THE NEAR EAST

Southland Times, Issue 19655, 4 October 1922, Page 4

THE NEAR EAST

The course of events of the immediate future in the Near East will turn upon the result of the conference which was to have opened at Mudania yesterday between the Allied Commanders and Ismet Pasha, representing the Angora Government. The fact that the conference has been arranged is a long step forward, and while it by no means removes the cause of anxiety, there is ground for hope that it will point the way to a peaceful solution of the problems that have been so gravely threatening the peace of Europe. The discussions, it is stated, will come under three heads: (1) Guarantees regarding the neutral zones; (2) The demarcation of Eastern Thrace; and (3) the temporary administration. Mr G. Ward Price states that Britain will propose that Eastern Thrace be controlled by an Allied Commission during the peace negotiations. When these are satisfactorily completed the Turks, as promised, will take the government of the whole of Eastern Thrace, including Adrianople. The Turkish frontiers in Europe will then be approximately the same as in 1914. There is some occasion for disquiet in the report that Turkish infantry detachments have appeared in the neutral zone near Chanak. It is probable, however, that these troops were in motion before Kemal Pasha’s undertaking that there should be no further military operations was given, and the consequent change of orders failed. to reach them. A message by an indirect route suggests that the new regime in Greece is not functioning easily, and is experiencing difficulty with the Venizelists and the army. This is completely at variance with all the most credible intelligence on the Grecian situation and no great importance need attach to it.

Gore labour agents state that there is an acute shortage Of ploughmen at the present time. Efforts were made by one agency to secure its requirements from Invercargill, but. a/shortage of men for this class of work is also reported here. The Mayor and Councillors have accepted an invitation to be the guests of the Invercargill Bowling Club on the occasion, of the official opening of the Club’s green at Bowmont street on Saturday, October 14. “The way education boards are elected is a public scandal,” stated a delegate to the High School Boards’ Conference at Wellington. The delegate stated that the members were elected by a mere handful, and tlie boards were in fact the most undemocratic bodies in the Dominion. For the first two weeks in September 2,238,500 cubic feet of gas were manufactured by the municipal works, which represented a decrease of 10 per cent on the amounts made during a similar period last year. Fittings and appliances valued at £4B were sold and installed, and three ordinary services and one renewal were laid. A large consignment of machinery which landed at the Bluff by the Orari has reached Mataura for the New Zealand Paper Mills Company’s new’ mill at that centre. Included in the consignment is rhe new paper making machine, boilers, dry cylinders, etc., and a large lifting crane. The machinery will be stored at the company’s works in the meantime until the new buildings are ready. A large amount of Labour is now employed at the mill on the new construction works. The Town Council last evening received from the Southland Rugby Union a letter asking for the Biggar street Reserve improvement scheme to be held over in the meantime as the Union was endeavouring to raise the £2OO required. The letter was referred to the Reserves Committee. Councillor F. W. Freddy, chairman of the Committee, said bis Committee were waiting to hear what the Union was going to do to raise its portion of the money before going on with the scheme. “Even a bishop never attracts anybody unless he’s drunk,” said Archbishop Julius, in his sermon at Michael’s Church at Christchurch, ou Sunday. He was referring to the quality of “attractiveness” which was so marked a feature of the Founder of Christianity, but which, he said, was conspicuous by its absence in modern days. “There are a good many Christian people as sour as vinegar itself, who would not attract anybody, let alone a sinner.” The Archbishop exhorted his hearers to take an interest in public, affairs, and get into the City Council, where they could bring in a little light and grace. Ail poles on the Myyoes Bush line are erected and the. lines are now being run. This is expected to be finished by the end of the month, stated the Bonwigh Electrical Engineer, Mr A. C. Garman, in. his report to the Town Council its meeting last night. The report also stated that, the transformers for the flaxmill at the foreshore had been erected and the plant would very soon be running. Heavier mains were being run in Tyne and Clyde streets to cope with increased loading. Nine poles had been erected and mains rim to reach consumers. Seven new inptallations and eight extensions had been tested and connected to the mains.

“A teacher arrives at the height of his teaching powers at forty years of age, and a.t fifty years he, is beginning to lose his powers,” said Mr H. C. Banks (Auckland), at the conference of education boards, held at Wellington last week. This statement the Minister of Education (Hon. C. J. Parr) refuted absolutelj' and with emphasis. He thought that, a man of the age mentioned lastly was as good physically, mentally, and morally as ever he was. To suggest that a man at fifty years of age was played out was wrong. “Ebcperience counts for much,” the Minister said, “and 1 consider that a man between fifty and sixty is often, at his best.” (Laughter and applause).

The total charges for the street lamps to the Invercargill and South Invercargill Boroughs and the Southland County Council for the six montlis ending September 30, amounted to £934 8s 9d. The actual cost- for the -six months was £lOl4, but the ■coat for the next six months. i-epo#ted the gas manager would not exceed £B5O, or a total for the twelve months of £1,864. To produce that amount the charges had been increased to tire Invercargill Borough, from £4 5s to £4 12s fid per lamp, and to the South Invercargill Borougb and the Southland County Council from £4 10s to JA 17s 6d per lamp.

The Menzies Ferry Factory disposed of its cheese output on Monday at 8A per lb.

Greater Winion came into being on October 1. The area of the Borough has been increased by a couple of hundred acres while the population of Greater Winton will now be in the vicinity of MOO.

The Herald reports that in the Wyndham district roads are dusty and watertanks nearly empty for the want of rain. There was a sprinkle of rain on Sunday evening.

There has been, a marked improvement, in the residential building trade in Invercargill recently. Last month 29 permits were issued by the Town Engineer for new buildings valued at £10,600. The municipal power house output, for the weeks ending September 16 and 23 were 53,720 and 52,830 unite respectively and the coal consumption 141 and 139 tons, according to the electrical report submitted to the Town Council last night. The ground of dismissal of a railway engine driver whose appeal was before the Railway Appeal Board on Monday was ab-

sence without leave and not drunkenness as was .stated in a paragraph published yesterday. A Waiinate Press Association telegram states that Walter Richard Wilson, aged twenty, a labourer, pleaded guilty to breaking and entering anti theft of money and valuables totalling £32 5/-. He was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, bail being allowed, self in £lOO and two sureties of £lOO each. Fifteen applications, two of them from as far north as Christchurch and the others widely scattered over Southland, with tw-fi from Dunedin have been received for the position of gas accountant to the Invercargill Borough Council. Last night the applications were referred to the Gas Committee. During the month pf September, according to a return submitted to the Borough Council last night, the municipal abattoir slaughtered four cows, 320 bullocks and heifers, eight pigs, and 1976 sheep, two sheep and a pig were condemned. For the corresponding month of last year there were slaughtered 307 cattle, 15 pigs, and 2193 sheep. The pen of wethers, which topped the market at Wallacetown sale yesterday, were fattened on Sir Joseph Ward’s property, Awarua. They were finally knocked down at 39/-, and many experte, after.viewing the pen, declared it- to be the best seen at Wallacetown for* some time. The wethers, which were never on turnips, were in excellent condition and carried well-woolled fleeces of good lustre. Craving for an intimation from the Chief Justice at the Auckland Supreme Court as to when a succeeding case could be expected to be heard, a well-known barrister suggested that 2.15 p.m. would suit. •’Make if 2 o’clock, ivid cut out the fifteen,” said Sir Robert Stout, who (states the Star) delivered a little homily to the assembled Bar that he found, when there was work to do, it was the matter of filling in the minutes that always told. Kowhai is in full bloom in this district (says the Wyndham Herald). There is a very fine group of these trees blooming on the northern face of a hillside at Munro's Bush. The setting is most picturesque and the trees, at present bare of leaves, are’ thickly covered with beautiful golden blossom. A very large and particularly fine tree is to be seen in a gully near Mr Joseph Allan’s home at “Oakleigh,” ite long pendulous branches being simply weighted down with masses of golden flowers. Many beautiful native birds, such as wood-pigeons and tuis, may be observed visiting the kowhais in search of nectar which the flowers produce in abundance, the tuis having a reputation for tearing open the blossoms in their haste to secure the honey. The Maoris are said to regulate their potato planting by the flowering of the kowhai. Under the recent spell of beautifully fine weather, gardens in and around the town have made great progress during (he past month or so, the dreary garb of winter having been replaced by something more satisfying to the eye. The Public Gardens are at present- looking particularly well, both in the hothouse and out-of-doors. The Head Gardener (Mr W. Smith) has a splendid display of colour in the hothouse, the cinerarias, cyclamens and primulas, which have formed the basis of the collection, having been recently reinforced by the Himalayan rhododendron, azelia, arabus and calceolaria, all of which help to make up a beautiful and varied display. Outside, the Gardener has a lovely collection of polyanthus, which has done remarkably well this year and is certainty one of the most attractive features of the gardens. The heat of the past, day or two htu? affected the daffodils, but there are still some nice beds left., while the violas are coming on at a great rate. The Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. E. P. Lee, stated yesterday that Mr W. G. McDonald had forwarded his resignation as chairman of the Board of Trade, says a Wellington Press Association message. Mr McDonald is leaving the Government service to take up, ;t is understood, the position of managing director of Distributors Ltd., a flourmilling concern. Mr McDonald was appointed a member of the Board of Trade in February, 1916, and was elected chairman in the following April. His appointment, which was made by the National Government, was in the first instance for three years, but at the end of that period the term was extended for a further year. The Board of Trade Act was then passed, and the Board of Trade was made a permanent institution. Mr McDonald’s appointment was made for another five years, two years of which have expired. The resignation will take effect as from November 1. “Fashions change in regard to vegetables as well as anything else,” was what the head gardener of a big institution eaid at Auckland when he was asked what had become cf bis silver beet bed? “Once it used to be one of the favourite vegetables at the home, for it was supposed to be good for the blood because of the iron it .contained, and it had been boomed a good deal on that account, but now it seemed io lie taking second place to New Zealand spinach, which is a very fine vegetable indeed, and once it gets a dart soon becomes very prolific and needs little attention in its cultivation. A Britisher’s taste has to be reckoned with and that, is one of the reasons why chokos have also gone a good deal out of use. We have never become watercress eaters like the peoples of many European countrie 4 - for the same reason, and yet we are the losers in the long run for this. How far the young New Zealander will - follow tire tastes of his British ancestry yet remains to be seen, but there is no fear of the race if good, plain British tastes are developed.”

A New Plymouth resident has a horse which has been made a great pet, and in consequence is full of crafty tricks. At gate opening the horse defies all the ordinary fixtures, and will work away at any new device until he finds a solution. A few day» ago the horse observed a baby about four years old sitting in a box eating a biscuit. This is a dainty that the animal loves, and without hurting the child’s hand it promptly annexed the biscuit and devoured it. He liked th,i taste so well that he investigated for more. Carefully taking the child’s dress in his teeth he lifted the baby from the box, and was rewarded, by more biscuits in the bottom of the box. The -child’s mother placed the box behind a gate, and, giving the baby more biscuits, proceeded with her duties. It was not fong iMifore the horse foul the gate opened, and the performance of lifting out the child and searching for biscuits was repeated without, trouble or harm. On another occasion the house cat was lapping some milk from a saucer on the verandah. The horse promptly put its head over the railings, gently removed the cat with its teeth on to the ground, and “converted lie milk to its own use?*

During the 19 months that America was rl war, 91,000 persons were killed on the lughways—almost twice the number of Americans killed in battle or who died of wounds.

“Miss Violet Drummond, daughter of Mrs Drummond, of Meggineh Castle, Forfarshire, having finished her apprenticeship as an engineer in Dundee, has accepted appointment. on the engineering staff of one, of the Holt line steamers trading between Liverpool and Australia. She is the first woman to qualify,” says the Telegraph.

Advice has been received by the Town Council that the immediate legislation 'has been promised for the election of Power Board members concurrently with the usual county or borougn' elections. The communication, which was sent by Mr H. P. I'fiomas, engineer of the Southland Power Board, was received, the Mayor remarking ttyit it was good news as the co-ordination of the elections would save the Council £l5O in the printing of rolls and other expenses. “A statistical article in the current issue of the Economist shows that the reporta of 1386 industrial companies published in the twelve months ended 30th June last disclosed net profits of £80,000,000, or £49,500, 000 less than the previous twelve months. On their ordinary capital these companies paid an average rate of dividend of 8.6 per cent., against 11.8 per cent., but even this lower rate of dividend was not actually earned, an aggregate of over £6,250,000 being drawn from reserves. The figures bear eloquent testimony to the great economic depression,” says the Nation. An expanding market for New Zealand butter is promised in France (stales the Auckland Herald). The production of butter in that country in recent years has considerably diminished, partly owing to the depletion of the herds during the war period and partly because of the extensive manufacture of soft cheeses. The country is also , consuming much more butter than it did previous to the war, the acquisition of Alsace and Lorraine having included two provinces which are large consumers, but produce no butter. During the last few seasons New Zealand butter has been placed on the Paris market through London, but efforts are now being made to establish a trade in New Zealand butter with France direct. During his bankruptcy examination at Brentford, Middlesex, recently, Major Gerald Charles Drinan, of »he Indian Army, said that in 1904 he owed a little money. Tempted by a moneylender’s circular that he could obtain a loan on easy terms, he borrowed 400 rupees, about £26, at 3 per cent, per month interest. He paid nothing back, and in 1911 judgment was entered against him for £246. Mr Matthews, deputy Official Receiver: Do you know this moneylender has sworn a claim now for £7315 18/5, all arising out of the original 18 years ago?—Yes. The Registrar: Evidently there is no Moneylenders Act in India. Mr Matthews: You took no steps to investigate it?—No. The Registrar: That is amazing. In reply to further questions, the debtor said that the claim included law costs and the payment of premiums on a life policy deposited with the moneylender as security. Three keas wire observed flying about the Riverlands district in Marlborough the other day (states the Express). One of them, kiired with a shot-gun, was well grown, in good condition, and possessed of thick and striking plumage. z\ peculiarity was that the wing and tail tips were very ragged and short, bearing the appearance of having been severely scorched by fire. What brought the keas so far from their natural haunts it is difficult to conjecture. Possibly they hail had a narrow escaj/e from a bush fire, or the recent heavy falls of snow and the subsequent shortage of food may have driven them down on to the plain. Hie fact that there are large numbers of dead lambs lying about may attract more keas. One of the settlers, Mr lusher, who has had considerable experience with keas on such back-country runs as the stated that he had seen the birds feasting in great numbers on dead sheep, but has never noticed them attack a live animal. He has no doubt that they are carnivorous, as he once kept a tame kea when out mustering, which he used to feed on sheeps’ kidney. On one occasion he shot a couple of stags in kea country, and on returning for one of the heads which he had been compelled to leave found that the carcasses had been stripped clean of flesh by an immense mob of keas. Wonderful value in Carpets, Sofa Squares, Hearth'Rugs, and Runners in many new designs at Smith’s. — (Advt). Wheat, good wheat, for your fowls. Wheat, clean wheat. 100 per cent wheat. Some trucks excellent fowl wheat to hand at Baxters 17/- per sack, or two sacks for ,33/- delivered from Baxters. —(advt.) Three go to the making of a good lawnmower:—l. It must run easy. 2. It must cut clean without dragging. 3. Be easy to regulate and stand hard wear. This is the kind that Vernon Smith and Co., are selling at very low prices according to size. We would recommend you to see and handle them before buying elsewhere. Next P. 0., Invercargill.—Advt. A special display of the new season goods is now open for inspection at Thomson and Beattie’s and you are cordially invited to make a visit of inspection. No efforts have been spared in getting together the finest selection it is possible to get or in making the display as attractive as possible.— (Advt). For the cricket, tennis and bowling seasons we are now showing gents’ white trousers, white tennis shirts, canoe shirts, white sweaters, belta, fancy socks, etc. Don’t leave your requirement until the last minute but order your bowling blazers anti white trousers now. McNeil and Clark, 95 Dee street. —(Advt). SPEC3AL OFFERINGS. In Men’s Suits. This, week we are holding a big display of high class ready to wear Suits, in splendid suitings. The cut and finishing is the best procurable, and the wonderful low prices will convince you we are after your trade. Our new section for men is meeting with a big success. It will be to your advantage to pay us a visit. Superior ready to wear suite for men, in Colonial Worsteds Newest shades oflStown, grey, oxford, etc., from 90/-, 115/- to 126/-. Ask to see this line. Men’s Sports Suits 75/- to 90/-. Men’s reliable raincoats from 75-/-, 95/-, to 120/-. Men’s odd tweed coats and Sports Coats 42/6 to 50/-. Denim Overalls 7/6, 8/6, 9/6, to 10/6. Men’s Negligee Shirts all sizes from 7/6, 9/6, 10/6 to 12/6. Cashmere Sox 1/6 to 5/6. Tennis Trousers 25/- to 27/6. Men’s fur felt hats, superior quality from 17/6, 19/6 to 25/-. Many other special lines on new in our neiv department, for men. A visit of ■ inspection will show you these lines at H. ■ <t J. Smith, LTD., Progressive Stores, Tay Street, Invercargill, ami Main Street, Gore. —(Advt). j Special Purchase. —125 Ladies’ Sample {Coctumes, smart styles, well tailored, reli | able materials, quick-selling prices 39/6 to 79/6. “ECONOMIC’ Ladies’ Outfitters, 69 Dee street. — (Advt.) “Blythesome Spring dispels dull c&re.” —Hales. Spring, however, has capricious moods, and even in this season there lurks the risk of coughs and colds. At the first sign of trouble take Baxter’s Ixmg Pre server. For over half-a-eentury, “BaxtePa” has been acclaimed by thousands as a genuine, reliable cough and cold remedy for both young and old. As a body-building,, bloodenriching tonic, it has also proved its ater ling worth. 2s 6d targe bottle at chemists and storea. —Advt. ROAD, RAIL OR SEA. It is immaterial to us how the furniture is to go. We can pack it ao that the bumps of the road, the rail or sea journey do not affect it. Our packers are expert. Mav we have your removal?—THE NEW ZEALAND EKFRESS CQ. t L3?D.—Advt.