TOPICS OF THE TIMES

Southland Times, Issue 18816, 8 May 1920, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE TIMES

The “international affairs” tort oeeasooally add a spice of excitement to the diplomatic relations of the United States and Mexico are net all one-sided. A little while ago these was a furious display of indignation in the United States over to* anwt of an American Consul Jenkins on a charge of perjury arising out of some operations by bandits. The Mexicans said tort Jenkins deliberately tried to cause trouble to give the Americans an excuse for intervention, and their story was given a touch of realism by the extreme friendßnoss of the bandits concerned for American officials and journalists. Another “affair” took place in April, however, when General Ignacio Pesqueira. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Mexico, who was recently appointed Governor of Sonora by Carranza, was arrested on the border on a charge of vioiateco of the Mann White Slave Act.

The Mann white slave traffic law in Western America is a very elastic, though sometimes terrifying statute. During toe Panama Exposition San Francisco boasted a “Red Light” district, where thousands of unfortunate women plied their trade, yet if any person unpopular with the authorities was accompanied across toe bay .from Oakhmds by a woman relative or friend, and they stayed overnight at a city hotel in the most innocent fashion, a white slave charge would be levelled against the man. Or if policemen granted any incident of this kind they would +«]lr white .risve prosecution unless the almighty dollar waa forthcoming as graft. The Act has often been employed against 'frreproachable people, while flagrant offender* have gone their way unscathed. It operates all over toe eoontiy, but under it many police ‘Ttoxaden” seem to have occurred.

Peaqueira was reported to bsve admitted his intimacy with' a beautiful Mexican girl during the past five years. She had accompanied him on frequent trips into the United States, and it was peculiar, to say the least thit hc should have been arrested and detained at a time when he was proceeding to .Beoon as a peace delegate freon Carranbra to the. rebels. Hie home is in the Sonora State and it is posable that his presence might have cheeked the spread of toe revolt. As it is the American- authorities have incurred a grave responsibility in holding him under such czreumatances; and many people will see in tors act an effort to'in-tensify-the difficulties of Carrsnaa, who is' not popular with the ••Ameocjami- -

It-is' that' a Pipe Bandwill be started at Browns.—Wintoa Record. Good pro gr bob is - being, made- wife the plate-laying on the Otar fine. A' movement is on foot to tatiHinli a Stock Exchange in Ttmars (says . the Herald). . < The fees for treatment at tin Atreldahd Hospital are to be increased from 0s to 6s fid • a day. . Supplies of bard coal for domestic purposes »re st3l ray meagre in Ashburton (states'tbe Gnairfiao)., Another arrest hasbeen made in. Wdfitagton in oonaeetiea with recent tbofta Infos business premises in Timare. The Warranto school' dosed down Isst Tuesday for an indefbate period os account of influent* among the. drildna and staff. ■ . Christchurch people, complain ef the delay in shipping coal at Gmymouth. These is a big shortage of' hard' emd in. Center-' bray.' * , _ ' - There are 46 workers’ homes in Masterton. It is reported that the "Labour Department intends erecting 40 more. The Wd&ngton City Council has decided to hold a poll of the ratepayers for tiie raising of a loan of £MXJQ,OOO for.development and improvement purpoem. A contract bad been let for the erection of cool stores on a site in Waterloo Quay, Wellington. The bo tiding is to east £50,000, raid the machinery w3l cost about £20,000. ' ' Mr Arch. Campbell has disposed of Ms farm of 250. acres on Wyudham Ridges, together with the . live stock and working plant to Mr John G. Ronald, Waiaxnva. Tbs incoming proprietor, - who bean an honoured Southland name, takes possession on June I.—Wyndham Farmer. The figures for ..the quarter ending March 31 giving the average attendance for all schools under the Southland Ed uterine Board are now completer, and show that the total number of echeofe under the Board at that date was 194, having an average weekly iioU. of 11,799, with an average attendance of W^W. “Paints today 'toe ehort-Sved in useful* ness and inadequate in regard to protection,” Mr L. P. Symes irid in his lecture on fata to the Canterbury Philosophical Institute ca Wednesday, “and we may see a development from plastic materiab that vS be pbaweng to the eye, be mote useful and giro infinitely more protection titan the prints we tan now using."

“Most returned, buUibih are wme «( the -work -on behalf of returned avhfioß performed by Ujas Bttte Bout,” rays toe. annual report of the Atackfaod Returned' Soldiers’ Association.- 'This - lady hue made heavy fmutirml sacrifice* , in enter to carry out her work in toe interest of to* soldier. It has therefore been derided dint, considering too valuable work done by Min Root during the war period,’-* subscription list be opened rt the office of toe R&A.*

“In fact, we hiree been Musing a losing race all through,” said Mr. H. F. Penlrngton, in urging the necessity for mete—ad salaries for school teachers before the meeting of the committee of Canterbury Member* of Parliament during the week. The Government Statistician, Mr Penlrngton continued, that the cart of living, since the outbreak of war, had increased €0 per cent.; as far as he (toe speaker) had been able to estimate the “doles” giran teachers represented 30 per cent, increase on pre-war salaries: The result wan general dtacontot and dissatisfaction throughout the serrioe; with that spirit prevailing, efficiency artUraDy weal down —nothing rise could result. In addition, there was bitten cm and an embittered service was a dmgawia one. One -of the questions tort will be involved in the coming prosecutions in Christchurch under toe Bread of Trade Art will be tort of the replacement—whether an importer is justified in charging price lor goods in stock, bought at price' tower than the now current pries; -oqurt to that which he would charge- if he.replaeed his stock at. current prices. . Recently toe chairman of the Wellington Price-Irrrnatigatien Tribunal expressed tbs opinion tort such a procedure was wrong, and that, hi effect, each shipment should stand on ita own, and prices should be only increased in respect of goods for which the importer had paid an increased price. The proceedings pending in Christchurch wiQ, however, bring the question under Magisterial review.

Souvenir banting at the yotrag people’s supper in Wmpmm in connection -with the visit of the Prince of Wafas was. responsible for the disappearance of everything at the Prince’s table; in fact (states the Wellington Pwtfa correspondent) there was a pro-, per dean-up of everything removable. Tfcv caterer hast four tabrer voces, thirty-nine dozen tuaablen, thirty-four doaen cops and saucers, eighteen dozen triheer tea spoons, and one hundred and twenty yards of royal bine and gold ribbon. One woman took possession of a three-decker cake, and considered she was entitled to it, because sfaa was a ratepayer. Betties of aerated water seemed to have great fascination for the young people. The general leas is particularly heavy and will have to be met by the Borough Owned. The acuteness of the hearing problem is restricting Port Chalmers to the services of one medical man for the town and far the surrounding district, which 'extends several mike beyond the town aad includes portion of the Otago Peninsula (aujn the Dunedin Star). Formerly two doctors attended to the needs of tin niiiuaaiiilj One is now doing the work. Owing to the war there haw been a scarcity of doctors throughout the Dominion. The shortage is now low acute, but Pert Oafaiini hae been unable to benefit by the increasing number awoihirie, became cw a t the faewi “doctor'* wideneea has been cesrserted into a parsonage. Quite recently two experienced doctors, who would have token np practise at Port have gone elsewhere, became there was no hoaias available at the peat. The friendly secietieß have beeu endeavouring to remedy mattens, but so far without aneeem.

"Rather (bdSv with Rggnrify, wasn't it?** used to remirk n er-ami man wiw was a middy with a forbear of the preient Prince of Wah», and administeced a sound spanking one day when the' Royal sailor bad taken the load in a Hwl ing hi ri deal during bathing panda. This m—iww was one of a fnr who catod boast of hawig taken soph a Shorty with a «raon of the reigning bonne, but them is a pofioomaa in Auckland, who eaa say that he told the Prince of Woles to "iumv an.” It bafvpened at the railway station when there was a big sopnc emnd to see ILRJH. go sooth. In the pcm of people the man in bine did not lagiilwi toe book of the young man talking to a wtiratf ashfisr tm the platform, sod it was not until too people in the vicinity looghed toad be moSosd be was trying to move ou the pcmegml actor in the send off. A smite from H.R.H. and a salute tons the pofieecaasi matters. y,

Describing the old-time eorautsuad in connection with the Prince's rimt to Boteswo, the Auckland Start special eorrespwudopt stated:—Sir Jtmn Carroll, m kiwi mat, face daubed with Mack in true Maori fashion, and braxM&iung a rateable tnwhatiwim, was hidenai or master of eensnomea. As the Prince reached toe steps, Thru Kara gave a warning shout,- ‘'Ka mate, Ka mate/" 1 In a second the rousing old song was. in a tfaoosand throats and toe ground trembled as though a mild earthquake wns happening. Somewhat bewildering to the young Prince —it made his eyes aparids and a flush came to his lace. Just at tim ertating juncture there was a great crash in to* Maori camp; the roof of eue of the big temporary sheds finding the load.of people who had dfanhed up to get a bettor view too . much loir Ha zapkfiy-bufit bock, moontiaeotly ceUgwii, hasting hatoans in all. drittin. JUask*F*sgr-tou*A far to fdL

■ Fairiy good reports an earning. {rata the duek shooters, and sinne rather heavy bagi have been brought home. A fine week-end will doubtless see many engaged in the sport. ■ A large and profific coal area. has been secured by the New. Zealand. Dairy Association at Pokemiro, a few miles out of Huntly, in the Auckland province, for mining purposes.

The Statistician's report states that the eost of liring in' Anstcslia for .the March quarter,' compared with last year, increased from ,9.8 per cent in Melbourne to, 18.3 per, cent in Perth,

' Covncißor E. Sheehan writes ' that, he was reported as’ having; at the last meeting •f the Borough Council, voted- against-Mr Carman's appointment as Tramways Manager. ; Gbondllor Sheehan says this is n mistake. He has always supported promotion’finam the staff and he voted in favour of the appointment. Mr (hrin McConechie, the New Zealand professional billiard champion, gave an ex--oefleat -aQ-round-display in the Civic billiard ratoon last, evening in the presence of a good ■ attendance. -Mr McConechie's -breaks averaged about 50, the largest being • 152, and he - succeeded in easily defeating the local man who had; a: start of 400 in a-game of 750. At tfae-elase of the billiards, be played a game-of snooker,: again being an- easy winner, esd subsequently showed a number of cleverly executed- trick shots. He was freqtmrffy.applobded-during the evening. At the canefaviDn of. the game Mr McConechie expreased himself as well satisfied with the table.:

. There was once, a resident of Invexearg3l, who,. almost immediately after the dock- shooting season had opened, passed a_ shop window in rwhich < were temptingly delayed a number ; 'pf birds all ready for the pot.- Smocking his lips in anticipation, he entered- the shop, and, being in a- loquaeaoustum of- mind, he prefaced bis order by congratulating the lady behind the counter on the expedition with which „ the supposed members of the duck family had been plaeed on the market. "Docks 1 Good gracious me, these are mntton birds!” exclaimed the vendor. . To cover his discomfiture the would-be-pure baser of wild docks fled, and now, it is -said, the oft mentioned name at mutton binds by his friends stinks in his iw( iil j even more than the creatures themed ves.

Acting on tiie motto "strike when the (finaer’s hot,” the waitresses in two restaurants ia Auckland on Monday struck work when , the dock struck twelve. The anion point ed view was explained later by the secretary of tha Hotel and Restaurants' Welfare’ Union, who stated that officially the atrifa was not a strike at all so far as the union was concerned. The girls concerned were not all members of the union. They had asked for a rise in wages, and as the request had not been granted on a specified date, they had walked out without Biwartt'mg the amen officials. They had afterwards spoken to him he had advised them ' that -their action could not be backed np by the union. The secretary added that he bad leraitfy had to intervene to prevent a similar incident at Rotorua, on (he eve of the Prince’s visit.

At a returned soldiers’ social gathering in Fiji which had to be crowded in between the townspeople’s reception and the school children’s pretty demonstration, the Prince of Wales sat between the President, Lieutenant S. H. Ellis, of New Zealand, : who was connected with the Flying-Corps, and Major G. EL Knox, an Australian (4Sth‘ Battalion), who wae major before Messines, perhaps the youngest holder of such a rank in the AXF. Talking to Major Knox, he suddenly remarked, ‘Tve met yod—in Egypt.” Major Knox reminded the Prince of a parade of the 46th at Tei-el-Kdbrr, at which the Prince’s boxer, a most ferocious end badfybnd anhnal, played pranks every time the bayonets rattled,- nearly throwing the Prince off. 'T'remember that day well,” said-the Prince. 'The battalkm brought me &nbther horse, and I wte joDy : glad-for T hid'the wiad-up properly that time.”

Mr L. P. Symes, president of the Canterbury Philosophical iasHixcbei; £ave an address so "Fati; edible sad otherwise,” on Wednesday night. He said that man bod used fat from remote-days. Their use .had developed to soch an extoiti that'’in modern times man depended on' fats, or specially foveieped fat prodncto in all directions. It was doubtful jf New Zwdmteß would be where they were if it had not been'for the old-time-whalers, who came to these parts seeking whale oil, and, incidentally, spare for their veeeeh. With a revival of the whaling industry, whale dQ was eryning into greater tree, and people now might find it almost anywhere, even in chocolate creams. Dealing with fatty adds he detailed their characters, and explained that in them carbon was found and that in many cases it was associated with hydrogen atoms. Several artificial acids had been discovered. There was ample space for other artificial acids, and when they were discovered nobody knew what products might result. Two- plants that yielded valuable fabrics, flax and the cotton plant, yielded oil of great commercial importance.

Daring the war the passport system came into force in Australia, and, as is the case in other emmlcies, it is not to be abandoned, although peace is signed (says the Melbourne Age). In the Federal Senate last week; a Ml for an Act relating to passports was introduced by Senator Russell and read a first time It provided that no person who appeals to be more than 16 years of age shall embark at any place in the CommoimiwWi far a journey to any place outoida Aestraha unless he is the holder of a propmiy vised or other document authorising his departure. A penalty of £IOO, or imprisonment for six month*, has been fixed for noo-compKance with this peovanan at the Act.' There is, however, a large number of exemptions to this provision, including members of the naval and military forces of the Btitodi dominions leaving the Commonwealth on duty; the cream of owwai vessels; persons visiting New Zealand, if in peaseanon of permits; bona fide tourists travelling to Papua or Norfolk Island, and Ml persona to whom «inw|wiqr permits authorising them to leave the Cominqpweolth without producing a pweport have been issued. Exemptions may also be arranged in cases where the Government enters into a reciprocal understanding with other countries. Any pmaoa ' entering the Commonwealth who is iiinpiinrl to be hi possession of' a passport must, if required, give up his passport before having the vessel on which be entered the Cnswmnnvrealth.

An excellent chef had been engaged for the Royal train at a certain stage of his iaumy. Amngti the North Island (says the eorreapondapt of the Christchurch Press), bat he was a wary loyal cook; and he drank the health of the Prince of Wales in such bnatpara that before very long he was ordering (Mkaaw in suefa quantity and quality that even Loctdlua himself would have been more than pleased. To begin with he ordered 10001b of ramp steak. He had widafly been a student of liter stare and mat have read Charles Lamb's immortal wwy, for one of his demands was no fewer than 15 sucking pigs, and to this he added 40 gallons of port wine for pwauTis. Needleas to say, he was soon superseded, and it was satrefoetnry to all coaoemed that a new chef, worthy of the princely occasion, was: found' without delay. To-day this new chef prepared a special soup for the Prince which probably no other Prime has ever' It was a soup mode from the toberoa, a mussel product of the North Tufarnd Toberoa is Maori {or "Long tongue,” and it very aptly describes the [ —rn of the mnswl when it is taken from its elongated black abed. It is a dchcacy prised by the Mms, but only of recent years has die pnkeba recognised its virtues. ‘ Properly advertised it would make a name for nay" first-dare restaurant in London, Paris, or erven Borina in . its. palmy days. Cm Prince-liked the new soap, for on a reum that he signed .for the chef, “Edward P," be umtrjYined the toberoa-.soup, and in the-margin wrote •‘Very good” with exclamation marks. Needless-to say, the chef was as jdnered as the Prince.

Wild dpck, eopee>4y .p*radbe, an very ptontifulat,tbe.fa«ad.of Lake; Wakatipu (says the Hail). It is reported that some good bags of grays have been brought in since the beginning of the eeaeoo.

‘ltbyal Haiy* the valuable) Hereford bull purahaeed by Mr E. H. Hotchinsaa* recently frtm at the price of 1000 or being kept in Hnfa'aJßay for the wintMt '

Hie bo ate erf « vd-taramtiliw o t Aid area might ‘ easily harre been tinat down the other afternoon vide he van bay at bis office,* arf. a Rsdt of a iiiyifniwiii fire (arya the (3^MtohanA_Prera) . A it4f of the hoPaebpld, -the eidy wtinate at the time, thought die smelt cnaoke. She traced this to an upsteia bedroom,-one riant had no* been used for: some time, the res* of th« family being sap in the country. Hera she cßacovered one or two articles of furniture, a patch of..etepst' on the floor; and some wooßen nislwrial on the ilirming fable aO amodldaug. When : three had been put oat and theimau, of the. boose summoned by tefepfaooA ihrmtigrtion uhmwed that n mirror bad been the nkmeecit eaawe. TM bedn»m iB n«,lte;«afiiy Ate of the house, and the mirror, with a convex surface happened to be an- planed that at tinsaeaaan of the year it emqdtt the hfi rqa of the afternoon ana. Hie Ttonring glam," an the diA dren She to call k, soon (fid tin mischief. .

Mias E. IGllo, who left btwereuigSl tod Melbourne acme eight yearn ago, tor thu purpons of studrtng mragt and draped; retimed recently -«u » hefiday vint. Sbq has rinse MM to nmin in however, and w® rvmrnnn practice in rooms ever Ntffi BnUhp m Due atiurfj to-day. The Bund ef.fto Bth Repnot uB port a mgr sumac of nrarie in No. 2 QndM on Sunday iffimm at 3 o’clock (by persuasion of the OX1). The feSowing peogiammu will be graen:—March, "Azgandafe” (S, Thorapnon); overture, Tnharf' (H. Round); contort teiection, "Lyric GariaadT (Round); intiariutim- "Ariel” (Waflaee); march. Th the Quarter Dock" (AHord); grand ariorttou, "11 Gownto" (Mere*danta); raareh, 'The Mutfe” (Alford)* God Save the King.. Ctaßeetioa.—(Advt.) The Hibernian Band will give a ceawtf in No. 2 Gardens on Sunday week, I bj 16, Winter-weight. TJadaneeer ia all rim for men is in grad —ppfy at PRICK A BDIr LEHR'S, Ltd. These garments are tha picked mnubon fram the Cokmial Wooden and Wonted -IBh. The qualities are such that the gmrirt wearing ceartta me ueuuwl —■shapes, make aad fiairii are higb-ciaas. PRICE A BUXXKXD, Ltd, quote towprieea for aB qnrikieeL—<Ad*U Year writing need mat be copperplate it your stationery ben the !>«»■■* ai quafity. You curiVbqy character in head* writißj y it is tertudy your own, bug smart stationery is rady a matter of purchasing at JTyurfwaar'a Dee ■twirt. Crtnastg in gray, bh*, ihtetj prak, white, barriered, bloraom upeayi* wad ehas Hgiiawi; ate children's party rtrttovety nan bo bad at prices t raging tom U- to 2/L Ex Tterari—a bentiM ararataranfe of rate goods has part bra opened at T&OMSOM M BEATTTHS aad ran aaw on view, tfaeee are new Orate, Cartmea, Evening Dram aad Wnpe> Fm, Heetory; Neckwear, Stem Materials of aB rinerrifitiootL Old Blranti Table Orator aad Serviettes in Trail, Matbaa Hrafina, Diving Gown M all risk; ate. Theaa are ea view, now aad a special daptoy wdl be made next week.—(Arirt.) WHSAT—Sqpenra fine el encOnt tool wheat, 36/- per bag. Sappiy limited. At BAXTER’S, Dee abate.— (AdvU. *Chawr» waß-art de fla sak* (SallL —No eae ewe afford to take - v -nrre vitfe heeith. Yrt bow raray daring the Wiatog whoa eougba add-oeiris see ao daagraeu^ BSMOBSkt Wftk MHatiaffi oM^ra. tica. Trios BArnaCS Long ftmmm miwwfirrfwly aad be me. Mr Baxter did yoo can prewqdfr nmmd^aaa^maß, m thread, cheat aad bnaehsal tsuahiea. aaand b to to-day from dtenart or at nan ((kdvl.).

Starting—awoemepte at Smith** fag Monday meowing. You, «91 be intnoiSnil with Monday's paper. Here am to-day's specials. See wtoiow far novelty of Searraa and ■ Umfeteiiaa. Silk-ktotted Scarves ia tww-towe eafauza, strxpee mad plain, • 13/6 to -At/-. Warm Vnßn Muf, fieri in- smart retoumg*, 21/- to 22/ C. Dainty Ninon Evening Snarmj, 21/6 to 27/6. Hie new Umbrella, smart aad handy, ebwwtfnS frasiii'i'i and rchabin covers, 16/6 to 35/-. Pmheeßag with straight and trunk k—dkii, 7/11 to iS/&. Arrived by poat, unmiltiui ia Viaifing ia black, navy, nigger; gargle, white and grey, from 1/3 to 2/11. Gloves ia wfl—variety. A special in Sbn GJcrrea, grey ooty, 13/6. Aim a pend wfortiow at kid, wool, Me, rnrtitii a snede aad afe Gloves at H. A J. SMITHS, hUL, Thn Stores where repsasa vatoa can be acquired under the tomato aad smto pleasant con. djtions. Lavenctogiß and Gere. Tfaosns m all ifcpaitmento (AdM.) Keep the kaddas wsK. “MAZOL" is *urq pcotoetma agtoeto sasmhs aad eeife Serin, kie baby’s gsßsw. Omar diWwm can taka it on e««ar. 60 Aasaa 1/6.—(Advt.) MASTHB, LBV wow the diem. Other atomheepem hnaa capfad to aad we now pa Ana hatoar. We new iaiitii ail lishorgsd mil am ad fan wtotoag dfachsags to • haw thaw mdfatoy hats w blocked, ha of Ml eaat, hy the amtj hatoto ia Boottahmd. Wa MB give a 10 per eonfa redncSeoa to "' ad ataal nidaak-4 MASTSCS, LTD, Dm toswl (fiilrtj MOTOKISQ Of HOT WMATtnea An Americas Inty tonoag XA ceeaidna Q-TQL • rgU lnnii || nt An sis eft Pemeeate ahas'bsaamtog ingnamad with dib —(Adto.) Sfa Dwm WViai?T»w> being made to.THS *VXDKBOCr laW Outfitters. Mm naoeAh) —(Advi.) Don’t wear' oat yarn fine I ssgirk aad Cotton thmge by isfahrag in the woekto wadi! Urn .'“RO BUBBD9G IADMQKr HELP,” H gjeidto'napi the wi tosug. abefidang raMßfag! I/- packets. AH storm keepers.—(Anted.) Sixty Atom to "RA3OL.“ cost ot*y L/dL Splendid far ealfa, throat sad dhtot iinrr- Gai bmy with TTAZOL” tt ftnij —(Advi.)