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Otago Witness, Issue 3415, 29 August 1919, Page 41

When the battle cruiser New Zealand steamed into Welington harbour last week many of those who saw her remarked on the fact that the Union Jack was flying at her main peak. This, it may be said, is the first time that a ship has entered Wellington flying this flag in the position mentioned, and only twice in the history of the British navy, has a ship flown this flag at sea. It is the flag of the Admiral of the Fleet. Usually the Admiral of the Fleet is one who has seen his days of sea service and who directs the destiny of the fleet from a home base. Admiral Lord Jellicoe received his appointment as Admiral of the Fleet while on his way to Australia, and the Union Jack was immediately hoisted at the main. The other occasion when the Union Jack was flown at the main from a warship at sea was when Admiral Seymour, in the Inflexible, visited New York as Admiral of the Fleet, on the occasion of the centenary of the United States. Satisfactory progress was made on Wednesday with the work of clearing away the big slip on the line between Hindon and Deep Stream, and the Railway Department expects to be able to get the usual trains through to-day. Cable advice has been received in Christchurch (says our correspondent) that the value of the rupee on the Calcutta market has again advanced, the latest quotation being 24 13-64 d. It is expected, though it is not stated, that a similar rate rules on the Colombo market. A further advance is anticipated. Export business in Calcutta is at a standstill. The suggestion that quantities of butter for export ana being held in cold store is explicitly denied by the managers of the companies concerned. The position as far as the Government is concerned is made clear by the following statement received this week' by Mr Bowman (manager of the Wiaitaki Dairy Company) from Mr D. Ouddae (Chief Dah-y Commissioner in Wellington) : —"We have attempted to relieve the position as far >as possible by" distributing every box of butter held on behalf of the Imperial Government, including the whole of the first grade whey butter and some of the second grade as well." It has been alleged that there is plenty of butter in the works at Port Chalmers. We are informed that the works there have been closed since May. The manager of the Taieri and Peninsula Milk Supply Company states that so far as price is concerned it does not matter whether the butter is shipped or sold locally, so no object would be served in conserving stocks for shipment. Exportation has been stoppedjgsand the Government will see that no butter is shipped until it again gats plentiful. At the meeting of the Otago Land Board on the 27th applications for advances under the Discharged Soldiers' Act were dealt with as follow: —Town properties, 16 \Vere granted, totalling £8640; four were left in the hands of the commissioner; three were held over and two were declined. Rural properties, three were granted, amounting to £6190; one was left in the hands of the commissioner, and two were declined. Three applications for stock, totalling £llBO, were granted. Reference was made at the meeting of the Otago Land Board on Wednesday to the subdivision of the Mount Pisa run. Mr R. T. Sadd (Commissioner of Crown Lands) stated that the board had had this matter under consideration for over two years, and it had decided, instead of taking over this property and paying a heavy goodwill for the unexpired portion of the lease, which would in turn be passed on to the discharged soldiers, to allow the lease to fall in after running its course, and then offer the run for subdivision. Mr Sadd added that as a matter of fact the board had in its possession draft plans of the proposed subdivision. A Press Association message from Christchurch states that there was a spirited discussion at a meeting of the executive of the North Canterbury Farmers' Union on the 27th on the subject of the desirableness of the Government continuing to commandeer certain of the products of the dominion and fix the price of them. The motion before the meeting was forwarded

by the Oxford branch, and read aa follows: —"This branch approves of fixed prices for a year or two to come, but not lower than previously, and provided the dominion Government receives tho profit. The idea was generally favoured, but before remitting the matter to the conference it was decided that the branches should discuss it and report to next meeting." The workers in the Otira tunnel are again asking tho Minister of Public Works for an increase in tho rate of pay, equal to £1 per day (reports tho Greymouth correspondent of the Christohurch Sun). Tho men are now working three shifts of # six hours at the Otira end, and two of eight hours at the Bealey end. At the latter place they were working on contract, and the lowest-paid, men are making 20a 6d per shift. The working conditions at the Otira end are wet and trying. Additional men have been recently offering for the work, but some of them, being dissatisfied- with the housing accommodation, have not remained. The huts, which are in a very unsatisfactory condition, are being repaired by the Public Works Department, and it is hoped that in future more men will offer for employment. The work of enlarging and lining the tunnel is making fair progress. . Speaking at a social tendered by the Wellington Bowling Centre to Dr John Rusk, of Belfast, Ireland —an international bowler of high repute—Colonel R. J. Collins, C.M.G., in replying to a toast, related a little incident in connection with Admiral Sir David Beatty, which may not be generally known. In 1917, when the Grand Fleet was at Aberdour, Scotland, the Admiral was on shore playing tennis. Some unusual report came in from the sea, and the Admiral talked on his open wire for some moments, and then resumed his game. The fleet at once dropped from four to two and a-half hours' notice for steam, and shortly afterwards was making preparations for sailing. From the tennis court could be seen the first of the screening _ groups as they aliped . quietly to sea. Division followed division, as destroyers, light cruisers, and scouts passed on to their appointed tasks. . The Grand Fleet was in motion. The Admiral was soon on board his ship for a sterner game than tennis. Another war is ended, and perhaps one of the most vivid pictures of Beatty would be that of the Admiral quietly playing tennis as his battle fleet was sailing away—reminding one of another historic episode:.... that of Drake insisting upon finishing his game of bowls before going forth to fight the great Spanish Armada. Lieutenant-colonel Colquhoun addressed a meeting of returned soldiers at Alexandra, and it was decided to form a branch of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association.