zones. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that an additional 2s per cent, on freight is now imposed. This does not affect the east coast trade.

It is hoped that the new Anglican Cathedral will be opened for divine service on the' Ist December next. The Primate has communicated with Archbishop Clarke, of Melbourne, asking him to preach at the opening service.

I The Minister of Mines stated on the 30th : (says a Press Association' telegram from Wellington) that boring operations had been in progress for some months on the State ! mine reserve at Point Elizabeth. It was ' anticipated that a good new coalfield would be opened up, but the matter was not yet one of definite knowledge. A report will be submitted to the Minister soon.

There are 16 soldiers at the Red Cross Convalescent Home just now, Private Sheat having returned home to Clinton. The Red Cross Society received an anonymous donation of £IOO on Friday. A reservist named J. J. M'Cluskey was arrested at Ranfurly on Thursday by Constable Bandy, on a charge of failing to attend for medical examination. He was brought to Dunedin last night, and was handed over to the military authorities.

At the meeting of the General Labourers' Union on Wednesday the fatal accident which recently occurred at Shiel's Quarry was fully discussed, and the secretary was instructed to send the following to all quarry-owners in tlie district: —(1) That all quarries should be worked from the top; (2) that no men should be allowed to work hi places where an overburden exists or where a fall has not properly completed itself; (3) that no men should be placed in positions of possible danger; (4) and that this union regards any departure from, the above as wilful negligence and will in future sue under common law should an accident take place through any evasion of the above clauses. Representations are also being made to the Minister on the matter.

Regulations prescribing special tenures, financial provisions, and provision for dwellings were gazetted under the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act last week. The regulations provide that the amount of advance that may be made to any one person under the Act, including all other advances made to the same person, and still unpaid, shall not exceed £SOO, except that the Minister, if, in his opinion, special circumstances render such amount inadequate, may authorise an additional advance not exceeding £250. In no case is the amount advanced for buildings to exceed £250 j and all moneys advanced are to be secured by way of first mortgage, with a collateral bill of sale as further security in the case of money advanced for the purchase of stock and implements. As regards dwellings, it is provided that land sot apart for the purpose of section 4 of the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act, 1907, shall be divided into such allotments

as the Minister may direct; and the Minister may cause to be erected thereon buildings suitable for soldiers' residences, or may convert any building thereon into soldiers' residences, and from time to time may alter, enlarge, repair, rebuild, and improve any such dwellings; that the capital ■ value of any dwellings disposed of under these regtilations shall not exceed £1000; and that the Land Board, with the consent of the Minister, may dispose, of any such allotment to a discharged soldier under agreement to purchase. In the City Police Court on .Friday, -before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., Ja& Robertson, a middle-aged man who had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting a little girl about 10 years of age, came up for sentence. Chief Detective Bishoi_> stated that the accused had been employed at the Taieri and Peninsula Dairy Factory in King street, as a cheesemaker. It was the custom for little children to go to the factory to gather pieces of broken, boxes for firewood, and the girl concerned had gone to the factory for this purpose. The incident was reported to the manager, and the accused was immediately discharged, but was arrested later by Detective Cameron on a farm near Oamaru. Accused came from Southland, and nothing was known against him previously .> The probation officer's report showed that accused had hitherto borno a good character. Accused said he had had no immoral intention, his conduct being due to a lapse. The Magistrate said that the circumstances showed that had accused not been disturbed a more serious offence would have been committed. Young girls must be .protected, and accused would be" sentenced to six months' imprisonment, with hard labour. "I think that if there is one thing the Hun regrets having started the use of it is poisoned gas," said the Rev. W. Walker, Chaplain to the Forces, in the course of an address in Christehurch. He continued: " There is not the slightest doubt that, at the beginning gas gave him many advantages; but so splendid is our protection to-day that, on one. night when 7000 gas shells were fired by the Germans not a casualty could be traced to them. One night 28,000 shells were fired, but I heard of only just a few—half-a-dozen —who were gassed, and do not know that one death resulted. If the Germans started its use, certainly the British have perfected it. We cannot afford to let the enemy use the most diabolical, despicable weapon without "giving him back some of his own coin. " We now use very much more gas, a worse .fcind of gas, and more effective methods than do the Germans. I can quite understand the Germans sending a message to Switzerland agreeing to give up the use of poison gas-if the Allies would do the same I"

The Minister of Defence has written to the North Canterbury Hospital Board asking for the loan of the services of Dr Blackmore for four months within the next threei or four months in connection with the establishment of a tuberculosis hospital at Waipukurau for- returned soldiers. The department offered to pay all expenses.. It is understood that the scow Hazel Repton, which is owned by Messrs Brownlee, Ltd., of Kilbirnie Wellington, is under offer to Captain Sundstrum, of Dunedin, who wishes to find tonnage for the export of two large boilers and other machinery for the Straits Settlements.

In reporting to the Pope the desecration by Germans of 180 Catholic churches in one day, Bishop Crooy, of.. Tourney, Belgium, wrote: —"Most Holy Father,—l fulfil a painful duty in informing your Holiness of profanations perpetrated by the Bavarian army in our churches. On November 14, at 6 o'clock a.m., soldiers invaded about onethird of the churches of my diocese. They stopped the services, expelled the congregation, and forced the priest at the altar to interrupt the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Then they searched every corner of the buildings; they lifted the consecrated stones of the altars to inspect the interior; in many -eases-they broke the altars, and a number of sacred vessels were carried away. In numerous churches they obliged the priest to open the tabernacle and show them the contentsof the holy ciborium. In a convent of this city the officer in charge took the ciborium from the tabernacle and opened it himself because the nuns had refused to do it. Money and objects of art were taken away from several rectories and convents. Even convents of cloistered nuns were invaded by soldiers, the poor religious being at their mercy." . : Mr Lamb (secretary of the South Island Dairy Association) wrote to the Harbour Board at its meeting last week, with reference to the association's application for the use of E shed for the storage of cheese . for next season, stating that Mr Ouddie (Dairy Commissioner) had inspected the shed, and had advised that he woukT not approve of an advance on the produce by the Government unless the shed was insulated, winch would cost a considerable sum. 'The factories had therefore decided to extend the present cool store. There was, however, the question of honey coming into the port to . be considered, and as the association would be unable to store the commodity it would be prepared to look after the industry if the board would allow the honey to be stored in B shed. Failing provision being- made for storage 1 , the honey must go to Timaru or BlufF. The letter was referred to a sub-committee for consideration and report. Mr Loudon remarked that the association had decided to enlarge the store, recently erected by it, at a cost of £4OOO or £SOOO. Striking exemplification of American banking patriotism is furnished in the following letter sent by the first National Bank of Passadena, California, to a client: "We hold at the present time about 50,000 dollars' worth of first mortgages belonging to you, on which we collect payment for you. We have held as high aa 90,000 dollars of these. We know that you own stock here, and real estate in lowa, that makes you a well-off man. You are what a bank regards as a good customer; and we are indebted to you for past business. You have not subscribed to either first, second, or third Liberty Loans. You

are not a member of the Red Cross; and ao far as we know are not supporting your country in any way. You are not only a detriment, but a menace to this community. This bank cannot, afford to thrive on such business as yours. We have too many calls from patriotio citizens these days to be willing to extend credit to you in order that you may reinvest at from 7 per cent. •up. Tou will therefore please take up your small note of 300 dollars immediately; also call at the bank and receipt for your securities, and take your business to some bank that has' money to lend to German sympathisers." The Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times states that the forty-sixth draft of reinforcements, to go into camp between September 10 and 14, comprises several hundred more men than are usually called up, and the question has naturally arisen whether it is wise to call up more married reservists than are actually needed. The point was put to the Minister of Defence, who replies that there is no fair way of selecting the men to remain at home, and most of them, having completed their arrangements to give up civilian life, would now be embarrassed by any postponement of mobilisation. In any case, if the casualties of the New Zealand forces at the front are heavy during the remainder of the fighting season, the men will all bo required, and the camps are becoming empty. So there is to be no postponement of the mobilisation of the Class B men called up for next reinforcements. They can, however, look forward to a brief respite from military duties during the Christmas holidays.

Several months ago (says the Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times) batches of the Main Body men were permitted to return to New Zealand on furlough in cases where it was demonstrated that they had family obligations necessitating their presence in New Zealand. When the demand for reinforcements increased this leave was stopped. It has now been resumed, and a limited number of men with over three years' service are to be given leave from the front where circumstances indicate hardship. The extent of this privilege -largely will depend on the supply of shipping.

Authentic news has been received from Bagdad that the famous Oriental library collected there by the Carmelite Fathers has been burnt by the Turks. The Carmelite Fathers went to Bagdad in the seventeenth century. The library consisted of more than 20;COO volumes on subjects connected with Mesopotamia, consisting in the main of French and English, but also some Italian and German works, and including many rare books. The most important part of the collection was the 2753 Arab manuscripts, most of them unique, which Were bought in the course of last century at a cost of thousands of pounds. These were the works of Arabic scholars written between the seventh and eleventh centuries; most of them had not been printed, and no other copy of them exists. The Customs duty for the month of August ended on Saturday, collected in Dunedin, amounted to £37,127 9s lOd, and the beer duty to £5849 15s lid. For the same period last year the Customs duty was £37,297 3s 7d, and the beer duty £5579 Os 6d.

Tho vital statistics for Dunedin district for the month ending August 31 are as follow, the figures for the corresponding period last year being shown in parentheses: Births, 110 (142); deaths, 121 (89); marriages, 30 (35). The number of deaths registered is exceedingly large, and is the highest recorded in Dunedin.

The Otago Co-operative Fruit Company has now decided not to enforce its previous decision to charge for fruit cases. The coming season's fruit will therefore be sold Under tho conditions previously existing. A new Joan of Arc, living in a district near Paris, is mentioned by an honorary Y.M.C.A. worker now in France in a letter to her mother, an Auckland .resident. "She has," says the writer, ''wonderful visions of France attaining victory after much suffering, but not until she puts the Holy Cross again on all her banners, and the name of God into all her Parliamfatitary documents. Heaps of French people believe in her. She does not go to the army, but her visions are greatly believed in by the soldiers."

In his despatch relative to the participation of tho New Zealanders in the general British attack eastward of Hebuteme and Gommocourt on August 21, Mr Gordon Gilmour, representing the Australian Press Association, mentions that after reaching

the final line of their objective on that day the New Zealand troops discovered Gei*man machine-gunners in the vicinity, and an officer from Nelson led a party of 30, which" worked round a post, and took prisoner a young German, whom they sent in to the post for the purpose of bringing out the others. The youngster emerged stealthily and fired, killing a New Zealander. This was the first casualty in this party, who immediately rushed, capturing the post and garrison. Two comrades of the dead New Zealander tossed up whether they should shoot the German lad for his treachery. The spin went in the German's favour. The lad was sent back with the other prisoners. Speaking at a. farewell to troops at Sydney recently, the Governor-General, Sir. Ronald Munro Ferguson, turned to some New Zealand ers who were present. "I am," he said, "especially glad to wish God-speed to a gallant detachment of New Zealanders, whose conduct in every military distinct in Australia has been admirable throughout. In Perth, as in Sydney, the men of your country have been received as friends and brothers. But ties have been drawn more closely together in the hour of common danger. You have sent your men regularly as required, and New Zealand's examplb is one which any country may be proud to follow. I wish you good fortune, great glory, and a safe return."

Mr Arthur Rickard, president of the Sydney Millions Club, has secured first-hand evidence about the brutality of the Germans to the Armenian doctors. An ex-member of the club has forwarded to the president a photograph showing five doctors hanging by the neck with their .feet about 4ft from the ground. Beside them are half a dozen officers, apparently enjoying the sight. The doctors were not hanged in the ordinary sense of the word —they were strangled. The rope was attached to their necks, and they were held off the ground and allowed to die in agony. The original of this film was found .in the camera of a captured German officer. The film was developed and sent to Australia. Mr Rickard is presenting the print to the War Museum.

French surgical science pursues its distinguished way though the heavens fall — and this particular manifestation of it perhaps is active just' because the heavens have been falling these four years past (writes the London correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald). It is concerned with the 'administration of chloroform; and Heaven knows the French surgeons have had work enough to do in that regard. One of them, Dr Guisez, has found time, however, to extend the possibilities of chloroform by his study of its application to cases —such, for instance, as those demanding operations in the head and neck—hitherto believed to be unsuited to its use by reason of the attendant risks. The gist of Dr Guiscz's discovery is a new method of administering- the anaesthetic. Instead of using the customary compress, or mask, through which the patient inhales the fumes, he applies the chloroform direct to the lungs by means of a tube. Some hundreds of cases have been so treated by him—many of them cases which would be regarded as endangered by the use of chloroform —with completely satisfactory results, and it is believed in Paris that the* new method is a distinctly important advance upon the old. A secondary result from it is the entire absence of the chloroform sickness which almost invariably ha 3 accompanied its use. In none of his cases has Dr Guiesez observed this nausea, from which fact ho concludes that it arises from the absorption by the stomach of some of the fumes of the drug when it is administered through the mouth.

It is interesting to note (says the Taranaki Herald) that tho Thrasher, a barquentine which recently arrived in New Plymouth with benzine and lumber from tho United States, is loading a full cargo of hemp and pelts at that_ port. In the past the American sailers which have gone there have usually left in ballast. Still more interesting is the fact that none of the 700 tons (or thereabouts) of hemp and pelts which is to be taken to San Francisco is local produce; it is all coming from Wellington and Wanganui, for shipment at New Plymouth.

A six-roomed .bouse at Taierl Mouth, owned and occupied bv Mr Thomas M'Cutcheon (formerly of North-East Valley) was totallv destroyed by fire last week (says the Bruce Herald) At the time of the outbreak Mrs M'Cutcheon was working in the garden. She rushed into tho house, but had to make a hurried exit, as the flames had too good a hold. Nothing was saved, and doubts are entertained by Mr M'Gutcheon whether tho insurance policy on the house and furniture had lapsed. The outbreak is supposed to be due to a defective ohimney.