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Evening Star, Issue 18736, 11 September 1924, Page 6

The City Council last night decided to hold a special meeting, on a date to be fixed by the mayor, to discuss the annual report of the town clerk upon the operations of the various departments of the corporation.

At the meeting of the General Committee of the Canterbury A. and P. Assosiation last night the organiser for the Canterbury Progress League wrote asking if the association intended taking any part in the organising and arranging for a display of Canterbury products at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition. Mr Hall said he thought the association should take part in, seeing that there was a decent representation of Canterbury’s products at the Exhibition. They had not been able to meet the wishes of Dunedin in respect of letting them have the Royal Show next year, and ho thought they should assist in the matter of the Exhibition. He moved on the lines of his remarks, and his motion wa 3 agreed to.—Our Christchurch correspondent.

Yesterday afternoon Alfred Walker, who resides at Heathcote, was admitted to the Christchurch Hospital suffering from the effects of poison (wires our Christchurch correspondent). How he same to poison himself is the rather sad story of a joke that went wrong. During the afternoon three men were engaged in a working bee at tho Heathcote Bowling Club’s greens. A gallon bottle of weed-killer for use on the greens was standing on a table, and when Walker came in he went up to the table, lifted tho bottle to his lips, and said to the men: “Well, boys, hero’s a go.” Apparently it was intended as a joke, but Walker must have underestimated the quantity of liquid in the bottle, and swallowed a mouthful before bo could prevent himself from doing so. The bottle was marked “Poison,” and Walker had been told by tho men to be careful, and to leave the bottle alone. However, ho laughed and put tho bottle to his mouth, despite the warnings of all tho three men. Immediately after swallowing tho liquid Walker fell to the floor. As soon as possible he,,was given an emetic, and afterwards taken to the Christchurch Hospital. His condition is still serious. After the incident Walker made a statement that he alone was to blame.

A clause in a report having to do with the control of the tepid baths was referred back to the committee for further consideration by last night’s meeting of the City Council.

The City Council last night formally adopted the arrangement between the council and the Harbor Board in connection with Logan Park and the construction of the highway. The matter was referred to the Finance Committee with instructions to prepare tho_ machinery for talcing a poll on the question of raising a loan lor the construction of the highway as early as possible. It was made clear to Cr Begg that, unless the poll is carried, the Education Board will retain its right to the eight acres in the park for a school site that it was originally offered by the Harbor Board. In reply to a remark by Cx Taverner, the mayor said that the total cost was not expected to exceed £BO,OOO. “ I want to record my vote against it, so you know where 1 stand,’' said Cr Shaddock when the motion jvas jmt to the meeting

The annual conference of the Otago area of the Now Zealand Alliance opened in the Octagon Social Hall this morning. There was a very largo attendance of delegates from various Otago centres, whilst there wore visitors present from other parts of the dominion. The Rev. George Miller presided at the morning session, and the delegates were welcomed by Mr Chas. Todd, president of the Otago Council Addresses wore given on different aspects of the Prohibition movement by the_ Rev. H. E. Bellhouse, Rev. L. J. B. Smith, Rev. 0. E. Blamires, Major Burton, and Mr J. W. Todd. In the afternoon addresses were given by the Eev. W. Walker, Rev. Tulloch Yuille, Rev. P. M. Beattie, Mr A. J. Niehol, Mr Charles Todd, Mr E. D. Poison, and Mr Charles Edmond (dominion organiser). The morning and afternoon sessions were not open to the Press. This evening a public meeting will be held in the Moray Place Congregational Church Hall.

The project of building a railway from Taupo to Putaruuru, which has been reported upon by a Royal Commission, has now (states a Wellington Association mes-' sage) reached a satisfactory stage as the result of negotiations between the Minister of Railways, the Railway Board, and the Taupo Tdtara Timber Company. The last-named offered nineteen miles of constructed railway to the board for £50,000, subject to the conservation of certain rights; and after considerable discussion made a f urther announcement that it would raise no objection to the board building the proposed line if it could be shown that it would serve other timber interests in the district better than the company’s line. This concession is expected to go a long way towards disposing of the obstacles which have held up the project for soma years. The total cost of the forty miles of new line and the relaying of the existing nineteen miles with 401 b rails will bo, roughly, £300,000. An Association message from Wellington states that the owners have decided that they will not attempt to refloat the Wakatu, and she will be offered for sale as she lies.

By Mr J. R. Bartholomew in the Magistrate’s Court this morning judgment for the undermentioned amounts, with costs, was given for plaintiffs in the following undefended cases:—Turnbull and Jones, Ltd. v. Elizabeth Johnston, £lO 4s, goods supplied; Matheson and Roberta, Ltd. v. Mr James Patterson (Eoefton), 10s (costs only), seeds supplied; D. 1.0. v. James Goble (Winton), os (costs only), goods supplied; Thomas Stephen Searle v. Arthur Wood, £3 Bs, bread supplied.

Matters of purely a formal nature were dealt with at the monthly meeting of the Dunedin Drainage Board last night. Mr J. Wilson, in moving the adoption of the report of the Works Committee, said authority had been granted to the engineer to purchase and fit up two recording gauges.at a cost of £l9 10s each, the gauges to be placed in such localities as to enable a reliable record to be obtained of the rainfall for the city as a whole. There was already a gauge installed at the pumping station at Musselburgh. The report of the committee was adopted. The Finance Committee’s report was adopted without discussion.

The monthly meeting of the Caversham School Committee was held on Monday evening, Mr D. M'Phcrson presiding over a full attendance of members. The chairman reported that the recently-appointed caretaker had taken up his duties. Several minor repairs requiring attention were left in the hands of the Works Committee. It was decided to apply for a subsidy on the amount spent recently in the purchase of a gramophone for use in the school. The sports master reported that C. Fraser had been chosen as a member of the schools Rugby representative team, while W. Wells and A. Roberts had been included in the hockey representatives, blatters in connection with the jumble sale will be discussed at a meeting to be held on Saturday evening.

In the order paper for the meeting of the City Council last night was a motion by Cr MacManus as follows; —“ That the resolution ol the council of August 27, 1924, negativing a motion to give power to the Bands Association to hold a concert, be rescinded, and that > the question be again considered by council.” Cr MaoManus stated that, as there was _ not a full meeting of the council, he desired to witl draw his motion. Cr Begg pointed out that, even if there were a full attendance, it would be useless .going on with the matter, as it was well known that, as the division would £O, the decision would rest on the casting vote of the mayor, who could only record his vote, in accordance with established practice, to leave things as they were. After further discussion permission was given to Cr MacManus to withdraw the motion. The City Council last night considered ten tenders for < the building of seven houses in the vicinity of the Forth street bridge. The successful tenderer was Mr A. W. Cooper, at £4,864, or roughly £7OO a house. The houses are to be erected in about five months and a-half. They will remain the property of the council, and will !bo rented only. The scheme is quite apart from that connected with the allocation of £5,000 from the Government for building residences. The town clerk reported that. allowing for interest at s=, per cent., sinking fund 11 per cent., and insurance and rates, the minimum rent would require to he 25s per week—that is, of course, if the council is not to lose money over the transaction.

Recently the Dominion Farmers’ Conference expressed the opinion that, the Government should place the egg Industry on the same footing as the fruit industry as far as financial assistance was concerned (reports a 'Wellington P.A. raessave). The Minister of Agriculture (the Hon W. Nosworthy) now has replied, pointing out that one of the principal factors governing the granting of a guarantee in the case of the fruit industry was the inability of growers to secure satisfactory advances against'their produe© in the absence of a guarantee. .No trouble in this respect appears to have been experienced by the poultrymen, states the Minister. Tn fact it is sa d that advances have been forthcoming m advance of any limit which the Government could reasonably he expected to guarantee. Payable prices had been received for three shipments of eggs. A new robe which has just been made for the mayor of the city was worn for the first time last night by Mr H. L Tapley at the meeting of the City Council. The old robe was made twentyfive years ago. It is interesting to note that it was obtained in honor of the occasion of the visit to Dunedin of the Duke and Duchess of York, our present King and Queen, and was first worn by Mr G. L. Denniston, who was mayor at the time. The new robe is of black si He, with striking purple facings. It will probably come as a surprise to many smokers—and certainly to most nonsmokers—to know that there are something like half a hundred' brands of cigarettes sold by tobacconists. One retailer to whom a ‘Star’ reporter talked confos.';cd to 46 brands, and about thirty makes of pipe tobacco. In its way, this great increase in the cigarette output (for the consumption has increased greatly, as well as the makes, during the past few years) is an indication of the greater expenditure upon luxuries that has followed the war. There are also a great many more women now smoking than formerly, and the concentration of manufacturers upon “catchy" names and pleasing methods of coloring and packing has been doubtless due largely to the new market provided by the gentle worshippers of My Lady Nicotine. Two years ago or so new brands of cigarettes were appearing on the market at a remarkable -rate, but the output has now eased up, although it has far- from stopped. The general opinion of retailers is that the variety is much too great. “There is a sudden demand for a brand,” said one, “ and we have to stock it. Then the public taste swings to something new again, and the brand we have just stocked probably has a slow sale. The position is not at all satisfactory from our point of view.” A Hastings Press Association telegram states that Claude Charles Brinsley, branch manager of Scouller and Company, pleaded guilty” to the theft of £395 16s 3d, the property of the company, and ifas committed to the Supreme Court at Wellington for seatcnca, .

The Chinese University Soccer- team passed through Dunedin by the express this morning, on route for Christchurch, where they will contest the fourth test match on Saturday.

The ring Is the most important purchase rou will make. Select it at Williamson's, fcho quality jewellers.—[Ad»t.]

The annual entertainment and) presentation of prizes of the Congregational Sunday Schools’ Union will be held in the Jubilee Hall, View street,' to-morrow evening.

The popular dance will bo held as usual next Saturday night in the South Dunedin Town Hall. Dancing, 8 to 12.

The United Starr-Bowketfc Building Society advertises £7,000 for disposal in October, also commencement of a new group (No. 9).

Many years. of .practical experience has made Williamson's, the quality jewellery expert in diamond setting.—Next The Bristol.—[Advt.]

Yes, wo have nice bag handles, te 6d, 6s 6d, 8s 6d.—Todd’s White House, George street.—[Advt.] Mr O. H. Boole, of Auckland, who has recently been through America with Chautauqua, is visiting Dunedin, and has consented to give some addresses in connection with the Methodist Central Mission during his visit here. He has the reputation of bein”- an exceedingly interesting speaker. He will deliver a popular address on Sunday afternoon next in the Octagon Hall on ‘ The Penniless Millionaire.’ Other meetings noil bo advertised to-morrow.

New potatoes grown at the North-east Valley, were sold by auction to-day at Reilly’s Produce Mart at Is 9d lb. Residents of St Hilda should keep in mind that 'a special service for the removal of rubbish will bo made to-morrow (Friday). All rubbish should bo on tho outer edge of the footpath by 8 a.m.