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Evening Star, Issue 18807, 4 December 1924, Page 6

Wo linve rcceivffff from “ S.V.R.” a subscription of 10s for the Christinas cheer fund of the Benevolent Institution. Prior to his departure from Dunedin, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart conferred with the president a“nd secretary of the Utago Expansion League regarding the railway duplication and the Post Office, promising to interview the Hon. the Minister of Public Works, and let the league know tlie result as early as possible. Mr Macdonald received the following telegram from the Hon. Mr Stewart:— “ Have scon Minister of Public Works, who advises me first that the work of moving the railway eastward at Pci idle t Hay is actually in progress, and instructions have been issued to the district engineer to facilitate the work; .secondly, instructions have been issued to clean up the front of the Post Office, as suggested; thirdly, ho is recommending to Cabinet that tho building of new Post Office be taken in hand in 1926. I trust this will bo patisfaclory. Will advise yon later on other points." The committee sot up at Anderson Bay to arrange for the formation of a Ratepayers' and Householders’ Association met yesterday, and several matters which require attention were discussed—water supply, drainage, footpaths, street lighting, dangerous corners and approaches, and the tip at Bayfield. After a good deal of discussion, it was decided to make an inspection of every street in (lie Bay, and draw up a complete list of the wo rka required, which will bo submitted to a public meeting early in February. It was deemed inadvisable to call tho meeti.ig earlier owing to tho approach of the holidays. It is about twenty years since the. freezing works opened as early as they have done this year (wires our Christchurch correspondent). Last [Monday business was started in most of tho works, bat there was nothing much offering. Tho farmers .seem to be holding their fat stock, as there is still plenty of feed in the con: try. What stuff there is forward is bringing very heavy prices. This was evidenced at Bangiora, yesterday, and at, Addington to-day. The works probably will not get a good start until the end of tho week, or perhaps well into next. There arc many men idle at- the varinu.works, only getting in a few hours a. day. Many of these men left their winter employment in order to get in at the freezing works early, but now they will ho on short pay for the best part of a week or two.

Over 400 members are now on the roll of the Rig Exhibition (,'hoir, and others me prepared to join if accepted. The conductor is now in llio happy position of being able to exercise an option as between the good and tlie very good.

The risk of people catching infections diseases from books lent out from the Public Library was referred to by Cr Hal-, lidav at tho meeting of tho (lity Council last' night. In view of tho fact that, there had been a, good deal of measles lately, ho said ho would like an assurance that an effort was made to sec that books were not infected. In reply. Cr Clark (chairman of the Library Committee) said an arranmoment had been arrived at whereby the Health Department supplied regularly to tho library a list of bouses in which infectious diseases had been notified, and any books which had been in those places were destroyed. In many cases the .Health Department had destroyed tho hooks without consulting the librarian. It was found practically impossible to disinfect books, (ho only effective remedy being to destroy them. “Cr Clark added that, practically all diseases were notified nowadays. An attractive gift has been made to the Otago Museum by Air Percy Sargood in the, form of three Easter Island wooden figures, with characteristic rendering of the face—pouting lips, eyes of bird bone, with pupils of black obsidian. Such figures are extremely rare.

A Wellington Press Association telegram slates that Dr Clapp, who arrived in New Zealand a year ago and investigated the Taranaki oil district, has returned from an inspection of large areas of West and North-west Australia. His report on them is unfavorable. A company is to be formed to develop the Taranaki fields, with a capital of £150,000. “This is tho worst case of cruelty to animals we have ever dealt with, ’ said justices at Christchurch iu inflicting a fine of £ls on Frank Carter, a contractor, of St. Martin’s, for beating a mare with a stick and a long-handled shovel. The evidence showed that nearly a month later the horse had a lump behind the head.--Press Association.

At a meeting of the Board of Directors of tho New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition Company yesterday afternoon the following minute ws adopted “ That the board, having had under consideration at several meetings the_ question of postponement of the Exhibition for a year on account of the reopening of Wembley in 1925, and fully realising the difficulties of the position, has arrived at the conclusion that the matter can only be decided when it is definitely known whether Wembley will reopen or not; and that, even in that event, postponement could only be entertained on being satisfied that it would be in the interests of the dominion and the Empire. Aleantime the board and committees are carrying on their activities.”

The steamer Kentucky, which loft this morning for Melbourne and Sydney to complete discharge of her New York cargo, took eight bags of mail from here for Australia. Tho vessel is due at Melbourne on the morning of December 9. Tho War Pensions Board —Air D. G. A. Cooper, S.AI. (chairman), Dr A. W. Izar-d, Mr J. D. Harper, and Mr IE H. Inder (secretary)—commenced its sitting this morning. The board has some hundred cases to deal with, and will sit for three days; then proceed south, returning to Dunedin on December 15 for further business. The number of cases _ coming before the board this year is considerably leas than in previous years-

There was another clean sheet at tho City Police Court to-day.

The possibility of the Big Exhibition being postponed is 0110 of tho common subjects of talk in Dunedin, but nobody seems to be excited about the matter, nor to treat the suggestion very seriously. It tho directors of tho company do make up their minds that a postponement is desirable they will have to consult the shareholders. * and by the terms of the contract between the company and the applicants for space the latter must bo notified by the end of the present year if the date of opening is pushed forward.

Dr Trilby King accompanied Dr Valintine (Director-General of Health) in his inspection of St. Widens Hospital and the Forth Street Hospital this week. Dr Valintine, who left Dunedin to-day, will of course report to the Minister as to the suggestion that tlie.se maternity hospitals be amalgamated, and the persons concerned must wait for that report. In tho meantime the opinion is gaining ground that the present arrangements are not likely to he disturbed, one reason for that opinion being that the amalgamation would involve constructive outlay which would bo out of proportion to tho derivable benefits.

Tho in connection with the recent sliow of the Otago A. and P. Society are not yet ready for balancing to a nicety, but the secretary (Air E. F. Untliie) is of the opinion that the outgo and the income will about square. An Association message from Auckland states that the body of a newlyborn female child was discovered in the Domain Gardens by Hie gardener. There were no marks of violence on tho body. An inquest was opened, and adjourned for medical evidence whether the child had lived.

Nelson city yesterday carried loans totalling £51,000* for street improvements, drainage extensions, fresh water and salt water swimming baths. A proposal for rating on unimproved value was defeated by over two to one.-—Press Association telegram.

A private communication from the Old Country states that the Band of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, _ tho band most recently added to the list of those available for the Big Exhibition, is cno of the very good military bands of the Old Country. It is probable that the choosing will be deferred until the general manager arrives. He is sure to have particular information that will servo as a guide.

Our Clyde correspondent telegraphs that the thirty-second annual show of the Central Otago A. and P. Association, held at Omakau yesterday, was favored with good weather, and there was a big attendance. In some classes competition was not keen, but the quality was good throughout. Messrs R. Jopp and C. White were the principal winners in sheep, ’('hero were some fine light horses shown. The leaping events drew keen competition, ten horses competing. These were most interesting, but wore marred by an unfortunate, accident to Charles Dncherty, who was badly hurt as tho result of a fall.

'Hie fact that he was a German by nationality was tho reason given by a middle aged laborer named George Saulte for his not being able to obtain employment. He appeared on a charge of vagrancy before Mr E. Page, S M., at the Wellington Magistrate's Court, when it was staled by Bub-inspector Hollis that the accused had for some time been living in a cave in the bush in the vicinity of Tinakori road. He just “picked up his •meals where ho could, and complaint had been made by some of the residents of tho locality, who said Unit the accused always carried a heavy bludgeon around with him. Tho Salvation Army ollieer stated that he would look after the accused until he obtained work. The magistral© accordingly entered a conviction, and ordered him to come up for sentence if called upon within twelve months.

In the Supreme Court this morning His Honor Mr justice .Sim heard an application hy George Matthews Aitken tor an order against the District, Land Registrar directing him to delete the registration of (he discharge of a mortgage which had been signed by mistake. Mr (1. Macgrcgor appeared in support of the application, and Air F. H. Adams appeared for tho Registrar. After some discussion His Honor indicated that the case, was not one m which an order could he made. It appeared that the Registrar had power (o make, a correction if, he derided it was a proper case. It was possible after referring the matter to the other parties concerned that he might see his way to act. His Donor agreed to sign a memorandum to this effect iu order that the Registrar might act upon his opinion if he were satisfied upon the facts. “ A great event has happened in Hie House of Mae Maims, said tho mayor (Mr H. L, Tapley) at the. opening of last night's meeting of the City Council. He understood that Cr MacManus had been presented with twin boys. (Applause.) Ho felt lie could not on bis own bclialf and on behalf of councillors allow that (pporlunify to go by without extending to Cr MacManus and to Airs MacManus •their heartiest, congratulations on that great event. He .understood that on a previous occasion twin girls were presented to Cr MacManus and Airs MaeManus. He was sure Cr MacManus was proving a very worthy citizen, and one who should receive every encouragement.. (Applause.) Ho hoped that these two hoys; and all the others would turn out to be good and faithful citizens. They wished them all sorts of good luck, and asked Cr MacManus to convey their congratulations to Airs MacManus. Cr MacManus returned thanks.

A severe earthquake shock was felt at Wharerata, near Gisborne, at 3.55 a.m. on Tuesday bust. Between 4 and 5 a.m. no fewer than nine shocks were experienced. There were three more at 11 o'clock, and two further tremors occurred at 2.20 on Tuesday afternoon. Chimneys at a number of homesteads have been damaged. The heaviest shake was the niilial quake at 3.40 a.m. It was of a sudden, jerky nature. Conditions indicated that the s'cat of the disturbance was probably not far away, possibly from Hie direction of Alovere. A singular feature in connection with the disturbance is the fact that a crack has developed in the main road about half a mile from the Wharerata Post Office. The crack, which is reported by the Public Works Department overseer, is an inch in width and two chains long. It has developed since the earthquake. Light earthquake shocks have been quite frequent at Wharerata recently. An Auckland gentleman is searching for the author of the following letter received recently from Wellington “Just a line to congratulate you, as a citizen of Auckland, on your city’s bavin" made that wonderful invention, the collapsible wharf. I am told that, while the collapsible boat, the collapsible scaffold, and the. collapsible bottle, have, presented no difficulties to the inventive mind, the problem of inventing the perfect collapsible wharf has baffled the finest engineering brains in the world for years, and now the honor falls (like the wharf) to your city. Just think of the advantages. Now,'when a ship has unloaded and loaded her cargo, she will not have to go through the tedious am' undignified process of letting go the haw sersj unhitching the stringers, unbuttoning the main braces, and all that paraphernalia of old! Certainly not; she will not have to leave the wharf; tho wharf will simply leave her.” A cheap motor run is available to Waipori Falls on Sunday. Hart’s Comfort Coach will leave Manse street at 10 a.m. Tli© Popular Dance will bo held as usual in the South Dunedin Town Hall on Saturday night. Best music. Dancing, Bto 12. Entries for the Dunedin Bowling Centre’s Christmas tournament close at 11 a.m. on Saturday,' December 13. Big variety dolls’ prams (new models), 20a, 255, 30s, 40s—Todd’s Whit© House, Georg# street. —[Advt.] You will find gift selecting easy at Williamsons, the, jewellers .(next The Bristol Co.). You get quality at moderate prices. •—£Advt.]