Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 15072, 2 January 1913, Page 4

A very enjoyable New Year's Day was spent by some 36 seamen u..der the auspices of the C E.M.S. Missions tr. Seamen. The men, chiefly from the ShawSavill Company's s.s. Mamari, gathered at the telegraph office at 10 a.m., and a start was made by tram for Bethune's Gully, Normanby, where the grounds were lent for the occasion by Mr lvitto, manager of_ the Mount Cargill Timber Syndicate. While the biliy was being boiled for lunch a cricket match was indulged in. After lunch pipoj nnd tobacco were handed rouiid, and all enjsyed a quiet smoke. A small programme of spirts -was thin carried out, and caused some fun. The winners were presented with prizes of tobacco, duly bags, etc. Afternoor lea was served, and the party rctuf.io.-l to town at a p m., causing some interest on the way bv their siiigi.'nr a>-d dispi-iy of the Mission's "Flying Angel" flag." A sho-t service was held by Canon Ourzon-Signers ihon. chaplain) in St. _ Matthew's Chmdi, and tea was served in die s:hoolrcom. A short sing-song was held after r,«a, and then one of the seamen, or, behalf of the rest, thanked the Mission workers for the enjoyable outing, and three cheers were given for the Mission. Workers and seamen . then went to a local picture entertainment the management having reserved seats in the front of the house for the partv. Tl e excellent programme of pictures was much enjoyed by all, nnd the men returned to the wharf well satisfied with Xew Year's Day i u Dunedm. This was the first picnic run by the Missions to Seamen here, following the custom in other ports on holidays, and it is certain, from' its success, I hat it will not be the last. In the Police Court vostevdav morning Alexander Gohghtly appeared 'to answer a charge of failing to provide adequate maintenance »'or his wife, and was remanded to appear at the Magistrate's Court, Wellington, on January 4." The 14th annual session of the Sons and Daughters of Temperance, of Xew Zealand was held at Wanganni vesterdny. The election of officers resulted as follows:—'President. Rro. W G Howe; M.W.A., Rro. Burns; M.W.S' Rro. Jones; M.W. treasurer, Rro F Lucas : ALW.S., Rro. Rowdeu ; M.W C ' Bro. P. C. Lucas; M.W. trustee'sBros. Cutler, Cooper, and Beduill. The balance-sheet showed that tlio balance to credit of the sick and funeral fund amounted to £8,896, heinsr a llpt j u . crease of £443. The sum of £506 was paid away as sick pay and £9O in tuneral allowances. This was an increase of £205 in sick pay and £.50 in tuneral claims. The total funds of the Order amount to £10,281. It was decided to alter the rules to admit bovs The traffic over the Citv Cnvp.jir-'tion tramways on Xew Year's j) av wc.s ver'v satisfactory. The eariv morning o the trains and bouts ami the return lading in the evening were hf-.avv and 'o was also very good to St. Clab/all dav From 1 ,0 to 6 p.m. 11 specials WPrc . vun to supplement the 1Pfr „ 1:ll . se; ,.. ir , Tltc total cash receipts amounted tu £2Ol 7 S

Our Auckland correspondent wire* ■ Mr '-lenient Wragge, writiug to the : makes interesting reference to nief-.o logical matters. He says • " Th* r-,ln" and floods- in England, and in other parts of the northern hemisphere coupled with the prevailing ™der rainfall ? n Australia, New-Caledonia, Fiji,' South Atrica, and elsewhere in tho southern hemisphere, are conclusive evidence of ih« correctness of my solar theorv re tho forecasting oi seasons. We arc now at the period of solar minimum, and the two hemispheres respond in opposite wavs positively and negatively Lur.ar influence is a secondary facto'/ f?)L T? 0 ir/ ° dif - V th ° inain &,i " c °"<« : t.ons. _ Jhe present tactore. due to the sun point distinctly to a comine- dry veir m Australia. Scuth Africa, South America and tho mam Pacific i,knds. but into/ vening rams will surelv occur owm~ to the wide swing of lunar declination" which produces atmospheric tides and lift* oceanic vapors to the higher regions of the atmosphere, where cold, anti-cvclouic agencies, condense them into rain, vet thi* notwithstanding, Australasia may einect an tmaer-average rainfall. New Zealand can never lw so bad owing to its insular ,„*.,•. tion._ Conditions are a'so favorable, "for positive seismic action south of the J i no and negative.north from tho Equator lu this connection it is well to renrnnber the recent ei-uptions in the. island of Niafu and hardly a day goes by without, the seismograph at Suva, being affected, f have._myf.plf eeen the curves. Truly the proof of the pudding is in the eatin".'' Close en 10.000 persons travelled from Dupcdm by rail during flic New Year holidays, or about 500 morn than the total for the corresponding period .last year. The comparison is hardly fair, for the traffic a year ago included the Saturdav-to-Mon-day excursionists (New Year's Eve fall in" on a Saturday). The. traffic this wc.-k ooes not include the large number of citizens who left Dunediu last Saturday.All things considered, there has been "a big increase in the number of persons who spend their New Year holidays at the seaside resorts beyond Port Chalmers and St. Clair. 'To places north of Port Chalmere no fewer than 5,090 -persons hare been booked as passengers during the past three clays, as against 2,708 for the corresponding period last year. Northern resorts have been favored this time. The bookings were as follow :—Thmedin and Port Chalmers. 1.221 fas against 1,300 during 1811-12 holidays): north of Port, 5.090 (2,708); Dunedin and Mosgicl, 800 (2,679); south of Mosgiel and branches. 2,668 (2,822); total, 9.779 (9,509). On New gear's Day last year races were held at Wingatui, and attracted 1,713 passengers; on the same day this year WaikouaitF was the venue for local horse racing, and 1,657 passengers were booked to that station, or 657 mora Hum were br.oke-,1 two years ago, when races were held there. All the seaside and rural resorts have been Avell patronised. The bookings to Oamaru today totalled 250.

A Roof ion telegram states that the weather yesterday and last night. w; ,s showery, and somewhat niitiiMted the effects of the dry weather, but the grass is affected by the heat and dryness. Keen interest is being taken in regard tn the fire in which the racehorses were burnt. No important evidence has been disclosed so far. It is rumored the racing clubs intend giving a handsome reward "for information on the matter. The inqniry will be resumed next Monday. Police-inspector Phair is here making investigations. New Year's Eve—on which latitude is given ta.yout-h.ful spirits (young and old) of common accord—was not marked, in Dunedin by much worth specially recording. There were big crowds in the streets to a late hour, and even when the significant midnight chimes rang out- there proved to be large numbers who had kept themselves awake. Crackers—more iruly " explosives "—added to the reasonable noises, and now and then Russian bombs, which are not prohibited in this democratic country, went off with loud reports. The pleasant practice of putting detonators on the t-ramrails was also jevived. The police report that the crowds were orderly that it was New Year's Eve, aiid that though many were " fou " there were very few so excited that it was found advisable to put them in cool storage. Trumpet* costing from. Id to 6d helped to make noises sufficient unto the night. About 10 minutes to 9 on Tuesday evening the City Fire Brigade received a call to a fire in a two-roomed cottage in Northeast Valley. The builditg was practically demolished by the time the brigade atrived, and little could be done. Ti.-e owner of the premises was Mr R. Bolting, butcher, and the occupier was Mr J) Wilkie.

An Auckland wire says:—An old man, J. -J. Burrows, who disappeared from Iris lodgings some weeks ago, and who left a letter card on the beach at Devonpoit on Saturday, stating that lie had been unable work or food, and hoped that his body would soon be found, was discovered alive nnd well at Takapuna yesterday. He was quite- natural. He expressed regret at the letter, and said that he had been great ly_ worried, and felt that he could stand it no longer. Provision has been made by his friends for his future welfare. Mr Paulin's forecast:—Strong N.E. to S.E. winds and tine; great heat in Central Otago.

_ The New rear was very pleasantly ushered in at Port Chalmers, there being a n unusually large display of fireworks used in the welcoming of the new year. A largo number of people were in the streets, this being due in largo measure to the music supplied from the band rotunda bv tho local brass band. Watch-nioiht services were held in somo of the churches. The weather in Otago Central has been exceedingly hot duri ig the past week. On Tuesday, at 10 a.m., the thermometer at Clyde registered 90deg in the shade, and in tho afternoon of the same dav it rose to 36deg.

" ou have got away with my £25; I'm going to fetch the police." This remark, made m broken English bv an excited Austrian, John Pibricevich, caused no little excitement on the racecourse at Ellershe yesterday. Pibricovich reached Auckland from Dargaville a few days ago. He brought with him the savings of some months in the country to spend on a holiday in Auckland, but he said he was sorry he had not stayed at home. A day or so ago, he told the police, ho met a man, with whom he became friendly, and the friend in turn became confidential. Tho friend knew of many of the "good things'] at Ellerslie; in fact (so Pibricevich said), his acquantance and mate were supposed to be right in the thick of the money-making part of the business, and if Pibrioevieh liked they would help to make heaps of money for him. That, at any rate, was the story of the Austrian. According to Pibricovich they went out to lire course yesterday. The" Austrian took £25 in £5 notes with him. and he confessed he really believed his friend of only a few days' acquantance "knew things.'" lie went on to say that his " friend " took the £25, ostensibly to put on Bon Revo in the third race/and left him standing on the corner of the lawn. The friend came back. " Sorry, but it wasn't Bon Beve,_ but another* horse I meant," but his Friend did not have the tote ticket representing an investment of £25, and Pibricovich said that he grew suspicious. It was then he made the remark which showed that something interesting had happened. Constable Neil, whom the Austrian consulted, found the " friend," and after examination of the case in a room in the members' stand he was sent to the police station and charged with having tried the confidence trick, or, in legal terms, with alleged theft from the person. The third man has not so far been found by the police.

Give your friend a bottle of Wilkinson and Son's special Lavender Water; a Christmas supply readv in bottles, 2s to 20s each.— [Advt.] Some of the most perfect eTamples of portrait photogTaphj' in sepia are to be seen on left side of the Zenith Studio vestibule, Princes street. Photographed by Mr Morri3, Garden Studio, 554 George street. Telephone 2,279.—[Advt.j Toe s.s. jfabeno will run excursions to the Maori Kaik and the North Spit on Friday and Saturday.

Speight's ale u.iid stout are acknowledged by the Dominion publio to bo the best on the market.—[Advt.]

Campers and week-enders! The s.s. Niwaru has just brought 12,000 bottles of Camp Col Tee. Be sure and put. one in your hamper. Easier made than tea, and so delicious.—[Advt.] Otacro Lodge (U.A.0.D.) members are reminded to meet in ledge room to-morrow night, 3rd hist.

The Acme Photo Company, George street, respectfully ask Dunedin residents to call and see the new specimens. Every- care is taken. Charges moderate. Tel. 965.A-{Advt] Ladies recommend Martin's Apiol and Steel Pills. Sold by all chemists and stores. See you get tho genuine.—[Advt.] The secretary of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board acknowledges the following donations received at the Dunedin Hospital:—■ Toys from Airs Barclay, Mornington: toys from Mrs Leslie Harris; toys from Ladies' Club, Early Set tiers' Association; toys from Mrs Gordon, iloray' Tlaco Congregational Sunday School; toys from Misses' Miller, Braemar House; toys from Bea Scouts; toys and clothing from Mrs Rcid, EldorsJic; flowers from Mr Robert Glemlimmr, Northeast Valley; flowers from Mrs Turner, Dunedin: £2 towards nurses' Christmas, from Br Lindo Fer.suson; Christmas tree irom Mr Tunncok; copies of Christmas number of the ' Witness' for the patients and tovs from the editor of the ' Otago Daily Times!'