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Evening Star, Issue 19330, 17 August 1926, Page 6

Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P., has high hopes that his Daylight Saving Bill will on this occasion go through the Upper House and become law. Ho stated tliis molding that ho thought the measure had a greater chance of success than ever before, and ho hoped that the next time he returned to Dunedin from Wellington the country would know that the Bill had been adopted. The visit of the Duke and Duchess of York to Dunedin in about six months’ time is already engaging the attention of tbo Civic Committee of the City Council with a view to fixing upon suitable locations for the various gatherings which will take place to welcome our Royal visitors._ After a consultation with the Civic Committee, the deputy-mayor (Or W. B. Taverner), in company with members of the committee, yesterday made an inspection of Logan Park, with the idea of utilising the sports ground for children’s demonstrations and military reviews that might be Held. The party also considered a proposal to use one of the buildings for indoor functions in connection with tho visit. It is considered that it would bo a decided advantage to have the various functions located in tho one place instead of, as on the occasion of the visit of tho Prince of Wales,. in buildings and on grounds scattered all over tho city and suburbs. The committee is nob making its plans too early, for the Duke and Duchess will he in New Zealand about the middle of February next'year.

In tho Police Court this morning, before Mr J. R. S.M., a first offender was fined 10s, in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment, on a charge of drunkenness.

For reasons not given, tbo St. Kilda Borough Council decided last night that the figures of the fortnightly consumption of water should not be reported to tlie public. Cr E. Longwortb said that the figures were for the, guidance of councillors only. Cr M'Curdy remarked that the publication made no difference to the council. Cr Longworth; “Yes, it docs.” It may be added that since the water question has been before the St. Kilda ratepayers the figures have been published. That he understood that the city engineer was preparing plans for the drainage of Tainui and the Alfred street area, was stated by the mayor (Mr R. W. Hall) at hist night’s meeting of the St. Kilda Borough Council, when a petition was received from residents in Alfred street asking that the work be pressed forward. The water could only get away from the road by soakage. The mayor said the people had had a grievance for a considerable time. If the channelling and kerbing were completed the drainage might be pushed on, but tbo council had no allocation this year for the first work. The letter was received, the council deciding to reply stating that the completion of the drainage plans was awaited.

Messrs Walter Ellis and Co. were responsible for a .slick performance in removing the 85ft Mornington tramway stack in five days. Mr Ellis stated that when ho obtained the contract he was bombarded with suggestions about how it should ho razed, but ho followed his own plan, which worked out amazingly well. The stack, which is now a heap of bricks, has been a landmark for a very long time. It was partly rebuilt after the fire that destroyed the tramway «hcds nearly twenty years ago. There are still a good many painters out of work, hut the situation was somewhat relieved last week by one firm, taking on seven men. Another painter secured work this morning, and the coming of bright spring weather should further improve the position.

A large number of delegates attended a meeting of the Otago Labor Day Association to make arrangements for the holding of the annual Labor Day picnic and sports. Mr A. Stewart, pin., presided. The secretary reported having made inquiries _re several grounds, and after fully discussing his report it was resolved to again hold the sports at Evansdale. Several committees were set up to oarry out this year’s celebrations. Tho picnic and sports will he carried out as in previous years, which will include a waltzing competition and baby show. During the evening the retiring secretary (Mr O. A. Lucas) was presented with a gold watch in recognition of his past services to the association.

Tho Otago University Museum in King street now possesses four new large glass eases that, came from tho Exhibition, and thev are set up in the main room. Ono of them is used for the display of armor that was on view in tho British Court and was accpiirod by the association known as the “Friends of the Museum.” Another case carries the fish that were a feature of tho Fiji Court. The giant fish that excited a deal of attention at the Exhibition is too large for a case, so it is placed in the fish gallery on a special stand. These fish were mounted at the Australian Museum in Sydney and arc particularly'fine examples of taxidermy. The third case contains tho superblymounted American -eagle that Mr IX E. Theomin gave to tho Museum and the Emperor penguin that was presented by Mrs A. W. Moore—a magnificent bird caught on the first of the Scott expeditions to tho Antarctic, hi tho fourth case is lodged a collection of material from the Banks. Beef, Torres, Santa Cruz, and Eastern Solomon Islands—weapons, fishing tackle, etc. — the gift of the Rev. W. J. Hurrad, who spent some time in the Islands as a missionary and is now in charge of the Anglican parish at Ep at hers ton. Another set of four large glass cases that wore in tho arts and crafts section of the’ British Court have been purchased by tho Museum authorities and temporarily stored in the basement until room can bo found to use them.

Not many persons are likely to know that there is in New Zealand (or was until recently) a lease for a term oi ten thousand years. Some may refuse to believe it. Nevertheless, it is a fact, and the property that this Mctbusaleh lease relates to is in Dunedin. The information becomes public through a paragraph in the Sydney ‘Bulletin’ of June 20. Inquiries made here reveal the particulars. The lease is of date 1880. It is of a small strip of ground between the Bank of New Zealand and the structure known as Stokes’s Buildings, this strij) having been left vacant so as to give light to the back windows of both premises. The arrangement suited both parties, so in the year mentioned the Bank of New Zealand and the National Insurance Company executed what is known ns a cross lease, each party giving the other the occupancy for'ion thousand years, so that neither could build and block the light. In 1924, however, the Bank of New Zealand bought Stokes’s Buildings, and the lease with other rights merged into the bank’s freehold. Builders were called in to carry out alterations which obviate the need for protecting the lighting. The ten-thonsand-years area was taken into the bank’s promises and provided accommodation for an extension of the banking chamber that now ccHos a dozen extra members of the staff. - -

A Whangarei Press Association telegram states that as tho result of; a secret ballot the miners at Wilson’s collieries at Hikurarigi, who had been on strike for about three weeks, resumed work at midnight last night.

Support to the protest from the Hawera Borough Council against the Town Planning Bill was given by the St. Hilda Borough Council last night. The Mayor (Mr R. W. Hall) said a controversy had arisen over the Bill, which had been placed before Parliament without first being considered by the local bodies. Municipal and county conferences in tho past had reached no finality on town planning, and tho Government had deferred the matter for years. The Bill contained several clauses winch would bo welcomed by the councils, as in it tho width of roads, traffic laws, and other matters of uniformity wore settled. There was, no hurry about the Bill, and it should be held over till next session. Cr Longworth seconded the mayor’s motion that the Bill bo circulated among local bodies first, and said that the proposals in the Bill would not affect St. Hilda, which had been set out on modern lines. Some of the clauses in the Bill were easily misinterpreted, and others placed further burden on the ratepayers. The motion was carried, and the council further decided to send its resolution to tho local members of Parliament.

Working at night witlythe aid of an automobile, thieves _ during tho past week have been raiding cars parked in Christchurch, and a largo number of motorists have reported to the police the loss of rugs, suit cases, and other belongings. Grand National Week is often picked by “crooks” for such exploits, and it is believed tho nocturnal raiders having, according to reports, made a very successful “clean up,” will now seek other fields. Tho detectives were busy all last week investigating reported thefts, bub the thieves, whose methods stamped them as old hands, wero fast workers, and were careful to leave nothing of a toll-talc nature behind them to help tho officers in their work.—Christchurch correspondent.

Although the “servant problem,” particularly in its relation to the shortage of domestics, is a question that gets a perennial airing in the newspapers, it looks, from the experience oi a local advertiser, as if matters have taken a decided change for the better as far as the lady of the house is concerned. Recently an advertisement was inserted in the ‘ Evening Star 1 for a lady help, a telephone number being given. From d.fiU p.m. until 10 p.m. the same day members of the household were kept busy in answering the calls of,the applicants for the position. At 10 o’clock most of the family were exhausted, and' in sheer desperation the receiver was taken off, but the constant “ burrs ” during the night told their own story. /

Members of the Albany Street School Association and their friends gathered at a reunion in the Early Settlers’ Hall last evening. Artistic decorations gave the hall a cheery aspect. The president of the association,' Mr W. R. Sinclair, briefly welcomed everyone, and apologised for the absence of Mr W. J. Thompson (chairman of the school committee) and Mr James 11. Wilkinson. The proceedings commenced _ with a march past, headed by the senior members, after which dancing was indulged in. Card tables wore supplied for nondancers. During the evening short addresses were given by Mr W. Thomson and Mr E. Cowio, both speakers referring to the old days at the school. Songs were rendered by bliss Phyllis West and bliss Nellie Boyle, and a recitation by bliss Phyllis Eckhoff proved a pofhdar item. At the close of the evening supper was provided. Mr Gordon’s hand supplied the dance music.

Owing to difficulties in obtaining iron girders, operations on a number ol large buildings in Christchurch and other parts are likely to bo delayed considerably. It is a possibility that one of the buildings affected _ by the shortage will be, the new Municipal Concert Chamber. The situation is due to the coal strike in England, which has badly affected the iron industry_ in Great Britain, where the iron rolling mills arc not now manufacturing girders; while a number of companies in the dominion which usually carry stocks of girders aro not able to provide for all sizes. One importer pointed out to a ‘ Sun ’ reporter that if the coal strike was settled to-day manufacturers have such an accumulation of orders that they probably would not he in a position to supply New Zealand’s requirements for six or eight months; so that the situation was likely to become more acute. Attempts to place orders in Australia with various iron manufacturers had not been altogether successful, the Australian Government having bought heavily for its own needs. The effect of tho interference in manufacturing caused a rise recently in galvanised sheet iron of £1 per ton. A shortage also has developed in steel plates, which have firmed in price, and steel mining rails have become dearer by about 15s a ton. It looks as if Canada may prove the sheet-anchor for a time for the iron industry in the dominion.—Christchurch correspondent “Business in Dunedin is quiet, hut sound,” said an observant and wellinformed manager this morning. “ There is no doubt about Otago and the south generally being solid as to money, hut it seems to mo that it is possible to be 'too solid—to encase oneself in concrete, as_ it wens—and that is what wo aro doing by getting frightened about unemployment. Our people are bolding on to their money as though fearing some terrible collapse, and tho general tendency to put savings into hanks or hand it to a solicitor for investment is doing the harm to tho community, for. the money is not going round, and lienco tho slackness in trade. The unemployment that wo read of is to be regretted, of course, and we all feel sorry for tho men and wish to help them, but it will not do them nor anybody any good to let iho position scare u,s into miserliness. Suppose there are a thousand or oven a couple of thousand men out of work for tho time being—wbnt is that in comparison with the total? A mere flea bite. More men than that have come into the country this last year. J think that a little more hopefulness and faith in tho conntry and in ourselves would bo an excellent tonic.”

On behalf of the Wellington Civic League, Mr M'Larcn gave evidence before the Select Committee of the House of B epresen La lives re buses. While recognising that regulations were necessary in the public interest the said) there wore sonic mailers in the present proposals to which they objected, including the extreme powers given local authorities, which was onesided, harsh, and unfair. The twopence extra was characterised as a general tax on the ratepayers, and this met with the league’s full condemnation. Evidence was also, given on behalf of the Eastbourne bus service.— Wellington Associaiinn message. During the week ended at noon yesterday the deaths from influenza in Canterbury totalled four. Five fresh cases were notified. On the West Coast there were six fresh cases, but none proved fatal. For glasses guaranteed to suit consult W. V. Stunner, G.A.0.C., D.S.O.L, 3 Octagon, Dunedin; ’phono 7,252. —[Advt.] To ensure that your underdo thing is absolutely free from those microscopio dieoasespreading germs “No-rubbing Laundry Help” must bo used.—[Advt.] Spot cash in London has brought Williamsons, the jewellers, unset diamonds at "strike prices.” Ring-seekers, take note.— [Advt.] ' Euchre tourney in the South Dunedin Town Hall to-morrow evening.