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Evening Star, Issue 17959, 4 May 1922, Page 6

Turner’s automatic point-shifter, an English device for enabling a tramway motorman to move his car to another line without anyone on tho street pushing the rail over, was installed at the Anderson Bay crossing on Sunday last. Tho motorinan opens the points by keeping the power on whilst passing under an actuated contact. In the act of passing through the points another device overhead operates in the direction of putting tho points back automatically, whether tho power is on or off. There is a bit of a knack in the thing, and for the first day it was in use it failed three or four times, really on account of tho men, being not used to it; but they soon pick up any new mechanism, and on Tuesday and Wednesday it worked quite satisfactorily. It will bo an important aid to the Bay and Tah.una traffic in busy hours. Mr W. IT. Mackenzie, the manager, is pleased with tho innovation, which, by the way, is already known in Wellington and Auckland, and ho says that, if no reason to the contrary crops up, the automatic pointshifter will probably be installed before long at other points on the Dunedin system.

Dunedin, foundries aro having a long spell of inactivity. Several are working only about half-time, in all there is a readiness on the part of tho employers to close for an extra half-day if called on, and nemo are manned to their full strength. Asked whether lie sees any sign of a revival of business, a leading ironmaster replied that there is a hotter feeling in the trade, and lie is quite hopeful about a revival ; but one cannot convert that hope into a belief, since there is no outstanding fact to point to iu the way of new business or new projects. He notes, however, that others as well ns himself aro careful to retain tho services of tho highly-skilled artisans, even if to do so they have to be kept pottering about. The best report so far to hand about the shooting season that opened on the Ist inst. comes from a party who went to Omavaina. and headed westward from there. They sighted ducks in quantity, and got plenty of sport. Swans wore also numerous. The chief game resorts in and about the Taiori Plain have not so far yielded many full bags. The ducks are shy. To the Otago Expansion League the Taieri Comity Council notifies its position on the question of forming an electric power district for Otago. It adheres to tho decision previously carried—namely, that tho only area of tho county necessary to bo included in a power district is the Strath Taieri Riding, as the other portions of tho county can be served from the existing electric service on the Taeiri. Tho council’s attitude will necessitate delay in regard to the petitions. The league will probably make further representations to tho Taieri Comity Council. In the meantime the petitions will liavo to wait pending a settled viewpoint between tho county and the league, and possibly tho Dunedin City Corporation also. Our Christchurch correspondent wires: Speaking at tho Progress League meeting last night, Mr W. E. Leadky (secretary of the R.S.A.), referring to unemployment, said ho believed tho position, ns far as figures went, would become worse as tlio winter advanced ; but he was optimistic, aud ho thought they would be better able to cope with the unemployment question than they wore last year, in view of last year’s experience and tho fact that more support would bo forthcoming from the Government. As a matter of fact, the position in Chrslchurch was nowhoic as bad as it was in Auckland and Wellington. In Auckland alone over £OO returned soldiers wore on the Returned Soldiers’Association’s unemployment list. At ft meeting of the Christchurch Builders’ Association (wires our own correspondent) great satisfaction was expressed at the action of the timber merchants iu promptly reducing tho retail price of timber alter the recent reductions by saw-millers, It was pointed out that there had been substantial reductions in most branches of the building tiadc, and the opinion was expressed that there would be very little, if any, further reductions to be looked for. It is anticipated that next summer will see a great revival iu tho industry, as there is a, great demand for many classes of buildings and a tendency of easing on the money market, which is also contributing to the many inquiries now being made by thoso who contemplate building operations.

Mr Chiaroni, the well-known art dealer, who has just returned from a visit to England and Italy, brought back with him a large collection of paintings, statuary, and etchings collected during his travels. This collection Sir Chiaroni intends to soli by auction on Monday and Tuesday next. The Art Gallery Hall, where the collection is housed 1 , was open this morning, and the pictures, statuary, and etchings wore on view. Altogether there are 298 pictures in tho collection, comprising oils and water colors and several good etchings. Among the oils is 1 A Scene,’ by H. B. Kock Sock, signed and dated; ‘ Tho Prison Cell,’ by Char. Landseer, R.A.; ‘Crossing tho Stream,’ by J. Constable, R.A. ; and also a largo number of both water andl oil colors from' the brush of Mengazzi. Included in tho British paintings arc a number of subjects by A, Carruthers Gould l , A. C. Gow, It.A., Seymour Lucas, It. A., S. Grant llowo, 11,0.1.,’ Albert Kingsley, R. 1., Hely Smith, R.8.A., J. S, Blunt, R.8.A., and JG. E. Butler. Tho collection is an exceptionally good one, and will bo open for inspection tomorrow and Saturday. “ You forget to mention when reporting a busy day on tho waterfront that it is only a flash in the pan,” remarked a Dunedin wielder of the hook and truck to-day to a reporter when ho visited the wharves. “In your paragraph one daylast week it was stated that there wore half a dozen ships in port at that time working' cargo, but it was not stated the length of time such vessels wero at the V/harvcs and tho amount of work they provided. As a matter of fact, most of tho ships referred to wero here, only for a few hours, and tho amount earned by the men would not provide many luxuries.” This water,-ider also stated that most of tho local men were earning only from £1 10s to £2 per week at tho present time, and their pay roll was much less some weeks, Still, tho Dunedin watersiders arc a jolly class of men, and boost tho work when it comes along. In tho course of an address on ‘ Law and Practice,’ Mr Saul Solomon, K.C., said that his opinions as to the jury system generally could be best summed up by tho reflection that a counsel who had a good case was always anxious to have it tried before the judge alone.

It is rumored (says tho Wanganui Herald’) that it is tho intention of the school committee to put down a wooden floor in tho assembly hall at the Avenal School, to cost approximately £IOO, and that one of the uses will bo to let tho hall for dancing. The floor may bo a necessity, but a dancing saloon with a memorial tablet with over 100 names of fallen pupils at one end of the building will surely be a queer; combination,

Mi* Paulin tolcnhoncd!' this afternoon: N.E. to S.E. winds mid' heavy rain showers.

A Wellington message says that Mr Boyd, of Onohunga Zoo fame, intends to petition Parliament for £IO,OOO compensation for loss incurred through interference with his collection by the Onelranga Borough Connell. I! unsuccessful he intends to start litigation, and take the matter to the Privy Council if necessary.

An old man appeared before the magistrate at Wanganui on a charge of drunkenness. When told that ho had been found lying, athwart the road at Putiki the previous evening, and l that a motor car bad nearly run over him, all ho said was: “ Those motor cars bo dangerous.” The attractions of the shore proved too strong for some of the stokers of the Canadian Spinner at Bluff on Tuesday (says the ‘ Southland Times), and «!;o sailed four short. However, tho police managed to secure three of them. A launch was commissioned, and the three men were bundled on board in a not strictly sober condition. With them went a shoreman who evidently had become imbued with an active desire never to part from the three men of tho stokehold. When the ship was reached ho struggled hard to get on board—so hard, in fact, that ho fell into the water. Very wet (and handcuffed) he was fought back.

“You firm ashed tho Germans,” said Mr 0. T. J. Alpers to a meeting of returned soldiers at Christchurch, “but there fs still an. enemy to ho coped with. That damnable person tho pessimist still stalks abroad in, the land, complaining bitterly that ho is not making m much money as ho did in tho great and glorious days of profiteering. I am confident, however, that tho pessimists will bo sent to the right-about, and that New Zealand will recover economically, sooner than any other country in tho Empire, as soon as the slump has lifted.”

“I have often seen references to the armored steamers which were used on the, Waikato River during the war, but I have never seen any explanation, as to why they were armored,” said an old soldier, tho last of his regiment, when speaking to an Auckland ‘Star’ reporter. Ilia reminiscence was evoked by the fact that the base of the .Mercer war memorial unveiled tho other day by Ills Excellency tho Governor-General is one of the iron turrets which were carried by 11m steamer Pioneer. Tho old soldier explained that after the affair at Koheroa, the steamers, when going up past Mercmcro (just above Mercer), were surprised to get a pretty hefty shot from tho shore. It turned nut that tho natives had a six-pounder which it was supposed they had brought overland from Taranaki. There wero two steamers lost on tho Taranaki const, the Lord Ashley and the. Lord Worsley, and it was presumed that tho gun was taken from one of those wrecks. Tho 'Maoris had tho gun mounted in a .rather clever manner reminiscent of Gibraltar. In the high hank of tho river they excavated a. good-sized chamber, from which radiated two openings which miners would call “drives.” These drives wero at water level, one pointing u)i river and tho other down, so that as a boat passed (he gunners could get two shots at her without exposing tho gun to the same risk that it would run if mounted in an, ordinary embrasure.

Lieutenant 0. IT. I*. Muhlhanser, R.N.TL, owner and master of the yawl-rigged yacht Amaryllis, accompanied by a. sailing companion (.Mr Tadgell, of Melbourne), and his two deck hands, heaved anchor at Auckland on Sunday morning, and entered upon the Fccond stage of his round-the-world voyage, Tho tirafc stage was completed when tho Amaryllis arrived in Auckland on tho last day of the old year. One important improvement to tho yacht while at Auckland (says tho ‘Star’) was the installation of wheel steering gear in place of tho original tiller-steering. A Nino Islander war- also engaged as a paid hand on the yacht in place of one of the natives who was with the little vessel during her trans-Pacific voyage. Already a distance of 16.0C0 miles has been, covered hy the Amaryllis, which is 52ft long on tho water line, with, a, beam of 13ft and a draught of 9ft Sin. Included in tho equipment of the yacht is a small engine. Tho postal authorities advise that oversea mails landed at Auckland on Tuesday morning from the Moernki, consisting of eighty-five bags from tho United Kingdom and twenty-one bags and five hampers from Australia, will reach Dunedin this evening. Tho contents will he delivered in the city and suburbs to-morrow monir mg.

Ti 10 monthly meeting of the N.F/, Talley Band of Hope was held in the Institute on Tuesday evening, when there was a very largo gathering. Tho Rev. It. K Evans prosified. A very enjoyable programme of music and recitations was supplied by tho combined dmrch.es, as under:—Duct, the blisses Eileen and May Turner; solos, bliss Benjamin and Willie Huberts; recitations, Lilias Samson, Agnes Elliott, Phyllis Hopkins, Jack Roberts, and J. Bradshaw; Unto duet, Leslie and Ernest Elliott. Mr Jackson Pimlio gave a most instructive address on ‘The Evils of Strong Drink.’ It was very much appreciated, and a its conclusion the speaker was heartily thanked. The pledge was repeated by the members, and in response to invitation a large number of neve members enrolled. A most successful meeting was brought to a dose with prayer and tho benediction.

Tho fortnightly meeting of Court Pride of Dunedin was held on Monday evening last, C.Tt. Pro. W. 11. Baxter being in tho chair. A. committee was appointed to make arrangements for tho celebration ot tho sixtieth anniversary of tho opening of tho court. One candidate was initiated 1 and two proposed for membership.

To tin; many who regard the law as hidebound, and “ (he ass'” of the popular saying, Mr S. Solomon, K.C.’s, address to" tho Society of Accountants revealed a new outlook. "For example, ho stated that if a counsel could satisfy tho judge that liis ca so ivas sound and just, about 75per cent, of Ids task was already completed. In all eases where tho client could chow that ho had moral right on his .side ho would get tho benefit of tho justice of the law, unless the judge was hound by some hard and fast rule to decide against him. An instance of tho absolute fairness of Brilish law was afforded by tho law as to Habeas Corpus. A writ of Habeas Corpus was one under which a person who deemed himself unlawfully detained mitrht claim that ho ho brought before a court to dccido that he was or was not properly detained. If tho Court of First Instance decided that a person was not improperly detained, he had tho right of appeal. But, on the oilier hand, if the lowest court decided that ho was improperly detained, there was no further appeal.

Mr Elliot presided over the meeting of the newly-elcctcd N.K. Valley (School Committee. Tho others present were Messrs Little. Hayward, Campbell, Carman. Swan, Hi Hiker, Bardsley, and Mrs (L J 5. Elliot, The newly-elected members (Messrs Carman and Hayward) were welcomed by the chairman. Tho following sub-commit lees were elected :—Works — (Messrs Campbell {convener), Carman, Little, and Swan; Baud—-Messrs Hillikcr (convener), Hayward, Carman, and Mrs (1. B. Elliot; Library—Messrs Little (convener), Carman, Swan, Hillikcr, Hayward, and Mrs C. B. Elliot; .Sports and- Entertainments—Messrs Campbell (convener), Swan, Carman, Hayward, and Little; delegates to the School Committees’ Association—'Messrs Campbell, Elliot, and Bardsley. It was resolved that tho committee meet on tho second Tuesday in every month. The head master reported that several classes had been shifted into tho now school. It was decided to asJt the Minister of Education (the Hon. 0. J. Parr) to officially open the school. Tho Visiting Committee for the ensuing month are Messrs Campbell and Bardsley. At the Christchurch competitions, yesterday (wires our own correspondent), in the 'recitation for boys bctweeip 12 and 16 years Bert Goodland (Now Brighton), 80 points, was first, and Frank Foster (Dunedin), 75 points, second. In the humorous recitation for ladies Olivo Thomas (Dunedin) was among the unsuccessful competitors. Lily Monk (Dunedin) is among the recalls in the operatic or dramatic soprano, solo,.

Tho Wellington Returned l Soldiers’ Association lias resolved' (says a Press Association telegram) to take immediate action for tho erection of a permanent cenotaph in Wellington, and has appointed a committee to go into tho questions of a design and the raising of funds.

Advertisers in tho ‘Evening Star’ are notified that, owing to tho great rush of advertisements on Saturday, insertion jn that day’s issuo cannot bo guaranteed unless received early in the day. It is particularly requested that in all eases whore it is possible advertisements intended for Saturday’s issue eh all bo handed in tho previous day. Watson’s No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiakies, but ia worth tie money.— [Advt.] Two hundred sample jars St. George’s Jams, 3d per jar.—Todd’s White House, George street.—[Advt.] Tho Otago Mutual Starr-Bowkett ia disposing of £SOO free loan on Thursday, May 11, and invites applications for shares in No. 3 group. Our enthusiasm for "No Rubbing” Laundry Help harmonises perfectly with our well-known labor-saving efforts on behalf of toiling housewives. W. K. Kemp, agent for “No Rubbing.”—[Advt.] An examination will be held by tho numbers' Board of New Zealand on June 23 and 24.

11 Tho King, gentlemen!” and the toast was honored in tho King of Whiskies— Watson’s No. 10.—[Advt.] Ladies recommend Martin’s Apiol and Steel Bilk. Sold by all chemists and stores. See you got tho genuine.—[Advt.]