Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 20312, 22 October 1929, Page 8

A brief but realistic game of “ Snakes and Ladders ” caused a short delay in the discharging of guano this morning from one of the holds of the steamer Commandant Destrcmau at Port Chalmers. One of the men shovelling loose guano into the baskets conveying it to the railway wagons uncovered a live snake, which had pre sumably got on board while tho guano was being loaded at Walpole Island The snake, which was marked by white and black rings round its body, was nearly 3ft long, and the workmen stood aside to observe its wriggling movements. One of the crew, an islander, went down into the hold, placed his foot on its head, caught it firmly by the neck, and carried the snake up the ladder to the deck, where it was killed

As to Ada Crossloy, who died in London on the i7th inst. It may not be generally known that Dunedin once “ turned her down.” The directors ot the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition of 1889-90 called 'for singing soloists, and an Australian teacher wrote to Mr G. C. Israel asking an appointment for a young pupil who was showing great promise as a contralto. Her name, he mentioned, was Ada (Jrossley. As the girl was then only fifteen years of age, if it be correct, as the records have it, that she was born at Gippsland in 1874, it is not surprisinf tjhat the application was declined. Her first appearance in public was with the Melbourne Philharmonic Society in 1892. After that she studied with Santley and Madame Marches!, and made her first bow to a London audience at the Queen’s Hall in 1895. Dunedin’s present-day concertgoers will remember Ada Crossley by her singing hero in 1909, at the Garrison Hall, in association with John Harrison (tenor), Leon Sametim (violinist). Jay Ryan (baritone), and Percy Grainger (pianist), Harold Whittle being the accompanist. What a galaxy of talent! Ada Crossley possessed a fine voice, but it is as ah interpreter that we remember her. She had a message in every one of her songs.

The Rev. T. A. Pybus mentioned yesterday afternoon at the burial of Mrs Mary Woolsey at Port Chalmers, that her husband, Mr Charles Woolsey, was, when residing at Port Chalmers, on the roll of Wesleyan local preachers, and occasionally acted in that capacity. An experienced gardener suggests to amateurs who are dreading that their plants will die unless rain comes soon that they adopt the system of rootwatering" by drawing shallow trenches with the hoe, and pouring in the kitchen slops, thus keeping the vegetation alive and saving the city’s supply. The loafer at Custom-house square is not getting a very sympathetic hearing from the police these days. This is just as it should be, the public will say. Time was when ladies have been seen to walk from the Rattray street cable car terminus to High street with theii fingers in their ears. A month or two ago a period of concentrated activity on the part of the police force purged the busy section of Princes street ot its undesirable features, and at the present time a clean-up on the other side of the street is being carried out. For one thing there is that seat for parcel-laden women near the tramway department’s ticket office. _ feo inured have beople become to the sight of it being held in occupation by various loitering males of the community that it will probably come as a surprise to many that the seat was originally piaced there for ladies. Recent police pre seditions, however, have put the matter in its true light, and in the future women waiting for trams should have no difficulty in claiming the seat as their own resting place. ft is probable that the steamer Lawheath will remain in the stream at Lyttelton while her crew is serving a month’s imprisonment for impeding the progress of the vessel, but if the master makes application the crew may be released from gaol any time, and placed on U-e ship. The owners of the steamer are responsible for the safe custody of the Indians, who are prohibited immigrants. and they may be called upon to enter into a bond of £IOO for each that they will leave the country. The narrowness of Cargill road between the tramline and the footpath on the left hand side facing south often proves inconvenient for motorists, and last evening it delayed the progress ot a St. Clair-bound tram for a short interval. Standing next to the footpath was a lame motor van, and its ■width just allowed the tram to pass without touching. The driver of the car did not take any risks, for he slackened his speed and passed the van very quietly. If the van had been standing another six inches out from the path the tiam would have been held up. Worm fishermen at the Taieri are doing well just now, and it is reported that at the upper reaches of the Waipori excellent fishing may be obtained. The Shag is still being well patronised, but the sport has not improved, although the river is slightly higher than at the opening of the season. Anglers who are looking for a place to spend the week-end will probably find that the Pomahaka is offering the best sport at the present time. The Waipahi is low, but in fair fishing condition.

“ I think wo are very fortunate in Dunedin in having the body of men who comprise the Police Force here, said Mr PL Halliday at last night’s annual meeting of the Otago Motor Club, “They administer the law. hut with a great deal of generosity. They don’t rub it in. Very often the police warn the motorists, and that is a very gratifying way in stopping ' dangerous driving. Wo onco thought speed was the dangerous element, but wo all agree now that it is not speed but cutting comers and doing other absurd things that is dangerous. By warning motorists the police obtain thei" tivo quicker than through the Police Court.”

Eightv-scven new members were elected at the annual meeting lastjiight of the Otago Motor Club, the total new members elected during the year being 733. Mr H. Halliday said the dub was to Ire congratulated on its progress, the increase in membership being well np to previous records. The membership was one of the largest in Hew Zealand, and the club felt it was a weight in the country. On a tour of New Zealand the party of twenty-six Tasmanian farmers arrived in Christchurch yesterday, and were entertained at luncheon by the Canterbury Farmers’ Union. " In the afternoon they visited the Agricultural College of Lincoln. Workmen were engaged yesterday laying down an experimental surface of bitumen on the inward side of the Anderson’s Bay road, and the surface is an excellent one. How long it will last remains to be seen, but it would bo interesting if a block could be laid down in concrete so that a fair comparison might be made. Most people, particularly motorists, know that concrete roads are better than bitumen toads, and 0' the gravel that is now put on the roads about every fortnight was made into concrete and put down properly the city might bo saved a great deal in upkeep. Probate has been granted by His Honour Mr Justice Kennedy in the estates of Fanny Ewart, Dunedin (Mr 1L S. Brown), and Jane Park, Kelso fMr R. N. Rutherford), Letters oi administration have been granted in the estate of Andrew Henry Brown, Waikouaiti (Mr G. Bay lee). Mr Hamel, who acted as judge at the last Mosgiel _ flower show, addressed a large gathering of horticulturists last night in the Fire Brigade Hall there. The president of the Taieri Horticultural Society (Mr Pilling) presided. Mr Hamel gave an instructive lecture on the preparation and staging of exhibits, and imparted much information concerning ((owering shrubs and trees. He then touched on sweet pea culture, the use of manures, watering o 7 young plants, and finally gave much useful advice on the preparation of the exhibits for the next autumn show. After several questions had been answered a vote of thanks was passed to Mr Hamel.

After a silence of a few months, due to the lack of members and other matters. the Taieri Pipe Band has sprung into shape again. Practice will be resumed on Thursday, and the skirl o’ the pipes will brighten Mosgiel and the Taieri at no distant date.

Your eyes are Nature’s most precious rrjft Take care of them Consult W V Stunner, optician, 2 Octagon, Dunedin,fAdvt.] Satisfaction is forced upon you at Williamson’s, the people’s jewellers, 31 Princes street (next The Bristol Pinno Co.). —|_Advt | The Railway Department advertises in this issue particulars of excursion fares and train arrangements in connection with Labour Day, Oamaru Races, and Gore Races, October 28, 29, and 30. Holiday travellers over the Labour Day week-end will enjoy a substantial reduction in train fares. Tickets at the cheap rates will bo issued from October 25 to 28, avail able for return to November 23. It is not generally known that only three whole tickets are required for parents, mother and father, and all their children under sixteen years of age. The Dominion Building Society announces that it will hold a ballot for £6,000 in various groups on October 31. The mayor has consented : open the •Mimnl bazaar of St. PaulV mdral in the schoolroom, Stuart stre io-morrow ■ftornoon, at 2 30. Hie mini’ ;d variety of stalls arc as good as ever, i I intending visitors may be sure that they will be well repaid for the journey.