PASSING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3413, 13 August 1919, Page 3

PASSING NOTES.

'—»'■■ - -■ (From Sattsxda-y'B Daily TiEStts.) Our two missing leaders—misleaders some people would call them —have come back to us from the Peace Congress in one and the same ship, but not in one and the same mind, unless it be the mind to quarrel. They landed together, were cheered and chivied together, were civicrecoptioned together, and together took a coast boat coming South ; —all this because they couldn't help it. Not from all or any of this may we infer mutual peace and amity. When, months and months ago, the two were about to leave us, Passing Notes kindly gave voice to the sentiments of Sir Joseph Ward: Hoy Massey, up and pack! The call is sounding clearly, "We two ar© for the road again Who fight each other, might and -main, ' And lovo so dearly I Yes go we must, and both; —but not Because we love so dearly! The reason is that neither can Consent to leave the other man Behind. That, merely. Cheer up, old wax--horse! You'll com© back Just " Massey,'W-nothing newer; a good democrat that's enough) Whilst I—with luck—come back Lord Bluff Of Awarua. At this stage, the return, Passing Notes must in fairness do similar suit and service to Mr Massey. Leaving Paris, Sir Joseph scored (though not yet Lord Bluff) by getting first, catching the Mauretania for the Atlantic passage, with prospect of the Niagara on this side. Mr Massey lingered to validate the Peace 1 Treaty by his signature and " family seal" for which instrument ; say the cables, he had hunted the Paris pawn shops. But hy favour of the Admiralty and a British destroyer at 40 knots he was shot on to the deck of the Mauretania, and into. the disgusted companionship of Sir Joseph Ward, with a "Hoop-la!—Here Ave are again!". * Once more upon tho brino, dear Joe, Inseparables, wo! Scowling with mutual spito to think Of gay Par-ee. So many snubs ware yours, dear Joe j Such kudos oame to mo! Mine all tho ha'pence, yours the kicks, In gay Par-ee.

You thought to steal a march, - dear Joe; — "Homo first"—says you —"I'll be; With luck, reverse the parts we played In gay Par-ee." But friendship sticketh close, dear Joe; And close, by land or sea, Still sticks your friend the enemy, as In gay Par-ee. Henceforth our scrimmaging, dear Joe, Be furious, fast, and free I Edged by the added hate we bring From gay par-ee

Mr Bonar Law states that the Allies will adhere to their decision to try the ex-Kaiser in London.—London, Aug. 6. Not every one -who desires to see the Kaiser receive the due reward of .-his deeds will rejoice in this declaration. A trial supposes the possibility of an acquittal;— it is so in every trial j it is so in the nature of the case. Imagine the Kaiser found " Not guilty." We know of course that he is guilty; but when you go to court you jeopardise the strongest _case • especially so if it be an international court With no precedent to guide it, no law book, no nothing but cobwebs spun out of its own bowels. Supposing the Kaiser acquitted, what happens? Will he walk out of court after shaking hands with the judges? Will he be free of the London streets ? Will he call upon his relatives at Buckingham Palace? Will he go back in triumph to Germany? Supposing him convicted, will he be shot? Shooting on British soil Queen Victoria's grandson and the King's cousin would be a wretched business. How much better to have left the Kaiser's trial and its consequences to France or Belgium. Let it be our British duty to catch and hang or shoot—after guilt proven —every German pirate, every German murderer of women and children, every German torturer of prisoners. But the way of high justice with the Kaiser would be to declare his guilt notorious, and to send him without trial, as we sent a greater before him, to think on his sins in a desert island.

Walsh, the paid organiser of the Australian seamen s strike, is in prison for seditious oratory. And " Walsh is hunger-striking," says a Sydney cable dated August 3. The theory of the hunger : striker is that the prison authorities must either let him die or let him walk out of prison. Public opinion will not allow them to let him die; —there would be a universal howl. And there would be a still louder howl if they fed him by the stomach pump. Remains therefore the alternative, and that only—they must let him walk out of prison. This theory is of general application; any and every prisoner may use it. There needs only a general hunger strike and within a fortnight there would be a general gaol delivery. All prison doors must fly open. Even for "the murderer. The murderer under sentence resolves on slow suicide, refuses food. Then out he must go;—we couldn't let him die. Reductio ad absurdum! We escape this result by reason only of the gaol bird's weakness and wobbling in presence of food. He fasted yesterday, he fasts to-day; tomorrow his breakfast is brought in; —he looks—smells—hesitates —and is lost. We first heard of Walsh's hunger strike days before August 3, and August 3 is now a week old. I infer occasional lapses into food. Small blame to him! But the seamen are taking a hand. The strike is to continue, they say, till the Government releases Walsh. And now we shall see what the Government is worth. Walsh was dealt with by process of law and is serving the sentence of a judicial court. If at the demand of a mob of social mutineers the Government lets him out, the Government will deserve all it has been getting and all it is likely to get,—in short will deserve the worst. Every strike, big or little, Is an act of war against the State. It denies to the citizens generally certain customary services, certain essential commodities. In England just how strikes are breaking out like boils and Mains, and are spreading like the plague. Little wonder that the

Government suspects a revolutionary movement engineered from without. Trotsky is in it, and Tchicherin is in it—whoever Tchicherin may be; and Bela Kun, or Kuhn, or Cohen, is in it. Like Trotsky and like Lenin, Bela Knn is a de-national-ised Jew; and there is. no enemy of the modern State more deadly, more bent oh mischief, than the Continental Jew who—as the Jew Heine phrased it—" carries in his breast the martyrdom endured for eighteen centuries by a whole tortured people." All the same, against Jew or Gentile, the modern State must fight fox its life. And the way to fight strikes" and strikers is not by machine guns, but by enforcing the New Testament rule that he who will not work neither shall he eat. Improving on some former remarks of mine to this effect, a correspondent sends me the sketch of a Bill—-no less!—to put down strikes by cutting off supplies. I quote clause 20 : It shall be the duty of the police to send a list of strikers' names to all butchers, bakers, grocers, or other food vendors in the town and district warning them against supplying' foodatuffs to the persons named. Any contravention of the law against supplying food to strikers to be punishable by fines to the value of the goods so supplied. I should like to see such a BilL mora Bhould I like to see a Government with the spunk to propose it. From a Ranger down south to the Borough Council—an official letter. That .is to say, a copy, verbatim et literatim, nothing extenuated nor aught set down in malice. The etrets are fairly cleare of stray. beasts although, i had to impound fouir during the month and caution several others. The one i took to the pound last month i believe was sould far seven pounds ten shillings. Dog Tex There is four people how have not paid for there dogs yet. Would your honarable Council shake them up a little and see and • make them pay up. There is on© more item i would like your honourable Council to see to that is the eleven o'clock train that comes up every other day Monday Wedensday and Friday Last Friday i came up to goe to town and to my. disgust and about 20 other people the would not take us to town alough there were 7 carriages and two luggaco vans and IS trucks of coal.- by the same engine Two of the earriges had not a liven soul in them Now the like of that is to bad Would your Honourable Council try and get th© Goverment to sell out our railways and i have no dout but wee will get better served- and get our country out of dept "I have been young and'now I am old "yet i have never eeen " Souch a jolly roiling Goverment " Ass Masey Joe and' Jim." Evidently an active and efficient officer, — with a tendency to poetry and intelligent politics. But he should be forbidden pen and ink. It is .time that there are important walks of life in which book learning counts for little. At Auckland the other day there appeared as witness in a court case a " sailing master" who could neither read nor write. Presumably t^ : sailing master was not the navigation officer, or his navigating would bo of the kind that sailors unjustly call Scotch. In sea phrase " Scotch navigation " is " main strength and stupidity." Dear "Civis," Conosrning' that blessed word " Amen " which has exercised the mind of your correspondent in last Saturday's issue George Borrow has something to say. In chapter three of the " Romany Rye" we find the following. Tho "man in black" is speaking: " Now in respect to words I would fain have you who pretend to be a philologist tell ma the meaning of Ajmen?" I made no answer. " Wo of Rome," said the man in black, " know of two or three things of which you heretics are quite ignorant. For example, ihsre are those amongst us, thosA, too, who do not pretend to be philologists, who know what Amnn is, and, moreover, how we got it. Wo got it from our ancestors, tho priests of anoient Rome, and they got the word from their ancestors of the East, the priests of Buddh and Brahma." "And what is the meaning of the word?" I demanded " Amon," said the man in black, " is a modification of the old Hindoo formula. ■ Omani batsikhom. > by the almost ceaseless repetition of which the Indians hope to bo received finally to the rest or state of forgotfulness of Buddh or Brahma." In his "Romany Rye"—a book which is authority for nothing except the lore of English gipsies—George Borrow talks a world of nonsense. But the nonsense of George Borrow is often more readable than other people's sense. For which reason I have made room for an extract. The "man in black " is knave and fool: and we are expected to see it. He derives "Christian " from "Krishna." and "Rome" from " Ram." Which is like saying that " New Zealand " comes from "Newsv Land," and that " Dnnedin " is developed out of "Done dinner." According 'to a letter in tho Daily Times

thera are still examples at th« " S&amdiir Curo" lamp-post extant,-—two m Hlgft street* There ought to be othera som% where j cast iron ia radesfcrirctihle, and & lamp-poglj is alwayß a lamp-post. Thi City Fathers are not likely to hav». up*rooted them for their offence against' tn» Latin tongue. But on that point I. hav# a correspondents— Secundo— X make prosperous. Curo —I take care. oft —Ain»wortik r s DictiaraeEJv "X make you pEoajjeraas and guard you" la stiffly an appropriate address from a lamp-posit to a cityl' " The two -words offer themselves as a sen*tence in grammatical construction { but they won't construe. If " secundo n brf taken as a veTb, each word separately is intelligible, and we do get a lamp-post meaning, two lamp-post meanings. So hit it. Let us leave it at that. Dear "Cfvis/' —It- is reported from Paris k number of French women* have ceased to wear stockings j this by way of protest against profiteer*ing by the drap«rs in tkatarfcicle of dresav It is a commendable movement! but why stop at stockings? Might it not be carried further? It might. It could proceed in an ing scale to skirts, to bodices, to coats, tb hats. If a national costume for wonieri were invented and accepted, the saving would pay off the national debt. Graceful the costume should be. but simple j—Greek, Roman, Spanish* Italian —each and) any of these would catch and detain th* eyes of men. Though it is not for mei(! that women dress, but* for women ;--thenar© in terror of each other. I notice that an English doctor, wise above what iswritten, has been lecturing on tC aborigina); man as a four-footed animal/' Aboriginally, men and. women both walked on all fours. But, said he, " since human beings, have taken to walking on their hind legs \ (graceful expression) there came a need fair "well-fitting corsets which supported—*? whatever it is they do support. Fctf ■women only, this need, strange to say* Have men after learning to walk uprighi nothing to be supported? I am no believer in an artificial tight-laced boneyness for women. Did Aspasia wear a corßet? Or Cleopatra? Is it what vou would expect in a lassie comin' thro' the rye? There are great .possibilities of reform in women's dress; 'and greatly would it bflf to women's advantage if they schooled their intuitions of art and grace into conv formity with a husband's purchasing power. If they feel like it, they mlghl begin by leaving off their stockings. Crvrs.

At the local Defence Office on the sth, in the presence of the staff, Private M. Healey was presented with the Distinguished Conduct Medal by Colonel T. W. M'Donald (officer commanding the district), who congratulated the recipient on his splendid act of bravery. Private Healey won the decoration during the attack on Gouzecourt, on September 12, 1918. He was one of a patrol, from which he became isolated, and alone carried on a fight, in which he killed 10 of the enemy with bayonet and bullet, and wounded an officer of high rank. His work was largely responsible for the surrender of the enemy and the capture of their lines.

A Press Association message from Auckland states that the pen with which the treaty of Versailles was signed on behalf of New Zealand has been brought back by the Prime Minister, who stated that it was an ordinary fountain pen which he was in the habit of using every day. Eventually it would be put away and preserved as a souvenir, but in the meantime he was carrying it with him and using it as previously. He said the majority of the delegates followed tho plan of using whatever pen came to hand, but the French Premier (M. Clemenceau) was an exception, his signature being attached with a gold pen presented to him by a number of Paris school girls. When Mr R. S. Black was recently on a visit to the United States he inspected a "rabbitry" in the town of Omaha where a breeder specialised in variety of breeds, and among the types exhibited were several hutches -which were labelled "New Zealand bred." A glanoe at once convinced Mr Black that the samples on exhibition were far from being identioal with the New Zealand species, and he straightaway promised to have samples despatched from this country when he returned. As a result four pairs of New Zealand rabbits, true to type, were sent by the mail steamer Moana, and duly arrived at their port of destination. Mr Black has received a letter acknowledging the arrival of the animals, and stating that they were still in quarantine, tho Customs authorities being in doubt as to the procedure to be adopted regarding thenadmission. Meantime the "immigrants" are being well cared for, and receive periodical visits from the port medical officer at San Francisco.

As there is, we learn, some misapprehension on the part of the public, including discharged soldiers, with regard to the old fencing on the Gladbrook rune, it is only right, in justice to the former licensee to state that such fencing was, and still is, the absolute property of Mr John Roberts, and that he had a perfect right to remove, sell, or make any disposition he pleased of it. He did remove most of th e internal fencing of the land held under the former license on to the boundtry of his own selection, Run 601, and this now constitutes the boundary between Run 601 and Runs 599 and 600, so that half of it will be common to the two latter runs. Part of the fencing which was removed eventually formed portion of the present subdivisional boundaries between Runs 599 and 600 and between Runs 597 and 598. As Mr Roberts does not wish to place the soldier settlers to any disadvantage or inconvenience, he has deposited with the Commissioner of Crown Lands the sum of £l5O, which represents the valuation of the old fencing on each of the two abovementioned boundaries, to be placed at the disposal of the successful soldier applicants of Rims 597, 598, 599, and 600, to assist them to fence their boundaries. This sum of £l5O is, therefore, a straight-out gift to the four successful applicants. Great pleasure at the manner in which the recent peace celebrations were carried out in Dunedin was expressed by a number of members of Presbytery at the monthly meeting on the sth, and the Licensed •Victuallers' Association in particular came in for many words of commendation for closing the bars on the Saturday. A motion instructing the clerk to convey the congratulations of the Presbytery to the Mayor and the Peace Celebrations Committee and to convey to the Licensed Victuallers' Association its appreciation of its action was unanimously carried. A painful accident, which might easily have been attended by more serious consequences, occurred at Kaitangata on Tuesday, sth inst., the victims being Mrs J. T. Wylie, of Wyre street, her mother (Mrs Griffen), and her daughter, aged two years. The two ladies were seated before the kitchen range, when Mrs Wylie picked up a detonator from the hearth and unthinkingly threw it into the fire. A violent explosion followed, as a consequence of which Mrs Griffen was badly cut about both knees by pieces of the brass casing. The child re-

ceived wounds on the forehead and wrist, and Mrs Wylie, in addition to receiving minor injuries about the chest, suffered severely from shock. The injured persons arc making good progress towards recovery. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that the war bonus paid to members of the civil service during the last three years had ceased, the increases in salary granted under tho new scale being regarded officially as including the bonus formerly paid. The mails which were despatched from New Zealand on June 25 arrived in London on August 2. A Press Association message from Christchurch states that at a meeting of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club, held on Tuesday, sth inst., it was reported that a black Orpington pullet in the club's egg-laying competition had laid 100 eggs in 108 days, thereby nearly equalling the world's record for consistent laying. The present world's record of 100 eggs in 107 days was established by a black Orpington pullet in an Australian egg-laying competition. Sir James Allen stated on the 7th (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington) that the Government would not proclaim the date of the official closing of the war until the Imperial Government had issued a similar proclamation in the United Kingdom. . According to a Press Association telegram from Wellington Sir James Allen states that the reason why the i New Zealand's departure from Australia is' being delayed is that Viscount Jellicoe is anxious to meet Mr Hughes, who is now on his way from England. The extent of the warship's delay is uncertain. It is reported that as a result of the railway cut and the fact that Taumarunui is an over-night stopping place, the local accommodation houses are doing well, 9s being charged for tea, bed, and breakfast, and 2s 6d for the privilege of sitting in a chair by the fire when no beds are available. A deputation from the Returned Soldiers' Association, consisting of Mr R. P. Jones, Mr J. E. MacManus, and the secretary (Mr A. C. Laing), waited upon the Otago District Repatriation Board on Thursday, with a view to facilitating tho housing problem in Dunedin, and eliciting the board's sympathy and support in the project. Mr Jones and Mr MacManus spoke on the subject, and the ohairman (Mr J. Begg) and Mr J. Loudon replied on behalf of the board. The deputation was assured of the whole-hearted sympathy of the board, which decided to hold a special meeting to go more fully into tho matter. The committee of tho Anglican Boys' Memorial Home has purchased tho house adjoining its present property. As soon as the building is put in order it will be possible to receive a large additional number of boys. A scheme of further development is under consideration, and building will be undertaken as soon as the necessary funds are available. The properties of the home are absolutely free from debt, but the payments for them have left nothing in hand wherewith to commence fresh work. A very large number of boys are awaiting admission, and the accommodation depends on the generosity of the public. Owing to the seamen's strike in Australia the departure of the Makura from Sydney for Auckland and Vancouver is indefinitely delayed. The Makura arrived in Sydney over a w&ek ago from New Zealand. A contract has been let to Messrs Fletcher Bros, by the Forbury Park Trotting Club for tho erection of a combined members' stand and stewards' building, at a cost of about £7OOO. The building, the lower portion of which may be ready for tho club's races in November, is to be one of three storeys. A Press Association cable massage from Sydney states that according to present arrangements Viscount Jellicoe will sail ior New Zealand on August 15. There will probably be no definite news of a breaking up or holding together of the present National Government (says our Wellington correspondent) until either Sir Joseph Ward or Mr Massey has met his party. Sir Joseph Ward is going south to Christcburch for a few days' holiday. He may have his plans ready for quick action, but he is not discussing them for the present. In a recent number of th~e r New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Mr B. V. Pemberton, F.R.M.S., Assistant Dominion Meteorologist, gives the reason why nor'-westers are hot winds. He says: " The oause of the high temperature of these winds is as follows; —As the moisture-laden westerly winds stviko the slopes of tho Southern Alps and are forced to rise, tho cooling

which results from the consequent- expansion of the air condenses the vapour snd heavy rain fails on the westward slopes. Latent heat is thus set free. The air descending on the slopes is dynamically heated by compression, and with the addition of the latent heat previously attained it reaches the Canterbury plains as an exceedingly hot and dry wind. The name given to such a wind in Switzerland is the Fohn. Coming in the winter time it is a welcome change from the keen temperature then generally ruling, but in the summer it has a very enervating effect." in Auckland Mr Massey made it clear that he would have nothing to say about the political situation until he had met his party. He stated in Wellington on Friday {says our own correspondent) that he did not think of calling the members to Wellington until the meeting of Parliament. In view of the difficulties and delays of travel in these times, he did not consider that it would be fair to call members to a meeting when the House would be meeting so soon. A Press Association message from Invercargill states that the Southland County Council has sent a teiegxam to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Railways pointing out that owing to the railway restrictions it was impossible to get materials carried to keep the roads in repair and they were getting into a bad state owing to the increased road traffic duo to the railway rut. • There was plenty of local coal, and the council considered that the department was not dealing with the position in a satisfactory manner. Members expressed themselves strongly regarding the Minister's reply as to the reasons for carrying beer. As time goes on the passenger accommodation on the two through trains leaving Dunedin becomes more and more restricted. During the greater part of last month each of these trains had six carriages, but commencing on August 2 the number was reduced to four. There has, however, been a still further reduction, and these trains now arrive and depart with only three carriages. This is causing considerable congestion, especially as regards the north train. Five subdivisions of the Gladbrook Estate (near Middlemarch) -were opened for selection by discharged soldiers on pastoral iicuiise tenure at the Crown Lands Office on Friday. The areas ranged from 2913 acres to 8514 acres, and the rentals from • £35 to £l2B half-yearlv. Tli3 returned soldiers applied very freely, applications being received from Auckland, idawke's Bay, Wellington, Canterbury. Otago, and Southland. Altogether 2d7 persons applied, the total applications received being 1011, made up thus: —Run 596, 202 applicants; Run 597, 202 applicants; Run 598. 179 applicants; Run 599, 168 applicants; Run 600, 260 applicants. The examination of applicants by the Land Board commenced at 10.30 a.m. on Tuesday, and the ballot will be held at the conclusion of the examination. Colonel T. W. M'Donald, officer commanding the Otago Military District, acting' in his capacity as the confirming authority, has declined to confirm the proceedings against Frank M'Aweeney, who was tried by court-martial on Wednesday on a charge of desertion. He has, therefore, ordered the release of the accused. The effect of this is to nullify the proceedings of the courtmartial. If circumstances arise, however, which lead the authorities to believe justification of the proceedings, they may apply for a new trial. At a meeting of a" number of members of the 4th Regimental Company (Main Body), held in the Anza3 Club on Thursday night, it was decided to hold a reunion. The general feeling was that October 16 (the anniversary of the date of the departure of the. Main Body from Wellington in 1914) would bo an appropriate date on which to hold such a gathering, especially as practically all the members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force will be back in the dominion before the end of September. A committee was set up to attend to the detailed arrangements, and with the support and co-operation of the members of the company a pleasant evening may be anticipated. Mr R. L. Jones, of the New Zealand Rubber Products Company, registered fast time in a motor journey to Christchurch on Friday. Leaving Dunedin at 1 a.m., he reached Oamaru at 4.5 a.m., Timaru at 6.10 a.m., Ashburton at 8.30 a.m., and arrived at Christchurch at 10.15 a.m. The roads were heavy, and he ran into a fog on the Kilmog Hill. We learn from Mr R. T. Sadd (Commissioner of Crown Lands) that Mr James Glenn's property of 1130 acres at Georgetown, near Oamaru, has been purchased for subdivision for returned soldiers. It is intended to divide it into four farms suitable for mixed fanning. The Land Board has several properties in that district under offer to it, and has had valuations made of them. One of these would make two small mixed farms, and another that was inspected recently would make about five farms. Both are good properties, and are offered at reasonable prices. In the Otanomomo district the board has four properties under offer to it. The intention is to secure land there that will provide each of the present soldier settlers with a block of 50 acres suitable as a place of refuge in time of flood. Mr James Smith, the other member of the Purchase Board, and Mr Sadd will inspect these properties at an early date. The prospects are that about next February, when practically all the soldiers will be back, the bulk of the properties winch the board now -haa in hand will be thrown open for selection. While possible tramcar accidents were being discussed at an inquiry at New Plymouth, Mr J. W.. Poynton, S.M., told the story of a man who gained fame in the United States, because he eoiooeeded m beating the railway companies in compensation claims for accidents. A certain lady had such strong leg muscles that she could break the tibia or fibula bones in he* legs whenever she liked. The enterprising American married her and started d business. He would find a hole in a railway platform, and then bring his wife out on hie arm. She would put her foc-l

in the hole and break her leg, and the company would be compelled to pay damages. This happened a number of times, but eventually the fraud was discovered, and the man got "five years" instead ofany rao'e damages. Mr Poynton assured his hearers that this was not a yarn; it was reported in the Law Times.

At a meeting of the Otago Returned Soldiers' District Sub-committee, held last week, Lieutenant-colonel Colquhoun, D. 5.0., Was appointed organiser for the province. Colonel Colquhoun wilj. commence his duties at once, and it is expected that as a result of his efforts the association will be greatly strengthened. In the City Police Court on Friday morning the Magistrate (Mr J. R. Bartholomew) gave his deterred decision in the case in which G-eorge Cooper and Myles Murdoch M'lnnes were charged with a breach of the Printers and Newspapers' Registration Act in • that they omitted to place on certain double charts printed by them their 'name and place of abode, and also omitted to record on an office copy the name and address of their employer. The charges were a sequel to the raid made on "William Pollock's premises in Carr street last month. Mr Bartholomew said that the contention by the defence was that a "doubles chart" was in the nature of a trade circular, and as such it was exempt from the imprint under section 3 of the Act. On the chart produced (which was • one of 600 printed) there was no name and address or initials of the persons issuing them. If there had been eomeone's name and address, signifying by whom and where business could be done, it would have constituted an offence under the Gaming Act. But the absence of these particulars did not make the documents trade circulars, or bring them within the exemption. The defendants, therefore, would have to be convicted. The maximum penalty would amount to a considerable sum. The minimum penalty of £5 would be inflicted on each of the two charges, as well as on both of the charges of keeping an unregistered printing press—a total of £2O, with court costs amounting to £1 16s. Judgment was entered accordingly.

In the Juvenile Court on Friday, before Mr J. R. Barthoiomew, S.M., seven lads were charged with stealing at various times fowk and ducks from the farm of Mr Herman Sonntag. The boys' ages ranged from 14 to 12 years. Sub-inspector Mathieson said that the boys had been accustomed to work on Mr Sonntag's farm and to deliver poultry, flowers, and fruit in various parts of the oity. For this work they were given about Is a day and their dinners. The boys, in Mr Sonntag's absence, had stolen the "fowls, and the eldest of the lads had rung up Mr Trainor, in the Arcade, said he was speaking on behalf of a lady in Roslyn who was vacating her house and wished to dispose of her fowls, and inquired how much they were worth. Ho had then sold the fowls for Is 9d each, collecting for this lot 28s. The boys also confessed to stealing four ducks. In answer to the Magistrate, Mr Axelsen said that all the boys oame from respectable homes. One of the boys had taken a fowl home to his mother, and she had sent him back with it. He had, however returned it to the ringleader, and they had cooked and eaten it in the bush. The Magistrate commented on the poulterer taking the fowls from the boy at such a small price. The parents of some of the boys said that Mr.Sonntag was chiefly to blame in inducing boys to go to his farm . and work there for Is per day instead of employing grown-up labour. In answer to the Magistrate, Mr Axelsen said it was a good thing for boys to be in the country doing such work, instead of being on the streets in the town, but his experience was that whenever a number of boys got togethor they invariably got into mischief sooner or later. He had a number of, boys under his charge working in the country, but ho never sent them away together. If they were separated there could be no harm in healthy employment in the country such as the boys had had. His Worship remarked that this case disclosed quite a bad state of affairs. He had heard of egg clubs and other clubs, but what- the boys had formed was really a poultry club. The cunning they had evidenced in disposing of their spoil disclosed a deliberate scheme of robbery. They had been leading double lives, as it was evident that their parents had no idea of what was going on. Ho must impress the seriousness of their offence upon the boys and upon any lads who would hear of the case and be tempted to act similarly. The two eldest of the lads, who had been the ringleaders, would each be sentenced to six strokes of the birch, and on the others they would be convicted

and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. He would admonish and discharge the smallest boy, and the other four were ordered to be chastised by their parents and placed under the supervision of the juvenile probation officer. On the remaining charges they would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. The parents of the boys were ordered to refund the value of the fowls (£4 17s) to Mr Sonntag. The effect of the small harvest of apples is now being felt in Ohrlstchurch (says our own correspondent), prices having reached a particularly high level during the past week. Sturmers have risen to 15s a case at auotion, equal to 4£d per' lb. The retail price is in the vicinity of 8d per lb. For Delicious 17s, per case is being secured. Up till recently the market has been mainly supplied with Nelson apples, the price for Nelson Jonathans being about 12s 6d a case. Now local apples from the cool store are filling the breach. Cooking apples (Lord Wolsleys) are being sold by auction at 12s to 13s per case. Naturally those ,who are holding ar 6 securing- a splendid financial return. American apples are not fexpected on the market until October. A story which was told the other day at the Melbourne Town Hall (says the Age) gives further evidence- of a long standing disgrace—the profiteering which goes on in the buying of war bonds. An elderly woman called at the Town Hall introducing herself as " the mother of three soldiers," one of whom was blind •and still in England. Sh e had, she said, in an effort to raise money to send to her son in England, offered a war bond for sale to a Collins street broker. The face value of the bond was £lO, and with it was offered war savings stamps to the amount of 15s. To her amazement, however, the broker offered her £8 for both bond and stamps, volunteering, when she deolined his bid, to keep the property for her for the afternoon, in case she should ultimately decide to accept. She nevertheless persisted in her refusal. An official of the Town Hall, ascertaining the market value of the bond to be £9 10s ,paid her that amount for it, purchasing the stamps also for 15s.

At the Empire Hotel, Masterton, a few days ago a sensational attempt at robbery with violence occurred. A commercial traveller named Robert Westfield, who was lodging at the hotel, was accosted by- a person in his bedroom. He was struck violently on the head with a blunt instrument, and Westfield, whose head was badly cut, jumped out of bed and gave chase to his attacker, who disappeared down a passage. It is thought that the intruder's motive was robbery. The police are investigating the matter. A stranger to the town was under suspicion, but it was decided that there was not sufficient evidence upon which to charge him with the oifenco.

The announcement was made recently that a writ had "been issued claiming £183,960 17s 6d in respect of damages arising out of the alleged mismanagement of the Dominion Portland Cement Company, which is now in liquidation. Last May a committee of Canterbury shareholders, consisting of Sir George Clifford, Dr E. G. Levinge, Messrs W. M. Hamilton, G.«T. Mulcock, and James Stevenson, together with the liquidator, T. T. Eyre, were, by an order of the Supreme Court at Auckland, empowered to conduct the proceedings on behalf of the company; and by another order were to have access to such books and papers of the company as may be material for the prosecution of the action. There are six defendants, formerly directors of the company—Messrs V. H. Reed, M.P. (Bay of Islands), S. D. Hirst (Auckland), E. Slack (merchant, Wellington), H. , B. Williani3 (Gisborno), N. Wilson (Warkworth), and George Winstone, jun. (Auckland). The plaintiffs have retained Mr C. P. Skerrett, K.C., of Wellington, and Mr A. F. Wright, of Christchurch. Mr J. R. Reed and Mr M. Myers have been retained by certain of the defendants. It is expected that tlio hearing will take place before the Supreme Court at Auckland in November. The lot of the traveller in these times is a sad one (says the Dominion). Those people who left Gisborno by the Arahura on Wednesday week (the passengers including Sir James Carroll) had an experience that will last every one of them 'a long time. A full ship, with 16 ladies in the social hall and even mattresses out on deck for passengers who could not be "bunked," the little steamer ran into a gale, and arrived off Napier to find the Tarawera and Mokoia bobbing about in the distant offing, visible only "on the rise." with great energy and aimiranoo the Arahura was guided alongside tho breakwater

wharf, lines were made fast, and the passengers were about to land, when a treble crack split the air. All three lines had parted and the steamer was once more loose. She had to put to sea with the others, and remain there all day. In the afternoon the harbour master was signalled to land the passengers per lighter, but that official was taking no risks. He would have none of it. So the Arahura had to plunge about in a heavy sea the long night through, nearly all the passengers being ill and wretchedly uncomfortable. They were a washed-out, bedraggled lot that got ashore at 7 a.m. on Friday week. Then commenced the torment to the soul. All who wished to travel by rail had to obtain a permit, and t° obtain a permit had ijo answer an eternity of questions. After they had got through that ordeal, the train crept through Hawke's Bay, made Palmerston North in 12 hours, and, the next day, Wellington in six.

A unique experience ' befell a resident of Redcliffs shortly before 1 o'clock on Sunday morning, when he was disturbed by a knocking at the front door of his residence. On opening the door (says the Christchurch Press) he noticed a returned soldier in uniform, and. by his manner it was seen that the visitor was in trouble.. The invitation to come in was accepted, but in a short time the visitor became uncontrollably violent, and succeeded in smashing a considerable amount of furniture. The police at Sumner were communicated with, and the soldier was removed to Christchurch for treatment.

Residents of Wellington, particularly those in the southern suburbs, were startled about <2.30 p.m. on Friday week "by the roar and rumble of a heavy explosion (states the Post). The rumbling' report was heard at stations along the coast well away from Wellington, and it is said that buildings were shaken at Terawhiti—some citizens, possible super-sensitive, aver that houses in the city shook at the shock of the explosion. Others state that they heard more than one report, the first at about half-past 10 in the morning, and, according to different persons, one or two minor reports preceding the heav-y detonation. The most generally accepted theory is that a stray German mine had drifte'd on to the rocks at some point between the Heads and Terawhiti and exploded, but against this are the statements that more than one explosion occurred. Inquiries made police and other authorities have failed to throw any light on the mystery, for reports so far received state that there are no signs, such as dead fish being washed ashore and debris thrown about, of any heavy explosion along the coast within reasonable distance of Wellington. A thorough search is being made along ihe foreshore and at various places inland, and no doubt a definite explanation will be made shortly. Superintendent Norwood, of .the district police headquarters, has been advised that members of a whaling party stationed at Te Awaiti, about 18 miles north-east of l?icton, heard the explosion, which they described as very heavy, about half-past 2, and considered ihat the sound came froma point in Cook Strait, somewhat to the north-east of Tory Channel. Settlers in the vicinity of the whaling station also considered that the explosion occurred somewhere in the neighbourhood of Tory Channel.

There is record revival in ostrich feathers (writes the South African correspondent of the Christchurch Press). It came with the armistice, when the possibility appealed to speculators of feathers returning to fashion in Europe and America. The greatest impetus has come from the West, where war prosperity has turned women's thoughts to feathers among other things. Within a poriod of six weeks, £320,000 worth of ostrich feathers have been disposed of at the Port Elizabeth market alone. Inclusive of private sales in country districts, it is probable that half a million sterling changed hands in feather transactions.

The Hon. Arthur Myers, Acting Minister of Finance, stated to a representative of the Wellington Post on Saturday that £460,000 was received by the Treasury during July as subscriptions to the Final Victory Loan. It was in December last that the Minister notified that the Treasury was prepared to receive subscriptions towards the balance of this loan; and since that data, the total amount voluntarily subscribed in the manner referred to is nearly £3,500,000. Mr Myers also pointed out that as soon as the Minister of Finance, Sir Joseph Ward, returned to New Zealand the question would bo considered of issuing a formal prospectus in respect of the loan in question, and stating the exact sum still required. "Ourcon-

tinued heavy obligations on account of war expenditure, retrospective allowances, gratuities, repatriation, etc., make it quite evident," he said, " that it will be necessary to • take action in regard to the flotation of the loan at an early date, and although the public generally have responded to the extent of the amount mentioned above, the compulsory clauses of section 16 of the Finance Act, 1918, are still operative. It is therefore advisable that those who are liable to subscribe under this Act should make available whatever amount they are likely to be called upon to invest in the war loan, as subscriptions, made under the compulsory clauses, carry a rate of interest of 3 per cent, only."

Characteristically American is the following extract which is taken from a letter received a few days ago by a resident of Dunedin. It might be termed history in a nutshell: —" The United States is regulating all transportation business just like the Kaiser did in Germany. Democracy is doomed. You can't get married without a medical certificate. Soon we will not dare to sneeze. It is awful! The publio swears this is 'on the burn' and the overhead charges are nearly prohibitive. Big national scandals and cash waste, with grave hold-ups! The United States noses into every private home, and all the people are registered for everything. Good-bye to United States freedom until next election. Women are voting, which helps some. The Reds are busy in Europe. The Peace Conference has nearly matured, and the League of Nations also. Germany is signing the final contract, and . the Bolshevists are warring and famine rules. United States is feeding the lot and taking a mortgage for pay. In the end America will own all the Custom-houses in Europe and Asia that Britain does not nail down. But no! We do not want territory; we only want incomes."

Christchurch butchers say that apart from the high prices realised for stock at Addington on Wednesday the general increase in the prices of stock must lead to increased charges to consumers (say 3 our own correspondent). The tendency to increase has continued at a fairly rapid rate for several months. One city butcher believes that if there is a good spring and ample feed there should be a by October at least, when the prices of a few months ago may be. reached. An unfavourable winter has caused a scarcity of fat stock in Canterbury. This had led to keen competition amongst the butchers, and, of course, to higher prices. Some butchers complain that the railway authorities will not bring fat stock from other parts of the dominion into Canterbury. The authorities say that they have agreed to take stock for butchers from any district in Canterbury to Christchurch and that, although no arrangement has been made to bring stock from other districts, if the butchers show that the stock is required it will be brought. Th a present prices of meat to consumers in Christchurch generally are: Beef, 7d to Is per lb; mutton, 6£d to 9d per lb. Increases are regarded as inevitable for some eight or 10 weeks.

The remains of Private Mason Charles Edwards were buried with military honours on Saturday afternoon in the Anderson's Bay Cemetery. Private Edwards was exceedingly popular with everyone who know him, and was a particularly well-mannered young man. Ho went away with the Seventh Reinforcements, and, after serving for four years, was slightly gassed, and then suffered from shell-shock. Ho returned to New Zealand in March, and had then apparently recovered his health. Soon afterwards, however, he developed pneumonia, and after being three weeks in the Hospital meningitis set in, and it was fromthis ho died. Private Edwards was a son of Mr and Mrs 2J. Edwards, of Begg- street, i Musselburgh. On Saturday morning two oaks wero planted by Mrs Ross and Mrs He-witson near the gates of BLnox College in memory of the students who fell in the war. There were a number of students present, and some of the members of the College Council and their wives. The National Anthem was sung, and thereafter the president of the Students' dub (Mr E. H. Luke) read the roll of honour, which con- i tains 22 names. In a brief address tho ' master of tho college said that the sun of i these young men had gone down while it j was yet day. Memory, gratitude, and ! love, however, might keep that sun still ' shining in the hearts of friends after tho lapse of long years, just as the refraction of the atmosphere kopt the sun shining in the heavens when it had actually sunk below the horizon. It was hoped that

many generations of students, as they came 1 through the college gates, -would find grateful memories revived as they saw the oakq and read the inscription to the fallen. The Key. Dr Cameron (chairman of the College Council) offered up a prayer and pronounced the benediction.

Some time ago tenders -were called by tha Defence Department for funeral supplies and services for deceased returned soldiera entitled to burial at the State's ex« pens©, and out of a number of tenders rs« ceived the lowest was accepted. The contract makes provision for the supply of an oiled rimu coffin fitted and mounted withEnglish nickel mountings, arranging and/ conducting the funeral, and supplying one mourning carriage. The Officer Commanding the Otago Military District has asked, us to make it known, in order to remove any misconception that may exist in the minds of relatives of deceased soldiers, thai the full cost of the above is borne by tha Defence Department, which should be com* municated\ witli at Defence Headguartera, St. Andrew street, when it is necessary to make arrangements for a burial Mr R. Leslie Jones, of the, New Zealand Rubber Products Company-(Ltd.), did tha return from Christchurch on Sunday In what is believed to be record time. He lefs Christchurch at 9,40 a.m., passed through Ashburton at 11.40, and arrived at Timaru at 1.20 p.m. . He was delayed at Rakaia bridge for 15 minutes to permit a. wagon loaded with petrol to cross. Ho left Timaru at 2.30 p.m., and passed through Oamaru at 3.45 p.m. He was delayed through tyro trouble at Hampden for 45 minutes, and left there at 5.26,. and arrived at the Dunedin Post Office at 7 p.m. His actual running time was 6 hours 30 minutes.

Who was the youngest young man to go to the war from New Zealand ? A Dominion representative - believes he has discovered, him in Wellington in a resident of Dun* edin, but cannot, for obvious reasons, re* veal his name, as its owner must necessarily have to plead guilty to misrepresi?nr tation as to his age. Suffice it to say that the soldier in question went away with the Third Reinforcement, and he is only 21 years of age now. He fought through' the whole of the Gallipoli campaign, and ''stuck it" to the end in France without once being " smacked' up," and to-day he looks exactly his age—War has not furrowed his fair skin or greyed his locks. Some of his views on the political outlook were given to a reporter in Welling" ton by the Prime Minister. " The policy of tho country must be a policy of_ pro* gress," said Mr Maseey. "To carry out a vigorous policy of reconstruction and de4 velopment in a time like th©-present thera must be a strong government. Therp must be a government that will place the interests of the country before party and every other consideration. What is wanted, and What the country must have, if it is to prosper, is a solid combination of patriotic, progressive, and practical mem> bers of Parliament, conscientiously representing the people in a desire for national progress—a combination of earnest men whose democratic instincts, honesty, and ability can be relied upon, and whose firet duty will be national reconstruction and rexoatriation, and who will not allow themselves to be influenced by party shibboleths or party privileges. I do not look foi? perfection in politicians any more than in any other class, but tho times are so serious, and the outlook eo uncertain that a much greater responsibility than ever nests upon the electors to see that the men to whom they entrust the management of their publio affairs will in all circumstances unflinchingly, do their duty, and thus do justice and credit to the position they are intended to occupy."

A young woman named Annie CaldweU Lindsay, who arrived -an Napier from Dannevirke on July 14, and stayed at the Provincial Hotel until the night of July 29, is now reported to be missing (says the Hawke'a Bay Tribune of August 4.). this night, before retiring, she said good night to her fellow boarders and then apparently went to her room. Next morning she had disappeared, and her bed had not been slept in. She has not since been heard of and! her belongings are still at the hotel. Sha is between 30 and 35 years of age. A point made by business men interviewed by a New Zealand Herald reporter was the disappearance of the prejudice that once existed with regard to New Zealandmade goods. Unquestionably the superior quality of these had brought them into well-deserved popularity. "Oiir experience for some years past" (said one of thosa interviewed) "has been that both wholesale and retail dealers, and the general publio, prefer to buy New Zealand good*

instead of the high-priced imported stuff. Practically the only people who still prefer imported material are the high-class tailors, who want exclusive' patterns for their customers. But I think fully 90 per cent, of those in the ordinary trade are quite satisfied now to freely patronise local industry. The only difficulty is that the supply has, for so long, been utterly unequal to the demand."

Mr "William James Carroll, who oelebrated his 100th birthday at Napier recently, has had a most interesting career. Despite his long years he is hale and hearty. He was born at Chatham, in New Brunswick, British North America, on July 31, 1619. Mr Carroll remained in Canada until 1856, when he went to Liverpool. From there he sailed to Calcutta and the East Indies as a shipwright, and he lived for a good many years in New Orleans as a shipwright, but travelled all over the world. He cama to New Zealand in 1872, and followed the trade of bridge■building. He built several bridges in Hawke's Bay, also bridges at Wairoa, Palmerston North, Manawatu, and Wanganui. His life has been one of great activity and world-wide experience. He thinks nothing of going for a four-mile stroll. Except that his eyesight is not quite so tood as when he was a young man his faculties are unimpaired.

During the quarter ended June 30 the deposits in the Post Office Savings Banks amounted .to £6,674,007, and the withdrawals to £6,174,872, leaving an excess of deposits over withdrawals by £499,135. For the corresponding quarter of 1918 the excess of deposits over withdrawals was £190,676. During the past quarter Auckland's deposits totalled £1,307,719, and withdrawals £1,200,542, leaving a credit balance of £107,177. The deposits at Wellington were larger (£1,448,424), but so also were the withdrawals (£1,426,732), leaving a credit balance of only £21,692.

The Mar ton Junction branoh of the railwaymen has deoided to ask the department to purchase, if possible, the boots held in store by the Defence Department, and distribute them at oost price amongst railwaymen, giving preference to surfacemen and shunters.

Land speculation is the most profitable business of this country, and tho Waikato is the happy hunting ground of the speculator (remarks the Auckland Star). One dairy farmer, from a northern district, purchased a farm in the Waikato at £4O an acre, sold it for £6B, and now, after holding 16 farms in a little over two years, is worth over £40,000. But Waikato dairy farm values have shown in general increases unrecorded in this country. In one oase a man who bought at £6 10s an acre five years ago has refused to sell at £35 an acre. Here is another instance : A property which 15 years ago sold at £3 3s an aore is now worth £63, a price which the owner recently refused. One fine Waikato diairy farm was reoontly sold with possession in August, and whilo the new owner

was waiting for possession he turned it over at a profit of £7OOO. Dried milk has been responsible for some of the phenomenal increase of Waikato dairying land, and the fortunes which have come to the lucky farmer-speculators, but the climate is a great factor in the relatively high values, even if the top-dressing cost is greater than more southerly farmers have to reckon with. ! Wireless telephony has achieved such a i strong position amongst public conveniences I that the Australian Government (says the , Age) acknowledges the necessity for giving it due recognition. A Bill was introduced in the Senate recently to make this means of communication subject to the same restrictions as wireless telegraphy. r lhe vice-president, in explaining the Bill, said that the new invention had made great strides during the war, and that as early as 1915 wireless telephonic conversations had taken place between Washington and Paris. The difficulty attending the invention was to eliminate outside influences and ensure secrecy in conversation. The Bill was taken through the second reading and committee stages.

At the last meeting of limbless returned soldiers in Wellington one of the speakers, who was minus an arm near the shoulder, and had issued to him two artificial arms, pointed out that they were of no possible use to him. and had been assigned to decorate the wall of his room. He stated that nuirbers of other soldiers were in the same position, and advocated that the limbs should be returned to the artificial limb factory should they be of use to that establishment. The officer in charge now advises that parts might be used in construction of useful limbs, and the secretary of the local Returned Soldiers' Association is communicating with those to whom an artificial arm is of no use. with the objeot of having same returned.

.One of the suggestions placed before members of the Government by the executive of tho Returned Soldiers' Association on Saturday was that notification of venereal disease should bo made compulsory for civilians, as it was already compulsory for soldiers. Dr Boxer, president of the association, said there should be no difference between the soldier and the civilian in this respect. He was in favur of compulsory notification. Sir James Allen (Acting Prime Minister) said he did not see why there should bo any difference. The Hon. G-. W. Russell (Minister of Public Health) said that in 1917, when he placed his Social Hygiene Bill before Parliament, he had been compelled by pressure of opinion to remove the compulsory olauses from the Bill. He was satisfied that as soon as Parliament was able to deal with tho matter the compulsory clauses must be restored. He could say with the full consent of the Ministry that no condition would bo imposed on soldiers that was not also imposed on civilians. The Health Department, added Mr Russell, was creating an organisation for the treatment of v&nereal disease. A specialist was already in Now Zealand. Clinics

wore being established at all the hospitals, where the treatment would be efficient, and where there would be no publicity as far as the patients were concerned. Three specialists, who had received thorough training in England, were coming out to New Zealand, and he hoped to be able to cover the whole country with an organisation that would wipe out a disease that was a disaster to civilians and soldiers alike.

The vicinity of St. John's Club, Wanganui, was the scene of a daring case of highway robbery accompanied with violence on Wednesday week shortly before 8 p.m., the victim being a lady who is engaged in business. It is her custom {says the Chronicle)- * to carry home each .evening the- day's takings in a handbag, and evidently the thief was aware of this fact. As is her usual custom she turned into Glasgow street from the Avenue, but had not gone far when a man seized her forcibly, wrenched the bag out of her grasp, and rushed off. The lady was too upset to give any alarm, but she proceeded to' a house in the vicinity and related what had occurred. A small amount of money was in the bag, but it so happened that on this particular occasion she did not have the day's takings with her. Usually the vicinity of the robbery is fairly well lighted, but owing to the coal shortage several suburban streets are now in complete darkness at night.

Writing under date of July 17 to Mr Walter Helsdou, manager of the Opera House, the Melbourne manager of Messrs John Fuller and Sons says: ' "The military authorities hero evidently expect trouble, for I put in a requisition for 12 rifles, bayonets, etc., for 'Secrets of the Harem,' and saw the Commandant of the Domain Camp, who promised mo faithfully that everything would be all right. Last night he sent his lieutenant up to say that he was very sorry, but he had received strict orders that no arms or ammunition were to leave the store under any consideration, and, in addition, instructions had been issued that all rifles that were in the hands of the citizen forces should be called in as quickly and quietly as possible. We had a fair sample yesterday afternoon, outside the Palace, of what is likely to happen at any time. A great deputation of 1000 strong had visited the State Premier, and were marching down Bourke street. Before they had left Parliament House they were addressed by one .of the speakers, who advised them that if they wanted anything to go and take it, net to knock anybody on the head, but just go in quietly and take what they wanted. H© said that if everybody did this no one would starve, and they oould certainly not put the whole population in gaol. As a result of his utterances, as soon as they got to Anglais's big shop near the Palace, the strikers all broke the lines and charged the shop. Evidently the authorities were fore-warned, for immediately the strikers broke bounds police emerged from every little shop from Exhibition street to Spring street, on both sides of the road, and out of the lano behind

Anglais's came a body of mounted police. I have never seen anything so quick or quite so dramatic in all my life. The police just quietly emerged from every doorway, and slowly worked the crowd back into the road without even one getting into Anglais's."