Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star THURSDAY, MARCH 22 1917 THE AUSTRALIAN BROIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 March 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star THURSDAY, MARCH 22 1917 THE AUSTRALIAN BROIL.

A cable message from Anstralia yesterday indicated the disgraceful state of affairs into which political matters had drifted. Ever since the failure of the referendum vote on conscription, the parties have been torn asunder. The defection<of Mr Hughes and his own following from the Labor Party has led to a bitter condition of affairs. So, also, in State politics, Mr Holmau’s support of conscription and his ultimate alliance with the National Party as against Labor, has brought about a sharp division of political opinion which has led up to a disgrace* ful embroglio. New South Walee is now on the eve of a State election, in whioh as the cable news states, much dirty linen is being washed. When the Federal contest takes place in a oonpfe of months’ time, even a more bitter and demoralising contest is likely to result. As a Sydney writer has said:—To say that the spectacle of Australia as the modern Nero, fiddling while Rome burns, causes disgust among the great majority of Australians, is to put it mildly. As one prominent Sydney man pats it, “ It would be a fine day for Australia if we oculd round up the whole lot of them—Liberals, Hughesites and P.L.L.—and chase’em right off the landscape.” Meantime, the war wages, and in the forefront of the battle the Australians are ever to be fonnd. Yesterday’s csble indicating the part the Australians had played, read like a direct appeal for more men. It were as if the Australians bad been given a post of honor to supply a reason for asking for reinforcements. This, of a vast country like Anstralia, with such boasted national aspirations, suggests that for some people the age of chivalry

is passed. Sarely the cation will wake np and realise that its dnty in regard to the war must be dGne. Whether the elections about to take place will help to iron ont the situation remains to be seen, bnt certain it is the political position borders on chaos, and probably nothing short of an election would clear the air. A pnscorrespondent thus sums np the general outlook: There is a bitter election campaign proceeding in New South Wales, and it will be nothing to the Federal campaign, when it etartß; there is great turmoil in West Australia, the result of office-seeking and intrigue ; there is pronounced unrest in Queensland, where a Government of very advanced views is antagonising big sections of the people; and there are the usual industrial disturbances everywhere. The appeals and arguments of the recruiting organisation are almost drowned amid the clamour, and these local disturbances are persistently taming public attention away from the war, where the very fate of civilisation hangs in the balance It is an extraordinary sight, this, of a country quarrelling furiously within its own borders at Buoh a time, and it will do nothing to lessen tbe unpleasant impression created abroad by the result of tbe consoription referendum. It appears to be all the result of a vioiotra system that has its root in the professional politician. Uneducated, petty, bitterly prejudiced men have entered Australian politics in great numbers, and their limited vision does not permit them to appreciate the fact that, with civilisation in the melt’ng-pot, Australia’s parochial affa rs, in all decency, ahould be set aside temporarily. The people realise it more clearly than the politicians, and the feeling of disgust is so strong that if in the opinion of the public any one of the politioal parties is more blameworthy than another, that party will feel the wrath of the votsr. The tronble is that the intrigues of Mr Hughes—although there is much to be said in his defence—have caused almost as much resentment as the operations of the incredible Political Labor League. The Liberals, perhaps, appear in a better light than any, but the Liberals are at present united with Mr Hughes, It remains to be seen how the bond that weds them will stand the fierce test of the coming campaign.

Last week’s returns from tlio Worksop dredge was 56ozs. for 92 hours dredging.

It is reported that two more men after being palled up in the Ballot for National Service were arrested yesterday in Greymouth and that a Government offical is one of them.

A draft of lady telegraph operators arived in Greymouth on Tuesday evening from the learners school at Christchurch. 0 tithe five who arrived one is to be stationed at Westport one at Reefton two at Greymouth and oue at Hokitika (Mies Hnstiu.)

Mr F. 11. Williams, secretary of ifcho Westland branch of the Canterbury Automobile Association, lias received official notice from Christchurch of toe affiliation of the local club, and will immediately call a general meeting to arrange an opening run.

For not answering liis name on the the. Grand Jury yesterday morning at the Supreme Court in Greymoutli William Morris of Tainui Street was fined £5. One or two of the stokers at “t he gasworks summoned on tlio common jury were excused from attendance on the application of Mr. Hanan. Quo sick jjuror and two members of tne Greymoutli Fire Brigade were also j excused from attendance at the sittings.

At the Princess Theatre Mr Pollard presented several interesting graphics of topical questions, a very interesting film of shell making, a cartoon, sketch of a dream of baseball and a drama of the far West“ The good bad man” which included in its features some -fine perspective showing troops of horsemen scouring the country, an attractive plot being woven into the pourtrayrl.

At the. Magistrate’s Court Brunnerton on Monday last Russel Black on a cliargo of using obscene language at Taylorville on the night of the 17/tli. inst. was convicted and fined £4 in defaqlt one month’s imprisonment with hard labour. Accused who asked to be dealt with summarily pleaded guilty. Constable Rodgers who arrested, tlio accused in describing the langauge said it was the worst he had heard for many years and, further the accused was in company of a female when he used the language. A;t the request of the Bench the accused agreed to a prohibition order being issued against him. The presiding justices were Messry Allison and J. Creagh. J. P. of Brunnerton.

A large alluvia! venture is now taking shape at Woodstock, where the Woolston Tanneries Coy, under the management of of Mr F. B. Powell, has now commenced sluicing operations. Water his always been the great essential to work the Back Creek and Woodstock terraces on a large scale, The present company recognising this determined to pump the water from the river and so operate on the fanes. By the acquirement of the Ross Flat electric plant, the company has installed a pumping station on the banks of the Hokitika river at Woodstock. Using hydro-electric power derived from Rake Xanieri, the water is pumped on (e Woodstock terrace, a height of about 248 feet, and from the storage dam the water is used for sluicing purposes at the rear of the terrace, and the tailings are being sent out *o the river, part by way of a drainage tunnel. The venture is one of considerable magnitude and the enterprise shown deserves to be amply rewarded.

Ladies requiring dressmaking done, would do well to book their orders with Mrs J. Lloyd. Fit and style guaranteed.

WOLFE'S SCHNAPPS tones the stomach and helps digestion.

The Public Trustee irserts a notification in this issue in the estate of the late William Brandt of Kimu.

The Defender .’eaves WePingtcn tomorrow and Picton on Saturday for Hokitika via Blackball end Greymouth.

Messrs Pprot, Jeffries and Go will sell at the Goods Shed Hokitika on balurday ec 11 a.m., two 1 inch steel pipes on account of the Railway Department.

A reminder is given of tho special meeting of the Hokitika branch of the Overseas Club this evening at 8,15 o’clock at the County Chambers. A full attendance of members is hop?d for,

The Canterbury No 1 Military Service Board sits at the undermentioned places on the following dates:—Christchurch March 23rd, Ksikoura March 24th, Blenheim March 26th, M' tueka March 27th, Takaka March 28th, Nelson March 29th, Westport March 31st, Reefton April 2nd, Greymouth April 3rd, Hoki. tika April 4th.

A Dunedin correspondent states a heavy export of timber from Southland to Australia is going on,and the sawmill industry may be said to ba booming. A steamer leaving Bluff for Melbourne i« expected to take away 800,000 feet of timber, and other consignments will follow as fast as shipping space can be secured. The price of white pine is expected to beiocroased as from the beginning of Apii). Box stuff will probably ba advanced per box to dairy factories.

In connection with the mining perations at Woodstock, the promoters of the pumping scheme have been rather hampered through the main stream of the Hokitika river leaving the south bank. To secure the return of tliß stream to its original main course, decoy wings are being put in the main bed, the idea being that when iD ilood the river will hug the decoys and. scour out the temporary closed up channel. A feature of this work is the adaptation of the Keystone borer to drive the piles required for tho decoy wings. This adaptation has been done at very low cost, while the celerity with which the piles are driven, show what a marked saving this idea is upon the old system with a hand winch, or even a horn to work the monkey. The work is proceeding very satisfactorily, and success is looked for when the flood waters come down.

The large dredge lately erected by Rimu Options No 1, at lower Rimu Flat has been able to start operations, and is now dredging out a working dam. The dredge is the largest seen in* this district, and tho machinery is said <x> be working very satisfactorily. The undertaking is an important one as affecting the dredging industry in the Rimu district, and there are ardent hopes that it will be successful. The ground has been well prospected in advance, and the returns were considered highly payable. It remains now for the dredge to Ireat the quantity of ground in accordance with the estimates made, and the opinion is held that the present is but the forerunner of other dredges to be studded over Rimu Flat. In the interests of the district, and the industry it is to be hoped that the high expectations found will be fully realised.

The Chief Posimaster has been advised that the coach going South to-day was delayed at Hari Hari, and the coach coming North at Wataroa. The Little Wanganui River was unfordable yesterday and to-day. It is still raining heavily. • A painful accident occurred in the Oamaru municipal swimming baths recently. A boy named Eric Richardson, 11 years of age and a pupil of the South School, had dived into the baths, and upon reaching the surface was struck on the right eye by a pla’e used in plate diving events and thrown by another boy. Acting on a medical practitioner’s advice the boy was sent to the Dunedin Hospital the following day, where, upon it being found that there was no chance of saving the injured eye, the organ was removed. A special meeting of the Hokitika Borough Council will be held on Monday, at 7.45 p.m. Xo confirm by way of special order, a resolution passed at a special meeting of the Council held on the 23rd day of February, 1917, making a By-law No 3 of 1917. for the purpose of repealing certain by-laws, and making a by-law to control streets, waterworks, draiuage, and sanitation, and to license carts, carriages, billiard rooms, dangerous goods, hawkers and pedlars, and the use of buildings and premises, for the purposes cf public nn-etings or other l'ke purposes, and to control the lighting of fires and the keeping of pigs within tho Borough. Call at Mis?ea Addison’s and secure one of the bargains in ladies tweed Co3tnmes. Prices 27/ to 93/, now 4/ to 15/.

Over a million bottles sold annually— WOLFE’S SCHNAPPS. First shipment of now winter millinery ex s.s. Rotorua, now' showing at McKay’s, the Leading Drapers.—Advt. New autumn millinery is now to be seen at Mrs J, Lloyd’s. A cheering cordial that restores mental vigor—WOLFE S SCHNAPPS.