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Evening Star, Issue 20148, 12 April 1929, Page 8

A greater menace to New Zealand than any German-or Russian menace is that of the presence of plant-eating animals in our forests, because in the event of our being overcome by a human enemy we should in all probability be allowed to sustain ourselves, otherwise we could not work for our conquerors, whereas in the event of the loss of our forests' we cannot sustain ourselves (writes Captain E. C. .Sanderson, in the ‘ New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society’s Journal’). Here in New Zealand we are faced with a forest problem unknown in any other country, for during countless ages no plant-eating -animals roamed in our forests. A forest has therefore 'been evolved which cannot withstand the attacks of deer, goals, opossums, and the like. Yet such animals have been purposely liberated and even now their presence is connived at by the department which controls such matters and by others who are evidently prepared to sacrifice their country’s welfare for the sake of sport or in other cases personal pecuniary gain. Even in warrants just issued by the Internal Affairs Department restriction is put on the number of stags which may be shof, and a season is defined in which deer may be killed. Surely, then, we must consider our forests doomed.

Flood debris measuring approximately 4,000 tons has been taken out of the Leith canal by the Otago Harbour Board, whose responsibility is from the mouth to Forth street bridge. The corporation’s big digger was harrowed for this job, and it and a crane brought from the Harbour Board’s works at the Heads did much of the heavy lifting, small stuff being taken out in carts for the working of which twm wooden ramps were built. The sixty or severity men engaged for the job were paid off on Wednesday night. The material has been stacked on the northern bank, handy for carting to the Albany Street School’s new' site nearby. ’Thus, out of the flood disaster springs one little bit of compensation—the finding of a place in which to receive stone that otherwise would be difficult to dispose of. Apropos: Something ought to he done promptly with the shingle in the canal above the bridge. It stands ready to come down with the next fresh in the Leith.

At the meeting of the trustees of the Dunedin Savings Bank it was decided to make a donation of £SOO to the flood relief fund, the Prime Minister having agreed to ratify the .bank’s action in that respect. The following motion was carried The trustees of this board desire to record their deep regret at the death of their friend and colleague, Mr C. W. S. Chamberlain. During the fifteen years Mr Chamberlain sat at this board he earned the affection and esteem of his fellow-trus-tees by his devotion to work and his consideration and courtesy to his colleagues.”

Among the many Scots in the city there must be a considerable number who hail from Morayshire, and they will be interested in a competition which is being promoted by the London Morayshire Club, which includes among its members such distinguished individuals as the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, the Earl of Moray, Sir William Gordon-Cnmming. Mr Ramsay MacDonald, and Flight-lieutenant D’Arcy Greig. The competition is open to all Morayshire people at home and abroad, and it is Imped that entrants will come forward from the dominions. The essays, five in number, will be on the old character's of Morayshire. The ■subjects are;—‘Elgin, Bishopmill and New Elgin.’ ‘ Forres, Rafford arrd District,’ ‘Grantown .and District,’ ‘ Kossiemmith and District.’ ‘ Fochabers, Urquhart, Rothes and Speyside.’ Three prizes are offered irt each case. Entries must he addressed to the honorary secretary. Mr W. Anderson, 94. Ferine Park road, Crouch End. London, N.B. and they must reach him, at the latest, by Juno JO. A little dissatisfaction has manifested itself among the men employed at the Burnside Freezing Works during the past few 'days, a few stop-work meetings being the result. It is understood that a few matter's for consideration in connection with the working of the award have been referred by the local disputes committee to the national disputes committee, and that there is a feeling among some of the workers that consideration has been delayed. It was reported this morning that work was being carried on as usual. There is a good deal of stock in hand just now for treatment at the works.

’fire levy paid by boroughs and counties for the upkeep of the Hospital Aid Hoard came up for consideraion at last night’s meeting of the Mosgiel Borough Council. The mayor drew the council’s attention to an article in a newspaper headed “ Hospital Rating.” From this it appeared that the Minister of Health was sympathetic towards a proposal which had apparently emanated from the Counties Conference at Ashburton recently—-“ That the Government should be urged to alter the basis of hospital levies from the present valuation basis to one-half on tire capital value and one-half on population.” From a return that had come under his notice, this proposal Mould raise Mosgiel’s contribution to £723—a considerable advance. The council discussed the matter at length, and finally decided to Mritc to the Minister of Health objecting to any further levy being placed on boroughs than existed at present. At yesterday's meeting of the Peninsula County Council, Mr W. Bowles, on behalf of the Portobello and Broad Bay Ratepayers’ Association, waited on the council with regard to the street lighting of Portobello, He said that at a meeting of the association, at M'hich tivo member's of the council were present, the council was asked to proceed M'ith the scheme. The association felt thatiffthe proposed rate of a Halfpenny M-as high enough. At present they had £7 to the good, and in a few Meeks there M'onld be an increase in the rateable value to tire extent of. £1,400, which M'onld produce another £5 or £6. The Act provided that where ■two or more ridings M'cro affected by any Mork to be carried out, the cost could be borne by the two ridings concerned, or by the ivhole county. After a general discussion, the chairman assured Mr Bowles that the council was quite sympathetic, but it could not be bound to a half-penny rate. He suggested that Mr Bowles should endeavour to get in touch M-ith some of the petitioners to give a personal guarantee to cover any cost above that covered by the half-penny rate. After the deputation had rvithdrawn a motion was carried that the council was prepared to go on with the lighting at a half-penny rate, provided any three ol the petitioners gave a guarantee to meet any deficiency in the cost of organising the scheme and the maintenance of the installation.

The Prime Minister announced today the appointment as manager of the Reparation instates in Western Samoa of Mr S. J. Collins, of Auckland. The appointment is a temporary one for the purpose of investigation and reorganisation; and on the conclusion of his service in Western Samoa, Mr Collins will join the New Zealand Public Service. Mr Collins was previously accountant of the estates.— Press Association.

Cabinet has approved of a grant to defray the expenses of Sir Andrew Russell, v.ho Mill attend the_ fourth biennial conference of fhe British Empire Sendee League in London on June 25 on behalf of the N.Z.R.S.A. —-Press Association.

An Association message from Auckland states that last night the premises of the Robinson lec Cream' Company M'ero burglariously entered, the safe broken by gelignite, and hetAveen £ls and £2O stolen, ft M'.as evidently the work of experts.

At the Masterton Court Jcsso Fley, a. taxi driver, on a charge of being drunk M'hile driving a car, Mas fined £25. and Ins license cancelled for twelve months.—Press Association.

A description of fhe dirt track races and tire u'hippet races at Forbury Park to-inorroM' afternoon will be broadcast by Station 4ZM in conjunction with 4BC.

The Mosgiel Borough Council expressed its gratitude to the Railway Department last night for complying with its request regarding the running of the 6.50 p.m. Mosgiel-Dunedin trains, M'hich M'onld be altered as from May 5 (M'hen the' M'inter timetable M'onld commence) so as to arrive at Dunedin at 7.10 p.m. instead of 7.23 p.m. as at present. The department also notified flrat in response to the mayor’s request the usual 10.35 p.m. train from Dunedin to Mosgiel had been set back till 11.15 p.m. on April 11, 12. 15, 16. 18, and 19, so as to allow Mosgiel residents an opportunity of attending the Allan Wilkie season at Dunedin. Ibis train M'onld return to Dunedin from Mosgiel correspondingly late each evening.

The Mosgiel Borough Council passed a motion of protest last night against the irregular running of some of the Duneclin-Mosgiel trains, principally the M'orkers’ trains returning to Mosgiel in tire evenings. Students and young people desirous of returning to Dunedin for classes in the evening Mere hampered by the lateness of some of the trains.

Seven men engaged in preparing the steamer Maui Pomare for sea have contracted influenza. They are now confined to their homes. The steamer has been fumigated since tire crew Mere removed to tire temporary isolation hospital, but the .workmen m - Jio have now contracted influenza Mere on board before this precautionary step M'as taken. —Press Association. A Whangarei Press Association telegram states that heavy rain fell last night and this morning,- 2.91 in being recorded. The creeks and streams are sMollen, and some roads are not passable.

Artificial Eyes.—W. V. Stunner, G.A.0.C., U. 5.0.1., specialises the filling artificial eyes, also their comfortable adjustment.— [Advt,]