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Southland Times, Issue 17851, 5 August 1918, Page 4

Owing to the New River being in flood Mr Wallace and the concert party who were due at Taramoa on Friday were unable to get beyond the iron bridge at Wallacctown.

Heavy soakage last week caused a slide of several tons of clay and vegetation to become dislodged from the face of the cliffs, above the Orepuki Bathing Club’s shed (says the Advocate). The impact, though doing no damage to the shed, has shifted the whole structure two feet seaward, and some clearing will require to be done before its nearest room to the cliffs can be used.

The Dunedin Times reports that writs have been issued upon responsible officers of the Kaitangata Coal Miners’ Industrial Union of Workers demanding a return to the Union’s funds of certain sums of money alleged to have been disbursed in a manner contrary to the provisions of the statutes and the rules governing the Union. Should the claimants, for whom Mr MacGregor, K.C., will proceed, succeed in the courts, it is quite probable that proceedings may be taken against the Union for aiding and abetting strikes by granting moneys for relief of strikers’ families.

Advice to harbour boards to build for big ships was given by the Minister of Marine, Mr Wilforcl, at the Harbours Conference last week. “In regard to wharves,” he said, “it might be well to point out that, owing to the increase in the size of steamers and the increase in shipping trade that will no doubt occur after the war, it is advisable that boards should look well ahead when erecting new wharves, otherwise they may find that in the course of a few years they will have too little water at their wharves and not enough space to accommodate the ships visiting their ports.”

The Advocate reports that large plumshaped passion fruit of the creamy-white variety and of exquisite flavour has been successfully grown at Ofepuki, in the open, by Mr F. Fortune.

A Nelson telegram states that at a civic welcome Sir James Allen was heartily congratulated on the report of the Defence Expenditure Commission. The Mayor said it was a splendid tribute to the. work that had been done.

Notwithstanding the boisterous weather a large crowd attended the Railway Library social on Friday and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The winners of the euchre prizes were Miss D. Orange and Miss Sheehan; boobies, Miss Meehan and Mr Bennett. Songs were given by Misses D. Orange and Crowther, and Mr W. Wills, recitations by Mr A. Stringer, and violin solos by Mr R. Taylor, all being very much appreciated. The evening as usual terminated with a dance.

About 10.30 on Saturday night the. occupants of a house in Eye street were retiring when they heard a man enter the house by the back door. Thinking that it was a member of the family who was late in arriving home they did not worry. The intruder did not stay long but went out again in a few minutes, slamming the gate as he left. Thinking that all was not right, one of the girls went to the kitchen and noticed that several things had been removed from the table. She informed the rest of the house but a search found no trace of the intruder, who had disappeared. The value of the articles stolen is about £3.

“We have been too prone in the dominions to copy English army methods because they are English army methods; but,” the Defence Expenditure Commission says, “experience in this and other wars has proved that to be a very excellent reason for not copying some of them.” The commissioners observe, further, that as an excuse for tortuous procedure they often had King’s Regulations hurled at them; “but as a ‘ certain mischievous person ’ is said to quote Scripture when it suits him, so King’s Regulations, large in number and wide in variety, come in handy to the ingenious.”

Further cable advice received from London state that the ex-German steamer Barunga was sunk on the 15tfa ult., and that there were 700 persons aboard, including 400 incapacitated Australians. Experienced seamen who have survived torpedoings told the representative of the Australian Press Association that the work of the destroyers which went to the rescue was one of the most brilliant feats ever witnessed. The destroyers surrounded the sinking ship, and kept a sharp look-out for the submarine, ready to ram her, or open fire upon her, if she appeared on the surface. Remarkable order prevailed on the Barunga throughout. The Australians groused at being turned out of their bunks, but they promptly took up their boat stations, and assisted in putting the rafts overboard. While doing this they sang ragtime, and cheered the sailors who were able to lower most of the boats.

Little difficulty has been experienced in Dunedin in fixing reduced rentals of hotels as a result of the curtailment of hours consequent upon 6 o’clock closing (says the Dunedin Times). About six or eight applications have been made by licensees for a reduction of rent, and in every case except two the parties have come to terms without the nccssity of reference to arbitration. In the two cases which are still unsettled negotiations are now proceeding. The average reduction that has been allowed is onethird of the rental, which on the figures that landlords and tenants had before them in February or March seemed to be a reasonable reduction. Some landlords have left it to the tenant to fix a reasonable rent, subject to variation later at the tenant’s request. In at least a couple of cases the landlords exercised the right conferred upon them by the Act of resuming possession on refunding to the tenant a proportionate part of the goodwill originally paid for the lease.

The recent blizzard which extended over the greater part of both islands is likely in the long run to prove a blessing. Speaking to Mr E. A. Shrimpton, Chief Telegraph Engineer, one Canterbury farmer said that the two very mild winters experienced in the south in 1916 and 1917 had given life to several pests, which had caused considerable destruction in the crops and orchards, and a real cold winter would, he thought, have the effect of eliminating them for a time at all events. Many will remember the havoc caused among the orchards of the North Island by the “brown rot” last season, which meant the loss of hundreds of tons of good fruit. As the blizzard came at the right time of the year, before the trees began to leaf, the farmer in question thought it would have a beneficial effect in keeping back the external growth until warmer weather prevailed. It would also be beneficial to the grain lands, which were always improved by a fall of snow at midwinter.

The Defence Expenditure Commission makes reference in its report to the management of the canteen at Featherston Camp by the military authorities. The canteen is now run by soldiers of Class C2, the whole of whose pay and emoluments are defrayed out of canteen funds. Prices have been considerably reduced —an average of 30 per cent, is claimed —and while the men arc paying for their stuff at the rate of £24,000 per year less, the canteen is making profit-:, as evidenced by the fact that in four months £2141, or at the rate of, say. £6OOO per year, was handed over to Camp Headquarters to provide comforts for men on their voyage to England. When the subsidy of £BOOO which a contractor would have to pay is deducted, therefore, the commission estimates at £22,000 the net annual advantage of the camp running its own canteen.

The inquest on Mrs Frampton, who died suddenly while on a visit to the Southland Hospital, was held on Saturday before Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M., Coroner. The deceased lady left her home at. about 2.5 p.m. on the 28th July, and was then in her usual health and spirits, having made no complaint of feeling ill. She visited the hospital for the purpose of seeing her son who was a patient. After leaving him she went to another ward to visit a female friend, and had to walk upstairs to do so. She sat down to talk to her friend, and almost, immediately fell on the floor. Nurse Lament, who was in charge of the ward, went to her assistance and applied artificial respiration. Dr Woodhouse also tried artificial respiration and injected strychnine, all without avail, life being extinct. Dr Brown, medical superintendent, made a post-mortem examination of the body, which revealed thr fact that deceased died from syncope following upon old standing mitral incompetency. A verdict to that effect was delivered.

The Defence Expenditure Commission offers some comments in its report upon a matter which is at present sub judice—namely, the right of the Defence Department to require Territorial officers who have been called up to accept less than commissioned rank in the Expeditionary' Force. In connection with this matter, it mentions the case of a lieutenant-colonel who went to France with a reinforcement in 1916, and, there being no vacancy for a lieutenantcolonel on his arrival there, was afforded the option of—(1) Retaining his rank and returning to New Zealand for instructional duty there; or (2) relinquishing his rank of lieutenant-colonel and being posted to an infantry unit in France with rank of major. After considerable discussion the first option was allotted to him, and, retaining his rank, he returned to New Zealand and has since been employed in camps as an infantry instructor. In civil life he was in the Lands and Survey Department at a salary of £275 per annum; and the Public Service Commissioner says that arrangements could be made for his return t6 his old department if the military authorities could spare his services. As an infantry instructor at Feathcrston Camp he receives in pay and allowances £O3B 7s 6d per annum. The reports on this officer state that he is keen, hard-working, and conscientious, has plenty of initiative, and has justified his selection for his present position. It is, however, in the opinion of the Commission, difficult to think that instruction from an officer about whom these facts are perfectly well known can achieve full measure of success.

“The Americans have just put over their third Liberty Loan,” writes a New Zealander in U.S.A. “They asked for three billion and. got four and a-half. They had ;100 blue-clad soldiers from France in New York to help the loan, hnd also SDO wonderful Australians, who took New York by storm. The people went mad over them, and they were a fine husky lot of men, too. New Zealand should send a ship through the Canal with 500 New Zealanders in time to help with the fourth loan. It would be a wonderful advertisement for New Zealand. Millions of people in New York don’t know New Zealand is on the map at all. Send big men. Australians and Canadians tell me the New Zealanders are the finest troops in France—best dressed, best behaved, and best looking. Five hundred New Zealand troops well dressed marching up Broadway would be worth a million to New Zealand, and be worth a million to the Allied cause. Americans don’t know New Zealand even exists, and as for New Zealand being in the war—well, they don’t, even know that white people live there.” The Railway Department has power to take land from harbour boards at actual cost. In Auckland the Railway Department took land estimated to be worth £242,000 for £25,000. In Wanganui the Department, took by proclamation land on which the Wanganui Board had built a wharf at a cost of £30,000, and then offered to lease the wharf to the Board at a peppercorn rental for five years, after which the Board would have to leave its own wharf altogether. Mr Veitch, M.P., referring to this matter at the Harbours Conference, said that the present lack of correlation between the Railway Department, controlling land transport, and the harbour boards, controlling sea transport, was becoming intolerable. The position was such that the Government should be compelled to define the powers of the Department and not allow it to go on exploiting harbour boards. The conference passed a resolution to repeal the legislation giving the Department power to take land at cost. The conference declared that the Government should pay full value for all land taken. Madge Titheradge says that the skirt is doomed, says the London correspondent of an exchange. The clever and (banning young Australienne has played numbers of boy parts on the stage, so she has experience of masculine as wdl as feminine attire. Her verdict is that the skirt is uncomfortable and insanitary, and that breeches, knickerbockers, and even trousers for women have come to stay. The greater comfort and increased freedom are delightful. “One can move and breathe without restraint; no clinging draperies to hamper, and, incidentally, to collect dust and form a happy home for germs.” Miss Titheradge believes that the experience of the women war workers will decide the matter. W.A.A.C.’s land girls, ’bus conductresses, all wear some form of breeches, and, when the war is over, Miss Titheradge thinks, they will continue to wear them, except for evening wear. Then the skirt has a real value. It is nicer to 101 l in. In moments of ease, of leisurely relaxation, the skirt even tempts Miss Madge. But for the hurly-burly of the working world a breeches-costume all the time. Miss Titheradge is wearing such a garment as a lady doctor in “Pigeon Post,” a new spy play, which is having a great success. In her own opinion, and in that of all other good judges, she has never looked nicer. “And when I think of the diminution in the cost of clothes I am simply in the seventh heaven!” There is Miss Madge Titheradge’s final argument—■ pleasanter, prettier, and, above all, cheaper. The takings at the Red Cross Shop by the Gladstone Committee on Saturday, August 3, were £B3 12/-. The winners of the Guessing Competitions are: Mr McChesney, box tea and boy doll; Zita Morphy, camisole; Enid Edmond, doll. Ad9B “SUN” INSURANCE OFFICE has been removed to premises opposite Messrs H. & J. SMITH’S, Tay street. A. DEWE & CO., Chief Agents. Business solicited at lowest rates. Je9o Groceries —You require Groceries, not only every day, but at every meal. You use one way and another a lot of Groceries —well get them of good quality at low rates, from BAXTER'S. Small profits; quick returns. — (Advt.) ‘ TONSILITIS AND LARYNGITIS. like all other throat troubles, are rapidly relieved by gargling warm Fluenzol, which allays inflammation and dispels bacteria. Fluenzol 1/6 and 2/6. One of the Special Bargains at THOMSON & BEATTIE’S End-of-Season Sale is a line of Japanese Spotted Silk—a superior quality silk with well printed spots in dainty colours. This is being sold at 6/11 the Blouse Length. See the special lines in Artificial Silk Mufflers —all colours, prices.—? (Advt.) CONVERSATION ON “BAXTER’S.” Customer; A large 2/- bottle of Baxter’s Lung Preserver, please. Chemist: I am sorry, madam, but we cannot obtain the large size. Will you take a small bottle? Customer; I prefer the larger bottle because it is more economical. I always like to have “Baxter’s” handy. NOTE: The Chemist was in error. “Baxter’s” is readily obtainable in large bottles. Your Chemist or Storekeeper can easily get the larger size for you. Last six days our. Big Bargain Sale. These specials to clear. Children’s, Maids’ and Misses’ Trimmed Millinery to clear, 3/11 to 7/0. Ready-to-wear Felts, 1/11 to 4/11. Plain Felts, white and colours, all 1/-. Infants’ Wool and Silk Hats and Bonnets going at 1/- to 2/11. Children’s Ribbed Vests, Sale price 1/- to 4/11. Childrens Woven Fleeced Knickers, white and navy, Sale price 2/6 to 3/11. Wool Knickers, 3/11 to 7/6. Sleeping Suits and Nightgowns in flannel union, and flannelette, Sale price 3/11 to 10/6. Children’s and Maids’ Gaiters, all sizes, to clear 2/11. Bibs in bundles of 2 and 3, 1/- to 2/11. Better qualities, 1/- to 2/6 each. Exceptional bargains in Dresses, Coats, Tunics, and Pinafores, all our Infante’ Outfits at bargain prices. Sec windows and Children’s Department. H. & J- SMITH, Ltd., Progressive House, Tay street. Phones in all departments. — (Advt.) THE VALUE OF WILSON’S MALT EXTRACT TO TEACHERS. The teaching profession makes nerve demands upon the physical and mental organisation. Brain and body become fagged under the incessant strain. This exhaustion must be combated, and nothing is better or safer than a food tonic like Wilson’s Malt Extract. While in itself a food, it also helps in the digestion of other foods. Physicians are more and more prescribing it for the over-tired, the run-down, and those whose digestions are weak. This excellent food tonic is the extract of the best Barley Malt, It is free from alcohol, and every atom is pure nourishment. Chemists and Stores. Prepared with or without Cod Liver Oil. Some rare Bargains at UNDRILL’S Sale. Get in early. Hats, 2/6; Coats, 35/-; Shirts, 3/6; Gloves, 2/3, etc. — (Advt.) ECONOMIC LADIES’ OUTFITTERS' New Address: Briscoe’s Buildings (aex* George Munro, jeweller).—(Advt.) MOTOR HIRES. WOODS & CO. have NOT raised the price of Motor Car Hire. Ring up phones 643 and 647 —day or night.— (Advt.) Let NAZOL protect your family against coughs and colds. One dose a day keeps colds away. Good for old and young. Sixty doses 1/6. — (Advt.) Because you would rather be well than ill, inhale NAZOL regularly. Penetrating and germ-killing—the best protection against coughs and colds. Use the Nazot Inhaler. NAZOL acts like a charm in tackling coughs and colds. Penetrating and germkilling. Better than mixtures or syrups. Most economical. 1/6 buys 60 doses.— (Advt.) . National efficiency is weakened by coughs and colds. Prevent this by taking NAZOL. One dose a day keeps colds away. Sixty doses 1/6. Sold everywhere.