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Otago Witness, Issue 3443, 9 March 1920, Page 3

The Governor-general, Lord Liverpool, will hold an investiture of the Order of the British Empire at the Art Gallery a* 11 o'clock on March 12. In the afternoon h e will be "presented by the Mayor (Mr Wm. Begg), on behalf of the citizen* of Dunedin, with a farewell address.

Imports from America will soon begin' ■% .to show a considerable falling off, in con-,? sequence of the adverse rate of exchange * (says our Wellington correspondent). A \ Wellington firm spent some £2O the other day. in cabling to the United States to caneel a number of large orders for goods. * The Otago Methodist Synod and the ' Victoria League will present addresses to j? the Prince of Wales during his visit to Dumedin. ,

The Christchurch City Council last weeU • decided not to make the proposed squaro site available' for the cityV waaif memorial. An Association telegram 'statW that a resolution waS. passed that, in th« opinion of the council, the cost of the war memorial should be raised by voluntarysubscription. ~

Mr- W. Beauchamp-Platts, the secretaryof the- New Zealand Aiitomobi!e Union, has written as follows about the recent record-breaking 'journey from Auckland to ' Bluff :—"The attention of the New Zealand . Automobile Union has been directed to a report of a speed test made recently by a, party of motorists journeying from Auckland to Wellington. From the report, as published, it would appear that the average speed over the whole journey was 33 miles per hour. Assuming the report to be correct, it is evident that, to maintain this average, the car must have been travelling at a very high rate of speed' on suitable \ stretches of ground. At a meeting of my • -union, held on Wednesday last, it wag resolved : —'That this union strongly di3- . approves of motor speed tests being made on any public road, and local association* be requested not to act in any capacity in. connection with such tests. This union considers that the proper authorities should take such steps as may be necessary to pre- ! vent a recurrence of these tests, which are undoubtedly* a grave danger to all usert of the road.' " Advice has been received that a meeting of shareholders'in the Taranaki (Newi Zealand) Oil Wells, Ltd., held in London recently, confirmed the resolution that the" company' go into voluntary liquidaition.' When this matter was referred to him; the . Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. R Massey) said the Government had spent a great deal of money in assisting the company, but could not see' its way to do more. . : >•■ " v . :.■'•'':'::'

The polling for the election of two members of the Mosgiel Borough Council on the 2nd resulted as follows:—J. F. Frew, 167, votes; J. Garrett, 139; D. H. Waldie, 94; J. Wright, 69; J. Williamson, 58; D. Barclay, 25. Although only 289 electors out- oi 983 voted, a large number of person* awaited the declaration of the poll. Th« candidates briefly returned thanks. The police, on ' advice received from th« Crown Law Office, Wellington, are taking proceedings against Gladys Bachelor (ot Waimate), the witness who refused to give * evidsnee against James Hayne and the mam Neylon in the Supreme Court at Wellington recently. The nature of the charge to be preferred against her is, that sh© permitted an offence to be committed on herself. ". • * '' !?'

The following resolutions were passed on the 2nd at a mass meeting at Addington (states a Christchurch Press Association telegram):—" (1) That this mass meeting of Addington Workshops employees desire* to express its profound dissatisfaction at the prolonged delay in making known M», Justice Stringers verdict in the recent inquiry regarding wages, and urges the exocu. tive to take immediate action. Wo shall support the executive in whatever aotiori it may take. (2) That we view with grave alarm the rumouited wanton destruction ot clpthing by the military authorities. Six weeks ago they canvassed the workshop* for orders for the sale of these artiolei and cash was demanded with the order. W«; now understand that the authorities her*' have cancelled the orders received, and arc chopping the garments up and selling them at Wd per lb for jees. We dem&nq. a public inquiry.''- Aft Auckland telegraai

states that the men at the Newmarket "Workshops hold a stop-work meeting, at which a resolution was passed pledging support to the executive in any action it might deem necessary to take with respect to the wages question, and thanking- the president of the A.S.R.S. for the way he conducted the case before the Wages Board. The fact that the export of fruit from New Zealand, which has been suspended since 1914, is to be resumed was relsrseA to by the assistant director horticulture. Mr J. A. Campbell, at a recent gathering of fruitgrowers in Wellington. "The position of thi3 industry in regard to export is one that will be determined very largely this year," said Mr Campbell. "The department has arranged for space for about 60,000 cases on the steamers for England, and for 30,000 cases for America. Wo aro confident that the control of space will be more satisfactory than the past methods. My advice states that the Port Caroline will load" 16,000 cases of fruit at Wellington

for England on March 16." Mr Campbell added that the fruit would arrive in England when the market was bare. According to the New Zealand Tirnes the Port Caroline's shipment will be by far the largest yet-sent to England from New Zealand.

Porcelain enamelled baths are not exactly a cheap item in house-building nowadays, and at least one Auckland importers finds that an unfortunate eeearrence is not likely to lower prices. Yfriting to a Wanganui client a day or two ago, the srm stated that <out of a recent shipment of 169 baths, no fewer than 60 wore broken. Consequently tho firm's calculations have been put out altogether, and at present they are unable to quote for baths at all.

A compliment was paid to the ak£Ll and efficiency of New Zealand slaughtermen by a visitor from America, Mr Adolph Hirsoh, who is touring true dominion in the interest of his firm, which deals with hides and pelts. In conversation with an officer of

the Wellington Freezers' Union (says the Post), Mr Hirsch, who is well acquainted with the trade in'.all', parts- of the world, stated that the work done by the men in New Zealand freezing works would compare favourably with that anywhere else. Mr Hirsch specially mentioned the output of pelts from the Masterton and the Whakatu works, though all the work was satisfactory by comparison with other countries.

Guide J. N. Lipp and a party of four University students—Messrs M. S. Harris, D. R. Jennings, Stewart Crawford, and J. Tanner, all of Dunedin —returned to Queonstown .ast week from the Hollyford Valley (wires our Queenslown correspondent.), "where they have been engaged for the last 10 weeks on the work of making a track up the Horner Saddle to connect with Grave and Talbot's Pass into Milford Sound.' The work was commenced at Falls Creeks, to which point the track was completed before the war. This has now been carried as far as Monkey Creek, five miles further on. Guide Lipp deplores the fact that the Government has now stopped the work, as another six weeks would have seen the completion pi the track as far as the pass. A start could then have been made next season with the track on the other side of the range on to Milford Sound. It is very important that this work of opening this new route should be prosecuted without delay, as its completion will establish direct communication between Wakatipu and Milford, and will enable tourists to make the round trip without retracing their steps. Guide Lipp is very enthusiastic about the new route, which, he says, passes through scenery indescribably grand. The Winton Pipe Band, while out on a march last week, called at the Dunedin" Hospital and played a number of selections, to the manifest enjoyment of the patients. Pipe-major Sutherland was in charge of the band.

An amusing episode. occurred during a meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery on the 2nd. A motion, of which notice had to be given, was before the meeting, and a clergyman rose to speak. Hardly had he begun, however, when the pipe organ in the church, where a wedding ceremony was in progress., broke into the music of the Wedding March. In vain did he raise his voice to the utmost of his power; the swelling strains waxed louder and louder, and, even through the barrier of a wall, drowned his voice in a paean of triumph. The clergyman, however, was not going to bo silenced by a mere thing of metal and wind, and continued his argument to the bitter end. Another, equally undaunted, followed, while the Moderator," clerk, presbytery, and luckless pressmen sat in complete ignorance of what was being said. Then, as the second man finished his speech, the thunder of the organ died away. The. Moderator put. the motion to the meeting and declared it to be carried. An elderly man rose to his feet: "What was the motion?" he inquired, aggrievedly. "I never heard a word they were saying." Then it transpired that the clerk's salary had been raised to £SO. It is perhaps due to him to say that, when the meeting understood what it had done, not a single dissenting voice, was heard. A dastardly theft is reported by. an elderly bootmaker carrying on business in the city (says an Auckland Press Association message). On the 28th ult. a young man entered liis shop and selected a pair of boots, which were wrapped up for. him. The bootmaker had just completed the parcel, when the man pulled a tin of pepper from his pocket, flung the contents in the bootmaker's face, and decamped with the boots. Fortunately for the bootmaker, he was wearing glasses, but, even so, his right eye was for the time being completely blinded.

lb has now been decided that the three King's colours which were presented by His Majesty the King to the Otago Regiment, N.Z.E.F. (for the Ist, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions), and which were recently received in Now Zealand, shall be consecrated at a ceremony to be held in Dunedin, either on Anzac Day or on the occasion of the visit of the Prince of Wales to this city, and then disposed of as follows: —Ist Battalion colours, to the Waitaki Boys' High School, Oamaru; 2nd Battalion colours, to the Southland Boys' High School, Invereargill; 3rd Battalion Colours, to be deposited at Dunedin.

The following telegram from the Prime Minister, in reply to a communication from the Dunedin Presbytery regarding the observance of Sunday during the Prince of Wales's visit, was read at a meeting of the Diunedin Presbyery last week: —'"'Replying to your telegram, I have to inform you that no functions of any kindi have been arranged for the Sundays during which His Royal Highness shall be in New Zealand, nor is travel arranged for any Sunday except that, if deer-stalking oij Saturday, May

1, prevents it being safe for His Royal Highness to , travel to Wellington on that evening, he may come by motor on the following day' (Sunday). The departure of the steamer to arrive at Picton on the morning of Monday, May 3, will not before midnight." Strange to say (a correspondent writes), 60 far as is known, the Medical Conference ignored the question of increased costs, and increased) fees 'to meet them. Possibly the members thought that such matters concerned each individual only. It is a popular delusion that the practice of medicine is a very lucrative business. The motor cars and good residences of the practitioners are merely trade tools. The majority of the members of the profession are gentlemen who, for the best part of their lives, have had no hours of leisure, and have received plenty of kicks in their struggles with the common enemy. The medical millennium, however, is at hand, when all who wish can indulge in the Government stroke. All ambition will die, and progress will be abandoned.

The local Police Department has received advice from Wanganui that several forged bank notes were presented at the races and in the town during race week. From the descriptions, the message states, the forgeries are possibly photographic. The numbers quoted are: National Bank, A 039611; Bank of Australia, Q 86215 and Q 71910. Accommodation for young men is very difficult to find in Wellington, and, with a view to relieving the position, the officials of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church have acquired the residence of Mr Algar Williams, in Hobson street. The building will shortly • 'be opened as St. Andrew's Church Hostel for the accommodation of young men of the city. Accommodation will be provided for about 25, up to the age of 25 {says the Post). The minister of St. Andrew's, which is making this progressive move, is the Rev. S. R. Orr, formerly of Milton.

Accommodation for visitors to Auckland at Easter will be at a premium (says the New Zealand Herald), for, although the holidays are still five weeks ahead, a number of the leading hotels are already fully booked up, while many requests for rooms at private hotels and boardinghouses are being received by proprietors daily. "This great city of Auckland is talking about how it is going to entertain our future Kng," said Bishop Averill at Auckland recently, "and what is it going to do? Hold a race meeting to amuse our future King! Ido not believe that the Prince of Wales wants a race meeting—(Applause.; Why do not the city authorities find something more helpful to the Prince than a race meeting, of which there are too many already." Dr Averill added that the Prince might much prefer to visit some of the institutions of the city and see some of the children, the orphans and the blind. The monthly abstract of statistics compiled by the Acting-Government Statistician shows that at December 31 the dominion population was 1,164,403, representing an increase on the year of 56,035, or 5.36 per cent. This is the largest percentage for the comparative period (10 years) covered by the abstract. The population comprised 5£8,908 males and 575,500 females. Figures showing the marriage boom were not available at the time of compilation, but the birth rate showed another fall, being 21.55 per 1000 population, against .23.44 last year. This represents an actual fall of 1.89 on 1918, and 4.14 on 1917. Deaths numbered 10,807, and the natural increase of the population was 13,683.

The depredations of the deer amongst the crops belonging to settlers on the slopes of the Blue Mountains above Rongahere have proved very annoying this year (says the Bruce Herald). The number of deer seems to have increased considerably, and the farmers have had to take measures to protect their crops of gram from being destroyed. A party which went out a weeli ago, however, resolved itself into a pighunting expedition, their activities in that direction meeting with a greater amount of success.

The startling- story of an interrupted wedding has come to light (says the Daily Express' Matlock correspondent). Miss Agnes Smith had arranged to marry Mr William Fielding, a local quarry owner, and the ceremony was arranged to take place at the Glenorchy Congregational Church, Matlock, Bath. The usual notices were issued, Out at the last moment the ceremony was cancelled, the ground being that the brideelect is the daughter of the late wife of the bridegroom by her first marriage. The bride-elect, a pretty brunette of about 22, told a sad story of a marriage spoilt by the law. She said: "We were to have been married on Saturday last, but the same morning the registrar, Mr Houseley, called and informed us that the ceremony could not take place, as jt would be illegal." Miss

Smith added: '-'I thought nothing could step in, as a deceased wife's sister can marry, and my intended husband was quite unaware of anything being out of order. We would like to be married, but we are told we cannot." The bride-elect's mother died a year ago. The matter of church union was referred to by the president of the Methodist Conference, the Rev. E. Drake, in the course of his inaugural address at Auckland last week. Me said the hopes raised by the visit of a deputation from the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church at the last Methodist Conference had not reached fruition. Because of the activities of a vigorous minority the last Presbyterian Assembly decided to reappoint the committee dealing with the matter, and to continue to seek to foster the spirit of union. Mr Drake said henvas assured by leading Presbyterians that such a decision was a very hopeful sign, and that possibly in two years' time union will be consummated. Prolonged negotiations and discussions had a tendency to become embittered and to put off the desired end. It was possible to stumble over matters of property, over nonessentials in doctrine, and even over historical traditions, and to miss the prize. Whatever proposals in the direction of evangelical church union were made in the future, they would receive the careful and sympathetic consideration of the Methodist ■ Church of New Zealand.

.Recent crimtes 'in Wellington indicate the presence in the city of one or more skilled criminals of a burglarious bent (says the Dominion), and the police have the best of evidence that experts in this business are present from Australia. Only a few days ago, a man, with a criminal record in Australia, was quietly deported to Sydney. In the case of the burglary committed at Mrs Mathewson's shop in Lamhton quay, an iron bar was sawn clean through with a ' heck-saw, showing that a skilled, patient burglar was at work. It is not likely, either, that a man unskilled in the use of plug dynamite would operate so daringly in so thickly-populated a district £S the business part of South Kilbirne as in the attempt to blow open the door of Mr P. Flipp's safe on Saturday night last. Still another instance of unwelcome activity, not hitherto reported, was the theft from Young's chemical factory of a large quantity of opium, which readily brings in a good price among the Chinese in this oountry. The.,.police staff, which is not at present up to full strength, has been having a pretty lively time of it lately. The high price of rabbitskins seems to have made bunny a profitable asset to the Southland farmer who intends to realise as much as he possibly can from this source while the industry is in a flourishing condition. Men with guns, traps, or ferrets are being warned off the properties presumably unless they give the price asked for the use of the ground, and a couple of Invercargill young men who drove into the country on Friday with ferrets were peremptorily ordered off a farm by the owner, who told them that they must not touch the rabbits (says the News). There was no evidence that anyone had been working the ground, and the visitors came away with the impression that only, those prepared to pay for the privilege could interfere with what was formerly regarded as one of the worst enemies the farmer had to contend with. A Palmerston North resident who has been engaged in an investigation states tliat a most extraordinary position, will be revealed in regard to the electoral rolls. There are approximately 530,000 persons on the rolls, but the Government Statistician reports that at the end of 1919 there were 250,000 adult males and an almost equal number of adult females in New Zealand, a total of 500,000, including overseas troops. tj

The source of the surplus voters will probably form the subject of a special inquiry.'

The Prime Minister, speaking at the Chamber of Commerce Conference on the 3rd (states a Wellington Press Association telegram), said that, in the minds of the Government, hydro-electric, development took first place. Schemes in course of construction should be finished "first, but the whole question resolved itself into one of labour and material. There was room for improvement in the main ro,ads of the country, some of which were hardly fit for bullock traction. First, main arterial roads must be tackled, and in this connection he said he did not agree that good roads meant competition with the railways. On the contrary, he thought they were good for the railways. The following resolution was carried by a mass meeting of the casuals employed in and around the goods sheds in Dunedin: "Owing to the high cost of living, we, the casuals employed by the Dunedin Railway Goods Department (50 members) pledge ourselves to abide loyally by any demand which the Executive Council of the A..S.R.S. may see fit to place before the management of the New Zealand Railways, and to support it in any action which may be deemed necessary to bring about some measure of relief."

For the purpose of repatriating a number of German Methodist missionaries and missionary sisters working; at New Britain (says an Auckland Press Association telegram) the Methodist Conference on the 3rd approved of the inclusion of £ISOO in the year's financial estimates without discussion.

In the course of a speech at the Marton Show on the 3rd (wires our Wanganui correspondent), Mr E. Newman, M.P., discussed the new position created by the removal of tho restrictions on the sale of hides, and he repeated an allegation made by Mr Massey that under the old scheme rawmaterial was sent across to Australia and came bapk in the form of boots, which were sold cheaper than the dominion manufactured article. That huge profiteering had been done to effect such a consummation, ho said, was unquestioned, and he considered that a public investigation should bo made, and severe punishment meifced out to those who were guilty of the offence of profiteering. It was because of that aspect that farmers now wanted a free market for hides. They did not object to the Government getting whatever profits

accrued, but they were strongly opposed to the dealer and the manufacturer dividing huge profits, which rightly belonged to the grower and the consumer.

I Our Wanganui correspondent wires that a visit to Wanganui and Manawafcu district lias just been made by Mr Feinhout, 'a Friesian breeder from Java. It appears that there is a good demand for that type of cattle in Java, and Mr Feinhout intends to visit all the important herds of the dominion, with a view to purchasing a consignment of good cattle f«r exportation to Java, where fresh blood is continually required to maintain a good strain. Mr Feinhout speaks very highly of the quality of the herds he has already inspected, and is oonfidemt that a good market for cattle will be opened up with Java breeders. Mr W. D. Lyanar, M.P., has forwarded to us a copy of a letter addressed to him by the Prime Minister, in which Mr Massey states that it has not been suggested that Mr Liysnar would be committing an offence by withholding his wool, but merely advises that it would be an offence to attempt to export it or to sell it to any purchaser except the Government. In his reply to the Prime Minister, Mr Lysnar insists that a circular issued by the Government contained a clear threat that after the commandeer expiresi on June 30, 1920, the restrictions will stall continue. He writes.; "While the commandeer is in existence I fully recognise vour Government has a legal right to take my wool if it takes certain steps as provided by Statute. My complaint is that now the war is over you Bhould take these proper steps, but instead of this, you are adopting a course which was not provided for by the law, and whioh in effect strips me of my right tp get a fair market value for the wool, while it enables profiteers to obtain my wool below itß true value, and these profiteers are then allowed' to make exorbitant and unreasonable profits out of, the transaction."

It is possible for a baby born this year never again to have a birthday (states an exchange). For this is leap year, and a baby born on the right spot at the right time will almost certainly have no birthdays to keep. This actually happened to a baby who was born during fhe voyage from Yokohama to San Francisco on the last day of February, 1904. It is well known that in order to make the actual number of sunrises and sunsets experienced during a voyage round the world correspond with tin calendar, an extra day must be intercalated, or " thrown overboard," according to the direction travelled. This adjustment is made at the moment of crossing the 180th meridian, which runs to the west of the midway point between 1 Japan and California. And a baby born on February 29 must be content to do without birthdays, i-nless he or she should happen to be on a similar spot at the same time in somo future leap year, which would be a rather wild improbability. As an example of the magnitude - and scope of the Repatriation Act, and the "square deal and a bit over " the returned soldiers were getting, Mr M. M. M 'Galium, retiring president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce (states the Auckland Star), quoted figures concerning the Auckland Board during eleven months. Loans for businesses, furniture, and tools totalled £246,947; ad straight-out grants for sustenance in cases of unemployment and training, and in the form of transportation fees, were as high as £35,847, 3183 men had been plaoed in employment, 900 were receiving vocational training, 250 had completed this course, and 3389 had received £289,837 in the way of financial assistance. These money figures did not include the thousands of amounts advance by the Land Boards for the purchase of dwellings, farms,, stock, and so forth.

Speaking with regard to a case before him at Wellington, in which constructive desertion was se* up as the ground for dissolution of ,tho marriage, Mr Justice Edwards said that at one time the New Zealand law allowed a party to apply for restitution of conjugal rights, and if the order to do so was not complied with in the specified time, it could be made the Sound of desertion. Such a law obtained England, New South Wales, and, he believed, in other Australian States. Owing, however, to an incautious remark made by the late Mr Justice Denniston a good many years ago at New Plymouth, when hi* Honor, when proceedings for the restitution of conjugal rignts were called on, Said "Now, come on, So-and-so, and play your part in tho fare©;" &** alteration was made. "It was," continu&cr his Honor, "a pmaU thing fef say, an idle, jpkejf but it

has borne rather disastrous consequences. It was seized upon, and legislation was passed repealing that very reasonable, very wholesome protection, which, as I have said before, eminently tended.'to morality; and now it is absolutely necessary, according to the law, to prove not less than four years' desertion. I hope, %nd fervently hope, that the Legislature, even during the coming session of Parliament, will see fit to restore the law to what it used to be before this unfortunate remark of Mr Justice Denniston, and to what it is in England and in some communities of Australia, where the conditions of life are practically the same as our own." Our Wellington correspondent wires that among those who returned from the Old World by the Tofua last week was Mr George tthirtclift'e, formerly of Messrs A. S. Patereon and- Go. deferring to an adverse late of exchange prevailing in America against the British, Mr Shirtcliffe said that the Americans did not want the present statu of aii'airs to exist, as it was interfering greatly with their export trade. Countries that had been drawing heavily from America were now importing from there only the barest necessities. The trade balance in favour of the States had risen to 4,000,030,000 dollars. It was thought that as soon as America signs the Piace Treaty, and thus ends the nominal state of war that exists between the -United States and Germany and Austria, there will be a large investment of American money in European Government securities and mercantile propositions that may go a long way to adjust the exchange problem. Mr Shirtcliffe has nothing but unbounded admiration for the manner' in which the British are grappling with post-war .difficulties. Though, the National Debt was now £8,000,000,000, 90 per cent, of that was borrowed from her own people, and the interest remained almost entirely in the country. There was undoubtedly extravagance owing to the reaction after the war, •but that was a state of affairs common to other countries as well. »

The troopship Athenio arrived at Wellington on the 4th. She had on board 30 officers, one nurse, and 213 of other ranks. Of these 46. belonged to Otago and Southland, the proportion being: 21 for Dunedin, four for Oamaru, five for Invercargill, and the remainder for smaller centres. Our Wellington correspondent wires that no intimation has so far been received as to who is to be the new Governor-General of New Zealand, but the appointment cannot be much longer delayed. It is, however, doubtful if the new appointee will arrive in the dominion in time for the opening of next session of Parliament in June next. News received from a private source by the last English mail suggests that the new Governor-General may be a high military officer. Lieutenant-colonel T, W. M'Donald, Officer Commanding the Otago Military District, visited Oamaru last week in connection with the projected visit of Hia Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. It has been arranged that the Waitaki High School Cadets will provide a guard., of honour. The Returned Soldiers in Dunedin have been invited to provide guards of honour for the Prince during his visit to Dunedin, and also throughout his southern tour. In the event of such a guard of honour not being obtainable, the High School authorities in those centres where there are high schools, will be asked to supply the necessary quota. The following applications for assistance were dealt with at last week's meeting of the Otago District Repatriation Board:—» Business Loans: Seventeen applications representing £3OIO, were received;- six amounting to £B4O, were approved; two, amounting to £420, were held over; four, representing £7OO, were withdrawn; and five, amounting to £IOSO, were declined. Furniture loans: Ten applications, representing £SOO, were received; seven, amounting to £350, were approved; two, totalling £IOO, were held over; and one for £SO waa declined. One application from an apprentice to have his wages made up to £3, was received and approved. Three soldiers who were unable to follow- their pre-war occupations, were placed in new trades and their wages subsidised. Twelve applications for technical and university training, were received; nine were approved, two held over, and one was declined.

Under the will of the late Mr George Joachim a legacy of £IOO has been bequeathed to the Oiago Art Society, such legaoy to be applicable for the general purposes of the society. After other personal

legacies have been made and certain life interests provided for, the residue of the estate will ultimately be divided in the following manner: —St. Mary's Orphanage, £500; St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Mornington, £500; half of the remainder to the Royal New Zealand Slociety for the Health of Women and Children; a quarter, to the Church of -England for the General. Church Fund at Dunedin; .a quarter to the Pension Fund at Dunedin of the Church of Ergland.

At a special meeting of. the Synod of Otago and Southland, held on Thursday afternoon, a letter was received from the Board of Property, stating that it had appointed Professor Macmillan Brown temporarily to nil the chair of English Literature at the Otago University. The appointment was concurred in by the Synod. Consideration of the appointment to the Chair of History was held over till the ordinary meeting of the Synod, to be held at the end of the month. The Rev. J. S. Ponder, Moderator, presided over the meeting. The General Church Fund of the Anglican Church of this diocese, which is utilised to supplement the stipends of the more poorlypaid olergy, has been benefited by a gift of £IOOO from Mrs J. M. Ritchie—a gift that is specially welcome under existing conditions. At the Chamber of Commerce Conference last week it was resolved that a vigorous campaign of publicity, advertising New Zealand and its products at Home, was necessary. Mr J. T. Martin described as out-of-date the methods adopted in London, and urged that greater efforts were required at this end in directing the propaganda, and that an expert was wanted to place the matter at the other end.

A Sydney cable message states that the tug Koputai, formerly owned by the Otago Harbour Board, foundered off Sydney Heads. The crew were saved.

The question of improvements to our main arterial roads was discussed last week by the conference of the chambers of commerce at Wellington, and on the motion of Mr J. B. Waters it was decided that the Government be requested to put into operation a scheme like the Victorian system, or that of the Central Government of the United States, which provides for construction and maintenance on the basis of 50 per cent, by State payments and a 6 per cent, time repayment system for the balance, which is apportioned among the interested local bodies. It was pointed out by the mover that such a scheme would be useful in furnishing employment for unskilled returned soldiers. The Government will also be requested to introduce a Bill for the taxation of motors and other powerdriven vehicles, the revenue to be derived therefrom to be allocated by three commissioners appointed for the purpose by the Government to the local bodies solely for tho improvement of arterial and main district roads.

The oyster season opened on the Ist, when large supplies arrived from the dredg-ing-ground in Foveaux Straits (says the News). In keeping with the increased cost of everything another rise in the price of bivalves is announced. Unopened, 2£ dozen can be purchased for Is, against six dozen in pre-war days; on the shell, opened, they are Is a dozen, compared with 6d, and by the bottle they are Is 9d as against the old rate of Is. The use of the oyster as an article of diet will soon become a luxury, if it is not so already, though it is said the bed of a large part of the Sttrait is paved with this appetising shellfish.

The question of the rabbit is of vital interest to several parts of the North Island, and 'will yet become even more insistent for the combined action of the people, who as yet are not being properly assisted by the department of State which they create and support for this purpose. The increase of the pest is alarming the settlers in several localities, notably in the sandy soils of Carnarvon, Himitangl, and the loamy silt of the Pohangina Valley. A farmer from the Manawatu distriot has just been investigating the conditions on one property within 20 miles of Masterton. He finds the owner faced with the problem of feeding eight rabbits to one eheep. His rabbiter earned £SOO at M*> per head last

year. About 100 traps were used. The last .five bags of sEns cost the landowner £2l, but as a set-off they realised £164. Despite the price "of wire netting, he is now enclosing 2000 acres with close mesh. It la observed that the droves of rabbits travel due north of south In search of pasture or when driven. Seldom or never do.

they move east or west. The reason for this is unknown bub would prove interesting if it could be settled. J A statement has been made that the Prime Minister has promised to pass a Bill providing for compulsory voting (telegraphs our Wellington correspondent). There is no (warrant for the statement beyond an off-hand remark in reply to an interjection : in the House of Representatives to the ; effect that the time might come when we ; should have to go in for compulsory voting. j The largest meeting of the Timaru branch ! of the Post and Telegraph Association ever ' held passed, a resolution on the sth that the present scale of. salaries was not in keeping with the high cost of living, and inj sists on an increase of not less than £BO i on the present salaries (states a Timaru i Press Association telegrams). The miniI mum for married ohicers should be inI creased to £230 and the minimum to temi porary officers to 16s per day. An all j round increase of charges is suggested as a I source of covering the extra money" re- ' quired. "

A tribunal consisting of Messrs W. H. Noiton, F. C. Ellis, and P. Agar has been set up to consider complaints in connection with any alleged profiteering in Christchurch.

When Mr G. B. Marsh, a former ■ resident of Southland, was returning from Siberia some months ago, he passed through Korea, which was then at a standstill industrially .and commercially. This was a method of peaceful revolution against Japanese rule, but later peace gave way to riots. The Koreans, Mr Marsh informed a Southland Times reporter,, are a peaceloving and likeable people, but they consider that they have a grievance against the Japanese. The son of the deceased emperor pf Korea, Prince Yie, is at present being educated at a Japanese univercity, and it is rumoured that' he is to "be married to a Japanese. These steps, it is hoped in diplomatio circles, may bring the ruler and the ruled to a closer understanding than at present exists.

The ceremony in connection with the unveiling of the memorial tablet for the fallen soldiers of the Lauder district took place on Sunday, 29th ult., in the Becks Church in the presence of a large The Rev. A. Y. G. Chandler conducted the service, and preached from the text on the tablet: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." The tablet is a beautiful work of art, and contains the names of 18 men who made the supreme sacrifice. The congregation stood while the minister read the following names: —Cecil W. Alexander., Henry Armitage, George Colling, Samuel Corrigall, William Farquhar, Herbert L. Flint, Roy Johnstone, Edwin M'Gregor, Scobie M'K. M'Gregor, George Mee, Rupert Pyle, Douglas •Strachan, John Strachan, John Swinney, Thomas Swinney, Robert H. Wade, Thomas Wade, and Carroll Wilkinson.

The Otago branoh of the Public Service Association, at a special meeting held to consider the question of increased pay, delegates were present from Seacliff Mental Hospital and the Orokonui Home. The following resolution was passed:—"That, owing to the increased cost of living since the last classification and the difficulty public servants find in meeting ever soaring prices with their present salaries, the executive of the association be asked to place the views of public servants before the Government with the object of getting relief j also that delegates be called from each centre to interview Cabinet in company with the association executive."

In connection with the recent proposal to send a New Zealand brass band to tour the world under the auspices' of the Government, word ha 3 been received from the Prime Minister that the Government has decided not to proceed with the proposal in the meantime.

Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S'.M., delivered hia reserved Judgment on the sth hi the City Police Court in connection with the case Police v. George Green. Green was charged with playing a game of " peg 3 and rings" in the Octagon on December 20 last, this being a pretended game of chance. The magistrate said there was a very considerable difference between the game of hoop-la, in connection with which thene had been a case recently before Mr justice Edwards, and the game which was the subject matter of the oharge against Green. This latter game was really a variation or a modification of the game of deck quoits, and it seemed to him that he could not say that such a game was a game of

chance. The police claimed that in the circumstances under which it was played, .it was impossible for the rings to land on the peg so as to fall to the foot of it, being due to the small size of some of the rings at the angle at which the peg was placed. If that was so it would not be a game of chance,, but the very negation of chance. The police could not say whether the game was regularly played in that way. If so regularly played it would still not be a game of chance, but it might be a fraudulent scheme and the defendant might become involved in a charge under the criminal law. For these reasons he could not. say whether it was a game of ohance or not. There was a .probability that a player might become quite proficient at. it. The information would be dismissed. In connection with the statement made at -the Methodist Conference recently that promises of £7OOO towards the college fund \ver Q largely unfulfilled (states an Auckland Press Association telegram), an explanation is now forthcoming. It appears that in no case had there been any repudiation of promises made. The delay in the payment of £SOCO was due to the scheme to build a college having been delayed with a view to securing a site more adjacent to the university than the existing one at Epsom. The annual meeting of the South Island Brass Bands Association was held yesterday. There was a large attendance of representatives from all the bands in the present contest, and the location of the contest for next year was fixed for ..Nelson, in February or March. Dr < Thacker was re-elected president, and the 12 vice-presi-dents, secretary., treasurer, and executive were all re-elected. The principal business transacted was the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, and the discussion of various matters of importance to bansdmen.

The number of new pupils enrolled at thd Otago Boys' High School this year is 194, but it is expected that this number will be increased by the beginning of this week to at least 200. The total enrolment at present, including old boys, is 485. Tha number of new pupils enrolled shows a slight increase, while there is a. slight decrease in the number of old boys returning, this being attributed to the fact that a number who had expressed their intention of returning have taken billets during the long holiday caused through the outbreak of influenza. The new pupils at the Girls' High School number 141, and the total enrolment at present is 357. In the case of the Girls' School the number of new pupils is practically the same as last year, but fewer old girls have returned, this being very largely due to the large number who . gained pupil-teachershipa and probationerships. Thirty-seven gained these appointments in place of about 20 in former years. At the Technical High School there has been a larger enrolment of new pupils than usual, but, on the other hand, a larger amount of last year's pupils have failed to enrol this year. There has been an increase in the number of boys taking up general work and an increase in the number of girls enrolling in the domestic classes.

A dealer in the King Country is buying up all the pigs he can get at a very fair price, whether fat or lean, and says his intention is to send them to the islands, where food and labour is cheaper than in the dominion. He intends (reports an exchange) to "top them off" there, and says he can produce better and cheaper bacon than if he load killed the pigs here. Our London correspondent mentions that members of the wool trade who in London at the December series of auctions were much impressed with the splendid window show at the New Zealand Government office in the Strand. There was a model of a shearing shed, made by New Zealand soldiers, which in its own way ia j just as interesting to Bradford mill men ; as the mills are to the squatters who come over here. Cloths, blankets, scarves, and f other samples of goods turned out by th» > New Zealand mills, such as Petone, Kaiapoi, , and Mosgiel and Roslyn, were also on' show, and altogether the exhibit, from the woolman's standpoint, was considerably in advance of anything one has seen in thif ljine recently in the London offices of colonial governments. A contribution of £IOO is to be made from Auckland; district Oddfellows' fund to . Sir Arthur Pearson s Pund for subsidising the children of English blinded soldiers to the extent of 5s per week each, until they are old enough to earn their own living ? The various Oddf eflows* lodges in the district are also io consider the quei ' tion, oj supplementing #ie contribution of £IOQ with, donations from their own |ttnd*«