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Evening Star, Issue 19518, 28 March 1927, Page 6

A deputation from the Otago Expansion League waited this morning on the Prime Minister (lit. Hon. J. G. Coates) with a request that an increased • grant, either by way of laud rentals or by a direct grant from the Consolidated Fund, be made to tho Pembroke Domain 1 Board for the purpose of beautifying and enhancing tho tourist attractions at Lake Wanaka. In reply, Mr Coates jocularly remarked that he thought that Wanaka was perfect now and that he would like to stay there for a month. He assured the deputation that ho would confer with the Tourist Minister to see what funds were available to assist the Pembroke Domain Board.

The sloop Veronica, which is attached to the New Zealand Naval Division, and is on an extensive cruise, was open for visitors on Saturday and yesterday, from 1.30 to 5 p.m. Hundreds of persons, the great majority of whom were children, boarded the little war vessel from the Rattray Street wharf. Included in the sightseers was a small party of Boy Scouts. Yesterday morning about forty men —nearly half ship’s complement—tinarched to St. Paul’s Cathedral and heard the service there. On Saturday afternoon on the Oval, an Otago "Harbor Board cricket team beat a team from the ship by a fair margin of runs. The officers say that they are being well entertained privately, while the sailors have been granted leave regularly since the sloop’s arrival. Before tho Veronica sails, and she will probably leave on Thursday afternoon for Timaru, Lyttelton, Picton, Nelson, Wellington, and Auckland, it is likely that a game of football will be participated in by a team from her.

During the week-end the City Fir© Brigade was not called upon to turn out, but the South Dunedin division answered one. call and the services of the Roslyn Brigade were required on two occasions. On Saturday afternoon at 12.60, the South Dunedin machine was dispatched to Lindsay road, Caver sham, where a Ford motor had caught fire.* No damage was done.' At L4O p.ra. on Saturday the Roslyn engine went to Gamma Street, Roslyn, and extinguished a bush fire, and at 1.10 a.m. on Sunday, a hedge fire in Taien road, Kaikorai, was attended to. The damage was slight in both cases. Mr J. R. Bartholomew presided over a short sitting of the Assessment Court this morning to dispose of the appeal of Cbas S. Smith (‘Evening Star ) against the assessment in respect to the building now in course of erection. Mr Tonkinson for the complainant, said that the objection had been withdrawn, an agreement having been come to as to valuation. In reply to the magistrate, Mr Tonkinson said that the amount had been reduced from £1,200 to £l,lOO.

The literary palate of Aucklanders is better catered tor than is that of residents of any other centre in the dominion (says the ‘Star’). Recent census figures disclose the tact that in the Auckland provincial district 13,288 subscribers are availing themselves of the 106 libraries at their disposal, winch contain 187,069 volumes of fiction, 27,295 technical and professional volumes, and other unspecified volumes which bring the total up to 329,803 volumes. Canterbury is next with 215, 3ip volumes-

An Auckland Association messago states that up to Saturday nineteen cases of diphtheria in Papatootoo district had been notified.. On board the Fedora! Lino steamer Middlesex, which reached Auckland from Liverpool on Wednesday, arc seven Egyptian youths who are serving their time as cadets. The lads, who are the sons of wealthy Egyptian merchants, have already spent three years on the training ship Worcester at London. They aro now completing their training and are all hopeful of obtaining second officers’ “tickets” at the end of the present year. Later the cadets will be employed in the Egyptian Government service.

On the grounds of religious objection to military training, a youth, Arthur Gently, of Pukcowarc, was granted exemption from service in hearing arms under the Defence Act by Mr ,T. W. Pom ton, S.M., in the Pukokohe Magistrate’s Court (reports the New Zealand ‘Herald’) In support of Beutly’s application for exemption, Mr E. G. Foster stated that Hie young man was a member of the church whose adherents were called the “ Followers of the Word of Jesus,” or “The Christians.” Military training was entirely contrary to the teaching o this sect, observance of the tenets of which involved the sacrifice of what most people considered usual wordly pleasures. The applicant was a staunch observer of the teachings of his church, and had never been to a picture theatre, dance, or picture entertainment. . The applicant had no objection to doing ambulance work or giving other service that did not involve bearing arms. The Magistrate: “ Exemption on the grounds of conscientious objection can be applied to Quakers and others, but I doubt whether it should be applied to new-fangled creeds. It would tend to have the tendency of increasing the membership of such churches by persons desiring to avoid military service.”. Mr Foster: “I can assure you this is not a new-fangled religion, and its members are sincere.” The Magistrate: “ Oh, yes, I think the applicant is sincere. I am prepared to grant an order exempting him from bearing arms, but he must render whatever service the military authorities may require of him.” The main road from Port Chalmers to the Spit has been improved considerably during the past two years, but portions of it aro yet in a Lad stale. The Motor Club has donated £lO towards filling up the deep ruts between Taylor Point and Otnphalo Pointy before Easter. This will be a boon to motorists, especially if the weather he wet. The Harbor Board decided on Friday night to contribute further to the improvement of this road. Scots wha hao wi’ Wallace hied from that very sore vein the pocket are not likely to forget the wound, nor how to apply the ligature. Not our Otago Scots, led by our own Wallace, at any rate. They even have the greater wisdom of knowing how to prevent further bleeding of the'sort. _ They can make a bargain, and insist on ifs being stuck to. Of this canniness the Caversham people were reminded by the chairman of the Otago Education Board on Saturday, when the now school was being officially opened .by the Minister of Education. Mr Wallace said that when this ne v school was 'being schemed the Education Board arranged to give £2,000 out of its rebuikliilg fund which then formed a nice nost-egg, but was now all gone, and offered to make it £3,000 u tco department would promise to go on and complete the. plan as soon as the first part was finished. That was the bargain, and ho trusted that it- still stood.

The first baptismal name of His Royal Highness the Duke of York is Albert, and it is by this name that ho subscribes himself. It has been a tavtired name in the Royal Family sir.ee the days of Albert, Prince Consort, t;.o Duke's great-grandfather. A letter in his autograph is at present to tie seen in the Public Library, and also, mu <nvelope in the handwriting of King Edward VII. when fourteen years o! age, initialled “A.E.” (Albert Edward). Because, according to their story, they had been, inadequately led, lour members of the crew of the Harmatlan refused to work, with the result that they were arrested at Christchurch on Saturday morning. In court later Ahmed Bachi, charged with wilful disobedience, and Askscl Berg, Jv alter Senior, and Kmid Morlonscn, chargedwith combining to impede tho progress of the ship, were convicted and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, and ordered to bo placed on board the ship before she leaves New Zealand. The magistrate said that a .serious offence had been committed.—Press Association. In the Auckland Police Court Ernest Edward Leaning, aged forty-two, describe/ by tho police as a well-known citv business man, was charged with indecently assaulting another male. The police said that Leaning bad admitted the charge, but counsel for the defence said it was not of a serious nature, defendant would plead not guilty. Accused was admitted to bail in £260. Suppression of bis name was refused.—Press Association.

In acknowledging the receipt of £6O remitted from this city to the "West Ham Mission, London, tho Rev. R. Rowntree*Clifford writes:—“l wish yon could have seen our faces as we sat in council, baffled and perplexed by the innumerable eases of direst need when your message came. All the friends who contributed would have been more than repaid by that sight alone, apart from what it meant to those families in suffering and want. Please convey to each and all h6w deeply wo are moved by loving hands thus stretched across tho sea. Such sympathy and cooperation demonstrate the kinship of human hearts and the wonderful spirit of goodwill in your sunny city. We have had a tremendously busy season. Hundreds of families received Christinas cheer. In Christmas week we entertained 300 old people to supper. Each received a parcelcontaining warm garments and good things. On Christmas Eve we had 2,500 children in our church to a party. Santg. Claus was very much in evidence. Eftch child received a pillow case containing a garment, an apple, an orange, and sweets. It was a thrilling experience. Altogether we have thus cheered the sad lives 4,000 associated with us. Our hearts are full of warm feeling towards you all. Truly you have been great eiicouragers to us. We often have visitors from New Zealand, and none are more warmly welcomed.” The appeal issued by the Auckland Progressive Citizens’ Election Committee to the mayor (Mr Baildon) and the deputy-mayor (Mr Warnock) calling upon one or other pf them to retire from the mayoralty campaign, and leave the other with a bettor chance against the Labor candidate (Mr Bloodworth) has introduced a fresh note of interest into the election contest. The committee suggests that if neither candidate will voluntarily withdraw the claims of both should be submitted to the arbitration of a committee -of citizens, whose final judgment the candidates should hind themselves to observe. —Press Association. Moa bones have never .been found in large quantities in the Wanganui district, and in tho few isolated places where they have been picked up have mostly been in the viciinty of swamps and more particularly in the Wangaehu district. The largest deposit was discovered in one spot at Makirikiri some years ago, where bones were all in a heap showing that the birds must have clustered together for shelter presumably from a fire or while being hunted. A few days ago a settler of Marybank came across a skeleton of a large moa and a smaller one that had been uncovered in sand. Unfortunately as soon as an attempt was made to remove the bones they crumbled to dust, and thus two fine specimens were lost to the museum. They were doubtless those of a mother bird and her younjj.

Preference for ladies! “..Parliament opens every day with a prater read by the Speaker,” said the Miniser of Education (Hon. 11. A. Wright) in the course of an address at the Otago Boys’ High School this morning, “and though ladies are admitted to the gallery while this is going on the gentlemen are not.” He said lie had once asked a friend why this was, and the reply he got was that it was because the Parliament of Nsw Zealand believed that the ladies of New Zealand needed their prayers more than the gentlemen. (Laughter.) The steamer Marama, which left Sydney on March 25 for Wellington, had twenty-five bags (including sixteen from beyond Australia) and five hampers of mails for Dunedin. The batch should come to hand on Wednesday. The Minister of Education (Hon. R. A. Wright) caused some amusement at the Otago Girls’ High School this morning when he called for three cheers for the “staff’s husbands to be,” and in humorous vein he said that just when a you„ug lady teacher was rendering 1 valuable service in a school the board I was put to inconvenience by losing her 1 because some man came along aud carried her of!.

Few people in Wanganui are aware that the museum trustees have in their possession the valuable collection of shells, the life work of Suter, says the Wanganui ‘Herald.’ These aro all properly classified and are the envy of 1 other museums in the dominion, who I have to look to Wanganui if they deI sire to identify any particular specij men. The collection is far too valu- ] able to have 6n show, and is therefore located away in a strong room in another part of the city until a special ( place can bo provided for them in the ' new museum. Even then they will be kept locked up, for it would never do to have these cabinets handled indis- * criminately by visitors.

“Times have changed,” the Minister of Education (tho Hon.* R. A. Wright) fold the pupils of the Otago Girls’ High School in an address this morning. “ One of the principal elements of education in my day was the cane. Yon don’t know anything about the cane nowadays. 1 think you got detention now!” (Laughter.) At Hie present time there are many hundreds of people—men, women, and children—engaged in the hop harvest, says the Nelson 1 Evening Mail.’ Never in the history of this industry have so many men been known to be employed ns pickers as this year. Tho fact is generally attributed to the dearth of employment generally ruling throughout the entire dominion at present. A great number of new arrivals of both sexes from tho Old Land are at present in Hie Motucka and Riwaka districts. The hop crop this year is considered a particularly heavy ope, wherever hops are grown. It is tho Lest that lias been known for quite a number of years. Hop-picking has been in progress for two or throe weeks, and will last another fortnight—am) in some of Hie larger gardens for Mho best part of three weeks.

An amusing anecdote concerning the Into Lord Charles Beresfortl was related ' by the Minister of Education (Hon. R. A. Wright) at tho Otago Boys’ High School this morning. Lord Bercsfo.nL who was in company with the Duko of Cumberland, wont into a shop, and the Duke, approaching a “ navvy,” offered him a sovereign to knock nil Bercst'ord’s lint. Tho “navvy” was willing, with Hm result that a minor scuffle ensued, ami tho three men found themselves taken to the police station for committing a. breach of the peace. Boi * - ford was asked his name. “ Lord Charles Bcresford,” came the reply. “ Ail right,” said tho denizen of Hie law, “ I’ll put that dnwim we’ll get your name Inter.” In turn tho Duke was asked his name. “ The Duke ot Cumberland.” was the response, which met. with tho curt remark From the policeman that ho expected something liko that. Not to be outdone when bis turn came, the navvy said; “I’m not going to let my pals down: I'm the Archbishop of Ciaiucrliury.” “It is a most interesting fact that a largo city like Dunedin has no gaol.” remarked Mr E. C. C'ulteii, S.M., to members of the Dunedin Club at Auckland. A large stone gijnl bad been erected, but when it was found that there were no wrongdoers to 'put into it, tho authorities had converted tho building into a homo for the city’s police. Too law courts in Duuediu had very little to do, with the exception of occasional debt case*. “So you sec,” said Air Cut ton, “there is not very much business for gentlemen liko myself.” Air Gotten said that in Hie .southern city there was a certain spirit that was not manifested in any other centre in the dominion. People in Dimed’n seemed always to secure at a reasonable price the exact article they required, and the tradesmen expected and received prompt payment. A Napier Association message states that Tui Watenc, a Native hoy, was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment for converting a car to his hyn use. _ The (magistrate (Air Dyer, S.M.) said ho was determined to stop tho practice.

for glasses guaranteed to suit '•ousiilt VT V. Sturnier. G.A.p.C., D.5.0.T., 2 Octagon. Dunedin; ’phono ’7.s2s.—[Advt.] The St. Hilda Harrier and A.A. Club's annual meeting will bo hold in Wesley Hall, High street, Musselburgh, on Wednesday evening. The Wembley Club will hold n» mid-week dance in the Art Gallery Hall on Wednesday night. Dancing will be continued till midnight, and the. music for the old ami new dances wilt be provided by the Kapai Orchestra. Orders to tho value of £9 will be given to-night at the Euchre tourney in tho Waratah Tea Rooms.