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Evening Star, Issue 19025, 21 August 1925, Page 6

Extra tramcars had to he put on to tho Dunedin corporation service on several occasions during the visit of tho American warships,, and it is estimated that tho takings in fares increased, as a result of the enhanced traffic, by £6OO or £7OO in tho ten days.

The water in Lake Mahinerangi dam at Waipori lias been purposely lowered a little in order to allow workmen to start on tho raising of the dam by 3ft as a first instalment of the operations for building the concrete, to the full authorised height. Less important works have in the past started with ceremony and rejoicings. The fashion of 1 to-dav is to get to the job and go on with* it apart from fuss. A very good principle it is. But such au undertaking as the enlarging of this dam is well worthy of quiet congratulations. It means a Jot to not only Dunedin, but the big surrounding district.

Light formation work in preparation for the extension of tho railway from Miller’s Elat to Roxburgh is proceeding steadily under tho direction of Mr B. L. Kaye, the assistant engineer in charge on' behalf of the Public Works Department, but no more bands have yet been taken on, tho gangs consisting of the men who were on the work of making the lino from Beaumont to Miller’s Elat.

The contractors for the fitting up of the New Zealand Government Court at the Big Exhibition are speeding up the work of framing tbo administrative and administering departments, the kinema theatre, and so forth, and apparently this court will be ready in plenty of time. The space allotted therein to the Forestry Department is to be a leaturo of the State’s display. The walls of this building are to bo of logs, ana some of the timber samples to be shown inside have come from Wembley.

Dunedin, traditionally keen 911 business, missed an opportunity this week. Numbers of the American sailors, ashore on Wednesday, their last day for leave, cruised the streets in the afternoon in search of shops whereat to purchase mementos in the shape of greenstone or other trinkets of local origin, and tho men had the money at command, but could not spend it, tho afternoon being a holiday. When these sailors first landed they paid for their purchases at the shops with American paper money. On tho last day ol leave they had British gold, and some of them got shopkeepers to give hack the American paper in exchange lor tho minted coins.

Tho express train from Christchurch that was duo at Dunedin at 4.18 p.m. yesterday did not arrive till 5.10. The engine broke down at Glenavy, and a relief locomotive had to be sent Irom Oamaru. As a result the train was nearly an hour behind time in leaving Dunedin for Invercargill.

The railway passenger traffic in the Dunedin district was considerably increased by the comings to and the goings from town during the visit of the American fleet. Schools that took advantage of the visit included Invercargill, Gore, Lawrence, Balclutha, and Mosgiel. It is estimated that tho trotting races attracted 500 or 600 extra visitors. The various, excursions also added appreciably to the traffic. The train from and to Talmkopa, 011 the Gatlins branch, was patronised 011 Tuesday by about 500. Dr A. J. flail, of Dunedin, who is on a world tour, writes thus from London to Mr D. Phillips, chairman of the Music Committee of the Exhibition Company, about the Argyll Sutherland Band; “ You have got, so I learn from all quarters, a superb baud, whoso services are in constant demand throughout the United Kingdom. Next week 1 nm to hear Ibis bam! play at Bath, whither .1 am going as a delegate to the British Medical Association’s annual congress. Tho bandmaster has offered to perform any work or works which I would like to hear. He has a magnificent repertoire of the very highest class, and with it and the rest he is able to put on most attractive items from tho popular point of view. The piping section, ho says, is a host in itself, and is a sure draw. Tho bandmaster had been under the impression that Dunedin was a village, and that the best class of music would not be likely +0 be required, but when 1 told him that our Dunedin audiences arc discriminative first and appreciative after he was very delighted to hear it.”

An eight-roomed wooden house at L'iS London street, owned and occupied by Mr A. P. Bronmer, caught lire last evening per medium of a defective fireplace. The City Fire Brigade received the call at (3.6 p.m., and prevented other than slight damage to the ceiling of one room. The building is insured with the United Insurance Company. Another alarm was registered at 7.57, and in response to this the brigade went to Mr John Mackay’s residence in Southern Grove street, St. Kilda, to suppress a chimney outbreak. The hearty expressions of Dunedin’s good-will to the American sailors did not cease when the destroyers steamed away from the city wharves. All the way down the hauborsidc groups of people waved an revoir, even the passing trains linking up with the prolonged chorus. From all the harborside schools the pupils took up prominent positions on the foreshore. At Port Chalmers about_ 400 children from the District High School occupied a prominent position, and they were delighted with the answering cheers from the passing destroyers. In the Auckland Police Court, Wilton Stanley, aged twenty-three, admitted ton charges of theft, including three bicycles, money from slot telephones, and damage to slot telephones, the total involved £29 6s Bd. Accused was at one time a telegraphist, but lost his employment recently. The thefts were committed while accused was on probation on other charges. He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for stealing the bicycle, and a conviction recorded on the other charges.— Press Association.

As Association message from Wairoa states that Sir James Carroll was tendered a great huia by the Wairoa Maoris, assisted by Europeans, on the occasion of his sixty-eighth birthday. There were many visitors, both European and Maoris, from all parts of New Zealand, and every public body in Wairoa was well represented. A big luncheon was put on in Orangitirohia Mission Hall, aud many congratulatory speeches made. In the evening a huge crowd assembled in the hall and outside, when many speeches were made by leading men from Wairoa and Gisborne. Sir James was presented with a fine carved walking stick (gold mounted), and a handsome birthday book, containing hundreds of signatures. A large oil painting will be presented at a later date. Sir James Carroll was born in Wairoa, and this was the first occasion his birthday has been celebrated there. Much enthusiasm was shown by both races, and many congratulatory telegrams were received from Cabinet Ministers, members of Parliament, and friends from all over the dominion.

A farewell message on behalf of tho Radio “ fans ” of Dunedin was broadcasted to the licet from 4YA last evening by Mr E. J. O’Neill. J n its course, lie said: “Yon who have visited ns will no doubt in tho near future go back after your term with tho navy and become 'citizens, with your own private radio apparatus. We hope yon will not forget' to give Dunedin a call, as I can assure you that call will he answered, conveying with it fraternal greetings.” At tho annual meeting of the Educational Association of Now Zealand the president (Mr Cresswcll) expressed disappointment at the result of the year’s operations. Ho felt that tho association was not going to function without tho support of the university professors, and it did not appear that there was much hope of their coming in. Other sepnkers also commented on the apathy shown. The following were elected officers:—President, Mr Law (Auckland); vice-president, Mr Cresswell (Wellington) and Mr Park (Auckland) ; secretary, Mr Parkinson.—Wellington Press Association telegram.

“ Bobbed hair and short skirts, cigarettes and cocktails, may be the signs of degeneration,” said the president of the Secondary Schools Association at Wellington, “but, personally, I prefer to think that they are mere surface excrescences, thrown by a steadily-advancing wave of progress towards a better basis of life between the sexes. It is, I am afraid, largely self-flattery that impels so many of those who are nearing the grand climacteric to denounce the younger generation as degenerate- Every man of forty has to avoid the clangers of cerebral ossification.”

“ New Zealand is ahead of Australia in top-dressing pastures,” said Mr_ P. J. Carrpll, Commonwealth Supervisor of Daily Exports, in an interview at Auckland. “Top-dressing is not universal in Australia, but the uso of artificial manures is rapidly.” Another feature in the dominion v.as the demonstration areas. Mr Carroll was not sure that it was wise to expect, as apparently New Zealanders did, these areas to pay their way. That was not always practicable or advisable where experiments were being carried out, but if these areas could remain efficient teachers and be selfsupporting as well, there was great cause for congratulation. Diamonds still bold their place as tho most coveted of all jewels, according to Mr Proud, icweller. of Sydney, who passed through Auckland on the Aorangi. In the United States, particularly, and big cities Mr Proud observed a steady demand for precious jewels, and next to diamonds emeralds and pearls were the most prized. Indicative of the money which jewels command is the fact that in New York an emerald bead necklace valued at £27,000 was offered as the piece de resistance by a popular establishment. Tiie average person can hardly conceive so large a sum being squandered in personal adornment, put the wealthy classes spend fortunes in this way. Peculiarly enough, tho necklace was not particularly handsome, its great wealth lying in tho fact that it was possible, to obtain stones sufficiently large to cut down into beads. Singularly enough the very variety of the necklace "and the facility with which any of the stones would bo recognised offered a certain amount of _ protection to a wearer. Diamonds, it may be mentioned incidentally, have been bought by members of the American fleet both in Australia and New Zealand, and they are said to return their purchasers a good return in America, the reason being the disparity in the customs duty levied in Australia and the U.S.A.

Considerable indignation (says a Wellington Association message) was aroused by an attack in a small local •'publication on the American sailors, accusing them of various sorts of misbehaviour and of interfering with women. Tho City Council passed a resolution appreciating the conduct of the men, and the Journalists’ Institute has sent a letter to Admiral Coontsi protesting against the article and expressing regret that “tho canons of hospitality and good taste should in this isolated ease have been outraged.”

Under the system of the interchange of officers for two years with the Indian forces there have arrived (says a Wellington Press Association telegram) Captain Campbell (Highland Light Infantry) and Lieutenant Dillon (artillery)', who will be stationed at Wellington,- and Captain Platt _ (of the, Sherwood Foresters), who will go to Auckland. The New Zealand officers who have left for India are Captain Potter (of Auckland), who joins the Highland Light Infantry at Bangalore; Captain Wales (of Wanganui), who joins the West Yorkshires at Bombay; and Lieutenant Brooke (o) Blenheim), who will he attached to the Hampshire Regiment at Jubbalporc. Sir Justice Herdman and a jury heard a claim for £750 damages by Hugh Gardiner, father of Ernest Gardiner, aged nineteen, who died from injuries in the Pukemiro coal mines. The jury found the Pukemiro Collieries, Ltd, guilty of negligence, and assessed the damages at £65(1. Counsel for the company objected to judgment being entered. His Honor granted an adjournment for further consideration. When summing up before the jury retired he said it was important that the Government inspector had examined the mine on the day of the accident, and had not found any cause for complaint. This .should bo considered in conjunction with the report of the miners’ representatives. If damages were considered compensation should bo assessed with observance of the actual financial loss of the family. It would ho a public scandal to award damages out of sympathy if negligence was not established. —Auckland Press Association telegram.

Yes, wo have plenty unbreakable metal dolls' heads from 2s Gd. —Todd’s Karrie-Kan-nio Dollies’ Hospital, George street (next Plaza).—[Advt.]

A euchre tournament will bo hold in the WaraUh Tea Rooms this evening. A smoke concert will ho hold on Saturday night of all ex-secondary schools pupils. This will give a chance of meeting old friends of school days. There are about twenty-live secondary schools in New Zealand, and it is hoped that each will be represented at the “ smoko.”