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Otago Witness, Issue 3398, 30 April 1919, Page 36

According to cable adviee, the Tofua left the United Kingdom on April 18 with troops for Lyttelton or Port Chalmers. She. will come out by the Panama route, and is. due to reach the dominion about May 30.

Mr E. H. Clark has been elected Mayor of Palmerstoh unopposed. The following have been elected councillors: —Messrs L. Barclay, R. Cameron, Hopkins, E. Lefevre, W. Pittaway, R. Riddle, W. Robertson, and Dir Howden. There is still one vacancy to bo filled. ! The miners at Green Island are still on strike, and there is no indication when the trouble between the owners and the men will be settled. It is reported that the single men are now beginning to look for work elsewhere.

The poll for the election of a Crown tenants' representative on the Otago Land Board resulted as follows : —George Livingstone 569, W. JS. Thomson 454. ' Miss Barth (local secretary of the Trinity College of Music, London) has received advice that two exhibitions have been awarded to the Dunedin centre for the last practical examination—May C. Brown (intermediate, pupil of Mr A. Vallis) and Laura F. Himmel (junior, pupil of Miss E. Yorston). The Woodside Auxiliary Hospital for Jaw Cases, situated at the corner of Cemetery road and Clyde street, was formally handed over to the Otago Hospital Board on Monday afternoon. Ihe chairman of the Board (Mr Knight), Mrs M'Farlane, Drs Newlands and Falconer, and Messrs Talboys and Jacobs went on a visit of inspection to the hospital. They were met by representatives oi the Otago Red Cross Society, those present being the Rev. Vincent. King, Mrs Ferguson, Mrs Fitchett, and Miss Rattray. MiKing met the chairman of the board at the door and formally handed the key of the hospital over to him. Mr Knight accepted the key on behalf of the board, and in a brief address thanked the donors, and expressed the hopo that the institution would bo a valuable adjunct to the city as a means of curing the disabilities of the soldiers who returned with facial injuries received in the war. Forty-six jaw cases, he said, were returning by the Tainui, and the hospital had" accommodation for 25 of these. He congratulated the society on the excellence of its work in equipping the hospital, and eulogised its efforts throughout the war in the interests of returned soldiers. According to a Press Association message the following notice has been issued to the newspapers by Colonel Gibbon, Chief Censor:—"The censorship of press cables in New Zealand will terminate, unless unforeseen circumstances arise, at midnight of April 30, 1919. The cessation of .Jhe censorship on press cables does' not in any manner imply that New Zealand War Regulations and other legislation in respect to the prohibition of the publication of certain matters become inoperative. I desire to take advantage of this opportunity to thank the press of New Zealand for the great assistance that has been given me as Chief Censor throughout the war. The loyal co-operation of all concerned has enabled a very difficult task to be accomplished with a minimum of friction and at a mimimum cost to the country." Interest is already being taken in the Winter Show of tho Otago A. and P. Society, which will be opened on June 3. Endeavours are being made to • have a display of working manufacturing ■ exhibits. The fruit section promises to be very good, as a number of entries have been promised in the orchardist and other classes. There will be a fine show of wool, and the livo stock section should induce keen competition. Applications for floor space have been coming in freely, amongst which are letters from firms that have not previously exhibited at the Otago Winter Show. The Otago and Southland members of the draft of soldiers which returned by the Bhamo reached Dunedin by the 5 p.m. express train on the 28th, and were accorded a hearty welcome. The local men were conveyed to their homes in motor cars provided by the Otago Motor Club and others. The men for southern stations were billeted for the night. The Arbitration Court has amended the iron, and brass moulders' award and the boilermakers' award. In the former case journeymen moulders' wages were fixed at Is per hour and machine moulders at Is 6£d, with a bonus of 2£d an hour. In the boilermakers' award the wages have been fixed at Is Tgd, with a bonus of 2^d. Tho suggestion regarding peace celebrations made by the Government and local authorities is that the proceedings should be spread over three days—the Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday alter the signing of preliminaries. A Press Association message from Wellington states that a deputation waited on the Acting Prime Minister yesterday suggesting that this arrangement should bo varied to give committees more time for preparations. It was suggested that the celebrations should commence on the second Sunday after the signing. Sir James Allen said the Government had circulated suggestions to tho local authorities as to celebrations, but had not issued directions, and it was open to any city or town to vary arrangements in any way thought desirable. He would bring tho matter before the Cabinet, but did not think the Cabinet would be willing to issue any directions. He was inclined to think that the question would be left for the individual decision of tho local bodies concerned. It was pointed out to the Minister that this would leave tho position very difficult, and it was suggested

that the Wellingon Committee should get into touch with the committees of other main centres, and replies from these might be a guide to the Government. Sir James Allen approved of this course, and a. telegram was despatched to the Mayors of other cities.

A Press Association message from Wellington states that shipping arrangements for the repatriation of German prisoners and internees are completed, and the men will be shipped from the dominion shortly.

A Press Association message from Wellington states that at a meeting of the Board of Agriculture on Monday a lengthy report from the Dunedin Crown Lands Ranger on the proposal of the Otago Farmers' Union that opossums might be liberated in. some of the forests of the great alpine range was carefully considered. It was finally agreed that this might prove a considerable source of revenue to the country (as black skins were said to be worth £1 each) if black or brown ones were introduced, and if every.care was taken to prevent their introduction .into districts where they might.become a menace to the fruit-growing industry. Our 'London correspondent states that during 1918, through the instrumentality of the New Zealand War Contingent Association, 407 officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the N.Z.E.F. were entertained by different hostesses in their houses, the visits averaging about a week's duration. This does not include introductions to other hospitality leagues or for a day's hospitality. By arrangement between the Wair Contingent Association and the Red Cross, the former body will provide games and amusements for hammock men returning to New Zealand, and the cot cases will be dealt with by the Red Cross.