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Evening Star, Issue 19642, 23 August 1927, Page 6

A five-roomed two-story Ijouso in Rattray street caught fire last night about 8.17. The brigade was called out, and before the lire was extinguished damage was done to tlie kitchen, and the whole building affected by heat or .smoke. Xo particulars arc available concerning the insurance on the building, which is'owned by Miss Macpherson, of Opoho, and occupied by Mr K. Lcnigo. The contents wero covered in the Yorkshire office lor £3OO.

At the Police Court, Ashlmrion, a vonng man, .Ijconard Wright, a laborer, pleaded guilty and was committed for sentence on charges that on duly 19 lie broke and entered the .Farmers’ Co-operative Association’s premises at Ashburton, and stole goods valued at £6l os tkl; also, that on July 13 ho broke and entered the shop of Anna Lowry at Westfield, and stoic goods and money totalling £32 4s. The detective stated that accused said he bad been out of work for_ some time, find bad no means of buying food, so be decided to steal.—Press Association.

Daring the hearing of a ease in the Police Court this morning it was stated that the Probation Officer (Mr J. Garbutt) had been lately experiencing considerable trouble . by probationers ignoring the conditions of their release and failing to report as directed. From the remarks by the Magistrate (Mr J. R. Bartholomew) it may bo expected that the leniency that has lately been extended to these defaulters will be withdrawn. Accused persons who are given the benefit of the Probation Act should appreciate their good fortune, and also the fact that they may, if they fail to strictly carry out the conditions imposed, he brought up and dealt with, not only on the original charge, but on a. farther charge of breaking such conditions. When one or two have been so dealt with and sent to gaol, it may have the effect, so desired hy the probation officer,, of improving the memories of certain other probationers. The Oamaru North School Committee last evening passed a resolution declaring that the abolition of education boards would be a retrograde movement not in accordance with the wishes of the parents, and not in the interests of education, as it would involve the depriving of the. people of the rights and privileges which had been conferred by statute and had been enjoyed for half a century; therefore the committee emphatically protested against such legislation without a mandate from the electors. —Press Association telegram.

In order to overcome tho unemployment problem among teachers, the Education Department has in recent years (says a Wellington telegram) limited the number of entrants to the profession, last year’s number being reduced to 400. The number of probationers required to make up tho leeway has now been determined by the department, which lias authorised the education boards to appoint COO probationers next year. In view of references made by the Prime Minister in tho House of Representatives on Thursday to tho increased amount of New Zealand coal now being used, it is of interest to note (say? a Press Association telegram from Wellington) that during 1926 2,239,909 tons of coal were produced _ from all the coal mines of the dominion. This quantity represents the highest annual production on ro v ord with tho exception of the year 1914, when_ 2,275,614 tons were produced. In addition, the coal imported into the dominion during 1926 decreased by 83,653 tons. Canterbury and Otago motorists who use the Alain South road frequently will bo glad to learn that the first contract in connection with tho improvement of the road between the Rakaia railway bridge and Backside has been let, and that the work will start at tho end of this week or during next week. The work to bo done will be more or less reconstructive in character. The alignment is to be straightened and the road will ho properly graded, and will be made into a first-class gravel road 40ft in width. The length comprised in the first section will bo about three miles, and during the reconstruction this stretch will’ bo closed to all traffic, which will require to use a temporary detour of the road. The proposals for the further section from Banksido toward? Rollestoii are well in hand, and lenders will bo invited almost immediately. Tho Main Highways Board is finding 80 per cent, of the cost of the work and the counties interested the remaining 20 per cent.—Christchurch correspondent.

At the City Police Court yesterday afternoon Trevor Manhiro (aged 24) was charged with being found on licensed premises after hours. Sergeant Dunlop stated that ou July 23 lie had visited tho Gladstone Hotel, iu company with a constable, at B.IU p.m., defendant being encountered at the swing doors. He stepped back and placed a parcel he was carrying on the lloor. Ho stated in reply to questions that lie had purchased liquor contained m tho parcel before 6 p.m., and had stayed at the hotel lev lea. The parcel contained a “ blue peter ” of beer. The bars were locked and iu darkness. Defendant said lie visited tho hotel at 2.30 p.m., when the “blue peter” was filled. Ho did not leave the hotel until 8.10 p.m., except for half an hour. He lost his head when he. saw the police, which was why lie had drawn back. Thomas Edward Collins, a barman at the Gladstone Hotel, said defendant was a regular customer, and on the afternoon in question lie filled the “blue peter,” but no liquor was served after 6 p.m. The magistrate said the sergeant’s suspicions were quite justified, and the defendant’s statement that it took from 6.10 p.m. to 8.10 p.m. to have a meal was absurd. He would be convicted and fined 20s and costs.

Tho weather is now very mild and springlike (wires our Clyde correspondent). * The latest contributions to the Otago Early Settlers’ Association’s collection includes a copy of Harnett and Co.’s Dunedin almanac for 1865. Of the forty business announcements thereon, only one relates to the present time—the advertisement of the_ Provincial Hotel, tho landlord of which in 1865 was Mr Charles Bird, afterwards steward of tho Ecrnhill Club. Other hotels named on tho almanac hut now half-forgotten, were the Union in Stafford street, the Shakespeare in Maclaggnu street, the Oriental, tho Club, tho Glasgow Arms, ami tho Imperial in Princes street. Another hotel, the ■name of which forms a connection with tho present day, was Moir’s in Manse street. It was owned by Mr Job Wain, who afterwards built Wain’s Hotel and gave it the two entrances, from Manse street and Princes street. The north-easterly breeze that chased away the wet westerly yesterday morning brought ii)) drizzle of its own towards evening, and to-day Dunedin experienced alternations of mist and sunshine—weeping weather that prevented the ground from drying. Seed sowing will bo late this spring.

Tho construction of the new members’ stand on the Wingatui racecourse by Watson and Loan lias been somewhat delayed owing to the difficulty about getting timber of the required size for tho roof, but tho building will be far enough advanced to be brought into use lor tho Hunt Club’s races next month, and there is a certainty that it will'be quite finished in time for tho D.J.C. December races.

The monthly meeting of the Caversham School Committee was held last evening. Present: Messrs Todd (chairman), Fish, Edlin,. Allen, Lilley, MacLoan, Sanderson, and Reid. A resolution of sympathy with Mr T. A. Brown (chairman of committee) in his recent bereavement was recorded. The bead master’s report showed a roll of 708; average attendance, 640; savings bank deposits £166 15s 6d. withdrawals £26 ]s 3d. The boys’ hockey team won the schools’ competition, and the A grade team were runners-up in the schools’ Rugby. The inspectors’ report showed that the staff and school had attained a high standard. During the meeting Mr A. V. Fleet, who is leaving the staff to take up a. position under the Auckland Education Board, was made the recipient of a leather attache case, with the best wishes of the committee for bis future prosperity. Our Auckland correspondent telegraphs that Mr A. E. Davcy, organiser of the United Ts T ew Zealand Political Party, staled that the personnel of the now party would not be published until the movement is established in the four centres. lie leaves Auckland on Sunday, on route for Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin.

Making the acquaintance the other day of Mr Colvin Smith, of Opoho road, one of the old Otago stonemasons, a ‘Star’ reporter thought he had at last found an artificer who could say something about the building of Larnach’s Castle. The hope was not quite fulfilled, for the big place on the Peninsula was well advanced when Mr Smith, as a young mason from Forfarshire, reached Dunedin in 1875. But he know the stonemasons on the job—John Dick (afterwards inspector of works for the Town Hall), Thomas Pago, James Page, Robert Hay, Thomas Held, and another whoso name lie has forgotten; he remembers the wages they got, 12s a day; he lias in mind the fact that the building was put up by day labor; lie knows the sort of stone of which it .was constructed, a local stone, quarried on the Peninsula; and he retails the admiring remarks of the workmen as to the royal treatment they received from Mr Larnach, as instanced his “shouting a whisky ” for them every morning, and giving each a lever watch when the job was finished. “He was a really good sort, ready to help anybody,” added Mr Smith, “ and when, on losing the election to Paliament, he said he didn’t expect the people of tho Peninsula to turn against him, I felt sorry for him.” Mr Smith, who retired about four years ago,.can claim to have liad a hand in putting up Sargood’s, the Bank of. New Zealand, and many other big buildings in Dunedin, and he laid the hanging main stairs in the Scaclilf Mental Hospital.

Traffic is blocked on the Lower Harbor road by a slip which has come down a little way beyond the entrance to Mr J. Bnnn'r’s farm. Tin's road, which was originally formed by prison labor,, is under the control of the Waikouaiti County Council..

The possibilities of adopting wireless in schools is being considered by the department. It is thought that it might be used with profit to broadcast lessons to remote schools, and also music, thus materially broadening the range of subjects taught. it would also enable teachers to bo readily communicated with. The principal difficulty at present would be the cost of listening in sets towards which it was hoped that parents would contribute. The Director of Education states that no definite arrangements have been made with the Broadcasting Company. Reception tests are to bo conducted, and if satisfactory the company will bo approached in an endeavor to arrange a set time in the morning when lessons may he broadcasted. A number of teachers in remote places have notified that they have sets and will bo willing to conduct experiments.—Wellington Press Association telegram.

Dr Ivcakcs, Director-General of Agriculture, will leave Wellington on Saturday to attend the Imperial Agricultural Research Conference, which opens in London on October 4. Mr Rigg, of the Cawthorn Institute, will also represent New Zealand. Dr Reakes will visit other countries in search of information of use to New Zealand, and will return via South Africa, where lie will make a special inquiry into the control of animal disease.—Press Association.

For spectacles that soothe the eyes consult W. V. Stunner, D. 5.0.1., G.A.0.C., 2 Octagon. Our business ;s exclusively optical. —[Advt.] The new “Dorothy” wedding ring is a. pretty shape and is comfortable to wear.— Williamson's (next Bristol Piano Co.). — [Advt.] To-morrow, Thursday, and Friday the Maoandrew road spring fair will be held in the South Dunedin Town Hall. The proceeds are in aid of school improvements. A feast of good things are promised all who attend. A “barrow fair” will bo opened by the mayoress (Mrs Taverner) in the Mornington Methodist School Hall to-morrow evening, at 7 o’clock. A fleet of decorated barrows stocked with goods of all descriptions and a mosquito fleet of children’s vehicles will compete in friendly rivalry for iho prizes to te awarded the best decorated turnouts. The proceeds are in aid of building and local church funds. Tho fair will be continued on Thursday afternoon and evening,