TOPICS OF THE TOTES

Southland Times, Issue 18638, 8 September 1919, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE TOTES

The King of the Belgians will shortly have returned to him two famous pictures which were rescued four years ago from Ypres Cathedral. It appears that during the bombardment of Ypres in 1915 a young artillery officer noticed inside the cathedral, which was being heavily shelled, that the only things not shattered by German fire were two large Flemish masters, dated 1600, hanging some 20 feet high, on the walls. How to get them and save them for Belgium was the question which immediately presented itself. The officer called two private soldiers to help him, and with the aid of some large gas pipes which had been blown down by the German fire, and two large hooks, the pictures were lowered to the ground. The officer, Lieutenant Daniels, R.A.,. then cut the , pictures out of their frames and put them in a large sack, which he used for a time as a bed. In the end he took them to London, where, with the approval of the Belgian Minister, they have been placed on exhibition, prior to being returned to King Albert at Brussels.

It is - a pleasant detail in the coming erection of a memorial at Strasbourg to Rouget de I’lsle and his "Chant de guerre de I’armee du Rhin,” which became “La Marseillaise,” that the chairman of the committee in charge bears the name and is a direct descendant of Mayor Dietrich, in whose house the song was first sung. Little enough when de I’lsle composed it did he foresee cither that his song would provide inspiration for a French Revolution or that time would bring him a permanent memorial in a Strasbourg that had passed out of French possession and had come back again. The author himself suffered both by loss of his commission and by imprisonment, first because’the adoption of his song by the Revolution made him suspected of revolutionary beliefs by what power still remained to the older Government, and later because his lack of enthusiasm for the Revolution made him an object of an attack by the new leaders.

After a three years’ bunt with the camera in the almost unknown Laird River district in north-wiestern Canada, H. A. Stewart and John Sonnickson have come back to civilisation by way of Peace River, Alberta, bringing several thousand photographic studies of the manners and customs of the wild life of those remote woods and streams. The explorers, for they well deserve the name, worked into the wilderness by way of Hudson’s Hope and the forks of the Findlay ana Parsnip rivers as far as Fort Grahame. Their negatives illustrate the habits of the ptarmigan, moose, beaver, Canadian wild geese and other animals and birds that have seldom been observed with anything like thoroughness by means of the camera. The travellers had devices of various sorts whereby their subjects were entired to spots upon which the hidden lenses were focused; and upon reaching these spots an ambushed camera man "snapped” them by twitching a long cord attached to the lens shutter. A single negative of some specially shy animal was often the only fruit of many hours of patient waiting. Sometimes for days the explorers would watch a single spot through their field glasses awaiting the favourable moment to “shoot.” But it was all worth it.

General Sir Arthur Currie, who commanded the Canadians during the war, has been severely criticised in some quarters because he ordered the capture of Mons on the morning the armistice was signed, thereby causing useless loss of life. General Currie squelched the story last month by publicly declaring that in capturing the city he merely followed a direct order from Marshal Foch.

The Paris correspondent of the Daily News states that American buyers ore attending the exhibitions at the leading dress houses. They have refused to make purchases, however, and this is likely to lead to a considerable modification of the present fashions. Summed up, their objections are: —Skirts too short, backs too bare, prices too tall.”

ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. RED CROSS ENQUIRER—We have been informed that donations from the branches of the Red Cross Society should be sent to Mr D. Cuthbertson,' the secretary of the Red Cross branch in Invercargill, who in turn passes the money on to the local War Funds Association, the only legalised authority for receiving war funds. They in turn will pass it back to the Red Cross Society for the use of the Convalescent Home.—Ed. S.T. It is announced that the censorship of radio messages to Samoa has been removed. The local Defence authorities have been advised that the troopship EUenga will arrive at Auckland on September 10. The prospectus of the Victory War Loan is published to-day and doubtless the patriotism of New Zealand will make the raising of the large amount required an easy task. Our special advertising column contains an announcement by the A.M.P. pointing out how subscribers may .be assisted to contribute and assure their lives at the same time. Subscriptions to the .amount of one million pounds have already been so arranged. A novel method of preventing what he termed “profiteering in land" was advocated by the Hon. J. Grimmond in the Legislative Council last week. Amid laughter, he said the Government should take the difference between the price for which land was sold and the amount at which it was rated. “That is my opinion,” he added, “although : you may think I am going further than my hon. friend," indicating the Hon. J. T. Paul.

On opening an unlabelled tin found in his outhouse the other day, a well known resident of Bluff chanced to come upon oysters preserved nine years ago by Mr T. Crocket (reports the Bluff Press). Notwithstanding their period of confinement, the preserved bivalves smelt fresh and looked healthy. A sample taste was made by the discoverer and he found them so appetising that he called for bread and butter and disregarding his wife’s expostulations he got round the lot and now avers that the flavour of the preserved oyster is superior to the fresh product.

Dunedin has generally been noted for its hospitality to strangers. But its reputation in this respect was surprisingly assailed by a number of hotel and boardinghouse keepers on Thursday (reports the Star). It was found necessary to billet several soldiers, \vith their wives and children, at various places, as they had to wait till next day for trains to take them further south. The officer of the Defence Department responsible for this billeting found that a number of proprietors were extremely reluctant to board the women and children, and it was only after considerable difficulty that he was able to place them for the night. The Sargeant Art Gallery, at Wanganui, which has just been completed at a cost of £IB,OOO, was opened by Mr Massey on Saturday afternoon. The gallery is stated to be one of the finest in the Southern Hemisphere and to mark the opening an exhibition, extending over two months, is being held. Valuable pictures have been lent from all parts of New Zealand and overseas. A unique feature is a collection of originals of famous war cartoons from American publications. A very fine flight of steps, costing over £ISOO is now in course of construction. —Press Association.

A sacred concert in aid of the funds of the Bth Regiment Band was held in the Municipal Theatre last night when there was a packed house. The band contributed four items, the “Hallelujah Chorus," “Lucrezia Borgia,” “Oberon,” and “The Alpine Rose.” The soloists, Mrs J. .Penman and Messrs S. Richards, S. Hall, and F. Cooper gave good interpretations of their songs and recalls were demanded by a pleased audience. Seigt.-Major £. Hunter scored a distinct success with his cornet solo, the “Miserere” scene from ‘ll Troyatore,” and he was also heard to advantage in the cornet solo of the fantasia “The Alpine Rose.”

It will be remembered (says the Wellington correspondent of the Christchurch Press) that some time ago a parcel of bank notes consigned to the National Bank was stolen. They were crisp, new notes, and unsigned by the bank officials. Some of these notes got into circulation, but wide publicity of the forgery was made. The thief, or thieves, were very careful, and for some time, as far as can be gathered, none of these notes has been in circulation. During the weekend, however, a restaurant in Manners street found one amongst the day’s takings, but the discovery was not made until the note was lodged at the bank, when it was returned with the word “Forgery” written across it. Apparently, a renewed effort is being made to get these notes into circulation.

Judging by the remarks made to a Lyttelton Times representative a few days ago Christchurch is in the same position as Auckland as far as building materials are concerned. “It is impossible to get totara,* jarrah, or V.D.L., or, fencing palings,” said Mr G. Simpson. He added that it was also impossible to procure seasoned timber for finishings. Asked if building materials were likely to decrease in price, Mr Simpson said that on the contrary they were likely to rise. Iron would rise again, also lead, oils and nails. Most of the West Coast timber was going to Australia. "It goes in duty free,” said Mr Simpson, “while we have to pay a duty on timber which comes from Australia of 2s per 100 ft.” There was also an extra shilling per 100 ft on imported timber, such as Oregon, jarrah, redwood, and V.D.L. This had a tendency to keep prices up.

Further applications from returned soldiers for loans to assist in establishing themselves in business were considered by the Repatriation Board at Wellington last week. Up to date the amount issued exceeds £300,000. At a recent meeting applications were received from Napier, Blenheim, New Plymouth, Invercargill, Christchurch, Hokitika, Ashburton, Fairlie, Rangiora, Auckland, Thames, Rotorua, Cambridge, Opotiki, Morrinsville and Whangarei. The amounts varied from £7O “to commence business as a rag, bone, bottle, merchant, and chimney sweep,” to £3OO to commence business as a manufacturers’ agent, a similar amount to start a motor-carrying business, and a like sum to purchase a motor tractor for farm contracting. Other purposes for which grants were applied for were; Establish dental practice, purchase stock for dairy farm, start contracting,, establish a bee farm, commence drapery indent business, extend general store, purchase chaff-cutting plant, acquire tailoring business, .start fishing, purchase bakery, erect poultry runs, acquire share in printing business, purchase motor car, re-stock grocery business, commence well-boring, purchase motor cycle business, and many others.

Tea was a problem with Dunedin merchants two or three weeks ago (says the Star). The stocks were running very short. Consignments were lying in Sydney, one lot from October, another from April. The question was how to get it here. For a while the position caused anxiety. But the Union Steam Ship Company gave relief by making room for a small quantity on the Moeraki, and this vessel brought the tea to Wellington. There it seemed likely to stick till goodness knows when, owing to the shipping dislocation. Once more, however, the Union Company strained a point, and the tea is now definitely booked to come to Dunedin by the Navua, expected at Dunedin on Tuesday next. This will supply immediate requirements, and the future gives no grave concern, though importers think that the trade will not be securely re-established till next year. As to the tea that the Moeraki has brought, heavy charges, for storage in Sydney have mounted up, and they say there has been more than a little pillage. On top of these extra charges, the actual price is rising by leaps and bounds. In the result, therefore, we shall get tea, but ( it will not be cheap. Most of the tea consumed in Otago comes from Ceylon, with a little from India, Java auu China.

A Wanganui merchant (according to the Chronicle) received by last week’s overseas’ mail a letter from a well-known British manufacturing firm, in the course of which the following interesting and significant paragraph appears: “We have been shown a spoon of Japanese manufacture, which is being sold in the Australian market at a very cheap price. It is offered and marked as being nickel silver, and in appearance is exactly like the British article. On removing a portion of the surface, however, the article was found to consist of brass, coated thinly with nickel. The danger of using articles of brass in connection with foodstuffs is too obvious to need emphasis. So far as can be judged, a month’s use would lay bare the metal of which this spoon is composed.”

During the present sittings of the Arbitration Court in Christchurch, Mr Justice Stringer drew the attention of parties to the fact that the court was overburdened with work, and that there must necessarily be some little delay in the issuing and publication of awards , and orders of the court. Inquiries show that the work of the court has been practically doubled by the legislation of last session, which gives parties to awards or industrial agreements the right to apply at any time during the currency of an award or an industrial agreement to have the same re-opened as regards wages or hours. Full advantage has been taken of this legislation by unions generally, and practically every award in New Zealand has come up for review by the court since the commencement of the year. The the court consists of a registrar (Mr J. H. Salmon), ' and this officer has been working literally every night since this legislation came into force. The registrar observes no limit of hours, nor has he. any holidays, nor does he get the benefit of overtime.

Sir James Allen, Minister of Defence, has written to Mr Hiram Hunter, secretary of the New Zealand Timber Workers’ Federation, with reference to the deputation from the association regarding the alleged shortage of inspectors of sawmills. The Minister says he has received a reply from the Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Public Health, with whom he has consulted, stating that his department has been unable, owing to the shortage of inspectors, to carry out a systematic inspection of all sawmills, but when complaints have been made steps have been taken to make full inquiries into the matter. When the department has been strengthened by the appointment of additional inspectors the Minister will be pleased to give instructions for the departmental officers to make periodical inspections of all sawmills situated in their respective' districts. “At present,”- says Mr Russell, “the legal responsibility rests with' the local body of the district in which the sawmill is situated, and if the department is to have more direct responsibilities an alteration in the Act will be necessary.”

In the House of Representatives last week Mr R. Semple (Wellington South) drew attention to, an anomaly with regard to workers’ compensatio b. A miner’s family (he stated) who lose their breadwinner through a common accident are entitled to compensation up to £SOO, or half-pay during his incapacitation, or may recover a much larger sum under common law. if it can be proved that the accident was due to neglect on the part of the employer, but. the family of a miner who has been .slowly .done to death by contracting a disease. due to bad ventilation and unhealthy .sanitary conditions, and the use of obsolete dust-creating machines, and who becomes totally, incapacitated for months, and sometimes years, prior to death taking place, are debarred from the benefits of the Act or from suing under common law. He gave notice, therefore, to ask the .Minister of Labour, whether it is his intention to introduce amendments to the Workers’ Compensation for Accidents Act this session, with the object of bringing within its provisions miners who become incapacitated through contracting miners’ phthisis.

The Standard Oil Co. of America recently issued new cumulative 7 per cent, preference shares to the value of 100,000,000 dollars, and in connection with the issue published the first balance sheet the public had seen since 1906. " This'balance sheet showed total net assets of 562,543,025 dollars. Plant, stable and floating equipment, less depreciation, were carried at 249,827,931. Stocks in other corporations were valued at 23,009,449 dollars; government .bonds and other investment securities at 293,452,369 dollars, inventories of merchandise at 160,505,280 dollars, accounts receivable at 151,320,085 dollars and cash, at. 13,201,851 dollars. The nominal liabilities of the company consisted of 98,338,300 dollars, the present capital, and a 492,315 dollars reserve for annuities, leaving a surplus, including reserve for working capital, of 463,712,409 dollars. The first insight in many years into the actual profits of the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey disclosed earnings in 1918, before deduction of Federal taxes, amounting to 101,614,143 dollars. The company paid 44,330,359 dollars in taxes in 1918, leaving net earpings of 57,283,784 dollars, out of which 19,667,660 dollars was paid to stockholders in dividends.

At each of the receptions tendered io him at St. Albans, Linwood, and Sydenham Parks, Viscount Jellicoe made flattering reference to the advantages of the dominion as a place of residence. Speaking at St. Albans, he said he noticed that the children of New Zealand all seemed exceptionally healthy. He himself had five children, four girls and a boy. If he were 20 or 30 years younger he would come out here to live. “I am not sure,” said the Admiral, "that I am too old yet to change my place of residence. If I do go anywhere to live out of England, I can tell you it will be New Zealand." At Sydenham Park, he said that the people of England did not realise what a lot of people there were in New Zealand—especially children. 'T don’t know at what rate your population is increasing,” said the Admiral, “but judging from the children I have already seen, it will not be long before your country will be too small to hold you all.” “I am thinking of coming out here to live,” he added, “so leave a little room for me and my family.” In the course of his remarks to those assembled to greet him at Linwood Park, Viscount Jellicoe said:— “You have got a lovely park here. We don’t run such parks in England unfortunately. It is quite time that three of four million people came out and settled here. I may possible be one of those three or four millions,” he added, his statement evoking a great burst of applause.

A large number of residents of Otago and Southland who were passengers by the ‘ferry steamer Maori on Wednesday night were disappointed in their expectations of making a connection with the through train for Dunedin, says the O.D, Times. There was nothing in the weather conditions to lead them to suppose that there was any danger of the steamer failing to make the connection, for although there was a swell of an unusual character in Cook Strait, the sea was very calm as the South Island was breasted. The Maori, however, made poor time. At one period during the night she is said to have been travelling at the rate of only four knots an hour. Bad coal is officially assigned as the cause of her steaming so indifferently, but it may be supposed that bad stoking was a contributory factor. It was not until about 1 o’clock that she was berthed at Lyttelton, and it was nearly 2 o’clock before the passengers reached Christchurch. Fresh troubles then awaited them, since owing to the visit of H.M.S. New Zealand this week the principal hotels are all over-crowded, and it was with difficulty that some of the stranded passengers secured accommodation. In anticipation of this danger they had endeavoured early in the forenoop by wireless communications to the Minister of Railways and the Mayor of Christchurch to secure a postponement of the departure of the through train, but they received no acknowledgment of their messages, which were in any case fruitless. Among the disappointed passengers were the Primate, the Very Rev. Dean Fitchett, the Ven. Archdeacon Fitchett, the Ven. Archdeacon Richards (Invercargill), the Rev. J. Dawson (secretary of the New Zealand Alliance), Mr W. Laidlaw (Matakanui), Mr Alex. Barron (Dunedin), and a number of ladies.

• Mr R. L. Andrews (analyst, Dominion Laboratory) last Wednesday "evening addressed a meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society on “Milk, with relation to infant feeding” (says the Dominion). Mr Andrews put before his hearers the results of analyses of various forms of milk used for infant feeding. “Modified milk,” he said, “approached human milk much more closely in composition than the average patent food. He expressed the opinion that in New Zealand there should be * special milk supply for infants, and that such supply should be run on the lines established by the certified milk movement in the United States of America. ‘Certified milk’ was produced under rigid sanitary conditions, and was not permitted to contain more than 10,000 bacteria to the cubic centimetre. When it was considered that a fairly good ordinary milk might contain 500,000 bacteria per cubic centimetre, and that milk was commonly vended containing many millions of bacteria per cubic centimetre, it would be seen that bacterially certified milk was an immense advance on ordinary market milk. Mr Andrews instanced the results achieved by the supply of certified milk properly modified to 568 tenement children in Newark (U.S.A.) He pointed out that the milk alone reduced to 2.7 per cent, a mortality rate that commonly ranged from 25 to 30 per cent.

Mr John Dawson, Dominion secretary for the National Prohibition campaign, who has twice been prevented by flood' and steamer missing connection with express, from reaching Invercargill to keep his appointed engagements, will reach here on Monday, and hopes to meet all who are interested in the present campaign at the Y.M.C A. at'6.ls and 8 p.m.—(Advt.) Style is the essential thing in clothes. Most men couldn’t tell what is stylish to save their lives.* They want their clothes correct; never mind how or why. We give lots of time and money and brains to making sure our clothes are correct. ' The result of our efforts is at your service. See our selection of all Fur Felt Hats, in all leading shades and correct shapes at 19/6 to 30/-. THOMSON & BEATTIE’S, Ltd.—(Advt.) A lovely show of Embroideries and Laces at quick sale prices. It is our privilege to offer these splendid values in Lace and Embroideries. Butterflies and medallions, the newest for designs for dainty lingerie from Id, 3d, fid each. Embroidery matching in muslin and longcloth 1/-, 1/3, 1/fi, 1/11 to 5/11. .Embroidery edgings, dainty patterns, all qualities, 5Jd, fijjd, 7Jd, 10jki to 4/11. Camisole embroideries, new and designs, 1/6, 1/11, 2/6, 3/11 to 10/6. A splendid selection of cotton laces in torchon, Valenciennes, imitation maltese, file), from 6d to 1/11. Chinese handmade laces and insertions, satisfaction guaranteed,-, all the newest patterns, B£d to 4/6. See Fancy Department for specials at H. & J. SMITH, LTD., ‘ Progressive Stores, Tay street. 'Phones in all departments.-—-(Advt.) - Prominent among the new season’s goods now on view at Messrs PRICE & BULLEID’S, -Ltd,, Tay street, is their Spring Millinery. The stock has been selected with the greatest care to meet the present season’s demand for stylish" up-to-date goods. Every hat .is of good quality,. stylish in appearance, and artistically designed. The firm’s millinery trade is a large one and prospective buyers can always depend on having a good selection of moderately priced goods to select from.—(Advt.)

For raid in fhe head, throat or chest, NAZOL' is the handiest and surest remedy. More economical than mixtures or syrups. Sixty doses 1/6*—(Advt.) Make your own ink at home, with Royal Ink Powder, which produces blue black ink of perfect quality, non-corrosive and non-fading. Suitable for either steel or fountain pens. Keep a vial in the house and your ink is always assured. Vials la 3d and 2s fid each. —Hyndman’s, stationers, Dee street. Famous for value.—Advt.

Buy youf Groceries from BAXTER’S Grocery, Dee street. The quality of the goods is of the best and the prices are very low. Buy for prompt cash and save your money. Business motto: Small profits and quick returns.—(Advt.) That tickling, irritating cough can be promptly relieved by a few drops of “ NAZOL’) taken on lump sugar. Get . “ NAZOL”- to-night. Sixty doses i/ 6. I (Advt.)

Ladies, do not wear out your beautiful summer clothes on the old-fashioned washboard. Let “NO RUBBING” Laundry Help and the pure “GOLDEN RULE" Soap do the work. Invercargill grocers.—(Advt.)

Two leading lines: Men’s - nuu Men's Shirts. Big assortment at UNDRILL’S, opp. Post Office,—(Advt.)'

RAILWAY TRAVELLING. Closed up carriages and vitiated air make the system susceptible to disease microbes which are rapidly dispelled by cleansing and healing “FuenzoL” —(Advt} “Hope springs eternal in the human breast.” (Pope).—Yet how very easy it is to get “down” when a winter cold has hold of you. You will never shake it off, you think—until Baxter’s Lung Preserver is brought into action. Then hope returns after the first dose, for “Baxter’s" is little short of marvellous in the way it remedies coughs, colds, sore throats and chest troubles. And not only does it relieve but it protects against future attacks. “Baxter’s” is a rich, thick, warming medicine possessing excellent tome qualities. 2/6 buys large bottle at Chemist or Store. Ladies are cordially invited to the grand show of lovely Spring Millinery at tha ECONOMIC, Ladies’ Outfitters, 60 Dee street. —(Advt.) When colds and influenza are prevalent let “NAZOL” protect your family. One dose a day keeps colds away. Good for all ages. Sixty doses 1/6.—(Advt.)

Masters, Ltd., were the originators of tha 10 per cent, discount to returned soldiers. Other storekeepers have copied us and we now go one better. We now invite all discharged soldiers and tnose waiting discharge to have their military hats reblocked, free, of all cost, by the only hatter in Southland. We still give a 10 per cent, reduction to all returned soldiers.—MASTEßS, LTD., Dee street. —(Advt.) Tackle coughs and colds by using NAZOL. That’s the sensible and cheapest way. NAZOL is penetrating, germ-killing—and most economical 60 doses 1/6.—(Advt). Use “NAZOL" and you won’t keep a bad cold or sore throat above a day or two. Acta like a charm. Get a bottle TO-DAY.—(Advt)