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Evening Star, Issue 18053, 22 August 1922, Page 4

“This tickles me, too, your Worship/’ said Cr Reeves at last night’s meeting of the Port Chalmers Council. Tho borough inspector \va.s leaving to take up another position, and asked to be relieved of his duties on September 2. It was stated that his agreement expired on tho 10th, and the council was divided as to whether he should bo held to tho agreement. What tickled Cr Reeves, he said, was that those councillors who were so anxious to accept the inspector’s resignation a week before were evidently now loth to part with him, for they wanted to keep him to tho last day of his agreement. The council, however, resolved not to insist on the completion of tho term, so the inspector’s request to be relieved on September 2 was agreed to.

Port Chalmers is now to have a mail despatched daily to Dunedin at 2 p.m. For some time past the afternoon mail has closed at 12.30 p.m., and the nest mail at 6.30 p.m. Both these mails are to be retained, and. the additional one at 2 p.m. will be a decided convenience. This concession was intimated to the Borough Council last night in a letter from the Postmaster-General, when declining to alter the curtailed hours at tho Post Office, in reference to which the council recently forwarded a strong protest Mr J. W. Munro said last night that ho has strong hopes that Labor is on the verge of a triumph. He also remarked that Mr Nash,'the national secretary of tho party, is about to issue an appeal for 50,000 shillings ns a lighting fund for tho National Executive in the coming election. •

The question of the inconvenience of merchants having to send' to Wellington for a copy of the now Customs tariff was disteusse-d at the lost meeting of the Dunedin Importers’ Association. As the result of representation made to the Controller of Customs on the matter, word was received to-day to tho effect that copies of the tariff schedule may be obtained at the Dunedin Custom-house.

Corporation workmen commenced to break up the footpath on the left-hand side of Cargill lead about a fortnight ago for the purpose of laying down a line of largo sewerage pipes. The line will be carried from what is known as (lag's Cornor to Forbury. It will be a fairly long job, as the footpath is dug out in sections about 3ft wide and to a depth, of about 4ft. . When a length of piping has been laid the excavation is filled in, and while tho men pick and dig out another section another party follows up and puts down a coating of tar and sand, which is thoroughly idled. Tho pipe line has been laid as far as Reid road. South Dunedin and Oaversham residents arc hoping that tho City Corporation will sea that the footpaths in many streets are thoroughly repaired while the men with the tar barrel and brushes are on the job. The paths in some of tho streets are badly in need of attention.

One of the questions put to Mr J. At. Munro M.P., last night was: “Seeing that Mr Massey is in power on a minority vote, is ho not a usurper?” Mr Munro replied: “Yes, of course, ho is; but he doesn't mind that, and if you throw the reproach at him ho will only laugh at you. He is in tho position of a dictator.” In tho Magistrate’s Court this morning Mr J. R. Bartholomew gave judgment for plaintiffs, with costs, in the following undefended cases:—D.l.C., Ltd. v. C. Baker (Alexandra), £5 18s 6d, for drapery supplied; Briggs Bros v. John Stephen Collins (Queenstown), £2O 7s 9d, for beer supplied ; J. Lindsav and Co. v. John Hedges (Beaumont), £4 16s Bd, amount of account stated; James J. Marlow v. Bernard Pirnley (Tahakopa), £5, for furniture supplied and interest; H. Wise and Co. v. A. J. Noakes (Thames), £6 16s 6d, for advertising ; I. MTvechnio v. A. Vivian. £lB, for board and lodging; J. H. L. Barry (Christchurch) v.. A. Rodgers (Ka.itanga.ta). £1 6s, for liquor supplied; London Piano Company v. J. O’Shaughnessy (Invercarmil) £5 17s 6d. 'amount of account stated : Landlaw and Gray, Ltd. v. F. A. Stempa (Wellington), £ll 3s 4d, for hardware supplied'; D.1.C., Ltd. v. A. J- Scott (Gore), £1 6s 4d, for drapery' supplied; same v S. Gossling (Omakau), costs only, £1 4s; Laidlaw and, Gray. Ltd. v. R- G. LapJanche, £9 2s 9d, for hardware supplied; DIG, Ltd. v. J. X. Thomson (Invercargill). £8 15s 2d, for drapery supplied.

The last of the ihree in Dunedin by Toseba Seidel was given last night at His Majesty’s Theatre in the presence of a large audience. The most important compositions named on the programme avgi’g the * Sonata iu K by Handel and the ‘ Violin Concerto in B Minor ’ by Saint-Saens. All the performances v.cie listened to attentively and with the greatest respect, and the audience felt much impressed not only with the young Russian’s personality and his amazing skill, but also with, the reverence bo paid to the composers upon whom he levied for the occasion. Mr Seidel is extraordinarily clever, and he has the wisdom to keep that cleverness in the background, or. rather, he, as it were, lays it at the feet of tho great masters whose works he- is presenting. He will be thankfully remembered in Dunedin. Tho chairman of the Harbor Board (Mr H. C. Campbell) and the engineer (Mr Wilkie) paid a visit of inspection this morning to tho deviation works at Polichot Bay and found everything going well. The extension of tho track for tho railway is now well under way. A temporary bridge is being constructed' over the Leith in order to enable trucks to carry material to tho far end of the work, so l as to' bring it up to the required height, and the old bridge near Black Jack’s Point, where tho wall is to bo built, is being removed.

MdjfcL. D. Browett, inspector of factories, left for Cam am this morning in'connection with the prosecution there of tho Pukeuri slaughtermen for striking. '■ Proceedings will be taken later in regard to the Ocean Beach and Bluff strikers. The Dunedin Irtish Society has forwarded the following cablegram to Mrs Arthur Griffith, Dublin:—“Wo lender you our deepest sympathy in your bereavement.”

A Dunedin physician, being asked if be could shed any light on the cabled message about a mysterious disease which lias caused deaths in the North of Scotland, answered that the information is too meagre to form any opinion on. Tho disease may possibly bo somo form of lethargic encephalitis, a complaint with which New Zealand is 'familiar, but the developments described have not been reported in this country.

There is not much humor amongst waiting jurymen who have to hang about tho precincts of tho Supreme Courthouse, -but a story was told last week (says the Auckland ‘Star’) which caused some merriment to those who heard it. All through the present court sittings, it is said, there have not been half a dozen jurymen with beards amongst the great number of men who from week to week have been calledupon to serve. One man_ with a beard was challenged by one side or another every time his name was drawn from the box,*and he said he could not'understandit. ’ Another juryman sitting near said that lie was having “a spot” with a. lawyer the previous day, and he had told him that it was usually the custom now to challenge a man with, a beard, because enough of his face could not be seen to judge sufficiently of his character. '“Well,” said- the challenged 1 juryman, “ I’ll put that to tho test. I’m game to go and have a clean shave, and if I'm called again I’ll see how it acts.” Sure enough, -after the luncheon adjournment the juror appeared minus his beard, and looked a different man altogether. When the next case was announced his name was called, and with a sprightly air he walked up to his place near the jury box to await tho result. He was allowed without objection to take his seat. He is wondering now how much ho has lost -during the time he wore his beard. Tiie Dunedin Community Singing Committee has definitely -decided to hold only two more weekly sings ” this session. To-morrow tho leaders will be Mr W. R. Sinclair and Mr Percy Braithwaite, at the Octagon and Grand respectively. At the closing “sings” tho following week Mr W. Tyrie (with whom will be associated the Commercial Travellers’ Choir) and Major Lampen will have charge, the former at tho Octagon and the latter at the Grand.

The Prime Minister, in his speech on the Washington Conference, expressed his conviction that the British Empire was specially protected by Providence in order that ultimately it might bo able to fulfil its destiny of bringing peace to the world. “The risks that we ran during the war were frightful,” said Mr Massey. “The escapes we had' were most extraordinary. I honestly believe that nothing but a miracle saved 1 us. Nothing but the intervention of Divine Providence saved us in March, 1918. ... I believe that we have been specially protected, not because wo are better than the people of any other nation, but because wo arc being preserved for some great purpose which has not yet been revealed. Part of that purpose I believe will' be to assist in bringing peace and good-will on earth, in bringing about the day, when men shall lurn° their swcoals into ploughshares and learn the arts of war no more.” The tariff treaty with Australia comes into force on September 1. This decision has been made since the Commonwealth Parliament ratified the treaty, and a, proclamation will he issued shortly.—Wellington Association message.

At the conclusion of his lecture in the Early Settlers’ Hall last evening the Rev. Howard Elliott averred that it Trad been brought to his notice that Homan Catholics in Dunedin had organised a boycott of a tradesman who was a prominent member of the P.F.A. Executive. Ho urged those present to remember what the tactics of the other side were, and to beat them at their own game by supporting this man.

Mr Paulin’s forecast: S.W. to S.E. winds, and rain showers. Tho Land and Income Tax Department (says tho ‘ Taranaki News ’) is showing considerable activity over the inspection and oaxraination of those liable to income tax payment.. In one district in South Taranaki, it is reported, they recovered over £30,000 from farmers who failed to send in returns, or had sent in returns that did not comply with the conditions of tho Act.

Portions qf an old hulk have been discovered in the sand at Porpoise Point, at tho southern extremity of Stradbrooke Island, to the east of Moreton Bay, Queensland. The hulk is buried at the foot of a sandhill about 40ft high. The site of the wreck is three-quarters of a mile from what was the southernmost point of the island forty years ago, and tho oldest inhabitant of tho island knows nothing, of a wreck. The vessel is sheathed below the waterline with copper. The part of the vessel exposed is about 16ft wide.

The long arm of the law has at last grasped William Joseph Fox, who is alleged to, have forged a cheque for £6O in, March of last year on the National Bank purporting to bo signed by James Allan. Ho was brought before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., in tho City Police Court this morning, and on Chief-detective Bishop's application was remanded till Monday'. Tho only other case was against William Frederick Smyth, who pleaded guilty' to drunkenness, and was fined 10s, in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment.

An Auckland message states that Nikola, the illusionist, who is doing fine business in that city, yesterday performed his hanging stunt in Queen street. Traffic was entirely' held up while it was being performed'.

A motion proposed by the Rev. I X North at last night’s Council of Christian Congregations’ meeting at Christchurch read as follows;—This council regrets that the organisers of certain charitable efforts should have infringed both civil and State laws in Christchurch recently. Tho council believes that good causes should be kept free from such infringements, the more so since obedience to law is the first essential of social well-being. The council further regrets that the City Council should be proposing to license the making of fixed charges for charitable enterprises on Sundays, and trusts that so retrograde a step, bristling with such practical difficulty, may be retraced. Mr North said the Gaming Act and other laws had been broken in connection with various charity efforts, and he urged that the voluntary system of contribution at Sunday concerts bo adhered to. Good charities, he said, could trust tho public, and fixed charges for functions on the day of rest were objectionable. The motion was carried 1 .

An English and Australian mail, ex tho Moeraki at Auckland, will reach Dunedin to-morrow night. The mail comprises eighty-three bags, and the contents will be delivered in the city and suburbs on Thursday morning. The Maunganui, which is duo at Wellington on Saturday morning from San Francisco, is carrying 1,153 bags of mail (including 857 bags from tho United Kingdom) for New Zealand. The Dunedin portion should come to hand next Monday night. Our Christchurch correspondent telegraphs that the Christchurch Printing Trades Union has passed the following resolution This meeting protests against any interference -by the Government (either by audit or otherwise) with the balance-sheets of trade unions. Past experience has demonstrated that the honesty of officials entrusted with trade union funds compares more than favorably with the general standard of public honesty, and the suggestion that expensive accountants must necessiarily he, employed' to audit the statements of accounts of trade unions (many of them with incomes of Jess than £2OO 'per annum) is, we consider, absurd. Expert auditing has not, in tho past, prevented dishonesty. At the monthly meeting of the Dunedin branch of tho National Council of Women correspondence was read- from the Prime Minister relative to the special committee set up by tho Minister of Public Health and now silting to inquire into ami report on the prevalence of venereal disease in New Zealand; also a letter from Lady Stout on the same subject. The secretary (Mrs Leech) read the legal opinion on a particular point in relation to a will of deceased husband. Additional remits wcib discussed, and the delegates instructed how to vote at the conference that will be held in Christchurch this month. The W.C.T.U. sent a remit urging the extension of the franchise of election for members of the education boards. This met with the hearty support of those present. Tho need for and the advisability of women magistrates in the juvenile courts came up for consideration. It was pointed out that since a magistrate must bo also a qualified solicitor it was desirable that the attention of university women be drawn to this fact, and to the need that will arise for more girls to study law.

Auckland is drawing on the ship repairing resources of Port Chalmers for the repairing of the steamer Rona. That steamer damaged her stem very badly when she ran on tho Flat Rock and narrowly missed knocking over tho lighthouse. A new piece of stem to replace the damaged portion lias been- forged at tho Maori Ironworks, Port Chalmers. It is over 40ft in length and weighs about two and a-half tons. The steamer Kamo will take it north this trip. The nip for nippy winter weather—Watson’s No. 10, fine old Scotch whisky.— [Advt.l Ladies recommend Martin’o Xpiol and Steel Pills*. Sold by all chemists and stores. See you get tho genuine.—{Advt.l Non-burn Kettle Knobs, easily fixed. Saves lids and fingers. Sixpence.—Todd's White House, George street.—[Advt.] Ail progressive thinkers should carry the 'Thinker’s Pictorial Note Rook,’ and Shakespeare’s philosophy thereon. It's wonderful!—[Advt.] Watson’s No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth tho money.— [Advt.]