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Evening Star, Issue 18668, 24 June 1924, Page 4

Arrangements havo been made with the City Council, with the concurrence of the West Harbor Borough Council, to supply the Exhibition area on the Lake Logan site with its necessary water supply. This matter was put before the council by a deputation from the Exhibition Company. The work of connecting the supply by tapping the main loading to West Harbor is being proceeded with forthwith. Yesterday afternoon a deputation from the Waterside Employees’ Association, comprising Messrs N. Galbraith, it., L. Tapley, and S. K. Sleigh, waited upon the Standing Committee of the Harbor Board for the purpose of asking the Board to remove the pay office from Port Chalmers to Dunedin on a percentage basis, and place it on a suitable site in the vicinity of the Dunedin wharves. Tho matter was referred to tho secretary for a report.

Tho present position regarding tho Labe Logan area as between tho City Council and the Otago Harbor Board is that alxmt a month ago tho decision of tho council was conveyed to tho board to the effect that it was desired, from tho council’s point of view, that tho area should bo vested in the council as a recreation ground for all time. As to the whole disposal of the area, it rested with the Harbor Board to arrange for a transference of sites with the Education Board, but so far it is still in abeyance. Tho Harbor Board h:us submitted an alterjalive j nposal to the Education Board, and that body has, it is understood, communicated with the Education Department in Wellington for sanction of the alternative-offer. Until this phase of the matter is disposed of no further steps can be taken. It. would appear, therefore, to be some time yet before finality will be reached because, after the whole of tho arrangements made between the council and the board have been completed and their differences disposed of, a proposal has to be sutimitied to a poll of the ratepayers to authorise a ban for the construction of a highway and for the drainage of tho area, and at least two months must elapse before the statutory proceedings prior to a poll_ can bo carried through. If the highway is to be of any use to the Exhibition, it is obvious that there should not bo much further delay.

“J.A.G.” forwards 5s for the Rev. V. G. Bryan King’s fund- to provide a piano for the Benevolent Institution. Following this contribution comes one of £35 from an anonymous donor, “ so that the piano can be put in at once, with the hope that it will he greatly used and give much pleasure to the inmates.”

The “cheer germ,” after lying dormant for many months, is allowing signs of renewed virility, heralding the near approach of the “happiness hour.” In other phraseology the first midday community sing of the season is announced for Thursday next, from 12.30 to 1.30 p.m. The Octagon Hall lias been secured, and by the kindly permission of Mr John Hamer, of Fullers’ Vaudeville, the popular revue artist, Air Georgo Wallace, will be the song loader. A “happiness hour” could scarcely be in belter hands. The expenses in connection with the hall arc exceptionally heavy this year, and the continuity of the “sings” will bo largely contingent upon Die attitude of tho public to the collection boxes.

It is conventionally stated that the. first sod of the big Exhibition building is lo bo turned on Saturday. As a fact there is no sod to turn. 'Mrs J. Sutherland Rons will scrape a hole in the spoil. Rut that eimple ceremony will serve. Tlio point is that this surface scratching is to he the structural beginning of the show by which New Zealand and Otago in partietdar is going to claim the world’s atituition. It will bo interesting also as the start of a great conversion scheme. The Logan Lake of the past was abhorrent. The Logan Park of the present is a mud flat with solid patches. The Logan Park of the future will be a beauty spot. Saturday of this week, therefore, will be a day to bear in mind in future* generations as marking the first awakening of a sound conversion—a step ahead for Dunedin. Tile, procession wt’ll be an imposing sight. Hie breaking of the consular flags will signify that the outside world is countenancing the project, and the kinematogrnph films will lie the first of what will no doubt be, an interesting series. It was suggested at the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Otago Barber Board yesterday that the board should purchase the. hulk Broxton at Port Chalmers to provide, .additional facilities tor docking vessels. A report on the matter was submitted by the harbor master and the engineer, but after diseusion these officers were requested lo get a further renorl on the question of erecting dolphins in* lien of using the Broxton.

Mr T. T. itogar believes that our seaside suburb S't. Clair is not yet fully oorvimr the interests of the public, and he is hacking that belief by spending over £0.01)3 in putting up a bniWing that will adorn the esplanade and by ministering to the general need give the locality an impetus. The site is at the corner of Fortuny road, right at its extremity. Messrs' Mason and Wales arc the architects, and a contract, for the building bos been lot to Mr Clement- Anderson. The building is to bo finished by Christmas. Tt will consist of three modernised shops fronting Forbury road, stylish tea rooms on the esplanade, and a range of Hats over both, surmounted by a flat roof with a lift parapet A. verandah will be supplied to each frontage. The lower tier of the building is to bo of brick, tho upper •structure in rough cast. Every- flat is to have an oriel window overlooking the ocean, and the lighting and. heating arc specially planned on the latest lines. Eggs are cheaper this week in the Dunedin' district. A drop of 9d per dozen is reported from the wholesale marts, the price now being 2s for first grade. The merchants say that it it; the usual seasonal decline, indicating nothing serious. The explanation seems to bo that when eggs are at a high price the people at large become sparing in their use, and, the buying falling off, the supply exceeds the demand. The retail figure is, or should be, about 2s 3d, but this is seemingly subject to variation. Messrs John and! Ernest Beaker, young farmers who came from Sutton to attend the Otago Winter Show this year, had their memories of the trip quite spoiled by an annoying discovery when they got home. Their thorouc-hbrod horse Quirinus, which was previously owned by Mr A. E. Roberts, and ran in Messrs Beakers’ interests at the last Otago Hunt Club races, was found dead in the adjoining creek with a bullet in its head. Evidently the miscreant who thus wantonly shot a good horse did the deed l on the bank and then with a rope that was left attached rolled the poor beast into the water. Some assistance must have been needed to complete the act. One man could not drag the body to where it was found. The circumstances indicate a foul and mischievous deed.

Tho second 1 Dunedin concert, hy Signor Cellini and his t.'.vo colleagues, given at His Majesty’s Theatre last, night, was the cause of much pleasure to all present. Tho tenor's chief contribution was ‘Ah non cii '.lovi t.u,’ from tho opera of ‘ Mignon ’ —a.n opera which was presented for the first, time in Now Zealand at Dunedin by the Turner Company forty-three years ago, and has been often drawn upon since for concert purposes. The turning up of trie, records to verify this date reveals the coincident fact that August Wilhelmj, tho violinist of that period, who was renowned as a great master of weighty tone, also appeared at Dunedin in the same- month, Now, in association with Signor Cellini’s singing of tho principal tenor air from ‘ Mignon,’ wo have in Mr Zacbnrowitsch a violinist who is also celebrated for tone. But. it is a different tone to that got by With elm j. The star player of 1881 was content with amazing volume. Mr Zachnvewitsch has somewhat less body but infinitely greater beauty of tone. This was evidenced once more last night in the -Mendelssohn concerto and in all else that he presented, .Signor Cimnra fairly shared with his associates tho honors of the evening. Ho is exceptionally modest in his solo work, but his accompaniment playing is in the highest class, worth remembering with respect even by those who still swear that no one is to he compared with Bonayne Simmons, who came here with Nordica. A Christchurch Association telegram states that in the Supreme Court Charles Henry Augustus Jones, twenty years of ago, was sentenced to reformative treatment for three years for making a false document. At last night's meeting of the Port Chalmers Council a debate took place as to whether distilled or other tar is the most suitable for the tarring and sanding of footpaths. One councillor, by way of comparison likely to appeal to colleagues, said that tar was like whisky, the longer it, was kept the better it became. This did not fettle the debate offhand, but the council decided to got the working foreman’s opinion in regard to various kinds of tar.

There was a “clean sheet” at tho Police Court this morning. “ Men off the steamers should be allowed to play football on the recreation ground on Sunday,” a councillor stated at last night’s meeting of the Port Chalmers Council. He said the ground should not bo closed to those men, and bo would move at next meeting to give effect to his opinion.

At a meeting of the astronomical branch of the Otago Institute last night the question of having an exhibit in tho Now Zealand and Smith Seas Exhibition next year was considered. The proposal was favorably received, and will lake more definite form at a later meeting.

A lengthy Cabinet sitting took place at Wellington yesterday afternoon, and the Prime Minister afterwards stated that the programme for the session had been under discussion. “ I’m already at work on tho Financial Statement,” added Mr Massey, “ a.nd it will be . completed within a few days, but of course tho Estimates have also to ho considered in connection with it.”

There arc two rows of hat and coat pegs in the magazine room of the public library, but they arc pegs denied the satisfaction of filling their intended niche in life. For on them never a. coat or never a hat is to be eecn. The good citizens who frequent the room take their seats hatted and coated—a condition of affairs that shows a refusal to obc.ervc on© of tho minor manners among the code, a universal susceptibility to draughts, an unsuspected spread of baldness, or a “canniness” that, leads to the reasoning, “a hat on the head is worth two on a peg.” One is left guessing. Our Parliamentary Reporter telegraphs: The Premier announces that two appointments will bo made to the Legislative Council this week. Unofficially it may be added that tho probables most favored are Mr E. P. Lee, formerly Minister cf Justice in Dio Reform Cabinet, who was defeated for Oamara last election after lengthy service; and Mr A. S. Malcolm, formerly member for Cl-utha. Tho Addrers-tn-Reply, the initial debate of tho session, Is to bo opened by Mr Bitchenor, the member for Waitaki, the seconder being Mr Linklatcr, member for Manawatu. Th-0 City Council is ranking arrangements to participate in the procession which will pass along tho main streets on Saturday in connection with the turning of tho first sod on the Logan Park area.

llis Honor Mr Justice trim has granted probate in the estates of Annie Angharad Baird (Momona) and Isabella Jane Taine (St. Kilda).

A question .which has exercised the minds of members of harbor boards for a good many years was again bet ore tbo hoard at 'its" Standing Committee moelinu yesterday .afternoon. A deputation from the Fire Board, comprising Messrs J. Wilson, T. Oh aimer, J. J. Clark, Superintendent Napier, and J. T. ILamann (secretary), waited upon the meeting in connection with the matter, and submitted tp the board reasons why if. should contribute something towards fire protection at the wharves. The deputation suggested that the board should contribute a'out £233 a year to assist, the Fire Board in supplying a centrifugal pump, which would take water from the bay. The mniter will be discussed at, the mooting of the board on Fridav night.

“ Arc yon in favor of the. present Royal Family or a republic ?” was a question asked at the Opera-house, Wanganui, at tbo close of political addresses given by .Messrs Mnnloith and M'Kccn, M.P.s. The reply fell to Mr Montenh, who said it was a matter for the English Government, and he was not a member of it. No doubt Mr Ramsay MacDonald could answer the question much better. “ A house is not immortal,” remarked Mr A. R. Entrican to the Building Conference at Wellington. Ho said the life was only about fifty years in a wooden structure, and in same of those that were being built to-day the life would only be about twenty-five years. Continuing, be said timber bad recently been put into buildings in Auckland which contained over 80 per rent, of water based on the oven-dry weight of the wood. It had been established that wood containing between SO and 30 per cent, of water did not shrink, the hundredth part of an inch, but when it came below o 0 per cent. t.ho shrinkage commenced. The charge of ICs 6d imposed bv tbo banks for signing letters of indemnity in connection with importations from overseas was adversely commented upon by the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. Tbo Wanganui Chamber wrote suggesting a reduction to 2s 6d, and pointed out that banks did not incur any additional liability, because they would not sign unless they had the necessary security’. Mr J. 1L Rondell criticised the custom ms purely perfunctory. “It is just a little squeeze that banks ought to bo ash.anied of charging,” he averred. “ I do not wish to insult your Honor, but the real reason for my application for an adjournment of this case is that I have a case pending in tho lower court, and that, if J am not present, it will proceed.” was the remark made by Air J. J. Sullivan at the Auckland Supremo Court. Air Justice Stringer assumed a surprised expression, and replied; “ I should be very much surprised if any magistrate persisted in going on with a case if he realised that coj'n.se! concerned was engaged in a ca.sc at the. Supreme Court.” Air Sullivan stated that ho had known it to happen quite recently. He thanked tho judge for his straightforward declaration on the question," and the case proceeded. “ Fireproof construction in New Zealand is not applied scientifically,” declared Air A. J. Entrican, of tbo Forestry Department, at the Building Conference at Wellington. “In most buildings all the stairways are round the lift well. that shouldn’t bo allowed as things arc, or, if it wore permitted, tho staircase should bo surrounded on all sides with fireproof material .and fireproof steel doors. This is a common practice in all other countries but New Zealand.” Air J. Maxwell (Auckland) thought that this matter was one. for tho local authorities. ‘‘Tbo question of tho stairs was raised, I remember, at the time, of the Grand Hotel fir© in Auckland, he said. “ But to-day, when wo have reinforced concrete buildings, it is quite another matter.”

If someone were to compile a list of accidents in the railway service for some years past, and sot opposite each the day of the week upon which it occurred, ho might, bo able to throw definite light upon a question discussed between Mr Truce Frazer and Mr M. Connelly, president of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, nC the railway inquiry (says the Wellington ‘Post’). In support of a claim for a six-hour day for shunters, Mr Connolly referred to tho arduous nature of the work in tho railway yard, pointing out that if, was over necessary lor tho shunter to ho on tho. alert, as be was liable to meet with an accident at any time if ho did not keep an extra eye open. It would ho found, ho said, that accidents in the, yards usually occurred towards tho end 'of a day or towards tho end of tho week, when tho worker wa-s more or loss exhausted a,s a result of his constant vigilance. His Honor said it was remarkable ’ how many accidents occurred at the beginning of the week. He admitted that, if a man was fagged out, probably he would not be so watchful: but a report of the Labor Department of New South Wales showed that actually more accidents took place at tho beginning of the week than later in tho week. The explanation was that it took the men time to settle down to their work. Mr Connelly said that all the information ho had gathered pointed to tho fact, that a man was more liable to moot with a mishap at tho ond of a shift. Yes, wo have nice bag handles, 4s 6d, 6e 6d,' 8s 6d.—Todd’s White House, Georgs street. —[Advt.] Tho monthly meeting of tho Gaelic Society will be held to-morrow evening in Kroon’s Hall. A da.nco will bo hold in tho South Dunedin Town Hall to-morrow night. For tho benefit of _ those who arc interested in public speaking, Mr Kowlands has generously agreed to give, a, free lecture on tho first principles of that art, in First Church Hall, to-morrow afternoon, at 4 o’clock. There wLU be a collection to defray expenses. Ladies, keep pace with the times; washboard dnideerv eliminated since the arrive! of “No-nibbing” Laundry Help.—W. Smith] and Oo.—fAdvt.]