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Evening Star, Issue 18035, 1 August 1922, Page 4

The leaders of the community sings to-morrow will be Mr W. H. Mackenzie aj, the Octagon, and Mr W, R. Don at the Grand.

An important meeting of fruitgrowers was held in Wellington last week to consider mattei-s relating to the 1925 export season, Otago being represented' by Mr H. Turner. Tho question of tho renewal of tho Government guarantee is of paramount importance, and immediate steps were taken to wait, on Mr Massey and Mr Nosworthy (Minister of Agriculture) respectively, with a view to emphasising the injustice of the Government’s decision to cancel tho guarantee. It was pointed out that until the present year this guarantee had cost the Government practically nothing, whilo tho liability to be faced this year under this head would probably not exceed £IO,OOO, a sum infinitesimal by comparison with what the Government had done, directly and indirectly, to foster tho other primary industries of tho dominion. The deputations received a very sympathetic hearing from both the Prime Minister and his Minister, and it is hoped that some measure of support will bo granted by the Government, probably to tho extent of guaranteeing all charges, but excluding the penny per lb net beyond that. Negotiations in regard to freight rates are at present proceeding, and in view of the widespread dissatisfaction amongst all shippers of Now Zealand produce, it is hoped that some reasonable reduction will be made. It is understood that a reduction of 2| percent. has been offered) to butter shippers, but is considered) farcical. A similar reduction on fruit would represent barely 2d per case, and) is simply begging the question. It is anticipated that at least 20,000 cases will be available for export from Otago next season, and immediately the freight rates have been agreed upon stops will be taken to -definitely arrange for at least two steamers to lift Otago fruit, probably one towards the end of March, and a second early in April. The Co-operative Fruit Growers of Otago, Ltd., have received the following telegram from tho Hon, W. D. Stewart:— “In reply to your telegram—yes, citrus fruits and bananas will bo free if the treaty is ratified by both New Zealand and Oommonwoalth Parliaments/

Mr Paulin’s forecast:—S.W. winde, and fine for twenty-four hours.

Two more items about the Jeilicoo fourteen-footers. “One Who Built” writes thus in ‘Now Zealand Aquatic’; “In different centres of the dominion these boats have been built at an easy estimate of the value of over £2,500—-built by parents foptheir sons to .foster the game, built by old'men to encourage the young to take to the finest sport in the world, built by ladis who have put their all into this class of craft. Why? Because it was laid down, stamped, signed, and made clear that the class as specified should bo for five years. There is no doubt of thic I have before me the conditions which bear the seal and stamp of the A.Y. and M.8.A.” That is the first item. Tho second .is that Mr M’Culloch. owner of the Heather, is willing to build 1 a new boat if tho association’s challenge is accepted'— ho will not put it through a. club. Our Christchurch correspondent telegraphs that a sale of opossum skins will be conducted by the National Mortgage on Thursday. This is the first sale of opossum skins ever held in Christchurch, and in view of tho high prices recorded at tho Dunedin sale recently a good deal of interest attaches to Thursday’s auction. “No alteration has been made in tho duty on wheat coming into New Zealand,” stated tho Minister of Customs (the Hon. W. Downio Stewart) at Wellington yesterday. “It still stands at 2s per cent. In a statement made by me in the House last Friday, through an error rny notes indicated that the duty was being reduced to Is 6d per cent. This, however, is not the case, and as the matter is of interest, particularly to wheat growers in Canterbury and Otago, I take an early opportunity of correcting my mistake.” The Co-operative Fruitgrowers of Otago, Ltd., have received the following information from tho National Mortgage and Agency Co., Ltd., concerning tho sales of apples in London per s.s. Cornwall.' As this information is from agent to principal, it can be accepted as reliable: Scarlet Nonpareils, 16s to 19s; Cleopatra, 17s 6d to 19s; Tasma. 16s; Stumers, 18s to 20s; Esopus Spitzenberg, 17s 6d; Ihmn’s Favorite, 17s to 18s; Borne Beauty, 17s to 18s; Delicious, 16s to 17s; Jonathans, 16s to 17s; London Pippin, 16s to 17s; Docherty, 17s; Yates, 17s; Five Crown, 17s; Newton Pippin, 17s; M'Mahon’s White, 17s. In the course of hie lecture last evening on the ‘ Measurement of Intelligence,’ Inspector Robertson mentioned that of one and a-half million men of the American army, for whom statistics were available, 30 per cent, were found to bo unable to read and understand newspapers or write a letter home. Among about 4,000 New Zealanders of the Mounted Brigade ,iu Palestine he was chief instructor under the educational system, and) did not find one illiterate person.

Tlie Registrar of the Supreme Court (Mr W. W. Samson), sitting in bankruptcy tins morning, heard a summons on a petition to adjudicate Matthew Brown, of Kaitangata, painter a bankrupt. Mr W. L. Moore appeared in support. Debtor did not appear, and an order for adjudication was made.

A severe shook of earthquake was felt at' Waipori township at 6 o’clock on Saturday evening last. It is said to have been tho severest felt by the oldest inhabitant's. It was followed by another shock at 11 o’clock on Sunday morning. . . Tho shearers’ dispute avill conio the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr W. H. Haggcr) on tho 22nd inst. Joe Rawiri, tho Maori arrested at Ractihi recently under exciting circumstances, was taken under escort to Wellington, where he will ‘be detained until the next sittings of the Supremo Court at vvauganui. •' . “ interesting: expenmentf is now being tried with lour forms—viz., \-a, V.b, V.c. and special V.,”—stated tho head master of Wellington College (Mi_ 1. R. Cresswell) in his report to the Wellington College Board of Governors. “It is designed to test how, far boys may safely bo freed from ordinary class wit a a view to the encouragement of individuality and self-reliance. The experiment will be continued for at least six weeks, and at tho cud of that time a full report will be sent to tho board and tho department. Meantime, I may say that the now system is creating some interest among teachers and pupils, and that it is throwing some light upon important aspects of school-work.” Mrs M. A. Perry, of Taradalo, Hawke’s Bay, who is visiting Wellington, has intimated to tho mayor of that city that she will donate a bullock per week for the month of August for tho relief of those suffering from want in Wellington. Mrs Perry, who is .a daughter of tho late Mr G. P. Donnelly, and races in his wellknown colors, has made arrangements with a Napier butcher to handle tho carcasses, and the joints therefrom will be disbursed by order from the Ladies’ Committee.

A sensation was caused at the com-munity-*'sing-song ” held at the Auckland town Hall ou Wednesday last, when the chairman, the Rev. Jasper Calder, announced that he wished to introduce a visitor who was strongly in favor of the retention of the zoo, and whose influence might persuade some of the ratepayers to record their votes in the same direction. Amid a breathless and expectant hush the speaker, dived under the table, produced, a hamper, and drew from it a tiny cub, which ho held triumphantly in his arm. “1 appeal to you to save this from the butcher’s loiife,” ho cried dramatically, “ and to give it a nice, comfortable home.” Thunderous applause and laughter greeted the little lion’s appearance (states the Auckland ‘ Herald ’), and when the ghairman, in response to a suggestion that it be christened, inquired, "What shall we call it?” 4,000 voices scundgd as one in the instant cry of “Jasp&r!” A motion that this be done waj.. carried by acclamation and renewed applause, the ceremony being formally carried out with the assistance of the glass of water on the chairman’s table.

An Auckland Association message announces that the price of butter in Auckland has been reduced! by Id per lb—to Is Sjd wholesale and Is lid retail—for the best brands.

(A W. Begg, chairman of the Dunedin City Council’s Water Committee, said yesterday at the visit of councillors to the Southern Reservoir that the bluest-ons boulders with which the excavated spoil is intermixed will bo crushed and used for making concrete for the upper walls of the reservoir. He also mentioned that the present hewing rate of about 450 cubic yards per day would probably bo increased before lopg by about 150 cubic yards per day. The reservoir when earlarged will be enormous, having a water surface area of ten acres, or nearly half the area of the Oval, and the capacity will bo eighty millions of gallons.

The four 4.5 howitzers recently mounted at tho Central Battery* _on the Ocean Beach, St.. Kilda, aro this week to fire their first shots since tire war. The day chosen is Friday, that being the anniversary of the declaration of war by Britain, and the time is 9.50 n.m. Twenty-five allots are to be let off, and it is expected that bits of White Island) will be- knocked off. Major Lam pen advises residents in the immediate vicinity (say within a range of 600yds) to open their windows. Colonel Symons went South this after, noon to judge the Cadets of the Goro District High School for tho Biddiford Cup. This .is a very fine gold) trophy that is now being competed for for the first time. All secondary schools throughout tho dominion are eligible. The tost is general efficiency. Each of tho twelve regimental districts puts in its best school. That is the first stage. Gore has been chosen as tho best in Southland. After Colonel Symons has judged tho Gore School ho, will come to Dunedin and judge tho Otago High School Cadets; then ho goes on to the Nelson College, and after that to judge the Cadets of a Christchurch school not yet selected., Tho colonel's duty is to find the best secondary school cadet, corps’ in tho South Island. Some-other officer finds the best in the North Island. Then General Headquarters elects tho best from the three furbished by’ the different commands. Another com petition is also coming on, this being the Campbell Statuette, presented by. Colonel G. F. 0. Campbell for all Cadets .other than those belonging to the secondary schools.

A Wellington Association message states that the Dominion federated saw-millets, representing 90. per cent, of the mills, have raised the price of hard timber 2s per 100 ft.

On© of the pictures that the Dunedin Art Gallery Society lost by the wreck of tho Wiltshire was the . water color 1 A Sailor’s Yarn,’ by Wm. M‘Taggart, R.S.A, It was purchased out of,Miss Winifred Smith’s bequest. Tho other painting that was lost at the Great Barrier disaster wa.s the one'presented by Mr A. F. Roberts, of Galasliels.

A "car load of passengers proceeding to tho football match, yesterday must have formed tho impression that they were being treated to a free performance by one of tho Flyinc Winskills. Tho car was packed and travelling under the three-bell signal. As it eased! slightly in passing Carroll street a young fellow made an attempt to board' it. Ho clutched the iron stanchion at the rear, but must have badly misjudged the pace, for he was lifted off his feet in a flash and whirled) in a more or lees graceful curve through the air. When ho reached the ground it was in a head-and-knee.s attitude, with arms underneath. Tho car was stopped, and tho conductor wont back to ascertain bow many pieces the would-bo passenger had become divided into. When he got there, however, tho young man was not, his rapidly retreating figure being seen in tho distance, minus his hat, which he had forgotten in his hurry. When the passengers found they had not been witnessing a fatality they laughed at thp recollection of tho tumbling act.

Watson’s No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiskies, 1 but is worth the money.— fAclvt.l

Sinco tho days of Captain Cook, was there ever such a useful discovery as “No Rubbing ” Laundry Help, tire abolisher of washboard slavery? T. Rutherford.—[Advt.] Ping pong Balls (English) nor/ arrived; also Winter Games.—While House, George street.—[Advt.l In this issue tenders arc invited by the Southern Military Command for the purchase of ii boiler and engine situated at Battery Point, Lyttelton. The nip for nippy winter weather—Watson’s No. 10, fine old Scotch whisky.— [Advt.] In connection with the Zenana Medical Mission for Babies’ Homo at Jaunpur, United Provinces, a sale of work will be. opened by His Lordship tho Bishop of Dunedin in the Y.M.O.A. Hall to-morrow afternoon. An interesting programme will bo given at 8 p.,m. by girls in full Indian dross. Tho Pacific Slarr-Bowkett Building Society invites membership in the No. 4 group now in operation. Loans by ballot and sale. Office: 86 King Edward street-.—[Advt.] Ladies recommend Martin’s Apiol and Steel Pills. Sold by all chemists and stores. Bee you get tho genuine.—{Advt.}