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Otago Witness, Issue 3488, 18 January 1921, Page 36

The postal authorities have received advice from London that an English mall was despatched on January 12 for New Zealand, per the Athonio, via Panama. Advice nas ixaen received that tli9 Karma, which has left Auckland for southern ports, is bringing a further supply of sugar for the local market. The quantity, it is understood, will be about the same as that brought by the Wanaka last week (240 tons), and it will be at once distributed by merchants. Supplies cf syrup and treacle are now more plentiful. A Wellington Press Association telegram states that the Minister of Industries and Commerce announces that the Government ha 3 purchased an additional supply of refined sugar from Australia for shipment before the end of January. This will result in saving a largo amount of fruit for jammaking. Two widows sent out to New Zealand by re'atives applied to have their children committed to a receiving home, pleading destitution (states a Wellington Press Association telegram). Both explained that in a hard struggle for existence they were unable to support their children. The magistrate made an order of committal, but in view of future possibilities, stated that strict inquiry would be made into the circumstances of such persons in all cases. During last year 23 motor care and nine motor cycles were registered in the Waihemo County. All the 23 cars were of American make, and only three of the cycles were British, the rest being American. During last year 6000 persons visited the New South Wales State Legal Aid Department, with a view of securing legal advice and assistance. The number of cases referred to the courts was about 300, and the largest sum secured by verdict was £BOO. The secretary of the department stated in

a recent interview that the number of cranks who now visit the department with impossible claims has greatly diminished in comparison with earlier experience. He also stated that hopes are entertained of every solicitor and barrister practising in Sydney signifying during next year a willingness to co-operate with the department. Of the 650 solicitors in Sydney, 41 have registered their names as willing to assist the department, and cf 170 barristers 42 have registered. Five of New York’s biggest hotels and three of the leading restaurants recently announced heavy reductions in the cost of meals, in an effort to co-operate with the Department of Justice in bringing down the cost of living. An a la carte breakfast in the Waldorf Astoria will now cost 4s, instead of 6s 6d, a luncheon 6s. instead of Bs, and a dinner 9s instead of 17s. The same meal would cost more in the popular chain of lunch rooms in New York, and the man-

agers call attention to the fact that these restaurants of the “quick lunch” variety are doing more than anybody to keep the cost of public eating high, and charge them with circularising the caterers of the city

urging them to maintain rates which will net them a minimum profit of 200 per cent. There is an astonishing sequel to the wreck of the mail steamer Afrique, near Rochelle. It was understood that with the steamer had gone down 15,000,000 francs in notes of the Banciue Do l’Afrique Occidentale for Dakar. For some time large quantities of these notes have been circulating in Marseilles, and bankers came to the conclusion that a band of forgers was at work. An inquiry was opened and a woman was arrested with 700,000 francs in new notes, which were not spurious, in her possession. It seems that one of the cases which the steamer Afrique had to take to Dakar, containing 1,500,000 francs, h. beer; stolen before it could be taken on board. In the course of their inquiry the police suspected a merchant well known in Marseilles, and followed him as he was driving to the station in a motor car. A trunk he had with him was opened, and was found to contain 600,000 francs in notes of the Barque de l’Afrique Occidentale. He was arrested. The man is suspected of having been engaged recently in money traffic in the Nice district.