LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 262, 1 August 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A small English mail, via Sydney, was received by the Kauri, which has arrived at Lyttelton from Newcastle.—Press Assn.

The STakura arrived at Auckland from Vancouver at 3.'20 a.m. on Monday, but her mails only arrived hero early'yesterday afternoon.

The transport Port Hacking is rot coming to New Zealand from P/jypt, as stated in The Dominion yesterday, but left Kngland with n New Zealand returning draft on July i, a,ud is due to arrive about August 14.

Of tho Now Zealand forces that were in Egypt up till recently, all are now on the water lioiueward-bouud, with tho exception of 3!) men, who have been left behind to attend to details.

Only one petition in bankruptcy was recorded h> Wolliugton during last month.

Heavy seas continue on the coast, and all shipping is delayed (.-ays a Press Association telegram from Napier). A thick fog last night added to tho difficulties of the position. Tho Arahura was unable to berth, and was standing out in tho bay. All the rivers are in heavy flood, and 1 further rain -will result in them overflowing their 'banks.

A distinct improvement in the quantity of milk available for domestic supplies in tho city is reported. Compared with the position a. month ago, 500 gallons more milk per day aro now available, due to the advancement of llie season under favourable conditions. This improvement is likely to continue .from this on to midsummer at al! events, eo that there'is not expected to be any further shortage in supplies this year. This should bo good news to every householder in AVelliugton.

Some publicity has been givoK to a complaint made on behalf of returned soldiers who had, before going on active service, given mortgages to tlie State Advances Department, and the statement has been made that these , men are now being called upon at short notice to pay the accumulated arrears of principal repayments. It has alwajs been tbe custom of the Financial Assistance Board to pay only interest on such mortgage?. The Department has never pressed for the repayment of principal during the absence of the soldier, but, as was explained to any soldier who inquired about the matter before leaving tho country, the Department had no power under the law to remit or postpone repayment. All that couM bo promised w.is that no demand would bo made on tho dependants of tho soldier for the repayment of the money in the eoldier's absence. The position is that after his return the soldier may pay 'back the instalments as ho is able to do so, or ho may, if he wishes, have them capitalised and added to tho amount of the loan. It has been stated that legislation is necessary lo enable this to be done, but this is not correct. Capitalisation of arrears could be arranged before (lib wat, and this was done ih some cases, Soldiers may now make the same arrangement.

The following regulation has been made regarding the penalties ol confiscation which may follow tho unlawful taking of fisJi:—"All fish unlawfully take*, and the basket? or other receptacles thereof, and also all net*, gear, tackle, or other apparatus used in any unlawful fishing, whether found on shore or in any vessel or boat, which are forfeited under the heroinbefore-recitcd section shall be disposed of a.? the Minister of Marine thinks ntv" . At a conference hold between members of the Otago Expansion League and the Southland Electrification Committee, UIV. A W. Rodger, who presided, offered on behalf of the Southland Committee to provido Otago with.a temporary supply of 10,000 h.p. from the Monowui scheme for a period ranging from five to ten years. The offer was made for the purpose of assisting Ota go to form its electric power district and carry out its scheme with the greatest possiblo expedition. Tho Otago delegates stated that thoir leaguo would carefully consider tho offer.—Press Assn.

Stephen Wright, a trimmer aboard the liiiapeliu, yesterday tripped .over a rope on. the deck of tho _vessel iind fell, injuring his head. Ho was taken to tho Hospital, and thoreliis injury, which was' not serious, was attended to.

The whaling season r at Whangamumu so far has been very successful (says tiie "New Zealand Ilenild"). Up to the present, 27 whales have been caught, and although this is not a record number, tho quantity of oil obtained has never been exceeded at this stage of the season, the whales having been of extra largo size. The winter whaling season extends for another three weeks; then there occurs a break of about six weeks before the summer season comences. By that time tho whales which have gono north to wanner water to breed will be returning south with tho young calves.

Indications of an early spring aro apparent in the Auckland district (says the "New Zealand Herald"). A resident of Great Barrier writes slating that the unlive pigeon is already silting on iis eggs, while the tui is building its nest. Father indication of the mildness of the season is afforded by the kowhui, which are now showing a I'ainl liiißC of colour, while waterlilies are developing rapidly.

Tho Court of Arbitration was yesterday informed Hint Ihe furnihiro trade employers in the Nelson and Taranaki districts consented to tho application to their businesses ol tho amcndiu?iit recently made in tho Wellington award. The Court therefore ordered that the Wellington. decision operate in the districts named.

A Press Association message from Napier slates that William Junius Carroll, a native of Canada and an inmate of the Old People's Home, celebrated his hundredth birthday yesterday. He has been ii moderate drinker and smoker all his life.

Wild .statements made to the police about "dastardly crimes," including "the murder of twelve girls by the lied Hand gang," have led to the committal of a vuiilh lo the mental hospital (says an Auckland paper). Early on Friday morning last lie informed a .policeman on dutV in Queen Street that he had seen

« member of the I'onsonby police "brutallv assaulted" in the Domain. No sign of the crime could bo found by a posse of police, who immediately hurried to the Domain, and furliuM- statements, including tho story of Ihe "murders," led to the apprehension oi the youth. When first asked for his name, he gave the name of a French aviator.

The Invcreargill town clock has of late l>een tho subject of attention by some mischievous μ-rsons. At a recent meeting of Ihe Borough Council it was reported that a bottle, with what appeared to be a small bomb or cracker, in it, was found lying on the floor of the clock room, and one of tho wire cables that carry the striking i tights, weighing over three, ewl., had been partly cut through. The chief postmaster has staled that no olh'cers of the Depa' tment are responsible for the damage.

The advisability of introducing motion pictures into Sunday "schools as an imBortanl- means of education was urged in a letter received by the Sunday School Union at Auckland. The union, although not adopting tho suggestion, was of opinion that effective teaching could be imparted to the pupils by this means. The Marton Junction branch of the railwaymen has decided to ask Ihe Department to purchase, if possible, the boots held in store by the Defence Department, and distribute them at cost price amongst railwaymen, giving prVerence to surfacement and shunters. "This is an excellent suggestion (thinks tho "Railway lleviow"), embodying a principle which could be extended to other important articles in general nst. Tho boots made for our soldiers were sound and durable, and no doubt there are ■ lnanv thousands of pairs in store. Even if the Government does not adopt' a policy of wholesale buying for the supply of its employees, it should, as a matter of good business, turn over its stocks before ihev depreciate."

Having noticed on the trip from Auckland to Hotor.ua (hat inordinately long stows were made at many stations for nu apparent purpose, a. passenger decided to take- a record of tin running time and of the stoppages on the return journey. The train left Eotovua at 6.1.0 a.m., and reached Auckland at 6.20 p.m., having taken twelve hours and ten minutes on the run. Of this tune, stoppages consumed five hours four minutes, the actual running time king only seven hours six minutes. The longest stop was at Frankton, where the train remained for fifty-two minutes.

The Paris correspondent of the London "Daily Teleginph" sent that journal the following war itcord of exceptionally painful character:—When war broke out. Vftiihee, a French cultivator at IJcninghe, near Ypres, had thirty-six children—twenty-two amis and fourteen daughters. Twenty of tho sons (ought mi all front. 1 :, and thirtcsn were killed; three were discharged on account of their serious wounds; one went through the operation of trepanning; another , returned blind and deaf; a third had both legs amputated; nnd a 'fourth, who, when Wiir broke out, was si valet do chambre of Pope Pius, was four times wounded. In 191? the widow of one of tho sons was killed by a German shell at Dunkirk. The father of this family and one of his daughters met a tragic end. In October 19M, they went to Lillo to take part in the centenary celebrations of a relative. -Met on their return by n German patrol, they were shot.

A mass meeting of railway employees will lie held at Palnierston to-night to discuss the question of holiday railway passes (says a. Press Association telegram). It is understood that other centres are acting similarly. Passes wore cancelled after August 1, although tho Department insists on men taking their holidays in the usual rotation. A prominent railwayman seen last night says the staffs regard this action as a challenge iseued to the men by the Government. "Wo are going to issue a challenge to the Government in return," he eaid.

It is an anomalous fact (says the Molbourne "Age") that t'ne Commonwealth Defence Act provides that combatant officers of the permanent staff must i>e appointed from graduates of the Duntroon College. In pre-war days there was little ground for complaint regarding the restriction, but now there has been created the anomaly that officers trained in the firing lino ai-i> debarred from such appointments. The matter was brought under the notice of the Commonwealth Government many months ago, and was again referred to the other day in the House of Representatives by J!r. Fleming (N.S.W.). The Minister admitted the absurdity, although he did not call it by that name, and added that

"the whole matter is under • consideration."

Wireless telephony has achieved such a strong position amongst public conveniences that the Australian Government (says the "Ago") acknowledges the necessity for giving it due recognition. A Biil was introduced in.tho Senate recently to make this means of communication subject to the same restrictions as v ireless telegraphy. The Vicc-Prcsideut, in, ■explaining the Bill, said that the new invention had made great strides during tho war, and that as early as 1915 wireless telephonic conversations had taken place between Washington and Paris. The difficulty attending the invention was to eliminate outside influences and eiisurn secrecy in conversation. The Bill v.as taken through the second reading and committee stages.

Mr. G. .11. Knibbs, Commonwealth Statistician, is shortly to leave for London to represent Australia at a conference which is to bo held m September on the question of tho double i;ieomo tax. He will also attend tlie t-tatis(icmus' conference to bo held in England. Tho British Government has agreed to consider the whole question of doubiu income tax aud the overlapping that ctkes place, in certain instances between Britain and the dominions, and suggested tl at the Federal Government should consider the advisability of sending an expert to England to argue the case for Australia, so that full justice should be done to those concerned.

The former enemy steamers at present trading between the United Kingdom and Australia comprise two distinct classes of requisitioned enemy tonnagevessels handed ovor (o the Allies in tho terms of the armistice, and vessels seized in Australian pt-rts at the outbreak of war. Of tlie twenty-three vessels, aggregating 110,000 tons; held by the Commonwealth, in the- name of. the British Admiralty, nineteen steamers were left to the Commonwealth, first under naval jurisdiction, and subsequently in conjunction with the Cbmmomvcaltti Uovernuient lino nf steamers, and the profits, it is understood, Imve gone into Australian revenue. VVuh the proclaiming of peace the question has been raised in local shipping circles (says the Melbourne "A;;e") as to the future control of these Admiralty requisitioned vessels. It is said that the matter has received tho attention of the authorities in England, itnd thnt an official statement may be expected shortly, it is known that during this acute shortage of shipping in 191| the Imperial authorities contemplated ivitlidi-iu'iiw many of tho vessels from the Australian trade. On tho general HHGstioii of the treatment of enemy toiinu»o seized in Allied ports, the Departmental Committee of the Board of lrado, in a report on post-war snipping pronloins, recommended that all interned enemy tonnage be cold by auction, and the nroccL'ds derind by the national nuthoritv holding the enemy vessels paid into revenue, as part of the indemnity. No neutral or enemy buyers were lo lie allowed to bid for me vessels A lans ciible-'ram published in May stated tliat Iho British delegates to tho Peace Conference had mipposled a plain disposition of enemy tonnage, by which tho A lies wmild hold the enemy tonnage seized in their refpectiv* ports: but, at the insll"ationofMr. I'M tieorge British dominions were now asking for a reconsideration of the question, owing to the iact I hat British losses by enemy notion were creator than tho tonnage captured.

.Mr. A. B. Mabin will 'be a candidate for the vacancy on the directorate of the Wellington-.Meat Export Company, caused by the retirement of fair Walter Buchanan.

The Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Upturned Soldiers' Association will meet in Wellington this afternoon. As the agenda paper prepared by the local su'b-conimitteo of the executive is ii lengthy one, ami covers a wide range or' .subjects of vital interest to ex-service men, it is expected that tho sessions will extend over at least three, days. On Saturday morning the members of the executive, who come from as far distant points as Auckland and Invereargill, arc In place tltt association's views on numerous policy matters before tho AetingPrime Minister and the members of Cabinet lit present in Wellington.

Speaking of war memorials at the meeting of the Petone War Memorial Committee last evening, Mr. L. '11-'Kenzio suggested the erection of a triumphal arch over the main street nt Petone us a fitting tribute to tho heroes of the war. Such an arch would bo an everlasting memorial. It cuulil be constructed of .New Zealand stone—marble, granite, etc.—and also of blocks of stone from thu various State.} of the Commonwealth emblematical of the union of New Zealand and Australian troops in the war, ami especially of the Anzacs on Gallipoli. "1 am sure.," said Mr. M'Kcn/.ift, "that the majority of tho public, utter having seen, tho fine arch erected by the Gear Meat Company, would favour such an arch."

The following Education Board appointments are announced: —Fernridge, head toucher, Mr. 11. Q. Ha'.l; Okiriu, head teacher, Mr. P. M. Jackson ; Scarborough, head teacher, Mr. U. S. Warwick; East Taratahi, solo teacher, Miss C, E. Phillips; Castlopoint, sola teacher, Mrs. W. K. Prideaux; Blenheim, assistant master, Mr. ,T. Connor; Karori, assistant, Miss C. M. Pinder; Northland, assistant, Miss A. E. Morcom; Te Aro, assistant, Miss M. O'Sliea; Masterton, assistant, Miss J. D. Brown; Shannon, assistant, Miss E. A. King; Carterton, secondary assistant, Miss J. G. Park.

The fact that knives, forks, eivords, aeroplane parts, etc., are now being made of rustless steel—a discovery made in 1913—opens the door to boundl&sj speculation as to its uses in tlio future, t'rom the day a steel vessel is launched she has to be painted, chipped, and painted ovet and over again to ensure that no rust will eat into and weaken any of Ue» plates, and this increasing renovation is one of the biggest runniiig charges in connection with all steamers. With k steamer constructed of rustless, steel this cost' would be greatly minimised, t>o much 6i>, it is said, that it would pay companies to face a much larger increase in the cost of tonnage if the rustless eteel idea were practicable. war the British Government cuiitKmed the output of .rustless steel in Sheffield, but given, an era of peace.-, with anything liko normal conditions in the trade, the possibilities in the use of this steel arc practically limitless.

Sir Harry Lauder was tho chief guest at ft luncheon given by the Millions Club in Sydney on July 11. Tn an address on Australian nffnire lie declared that the gospol of reconstruction was work. If Scotland was half as big as New South Wales, he added, it would recover in two years. The great " e ed in New South Wales wns a bank on every corner insttiid of a "pub." He was not a prohibitionist, but he did think that there were too many hotels and race meetings in Australia. . '

In the course of a letter headed "The Telephone Directory" (and signed by H. H. Thompson), which appeared in The Dominion yesterday, eevtral statements were nuuie, all of Mich the Post and Telegraph Department officials state are incorrect. In the first case there is no contract to supply iW' directories every six months, though the endeavour formerly was to do so. What is done to bridge the gap is to issuo cards containing the names of hew su'oseribers, or alterations in the numbers of existing , ones, so that tho subscriber, whoever lie may be, can keep _ up to djite. Furthermore, it is pointed out that by ringing up "Information" uny question is answered that comes within the purview of tho Telephone Exchange's business. There would have been a new issuo of tho directory cro this, had it not been for tho war, which seriously depleted the staff of the printing contractor, licwcver, things are now improving, and ti new directory is being issued. Half the subscribers in Wellington liavi! received copies during tho present week.

The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) has received the following postcard communication from, tho City Engineer (Mr. W. 11. Morton), dated Niagara Mis, June G: "Have arrived here on my way to Toronto, having visited Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, mid Duii'alo. Propose to see Montreal and Quebec; then New York, Boston, .Schnectndy, Washington, Philadelphia, .aid leave New York by the Aquitania for England. Am feeling firstrate. Hope to get news from New Zea. ; hind in New York. Officials in America havo been very kind, and have given mo a lot of information."

The Union Jack flown over the Auckland Town Hall during tho peacu celebrations is. of special historic interest, says an exchange. On the occasion of the great Durbar in Delhi, eight years ago, when the King and Queen paid their memorable- visit to India, luis (lag was flown in ono of the- Government: camps, and was the largest in Delhi. The size is 18ft. by 12ft. It was lent for the peace' celebrations by Mrs. E. Palgravi Davy, of Bayswater, to whom it was presented at the close of the Delhi Durbar.

On Thursday evening last week *. dinner was given to commemorate tho closing of the censorship for cablegrams at Wellington The party consisted cf Mr. W. S. Curtis, censor; Messrs. 6. 1 , . l''ox and L. A. James, assistant censors; also Messrs. \V. B. Mackay and G. J) , - Cogdale. All are soldiers returned from active service at the war, excepting Mr. Curtis, who has acted as censor from the beginning >to the. end of the war period. During the evening a pre,Bcntatioj) of a pocket-flask, well mounted, was made to Mr. Curtis by tho rest of the staff, as a token of good will and friendship prior to separation. The inscription on the flask reads:—"W. ,?. Curtis, Esq., with best wielies from Censor's Staff, 23/7/19."

Mr. A. J. M'Curdy has been elected to fill the vacancy on the Upper Hutt Town Board caused by the retirement of Mr. Peter Bobortson. The voting was: A. J,M' Curdy, 145; L. Clough, 111.

The chief officer of the Westmoreland, in conversation with a "Daily Times" reporter at Dunedin, gives some remarkable facts concerning himself and others employed on the vessel. Chief Officer I!. M'Nish (who, it has been reported will he gazetted D.5.0.) and the third and fourth officers (Air.. Harris and Mr. Goldsmith) have all been prisoners of war in the hands of tho Ilmis, as havo two of tlie crew; while quite a representative number of the latter havo been on active servico nx .soldiers or sailors. Mr. M'Nish was eliiof officer of (lie Otnki when, at 4.30 p.m. on Saturday, March 10, 1917. the Otnki first sighted the vessel which afterwards proved to be the übiquitous Moewe. When the- latter vessel was within a mile of .the Otnki she opened fire, and the Otaki's crew were immediately ordered to the boats and hex guns manned. Although, it was soon obvious that she w;\s outclassed, her Rimers got in some good shooting. Within a quarter of an hour Captain Smith, in command of the Otnki, reluctantly gave orders to cease fire to afford tho crew an opportunity to get away on her' remaining three boats; two jmd already been smashed by gunfire, and a largo hole had been torn in the vessel's hull on the port side. Unfortunately, after tho injured men had been assisted into lifebelts and otherwise cared for, and tho boats had got clear of the sinking ship, it was found that Captain Smith was missing. Mr. M'Nish and tho carpenter expected him to follow them over the fide on the last of three lines which they had attached to (lie rails for the final eventuality. Oapta,in Snii'Ji' was last seen by Mr. M'Nish standing by his lino at the rail with his lifc-savintf waistcoat on and evidently ready to follow t'hom as thev had arranged. The vessel went down shortly afterwards, and alter drifting about fnr three-quarters of an hour Mr. M'Nish and live arpenter were, nicked up by the Moewe. The Mopwo then shewed that she hnd been hit by seven shells from the Otnki. and was on fire. It tool; 3f! hours to Ret (in- '-vn iip'W cinlrnl. M'Nish refers lo the conditions while on Iheir way to KH n« *Wl- : "". .AllhoiHi he also was reported "kilHl , lie was able, after making a round of six different prison ramus in Germanv, tn report himself to his father as "very much alive" at Karlsruhe, from where ho was released in Doember of last yeeir.

The Early Settlers' Association intend lo" move at once in tho erection of a memorial to the. pioneer settlers who landed on the beach at Petone. With tliLi object in view, at tho request of the association the Mayor of Petone, Mr. J. W. M'Ewan, has arranged for a meeting to be held in the I'ctone Borough Council Chaoibsrs on Saturday afternoon at 2.30 p.m. The Early Settlers' and Historical Association, who inloud to make this nionuip'ent the epcciul feature of this year's work, are looking to the descendants of tho pioneers io assist them in their endeavour to perpetuate ilie memory of their fathers and grandfathers who so bravely faced the great unknown.

Present day criininologists (says the Melbourne. "Age") have no sympathy with the "eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth." principle as applied to the. treatment of convicted persons. Compared with tlie methods of 'bygone years, the present system of penal treatment is almost affectionate. A question submitted to the Government in the House of Representatives suggested that a convict, if designated by a softer name, has an increased chaiico of reformation. It directed attention to the fact that the Legislature of tlie Stale of Connecticut has ordered the word "convict" to be deleted from the official records, and the word "inmate" applied to prisoners instead. The Acting Attorney-General replied that inquiries were being made into the matter.

Last night a. deputation from the Wellington Plumbers and Gasfitter's' Union waited on the Ron. W. H. Hemes, Acting Minister of Labour, to protest against the action of the Labour Department in failing to take action against the employers for breaches of award. The de-putation-maintained that the Department had shown great laxity, and that there had been many unnecessary delays. Tho Minister promised to investigate the matter.

The. organisation of tho South Island Main Trunk Railway League was advanced at a meeting at which it was reported that a satisfactory working arrangement had been made with the Maryborough Chamber of Commerce to avoid clashing with the latter's "Advance Marlborough" campaign. The agreement" (says the Blenheim correspondent of the Christchurch "Press") provides for the following programme:—Urging on thn Government the borrowing of i'!0,000,00fl for the completion of the. main trunk railways within ten years, Ihe more important lines to be undertaken with a view to their construction in five years; advocating that if the-sup-ply of labour necessary to this objective is found to be inadequate,'it he'supplemented by means of an immigration policy: and aimins at joint action with Canterbury for the simultaneous and early completion of the 'OHra Tunnel and South Island Trunk railway. An executive was set up to formulate the. lilan of campaign; which will nrohaWy include a largo deputation to Wellington at nbout the time of the assembling of Parliament. Thn feeling locally is that the projects which come under tho definition of tlip more important trnnl: lines btr the Otira Turnip' line, the connection of Picton and Christchnrdi, nnd the East Coast line in the North Island.

The Auckland City Schools Committee has decided on giving- a trial to a comforts scheme for children attending the city schools in the winter months, says the "Star." It is intended to make a start at the Napier Street School at an early date, tho idea being to provide all the children who take their lnne-hes to school- with them a cup ni hot cocoa, nf which one-third shall be milk, in *]\p luncheon recess. Any other scholars will also be supplied if they are in need of the comfort, the number it is estimated who will require tho cocoa at the Napier Street School being about 200, or about one-third of the scholars. J!o charge is to be made to the children and the committee, which has already received a .£5 donation from a country resident toward the expense of the innovation, is hopeful that further contributions will enable it to extend the scheme to all the schools under its control.

On tho second reading of the Railways Bill in the West Australian Parliament the Leader of the Opposition supported tho proposal to appoint three Commissioners in place of one. . He considered, it impossible for one man to control ana administer effectively such a complex and vast concern as the railways, ihe Bill provides, inter alia, that no Commissioner be appointed for more than five Tears, but they will be eligible tor roappointment. Tho Bill passed through Committee without amendment.

The rationing of bitter by the local dairy factory companies came iuto forco in Invercarffill at the bediming of the week (says ttio Invereargill correspondent of the' "Otago Tiines"). The manager of oae company told a reporter that on July 21 there were only 21,309 boxes of butter in storo in the Dominion. The weekly withdrawals, he said, averaged from 11,000 to 12,000 boxes, so that there was only sufficient in ytore on that-basis to keep the country supplied for a fortnight. Southland lms experienced a very bad season, and the output of the butter factories is only about half of that for the previous year, so that tho province is somewhat' seriously affected. Although the general rationing has just been introduced one company lids been carrying out tho schemo in connection with its customers for over a week. The rationing means the cutting down of the normal supply to customers by two-thirds.

It will amaze many to learn that not a few of the official residences in Ensland wero without bathing accommodation. This is' partly explained by tho long practice of tub bathing. In a recent discussion in the Houso of Commons tho Lord Chancellor's bath figured prominently in a discussion on the Civil Service'estimates. Sir Alfred Jlond referred to the criticism made- at a previous sitting on 'die proposed expenditure of JtiSSOO on the Lord Chancellors residence in the Royal Court, including the construction of bathrooms and a lift. Sir Alfred ■ read oxtractß from a letter written to him by the Lord Chancellor. "J am sure," wrote Lord Birkenhead, "that both yourself and the committee will understand . . . that I am both able and willing, in a house of my. own, to provide my family and myself with such bathroom and other accommodation as may be reasonably necessary." "It would 'be most unfair," commented Sir Alfred Mond, "to suggest that two bathrooms are unnecessary." sfr. C. P. White remarked that Lord Birkenhead had .£SOOO salary and £5000 a year for "keeping the King's Conscience." The fact that the work on the honso had already been started was an insult to the committee. The committee decided to reduce the estimated expenditure by ii3SOO, and the Lord Chancellor still lacks his bathrooms.

The alarnv raised (bat Ihe Government was purchasing war equipment for a force of-two divisions, and bringing; this out to New Zealand, turns out to lie a. false one. The New Zealand Government had to eupply the New Zealand Forces with all equipment, even though this had to be actually furnished from Britain, and at the end of the .war the New Zealand Division had a ({ood deal of war material on hand. The Minister of Defence f-aid yesterday that the Government was bringing out to New Zealand such of the war material as was likely to be useful for the Territorial Force here. As it was being brought out in lieu of ballast, its carnage to Now Zealand would cost the Government but little. The material comprised a great variety of goods, including ambulance wagons, transport of various kinds, and suns. It would be fuflicient for the equipment of two divisions, but this did not menu that two divisions of the Territorial Force were (o be formed. Before tho war the strength of the Territorial Army was 30,000. ■

A statement bearing upon the work of oil-boring in Papua was made in the Federal House of Representatives some days ago by the Minister for Home and Territories." Arrangements had been mado with tho Imperial Government, said Air. Glynn, whereby the latter would co-oper-ate with the Commonwealth Government in the further testing of certain fields in that territory. One of the geologically examined fields w<\s at present being tested by the- Government, and three others were' practically ready for testing. It wns intended to spend in testing about -EIOO.nOO. The chief difficulty had been to get experts for testing. About a week ago a telegram from the Imperial Government stated that they had practically obtained the experts required. The original request was for an additional geologist, an expert manager, and nine expert drillers. It was expected that the export 6 would qoon be sent from England.

l.\l ; r. W. Cotton, who is a member o# the Lower Hutt Borough Council, tlie Hutt Licensing Committee, and tlie executive of tlio Central Chamber of Commerce, is said to he n likely candidate for the Hutt seat ut the next election. Mr. Cotton will stand as an independent Labour candidate.

The report of the Hoyal Commission which investigated tho circumstances of (lit epidemic of influenza in the Samoan Group, and the measures taken to combat the sickness, has presented its report to tho Government. The Acting Prime Minister snid yesterday that the report was to 'be printed, and that until this was doue nothing could lie made public concerning it.

The Christchurch Returned Soldiers' Association has cabled to Lord Jellicoe asking him if he would lay the foundation stone of the returned soldiers' new club-house during his visit to Christchurch. Lord Jellicoe cabled in reply that ho would l>2 honoured to do 60.— Press Assn.

'J'lib freehold site on which stnnds the Phoenix Foundry, Old Customhouse Street, also the section running through from Old Customhcu.se Street "to Wakefield Street, were offered at auction yeslorday by Messrs. Harcourt and Co., on. behalf of the estate of the late Mr. Dnvid Eobertson. Bidding opened with an offer of ,£20,001), and was carried irf in bids of .£250 until it reached ,£27,500 Bids of ,£101! were then takeu, ami offers rose to ,£23,030, at which price the properly was withdrawn as the reserve had not been reached.

An amending regulation under the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act is gazetted. It provides that in the event of a returned soldier having made application to the Land Boafd for a purchase'which has not been approved by the Department and applying a second time in respect of another purcha;e, the Commissioner of Crown Lands may reduce or remit entirely the valuation fee, in respect of the second application. . ■'

A etory whioh was 'old the other day at the 'Melbourne Town Hall (says the "Age") gives further evidence of a long standing disgrace—the profiteering which po»3 on in the buying of war bonds. An elderly woman called at the Town Hall on Tuesday, introducing herself as "the mother of three soldiers," one of whom was blind and still in England. She had, she said, in an effort to faise money to send to her son in England, offered a 'war bond for sale to a Collins Street broker. Tlie face value of the 'bond was .£lO, and with it. she offered war -wings stamps to the amount of 15s. To her amazement, however, the broker offered her i'S for , both bond ond stamps, volunteering, when she declined hi; bid, to keep the property for her for the afternoon, in ense she should ultimately decide to accept. She nevertheless persisted in her refusal. An. official of the Town Hall, ascertaining the market value of the bond to be .£9 10s., paid her that amount for it, purchasing the stamps also for 15si