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Otago Witness, Issue 3613, 12 June 1923, Page 44

Attention is directed to the prospectus on another page of the National Tobacco Co., Ltd., in which the public are invited to take up shares in a venture which appears to have great possibilities. The capital of the company is to be £30,000 in £1 shares, of which 15,000 preference shares with a fixed cumulative dividend at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum on the amount paid up for the time being, are offered to the public lo be pail] up by instalments. The objects are to take over the joint interests of the National Tobacco Co. and the Auckland Tobacco Syndicate, and to carry on the combined business of growing and manufacturing tobacco. In the past the company confined its attention to growing the loaf, and the syndicate was formed to undertake manufacturing the leaf. Tne syndicate’s operations, it is stated, were an unqualified success, and operations covering 15 months resulted in a- sum being available to add to a reserve, after paying expenses of ail kinds. According to the prospectus, tobacco thrives on almost every soil in New Zealand, and is one of the safest and surestof crops. As to the profits of the manufacturers. these are general’? wed known, as witness the millions made by the Wills Brothers m England, and others. The demand for good tobacco has more than overtaken the supply, as is indicated by the tremendous advances in prices of recent years. The annual importation of tobacco into New Zealand is about three jn.il- l on pounds, and the smokers contribute £I,COO,COO annually to tlie profits which go into tlie rockets of oversea manufacturers and trusts, and it is claimed that every pound of this tobacco could be produced on our own soil.

Speaking at the post office deputation on Friday, the Prime Alinister said the Government Statistician had expressed to him the opinion that at the next census the copulation of Auckland would run over 200 xm

A further adjournment of a week was made in the Hayne case in the Police Court on Friday. In this case James Reynolds Hayne is charged with unlawfully using an instrument oil May 18 last with intent to procure a miscarriage. W 7 hen the case was called Sergeant Dunlop asked for a remand until the 15th inst., and said he understood Mr Hanlon would offer no objection. Air Hanlon, who appears with Mr Irwin in the case, concurred, and bail was fixed by Air Bundle S.M., as before. A section of disappointed onlookers trooped out of the court. It is understood there will be n 0 further adjournment.

At vhe Grand Hotel on Friday Air J. AI. Dickson, AI.P., introduced to Air Massey a deputation consisting of Alessrs John Matheson, Alex. Smaill, and J. D. R. Srnaill, representing the Tomahawk Road Board. Air Dickson explained that the deputation wished to make representations regarding a bridge that had been washed away during the floods. The bridge had been erected over 40 years ago. It was expected that the cost of replacing the bridge would be about £4OO. The board was wililng to help to the extent of £2OO, and it asked for a subsidy of a similar amount. Air Alassey promised to recommend that a subsidy be granted. A Victorian cattle buyer, Air Keith M’Lean, of Gippsland, has been operating actively ill various parts of Wellington province, and as far north as Taihape (says a Press Association wire from Wellington). It is learned that to elate he has purchased dflout 1500 fat bullocks at prices regarded as satisfactory to breeders. An endeavour is being made by Air Al’Lean to work up a winter trade in fat bullocks for Australia, and nothing is being left undone to make the present shipment successful. Australian Governments are distinguished as borrowers (says the Melbourne Age). A relatively small community with a heavy war debt and annual charges on previous borrowings finds it necessary to look to outside sources of capital for remunerative investment in public utilities and developmental enterprises. Financial circles in Great- Britain were recently perturbed at the indications given by the Commonwealth Government, in illustration of the need of co-ordination in borrowing, of new loans required by the commonwealth and States in 1923-21. The whole amount is £45,000,000, and the bulk of this money will be required for developmental undertakings of various kinds. According to a return prepared by the Treasury, from information supplied by the States, the requirements for 1923-24 are Commonwealth, £10,000,000; New South Wales. £9,000.000; Victoria, £9,500,000; Queensland, £4,700,000; South Australia, £7,500,000; Western Australia, £3,600.000; Tasmania, £700,000; — total. £45,000.000. The purposes given are: Postmaster-general’s department, £3,400,000; war service homes, £4,000,000; soldier land settlement, £5,000,000; immigration, £6,500,000; railways and tramways, £9,050,000; water supply, £4,400,000; harbours and rivers, £1,650,000; roads and bridges, £1,050,000; public buildings, £1,000,000; purchase of land, £1.100,000; electricity, £2,100,000; loans to local bodies, £400,000; advances for homes. £1,000,000; other purposes, £4,350,000. It is estimated the total requirements for the next three years will be the same as for 1923-24.

A Press Association message from New Plymouth says the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce passed a resolution protesting against the proposed embargo on the importation of potatoes.

A Taumarumii Press Association telegram says that a well-known resident, Harry Grattan. billiard saloon proprietor, was murderously assaulted while on his way home about 11.30 on Wednesday night, and relieved of £BO. Grattan was hit on the head with a sharp instrument, and was found shortly after in a pool of blood in semi-conscious condition. He was removed to his home, where he is progressing satisfactorily. Grattan remembers nothing of the assault. The night was very dark, and the thick fog assisted the assailant. The police are making investigations, but so far have no clue. Jhc following letter ,-f appreciation was forwarded by the Prime Alinister to the Mayor (Air 11. i.. Tapley) prior to his leaving Dunedin on Saturday:—“Dear Air i apley,—l cannot leave Dunedin without taking the opportunity of again expressing my sincere appreciation and warmest thanks for all the kindness and hospitality which has been extended to roe during my visit to your city. It is a great regret to roe that I have not been able, owing to heavy stress of work, to come to Dunedin more frequently in the past., blit I shill see to it that this shall be remedied in the future. It has been a. great pleasure to see the ail-round indications of the continued progress of the Otago Province and its capital city and in the returning prosperity of the dominion after the difficult times through which wo have passed I trust Dunedin and her citizens will fully share. May I also say how sorry Airs Alassey has been that ill-health has prevented her from accompanying me on this visit,/ and on her behalf I desire again to thank the citizens for the very handsome present which they have presented to her. and which she will always treasure as a token of the good-will of the people of Dunedin. With renewed thanks and my personal good wisher yourself for a very successful term of office in the mayoral chair.’’

Our Auckland-correspondent wires that the “eat more beef” campaign recently instituted by the Meat Producers’ Board is stated by leading Auckland butchers to be making steady headway. As a result of the effective propaganda employed by the Board the local consumption of beef is said to have increased during the last fortnight by 15 to 20 per cent. The fact that the admonition to eat more beef was accompanied by an all-round lowering in the price of from Id to Id per lb. has doubtless helped to achieve this satisfactory result, but large notices displayed in butchers’ shops have had a good deal to do with it also.

With a view to more vividly ircpva'ting into the child mind certain lessons of the school curriculum, the Musselburgh School Committee has, on the recommendation of the head-master (Air J. B. Grant), installed a delineaseope. We understand that Alusselburgh is the first primary school in New Zealand in which this wonderful instrument lias been introduced. Briefly, it possesses all the advantages of a magic-lantern and something more. It sometimes happens that the teacher wishes to show a diagram or sketch of the subject the class is engaged on, and the only way to let- the pupils se? the sketch is by passing the book round. By means of the delineaseope, however, the picture is placed inside the machine, the light switched on, and an enlarged reproduction appears on the wall to be seen by all the class. No slides are required, the pictures being reproduced directly from the book. The innovation has created keen interest amongst educationists in Dunedin, and several University professors and others have expressed the opinion that the machine would be a valuable adjunct to their work. Needless to say, the Musselburgh pupils are enthusiastic over it, and the School Committee is to he congratulated on its foresight. in installing the very latest appliance for furthering education.

At a meeting of the Wheat Board held on May 29 the members were of opinion that the area to be sown in wheat for the coming season would be very small, and it was resolved to ask the provincial executors of the Farmers’ Union in wheat-grow-ing districts to ascertain from representative growers their ideas as to the proportion of wheat being sown this year as compare,d with last season. The annual meeting of the North Otago branch of the Farmers’ Union passed a resolution agreeing to give full power to the Wheat Board in connection with the fl-hole of the wheatgrowing industry. For failing to destroy rabbits on his property- at Birehwood Station, Greenstone, Lake Wakatipu. as required under section 6 of the Rabbit Nuisance. Act, 1908, William Mathias Elliot was convicted and fined £2O by Mr George Cruickshank, S.M.. at the Magistrate’s Court, Queenstown, on Friday (wires our Queenstown correspondent). A similar charge against David Atoning in respect of his property. Coronet Peak Station, Wharehuanui. Lake Wakatipu, was adjourned to the October sitting, his Worship remarking that, though the work had not been done in the time required, the defendant now had 10 men on. The main thing wr.s to clear the rabbits. If the inspection made did not disclose a satisfactory state of affairs a heavy penalty would be imposed.

A Press Association message from Auckland says that at an inquest on the body of a child found in a tin trunk in the bedroom apartment of a house, Detective Lambert stated that a domestic servant named Daisy Violet Williams had admitted giving birth to the child unexpectedly, which fell on the floor and did not move. She concluded that it was dead, and placed the body in a trunk. Dr Murray gave evidence as to the result of his post-mortem examination. He said that the child had lived. Death was caused by hemorrhage of the brain, caused by a fracture of the skull. A verdict was returned accordingly. Williams was remanded on a charge of ooncealmont of birth.

A movement is afoot in Alarlborough to establish a branch of the labour Party as part cf the general campaign to contest all seats at the next General Election (says a Press Association message from Blenheim). Organising addresses are to be delivered by either Alessrs P. Fraser, A. L. Alonteith. or ,T. A. Lee, commencing cn the 22nd inst.

Air G. W. Leadley, chairman of the Wheat Board and president of the ALdCanterbury Fanners’ Union, has informed the union that, since the wheat crop would be much smaller next harvest, the board had decided to ask unions to ascertain the proportion of wheat sown compared with last season (says a Press Association message from Ashburton). The Hon. W. Nosworthy had been consulted, with a recommendation to distribute census cards. Discussion revealed that the last wheat census cost £640, and Air Nosworlhy thought the Department would be unable to do the work this season. Mr Leadley suggested using the Government’s wheat control profits. Information received by the Wheat Board satisfied them that the area was considerably reduced, and the only way to induce farmers to grow more wheat' was to guarantee a higher price.