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Evening Star, Issue 17920, 16 March 1922, Page 6

As a result of something going wrong with the engine ignition there was an outbreak of fire on a private launch lying at the Kitchener street wharf last evening. A call was sent to the City Brigade shortly after 8 o’clock, but the firemen’s services ware not required, the outbreak having been smothered by the occupants of the launch. One of the latter was burnt about the face and hands, and first aid was rendered by the firemen. Very little damage was done to lire launch. The brigade also responded to a call received previously from n slot telephone in Castle street. On arrival in the vicinity it was found that it was another of the malicious false alarms which have boon so frequent during the past week or two. The postal authorities advise that aa Australian mail ex the Ulimaroa at Auckland will reach Dunedin on Saturday night. Tlie mail comprises thirty-six bags. When. Mr J. Keelc, ceramic engineer to the Canadian Minos Department, was in Wellington a few days ago (says the ‘ Post ’) ho made some remarks which are of interest in view of Saturday’s big fire. As a specialist in clay products be was strongly impressed by the enormous amount of wooden construction in New Zealand, and especially in Wellington, where, ho said, it seemed to him to constitute .a real danger, because of the congestion of many of the residential portions. “One of these days,” he said, ‘‘you will have a fire, and if you get winds like we do in Canada there will be no stopping it. The houses are too close together in the absence of brick walls to check a fire.” Mr Keelc said 1 he recognised that houses were bound to be very close together in parts of Wellington, but urged that far more brick or other incombustible material should be used.

Tho race for the sculling championship of the world between Hadfield and Pnddon is set down to start at 5.15 p.m. on April IS on the Wanganui River. This time is expected to give dead water, Hadfield is on the course daily, and is putting in solid work. Poddon has been .affected by the change of climate, but is gradually shaking off the disabilities.

A dairyman of Castlecliif, near Wanganui, recently had an experience in tho employment of Labor he is not anxious to repeat. He advertised for a man, and was successful in getting a new arrival from the Old Country. The newchum soon made It clear that ho hardly knew the head of a cow from tho tail. However, lie knew how to dress well in the evening, and some of the young ladies in the neighborhood came to the conclusion that lie must either ba tho son of a duke or some other Old Country aristocrat. His term of employment was limited, but sufficiently long enough for him to locate his employer’s cheque book and commandeer a few blanks. With these he proceeded to indulge in what is known to the police as “kite flying,” and success: fully unloaded the cheques on some of the unsuspecting Wanganui business men, who knew tho employer well, but evidently were not so familiar with his signature as the bank officials. The police are now taking a hand in tho matter, and no doubt this highly desirable immigrant will be located at an early date. At Palmerston North yesterday the Minister of Education (the Hon. 0. J. Parr) opened a new central primary school. In the course of a speech Mr Parr said the main eohool cost £33,000 and the detached infant department (opened by the Minister some months ago) £IB,OOO. It was, he said, the most modern primary school in the Dominion. Later Mr Parr opened a memorial library at the Boys’ High School, erected! by subscription by old boys in memory of ex-scholars, numbering sixty-nine, who fell in the Great War. In the evening, after receiving a deputation in reference to the establishment of a St. Helens Home, the Minister and his wife were entertained by the combined

' Mr Paulin’s forecast; Squally N.W. to B.W. winds, heavy ram, hail, and thunder showers; indications stormy and cold. Some illuminating figures were disclosed, at this jnaming’a meeting of tho Dducjition Board-figures which wmJ* indicate that there is a good deal m tho claim put forward that, the Otago chmato f “nkeivo to good health tto» intr up of stamina, A return of bar of teachers granted sick leave for varying periods during the past year showed that fn Auckland (a district five times as largo as that of Otago) 6-B were absent from duty for this reason; n Wellington, 161; mjCanterbury, IZ7; Southland. Bt>; m Wanganui, 8b;, <aid. i Ofcaeo 65. In this connection the hew Zealand Educational Institute wrote expressing surprise at the figures quo c , am. inquiring of the Otago Board , whet ’l or could say what, m tho opinion ot tho medical authorities; was the P* e ™ l]ll ?= causa of such a high percentage of absences. In particular the institute wished to know (1) whether there was an initial feebleness of stamina in many entrants to the Service, (2) whether there was evidence of excessive strain due to largo classes, and (3) whether classroom conditions were to a decided extent to blame. Members of Die board expressed tho opinion that, in view of the quoted figures, the information sought would more appropriately come from tho other districts it was ultimately decided to reply that it vas impossible to provide the information asked for.

Oysters “came in” on the Ist of the present month. The Dunedin supply is from beds round Stewart Island— beds worn which the oysters have to be laboriously duf out—these oysters being quite different from tho drift oysters found oil Tmmru and at other spots on this coast. weather has somewhat interfered with Hie oyster dredging so far this year; still, tho supply is of fair- quantity, and tho quality is very satisfactory, much more so than tho first of the season used to bo when the taking commenced in February. Tired and aged 1 citizens who have to wait for trams at Forbury Corner arc niost grateful to the City Council for placing a comfortable seat in a recces at that busy junction.

Questioned at Palmerston North regarding tho Highways Bill, Mr Massey saut this would not be reintroduced in its present form, as the county councils were opposed to it. Something might be done after the next county councils’ conference in the way of constructing a more acceptable measure.

The Southern Oval is now firming very satisfactorily, the subsidence being no greater than can be compensated for byan occasional topdressing. Our boys and girls who use this playground daily will not lodge a protest if wo remark, on their behalf, that the Oval is being kept in splendid order this season.

Tho railways traffic manager at Dunedin has sent to Mr Hugh Mitchell, secretary of the Otago Executive of the Farmers’ Union, a reply to the request that farmers bo allowed time to load trucks. The traffic manager regrets that ho cannot agree to allow Trucks to stand two days for loading. The department is taxed to its utmost to supply trucks during the grain season.

Perusal of the “choice bulls” article in the ‘ Star ’ about a week ago recalls a rather horny one that was perpetrated in Dunedin in the days when_ the Eon. T. Fergus was Minister o£ Works. Indignant citizens waited upon him to protest against the employment of an undue number of boys at the Ilillsido Workshops. The deputation made its point, and got its answer, and was when one man stepped back and thus delivered himself : “ Look here, sir, if this sort of thing ain’t stopped we’ll soon have no manual labor at all at the Workshops—it’ll all bo done by boys.”. True bill. A meeting of the Otago Officers’ Club was held at the club rooms. Moray place, on Tuesday evening, when a most interesting lecture was delivered by Major H. E. Barrowclough, D. 5.0., M.C., who took as his subject ‘The Battle of Lo Quesnoy.’ The lecture was illustrated by maps and diagrams, etc., and proved most entertaining. On the motion of Colonel E. R. Smith (president) a vote of thanks was accorded to Major Barrowclough.

In reply to a question why Mr W. D. Hunt, the nominee of the stock and station agents, was not appointed to the Meat Control Board, Sir Massey said: “He is a very good man, but lie has been opposed to the scheme. How could he be appointed in these circumstances?” Cr.Begg waxed eloquent last night on the question of pests, particularly earwigs and rate. He painted in vivid colors the picture of the harassed gentleman of the north end of the city who, he said, had every morning to carefully carry their hats from the hall to the garden or roadway and empty them of the swarms of earwigs which had taken up their quarters in the Stetsons and Borsalinos during the night. Cr Hancock was inclined to make light of the matter, declaring that earwigs were not things of to-day, but of fifty yeai-s past, bo having been familiar with them in gardens for quite that period. Nothing definite was decided upon for the extermination of the insects, who will, no doubt, continue to find a “ long-felt want” in the form of a sleeping place in the interior of the headgear of the north enders.

. In reply to a statement made at last night’s council meeting by Cr Begg to the effect that only one rat had l>een presented at the Town Hall by anyone outside the official rat-catchers, Mr Hancock said that this was not so. He added that the council’s officers had since the ratcatching campaign started accounted for 1,2C0 of the pests. Cr Taploy gave notice of motion, at the City Council meeting last, night that the resolution of the council regarding the removal of Dr Stuart’s Monument be rescinded, and that the council talco into consideration the fixing of a more appropriate place for the statue. Or Taploy added that he was sure a more suitable site than the one proposed could be found for such a monument.

No business in the City Police Court this morning.

Watson’s No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth tho money.[Advt.j

The Otago Harbor Board advertises its loan of £155,600 at per oe.nl. in this issue. Applications will be taken over the counter, the interest commencing immediately, Bruit, Jam, and Jelly Jars, Pans, Spoons, Rubbers. Todd’s White House, 133 Georgs street.—[Advt.] A thrill of enthusiasm is running right through New Zealand in favor of No-rubbing Laundry Help, “So say all of us”• Dunedin merchants.—[Advt.] An excellent programme of twenty-one items has boon arranged for St. Patrick’s Night concert at His Majesty’s Theatre tomorrow.

"Tho King, gentlemen!” and tho tonet was honored in tho King of Whiskies— Watson’s No. 10.—[Advt.]

Ladies rocommond Martin’s Apiol and Steel Pills. Sold by all chemists sad stores. See you get the genuine.—[Advt.]