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Otago Daily Times, Issue 17688, 28 July 1919, Page 4

Under tho altered constitution of the Board of Managers of the Diuiedin Technical School two members are to be elected by the parents of the pupils attending the day classes. The following persons have been nominated as candidates:—Messrs James D. Cameron, E. F. Duthie, Montague W. Marriage, David M. Maweon, and Thomas Scott. The election will be held on August 5. A wrong impression was conveyed by somo figures which were quoted in these columns on Saturday respecting the imports and exports of this port. Up to July 23, 1918, the total exports were 61,304 tons, and tho total imports and exports amounted to 193.'i80 tons. For the same period of this yea* the total exports were 71,010 tons, and the total imports and exports 201,554 tons. Tho local portion of the Home mail brought to Wellington by tho Briton reached Dunedin by motor car on Saturday, and will be distributed by the letter-carriers this morning. It ia suggested in commercial circles that during the curtailment of the railway services tile Union Steam Skip Company would be meoting tho convenience of the travelling public by running on© of it 3 passenger boats between Dunedin, Lyttelton, and Wellington. There can bo no such a steamer would carry a large complement of possengers each way, judging :by the number which took passage for the north last week on the Mokoia. It is understood that tho Moeraki, Manuka, and Paloona are laid up in Wellington, and, moreover, the Monowai is supposed to bo almost ready to go to sea again, after undergoing an extensive overhaul at Port Chalmers. In -view of tho fact that immediately on tho curtailment of the railway berviees the Union Company put the Patcena on tho Wellington-Onominga run, in order that the Auckland and Wellington people should be suited, the suggestion of the Dunedin commercial men, should be worthy of consideration. The seamen's strike in Australia is cutting off supplies of various commoditjes, such as Lever's soaps, Havelock tobacco, tea, uuicaroni, vermicelli, a number of patent medioines, etc Stocks of most ot these lines are, however, still held by wholesale merchants. As regards Eastern goods, especially tea, importers consider that this is a case whero the Government might step in and induce the Imperial authorities to look into the position' where vessels call at Colombo and then proceed to Australia, and there discharge cargoes of tea for New Zealand. These vessels at present then come on

to New Zeaknd ill ballast, and a -very unbusinesslike position arises, as the tea unloaded in Sydney has to wait until an intercolonial steamer is avaUablo to bring it across,, a mopt unwarrantable delay occurring. Many instances can bo quoted whero lines of tea for New Zealand are lying in Sydney, despite the fact that the vessels which brought them on from Colombo have since arrived in New ZtWaud. Air S. Boreham has received official information that tho Otago, and Southland Shepherds, Musterars, and Drovers' Industrial Union of Workers was registered on. tho 4th inst. under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Thi3 union will bo under tho segit, of tho New Zealand Workers' Union, and consequently it will have tho financial and moral support of tho shearers, shed hands, and general fa-nn labourers throughout tho dominion in all its legitimate efforts to better the conditions of those employed in the industry. Mr Boreham, who is secretary of the new union, has been instructed to submit tho union's demands to the Otago branch of the New Zealand Wool Growers' Association: If the proposals are not accepted tho dispute will bo referred to the Council of Conciliation for settlement. Our London correspondent states that the island of Shuna, oil the coast of Argyllshire, is again for sale. Seventeen or 18 years ago it was presented to Glasgow Corporation by Mr James Yates, of London, a native of Glasgow. Subsequently the Corporation sold it to Mr G. A. M. Buckley, of Worth Hall, Sussex, whoso maternal ancestors, tho Macleans, had owned it. They sold the island in 1815 for £10,000, and 93 years later Mr Buckley, who comes from Oama.ru, paid £4000 for it. Smma is an island homo complete in itself with a commodious castellated mansion, electrically lit, with landing pier, boathouses, farm, etc For some time (says the Lyttelton, Timesf re3i<Lzrts of the Amnri and Waipara Courtties have been .considering tho best way of perpetuating the memory of tho late esteemed Dr Little, who sacrificed himself during the influenza epidemic After several preliminary meetings a joint meeting was convened at Waikari. Tho committeo unanimously decided to raise funds for a scholarship. It was -estimated that at least £1500 would be required, tho interest of which would provide funds for £ho scholarship, which would bo open for competition is often ns tho funds would allow. It was igrosd that on immediate canvass of tho Anrari and Waipora Counties bo andarfcaken ii -an. ear]; dain.

Residents o£ seaside resorts -which possess a beach mako a practice of patrolling tho sea front in the early mornings in search of frost-fish. Occasionally their watchfulness is rewarded. About throe weeks ago a resident of Warrington found a frost iish, measuring sft sin in length, arid on Saturday another fish, measuring about uft, was found. Air C. Otway, writing in Sporting Life, comments on a side issue whien arises from too participation of oversea soldiers in athletic sports in Great Britain. It was gonurally understood, ho say=, that athletic events are open to clubs and similar organisations, and that a regimental unit is equivalent to a club, " but now wo find the N.Z.E.F., A.1.f., and Canadian T.T. figuring as the ' club 3 ' to which competitors bolong, and the N.Z.E.F. has entered and won events as such." Mr Otway considers that toains ought to bo drawn either from a club or soma definite unit, and that there could bo no objection at all if the N.Z.E.I' , , and Great Britain formed a proper ciub to any member of the N.Z.E.F. competing. Tho now ensign of tho League of Nations was seen for the first timo in Sydney a few days ago, when tho ex-German steamer Ypiranga, of 8103 tons, steamed into the harbour flying tho white, blue, and white flag. With other vessels tho Ypiranga, of tho Gorman mercantile marino, was handed over to tho Allies at tho armistice. Tho ywsel proceeded to England from Germany in charge of a. German orew, flying the German, ensign. Immediately on arrival tho German flag was hauled down and replaced by the ensign of tho Leaguo of Nations. The crew was replaced by British sailors, and the Ypiranga proceeded on her first voyage to Australia. Tho steamer was formerly owned by tho Harnburg-Amerika line. A Hastings remit submitted for the Municipal Association's Conference proposes "that it bo inado compulsory for every person having tho right to vote at municipal elections to exercise his or her vote at evory election oi poll taken 'by or on behalf of the local authority, and that suitable penalties bo provided to be inflicted on every voter abstaining from voting at any such election or poll, provided that no action shall be taken to have any such penalty enforced on any voter—(l) who abstains from voting on account of illness, and who produces to tho local authority a doctor's certificate that ho or sho was ill and unable io vote on the day of tho election or poll; or (2) who is absent from tho district on t.:i;.> cay of the election or poll, and furnishes satisfactory proof to tho local authority of such absence." The statement recently cabled that Envcr Pasha and Talaat Bey had been sentenced to death in their absence does not, in the opinion of Mr Justice Chapman, mean much. His Honor is of opinion that they are probably stowed away in some neutral country, safe for the present. In any case, the sentence is not so deadly as it looks. By Turkish law, as under most systems savo our own, a criminal who does not appear on his trial may be condemned in absentia. This has really very little effect. Under'that system there is a period of limitation for every crime, and if a man is not arrested within that period he cannot bo tried. Limitation for criminal prosecution is, gave in a very few cases, unknown to English law. When a man has been condemned in his absence under Turkish law his subsequent arrest annuls the judgment so passed; its value is that it has the effect of stopping the running of limitation, and that is the real reason why tho courts are asked to pronounce it. From the baric of the eucalyptus trees, which cover millions of acres ot Australia, can bo produced a iibre which, it is claimed, will make tile commonwealth independent of Indian jute goods and iNew Zealand llax, save millions ol pounds annually from being

scud overseas, and croato employment foi thousands of Australian workmen, while at the same time supplying the consumers With goods at loss cost than, but of equal quality to, the imported article. The originator of this proposition is an Australian ixt the prime of Jiie, Mr W. M. Billings, whose researches and experiments of the past 15 years on his farm and workshop"" at Wonga Park have now passed the stage of theory and entered the 2ono of practical economics. At his model factory on the banks of the Saltwater River at Footseray, near the swing bridge, Mr Billings exhibited to a representative of the Age samples of twino, rope, and sacking made from eucalypt fibre, together with sundry marketable by-products of the industry, which themselves possess potentialities hardly less in magnitude than tho primary products of tho bark. Mr Billings has oU'ored the process and other rights' to the Returned Soldiers' League for development solely in tho interests of the returned soldiers. Should the inventor's claims justify themsulves under rigid investigation and exhaustive trial, and should it be able to persuade tho Minister to give his support, an industry could be inaugurated which would be capable of great expansion and would largely help to solve ihu unemployed soldier problem. Jixporimonts carried out by the Australian Institute of 'iropicai Medicine at, I'ownsvilio have served to show ttiat it is impossiblo tor whito men to continue heavy manual labour under true tropical conditions sucn ae exist in .North Queensland ior tne same time in a temperate region without raising the body temperature to a dangerous degree (says the Melbourne Ago). 'JLiie experiments covered short periods of vigorous exorcise, steady exercise over a' longer period, and exposure to extreme heat, Reix>rts covering the operations of tho Institute of Tropical Medicine for the year 1918 wcjo tabled in the common wealth. Parlia ment last week by the Minister tor Home and Territories. A malarial survey at tnc innisfail district was "carried out by {ho instituto during 1918, and the many case* of fever previously classified as malaritd were found on examination of the blood specimens to be free of the malarial parasite. In this fever tho patient maintains a high temperature for live to eight days, and is left in a debilitated: condition. Inquiries showed that tho fever attacked the same individual nearly every year. The conclusion arrived at was that tho iovtr vas of a tjpe

■hitherto unknown, and further iiivvst:.gations aro to be carried out to ascertain, if possible, its origin. During the yuir the institute oarried out a certain amount of experimental investigation regarding a socalled " mysterious disease," cases of which have occurred in various parts of the , world, including Queensland. The work had- eventually to be discontinued owing to tho impossibility of obtaining a further supply of monkeys for ■experimental purposes. The report for the year 1918-1919 of the British and Foreign Bible Society shows that during the year 8,746,963 copies of the Scriptures v/ero issued, this figure being a decrease of 340,000 compared with the pirevious year's issue. Since tho society was founded in 1804 300,000,000 volumes have boon issued, and since August, 1917, the society distributed on its war service alone considerably more than 9,000,000 volumes. The increased cost of production compelled the committee to reluctantly increase the prices of most, of the editions, but tho society's popular editions are now being sold at a heavier loss than formerly. Altogether tho total expenditure by the society increased to £339,704, which .is £64,000 more than in 1913.. but contributions from auxiliary agencies, in England and abroad, rose to £112,158, which was £4000 more than last year. From legacies tho society received £49,594, this being a, drop of about £4000 from the α-ccent annual average. The benefaction of £19,400 by Lord Peckover, of Wisbech, who had always been a munificent supporter of tho society, was acknowledged in Ihe report. The New Zealand contributions to all funds mako an approximate total of £5472. For failing to make annual returns of incomes and expenditure, in order that the registrar might exercise proper control, two Auckland branches of tho Hibernian Australasian Catholio Benefit Society were fined £10 and costs in the Wellington Magistrate's Cou-rt. Mr J. Tndehope. who appeared for tho department, eaid there had boon considerable laxity, for returns required two yoaxs ago had not yet been forwarded. No explanation had been vouchsafed as to tho reason for the neglect In one. caso tho secretary of tho Auckland branch had telegraphed (presumably after tho receipt of tho summons) that the returns had boon posted, but so far th«y had not arrived. "Havo you much trouble with theso societies?" asked tho Magisbrute. " Yes, your Worship," replied Mr Tudehope, 'wo do havx) trouble with some of them, but tho depairfcment intends to seo that tho

Tho vexed qaestion of the cost of living was raised by Mr 11. p. Allen, representing tho Ironmasters' Association, in the Arbitration Court at Wellington last week. Ms Allen quoted letters received by him from tho Master Grocers' Association, the Master liakors . Association, and from a representative master butcher. Tho latter said thai during the past thr-ee months beef prices m Wellington had remained unchanged, while mutton had decreased in price by gd Per Jb. In regard to bread, it was stated Uiat tho prico had not been raised since 1917, whilo groceries, it -pas said, had increased during the past thi-co months V erj little, if at all. What increases thcro had been in some groceries, how-CTw, had been counterbalanced by a fall in tho price of others. Our London correspondent states that at the closing of tho New Zealand Officers' Convalescent Home at Brighton Sir Thomas irxuckouzio wrote a letter of appreciation thanking Mr Charles Knight for his generosity in providing tho homo. In his reply, Mr Knight says: "Of all tho dominions, iNow Zealand- is perhaps tho smallest in point of population, but as big as any part of the lltapire in point of patriotism! It is also the farthest away from home, and it was a great privilege to have been in a position to endeavour to show the interest o£ tile Mother Country in tho brave sons of New Zealand, far away. I do not see the matter in a different light to-day, excepting, of course, the immense reliei from anxiety"; 2nd I can only add that it has been a great pleasure and gratification to have been so closely identified with New Zealand. No greater recompense could we ask than tho satisfaction of having been able to do something for tho well-being of men who suffered for the Empire. This satisfaction is greatly enhanced by the kindnesses such aa your letter expresses, and indeed such as we meet with from the officers when we go down to tho homes." Mr and Mrs Knight vvero recently presented with a silver inkstand by the officers in the home. On requesting tho names of tho donors they wero told " that the names were of all those who had convalesced at the homes, and that they were all included in tho Visitors' Book." Twice a year tho weighing of gold at tho Royal Mint, Melbourne, must be done under an Order-m-Couneil in the presence of the Under-Treasurer (Mr Minogue), and the Secretary for Publio Works (Mr Drake). Tho duty was carried out on July 1. Tho Mint was established in 1872, end, according to the latest compiled returns, 37,300,120 ounces of gold have been received', the coinage value of which has been" £146,628,219.

Of tho gold received, 27,588,775 ounces were raised in Victoria, and the balance in New Zealand and "Western Australia. The output has consisted of 134,813.500 sovereigns, 1,893,559 half-sovereigns, and 2,606,2C6 ounces of gold bullion, the total value of ooin and bullion being £146,632,904. Tho Melbourne Mint has been coining silver as well as goM since 1916, and tho first shilling was struck by his Excellency the Governor (Sir Arthur Stanley) on January 10, 1916. To the end of last year the number of silver pieces (florins, shillings, sixpences, and threepenny pieces) coined was 31,484,806, of a total value of £1,842,150. An interesting case was heard at the Magistrate's Court at Eketahuna last week (says tho Wairarapa Age). W. Duff claimed from J. S. Patterson, formerly a drover, of Masterton, £138 10s for board and lodging. Thi3 defendant counter-claimed £142 for various items specified. It appeared from the evidence that the two parties were friends, and that Patterson was invited to 50 and stay with Duff for a week or two. The invitation was accepted, and Patterson remained a guest for 19 months. ' In giving his judgment, Mr Free, S.M., said defendant went as a guest, and there was no clear evidence as to a change of relationship. The matter of board was undoubtedly spoken of, but without an amount being fixed. It was significant that no steps were taken to collect till after a domestic rupture took place. He would have to nonsuit plaintiff on his claim. On the counterclaim he would give judgment for Duff, each party to pay its own costs and each to sharo Mrs Duff's witness expenses. The ex-Emperor William claims £3,750,000 as the value of own private estates and fortune. A Government commission ie now investigating tho alleged private possessions of the ex-Emperor and the members of the Royal Family of Prussia. Whatever payments may be ultimately decided upon, it i≤ quite certain that the various royal fortunes will be subject to the heavy taxes which are now imposed in Germany, and to other national charges. It appears that before William II fled to Holland he had lodged £32,500 in Dutch banks at Amsterdam, and later on tho Government at Berlin sent him a remittance of £90,000. Ho is believed to own considerable property 'in tho United States and Canada. A circus entertainment was given in Sydney recently by Messrs Wirth Bros, in aid of the stranded New Zealanders. During the proceedings Mr A. E. Batt, speaking from the ring, expressed, on behalf of the people thus unhappily placed, their gratitude to Messrs Wirth Bros, for the voluntary offer of that splendid benefit to relieve temporary distress arising from the enforced detention. He would take the opportunity of emphatically denying the statement by tho New Zealand Minister of Health tha-t the ciy of distress was raised for political purposes. It was nothing of the kind, and the Sydney and New Zealand public would , judge for themselves of the injustice inflicted on people kept out of their own country for three months through a want of proper quarantine accommodation. Messrs Wirths' fine spirit in the matter would never bo forgotten in New Zealand. The proceedings cloasdwith three cheers for Messrs Wirth and all who assisted. Three rery interesting announcement wore mado by Mr Sydney Kirkcaldie on tho occasion of the Peace Entertainment given by Messrs Kirkcaldie and Stains, to their staff on Saturday night (says the Wellington Post). Tho first was that on and after September 1 their establishment would be closed at 5.30. Tho next was that a bonus of two weeks' salary was to be made as a Peace gift to each member of the staff who had been in their employment for a year and over. The third eet forth that in the future all excess profits over a certain percentage would be saved for a period of throo years, and would bo distributed as bonus shares among members of the staff, thus enabling- all to share in the prosperity of the business. The first distribution would be made on May 6, 1920. Immense enthusiasm greeted these promises, and Mr Kirkcaldie -was interrupted with ringing cheers and the singing of "Far He's a Jolly Good Fellow,", and hearty cheering again at the'close of his speech. Ton arc missing a kit of real joy by riding in the stale old trams and tramsbuy a Karley-Davidson Motor Cycle and motor to business. You will "appreciate your trip.—Otago Agents, W. A. Justice and Co., 290 Princes street, Dimedin.—Advt. Best Coir MatMnp, 18in, Is lid; 27in, 2s lid; 36in, 5s lid yard; 36m, bordered' 4s lid yard.—At Mollisons Sale.— Advt ' A. E. J. Blakeley, dentist, Back of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859 — Advt "Nothing succeeds like success.* . So say the delighted users of "No Rubbing" Laundry Help and the pure "Golden Rule" Soap.—Hunter and Etheridge (Ltd.).— Advt. Electric Incandescent Lamps, Drawn Wir*. Metallic Filament, Philips Manufacture lfi' 25, 32, and 50 candle-power. Prioo & each. Special terms for quantity orders — Turnbull and Jones (Ltd.), Electric Eno-i. neers. —Advt. Woods' Great Peppermint Cure for Cougns and Colds, unver failg.—Advt! Whisky perfection—Watson's No. 10, the favourite of all who know. Order it.—Advt. Eyesirami—Consult Mr Peter G Dick D.8.0.A., F.LO. (London), consuitW and ocubsts' opbcian.—Peter Dick. jew*llor, etc 490 Moray plaeo, Dunodin.—Advt ' '