A VALUABLE COLLECTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 119, 19 May 1920, Page 4

A VALUABLE COLLECTION.

The bequest by the late Major Broun of his unique collection of New Zealand insects to the British Museum has produced a, curious situation. There is no doubt about the legality of the bequest, but there is also no doubt that it \v;>s the intention of Major Broun to alter his will and leave, the collection to New Zealand. He said on sevonU occasions that ■it was his wifih that the Auckand Museum should have tho collection, and several witnesses ran be produced in certify to this effect. I'nfortunaU ly lie did not alter his will, and he died suddenly. Tho (Invcrnmont. proceeding under an Act framed to prevent the export of certain scientific and artistic objects, has taken stepr, to prohibit '<r delay the removal of the collection to London. The New Zealand Institute has moved in the matter, apparently with tinidea of having the collection detained

until some necessary expert work has been done on it. In the meantime tho question of tho location of the collection in Xew Zealand has arisen. The Institute thinks the Dominion Museum would be the be?t place for it, and has offered the services of an entomologist to work on it. We hope, however, that the claims of Auckland will not bo overlooked. Apart from the fact that the collection could be housed more .safely in Auckland than in Wellington, there is the undoubted fact that it was Major Broun's expressed wish that it should go to the. Auckland Museum. As to the ultimate fate of .the collection, tho British Museum might be disposed under the circumstances to waive its claim. It is for experts to say whether the collection will be of greater value to science housed in New Zealand or established in London. Its value to the New Zealand student is very great. Failing such surrender by the British Museum, that institution should not object to its being retained here for some time in the interests of science. —______

The weather forecast for 24 hours from. 0 a.m. this day ia as follows: "The indications are for westerly winds, strong to gale, an,) backing by west to south soon. The weather will probably prove squally, with heavy showers, and will probably 'become colder. Barometer rising. Sea, moderate. Tides good." The English mail ex lonic will not bo available until Thursday next, a« the vessel has been delayed. This morning the letter portion of the Australian mail brought by the Wininiera was delivered, the parcel portion arriving at ." o'clock this afternoon. The Moeruki, duo at Wellington to-morrow, also brings a mail, comprised of 102 bags of letters and 27 hampers of parcels. Of this amount 122 bags of correspondence comes from the Cnited Kingdom, and the Auckland portion will probably arrive on Thursday morn'ng. Influenza cases reported to the Auckland office of the Public Health Department for the 24 hours ended at noon today numbered 03 mild and 12 severe. In the city there were 18 mild cases, suburbs 13 mild and 4 severe, country Idistricts 2 mild and 1 severe, Cambridge 5 mild. To Kuiti 4 severe, Waitomo t mild, Tc Aroha 1 mild, Te Aroha 4 mild and 2 severe. Waihi 8 mild. Oh lira 2 mild, Matamata 4 mild, Morrinsville 3 'mild and 1 severe. At a special meeting of the Otorohanga branch of the Farmers' Union, on the motion of Mr. A. (Jlosoy. secretary, it was resolved to withdraw from the Te Awanvntu Federation. The chairman. Mr. P. Mcßae. moved as an amendment that the branch withdraw from the union altogether, and form a fresh association of small fanners, with the intention of affiliating with the Farmers' I'nion. The branch will now deal with the Auckland provincial executive direct. Approval of proposals for the physical training of all female pupil teachers and probationers living within reach of Auckland, except those who are in their first year of service, as drawn up by the senior inspector, were approved by the Board of Education this morning. The classes are to be held on Saturday mornings between nine and twelve o'clock. A query as to progress made towards the appointment of a teacher for the children in the public hospital was put forward by the Hon. G. A. Carland. MX.C at the meeting of the Board of Education this morning. Mr. Carland said that the matter had engaged his attention for the Inst ten years. The secretary (Mr. Purdiel stakul that the Department was communicated with on the point last week, a clause under which such appointment could be made being brought under their notice. Also, in the meantime consultation was proceeding with the authorities re the appointment of a suitable teacher. It is announced that war medals and the New Zealand Government certificate of honourable service in connection with the Great War 1914-19 will not be issued to men who belong to the following categories: — (a) Those found guilty by court-martial of desertion or an c.iTence under section? 17 and I e of the Army Act (fraud, embezzlement, stealing, malingering, wilful self-injury, producing or aggravating by means of misconduct disease, or infirmity or delaying cure, or disgraceful misconduct) : (b) soldiers who have been discharged with ignominy or expressly on account of misconduct or on conviction by civil power on being sentenced to penal servitude: (c) soldiers who have been convicted by civil power to sentences of six months or more: (d) soldiers who have been returned to New Zealand and discharged with ignominy or expressly on account of misconduct without having actually taken part in military operations against the enemy: Ie) soldiers who deliberately evaded service with their units by refusing to submit to vaccination or inoculation, or who deliberately or by misconduct rendered themselves unfit for active service and were returned to New Zealand and discharged without having actually taken part in military operations against the enemy. The above disqualifications will not, however, prejudice claims on account of services subsequently and satisfactorily rendered.

At a Banco sitting of the Auckland Supreme Court this morning, his Honor -Mr. Justice Cooper presiding, argument was heard in a cuse McKenzic v. MoKenzie, au originating summons under the Declaratory Judgments Act to get the Court's interpretation of an agreement. Dr. Bamford was for the plaintiff and Mr. K. MeVeagh for the defendant. Judgment was reserved. About four o'clock yesterday afternoon, a 10-year-old gir! named Kdna Psunders, whose parents reside at (3-1, Elizabeth Street, off Dominion Road, wacs knocked down hv a motor-car in IV.ioe. Avenue. The little girl was taken to the Auckland Hospital where it was found that she was suffering frnm severe internal injirio--. Her condition is scrim-. The iliflli-iilty whifh the Board of ivliiCßtion is finding in securing tlio ere- ,- tinn nf ediool lH!il<!:nirs owing tv the lai-k of tenders and r!:o present scarcity of building materials, wo* recently hromrht under t'np notice o>f the Minister nf Education, t.li,. Hon. •" .T. Parr. At wa* read from tlir Minister mating that {'«■ Board h.ii! h'.s fullest sympathy in the mutter. !!r quite that if it v.a- at all possible .■lTori> >-'iiould be iii;i,!p to en<r>.ro that Kdiioation Bonrd.s receive preference in respect of building 'material* for eolu.uls. Modi.! net know i.n.vovor. whether it ivas pns-ible to tnl;o the necessary action under the Board of Trade, or whether l-gwlaiion was required, hut lie was going intn the matter very carefully iiotii with the Board of Trade and wit , ii his colleagues in the Cabinet, m>.l lit- hoped to arrive at some solution of the iproblem. Tli" secretary of tlio Tramways Union. .Mr. 1\ "Fraser. waited on the Mayor yesterday on tho subject of paying tho tramway employees the increased rate of wages agreed upon. Mr. 'iniison expressed the hope that the difllculties in tho way of paying the increase immediately would lie removed after h : s conference with the Onnhunga Blld Newmarket Borough Councils, and that the higher rates would be paid to the men on" Friday. Mr. Fraser undertook to ask the men to defer any action or decision on the matter meanwhile. The Mayor points out that tho prospect of unanimity is very hopeful now. ns Newmarket is the only dissentient to the fare proposals, and he trusts that this obstacle will ho removed by to-night's conference. Cur. until a complete agreement is reached the City Council cannot pay the extra rates, as it cannot accept any compromise on the decision of the local bodies' conference. The Board of Education last evening decided to bring several matters under the notice of the Minister of Education, the Hon. C. -I. Parr, on his arrival in Auckland. The most important has to do with teachers" accommodation in country districts. It was reported to the Board that a teacher in. a certain district was living in a tent. Members considered that the position was intolerable, and further, that only a proportionate withdrawal of house allowance should be made in such circumstances. It was accordingly decided to refer tho whole matter to'the Minister. The other question bad to do with allowances for school committees, the sum at present allocated for this purpose being considered by members to be insufficient. Likewise it was decided to include this matter in the list to be placed before the Minister.

Tribute to the skill of the Prince of Wale* a? a follower of hounds was paid liy Sir Charles Frederick, the .Master of the famous Pytehlr\. in proposing the health of his Royal i Ugliness at a dinner ■which followed the Hunt hedge-rutting competitions at East lladdon in March. Sir Charles said it took a good many men a lifetime to ride over the Pytchley country. hut the Prince, who had only done n little hunt in? in Norfolk previously, quickly mastered its diflicultiee. "When the Prince first came clown to Pytchley." Sir Charles continued, "I asked Captain Drummond, one of the most experienced followers of the hounds, to pilot his ltnyal Highnews. Afterwards I heard the Prince had had a fall over n stile into the road, and 1 told Captain Drummond he had done a nice thing. Captain Drummond replied: 'I started off to pilot the Prince round, but before we had gone very far he was piloting me."'' Approval has been given for payment of tlie recently authorised cost of living bonus to the military as well a* the civil staff of the Defence Department. The following are the rates payable as from January 1, 10-2(1: Married men. £15 per annum if on annual salary, or daily rate, 7 days per week. Married men on daily rate 6 days per week, 1/ per diem. Single men :£7 1(1/ per annum if on annual salary, or daily rate 7 days per week. Single men on daily rate, (i days per week, 6d per diem. The bonus will not be paid to anyone in receipt of more than MO'I per annum. Arrangements are being made to pay for four months up to April 30; thereafter the bonus will be paid monthly. Some time ago "Messrs. E. VV. Mills and Co., Ltd., found it necessary to erect a huge bulk store on the Harbour Board reclamation at Thorndon. Wellington, as the fix-storey building in Victoria Street, next to the Commercial Travellers" Club and opposite the firm's main warehouse and (.Hires, did not provide nearly sufficient accommodation to meet requirement*. Messrs. Mills and 00. have now sold the building adjoining the Travellers" Cl-.lb to Kodak (Aiistra-ht-i:i>. Ltd.. for C:C>.OOO n<nl it \,ill be used by its new owners ns a wholesale warehouse. The m.iimer in which a councillor has lost hia seat on the Feilding Borough Council is given by an exchange as follows: In ]01!) he had replaced a broken window at the abattoir residence, and in the following year he papered the Mayor's room in the Council Chambers. Owing to delay in paving for the first work, the two accounts became entries into one financial venr nn.l r.s the total exceeded HO the Auditor-Opiieral notified his automatic loss of scat. Commenting on the slight reduction in the size of its paper, due to the us.ua! material being unprocurable, the Levin -Chronicle" says: "Advices received this week state that the merchants have no newsprint in stock, ami have no information as to probable dates of arrival, li may bo oclili-il thin t , ;. pa jwT '-ost £77 a ton a month ago. as against £:!0 at the beginning of 'the year ;in<l iIS pre-war."' In the report of the meeting of the Mt. Kden Borimgh Council on Monday night, on the proposed tramway fare= schedule. Cr. Potter was reported n> having stated that lie war. opposed to extensions licing defrayed out of loans. "What he did fay w.ts that he was opposed t<> extension being defrayed out of revenue. \\ I'lle gardeners preparing a hole at Christohureh in which ilic Prir.ee of Wales was to plain a kauri tree, they unearthed a medallion struck in WOl to commemorate the visit to ( "irietchureh of the present King and Quern. The medallion was handed to the Prince art found.

"God bless'you, Prince of Wales'.' , timidly said an old grey-haired woman at Sydenham Park to the Prince, as his car drew up.to permit his inspection of the Boy Scouts gathered there. Immediately the Prince's face lit up with his happy emjle, and, crossing to the old lady, he shook hands with her. ''And he will, too," said the old lady, concluding her opening remark to the general public. "I don't think he' s like any other Prince that ever was! Some of them princes wouldn't have shakeu hands with working people. Oh! I wish he was staying- here for ever!" Her husband, like Brer Rabbit, "said nuthinV hut it was apparent l>y the proud look in his eye that ho heartily endorsed tlie opinions as voiced by his good wife.

It has been reported that a considerable advance in the price of fruit has been made within the past few days. A leading fruit merchant of Auckland states that this is not the case. Oranges, he says, which were selling at 16/ a case when the boat arrived, are now being auctioned repacked at 12/ a case, which works out to about 1/ to 1/2 a dozen. Other frirts remain much the same in price. Apples, which are a little firmer in price, will be augmented by further supplies due to arrive here on Friday next. The Atua also brings ji shipment of bnnanas sufficient to meet

Resolutions from a householders' meeting asking that only the headmaster be » mpowpred to inflict corporal punishment, and that he bo instructed to keep a record of punishment inflicted, forwarded by the Xortlicote School Committee, were considered by the Board of Education this morning. Tt was decided to draw tin- attention of the eommitteee to the regulation that reads a* follows: "Corpnral punishment should be inflicted sparingly." "The administration of corporal punishment Jβ left to the discretion of head teachers, who have power to delegate the same to any certificated assistant teachers in the school if they sec fit to do so."

Tho Auckland Zionist Society has r.-initted to London over £1000 as the contribution of the New Zealand Jewry to the Palestine Restoration Fund. Of this amount £060 was subscribed in Auckland aiid the remainder in AVelImgton anrl Dunodin. The collection in Christchurch is stiil proceeding. Advice has been received by the Auckland branch that Mr. Israel Cohen, a graduate of the London University and the author of several works on Zionism, will arrive in New Zealand at the end of August. lie is undertaking an organising tour of the Dominion, during which he will deliver a series of addresses upon the opportunities created for Zionism by the embodiment !.n the Turkish peace treaty of the Balfour declaration in favour of a Jewish national home in Palestine.

Quite a numbpr of old residents have died within the last few days, and in today's obituary columns appear the name- of five whose.combined ages total 402 rears.

Pale of millinery. Smart styles in trimmed hats and ready-to-wears being cleared at sale prices at the A.8.C., i Newton. Sale commences to-morrow (Thursday).—(Ad.) - Create an atmosphere of Nazol about you, so that you constantly inhale it. About ten drops on the chest of pyjama jacket at night, or on the singlet in the morning protects you against infectious germs.— (Ad.) Our new method of extraction of teeth ia absolutely painless. We guarantee 'this, and niab no charge 6hould pain be felt.—Bailin and Euseell, Dental Specialists, Syruonds Street. —(Ad.) Ten drops of Xazol on a small piece of lint or flannel and placed between the shirt and singlet is a good way to get the benefit of constant inhalation —which protects the air passages against influenza infection.— (Ad.) The clergy of all denominatiens favour the "Golden Rule" Soap. "Golden Rule' , School Rulers, and "Thinkers'" School Exercise Books.— (Ad.) To protect the throat from the influence of obnoxious germs—it is wise to use Sharland's Formalin Throat Tablets (mint or cinnamon flav6ur). Sold everywhere. 2/.—(Ad.) M, inery sale at the A.8.C., Newton. All odr millinery, including the stock ol Miss Dixon. the well-known milliner, of Victoria Street, purchased by us, now being cleared at sale prices.— (Ad.) | Infectious germs which lodge in the raucous of the mouth and throat are destroyed by Sharland's Formalin Throat Tablets (mint or cinnamon flavour). Sold everywhere. 2/.—(Ad.) Sprinkling aiout ten drops of Nazol on the chest of the pyjama jacket at night, or on the singlet in the morning, U a good way to get the benefit of Na2ol inhalation —just try it.—(Ad.) A powerful germicide to destroy infectious germs in the mouth and throat will be found in Sharland's Formalin Throat Tablets (mint or cinnamon flavour). Sold everywhere. 2/. —(Ad.) Twelve only full-eizc down quilts, Blightlv soiled, reduced to clear; 40in: cream and white insertion casement! voile, special price 2/3 yard, at Toneon Garlick's.—(Ad.) It is better to use Nazol too freely than too carefully for inhalation. Its ellect is more pronounced and reduces the darger of infection from influenza germs.— (Ad ) The sitijirtcßt listp for lit tip njoncv. The entire stock of Miss Dixon, mil-1 linery specialist. Victoria Street, pur- j chased by the " A.8.C.. Newton. Sale ' starts to-morrow (Thursday).—(Ad.) ! The best floor and lino, polish is the I "Keep Smiling" brand. Price 3d large j tin. —Smeeton'e, Ltd.— (Ad.)