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Evening Star, Issue 18136, 28 November 1922, Page 4

In view of demands on our space at tho present juncture, correspondents are requested to limit their contributions to forty lines, otherwise they will be liable to rejection. When the election campaign is concluded the customary space will again be at our correspondents’ disposal.

Word has been received to the effect that the popular holiday house known as the Wanaka Hotel, Pembroke, was destroyed by fire about 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon. The hotel, which was owned by Mr Q. G. S. Glass and leased by Mr L. F. M'Oormacb, consisted of a large main building and a number of (outbuildings, and it is not yet definitely known whether the latter were destroyed or not. The insurances are spread over four companies. The Guardian Office hold £650 on the main building' and £I,OOO on the stock; the Sun £350 on the main building ; the 1.0. A. £SOO on the stock. The Queensland Office is concerned in the outbuildings. Arthur Francis M'Farlane, who had already pleaded guilty to the theft of money and articles to the total value of £5 and been remanded, was before Mr Bartholomew, S.M., this morning on throe further charges of theft. Two of "these involved! a bicycle and various parts of other bicycles, such ns tyres, tubes, a saddle, a chair, and a pair of forks. The owners of toes© are being sought, and Chiefdetective Bishop asked for a further remand. Accused’s explanation as to how he came to be in possession of the parts was, said the chief detective, very thin. Accused, for whom Mr C. J. L. White appeared, pleaded guilty to Use theft of a towel belonging to 11, J. Hanldnson and not guilty to. the thefts of the bicycle and parts. He was remanded till Saturday, Street fruit barrows have now entirely disappeared from the Dunedin streets. The owner of the last of them has given up the struggle to acclimatise an industry which evidently does not suit our town.

Surely it would bo bal'd to find anywhere else in Otago, if not in Now 7ealand, such an expanse of flowers as w© now have in the lupines on the Dunedin sandhills. The blaze of yellow, with occasional patches of white, extends from St. Clair to Lawyr’s Head, a stretch of five miles, there or thereabouts. Many oMhc clumps are sis or seven, feet high. The flowers make a perfect riot of_ color, and emit a delightful perfume. It is the finest display of the sort for many seasons, and is at its best just now. In this connection wo should bo grateful to Dr Coughtrey. Mr W. Smaj.ll, and Mr Sam Brookes: they were the men who first put m lupines in the Tomahawk district. The present results aro to beautify the local-, ity; in after years their value be seen in the making of soil. The St. Clair end of the sandhills _ was planttd nearly twenty years ago with lupines brought from ‘New Brighton and elsewhere, they being set in position by the children of the St. Clair School on© Arbor Day, under the direction of Mr J. H. Hancock, who was at the time chairman of the Domain Board and also chairman of .the bchool Committee.

The Mayor of Dunedin, the chairman of the Electric Committee, the town ckik. and the electrical engineer paid a visit to Waipori yesterday, their mission being in connection with, some trouble which it is understood has arisen as to the ownership of certain mining plant recently purchased by the corporation.

A plague of rats has recently given trouble in one of the Dunedin suburbs. The rate overran a house that was locked up for a while. 'Being driven out by He incoming tenant, they invaded a neighooring residence, and upon, the owner the.-ml giving them a rough reception they made themselves at home in another d\vc.-ng to which they stick with extraordinary tenacity, finding their way all over the house by means of chimneys and pipes, gnawing through woodwork, and maxing the tenants thoroughly uncomfortable. Wire traps proved useless, but by means of breakback traps and poison the bouse was eventually cleared, after eighteen rats had been killed, tlie largest of them a foot in length.

A Maori bankrupt in tho Wairanapa stated that he had received an average of about £7O a year from rents Jstates the ‘Age '), and be had been keeping himself and his wife, eight children, five grandchildren and their mother, a total of fifteen dependents. t The Customs and Excise duties collected at New Zealand! '.ports in the September quarter of this year amounted to £1,440,860, as against £1,404,160 m tho corresponding quarter of 1921. Tho collections at the principal ports _ were as follow, tho figures for 1921 being given in parentheses:—Auckland, £477,768 (£420,700); Wellington, £396,316 (•£392 270); Lyttelton, £211,631) (£221,’468); Dunedin, £IBO,COO (£166,831).

Tho Chinese community in Auckland arc liberal contributors to the funds of tho public hospital. At the meeting of tho Auckland Hospital, Board (says the ‘Star ) a -voluntary donation of £154 5s was received from seventy-four local Orientals as an apprcciatory token of tho good service rendered to thoir fellow countrymen by the institution. Tho donation will carry tho Government subsidy of 24a in the £. 'Members of tho 'board referred in oulogisitic terms to tho liberality of tho local Chinese,' who had generously supported the funds of tho institution in past years. It was stated that the contribution under review was quite separate from the proceeds of a recent concert promoted by the Chinese, the funds from this entertainment having been held back in the hope that the Government would not charge amusemefit tax, in anew oi the fact that the money would be .devoted to the maintenance of the hospital. It was decided that tho board should express its hearty appreciation of the donation.

The Christchurch ‘'Press’s ’ Gisborne correspondent telegraphs: An unusual occurrence, tho dishonoring of tho Mangapapa Town Board’s cheque for tho first instalment of the Hospital Board’s levy, was mentioned at a meeting of tho Hospital Board. Tho secretary stated that the cheque, which was for £lO7, had been returned marked “N.8.F.” The second instalment of the levy was now .duo. It was -decided to interview the chairman of the Town Board upon the matter. At the Port Chalmers Court to-day Messrs J. Tait and J. AULachlan, J.P.s issued a prohibition order against a local resident,

When certain political candidates are finding thd word “ profiteer’’ a great help to eloquence, it da’ interesting (says the Auckland ‘Herald’) to learn that_ this typo of undesirable commercial practice's hot confined to the “grasping” white races. A report from a foreign missionary, presented to the Presbyterian Assembly, recorded that while the natives of Tonga, New Hebrides, were starving ns the result of the devastating effects of the hurricane last February, a native cutter came from Mnlckula with ia load of yams, which were offered to tho unfortunate Tongoans at the exorbitant rate of 10s each. “On© mam had the face to ask £5 for ono special yam,” concluded the missionary. “ Tab Tongoans had already spent most of their money, so the Malekulans had -to take their yams away again."

An incident at the Presbyterian Assembly, Auckland, seemed to give'.point to tho saying that the Scotsman, always to the fore with a good joke,_ is not always as quick to discern one. Tbo Rev. 11. L. Walker told the Presbyterian General Assembly 'that in tho pioneering days of the Church the Rev. George Brown, of Onchunga, now ninety-three years of age, was accustomed to walk twenty-four miles each Sunday in order to conduct three services. “And”l do not think ho was ever known to hack a horse,” said Mr Walker. An appreciable interval elapsed before the speaker’s joke was grasped. Then bo added, as a parting thrust, that it was easy to see from the laughter what the chief occupation, of Auckland was. A jovial rustic, whose countenance comprised mostly mouth, gave the onlookers a little light humor in the Supreme Court m Palmerston North (states the Manawatu ‘ Times ’). Witness, who smiled serenely after answering each question, intimatedthat he had a bad memory. Counsel was speaking of an alleged conversation. “I suppose you just stood 1 _ there drinking it all inf” he asked witness. “No, sir,” quickly retorted tho youth; “ there was mo drinking.” (Laughter.) “You had better not us© metaphor with tho witness,” replied His Honor Sir John Salmond. Witness smiled broadly as he left the box.

Mr Kelso King, who returned to Sydney from tho Old Country a few days ago, said that whole battalions of Boy Scouts might shortly arrive in Australia from England as immigrants. Air King said that lie had spent much time in England in discussing tho Boy Scout immigration scheme. Sir Robert “Baden-Powell was much interested in it, and his representative (Sir A. Pickford) would shortly visit Australia to complete arrangements with the assistance of Australian Scout organisations. It was desired' that before any Scouts were sent to Australia positions should be obtained for them. Most of them desired to go on farms and stations, for which, _it is hoped, their Scout training will peculiarly qualify them.

Telephone services in the city have been most unsatisfactory for some days past (eavs the Melbourne ‘ Argusof 10th inst.). The reason for the inefficient service was disclosed when it was announced to-day that the officials of the Australian Postal Electricians’ Union were conducting a “regulation strike” as a protest against what they consider unfair alterations in their working hours. One union official said: “If the department persists in altering our hours wo shall continue adhering so closely to the numberless regulations that govern our work that m a week the exchange will bo out of action. At a special meeting of the union the fo - lowing resolution was passed That all States be advised of the action taken, and be asked to support.” The regulations give the mechanics endless opportunity lor hindering the work of the department.

As mentioned in our yachting column, the Stewart Island Yacht Club has now in the Tom Thumb another 14-footer of similar dimensions to the M-urihiku, and Iho two have had try-outs. In their first contest (says the ‘Southland Times T with a fair to medium breeze, the Tom T Inunb, with the Bragg Bros, in charge, easily outdistanced the Muribiku. iho same afternoon another trial was held, the Bragg Bros, on this occasion changing over and taking charge of the Muribiku. In this contest, in rather a gentle breeze, the Muribiku outsailed the 'Tom Thumb. On asked to give an opinion as to the better craft of the two, Mr Tom Bragg unhesitatingly declared for the Muxihiku; and it is almost certain that that vessel will again bo Southland’s challenger for the Sand'ers Memorial Cup contest, to bo lie,ld next February at Auckland.

The public generally (reports our Kaitangata correspondent) is wondering what ban become of the Kaitangata Borough Council. Some time ago that body got permission to raise a loan of £I,OOO (and it was reported subscribed three or four limes over) for lighting the streets and houses by electricity. As there are quite a few men out of work just now it would bo a good chance to get all the necessary pales erected. The money thus earned would be very acceptable, especially as tho festive season is just at hand.

Holiday-makers and general travellers will be jfleased! to learn that tho full express train service is to be (resumed on December 15 and maintained till further notice. The 8.45 a.m. express from Christchurch will run through to Invercargill, leaving Dunedin at 5.10 p.m.; and tho express leaving Invercargill at 6.10 a.m. and Dunedin at 11.15 a.m. will go on to Christchurch. The second express- from Christchurch, leaving there at 12.20 p.m., will come as far as Dunedin, and the 8 a.m. express from. Dunedin will go through to Christchurch. The 8.30 a.m. express is to «o from Dunedin to Invercargill, and th0°1.33 p.m. express from Invercargill comes to Dunedin. That will be the running of iho expresses every day on and after tlie data mentioned 1 . It is further to bo noted that the afternoon train, Dunedin to Clinton, will from that date start every day at 4.50. This is tho last week of the Dunedin Public Art Gallery Society’s exhibition. The attendance to date is much in excess of last year. The art union will probably be drawn some time on Thursday.

Ofi General Election day (Thursday, December 7) shopkeepers and hotelkeepers must close at noon. [Factories are not required to close, hut the occupiers must afford to each of their employees a reasonable opportunity of recording his or her vole. According to the Act no deduction, can bo made from wages, provided that the time so allowed does not exceed one working hour.

A Greymouth. telegram states that there is no improvement in the fire at tho Blackball mine to-day. Sealing-off is expected) to be completed this afternoon.

A WeUington Association telegram states that Chin Gen was fined £7s_ for keeping a gaming-hmse, andl Sue Kung £25 for assisting, in default two months’ and one months imprisonment respectively. The five whites charged with being found on the premises were fined £o each. Tho case was the result of a raid by tho police, who -found pakapoo in progress.

At Christchurch to-day C. W. Horvey, accountant and secretary and a member of tho City Council, was charged, on the information of tho -Commissioner of Taxes, with making false returns of income in respect to 1920 and 1921. An adjournment sine die was granted.—Press Association.

The nip for nippy winter -weather—Watmh’» No. 10, fine old Scotch whisky.— [Advt.l Brisk demand, for " Keep Smiling ” Boot Polish, “No-Eubbing” Laundry Help, and “Keep Smiling” Sand Soap. Sneddon and Son.—[Advil.] The winners of the guessing competitions in connection with the Plunket Society’s garden foie are advertised In this issue. Fire Screens, great variety, from 4s 6d Todd’s White House, 133 George street.— [Advl.] Watson’s No. 10 is a little dearer thss most whiskies, hut is worth the money.-* [iirtj The United Starr-Bowketb Building Society invites membership new No. 7 group by visitors and others. Ladies recommend Martin’s Apiol and Steel Pilk Sold by all chemists and stereo, See you get she genuine.—{AdviJ