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Otago Witness, Issue 3429, 2 December 1919, Page 3

A very fine record of war service was r©» vealed at the unveiling of a soldiers' memorial tablet at theXWaterside Workers* rooms on the 24th. The unveiling ceremony was performed, after an appropriate speech by Mr J. Burton (president of the union). Messrs Tyrrel and • Morris (union secretary) also spoke. The tablet, which is a handsome one of bronze, bears the names of 56 members of the union who saw service overseas, and of these nine were killed in action. In addition to these there •were some 40 members of the union who had donned the King's uniform, although they did not see any fighting, and many others were engaged in transport work, so that the total war effort of the union, which has a numerical strength of about 200. is a rather remarkable one.

A clerical visitor from the States, in addressing a meeting in the city last week, made passing, reference to the Mormons, of whom he said there were 435,000 in the United States. Mormonism, he said, was not only a sect but a great political movement, and the political ramifications of the Mormons extended beyond "Utah to the adjoining States. That was on© reason why Protestants felt anxious about them. " Their lives are pure," said the speaker, " compared with many others, and they have a great reputation for integrity in business. The question of polygamy has been largely eradicated, but there is no doubt that it is still being practised in some remote places." "Messrs J. Smith, T. A. Munro, and C. J. Inder (members of the Otago Land Board), and Mr R. T. Sadd (Commissioner of Crown Lands) last week paid a visit of. inspection to certain properties in tba Otago Central district. Mr Inder joined the party at Ranfurly on the Tuesday morning, and it then proceeded to Lauder, where it was-mat by motor cars and conveyed to Mr J. Beattie's property at St. Bathans. The properly comprises" 4000 odd acres of free* hold and 9000 acres of pastoral leasehold. The freehold has been offered to the Government by Mr Beattie for a soldiers' settle ment, and he is also prepared, if the pur • chase is decided on, to surrender the lease: hold. The leasehold would-be useful for two back blocks for two pieoes of the freehold. Cromwell was reached that aught, and the following day and on Thursday the party practically went round the Mount Pisa Station. The leasehold of this pro* perty, which comprises 147,000 acres, will expire in February, 1921, and it is to bo subdivided by the Government into pastoral runs. There are also several thousand acres, served by irrigation, which will be suitable-for close settlement. Hawea Flat was traversed, Pembroke and Arrowtown visited, and Roxburgh reached on the Thursday night' On Friday the party visited Mr Pannett's property at Hill Springs, adjoining th© Teviot Station. This property has just been acquired by the Government. The Phantom block, at the eastern end of the Teviot Estate—also now the property of th© Government—was looked over, and the new road that is being formed to give access to the different subdivisions' inspected. On the Friday the lower slopes of the frontage of the Beaumont run were inspected. The lease of this pastoral run expires in February, 1920. There are 69,000 acres in th© leasehold. Two small fruit farms and another property that is being offered, all near Ettrick, were visited, and Roxburgh made the headquarters for the night. On the way to Beaumont to catch the train on Saturday on the return to Dunedin, another fruit farm and other land near Edievale were examined. 'Did you have time while in America_ to study in any way the effect of prohibition there?" was a question put to Mr Robert MacPhail, of Roxburgh, by a Daily Times representative. "Well," said Mf MacPhail, "I slid, but not from the point of view of a partisan. I have never taken muoh interest, either in prohibition or the liquor business. My impression is that prohibition in America is not prohibition at all. You could prior to the enforcement of-- prohibition stock your ccllara wit}} whiajty and i » es, and also on the pretext that it is fctf your own consumption; in fact, whan thle was notified enormous quantities of liquor were stored in this way* You can stall buy ale containing 21 pe# cent, of alcohol at th* bars, and I Knov*

men who say that it is not different from ordinary boer." Discussing- the economic Bflect of prohibition in the States, he eaid that judging from inquiries mado by him it was not a success. The immediate effect of the prohibition measure was to force i.p prices. "For instance," said Mr Mao Phail, producing a pair of boots, "boots iiko these cost somewhere between £2 and and £3 before prohibition was carried, and just before I came away I paid £4 10s for this pair. Clothes are Very dear. A Buit of clothes costing 70 dollars when I landed in America, to-day coots 100 dollars, and everything in the clothing line has increased abnormally. ■ Ono tiring that aj>pealed to mo most forcibly was the differ-

ence in tho wages paid at Los Angeles and those paid at San Francisco. A draper's assistant in Los Angeles receives only 20 dollars per week, whereas a man in a corresponding position in San Francisco gets 50 dollars per week. My experience proved to me that the cost of living in Loe Angeles Is as high if not higher than that it is in San Francisco. I met many people <■! various types towards tho end of my visit, and they say that if the people get a vote on the liquor question prohibition will not be long in force. I saw more drunken people in America after the inauguration of prohibition than I did before. During my early experiences in the States it was quite an uncommon thing to seo a drim&pn

man in the streets. The Americans are not a drinking people, but they love their liberty."

! An elder of First Church, Invercargill, Mr W. 'A. M'Caw, intimated to the Assembly last week amid hearty applause, that the elders of the congregation had completed arrangements by which they would treble their contributions to foreign missions during the coming year. "I challenge every elder here," ho said, "to go back to their own churches and do likewise."

According to the Gazette of November 13, Lieutenant-colonel and Brevet-colonel (temporary Bris>adier-general) George Napier Johnston," C.M.G., D. 5.0., Royal Artillery, has relinquished the appointment of G.O. in-charge administration, N.Z.E.F., and G. 0.0. N.Z.E.F. in the United Kingdom, and has been appointed military representative in the United Kingdom. It may be added, that considerable dissatisfaction is expressed in military circles sut the fact that this appointment should have been given to an Imperial officer in preference to an officer from New Zealand. At a well-attended meeting in the New Zealand Express Company's board room last week it was decided to form, an Otago Artillery Association. Lieutenant-colonel Falla, who presided, explained the idea tmderlyicg the formation of the association, which originated mainly among returned artillerymen, who thought that such an organisation might help to retain" old associations and to promote the welfare of artillerymen generally. Membership will be open to past and present artillerymen — field or garrison. The election of officebearers resulted as follows: —Patron, Brigadier-general G. N. Johnston, C.M.G., D.S.'O.; president, Lieutenant-colonel Falla; vice-presidents—Lieutenant-colonel Strong, and Lieutenant-colonel T. Messrs G. L. Denniston, G. C. Proudfoot, G. R. Ritchie, and H. L. Tapley; committeeMajor J. G. Jeffery, Leutenants I. W. Cowie and A. Cameron, Messrs W. Wilson and S. R. Smith; hon. secretary and treasurer, Captain J. W. Smeaton; hon. solicitor, Mr J. M. Paterson; hon. auditor, Mr W. T. Monkman.

In reply to a letter from Mr A. S. Malcolm, M.P. for Olutha, urging that the sums on the Estimates should he spent as soon as possible, the Minister of Publio Works replies: "I have issued a circular to all local bodies requesting them to inform the district engineer of such works as they desire to proceed with at once-, when authorities will be issued for same. You had better advise the local bodies in your neighbourhood to communicate with the district engineer on the subject." In the Kaitangata Court, before Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., Thomas Johnston, labourer, Kaitangata, was charged with cruelly ill-treating a horse by riding it while it was suffering from a sore back. Constable Turner said- that there was - a sore 4in long by l-gin wide along the backbone, under the back of the saddle. It was raw in places, and was irritated by a coarse fibre sack which the defendant used under the saddle. The magistrate severely cautioned the defendant, and imposed a fine of £l, with 7s costs. - ,' A Press Association telegram from Christchurch states that the Press has reason to believe that the Coal Mine Owners' Association has agreed to meet representatives of the miners in conference on certain terms, which are not yet public. The association's decision to agree to a conference was tho result of a request by the Prime Minister, a

At a special meeting of the Synod of Otago and Southland, held in First Church, Invercargill, on the 25th ult., the Synod agreed to make grants of £2OO to the Sea-cliff-Warrington congregation for manse enlargement; of £l5O to the South Taieri congregation for removing the Otokia Church to a more convenient site; of £SOO to First Church, for church repairs and improvements; and of £75 to the South Invercargill Church for manse repairs.

"I have reason to believe that the last soldier to sail from England is aboard ship at the present moment," said Mr Massay in his reply to a deputation last Tues'day morning (states a Christ-church Press Association telegram). He added that there would be a few straggler#coming back later, but those who wanted to come were now op. fch&ir way. He came to this conclusion because one ship coming out had been able to take passengers other than those who had been engaged in war work. The possibility of another increase in the price of tea is forcasted by Auckland merchants (says our correspondent). In some of the retail houses pound packets are still selling at 2s 2d and 2s 6d, but tho supply is limited, and, with the increased cost of landing, the price to consumers will inevitably increase. It is stated by one

merchant that tea, is being sold in Auckland at a lower cost than it could be landed there, but when tho existing stocks are exhausted the price rhust advance. One factor in the present shortage is held to be the conversion of the United States from a coffee-drinking to a tea-drinking country. Before the war comparatively little tea, was consumed, and a considerable portion of that was green tea, which is practically unknown in New Zealand. Tho troops returning from the front, however, took with them a decided taste for tea, and their conversion has apparently spread to the homes throughout their country. A striking tribute was paid to the work which ' was performed by Sir James Allen as Minister of Defence during the war period by Mr E. Kellett, Independent Labour candidate for. Dunedin North, in the course of his election speech at Ravensbourne last night. "While I was a member of the Otago and Southland Military Service Board," said Mr Kellett, "1 came under the administration of the Defence Department, and although Sir James Allen is on the opposite side of politics to myself, I want to pay him my humble tribute of praise During tho darkest days of the war the Minister of Defence stood by his guns courageously, and when tho critical period arrived of calling up the men- of the Second Division, he never flinched for a.moment. It took a strong man to stand where'he stood, and I admire him. for it.". The speaker's remarks were endorsed by the hearty applause of all present. Referring to prohibition and its effect in the United States, the Rev. William C. Allen, of San Jose, stated in the course of an address on Monday night that the churches had not been the battlers for temperance to such a great extent as might be supposed, but that the individual members of the churches had been the backbone of the movement. Since prohibition oame into force in America, he said, the gaols had become very nearly empty, and the conditions were really wonderful. He quoted statistics to show that in San Francisco the number of arrests for drunkenness last July was about one-fourth of the number in July, 1918, and said there had been less arresting, less gambling, and less vagrancy generally. As to the hotels, he said that in Atlantic City the hotels could accommodate 200,000 people. Three of them were owned by Quakers, and they had proved very mints to the proprietors. The dry' hotels were, the money makers. The brewers in America, he stated, were now taking their capital to China and Mexico and starting in business there, and Christian people felt shame that it should be so. Efforts were being made to put a stop to the practice, and it was likely that those engaged in it would forfeit' their citizenship in the United States. A great effort had been made by the United States Government to deal with the drink problem in the army, and the effects, of it had been wonderful. Ho lived 18 miles from Camp Fremont, one of the great concentration camps in the United States. The streets of the town were always thronged with soldiers, and only once in two years had he seen one in a drunken condition. No servant in any hotel was permitted to serve any United States officer with liquor.

A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that an Order-in-Council revokes the war regulations restricting remittances of money from New Zealand. Canon Curzon-Siggers received a telegram last week from Archdeacon Richards stating that Bishop Julius has now definitely fixed the consecration of Archdeacon Richards, Bishop-designate of Dunedin, for the morning of January 6. The Feast ri the Epiphany will be held at St. Paul's Cathedral, Dunedin.

A Press Association telegram states that at a conference between members of the Wellington District Repatriation Board, the Master Builders' Union, and the. Wellington branch of tho Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners it was decided to arrange for the training of 100 fit unskilled returned soldiers m building work. It was considered that three years' training would be necessary to instruct a man in carpentry, joinery, and box-making. It was decided that all trainees must attend the Technical School. The trainees will be picked men, and their wages will be made up to £3 per week by the Repatriation Department until the award wages are earned.

A deputation consisting of Messrs A. Haugh, A. Smaill, and A. E. Edie, accompanied by Mr G. M. Smith, secretary of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Association, waited upon the Land Board on the 26th on' behalf of the Tapanui Returned Soldiers' Association to inquire as to runs in the Tapanui district, which it was thought should be opened for returned soldiers. The deputation was introduced by Mr C

E. Statbam, M.P. Objection was made to the extension of the lease of Wildcn Estate for another year to Mr Acton-Adams. Mr Sadd (Commissioner of Crown Lands) said roads would have to be made -and a survey taken, and it would not be possible to have the place ready for subdivision before February next. Tlhcy could take tho leasehold, but it was not desirable; they wished to give both freehold and leasehold together. In reply to. ar» inquiry regarding the Hukarere Run, the commissioner said it was not suitable for subdivision, and the former licensee also had the right of renewal. Tho Leithan Run, which the deputation said had been renewed without being balloted for, was stated by Mr Sadd to be an education reserve endowment, and dealt .with** under the Public Bodies' Leases Act. In any case it would bo a very awkward run to subdivide, as it would entail much difficulty in* separating high and low country. The General Assembly last week, on the motion of Professor Davies, appointed a committee of Ohristchurch ministers and. laymen, with the Rev. J. Paterson as convener, " to consider anew the policy of the Church on the question of religious instruction in State schools," and instructed the committee to confer with other religious bodies and representatives of teachers and report to next Assembly. Professor Davies said it was most necessary that they should carry the teachers with them in what they did. The Bible-in-schools question had been in abeyance during- the war, but it was now intended that it should be actively taken up again. A very successful concert was held in the Public Hall, Henley, on the' 26th ult. in aid of the annual collection for the Hospitals Helpers' Association. Notwithstanding. the unpromising weather the hall was well filled. A party was organised by Mrs Baker, whilst the local arrangements were made by Mr Amos M'Kegg, who acted- as chairman, ■ The vocalists were Misses K. Carter, Clare Dillon, and Lucy James. Recitations were given by Mr Ralph Vivian, Mr J.. Deaker* provided the comic element, and Mr J. A. Haggitt, in addition to rendering several items, acted as accompanist. The pro-, gramme was an excellent one, all the items being encored. A cake provided by Mrs ,Garth was raffled, and the winner put it up to auction, and it was put up time after' time, and realised £8 10s. Finally it was given to Mrs Baker to. be raffled in Dunedin. During the evening Mr D. Harris Hastings, on behalf of the executive, explained the objects of the Hospitals Helpers' Association, and thanked the-performers for their services, and the residents for their hearty support. ,An enjoyable dance terminated a most successful function.

The Bresbyteriaii Assembly last week, on the motion of Dr Gibb, adopted l a long resolution with reference to the Peace Treaty, giving thanks to God fojr the peace nowestablished between the Empire and its late enemies, and that in the Treaty of Peace the covenant of the League of Nations finds a prominent place. The resolution called upon the people -of the Church to be instant in prayer that God would inspire the councils of the nations, and especially the United States of America; that universal adherence might be given to the covenant and the day hastened. when war's horrors should be banished from the ,earth. It besought ministers to familiarise themselves with the terms of the league's constitution, so that they might be abls to quicken public opinion towards the world--ivide adoption of the league.

A keen Palmei-ston North gardener has' had a peculiar and painful experience (says the Times). He was sorting out his seeds and came upon an assortment of primulas. These he rubbed thoroughly with his hands, and, becoming hot in the exertion, wiped his forehead with his palm. That evening his hands and head swelled to abnormal proportions, and he suffered violent pain. A' doctor who was called in at once diagnosed primulas as the cause and blood-poisoning as the trouble. The result was that the gardener spent •several days in bed. The primula, is a dangerous form of horticulture. The population of Australia is now over 5.000,000, exclusive of full-blooded aborigines. This is the latest estimate of the Commonwealth Statistician (says the Melbourne Age), and it does not go beyond the year 1918, when the figure was set at 5,030,479. This "is a marked increase on the 1900 figures, which gave the population as 3,765,339. It is somewhat remarkable that whereas large numbers of men were out of the country during the war period, the population statistics were inclined to go up in 1917 and 1918, at a time when the exodus of soldiers had probably reached its zenith. From 1900 to 1914 there was a steady increase in population, but in 1915 there was a falling off of about 9000. Again in 1916 the figures went down further by about 50,000, but in 1917 they returned to about the 1914 mark. Thenco they jumped in 1918 to over 5,000,000, and are probably continuing to increase. There was a steady, increase in births over deaths from J 914 to 1918., but in 1915-16-17 there was an excess,of emigration over immigration. In 1918 tho position was reversed,' the excess of immigration over emigration being 19,678. The sacrifice by a schoolgirl of her life in an attempt to rescue a playmate from drowning was revealed by the inquest as to the death of a half-caste native girl, Olive Murphy, aged nine. The inquest was held at Matata last week. Olivo Mark, a schoolgirl, nine years of age, deposed that a party of five girls, including deceased and herself, went bathing at the seaward entrance to the lagoon at Matata. One of the party, Whangapoa Pita, got into difficulties, and Olive Murphy went to the 3 rescue, but immediately sank, evidently not being able to swim. The girl Pita scrambled on to a rock, and thus reached shore, but Olivo Murphy never rose again. Two of the party went for assistance to some boys bathing close by. Further evidence showed that the boys recovered the body and adult assistance was obtained. The adults tried artificial respiration,* but - without avail. The jury returned the following verdict: "That Olive Murphy met her death by drowning on Tuesday,. NoYen>

ber 11, at Matata lagoon, whilst trying to oave the life of Whangapoa Pita. The

jury wishes to sympathise with the parents in the loss of their child, and commend the brave action of deceased in attempting to save her playmate." The perfect stability of modern aeroplanes and their safety as passenger carriers has just been amply demonstrated by FlightLieutenant W. H. Treloar and First Class Air Mechanics H. F. Lord, who left Essendon on August 11 and returned there on October 28, after completing a tour which covered 3000 ' miles (says .the Melbourne Age). During the tour the plane visited Echuca, Deniliquin, Hay, Wagga, and many other towns. It took up at different stages an aggregate of 400 passengers, and had no mishaps, whatever, nor engine trouble of any kind,. This constitutes a record in Australian aviation. The machine used was

a De Haviland 6, fitted with a 90 horsepower " Raf " engine. The return flight from Benalla occupied 84 minutes, the

machine being favoured with a northerly wind*. Amongst those who took the air wero Rev. Dr Anderson, Bishop of Riverina; Mr and Mrs Leigh Falkiner, Mr Frank Guthrie (who has become addicted to flying), Mr Thomas Ellis, Mr Sugden, and

the mayors and mayoresses of various

municipalities. Messrs Treloar and Lord are taking the machine to Belmont Common, Geelong, where they intend to flit about the Western district. The Napier branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants passed the following motion: —"That the Napier branch of the A.S.R.S. earnestly 'requests our executive to ask the Prime Minister to explain the reason why the Reform Government voted the large sum of £340,000 of public money as a bonus -to butter producers, when members of the Second Division find it very harcU indeed to exist at the present rate /ot wages. We urgently demand that the executive immediately interview the Minister of Railways for a definite statement regarding increases to the Second Division, and urgently demand at least 2s 6d per day increase all round"; also that the scale of in,creases to the Police Force was granted without having to be • placed before a committee, and why different treatment is meted out to two branches of Government servants." Our Wellington correspondent informs us that Major-general Sir E. W. C. Chaytor, •who commanded the Anzac Mounted Division in Palestine, will shortly take over the duties of General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Defence Forces. Majorgeneral Robin has held the post of General Officer Commanding for five years and three months, or three 'months longer than the period contemplated by Parliament. The usual period of appointment laid down by

Act of Parliament is four years, which may be extended for one year. Thus in five x years' time Colonel Chaytor will retire. v Major-general Kobin, who will reach

the retiring age for superannuation next year, will proceed to Samoa to take.,up the "* temporary administration of the territory

during the absence of the Administrator {Colonel R. W. Tate). He will be so engaged for several months, and will then return to New Zealand.

In the midst of so many references to profiteering it is refreshing to be able to record one case at least where the practice did not exist. It occurred at the recent sitting of the Otago Land Board. A discharged soldier applied for an advance to enable him to purchase a city residence, and board, with the valuer's report before it, considered the price asked by the seller a little too high, and advised the applicant to approach the owner direct and see whether a reduction could be arranged for. In the afternoon the soldier returned

and smilingly informed the board that the price had been reduced by £SO. _ The

owner of the property confirmed the statement, adding that she was a soldier's widow, and was glad to bo able to assist the man. On behalf of the board Mr Sadd, the chairman, warmly thanked the lady for her very generous action. Mr John Logan, secretary of the Owaka School Committee, wrote to Clutha County Council declining acceptance of a parcel of Peace Booklets. Councillor Maginness said the School Committee made application to the council for 150 booklets, which were supplied, and unless the money was paid they would probably not get a subsidy. The oommittee were trying to say that he had promised them th& booklets. The Owaka School Committee was the only school whioh had made any objection to the payment. It was unlikely that he would have promised to supply only one •ahooh He should have supplied them to

the whole lot. was quite prepared, if they had not got the money in hand to put his hand in his pocket and assist them. -He had distinctly told the committee that 150 was the number that they would be charged for, 20 to Tarara, and 30 to Houipapa. Paying half-cost, the amount would be £3 15s. He moved that fresh applications be made for payment of the amount. This was agreed to

A well attended meeting was held at Wedderburn on the 24th ult., when it was resolved to form a company for the purpose of erecting a public hall. Appli-cations-for shares to the value of £135 were received in the room. Messrs J. Deveney, W. Lobb, and W. Reid were appointed to canvass (jhe district for the purpose of placing shares. A committee was appointed to prepare a sketch plan of the building and an estimate of the probable cost. Mr W. Shea was appointed secretary. It was proposed to building that will meet

the requirements of the district for some years. It is expected that ample funds will be' forthcoming to enable a suitable building to be completed before next winder.

The Prime Minister has received a cable from the New Zealand Government agent in Melbourne, intimating that the Federal Government has agreed to remove the embargo on the export of bona fide contracts for dried fruits, entered into, before October, "provided the total shipments do not exceed 400 tons. The liquidator of the Electrio Gold Dredging Company has forwarded to the Hospital Board- £5 as a contribution towards giving the occupants of the Benevolent Society Christmas cheer.

It was stated at the Wellington Methodist Synod last week that the centenary celebrations would take place in February, 1922, and that the Rev. S. Chadwiok would be invited to visit New Zealand that year, and take part in the celebrations. The committee also recommended that the Rev. Gypsy Smith be invited to conduct a series of missions during 1923. The Prince-con-sort Tugi, of Tonga, who is a member of the Methodist Church, is also to visit New Zealand in connection with the celebrations. The committee recommended that the sum aimed at for the Thanksgiving Fund be £35,000, to be allocated as follows: —Superannuation Fund, £8000; Theological Collego, £8000; Church Building and Loan Fund, £8000; Foreign Missions, £5000; Home Missions, £2500; Wesley Training College, £2500; unallocated sum, £IOOO. The Synod strongly urged that leading laymen bo appointed by the conference to assist in the financial campaign., The Rev. W. J. Williams., of Ohristchurch, is to be requested to write a history of the Methodist Church in New Zealand.

Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., presided over a sitting of the Warden's Court yesterday, when an application was brought by Arthur Charles Buckland, for whom Mr C. G. White appeared, for a dissolution of partnership with James Dunnery, Albert Edward Usherwood, and Andrew Smail Johnston, in connection with a mining claim at The Reefs, on the ground that the claim was abandoned during the time he was away on active service. He also applied to have the terms of paragraph G of the agreement between himself and the defendants carried out. This provided that all mining plant placed on the claim at The Reefs up till May 20, 1918, should remain as the plaintiff's property until th«|

balance of payments due to him had been made. Mr Hay appeared for the defendants. The magistrate reserved his decision. During the last few weeks (says the Napier Telegraph), postmasters in country towns, where the only post office is the country store, have been considerably perturbed at the action of the Government in reducing the salaries of all officers. At one place not a hundred 1 milesi from Napier,

where the person sworn in as the postmaster has to work on an average of six hours daily, to attend to the Government's business, the salary has been cut down from £l2O to £65 per annum. At another country place it was proposed to reduce the payment from £6O to £SO. The postmaster in this case immediately replied telling the department to either leave the salary as it was, increase it, or stop it altogether and get somebody else. The business of the department is still being done at the same place and no reduction has been made.

An extraordinary letter has just been received from an English officer engaged in the promotion of anti-Bolshevist progaganda in Siberia (states the Auckland Star). "The line of battle," he writes, "literally

sways to and fro according as our propaganda or that of the enemy is the stronger. And unfortunately the enemy is very much the stronger, the sharper, the better organised, and the more enterprising. He sends whole trainloads of propaganda master to the front, placing it, quite rightly, "on the same footing as S.A.A. for the firing line. This is a struggle of newspaper editors against generals, and the editors are winning very often. AH the Bolshevist leaders are journalists—Lenin, Trotsky, Tchicorin, Karachan, Radek, Bucharin, Petrovsky, Lunacharsky Considered from a literary

On the recommendation of the Hospital point of view, some of the Bolshevist progaBoard Finance Committee it was decided at g-anda distributed amongs£ the soldiers and a meeting of the board on the 27th to in- peasants here are masterpieces, being short, crease the salary of the medical superintend- written in simple language, telling, effecent (Mr Falconer) to £IOOO as from March tive, though false, and to the last degree 1 next, with the present allowance for house pernicious." The object of the English acuommodation. captain's letter ie to get the publio at large . r. / i c . !.___• „,„ -u„ to send any matter dealing with the foreign A fine sample of strawberries grownl by Bolshevism addressed to the progaMr Bndgman, of Sunnyholm Orchard Rip- department of Kolchaok's Siberian ponvale, Cromwell, was sold in Dunedm 8 intention ig to enliffhten ft, recently, and being the first of the season eaßant „ to the world view of realised a good price. and in thja campaign it is hoped At the last meeting of the Clutha County that New Zealand sml participate. Council a letter was received from the rn , . , .- .- ..., . . ~ Minister of Railways (Mr W. F. Massey), _ The that private boxes at the in connection with the request for a motor General f P &*» * re ..«£• '\TZ velocipede for the doctor at Owaka, Mr <^ 00 1 f f *"T Mas 4. stated, that the department had al- -£££• **£,-£» **£* &££ ways in the interests of publio safety de- j officra] / sta . te oonnect ion finitely opposed and refused to countenance :fctft B any proposal that privately owned motor £zm an{J j noteg worfch 5Qa from Qne driven vehicles, supplied by doctors and box ttt b I<jsfc key> others, should be permitted to run-on the Md had poM fo]y left i* foi the lock. As soon railways under any circwnstanoes While fljj ]oSa of fc WM reported ft, fully appreciating the aspect of the case, officiak chang-d the- lock. The he regretted he could not authorise com- theft hovvever> had occurred in the meanphance with the request. The communiea- time ._ in t he interval between the loss of tion was received. t he key and the putting on of the new

lockOne of the Australian women who went to the Women's International Congress held at Zurich, under the presidency of Miss Jane Addams, America's best-known woman, tells of its most dramatic moment. It was when Madame Melin, from the war-scarred region of Northern France, took her place in the gathering 1 , and was instantly approached by the chief German delegate, Gustava Heymann, who, in the name of the women of Germany, presented her with a bunch of pink roses. As the French woman grasped the hand of her official enemy the whole body rose and pledged itself to organise against war. The Frenchwoman's speech was. tragically moving. The price of kapok has been advancing of late and another increase has now been made. Inquiries instituted by a New Zealand Times reporter warrant the expectation that even the present price likely to be increased. "Yes," said a Wellington business man, who deals in kapok, "the price has just been increased 20 per cent., and is likely to rise still further. No. 1 kapok (Imperial roll) has just been increased from 75s to 84s and the peculiar part of it is that in one part of New Zealand the lowct price rules, while in another the higher | figure obtains. The following letter lias been addressed by the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association to the Prime Minister: —"It has been reported in tho daily press recently that General Birdwood will be visiting Australia in the near future, and I have been instructed by my committee to inquire whether your Government intends also to extend an invitation to the general to visit these shores. 'ln suggesting that this should be done, my committee feels confident thaV not only will General Birdwood receive a '

most cordial welcome from returned soldiers throughout the dominion, by whom he is regarded as a personal friend, but also by the general public, which is fully aware of the manner he has endeared himself to the men of the Anzac Corps. My committee therefore trusts, if indeed it has not already been done, a most pressing invitation will be extended to General Birdwood at the earliest possible moment."

An extensive tour of the South Island will be made by theirg; Excellencies the Governor-general and the Countess of Liverpool before taking up their residence in Christchurch for the Christmas season. Leaving Wellington on Thursday last, they will visit in turn Picton, Blenheim, Havelock, Nelson, Westport, Greymouth, Reefton, Hokitika, Inveroargill, 'and Bluff. The vice-regal party expects to reach Christchurch on December 9 or 10, and will remain there for-some five or six weeks.

At the monthly meeting of the' Waikouaiti County Council on the 28th, the chairman (Cr A. S. Orbell) intimated that for 18 years consecutively the county clerk (Mr J. Porteous) had succeeded in collecting all the rates. He said this was a very fine record, and they had isvery reason to be satisfied with the service rendered by Mr Porteous. ... " /

The illustrations used by open-air orators to point their arguments at times leave openings for repartee and interjection by quick-witted individuals in the audience. On a recentl (Sunday a Labour advocate, addressing an open-air meeting in Auckland, compared the human community to a hive of bees, and declared that just as the workers in the beehive killed off the drones at certain season the workers of the human community should do away with the'drones of human society. To further point his argument, the speaker *said ho knew what he was talking about; he had baes —"yes, in your bonnet," came in a clear voice from the fringe of the crowd, and laughter drowned the reply. Unions applying to the Arbitration Court for amendments of their awards have been assisted by the Government Statistician's figures only in demonstrating increases in the cost of the "three food groups" and rent. Mr Justice Stringer stated in Wellington on Tuesday that in future dealings with "cost of living" oases, the court would oonsider the rise in the .oost of clothing, and . not only that, bu>t the increase also in the cost of fuel and lighting. These matters had been specially investigated by the statistician, and his Honor thought that the court had more accurate data to go upon' than it had ever had before. Not only does it appear that the world is shorter of food for the mouths to fill than it has. over been, but there is likewise a great shortage of clothing material. The simple sooloo or loin cloth of the Malay may yet perforce become the mode in warm weather. The opinion in the wholesale trade appeared to be that after the war prices would be on a higher level for a little while, but the manufacturers* would soon overtake the market with a corresponding moderation of prices. The prospects are all to the contrary (states the Post). The-following cablegram, dated November 20, received by a New Zealand house from its London office will show why:—"Conditions of purchasing and delivering considerably worse since last cablegram (November 1). Pyjama and shirtings greatly advanced, whilst prices still advancing. Print prices advancing. Delay in delivery before May or June practically certain. Have insuperablo difficulties in getting any cotton goods for spring and summer. Hosiery houses fairly rushed with orders. Manufacturers in all classes goods snowed under with business, prices consequently strong." The spring and summer goods referred to are for the New Zealand trade of 1920-21, which begins in August so far as the wholesale trade is concerned, and in September for the retail trade. Relief from Japan is not expected, as Japanese prices are raised in sympathy with the world's market. Extreme prices, it is reported, ai'e now being fixed for Japanese silks, and cotton goods of all descriptions. American goods of like description 03 in the same category.

An amusing story is in on tho West Coast touching- the advice given by a lawyer. At ono of tho townships a lot of driftwood was washed on to tho beach. Many of the residents, including the lawyer, piled tip the wood and sought vehicles to take it away. One man took another's' pile, and the man whose pile had disappeared sought advice from the solicitor regarding the possibilities of a successful action for the recovery of the wood. The solicitor advised that he had no action, and the man paid his fee. Straight away the man whose wood stack had been taken got a cart and. appropriated the solicitor's pile of wood.