LOCAL & GENERAL,

Otago Witness, Issue 2896, 15 September 1909, Page 31

LOCAL & GENERAL,

In consequence of the continued severity t>f the measles epidemic at Port Chalmers, And the large number of scholars absent through illness, the School Committee has' -decided to close the Port Chalmers District High School for another week. The following candidates were successful In the harmony examinations in connection -with Trinity College, London, held at St. Dominic's College on June 12: — Senior Division : Winifred Hawcridge, 91 (honours). Intermediate Division: Mary Hanlon, 97 {honours) ; Annie Dnnbar, 84 (honours) ; Buth Wakelin, 73; Mary Mackie, 71; Beryl Calaghan, 60. Junior Division : Freda Kennedy (Lawrence), 94 (honours); Lizzie Dick, 85 (honours); Jessie Sonntag, 84 {honours) ,• Ivy Collie, 63. Preparatory Division: Miriam Paget (Lawrence), 95; Katie Leslie, 95. ; The familiar matter of a bridge over the ' tFiieri River, at Taieri Mouth, was brought up by the chairman (Cr H. M. Driver) of tbe Bruce County Council, at its meeting On the 7th. Be suggested that they should have another conference with -the Taieri County Council, as he understood from the chairman of that- body that -a lighter bridge would now prove acceptable. - The previous conference had resulted in a heavy bridge, to cost about . £8000-, being asked for, but now a bridge of lighter structure, to cost about £6000, might be agreed upon. There ■was upon the Estimates of the Government a sum of £3000, and if each of the two counties contributed £1000, the settlers of the district would provide the remainder, so fckaJ; a. 'briSg-e, of £6000 mlgixt fee completed. It was pointed out by Cr Begg that they had asked the Government for an additional grant of £1500, and no reply to this request had been received. It was finally decided to postpone consideration of the matter for a month, attempts to be made in the interim to obtain a reply from the Government. Our Queenstown correspondent informs us that a North Island resident named Michael Ryan, who has been in the Lakes district for the last four months, fell off the Moonlight Co.'s pipe line at Arthur's Point, on tbe sth inst., and went over a precipice and was killed. He was looking over the property at the time. The usual meeting of the Dunedin and Suburban Presbyterian Office-bearers' Association was held on the 7th inst. in First Church Classroom, Mr Duncan Wright presiding. The subject-matter was "Home Missions," and the leaders for the evening ■were Messrs George Hercus, jun., and. Peter Milne. They gave an interesting account of the work being done by the home missionaries, and urged upon the meeting the necessity of bringing this class or work more prominently before congregations. In the back-block 3 of the North Island there were no manses and no churches, and children ■were being brought up, and would continue to be brought up, in ignorance of the Gospel unless enthusiasm were aroused in mission work. Tbesa home missions, the leaders urged, -were in every respect as important as foreign missions. If Presbyterians in the Dominion could but understand—and it was very difficult to get them to understand — how essential this work ■was, more assistance would be given to it. Frequently stations had to be abandoned «wing Ie insufiicient funds to keep them up. Such a state of affairs was by no means creditable to a wealthy church. The remarks of the two gentlemen were listened to with marked attention and approval, and tbe following lesolution was carried unani-«.«UEly-"That this association, having heard two of the agents who have already done home mission work in the back-blocks, is fully persuaded that the time has come for the appointment of an organising superintendent for home missions, and also that it is essential that a sum of at least £10,000 be raised to assist this work." Dur ing'the evening a motion was passed record ing the great assistance the association had got from the late Mr Fleming, and alsc referring to his sterling qualities as s Christian worker. The secretary was in structed to forward a copy of the motion together with a letter of sympathy, to Mr! Fleming and family. At last week's meeting of the Brixx County Council it was decided to appoini * stock ranger for the county, the counci to pay £50 and the Milton Borough Coun ■cil £25, the dog tax in addition to go t< the successful applicant. A Press Association telegram from V\ el lington states that Parliament will re on October 7. The Hudson Cup presented by Messn B Hudson and Co. for competition witl ouick-firing guns to the New Zealand Gar rison Artillery, is at present on view » the shop of Mr J. Hislop, jeweller. in. base ia of wood, carved in Maori rafte fashion, and on the top are inlaid silve shields of various patterns upon which ar to be inscribed the names of those winnini the cup from time to time. Surmountin; the wooden base is a marble slab of practi ij»Uy circular design, and on either aid £f it are mounted two 6in quick-firm: in solid silver, with gunners in atten |ance. Rising from the centre of the sla Us a green malachite column, on the top c jWhich rests the cup itself. The cup i specially emblematic of New Zealand, a it is enwreathed with ferns, and on the h jure native lizards and a kiwi. The cut Which has already been won by the Auci

land section of the N.Z.G.A., is a very handsome piece of work, manufactured at Home, to the orde&of Mr John Hislop, the designer being Mr Hawcridge.

designer being Mr Hawcridge. Mr A. W. Hogg, M.P., gave an address in the Garrison Hall on the Bth inst. on political subjects, the advertised title being "Land, Labour, and Currency Reform."' There was a fairly large audience, which occasionally gave the speaker a round of applause. Mr Hogg spoke leisurely for about two hours, the first hour being occupied with general sremojka about the state of civilisation and the disparity between wealth and poverty. In the course of these observations Mr Hogg mentioned the rate of mortality which obtained amongst British millionaires, and other side issues, And occupied a considerable time in a recital of the specific reasons which actuated him in forming and .maintaining his political beliefs in epite of the temptation presented by the bait of Ministerial power. At about 9.30 o'clock, however, Mr Hogg suddenly I began to deal with his subject, and between then and 10 o'clock indicated— not I too completely— the trend of bis opinions ' on land monopolisation and the remedy } of land nationalisation and a State curj rency of inconvertible legal-tender note 3. 1 At the conclusion of the address Mr A. i B. Barclay proposed and Mr W. H. War- ! ten seconded- a very hearty rote of thanks 1 to the speaker and confidence in his cam- ! paign. The motion was carried by ' acclamation. Last week's sitting of 7 the City Council was one of the shortest on record, the j business having all been disposed of by ! a quarter to 9. The result was greeted with applause. The Ohincmuri River has been in high flood, and the settlers claim (says our ', Auckland correspondent) that the frequent flooding of thi6 stream owing to the ! deposit of mining tailings is ruining their land. At the invitation of some of the ' settlers at Netherton Mr W. F. Massey, M.P., Leader of the Opposition, paid a visit to the district to see the damage caused |by the flood. Prior to his <isparture Mr ' Massey said he was quite satisfied from what he had seen that considerable damage was being caused to the river. The de--etruction of the land was not only a local, but also a national, loss, and he would assist the settlers all he could in their endeavour to have the trouble remedied. , Mr Massey as a practical agriculturist saw the necessity for doing something, i but, unfortunately for the eettlers, sue- ; cessive Ministers have disregarded the f outcry against the silting up of what was ' once a fine river. ! At last week's meeting of the City 1 Council Cr Tapper signified his intention j of moving that, in order to encourage 1 i Volunteering, athletic clubs be requested 1 to make it a condition of membership that ' | members belong to a. Volunteer corps <>* ! ■ be able to show a proficiency in Volun1 teering, that such clubs be granted a pre1 ference in the use of the reserves, that ' | i>roprietors of sporte grounds ba asked ' . to assist and make a similar proviso, that ' i the council take into consideration w*iat J ; other benefits could be granted Volun- " teere, and that the council insist upon all ' unmarried men in its employ under the 1 age of 30 years becoming Volunteers c j unless they could show a proficiency in • I Volunteering. j At a meeting of the council of the Otago ' ! Art Society, held on the 7th, it wae re3 solved to open the next annual exhibition ' on Monday, November 8. It was also ' resolved to offer the following prizes for 1 competition among art students throughout *; New Zealand:— (l) Two guineas for a » i still-life study in oil or in water-colour; f i (2) two guineas for a landscape 6tudy » from Nature in oil ; (3) two guineas for a B i landscape study from Nature in waterl \ colour; (4) two guineas for a study of a 3 head from life in oil; (5) two guineas for * ! a study of a head from life in water- "" colour. j A man was arrested at Merton on the ™ , Bth by Constable Connor, and was brought 0 ( to Dunedin in custody. He is charged" a i with having stolen, on the 3rd inst., from l * | the Criterion Hotel, at Alexandra, a coat, '• ! vest, overcoat, and a pair of gloves, of the 18 value of £4, the property of R. Matheson. It is alleged that the two men occupied le the same room, and that the accused, hay- ' ing divested himself of some of his clothes, il substituted those which he is now charged !_ ! with stealing. He will be brought before o I the court this morning. Particulars of the tramways revenue and i [- expenditure, laid on the table at the City >- ' Council meeting last week, showed that j the revenue had been £4614 Us Hd, and ! the expenditure £4546 9s 2d, in which was V* included working expenses (£2674 13s Id), i interest on sinking fund (£1074 17s 9J), r " | renewal and amortisation fund (£739 4a D | 6d), and accident insurance fund (£57 Le j 13s lOd). The balance to credit was £68 iV |2s 9d. This was for the four weeks ended !r j August 18. The renewal fund at August re 18 was £7620 2a 9d, less £797 7s 9d for l & renewals carried out during the four weeks, l S leaving a balance of £6822 15s. ■ The monthly meeting of the Women's c '■ Christian Temperance Union was held in lg i the Y.W.C.A. Rooms on Tuesday, 7th n ~ inst. The president (Mrs Blair) occupied the chair, and there was a fair attendance °* of members. A letter was received from * s Mr G. B. Nicholls asking the union to 13 make every effort to ensure the. success of id the demonstration which is to be held P» I shortly asking the Government for better k- | legislation. The final arrangements were

made for the visit of Mrs Katharine Steavenson, the American lecturer and writer, who will visit this city this week

In prefacing his address in the Garrison Hall on the Bth inst. Mr A- W Hogg told a rather good *>tory of the Hon. Mr Lloyd-George, the present Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Imperial Government. Mr Lloyd George commenced his public career in Wales, where the education question has long been a burning one. At that time a certain bishop had given a speech on the subjeel, and it was in reply to this address that Mr Lloyd-George was asked to speak. He was introduced by the chairman of the meeting in the following manner : "We hat? a meeting of this kind a fortnight ago. You know what the bishop said at that meeting. The bishop is the biggest liar in all Wales." Then the chairman waved his hand towards Mr Lloyd-George and said, " Thank God, we have got his match here to-night !" Mr Hogg made a fair point by saying that that evening's chairman had introduced him in a better manner.

A Press Association telegram from Wanganui states that Mr G. Hutchison has voluntarily decided t" retire from the contest for the Rangitikei seat in order not to jeopardise the prospects of an Opposition victory*

On Thursday next a start will be made with the erection of the new Girls' High School building by the contractor, Mr Orr Campbell, whose tender for £7290, which is exclusive of the oottt of heating, ventilation, and electric lighting, has been accepted. On Wednesday the school will be closed down for three weeks, and on the following day the contractor will commence the work of pulling down a large section of the present building in order to make room for the new structure. By the end of the three weeks this portion will require to be removed, and the site for the new building cut off from the school grounds. The portion left standing, together with a cottage that has been acquired in the vicinity, will be U3ed for the carrying on of the school work until the new - building has been completed. It will be remembered that the High Schools Board of Governors called for competitive designs for the new building, the conditions attached thereto being that the successful designer must be able to prove that the limit, of total cost (£13,000) would not be exceeded by more than 10 per cent., otherwise the design would fail and recourse would be had to the second on the list, the same conditions applying to the second, and so on. The award* for the successful designs were: .First, £100; second, £75; third, £50. In all, 21 competitive designs were received from New Zealand and abroad, and both the first and second prizes were awarded to> Mr Edmund Ansoombe, of this city, the third prize going to Messi-j Crichton and M'Kay, of Wellington. The contract, as let, is well within the architect's estimate of cost. With the contract price at £7290, the additional expense of heating, ventilating, and electric lighting will bring the total cost up to practically £9500.

At a .meeting of the Roxburgh Railway League on Monday, 6th met., the two petitions circulated in connection with the closer settlement of the district were mentioned, and it was decided that the one to the Land Board asking that Mount Benger Station be relet in suitable groups for small settlers be forwarded to that board. Mr Gordon stated that the petition had about 450 names on it — all genuine residents of the district and thoroughly representative. The petition with regard to the Ormaglade and Teviot Stations is still in circulation.

A Wellington telegram states that the Hon. D. Buddo informed a Pest reporter on bhe 9bh that bush-felling work at the Rangitatau block provided for the unemployed was practically completed. A large number of men engaged there have found employment elsewhere, and the only men now at work are th««» reauired to clear the roadlines. The department is satisfied with the result of the experiment, and the officer in charge reports to the Minister that the expenditure is fully justified.

Our Wellington correspondent states that information has been received notifying that his Majesty the King has approved of the retention of the title of " Honourable " by Mr William HallJones, who has served for more than three years a3 a member of the Executive Council of New Zealand.

In the Supreme Court in Chambers on

the 9th Mr Justice Williams granted the following motions for probates: — In re Jane Maxwell, of Leith Valley, widow (Mr Downie Stewart) ; in re George Wilkinson, of Oamaru, labourer (Mr Ongley) ; in re Robert Wallace, of Invercargill (Mr Meredith). Entries for the Education Department's junior scholarship and civil service junior examinations, to be held in November and December next, will close on Wednesday, 15th inst.— a fortnight earlier than has hitherto been the case. Entries for the junior and senior free-place examinations should also be sent in by the same date. A Sydney girl the other day had a disagreeable object-lesson of the folly of riding in smoking compartments in the tram. She was sitting in one of the open '" tourist " cars, and in the seat behind her sat a man smoking a cigar. As the man rose to leave the car the tram stopped with a jerk, which threw him violently against the girl, but as apparently no harm was done he merely apologised and left the car. Shortly afterwards the conductor coming round for fares startled the

girl with the remark : " Don't move, miss ; you're a-fire!" With extraordinary presence of mind she eat quite still while the conductor and another man smothered the fire in her hat. The end of the cigar had fallen on to the broad brim of her hat, and burnt a large hole right through trimming and straw.

One thousand and forty-one employees of Lever Brothers (Limited), including directors, managers, salesmen, travellers, advertising managers, clerks, workmen, labourers, and others (male and female alike, there being no sex barrier or distinction), who have qualified under the terms of the Lever Brothers' co-partner-ship scheme, have been admitted to copartnership by the distribution among them of the first issue of partnership certificates of the nominal capital value of £113,660. This wae the first distribution of partnership certificates under the scheme formulated by Mr .Lever at tbe beginning of the year, and since approved and passed by the shareholders of the company. Tne scheme contemplates tbe annual distribution of partnership certificates to all employees of the company who have reached the ' age ol 25 years and can show a clear record of at least five years' faithful and loyal service. No *a*h is paid or financial liability incurred by the employee, and the only obligation -devolving on the partner employees is' that -they sign a form of" application for the certificates which embodies an undertaking not to waste time, labour, materials, or money in the discharge of their duties', but loyally and faithfully to further the interests of Lever Brothers (Limited), its associated companies, and their co-partners, to the best of their skill and ability.

Our London correspondent wrote as follows, under date July 30:— "Sir Joseph Ward assures me that there is not the slightest foundation for the statement that he will try to float a loan on behalf of the Dominion while he is in London. The Dominion has already, he states, secured all the money it requires, and there is no necessity for raising money here. Discussing the criticism of Mr A. J. Wilson, editor of the Investors' Review, which I forwarded a week ago, Sir Joseph said he never took any notice of what Mr Wilson had to say. The Investors' Review had been attacking New Zealand for 25 years past. If the Government had listened ' to its advice New Zealand would not have a single line of railway to-day. It would be nothing but a sheep-walk. Nobody in a responsible position would listen to that sort of advice."

Merchants and distributors in general produce lines, as well as those in breadstuffs and grain, speak of the present as being a remarkaUy quiet time for them. The wheat and oat markets are utterly stagnant, after the cessation of export consequent upon the dropping of the London market in anticipation of the new European harvest. Butter and cheese are slow locally, the former especially being depressed in inferior lines owing to heavy supplies coming forward from the country, but prospects abroad for both lines are improving. Fruit is very quiet, buying being decidedly slack. Eggs aTe cheap and somewhat slow, while in general lines of produce — chaff, straw, potatoes, etc. — no movement in price has occurred for some time. there is a decided quietness it is hardly correct to describe the position as depressed, for steady necessary distribution is going forward. The near approach of the bank balancing at the half-year ending September 30 is in all probability one factor towards restraining general speculative buying owing to the natural desire to reduce any existent overdraft and increase deposits before that date.

A conference between the Medical Committee of the Univei sky Council and a committee of the Medical Faculty was held on the 9th with regard to the teaching of bacteriology, pathology, and public health

in Otago University, and the conveniences with regard to pathology and' bacteriology which are requisite for the medical men in a growing town like Dunedin. When the Minister of Public Health (Hon. D. Buddo) was in Dunedin recently he was consulted on the matter, and expressed himself as

desirous of helping the University and helping the community. Negotiations have been going on with him since, .and a few weeks ago he asked the council to put a definite scheme before him. It is understood that the committee wity recommend something definite to the council at its next meeting, and that if the scheme is carried out it will mean a great improvement in the teaching of public health and in the practical work of pathology, and will also give much-needed conveniences to the medical men and the public of the city.

The Rev. Mr Goertz, Anglican clergyman at Stewart Island, has been provided (says our Bluff correspondent) with an oilengined boat of whaleboat pattern, in order that he may maintain communication with the outlying portion of his charge. A con* siderable population has settled at the Neck and other parts of tbo inlet, and the Sunday services depended almost entirely on a chance opportunity of reaching them. Now, however, weather permitting, these services will be assured, and in that way and other parts of the inlet, and the Sunplaced on a more' established footing. The mutton-bird islanders will likewise have the benefit of visitation's of this kind instead of being cut off from all religious ordinances during their sojourn at the islands.

At a special meeting of the Charitable Aid' Board Committee, held on Friday, a letter was received from the University Council asking on what conditions students of the University would be admitted to the Maternity Hospital in Forth street for the purpose of furthering their training. The meeting was unanimous on the point that it was never intended otherwise than that students should be admitted, but consideration of the conditions upon which they should be admitted was referred to a sub-committee to deal with and report to a later meeting.

In the past five weeks Mr J. E. MacManus, who has been appointed organising: secretary for the Dunedm and Suburban General Labourers' Union, has enrolled about 300 labourers, which, with the previous membership of 400, brings the total up to about 700. There are stilk a good many labourers who have not yet become , members of the union, but they will be : sought out in due course. In addition to ! the formation of a numerically large union, I Mr MacManus has 'undertaken to find employment for members of the union, and j also to find labour for employers who are I in 'quest of it. Employers have already, ; availed themselves of this organisation to ' the extent of 60 or 70 men, and evidently, appreciate it. Mr MacManus has now on j hand orders from different employers for 40 labourers within the next week. He it anxious that employers should get good men when they approach the union for them, and no man will be sent to a job who is likely to be immediately returned. Mr MacManus points out that there arise af times very necessitous cases' which work cannot be found for promptly, and he susr1 gests that such cases should be immediately taken in hand by the Government Labour Bureau. A start will Bhortly be made to draw up new conditions, which the Arbitration Court is to be asked to substitute for the present award, expiring on December 1. j Mrs K. Leute Steavenson, who is a vicepresident of the World's Women's Christian Temperance Union, when speaking to a Lyttelton Times reporter in regard to the I women's movement in America, said that the domestic help problem was just as pro1 minent in the United States as in this part; 'of the world. She was surprised to learn the high rates of wages paid to domestic helps in New Zealand. In the United

Btates domestic labour, not thoroughly skilled, could be obtained for about 16s a Wtek; but skilled labour cost as much as 91 ft week, and many people paid their *aaki £2 a week. The effect of the con-

[ tinuat increa&fl of the difficulty was fo drive families into living in flats, and apartment houses were becoming more popular than ever. In some of them there were central dining rooms, where members of the different families met together at meal times, but that plan did not meet with very much favour, most families preferring to have their own apartments and to dine separately. It is likely (says our Greymouth correspondent) that the Westport Coal Company will shortly expend £10,000 in opening up th© Mangatina portion of its estate. Th© Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald just to hand contains the following: — "'The child is father to the man.' Our attention has been directed to a photo-picture in the Otago (New Zealand) Witness of the Kilbirnie Rifles skirmishing, Captain Davies, V.D., in command. Now, just fancy Kilbirnie, Wellington, New Zealand, having a rifle corps, and Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, Scotj land, still without one I This should surely stir up our leading young men to take steps to have a company formed for Kilbirnie and Glengarnock." A Press Association telegram from Invereargill states that an attempt was made to enter the Farmers' Co-operative premises during Thursday night by lowering a ladder from the roof through the skylight, but the ladder fell on to the floor. The disappointed burglar on the roof evidently dropped a lighted match, which set fire to aome drapery. The blaze was fortunately seen by a constable and promptly extinguished by the brigade The damage was slight. Some 12 months since the Waitahuna Farmers' Club took up the question of telephonic communication between Waitahuna and Lawrence, and the establishment has proved such a success that the club is desirous of increasing the benefits by being connected with Dunedin. Mr Allen, M.P., on his way to Lawrence on Wednesday last, was met at the Waitahuna Railway Station bj a deputation from the Farmers' Club, the members being Messrs A. Livingston (president), T. Corry (vice-president), M'Caw, R. M'Corkindale, and York. The deputation explained clearly and concisely its views upon the matter, and fully enlisted the sympathies of the member for the district. The Hinemoa, on her recent trip to the southern islands, sighted Rabbit Island, in Ross Harbour, Auckland Islands, but no one went ashore. From one point of view (says our Bluff correspondent) this is to be regretted. . In the " 60's "■ two craft hailing from Victoria were wrecked on the island. The castaway survivors of both, after enduring many months' privation, were rescued. Both rescues arose out of mere chance circumstances. Thereupon a special expedition was sent from Victoria to explore the island, lest there might be other castaways in a similar predicament. By way of giving th© search a benevolent touch a brace of silver-grey rabbits was taken down and liberated. It would be interesting to know what effect 40 or 50 years' isolation has had on the lineal descendants of these silver-greys. Mr S C. Fache, of Clyde, Central Otago, who has returned to Wellington after spending seven years in gold dredging on the upper reaches of' the Irawaddy River, Burmali, states that good returns are obtained from the operatione. " The I dredges," he says, "average over lOOoz of j gold per week each. The two dredges I j have been in charge of the last two years averaged from lOOoz to 15007 each per week. Natives are employed on the dredges [as much as possible. On our dredges we had three different tribes, all speaking distinct languages. Each of the dredges carries five whites, and these for the most part are New Zealanders, who like the life. They haven't spot to work as hard as they do out here, the coolies being larg-ely utilised for the rougher work. The Kachin tribe is the one we have to deal with now. They have driven the other tribes out of the hills into the lower part of the country — the Chinese out on their side and the Burmese out on theirs. We get on with them very well. They never quarrel with a man — they simply cut his head off. The Kachins are a very fine race, and very honest. Their laws .are peculiar. If a man steals a pig he has got to pay 10 back, and if he does not pay them back within a certain time there is a vendetta against him, and h© probably loses 1 his head. If you ask a Kachin what his name is he will never tell you, except, perhaps, to ask why. He never tells you ' where he comes from, for fear that you want to know something about his vendettas, which go back for years. In the Kachins' unadministered territory no white man has ever entered. We even do not know what the river is like 10 miles from whsre we are operating. There are any amount of head-hunters yet, and they are only too happy to get hold of a white man's head. Th« white man there always goes armed; they have a wonderful resper for him." Evon tuatara lizards, in spite of their avoidance of over-exertion, do not live for ever, as the Dominion Museum authorities in Wellington have just found to their sorrow. For about 20 years past the Museum has possessed an ancient pair of these interesting links with a former age, and in all that time there was no noticeable change in their appearance. But at last one died, and now, after a short interval, the other has also gone the way of all flesh. Still, they remain in the Museum, but are now even more motionless than they wer© before; they are preserved as

'exhibits. The last one to die suffered a short while ago from a disease which necessitated a slight surgical operation. From this it recovered, but since the disappearance of its mate it was gradually pining away. The Museum still possesses several live tuataras, but none of them has been in residence so long as those that have recently died. A bitter cry from English village mothers is to be expressed, the Road Union hopes, in an extensively-signed petition to the Queen. "We women of England humbly beseech your Majesty to help us to get some relief from- fte motor cars. We are sure your Majesty cannot know how much we suffer from them. They have made our lives a misery. Our children are always in danger, our things ar© ruined by the dust; we cannot open our windows, our rest is spoilt by th* noise all night. If they could be made to go slow through the villages it would be a great thing; but we are only poor people, and the great majority of tsioee who use motor cars take no account of us." The pathetic appeal is not unfounded (says the Argus's London correspondent), but it is to be feared that experts in petitions will think its artless language dus to some clever anti-motorist's subtlety. A Napier syndicate is getting from Homo a new kind of machinery fox dressing flax, which it intends to set up near Foxton, where it has secured some flax. The new plant, it is said, will turn out the fibre much more rapidly than the old process. Within 48 hours from the time the green flax leaves th© swamp the hemp will be ready for export. The exact nature of the new process is not known outside those concerned in its venture, but it is understood to include steam^drying. The fasting cure for various bodily ailments was practised in Wanganui to a considerable extent a couple of yeais ago, and although the newspapers have contained but little about it, the movement (says the New Zealand Times) is etill flourishing. Its headquarters are still at Wanganui, but several people have token it up ct BkMiheim and also at small towns along the Main Trunk line. It has got beyond the ridicule stage, according to a statement to a Times representative by one ■who periodically does a long fast to keep down his exceptional weight. As a faster he keeps himself in touch with the headquarters of the cult, and the latest instances of successful fasting in the Wanganui district quoted by tihis gentleman are those of a lady who professes to be cured of cancer of the breast after a 40 days' fast, and a butcher who suffered badly from diabetes, but has been completely cured as a result of a 52 days' fast. Speaking- of recent natural historical rambles in the Solomon Islands, Mr W. W. Frogg-aitt, the New^ South Wales Government entomologist, told the members of the NatuTalists' Club in Sydney that the population of the island was decreasing. White men h;,d told him that there were islands now whose owners could not be found. They had quietly dropped out of existence. The traders also said, although the missionaries did not agree with them, that the reason for the decrease of the native population «va-s that the islanders had suffered from a tired feeling- ever since headhunting bad been stopped. They had now nothing to do, and their chief object in life was gone. When they went headhunting: they bad ro keep themselves physically fit, and the little fighting they did gave them an interest in life which under civilised conditions was missing. They did not do much killing in their head-hunting expeditions, and the easy life they now suffered from meant their physical deterioration. The plans of the Minister of Railways lor his visit south have undergone a slight alteration. Mr Millar has consented to perform the official opening ceremony of the Orepuki-Waiau railway on Thursday, the 23rd inst., proceeding next day to Gore for a similar ceremony in connection I Tvith the Waikaia-Switzers line Merchants and others who make frequent use of the cable service may now, under certain conditions, have their codes certified to as being in conformity with the International Telegraph Convention Raguktions. j At the Last International Telegraph Confer- ' once (Lisbon, 1908), Great Britain, Germany, and France were deputed to examine all j codes and vooabularie-s of words in code i language, or of syllables intended for uee , in code language submitted to them, and 1 if approved issue a certificate that the code or vocabulary is in accordance with the regulations. Persons in New Zealand desir- ' ing to submit their codes must make application through tho secretary, General Post Office, from whom full information can be obtained. The submission of any code is optional with the user, and will be treated as confidential by the administration. No information is required on the subject of the meaning given to any word in the code. There wore 142 patients remaining in the Dimeclin Hospital at the end of last week. , The week commenced with 150 inmates, and ! 23 were admitted during tho period and 29 discharged. Two deaths occurred — Kate M'Kinlay and Wilhelmina Hendry. ; Some interest was aroused at Purakanui ! and in the neighbouring districts on Sunday j afternoon owing to an announcement -that an unusually large number of professed con- ■ verts were to be publicly baptised at Purakanui Bay by a preacher who makes public baptism and complete immersion an essential ceremonial in connection with his religious teaching. The number of converts, it is stated, was 24, and the method adopted I by the preacher was to Walk into the wafcet

until it was waist deep, and here th© converts, of both sexes, cam© to him on© by one, and were immersed A number of Port Chalmers residents and others went to see th© ceremonial, and among the onlookers were several who had cameras, and a number of snapshots were taken. The business premises of Messrs Wrigbt, Stephenson, and Co.- were burglariously entered' on Wednesday nigh* last. The person who gained entrance to th© building evidently anticipated getting a haul as a result of the a-uotion sal© held that day, but if those -were his anticipations they were not realised. However, a drawer was forced open and £10 or £12 in the shape of petty cash secured. It is difficult to tell how an entrance was effected, but it is presumed that someone had concealed himself on the premises during th© day, made his raid at night, and then calmly walked out at the rear gate, the email door of which was found to be unsnibbed. The gate takings at the Otago v. Wellinigton interprovincial football match on Saturday amounted to £330. The tramway service to Carisbrook Ground was heavily taxed, there being 17 special cars in commission. A cablegram from Sydney states that the late Dr Muskefct left £50 annually to each of the hospitals for sick children at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. In connection with the Associated Board's June theory examinations the following candidates have passed in addition to thc.6e already mentioned :— Local Centre examinations: Rudiments of musio (full marks 99, pass 66), Gwendoline M Proctor 71, S. Hilda's Collegiate School (Miss Kate E. Gaid'ner). School examinations: Higher division, harmony (full marks 150, pass 100, distinction -130)— Vera Moore 131 (Mrs Blanche Levi), distinction; Kathleen Rose Levi 130 (Mrs Levi), distinction. Advantage was taken of the presence of Mr James Allen, M.P., in Lawrence on Wednesday to seek his assistance in securing an extension of the telephone between Waitahuna orad Manuka. Creek so as to enable local subscribers to connect witti Milton, and ultimately, it is hoped 1 (says the Tuapeka Times), with Dunedin. The deputation, which consisted of Messrs Winmill, Leary, M'Kinlay, and Browm, explained the position, and pointed out that the local bureau was giving a return which would more than pay the interest on th© extension asked in the meantime, also the objections that were raised by the department to a connection with Dunedin, via Waipori and Outrara. Mr Allen said he would be glad to do all in his power to assist in securing the extension asked for, and advised the deputation to write the department asking for the extension desired, forwarding the letter through him. A correspondent writes as follows to the Marlborough Herald:— "ln seeking for information from old identities I came across the following, which may be of interest to the Captain Cook Memorial Committee. When Captain Cook visited Endeavour Inlet he nailed a copper plate to a tree, with an inscription bearinig a date and other matter, in 1859 Dr Hochstetter arrived in Marl-boroug-h on a geological survey for the Austrian Government, and according to an old whaler named Thorns, now dead, Dr Hochstetter took down and carried away with him the copi>er plate commemorative of our great navigator's visit to Marlborough. If it is pot too late for the committee to communicate with Mr Robert il'Nab, I should suggest that they do so, and aek him to make inquiries of the Austrian Government in reference to the matter, as this valuable memento — if recoverable— would be an interesting addition, to the memorial, or, at anyrate, to a Marlborough museum. No doubt it is reposing in some museum in Austria, Dr Hochstetter being far too patriotic an Austrian to consider a private person a fit custodian for &ucb a relic, even though that individual weTe himself." Tho trawling industry in New Zealand has not yet reached -large proportions, but there (says the Lytteiton Times) are indications that is is feeling its way along a line of growth Th© latest important ex-p-dtoion of the fishing industry was the recent despatch of the steamer Duco upon her first excursron to the Chatham Islands, where .she spent a considerable time in lin«-fishing for blue cod, which abound about the islandsThe steamer took back a large quantity of ood to Wellington in her freezing chambers. At the beginning of last week she left for the islands for the second time to continue the work. The New Zealand Trawling and Fish Supply Company's trawler Nora Niven, which has hitherto liad her aeadquartera at Wellington, but which lias at times done some roving, has now been sent to a fresh base of operations at Napier, whence the catches are to be cent to Wellington by rail. There is apparently a desire to go in for trawling in the south, as a syndicate is reported to be trying- to buy the steamer Rakiurj, and another report has it that Wellington's market is to be catered for by a second line-fishing bteamer working at the Chatham Islands. At Lytbeltan there is one small trawling steamer, an. old craft, which brings in fair hauls of fish, besides, of course, the fleet of small open boats proper to any seaport. There has lately been a little talk of a fresh trawling venture, and it is understood to have gone so far as the opening up of inquiries for a suitable steamer Labour conditions in Dunedin have now settled down to normal, and inquiry at the Government Labour Bureau shows that the number of men requiring employment is limited. By a ready co-operation between

the organising secretary of the General Labourers' Union and tbe Labour Depart^ ment, the position in regard to the la'bour.f ing class of work has been very much re-* lieved, and what surplus labour there is 1 coming contracts will pretty well absorb* ' Saturday proved a very heavy day for the municipal tramways department. In the afternoon, when some thousands of " people were- conveyed to the Cdttisbrook Ground, the scene of the Otago v. Wellington football match, there were IT special cars in running from 2 o'clock, and! the fact that cars were run direot from th© Gardens to Carisbrook was greatly appreciated. Twenty specials were in commission after the match to convey people into town, and seven of the cars made a second trip. At this stag© of the day,every car excepting one, which is always kept as a standby in the event of accident, was in use, numbering 42 altogether — a fact which indicates that the) - rolling stock is kept in excellent repair. The takings for the whole day. amounted > to £258 17s 7d, and the total number o£ • passengers carried was 43,6*7, made up of .6,407 penny fares, 14,734 twopenny fares, md 2506 threepenny fares. „ . As a result of a crack in one of the' nozzles at the Waipori hydro-electric ' works and the ■ necessity for a new ~ on© being made, the plants of several -of the* largest consumers of electric power in the city had on Monday to be run on reduced supplies from the steam plant in Cumberland street. The power available for thetramways was ako below what it usually. i 6. An overhead tramway wire, carrying 500 volts, came down in Princes street South, opposite th© oarshed, on Monday morning. Fortunately no one was in the way of it, end it was quickly replaced by the overhead staff, without any delay to traffic. An Auckland message states that another shipment of 600 cases of onions from Japan, per the Mokoia from Sydney, wascondemned on Monday on account of Japanese onion blight. Mr H. M. Driver, of Horseshoe Bush Estate, Clarendon, is having a tramway put in to tap the limestone deposits on th* hill near the homestead, and has entered l into a contract to supply the Burnsid© Cement Company with a regular outputof stone, and Mr L. O. Beal, civil engineer, Dunedin, . has planned out the tramway,, which will have a double line, and be self- > acting, and the stone in sight is much, more extensive than was at fins* anticipated,., while the quality is said to be first c/laas.If the output exceeds by very much -the*, minimum supply to be delivered it will mean thai another industry on an exten* sive scale will be established at Clarendon. At Monday's meeting of the Taieri Drainage Board the acting engineer (Mr Strang) reported that th© lid of a box on drain "C " had been deliberately opened one night by someone to allow of the water being released. Mr Gibson said he knew who had committed the offence, and it was decided that the individual be* written to pointing out that he had rendered himself liable to a penalty of £500 and that any repetition of the offenecwould not be overlookted. It was remarked, that it was desirable that people generally should know the penalties attaching to any interference with any of the drains under the jurisdiction of the board. Mr H. F. Nees (local director of thePaparoa Coal Company) received a telegram from Mr J. P. Maxwell (chairman, of directors) on Monday stating that th© incline started working on Saturday and proved- most satisfactory. This mean* that the whole of the company's works are completed and that everything is in good running order, so that supplies of coaL can be put on. the market without delay. At the meeting of the United Temper-, ance Reform Council on the 13th a member who lives in North Dunedin detailed, a conversation he had had with, a police officer stationed in th«t dustrict. He eaidhe had asked the officer whether the fact that he (the speaker) did, not now hear drunken pei-sons singing, etc., on their, way home denoted that thoso who had formerly so behaved wer.e now sober. The officer said that in many cases thiswas so, and he named a number of menwho wero formerly very intemperate but who now usually got home sober. Reduce tion in North Dunedin had been a blessing; to many homes, particularly .where the* man did not now have to pass a hotel on his way homo from work. A Wellington telegram state 3 that an ex-Christchurch journalist, who now hokte a responsible position on a local daily paper, has, it is understood, instituted 1 proceedings against, a p&riodical which has, printed an allegedly damaging attack upon his personal and professional capacity. It seems an apology was offered, but this was considered unsatisfactory by the aggrieved party, and it is probable that writs claiming heavy damages will shortly be issued against both publisher and printer of the periodical concerned. The lines of the clergy do not alwaya fall in pleasant places, as was evidenced' by the experience of the Rev. C. Boyall,. Baptist minister, of Cavcreham, who conducted services in Gore on Sunday (say» the Standard). Having missed the evening express from Dunedin on Saturday he proceeded south by the slow train which' reaches its destination *> Chi. -on at 9.30".From Clinton the mv <• n U'tium continued" his journey (26 mik-) bj c>.l< , but ws overtaken by adv.-r>e weather, ai*l beir^r

macquainted with the roads, which wer« n a bad state, lie had to walk a great *axt of the distance, especially between HTaipahi and Pukerau, and eventually ar•ived at Gore at 10.20 on Sunday morning. Undaunted by his trying experience, Mi Boyall took tie morning service in the remperaßce Hall at 11 o'clock. During .he night he took refuge from the storm n a barn at Waipahi, where he rested for two hours. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that Mr J. Graham Gow, Frade Commissioner, will lea re Wellington \>y the Hauroto on Friday for Rarotonga and Tahitr to inquire into the possibilities of trade in view of the establishment of the Government-subsidised steam service now running between Wellington and the Islands.