Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 18101, 17 October 1922, Page 4

It is noticed of late that the attendance at the reading rooms of the Dunedin Public Library is back to normal. Unemployed able-bodied men are not congregating there in working hours. Hie rooms are, however, freely patronised by students, leisured persons, mid those who in thou declining years are glad of a quiet sitdown in "pleasant surroundings with a plentiful variety of reading matter at their service. The ordered management of tins institution great attraction and persons who live in clingy houses feel cheered by the excellent lighting. Mr M'Ewan said, in answer to a question, that the stealing of books is not now one of his worries. The. only thing that gives him trouble is the .continued high price of good books; this necessarily limits his power to renew and to augment. An interesting oil painting, presumably a portrait from life, is one of the present attractions which Mr M'Ewan is taking special car* of whilst in hia custody. It is a picture with a somewhat romantic history, having been found amongst the belongings of an old resident of Dunedin who apparently' had thrown it into a corner of a fowl-house. Brought to light and cleaned up, it seems to bo tho work of a highly-skilled artist, possibly one of tho old masters, but it carries" neither date nor signature. Some of our connoisseurs in art may find it worth while to examine it.

Different people have different views as to what is a good salary. For instance, the man who is in receipt of £4 a week generally thinks ho ia worth at least £5, and so on. A young woman giving evidence in a case Wore the Supreme Court (says the Wellington ‘Post’) admitted that a few years ago she received as much as £’ 12s 6d per week, but stated quite candidly that “that was not very good—not in war time, at least.” Apparently it was not sufficient for her needs, for she stated that she often sent homo for money to meet accounts over a certain amount.

Last week the Auckland police arrested a man named Mellors on a charge of circulating spurious coins. According to the ‘Star,’ tho raiders found him in the kitchen of a place in Grey street busy making counterfeit half-crowns by means of plaster of pads moulds. At the time he was surprised Mellors had in liis hippocket thirty-seven new and bright halfcrown counterfeits, which were warm and had yet to bo trimmed round tho edges to make the counterfeit complete for passing on to unsuspecting victims. It was known that the spurious cobs issued had included florins and shillings as well as half-crowns, and a search of the house revealed a supply of tho base metal that had been used for the counterfeiting, and moulds, for florins, shillings, and halfcrowns. Mellors is a married man-, about thirty-five years of age, and had been employed casually on tho waterfront in harbor board work, Ho was not a member of the Waterside Workers’ Union. With his wife and child ho rented a room in No, 94 Grey street, and had the use of the kitchen, in which he was caught. Another family rented an adjacent room, while other rooms upstairs were. Jet separately, and the kitchen was in the basement, below Mellors’ room. At the time, of the raid Mrs Mellors and her child, as well as the other occupants of tho house, were away at picture shows, Mrs Mellors arriving back while tho police were still in possession.

A tribute to the way in which the English brides of New Zealand ex-soldiers are settling down to life in the backblocks was paid by the Rev. H. Johnson, of Dargaville, in the course of a speech at Auckland. The speaker stated that hie. had three soldier settlements in his district, and there was not one woman there who had not proved a success. Some of the English girls had been workers in the large industrial towns of England; but nevertheless they had adapted themselves to pioneering conditions in the backblocks with wonderful pluck, and were proving themselves in every way the worthy helpmates of their soldier-settler husbands. When referring to the work carried out by the Ocean Beach Domain Board at last night’s meeting of the St. Kilda Borough Council, the mayor (Mr J. W. Dove) made Some eulogistic remarks on the zeal shown in the interest of the board, and incidentally in the welfare of St. Kilda, by the chairman (Mir J. H. Hancock). Mr Dove stated that nob mfiny years ago the highIbide mark was anywhere up to the present band- rotunda gates, but as a result of the energy and enthusiasm displayed by Mr Hancock the residents of the district were <in a most happy position, as was evidenced in the high-tide mark to-day. In fact, the sandhills were mounting up to snob an extent that they now presented a hill well nigh 20ft in breadth on top along that portion of tho beach where there used to be only lagoons. As a result of such improvements, the forming of an ocean walk or drive should soon be an accomplished JfiSV ■' v ”■ ;

Mr Paulin's forecastS.W. winds, and fine for twenty-four hours. No cases in the Police Court to-day.

The mayor has received a letter from tho captain of tho steamer City of Dunedin conveying his appreciation of tho hospitality extended to his officers and himself oaring their short stay in Dunedin.

The Pacific liner Maunganui, which is duo at Wellington on October 28 from San Flunoisco, is carrying 1,274 bags of mail (including 996 hags from tho United Kingdom) and 1,294 parcel receptacles for New Zealand.

Tiro executive of tho Returned Soldiers’ Association reported to tho quarterly meeting of members last evening that the advisability of somo form of control over returned soldier both in their own interests and in the interests of tho community, had been discussed, and it had been decided that certificates of bona fidcs would bo issued by the committee to all men making application. In view_ of the number of canvassers at present going about, it was felt that that was a step in the right direction.

If given to boasting, Dunedin could claim distinction in a very carious subject —in that one of its girls, aged nineteen, daughter of a North-cast Valley family, possesses the- poweis of the lodestone, or magnet. From her infancy alio has, had this uncommon endowment. A ‘Star’ reporter- was permitted to gain evidence on the subject yesterday. _ Needles, either separately or two at a time, were lifted at the first touch of her finger-tips, and adhered in any position at wluch they chanced to be caught, until shaken olf. A threepenny piece also responded in tho same way. The power seems to bo equal in all tno fingers and thumbs as well. Having boon hurriedly called in from an appointment at a neighbor’s, tho young lady had not time to show the full, scope of her magnetism; but the mother says she has seen a small teaspoon attracted in the same way, steel pens cluster at the touch, and naming needles leap to the-finger-tips before contact was made. The young lady is perfectly normal in every way, and, being accustomed to this sort of thing all her life, sho docs not regard her feats as in any way strange. On somo occasions she has thrust ner hand into ’a work basket and drawn forth all the loose needles without feeling or looking for them. Sho experiences no twitching nor any peculiar sensation in doing these things, but is obviously very sensitive. Our reporter was nlioiougfiiy satisfied as to the absolute genuineness of the demonstration. In giving him permission to publish the facts, the mother stipulated that the name should not bo mentioned, for they are a quiet family, and have no desire iot publicity. Several of our public bodies have of late years adopted the practice of typing minutes and posting them to members, thus saving the time otherwise occupied in reading them at tho next meeting. Mr F. M. Sliortt and Mr D. Phillips argued last night, at the meeting of the council of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, that his plan carried with it disadvantages that outweighed tho advantages, and a discussion ensued on tho subject generally, the outcome being that it was icsolvod, by a narrow majority, to keep to the typing system.

Special provision is made in the new seamen’s award in regard to the cleaning and fumigating of the crew’s quarters in ships. The award declares that the quarters shall be fumigated, cleaned, and painted at least once in every twelve mouths, while the vessel Js in port. In the event of the quarters being lumigated, the seamen shall be, given, when practicable, one clear' day’s notice prior to commencing fumigation. For this purpose all bunk-boards are to bo lifted, and special attention shall bo paid to corners where dirt is likely to gather. AH beddings, clothing, etc., to be loosened up and fumigated while in the quarters.' Seairten are not to bo required to live in the room or quarters until twelve hours after fumigation or until the paint is thoroughly dry. The preliminary agenda paper of the Conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, to bo held in Dunedin in the first week of next, month, contains remits as to taxation, a better shipping service between the South Island and Australia, the need for a flat rate of freight to the four main ports by the Vancouver and l ’Frisco mail boats, labor matters, the .amendment of the Bankruptcy Act, trading relations with other countries (particularly within the Empire), the Public .Trust Office, railway management, arterial roads and motor taxes, harbors development, British capital for Now Zealand, the administration of local bodies, etc. It is a big and practical programme, and seems likely to fully occupy the attention of delegates for the two allotted days of debate.

The postal authorities have received advice that New Zealand mails which we.ro despatched from Wellington by the Maungamii on September 12 for tho United Kingdom via Son Francisco reached London on October 16 —due date.

Watson’s No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth the money.™ [Advil Particulars as to holiday excursion rates and train time-tables for tho Oamam and Gore races are advertised in this issue. Mrs Don and Mr ,1. S. Baxter (Invercargill) will address a Prohibition rally in the St. Clair Presbyterian Hail to-night; and to-morrow evening, in tho Musselburgh Presbyterian Church, the meeting will bo addressed by tho Rev. Tulloch Yuilie and Mr J. S. Baxter. These meetings are open to all interested to attend.

Ladies, put your heads together to see how quickly you can got all New Zealand using “No-Rubbing” Laundry Help, tho famous dirt-ejector. M'Counell and Sons.—[Advt.] Tho High School girls’ production of Shakespeare’s fantastic comedy, ‘ A Midsummer Night's Dream,’ is arousing considerable interest. The sale of tickets hag been most satisfactory, and is already adequate to tho space available. A limited number of 3s seats are still procurable. Firo Screens, great variety, from 4s 6d.— Todd’s White House, 135 George street.— [Advt.] New No. 6 group, United Starr-Bowkett Building Society. Only oighty-five shares left. £5,000 for disposal October 19. See advertisement. A public meeting will bo held in -the King’s Theatre to-night, at 8 o’clock, under the auspices of the Now Zealand Labor Party, when tho Rev. J. K. Archer will speak on ‘Labor’s Policy is the Hope of the People.’ Ladies recommend Martin’s Apiol and Steel Pills. Sold by all chemists and slerce. See you get the genuine.—[Advt.l The annual public meeting of the New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society will bo held in tho Hanover Street Baptist Church at 7.30 this evening. Rev. P. B. Harry, of Wellington, will preside. Rev. E. N. and Mis Goring and Rev. J. North will speak. Tto-morrow afternoon and evening will ho devoted -to Sunday School and Bible Class affairs.

The nip for nippy winter weather—Wat* son’s No. 10. fine old hootch whisky.™ [Advt.l