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Evening Star, Issue 18046, 14 August 1922, Page 4

The building of a now telephone exchange in Dowling street—a propect announced in these columns on Saturday—means that the full automatic system is to be introduced to Dunedin. Oamaru already has such a full service; Auckland and Christchurch have it in partial operation; and Dunedin will be similarly blessed as soon as the new building is up, say, in a year’s time, for, although the Fletcher Construction Company is given fifteen months for the job, it will probably be completed in less time than that. The automatic saves a lot of time and worry, and cuts out a proportion of mistakes in trying, to get connected. With this svstem there is no ringing up to the exchange. The subscriber who wishes to have a talk simply lifts the receiver, waits for the hum, then makes the required number bv means of a dial, and he is “on.” The dialling is no trouble, given care and a fragment of intelligence. _ By pressing a knob the figures to constitute the needed number are produced one by one, and tho operation takes not a moment. Fewer attendants are required under this system. Operators for long distances and for the slot telephones will make up tho bulk of the staff, and, of course, expert mechanicians are necessary, but the hello rirl,” to whom we still owe so much, will silently (and we hope contentedly) steal away. From tho north-east Dunedin gets its coldest and most searching winds in early springtime, but occasionally a benedictory and warm drizzle sets in from that direction; and such was the happy experience this morning. Footballers and other devotees of sport have had their turn in clear and open weather; now’ the farmers have an innings, and if the soft weather of this morning should end in real rain their thanks will shout down tho grizzling of persons who want sunshine every day.

On Saturday evening the University Musical Society repeated its concert to an audience that filled Allen Hall, and attained successes that were within reach on tho Thursday. In some respects tho Thursday’s concert was as a final rehcarso, at any rate, it was inferred from the obvious anxiety of all concerned and the consequent feverishness of some of tho singing. On Saturday there was _ the necessary eagerness, but it was nicely tempered—the tenors, for example, sang with fine sobriety—and all round it was a much better concert, disclosing keen judgment on the part of the conductor (Professor T. D. Adams) and the leader of the orchestra (Miss Stella Bayley); also subordination and intelligent listening on the part of the choir. The part song ‘ The Snow ’ was thus lifted into its place as tho show piece of the first section. The concert was successfully transmitted by wireless telephony to places wide apart. Another point of special interest was that the society was honored with the presence in tho audience of Mrs Macandrew (nee Jenny West), who is an accomplished musician and second cousin of the composer of ‘ The May Queen,’ Sterndalo Bennett, her father, the late Mr G. R. West, being Sterndalo Bennett’s cousin. With Mrs Macandrew was Mrs E. M. Wilkie, who sang tho soprano part of ‘The May Queen ’ when Mr West produced the cantata in Dunedin shortly after it was published. . Hero we have a direct illustration of the wisdom of always singing at one’s best, for singers can never bo quite sure that they are not being criticised by a competent judge somewhere about the house.

Our Clyde correspondent telegraphs that heavy ram set in this morning, and there is every indication of it continuing. To consider matters in connection with retrenchment, the Port Chalmers Council holds a special meeting this evening. A deputation of ratepayers will ask the council to endeavor to retain the services of the borough inspector. After the Tarawera eruption in 1886 the Thames tribe of Maoris, in view of the Tuhourangi tribe having lost their ancestral lands at Wairoa and all their belongings, granted the victims a portion of land situated! between Katikati and Waihi (says the Rotorua ‘Cnroniclo’). The Native Land Court, under _ Mr Bowler, is now engaged in ascertaining the Natives who are entitled to this land—that is, which are the survivors of the eruption who settled at Whakajrewarewa.

Mr J. D. Paulin’s forecast: Squally north-east to north-west winds, and heavy rain showers; indications stormy; barometer falling further The mayor's list for the unemployment relief fund stands as under; —Previously acknowledged, $517; John Robertson, £5; total, £322. When giving evidence at _ tiro inquest bold at Wanganui in connection with the death of R. H. Williams, tire Collegiate School boy, who died as the outcome of an accident while playing in football match at Waverley, Dr A. Wilson - described the deceased’s injuries, which consisted of a fractured spine, and said that ho knew of only two similar accidents. One occurred) at Wellington; the other was the case of Armit, the Otago player, who received fatal injuries in a match against Taranaki, in 1899. The coroner, Mr J, S. Barton, S.M., said that ho knew of a similar accident on the football field at Auckland many years ago. A schedule was submitted to the Wellington City Council last week by the superintendent of the Fire Brigade, setting out the estimated losses through fires in the principal cities of the Dominion between 1917 end 1922, as follow :—Auckland £242,319, Wellington' £160,623, Christchurch £180,224, Dunedin £126,147. A report of a very grave character on the State superannuation fund _haa been submitted to the New South Wales Parliament by Air Ley, Minister of Justice. He says that since the start of the scheme in July, 1919, the Government has overpaid £430,877; that the contributions of tho State are out of proportion to the contributions of tho employees, in ono case tho State’s contribution toward a pension being £1,052 per year and tho contribution of the employee £l3 2s; and that the State was induced to enter into tho whole contract on the grossly mistaken estimate that it would cost between £190,000 and £200,000 per year, whereas the actual cost is now £459,000, exclusive of £75,000 paid by corporate bodies. The Minister makes the following recommendations:—(l) That the contributions to the fund by tho State bo discontinued as from July 1, 1922, except m respect to such officers as may remain under the -scheme; (2) that the fund be_ closed down to new entrants, and reversion made to the former system of compulsory life insurance for new entrants; (3) that the Government extend to those contributing to tho scheme an opportunity to retire voluntarily; (4) that tho pensions to contributors and non-contributors over thirty be equated on a sixty years’ basis as from July 17, 1919. If these recommendations are adopted an estimated saving of £439,000 will he made in each of the first two years and approximately £214,000 per year thereafter. Tho first meeting of tho riewly-clected Brighton Domain Board was hold on Saturday night in Hislop Hall, Brighton, and attended by Messrs Christie, Stevenson, Aburn, Bush, M'Coll, M'lntosh, Hobbs, Mitchell, and Allen. Air Alalcolm Stevenson was elected chairman, and Air J. Allen secretary. Messrs Stevenson and Allen were appointed trustees. As the now board considered that a ponderable amount of "work would bo necessary to make the bathing beach and Domain attractive, it was decided to hold meetings monthly instead of quarterly, _as had been done in tho past. Meetings will be held on tho second Saturday of each month, and the board will welcome suggestions for improvements from anyone interested in the district. A works committee was formed, and was instructed to draw up a report as to alterations and. additions required to the bathing sheds. When this is ready the board will approach the Dunedin City Council, Taieri County Council, Mqsgiel Council, Green Island Council, and the Government for financial assistance to carry out the work. It was pointed out that ns ratepayers from tho above-men-tioned districts lived in Brighton from six weeks to three months in the year the various councils should subscribe handsomely to the fund required to make Brighton Dunedin’s most popular seaside resort. Mr W. 11. L. Christie, the retiring chairman, was thanked for his services daring his long term of office, and it was pleasing to the new members to know that, though he could not see his way to accept another term as chairman, he would still be an active member of tho board. A motion of sympathy was passed to Mr R. Runciman (a member of a previous board) in his recent bereavement.

A slight error in our report of the meeting of the Otago Radio Association. The annual) subscription and entrance fee fixed for ordinary members was £1 Is, not £1 10s as printed. Our Parliamentary Reporter telegraphs: —Parliament will get to work in earnest this week, for thd Prime Minister informs me that the Financial Statement will definitely be presented on Tuesday _ evening. It is'bound to bo a highly interesting document, if only for the indications to be given of the extent of, retrenchment; but some of its importance is reduced by the fact that taxation revision (other than of land tax) is being delayed for several weeks. There will probably bo an announcement in the Statement of reduced postal charges. The heaviest increases in rates were made on ordinary telegrams, but it is reported that this phase of the Post and Telegraph Department’s operations is so unprofitable that the Government will prefer to develop more remunnerative methods of communication by the encouragement of reduced rates. A community “sing” was held in the St. Kilda Coronation Hall on Saturday evening, and proved one of the most successful yet given in this suburb. The hall was packed to the doors, and had the walls been made of indiarubber hundreds more would have squeezed in. It is for- ' lunate for the Borough Council that these “sings” arc nearing a finish, otherwise it would have to consider a proposal to enlarge the hall. The announcement was made that it was intended to stop at the end of August, and this was received with disapproval by the majority of the audience. The most popular songs were sung most heartily under the conductorship of Mr J. Leech. Mr Percy Beaumont was the accompanist. Miss Lily Stevens and Mr W. Mitchell contributed solos, and Miss T. Knight a musical monologue. The collection amounted to £6 4s 9d, which has i been handed over to the St. Vincent do Paul Orphanage.

The nip for nippy winter weather—'Watson's No. 10, fine old Scotch whisky.— [Advt.] New season’s photographic goods; excellent stock now arriving. Cameras from &. Send your order early to H. J. Gill, 11 and 13 Frederick street, Dunedin; ’phone 1,144. —[Advt.] , A meeting of supporters of the New Zealand Labor Party residing in, Dunedin West electorate will bo held to-morrow night, at the Trades Hall, .Moray place, when candidates for the selection ballot will speak. Save Cups! Metat Detachable Cup Handles for handleless mips; sixpence. White House, George street.—FAdvt.] The “ Better Times ’’ campaigners favor all housewives singing ‘Home, Sweet Homo,’ etc., while “No Rubbing” Laundry Help is doing the Weekly washing. MTarlane and Co.—[Advt.]

A competition evening will bo held in tho Kaikorai Presbyterian Church S.S. Hall to-morrow, at 7.30. Watson’s No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth the money.— [Advt.]