CURRENT TOPICS

Southland Times, Issue 17679, 17 June 1914, Page 5

CURRENT TOPICS

THE DOMINIONS AND NAVAL DEFENCE. ‘

Admiral Sir George King-Hall contributes to the “ Nineteenth Century and After ” an article on “ The Genesis of tho Australian Navy," in which he outlines the stages which have already been passed through, and describes the arrival of H.M.A.S. Australia at Sydney. Hq says that tho time is approaching, if not already come, when our great dominions will demand. a fuller voice in tho councils of the Empire than they have at present, especially on naval defence. He suggests that Imperial conferences, especially on naval defence, may furnish the most convenient means of exchanging views. Sir George King-Hall declares that the old policy' of sending a contribution In money towards naval defence was unsound in principle, unstable from every point of view, politically, nationally, and imperially, and that “ the present policy lias the whole Interest and dynamic of the nation behind it,” He adds that perhaps also In the hearts of many there lurks an uneasy feeling that Great Britain not only' does not realise the anxieties of tho Australian people, but that she is not altogether in full sympathy with her daughter in some respects. It, therefore, behoves our statesmen, our press, and our people, to show tho Australians that we do most cordially enter into all their aspirations and difficulties, and that they have our entire sympathy and support in the satisfactory solution of their problems."

JAPANESE PROBLEMS,

Mr J. D. Whclplcy leads off in an article in the “ Fortnightly' ” on the relations between Japan and tho United Slates hy averring that public opinion in the United States is decidedly opposed to the admission of Japanese labour, and it is safe to assume that a rigorous Japanese exclusion law could bo enacted hy' Congress with the consent and approval of a large majority of the voters. Writing before the arrival of the Komagata Mara at Vancouver, he says that the people, of Western Canada share quite as emphatically' in this objection to Asiatics, hence the matter is one of vital interest to the British Government. all the more that not only are the Japanese concerned in this antagonism, but that Hindus are also included among those who are not wanted. Mr Whelpley points out that the Italians in the United States send £20,000.000 annually' to their native land. Such an outlet for population and such a source of revenue is exactly what Japan needs most urgently at the present moment. Industrial troubles and heavy taxation have led to great unrest among the people. Education is spreading rapidly', and Socialism with it. “It is a constant source of irritation," we read, "and serious loss to Japan that Japanese labour is not welcome everywhere. It is a serious humiliation to find that while she is classed as one of the Great Powers tier people are banned from some civilised countries as undesirables.” Mr Whelpley urges that the Washington Government should cease temporising and should toll Japan frankly and honestly " that Japanese labour must now and for ever seek other outlets than America." In which case, apparently. Japan would be driven back upon herself and compelled io expand along tho line of least resistance, which might be in China and might be—somewhere el.«o.

THE ENGLISH FAR LABOURER

It is not only in New Zealand that the farmer is having to prepare to meet the concerted demands of the agricultural labourers as the Shropshire Farmers’ Union has lately issued a manifesto which is certaL.iy interesting on account of the similarity of the reply made by New Zealand farmers to the demamTs of the- farm workers here. In answer io the men’s demands the union state that "the law of supply and demand must inevitably rule the rate of wages in this as in other industries, and to demand an excessive wage, which farmers cannot possibly afford to pay, not having control of the price of their products, can ultimately lead to but one result- —the great curtailment of labour, the laying down of arable laud to grass, the termination of dairying —owing to cost of milking—and the substitution of grazing sheep and cattle. From the effects of this the men will br, the first and greatest sufferers, and we appeal to their commonscns© not to demand or expect what is impracticable, nor to' be misled bv those who hold out hopes wh-.ch cannot possibly be realised under existing condu ions.”

WYXDHAM’S FIRST PLOUGH,

1t is interesting to note that tho first double furrow plough that was introduced into the Wyndham district was imported from tho Old Country thirtyeight or thirty-nine years ago by Mr Hugh McLean, and the first trial of it was held on Crescent farm, which was then owned and occupied hy Mr David Doull. The plough was a Grey and Anderson make, and tho mechanism of it was much more complicated than is the case with similar implements nowadays. The sock" were made out of malleable iron, whereas for these appendages cast iron is now used. Tne evolution of the plough with regard to mechanism lias, as has been the case with other agricultural implements introduced into this country, been remarkable, and colonial ploughs Which have been forwarded to the Old Country in recent years have been examined with a great deal of interest as well as curiosity, so dissimilar are they from the makes in use ihero. Undoubtedlv, tiie modern colonial plough is a much superior implement in every respect to those whicli were first landed in this country from Britain.

A firm offender for drunkenness appeared before Hie Magistrate, Mr Thos. .Hutchison, S.M., at the Police Court yesterday morning and was fined 10s. At the conclusion of the monthly meeting of the Southland County Council yesterday complimentary reference was made by several councillors to the appointment by the Government of Messrs .las. doming, Colin Robinson, and H. J. Middleton to the Southland Land Board. They were undoubtedly tho best appointments that could he made in Southland, and their presence would soon be, felt on tho Board. The Winton poundkeeper reported to the County Council meeting yesterday that forty-four head of cattle had been seized and released on the road, and eight horses and five cows Impounded. The staff at the Riverton Hospital is at present experiencing a very busy time, there being thirty-two patients in tho institution. Passenger traffic by the intercolonial steamers is very small at this time of the year and yesterday’s arrivals were very fair. Amongst them, however, was Bir Hartmann Just, K.C.8., of tho Colonial Office. London. An Interview of this distinguished visitor appears in another column. A communication from the Mayor of Invercargill was received by the Southland County Council at its meeting yesterday pointing out that it would be a great convenience if a shelter shed with seats round it were erected at the tram terminus at Waikiwi. The Council practically agreed to do this, leaving tho matter in tho hands of the chairman At a meeting of the Bluff Borough Council last night it was decided not to go on with the proposal to build a town hall, but to go to the ratepayers for a loan for the erection of municipal offices. It was also decided to go to the ratepayers with alternative proposals for the construction of salt water baths. At the Juvenile Court yesterday, before Mr T. Hutchison, S.M.; two boys a-ed thirteen and seventeen years respectively were charged on three informations of theft. The goods alleged to have been taken were a miscellaneous lot, including chocolates, cigarettes, sardines, blankets, a clock, rug and oilstone and a number of sacks. .The lads admited the charges. Both boys had previously been before the court for a similar offence. The younger of the two had run away from home because he did not like school. Having joined forces they by various ways proceeded to Otatara. ' The Magistrate committed them to the Wereroa Training Farm. Bluff had an exceedingly busy shipping day yesterday both the intercolonial boats getting into port early and making the most of the time at their disposal. The Mokoia discharged one hundred and thirty-four tons from northern ports and took away two hundred tons, while the Malta! landed sixty-one tons and loaded a similar quantity.

Arrangements are well forward In connection with the forthcoming carnival queen election. A meeting of the eexcutlve was held last evening at which Mr Lints was present, and every detail was brought Into line. As there are fifteen nominations for the “qneen” Southland should head the list from a financial point of view as far as New Zealand is concerned. The names, numbers and colours of the candidates will be advertised in to-morrow morning’s issue, as well, as all particulars. The. Malta! from Melbourne reached Bluff yesterday with a fair quantity of inward cargo of which the chief items were two hundred and fourteen bundles iron, one hundred and seventy-eight boxes candles, one hundred and forty cases fruit, one hundred and forty sacks flour and one hundred cases dried fruit. Amongst the cargo consigned for tho north from Bluff was forty-eight crates Stilton cheese (J.E. Watson and Co.), thirty cases Creamota and five sacks Thistle oatmeal —all Southland manufacture. Sealing promises to be more popular this season than last and the scope of sealing operations will be more wide. Already the cutter Antelope has placed a sealing party on the Solanders and is carrying out operations round the West Coast sounds. The schooner Gisborne will get away from Bluff any day and it is expected that Mr Hatch’s brigantine Rachel Cohen will square away for the Aucklands next Monday. Tho s.s. Mokoia, sister ship to the illfated Waikare, doubled back from Wellington this trip and left Bluff yesterday on her return trip to Melbourne. She landed a good deal of cargo including a large line of transhipments ex Maunganui including—Three hundred and ten pieces of timber, five hundred and seventy-six bags rice, thirty casks cement, thirty cases ship’s tongues, and a large quantity of ale and whisky. Outwards she took seventeen thousand feet timber, sixty tons scenery and the customary quantities of fish and oysters. Oysters of rare quality have been obtained recently from a new bed in the Straits and first one craft and then another has taken up the running. Captain W. Dixon was the first to locate it and had several days good oystering before tiie other skippers began to get wind of the find, with the result that several craft are getting good returns of fine oysters therefrom. A Hastings Press Association message states that cable advice lias been received that Mrs J. !). Ormond’s heavy draught ,colt. Glen Even, by Ruther Glen, from Liz, which was withdrawn from tile last Melbourne sales, owing to having met with an accident, has been sold to a leading Queensland draught horse breeder for three hundred and fifty guineas. The three entries from the Karamu stud, which line! been disposed of in tiie Commomveii'.lii, realised an aggregate of one thousand four hundred and fifty guineas—a fairly good indication that in Australia, at any rate, a chance to secure old fashioned heavy type horses is still highly appreciated. The Minister for Works, Hon. W. Fraser, lias forwarded Hie following letter to the member for Mataura in reply to a petition from settlers in the Oware district respecting the best route for tho suggested Mokoreta ’•ail way—"Will you Kindly inform the petitioners that t have given instructions to Mr Furkert. who lias loft for the south, to at once have a general survey made of the locality indicated in the petition, so as to ascertain what shall be the route for the railway which should best serve the interests of the whole district.” While excavating rock on the Rawhiti •estate on the western slope of the Scoria 1 1 ill known as Little Rangitoto, in Mountain road, Remuera, Auckland, says a Press Association message, some employees of the Remuera Road Board yesterday came across a Maori burying place with a heap of bones which had evidently been unlisturbed for centuries. **3Jfioro was no-apparent means of ingress to the cave. Some of the bones had been reduced to powder but most of them were in an excellent state of preservation. Tito skulls showed that at least a dozen skeletons had been deposited. Contrary to what is usualy the case in such finds the skulls were Intact, with the lower jaw complete. The Pallia Dairy Factory has closed down, after a very successful season. The output was some sixty-five tons, which the directors sold at the commencement of the season. This enabled them to pay Is to the suppliers up to April, and Is Id for May. The bonus for the season amounts to over Id per lb butter-fat. The directors are highly satisfied with the work done by their manager. Mr Stevens, who, they regret to say, is retiring from factory work to take up land at Hekeia Mr Alexander Watson received an unusual compliment after his recital of Dicken’s "Christmas Carol" at. the Athenaeum Hall in Melbourne. At the conclusion of the recital a member of the audience went to tho office of the hall and wrote the following note. "Mr Watson. Dear Sir. —I was at your recital of "A Christmas Carol” this evening, and was so pleased that I would like to express my appreciation of your efforts hy donating the sum of five guineas each to the Melbourne Children’s Hospital and the Melbourne Hospital.—Yours truly. John Rawlands.” Mr Watson greatly appreciated this form of compliemi.et and had the cheques forwarded at once to the hospitals. It is probable that the “Christmas Carol" will be included in Mr Watson’s programmes here on July 20 and 21, together with selections from Shakespeare and Kipling. Various Scotch items, which should find favour in this community, will also be given. The crowd took charge of a meeting In Devonport (Auckland) at which Reg Williams, an anti-militarist, attempted to deliver a lecture illustrated by pictures showing the horrors of war. Williams was not given a hearing. The crowd sang patriotic songs and popular choruses. The meeting ended in disorder, the crowd giving cheers for the Union Jack.

A fire occurred in a block of shops will) residences overhead after midnight on Friday in George street. Dunedin. The rescue hy the Fire Brigade was belli exciting and very difficult. having to be effected from windows overlooking tho glass roof verandah. One woman and three children were safely rescued, but Mrs Carter, who is in a delicate condition. Jumped out of the arms of the Fire Superintendent and fell through the glass roof. She received a severe cut on the thigh, and is suffering from severe shock. A complete set of moulds for making counterfeit sovereigns, half-crowns, and shillings was discovered at the residence, of Frederick A. Smith on the Hairimi Settlement, near Tc Awamutu. The police found in a wharo twelve sets of moulds for half-crowns,’ one for soveseigns, and three for shillings, also a quantity of lead, solder, files, rasps, and ladles. The coins seized by the police are de.scribed as excellent work. The baseness could only be detected by tho ring. Smith appeared at the Court at To Awamutu charged with making and attempting to utter counterfeit coin. The defence was in tho direction that accused was no sane. He was committed for trial at Hamilton. A sub-committee of the Gummies, Gropers and Wild Bush Ploughing Association met on Saturday evening for the purpose of drawing up the programme for its annual ploughing match, to be held on Wednesday, July 8. The programme drawn up was as follows— Class A (champion), open to allcomers: Class B, open to ploughmen who have not ploughed in a champion lot; Class C (Juniors), open to competitors under 21 years of age; Class D, plain ploughing. A committee meeting takes place on Saturday next for the purpose of appointing judges. Lieut.-Colonel Powley, the Chief Secretary for the Salvation Army in th© dominion will arrive in Invercargill by th© 3.28 train to-day from Queenstown and will conduct a public meeting in the hall at eight p.m, for soldiers and friends. He will be assisted by officers of surrounding corps as far north as Balclutha. A big rally is expected. As is usual for th© Winter Show Messrs D. R. Jones and Co. are making a special display of meat and butchers’ sundries at their shops, Esk and Conon streets. In the Esk street shop they axe exhibiting the carcases of two very fine bullocks, grown and fattened by Messrs Fosbender Bros., of the New River,* The size and quality of these bullocks is further evidence of what Southland cap produce in the way of fa), stock. x The assigned stock of J. E. Carswell, Clothier and-Mercer, of Winton. is being sold at half-price at Copeland’s Dee street. . x .

The display of beef and mutton In the new shop of Messrs Ryan and Turpin, Tay street, attracted a good deal of attention last night. This firm ha-o wellknown for the quality of their meat and this year’s show of the various kinds of butchers' goods Is certainly a credit to the management, considering the inconvenience and trouble they have had in moving into new premises Space not being available at the A. and P. Winter Show, we are requested by Messrs A." Bussell and Co. to Inform visitors who are interested in motor cars that if they will pay a visit to Messrs Russell’s garage in Dee street they can inspect the latest Buick arrivals. There is no doubt that in Motor Gar investment these Buicks are in the front rank. x Your attention is drawn to our underwear overcoat and shirt value. —Undrill’s Opposite Post Office. x Thomson and Bcaatie, Ltd., arc offering their entire stock of dress materials at very much reduced prices. Call and take your pick of the stock ,A 2/6 material for 2/-. 3/6 for 2/9, 4/3 for 3/G. The whole of the stock at the same ratio. x Visitors to the Show are requested to inspect the latest models in Renault and Buick Motor Cars. N.M. and A, Co., garage, Wood street x A Good Idea.—The next groceries I want I will buy from Baxter, where I will get them cheap for cash, and, second, a bonus well worth having. x Intending motor cyclists are now offered a rare opportunity of securing second-hand motor cycles at ridiculously low prices. We have fourteen which we intend clearing at such prices that will induce motorists to buy now. They have been all thoroughly overhauled, and include the following makes ;— Triumph, Douglas, 8.5.A., New Hudson, Indian, Matchless, King Dick, Premier, Humber, Aerial. Rover. In every instance they are offered at £lO under their value. They absolutely must be cleared irrespective of price. Every year a number of our customers commence the spring by exchanging for the latest new models which makes it necessary for our stocks of second-hands to be sold out so that we can accept the business. We are consequently compelled to clear our stocks irrespective of price, and herein lies the opportunity for those who want a second-hand motor cycle at many pounds under its value. Easy terms arranged. Inspection invited. Wilson and Eraser, Ltd., Invercargill. x Another shipment of Sports Coats have just arrived and Price and Bullied are now showing a Dainty Coat in Navy, Champagne, Saxe, Gray, Tan, and Bluette, this is a very smart garment with heavy knitted binding to edges, pockets and ruffs, they, are made of warm fleeced woven stockinette, and the price 9/11 is causing a very quick sale. There are also other lines showing in these popular goods in plain colours and stripes of the newest order, and in all lengths at 15/G, 18/6, 25/-. The Cloth Sports Coats in Red and other shades are also much in favour together with the heavy tweed varieties, with belts. The display in Show-rooms are well worthy of inspection. x Economic Shirts, Comfort Shirts, Stylish Shirts, 5/6 to 14/6. Undrfill's, Shin Specialists, opp. P. 0., Dee street. x It is quite a common thing to hear people whose eyesight has begun to wane say that they do not like the idea of wearing spectacles because to do so would make them look old in the sight of others. Obviously such an idea is only fancy, and counts for nothing compared with a common necessity, and the fact that suitable glasses procured in time will go a long way to preserve the sight of the individual. Mr R. Sommerville, chemist and eye-specialist, Bank Buildings, Dee street, Invercargill, does this work efficiently, taking pains to fit every sight properly and at moerate cost.—Advt.

The cheapest, finest, richest coffee In the world is “Camp.” It warms, revives, comforts, pulls you together, and makes you feel quite fit. x

SYNOPSIS NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. On Pago I—Lost—Purse. Wanted —Turner. Wanted —General. For Sale —Turkeys. For Sale—Totara posts. For Sale —White Leghorns. Lady book-keeper position filled. Hyndman’s foi - Show bargains. Floral Tea Rooms. —Lunch 11 to 2. Mercantile house wants buyer for produce. Geisha, near Railway Station—Lunch it to 2. R. ,t. Gumming has desirable properties for sale. Scandrett and Son have butcher’s business and farm for sale. On Pago 7. Lyceum Pictures to-night at 8. Fullers' Pictures to-night at S. Olympia Skating Rink to-day. Wlnton A. and P. Association annual meeting. Southland Boxing championships on June IS and 12. Borough of South Invercargill—Notice re unpaid rates. Social and dance at Wallacctown on Friday night. On Page 12, Russian furs. McKay Bros. Wm. Todd and Co., drapery, to-day. Win. 'Todd and Co., weekly furniture. General— Beggs will take your old piano as deposit on now one. Lumsden's 2720 th show week features. Price and Bullied magnificent display for show visitors. Save 5s by visiting McDonald's, CityBoot Palace. J. Macalister, Ltd., still lead in farming machinery. If. B. money savers this week; see them. Southland League Invercargill rallyon Thursday.