PASSING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3396, 16 April 1919, Page 3

PASSING NOTES.

(From Saturday's Daily Tub«s.)

Frenzied sentimentalism may or may not have carried the day; New Zealand may or may not be about to becomfe a spectacle for men and angels; there are soldiers' votes to come and the issue is a toss-up. Either way the sober part of the community, sure of itself and of its ultimate fortunes, with equanimity will wait and see. Meanwhile there is an immediate deliverance from the Plagues of Egypt—prohibition stump oratory, prohibition advertisements, prohibition letters to the editor. For this relief much thanks. Other prospective phenomena are less pleasing. On the chances, every toper will now get busy, and the annual crop of convicted drunks (tabulated by Mr A. S. Adams) will hurry up to get convicted before July I—their1 —their last opportunity. On the chances, the liquor sellers will be fingering in imagination their windfall millions, and Treasury officials in Wellington will be plotting new taxes. On the chances, the rich man -will lay down a "cellar" good enough to last him till the next turn of the Avheel, which—near or far, soon or late—is bound to come. What on the chances the notrich man is to do I am unable to say. Prohibition knows nothing of even-handed justice,—it is one thing to the rich, another thing to the poor. "Grin and bear it" is the motto for the not-rich. Or a hint may be taken from an old Wellington story. Sailing out from "Port Nick" in the early time was a whaler called Toms—George Toms, after whom is named the fatal Toms Rock off Terawhiti. Rum was a beverage in those days, and Toms got his rum by the cask. A Wellington merchant asked him how he managed to make a cask of rum go so far. "Why," said Toms, "when I takes out a glass of rum I puts in a glass of water; when it gets too strong of water I pul»J in turpa, and when it gets too strong of turps I puts in Milestone." Awaiting the Verdict. (A Committee-room interior. Enter. in quest of a pick-mo-up. Frenzied Sentimentalists oft duty—fagged out, but trying to bo. hopoful. There are

bottles and glasses; also a nymph, is pouring tea.) "Ha!—the cup that cheers but not inebriates I" s—says 5 —says one. " Weak, please, quite weak." -* " Milk and water for me," says another; —"I take nothing stronger." "And for me plain water," says a third in tones severe; —"just plain water." f

"Hop beer's' mine," says the next, greatly daring. And the next, going one better, calls out: —"A bottle of your very strongest ginger ale." Here a piping voice lifts us —" O let us be joyful. ..." But the ginger ale man, waving his glass 'in the air, breaks in—"We won't go home till morning, We won't go home ... ." " Excuse me," interposes a Com-mittee-woman, stepping forward, —she is of a firm countenance, with a W.C.T.U. look about her, —" Excuse me, but you will come home at once, —at once, understand. This conduct is* unseemly. Get your hat, sir I" "Ob—no I"—pleads the reveller, abashed;—-"lots of time, my dear; no harm done; must celebrate, you know; have one yoiirself. Here, please"—to th 9 attendant sprite—"another bottle of ginger ale." "Archibald! —certainly not! Ale of no sort or kind shall cross my lips;— and well you know it." (Subsides with an indignant gasp.) Presently coming rour.d a bit, the lady says that if she does take anything it will be a little raspberry vinegar. "Right you are!" exclaims the husband, relieved; —"raspberry vinegar it is, and we'll have the time of our lives. Hand it along ! Pass the rosy !" (Left drinking.) ;

Dreaming of victory, the flush of hope on his brow, Mr A. S. Adams this week should have been in .a heavenly mind. Instead of which he runs amok and insinuates against "Civis" a "literary forgery." As a matter of fact in this office we dp not practice forgery; offices there may be in which that branch of art is cultivated, but the Daily Times office is not among them. "Literary forgery," says he! But it isn't drink. It is moral overstrain in voting unnecessary millions as compensation to the liquor sellers. How often has he repudiated compensation as.a device of the devil!—how often has he denounced the liquor seller as an enemy of the human race! Plainly we must make allowances. -In Passing Notes of March 22 American experience of prohibition came * up, and I mentioned the particle "Liquor Laws" in the Ericycloptedia Britannica, 1911, where we learn that all the six New England States adopted prohibition; and that all except Maine gave it up " after a more or less prolonged trial" ; also that other States with the same experience—rtrial and abandonment —are Illinois. Indiana, Michigan, lowa, Nebraska, South Dakota; and I summed up the writer's testimony thus: American experience- "is an impressive warning against the folly of trying to coerce the personal habits of a largo section of the population against their will; —what suffers is the principle of law itself, which is brought into dis-

repute." These moralisings, general in scope, were true not only of the State of lowa, to which at the moment the ■writer was referring, but were true also of the other American States he had mentioned; they are true in New Zealand, as in due time we shall see; they are true everywhere. But the words "American experience" were mine, as the turned commas that follow them show. Observe those turned commas, look at them Avell, —for the passage is repeated in last Aveek's Notes and the turned commas are not there. Not of malice and wickedness are they absent, but by accident merely,—accident, and the innate crookedness of things. Absent they .are, anyhow, —and that is the for-■o-ery! To see it you will need Mr Weller's pair o' patent double million magnifyin' gas microscopes of hextra power." But, as already said, allowances must be made. It will be a long day before Mr Adams that he more

than most men has helped to enrich the liquor seller.

"We air a great people, and we must be cracked up" is no longer, as in Dickens's time, a pervading note of the Americans. And Dickens exaggerated. But the terms in which President Wilson is cracked up by American admirers approach the indecent. Mr Mark Sullivan, editor of " Collier's " ("More than a Million a Week") is at the Peace Congress, and cables his leading srticles from Paris to New York. This is the sort of thing he cables:

The causes of Wilson's popularity? . . . . The masses in Europe are simple and unread to a degree that has no analogy among our people at home. These European masses make no distinction between Wilson and America. To them WiLson is not only Wilson. Ho is also all of America. He is not only a man, but also a symbol. Wilson is the American eagle. Wilson is the American flag. Wilson is the American dollar. Wilson is the American hog (!!) For, be it known, without the ''the sorely needed fats of the American hog Europe must starve. And Wilson is the American hog. Moreover the European masses " look upon Wilson as a contrast with their own politicians," with whom " they are sick and tired," and " well they may be." " European politics are much more sordid than American politics ever was at its worst." Receiving this with difficulty, I am brought to a hopeless stand by the next:— Woodrow Wilson said he would have no dealings with the Pohenzollerns, and the Hohenzollcrns are no more. (Post hoc prgo propter!) Wikon could probably upset any government ii/ Europe to-day- There i 3 hardly k throne left in Europe bu* would crumble to dust in a day at a single kick from. Wilson's boot. I- said that Dickens exaggerated. But v. r e are safe when treading in the footsteps of Artemus Wa.rd: —The earth turns round on her own axle-tree wonst in 24 hours, —subject to the Constitooshun of the United States.

Writing from Wellington an " Ex-Dun-edinite" (ugly word) is angry with the Rev. V. G. B. King for telling the Influenza Commission that "in the present generation (of " Dunedinites") there are very few housewives," that these few are of nursing the sick "very ignorant," and that "as to fresh air, they hate and abhor it." Says the Wellington objector: " I was brought up in Dunedin under the fresh-air and open-window treatment; can it be that you have all backslidden into slovenly ways?" If Ave have backslided it is in sending our girls into factories and shops instead of into sculleries and kitchens ; it is in making them clerks and typists instead of cooks and housemaids. There are five-and-twenty ways of spoiling a potato, all of them easy ; there are as many ways, equally facile, of misfeeding a baby, and your factory-trained young mother will find every one of them. The time cannot be distant when the " general house servant" will be as scarce as the moa. We shall come back to the simple life. The husband, beginning the day, will make the fires, boil the porridge, set the table, clear away. Ending the day, his worldly tasks elsewhere accomplished, he will wash up dishes. Of this subject a New York editor treats discerningly: After a long day at the office it is delightful to steep one's hands in hot dishwater (which ucts as an excellent febrifuge for the brain and a tonio for weariness of the body) and pass through the purifying and homely gestures of ablution and wiping. These simple tasks of the hand always induce a pleasant and domestic train of thought. We know one poet, and not such a bad poet who _ always says ho can write his best lyrics just after a bout with the evening dishes. And no manicurist oyer gives so pink and charming a glow to the hands as a half-hour session with the dishpan.

If any husband should ever protest against being asked to wash the dishes, let the wife refer him to 2 Kings, xxi, 13. Whoever will may turn up the passage for himself. For all readers of this column the advice is good which vainly, times and oft, I have pressed upon the prohibitionists—Search th'e Scriptures.

The Returned Soldiers' Association enters a " strong protest against the extravagant amount proposed to be spent by the City Council in decorations for Peace Day." I beg leave to associate myself with the Returned Soldiers' Association. I should do so were there no returning soldiers to be repatriated; —were there no miles of tramway posts needlessly obstructing the centre of our main thoroughfares and crying out to bo removed ; were our streets and ways perfection .and nothing of urgency required ; —were there no City Council advertisement promising a rise in rates; —I should still think the expenditure of £7OOO on peac<3 decorations extravagant. Give the people the streets with leave and license, bands and banners, they will not fail to amuse themselves,

and would be no happier wore the Town Hall draped with silk from tower to pavement. Children's playgrounds are another Quixotic just now. Ours is an openair town, the sea on two sides, the forest primeval on the others; of public gardens and play spaces we have half a dozen and more; above all we have the league-long beach, with the sands and the surf and the breezes of the ocean. What can ba more to the mind of a child than the open, beach? Yet precisely alongside the beach, hidden in the sand dunes, we propose to construct an artificial playground. 0n« would suppose that we didn't know .what to do with our money.

" A Loose Use of English " which a correspondent of the Westminster Gazette informs the editor he " can no longer endure" is in such expressions as "the country is only too eager to give rewards to Sir Douglas Haig." This expression was the editor's own, but he took the rebuke meekly and printed the letter. ~ The correspondent continues—rubbing it in

—" Do you really mean that we enn Iw too anxious to reward Sir Douglas HaigT I groan under this misuse almost daily by people who say that the'v will ' be only too pleased ' to do something or other.

There is a correct use, he adds; e.g.— " The £zar was only too ready to listen to the evil advice of Metternich." And, "as a second example I venture to say that you, Sir, are only too ready to perpetrate this ■ vulgarism.'•' If the editor thought of a reply, he doesn't mention it. We seem to have developed a new positive, comparative, and superlative—l am pleased. I am very pleased, I am only too pleased,—and the last on analysis is unintelligible. Newspaper men write hurriedly, but usually make themselves understood ; they have a sufficient command' of emphasis, and they seldom waste words. These merits are a set-off against»their failure to satisfy the precisionists. Andrew Lang, after reading that terrible book " The King's English" by, the brothers Fpwler, said that he felt afraid to put pen to paper.

Authors wanted: Dear "Civis," —A couplet lives in my memory from a course of lessons on, PoetryPride goeth forth on hcreeback grand and gay, But cometh back on foot, and begs its way. Perhaps you can tell mo what these lines are from and more about them. Another inquiry relates to the lines: Despair is never all despair, The blackest wave hath white foam near it; And darkest night hath ever there Some solitary star to cheer it. My omniscience is at fault. 'Possibly some reader of this column may be able to help. Crvis.

A small draft of men who returned to New Zealand with the Maori draft on the Westmoreland reached Dunedin by the express on the 2nd. There were only soma eight men for D';ajedni, and these were conAs the result of a pniblio meeting in Roxburgh a few days ago to consider tha question of a cottage hospital for the district, a committee consisting of Messrs J. H. Waigth, jun., R. George. R. Kmaston, A. H. Tamblyn, T. P. Michelle, J. A. Roggiero, and Dr Gilmour was set up to collect information and submit it to another meeting at an early date.

A Press Association message from Wellington states that the Minister of Defenca has been advised that the 1914 and 1915 classes of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force are nearly cleared from England, and tho 1916 men are being evacuated now. The Minister states that no definite information can be given at present regarding the departure of later classes, the shipping accommodation being uncertain.

The boarding-houses at Port Molyneux are reported to be fully booked up for the accommodation of visitors during the Easter holidays.

In referring to the subject of pensions, Dr Harrison (president of the Returned Soldiers' Association) stated last night that a case had come under his notice of a man. who had been invalided home suffering from the effects of gas. He was discharged from the sanatorium, and at present was lying in a ve.ry advanced state of consumption. After his discharge from the sanatorium he attempted to work for a few days, but found that this was impossible. The military authorities found this out, and subsequently reduced his pension. ' Those war brides who arrived in Auckland in the Athenio received a warm welcome from the citizens there. There were 12 babies for the northern port, ranging from a few weeks to a year old. A number of the women spoke gratefully of the welcome New Zealand had given them. " Wa had heard all kinds of rumours," said ono,

"and 111 admit some of us were a bit un- I easy when we were told you would throw ! •ggs at us, but our reoeption at Wellington • jraa so kind wo didn't worry about Auok- i land." The girls, who had come mostly

from the counties adjacent to "the big New Zealand camps, regarded the seven weeks' voyage as a wonderful experience. SomG of them had nover 'been on the water before, while others had been on Thamea boats

only. One of the girls, who had been a munition worker at a great factory in Birmingham, gave a few brief details of her work, which consisted of gauging the copper bands for the 18in shells. There were 23,000 workers at this particular factory. "It was heavy work, almost too much for women," aho said, "but wc just went and did it, because there were not enough men. I made about £2 10s a week, but some of the girls, who did heavier work,' made as much as £5 or £6 a week. The employer's were very good to us, and did all they could to help make tho work more pleasant. Wo had rest-rooms, and our own dining-rooms, and then there 'were plenty of kind people who saw that we had proper living-places and amusement, so it was not bad, although I for one was not sorry to leave." At a meeting of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Association last weeie the matter of the amount proposed to be spent by tho Oity Corporation on peace celebrations waa discussed, and it was decided that a strong protest be entered against the extravagant amount proposed to be spent on the decorations, and that a copy of the protest be forwarded to tho town clerk, the chairmen of tho various committees, and to the mayoral candidates. The correct method of oelebrating Anzac Day was briefly discussed at the meeting of the Otago Education Board on the Bth, The chairman (Mr J. Wallace) said that it was not a day of pleasure, and he did ; -not approve of the children being given a whole holiday. He thought that they might be given special lectures in history and civics, and similar subjects, on that day. It was decided to issue a circular to teachers containing a recommendation to this effect. A half-holiday will probably be given. Two pupils of the Christian Brothers' School who won Senior National Scholarships applied to have their scholarships tenable at tho Christian Brothers' School. The application came, before the meeting of the Otago Education Board on tho Bth. when it was stated that the Minister of Education had declined the requests on the ground that, from the reports received regarding tho school mentioned, it could not be recognised as the equivalent of a secondary school for the purposes of these scholarships.

A report from Dr Colquhoun, strongly recommending open-air schools, was brought before tho notice of the Otago Education Board la3t week, and after discussion it was decided to get a report on the subject from the architect and the senior inspector. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that the Minister of Public Health intimates that there are to be large extensions at the Motuihi and Somes Island quarantino stations. It is probable that 250 additional beds will be provided at both places in the immediate future. An arduous day's work was performed on the 9th by the members of the Otago Land Board, who sat from 10 o'clock in tho morning until praotioally the same hour at night. A considerable portion of the time was devoted to the consideration of applications by discharged soldiers for advances to purchase city and rural properties, stock, and implements. Ths board gave close individual attention to each case, and after interviewing most of the men personally it was able to grant the great majority of the applications. Towards the close of tho meeting Mr James Smith mentioned that most of the men who had been settled on Gladbrook runs were doing very well, and some of them had excellent crops.

Our London correspondent states that the Elementary Education Sub-committee of the London County Council has given permission for a number of teachers serving ; n tho N.Z.E.F. to observe the teaching methods in a number of London elementary schools and assist as supernumerary teachers. They are to be billeted by the N.Z.E.F. and will remain in the army and be paid at army rates, consequently thero will bo no cost to the council. One teacher will be allocated to each school selected, and the teacher will not work in any school more than one month.

A Press Association message from Wellington states that the Hon. Mr Wilford will receive all the returns in connection with tho licensing poll, and the first official announcement made by him will be through the Gazette. Tho Government has decided that the district results may be made publio as soon as they go to the chief returning officer, but even with the last district result known tho issue will bo in doubt unless one side or the other has a majority of 45,000. The approximate size of the soldiers' votes recorded in the United Kingdom, Franco, and Egypt will be cabled, but the wireless will not be used, and thus the final result of tho poll cannot bo announced till after the arrival of tho last troopship sailing from England before April 10. Thus it will be fairly late in May

before an announcement will be made. No soldiers votes will be announced till the Gazette is issued. A sensation was caused in the Bulls district on the Bth (says our Wanganui corrcfpondent) when it became known that a German mine had been washed up on the Rnr.'gitikei beach. The discovery was reported to the police, who immediately got into touch with the authorities at Weill/, gton, and four men were sent to Bulls. The experts found that the mine was in good going- order, so they decided to place it out of action. This was done yesterday morning by a charge of d3'namite and a length of fuse. The report was heard for miles around, and at Bulls, 12 miles distant, tho windows in the houses and shops were considerably rattled. As an evidence of tho destructive forces concentrated in tho casing it may be seated that the mine tore a hole in the beach 27ft in circumference and 10ft deep. The mine carried the number 1818.

Mi- T. R. Fleming (Chief Inspector of the ■Otago Education Board) reported to the board last week that he had been finding schools in which no measures had been taken for disinfection, and ho had warned the teachers that they would have to watch for a possible recurrence of the epidemic. Some schools in the country had not been carrying out the recommendations of the board in the matter. In view of this report the board decided to issue a further circular to chairmen of school committees and head masters, stating that if the board heard of any further schools not being disinfected it would be necessary to report the cases to the Health Department for action. An interesting photograph, of a memorial to Nurse Cavell has been received by a Wellington resident from his son, now in Germany. This memorial was erected in Brussels on November 22, 11 days after the German evacuation of the town. It is a splendid piece of work, consisting of a massive block crowned by a figure of Nurse Cavell; and a group, showing the help given by the Red Cross to civilians. The wording on the block is unusual in its simplicity: "To Miss Edith Cavell, ' Hommage a Angleterre,' 22nd November, 1918." Very important regulations are gazetted to give effect to some part of the new policy of the Government in forestry. The regulations are as follow: 1. It shall not bo lawful for any person to sell any timber standing on any publio or private lands of any tenure, or to grant a license to cut any timber standing on such land, except pursuant to a license issued in that behalf by the Governor-general-in-council. 2. Any license issued by the Governor-general-in-Council under these regulations may' bo in like manner revoked. 3. Every person who sells any standing timber, or who grants a license to cut any standing timber, contrary to the provisions of these regulations, commits an offence against these regulations, and shall be liable for each offence to a fine of £SO. "If the law had enforced that every woman learned to cook a wholesome meal, and thero was a place where a real good cup of coffee could be had at any time, there would be no need for prohibition," was the endorsement on one of the ballot papers deposited at the High. Street School on Thursday. Of course, the result of this suggestion that the law should be put in motion in other directions than settling the question whether the trader or the prohibitionist should prevail, disqualified the voter —presumably a. male —from expressing his mind one way or the other on the momentous question of liquor or no liquor. A Press Association message from Hokitika states that the weather was fine for the polling on Thursday. Owing to a heavy storm in South Westland the deputy returning officer was unable to get through to Okuru on Thursday, the mountain track being blocked by trees and slips. He made a further attempt in the afternoon, and expected to get through during the night. The voting at Okuru was to take place on Friday.

"Curiosity is exercising more than the minds of railway officers regarding the salary attached to the position of Mr M'Villy as General Manager," writes the Wellington correspondent of the Railway Officers' Advocate. "The announcement of the appointment went no further, and the amount of the remuneration still remains unknown. So far all our logical arguments end in favour of the same salary as paid to Mr Hiley. The alleged high remuneration paid the exGeneral Manager has occasionally been ridiculed; but if we make comparisons of the salaries attachable to commercial positions and compare the responsibilities and the capital involved, the amount does not exceed tho value of the position. Comparatively tho. wages bill of the Railway Service

is low generally when placed alongside other Stale institutions. The salaries paid to the Civil Service Commissioners (practically a Staff Control Board) exceeded tho salary of the Railway Manager, who, in addition to managing tho service, controls a larger staff than the whole of tho other State departments. It may bo attributed that Mr Hiley's salary was the worth of introducing new and economical management ideas, but. little lias eventuated, through unforseen circumstances. This reveals tho fact that Mr M'Villy's task is not an easy one for the' policy dormant for the past five years has firstly to be reset, and then comes the task of management. However wo view the position, we cannot see that Mr M'Villy's position is less arduour or less responsible tha.ii his predecessor's J if anything our perspective leads us to think the reverse."

A Press Association message from Wellington states that it "is Sir Janies,. Allen's intention to cable immediately for information as to what the British Government intends doing in the matter of marking with headstones the graves of soldiers who fell on foreign soil. As soon as the way is clear for going on with the New Zealand scheme of marking graves with stones of a uniform pattern, a committee will be called together to select a design for tho stone.

Advico has been received by the local Defence Office as follows in regard to tho arrival of troopships in New Zealand: —■ Tainui, with returning draft 238, comprising 505 troops, due in Wellington on April 28; Willcchra, with draft 232, due in Wellington on April 14; Kaikoura, with draft 230, now due in Wellington (troops will disembark on Thursday, April 17) ; Kia Ora, with draft 243, comprising about 1000 troops, due to arrive about May 8, Lyttelton being probably the first port of call; Northumberland, with draft. 243, comprising 13C0 troops, duo to arrive about May 9, Wellington being probably the first port of call.

The Lake Wakatip Mail states that the Glenorchy Scheclit© Mining- Company received a notice from the Department of Imperial Government Supplies on April 2 that the Ministry had decided to cancel the contracts for echeelite from all parts of the Empire, and to accept only that shipped up to the end of the month; but as it desired to deal fairly with producers it promised that full consideration would bo given statement if any losses were sustained by them through the cancellation. Subsequently, the Mail reports, intimation was received that the Government had extended for one month the time laid down for the accepting of scheelite shipped The misfortunes of a soldier who leased his farm to a Dalmatian, subsequently interned, -were mentioned to Sir James Allen on Saturday by the returned soldiers' deputation at Auckland. The rent the soldier had received from the Dalmatian was £l6O a year. After the man's internment, it was explained, the Public Trustee took charge of the property and leased it for £6O for grazing. The soldier returned to find his farm gone to ruin. Further, all his allotment money had gone to pay interest, and a year's interest was still owing. The net result of the soldier's service was thus ruination. It was added that the National Efficiency Board had offered to run the farm for the soldier, but the Public Trust Office had refused to allow it to do so. The Minister said that in such a case the Efficiency Board should have had charge. It had successfully carried on many soldiers' farms. He promised to investigate the case. In the Magistrate's Court at Masterton, a few days ago, Reginald Joseph Devonshire, formerly teller of the Bank of Australasia, Masterton, was charged with stealing 1 moneys of the bank aggregating £3OO. The thefts were alleged to have extended over a period of two years. The method alleged by the prosecution to have been adopted by accused Was to give a slip to a customer who paid in money to tho bank, and to fail to keep a counterpart of the slip for ledger purposes, subsequently appropriating to his own use the amount of the deposit. When the account of a customer became low, and cheques were presented, accused would pay in money to the credit of the account to prevent the cheques from being dishonoured. Another method alleged to have been adopted by accused was to suppress cheques from customers whose moneys he had appropriated. Accused was committed for trial.

The degradation from knighthood of' Sir Joseph Jonas, the Sheffield steel manufacturer, is the second since the war, the other being the downfall of Roger Casement, but one would have to do some searching to find many parallel cases (says a writer to Tit Bits). Even in mediaeval days the punishment was rare; it was the severest inflicted by the Court of Chivalry. Among the few I can find was one in the fourteenth century, when Sir Andrew Harola, Earl of Carlisle, was degraded for treating with the Scots; in 1464 Sir Balph, Grey lost his spars, and in 1621 Sir Francis Mitchell suffered degradation. The proceedings were humiliating; the recreant knight had his sword belt cut so that the weapon fell, next his spurs were hacked off and thrown different ways, then the sword was broken and cast away, and lastly came a proclamation by a herald to the effect that the degraded knight should henceforth be reported as an "infamous, arrant knave." Immediately after this followed the final proceedings on the scaffold.

It is stated that since the New York Department of Watler Supply added a small amount of chlorine to the water not a single trace of typhoid fever has occurred which could be traced to the city water. A far more remarkable achievement in water purification however, is presented by the equipment devised by British chemists for the . use of the army in France. It was so per r feet that an equipment on a barge cc-uU pump foul water from a canal and deliver H in largo quantities purified for drinking purposes. In view of the New York success, ft is proposed that chlorinated water bb used for sprinkling the streets to prevent the spread of infection. This proposal ha*

been anticipated to some extent by the Poplar Borough Council, in the East End of London, which for many years, has provided, under the direction of the Medical Officer ' of Health, free supplies of such disinfectant produced by an electrical process. It is freely used for public baths.and wash-houses, for cleaning hospitals and other public institutions, for flushing drains, and for other sanitary purposes. Electricity is passed through a solution of certain salts, converting the liquid into an effective non-poison-ous disinfectant which can be stored unimpaired for long periods. " Jane's Fighting Ships, 1918," gives information about the many new and power- - ful vessels added to our navy during the war. H.M.S. Hood, over 3000 tons . displacement, with an estimated speed of more than 30 knots, despite her " blister" or torpedo-proof hull, oil-driven, and armed i with 15in guns, is the most formidable battle-cruiser afloat. The much-discussed hush cruisers, Courageous and Glorious, are said to have turned out well in service, despite their structural defects. Five of the new monitors of the Earl of Peterborough class, it is stated, were armed last autumn with 18in guns, mounted aft, for bombarding the Belgian coast. The new sloops and destroyers are very numerous. The latest flotilla-leaders displace over 1500 tons and carry live 4. Tin guns, while the ordinary destroyers of the Vand W class displace over 1200 tons and carry four 4in guns. A Z class was projected, if not under construction. The details of our new submarines are vague, but we are told that a sub-

marine monitor armed with a 12in gun was actually in service, and that we had 22 submarine cruisers of the K class, displacing 1700 tons on the surface, in service before

the enemy had begun to build one. H.M..S. Mackay. which had been specially designed to act as a flotilla leader, was recently launched at Cammel ■ Laird's shipbuilding yards at Birkenhead. It is ono of a class of -vessels comprising all the latest features of the last destroyer, with the added advantage of a cruiser. She has a speed of 40 miles an hour, carries five guns of heavy calibre, and engines of 40,000 horse-power. For a considerable time (says the Lyttelton Times) there has been great difficulty

in obtaining the services of senior nurses for administrative positions in the hospitals, and the North Canterbury Hospital Board was recommended by the Hospital Committee to communicate with other boards with a view to bringing pressure to bear upon the military authorities to release some of the nurses who had returned to New Zealand so that they might take up work in civilian hospitals. Mr S. Andrew said it was regrettable that city offices were filled with young women, while higher service in the cause of humanity did not attract them. There were hundreds of soldiers out of work, yet banks had hundreds of girb working for them. There had been much talk of reinstating men when the war was over, but it was not being done. He thought that the banks should discharge some of thoir girl clerks. Mr R. Evans said that the Bank of New Zealand had done nobly in taking back all its employees who had gone to the war. No employer had declined to take meii back. "Except the Hospital Board," said Mr Walter. Mr Evans said that it was diffioult to place men in employment on their return, and the difficulty should not be accentuated. The report was adopted*

The publication Chronicles of the N.Z.E.F., one of the ablest and most successful of the journals devoted to the amusement of the troops at the front, is no longer issued in England. The editor himself, i •Trooper Clutha Mackenzie, who has entirely lost his eyesight in tho war, is (says The Times) an example of how an indomitable spirit can triumph over the severest physical penalties of a soldier's lot. He makes very little of the suffering that he has undergone, I and announces cheerily that Okronicles of the N.Z.E.F. is *to bo continued in New

Zealand, "when no stone is to be left unturned towards making it a paper worthy of a foundation on the old division." Meanwhile, he has hearty thanks to offer to all who have helped the work —to the men themselves for their " generous a:id ready help"; to the "sisters who have shared with us the actual clangers of war j on land and sea'-'; and to " the grand j peoples of the countries which wo have ; been in, particularly England, Scotland, and I Ireland, who have been so good to us that ■what little we oan write here falls far short ■ of expressing our thanks." He adds the ; ■uggestion of a permanent memorial to the association on many fields of the Australian »nd New Zealand troops. "In war we have

been friends. Nationally, in the stormy world of politics to come, we must be companions too. Upon that depends our safety, and never must our path divide."

Arrangements havo been made by the grocers in Dunedin to close their shops on Thursday evening, and to keep them closed during the Easter holidays, reopening on Tuesday, April 22. On Anzac Day the returned soldiers will parade in uniform on the Oval at 2 p.m. The Mayor is arranging for the Oval to bo closed to the general public from about 1.50 p.m. till the time the parade moves off. The route march will be via High, Princes, and George streets, and along Hanover street past the Hospital, up Frederick street, and by George and Princes streets again to the Oval, where a suitable area will be roped off. A short ceremonial service of about 30 minutes will be held. The arrangement of this service is in the hands of the Mayor. At last year's. Anzao Day parade there were over 1000 soldiers present, but, with the large number now back, this year's parade should be very much greater. In the evening Major F. Waite, D. 5.0., will give a lecture on Gallipoli, the proceeds to be in aid of the fund for the new Soldiers' Club.

" A road of peace," in the form of a grand national highway as a monument to the soldiers who have fought in the great war, is the dream of Mr S. Hurst Seager, honorary organiser for the Town Planning Exhibition shortly to be held in Wellington. ' "Heaven forbid," said Mr Seager, "that we should repeat the fearful memorials of the Boer war, but let us rather enter upon a scheme which would prove permanently useful and permanently beautiful." The speaker went on to paint in the details of his general scheme in the rosy colours of enthusiasm, suggesting that such a highway as he advocated should be lined with trees and should have appropriate, but plain and inexpensive, monuments erected at intervals along its course. Mr Seager also outlined a plan for the building of garden cities for returned soldiers on this highway, and stated that the best brains in the country ought to be devoted to the elaboration and execution of the whole scheme.

An opportunity for old comrades to foregather will be afforded to returned soldiers on tho evening of April 24, when a reunion is to be held in the Brydone Hall. It will take the form of a smoke concert. The take the form of a smoke concert.

The construction of concrete roads was warmly advocated by Mr S. Hurst Seager in his address at Burns Hall last week on the subject of town planning. Adapting a rather novel form of argument he stated that if concrete roads were constructed throughout this country an annual, saving of £632,000 would be effected in the cost of haulage by reason of tho low resistance of the surface.

During the taking of the licensing poll in a country school in Central Otago it was discovered that the temperance wall sheet provided by the Education Board had been rolled up and put away, somewhat torn. The scrutineer for "tho trade" assisted the New Zealand Alliance scrutineer in repairing it and affixing ifc to the school wall again. As the sheet asserts inter alia that " beer, wine, and spirits contain a dangerous substance called alcohol which is harmful to the body," that it " lowers the powers of the body to resist disease," and that " many crimes' are caused through drink," it will hardly be suggested that the liquor representative was a hardened bigot.

A Press Association telegram from Gisborne states that at the recent Maori hui the donations received on behalf of the Maori Soldiers' Funds from various tribes totalled £29,000. Notification has been received by tho local Defence office of two further drafts of returning men, who are due in New Zealand early next month. Tho first of these is draft 242, comprising 980 troops, who are returning to the dominion on board the Kia Ora, which is due 'at Lyttelton about May 8. The second is draft 243, and it comprises 1274 troops, who are clue to reach Wellington on board tho Northumberland about May 9. The Arawa (draft 244), due about May 13, probably at Lyttelton, Is bringing 56 officers, 6 nurses, 526 other ranks, 95 women, arid 33 children.

As it is anticipated that there may be some considerable difficulty in obtaining meals and refreshments in Ehmedin on the three Peaco days a number of ladies connected with the Otago Early Settlers' Association axe arranging to run a tea room in

the Early Settlers' Hall on these days, -.vhen tea, biscuits, and cheese will bo provided at a moderate price. There will be a cloak room with experienced ladies in charge, where cloaks, coats, and parcels may bo left for a small charge. There will also be a canteen for the supply of lemonade and other soft drinks. It is believed that this will fill a much-felt want and be a great convenience to the many visitors from the country who are certain to 'be in Dunedin at this time.

The Natives of Puketeraki, acting with those at Ofcakou and Henley, have unanimously decided to take part in the peace oelebrations to 'bo held in Dunedin on the Monday of Peace Week. We have received from Messrs Donald Reid and Co. (Ltd.) a cheque for £43 6s 3d, the proceeds of five Romney rams, presented by Mr W. A. Baxter, of Kelso, to Dr Barnardo's Homes Fund. The local Defence Office has received advice that the troopship Rimutaka with returning draft 248, comprising 21 officers, 7 nurses, and 684 other ranks is due to arrivo in New Zealand about May 17, Wellington being probably the first port of call.

At a recent meeting of farmers, held at Owaka, it was decided to form a branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, About 30 farmers agreed to join, and it is anticipated that a strong branch will bo formed.

'At a meeting of the District Repatriation Board, held on Friday, 13 business loans, amounting to £2205, were dealt with, loans amounting, to £945 being approved, £750 declined, and £5lO held over. Assistance was granted to five apprentices in trades, and seven soldiers unable to follow pre-war occupations were placed' in new trades and granted subsidies. Twenty-four applications to purchase furniture were considered and approved of, and five applications were declined. Assistance was granted to 32 students, and seven applications were declined.

Two horses, with harness on, bolted up George street and through the Octagon shortly before 1 p.m. on Saturday. On reaching the south end of the Octagon they were turned down Stuart street, and were eventually secured. During their career along George street ..two persons were knocked down. Mr F. Stuart, a clerk, residing at 382 Castle street, was struck by the animals and injured. Ho was admitted to the Hospital suffering from a cut on the head. Miss F. Bunting, the lady clerk employed in the office of the Hospital, was crossing George street at the time, and before she could get clear she was knocked down and trampled on. She was admitted to the Hospital suffering from shock and bruises on her body and legs. Fortunatoly Miss Bunting was not seriously hurt, and she was later removed to her homo at Wakari.

The Clydesdale branch of the Farmers' Union has written to the Provincial Executive drawing its attention to tho proposed union of thrashing mill workers, and asking the executive to secure tho co-opera-tion of the Southland executive in making a united protest against the proposed award in its present form.

The following resolution was passed at a meeting of the O'tago branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, held on Saturday afternoon: —"That this meeting of the Otago branch of tho Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, in reviewing the proposed schedule of wages, considers it totally inadequate in view of the fact that the sovereign possesses but three-fifths of its former purchasing power, and that we strongly adhero to the proposals submitted by our executive. Again, if the present bonus is converted into wages, tho deduction due to superannuation will mean a reduction in our monthly wage. Hence we urge that a special conference bo arranged to deal with this important matter."

' Mrs J. B. Hine, of Toko, Taranaki, has Received a cablegram from Major J. B. Hino, M.P., who is now in Egypt, as far as is known in tho neighbourhood of Suez, stating: "Demobilisation suspended owing to Egyptian unrest." Major Hine' was expected-'to return by one of the early troopships. I A German-owned business for extracting lanoline jf>r wool grease from wool taken over by the U.S.A. Government at the outbreak of war is remarkable for its suggestivenesa to New Zealanders who are on the look-out for post-war enterprises. Tho business referred to was evidently carried on very extensively, as tho plant included a "battery" of 44 Sharpies wool-grease

separators, and an inspection indicated that they were all kept fully employed. The commercial possibilities of wool grease have not so far as we know been seriously taken into consideration in New Zealand, and it is believed that to those capable of dealing with this valuable by-product there is a ready field waiting to be utilised.