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Evening Star, Issue 20361, 18 December 1929, Page 12

The departmental inquiry before Mr Hunt, S.M., into the allegations of betgraph staff concludes to-day. In order tin. by members of the Auckland teleto correct a wrong impression, it should be stated that the number ofemployees involved in the inquiry was less than a dozen, and not forty, as published on various occasions.—Auckland correspondent.

At Hamilton, Thomas Hepburn Thompson, aged 18 years, an English immigrant., was sentenced to two years’ reformative detention for passing eight valueless cheques at New Plymouth, To Kuiti, Hamilton, and Ngaruawahia.— Press Association.

At the monthly meeting of the Rural Intermediate Credits Board consideration was given to a number of matters bearing on the operation of the new system of ‘‘ limits ” recently introduced for the benefit of sheep farmers and grain growers. These classes of farmers will now Ire able to arrange with the hoard for overdraft limits proportionate to the value of the security offered, up to which they will be entitled to receive advances as and when they require money to meet current outgoings for farming purposes generally. The detailed workings of the new system have now been settled. —Wellington Press Association telegram.

Sir Joseph Ward stated yesterday: “it has been brought to my notice that the statement published in Saturday’s Press in regard to my assumption of the portfolio of PostmasterGeneral has conveyed a very wrong mpression to the public. 1 wish it to be clearly understood that in taking over tliis department at this time 1 do not do so through any lack of confidence in. the Hon. J. B. Donald’s ability, or through any feeling of dissatisfaction with his administration of the department during his tenure of office. Dn the contrary, Mr Donald’s work has merited and received the complete apprc.val of myself and my colleagues, and, I think, of the public. 1 feel, however, that my former long exponent o in, and knowledge of the department may enable me to complete more rapidly the investigations which Mr Donald has already for some months been conducting, and apply such remedies a-s may bo necessary.”—Press Association.

At a .meeting of the Green Island Borough Council last evening the mayor (Mr \V. T. Smellie) presided. The question of nominating a representative on the Otago Hospital Board was considered, and it was finally decided to endorse the candidature of Mr J. IV. Dove.

Engine trouble forced down one of the Canterbury Aero Club’s Sloth machines at Coldstream last evening on its return trip from Dunedin. Captain -Mercer, instructor to the dub, who had with him as passenger tho president (Sir Francis Boys), made a perfect landing in a paddock, the aeroplane suffering no damage. Two Aero Club machines, piloted by Captains Mercer and Barlow, left Christchurch at 6 a.m. yesterday lor Dunedin, in order that Sir Francis Boys and Mr Climie (secretary to tho dub) might confer in Dunedin with the officials of the Otago and Southland Clubs. From tho outset the pilots found tho trip a very trying one, heavy fog having to be contended with throughout the whole journey. Descending through the fog near Mosgiel, the pilots found that a further rang© of hills separated them from the landing ground at Green Island, and a detour of thirty-five miles via the coast had to be made to reach their objective, as the crossing of tho hills would have presented considerable difficulty in tho fog. Fortunately Captain Mercer is thoroughly acquainted with tho country thereabouts, and was able to select a safe and easy route to the landing ground. Tho machines left Dunedin at 4 o’clock, but conditions had not improved. The pilots lost touch witli each other in the fog, and it was not until the arrival of Captain Barlow’s machine at Wigram that he and his passenger were aware of tho others’ mishap.—Christchurch correspondent'.

in the Police Court tin's morning George Hill was charged with stealing at Henley on December 7, a pair of binoculars and a leather ease, valued at £o, the property ot an unknown person. The accused pleaded guilty. Chief-detective Cameron stated that the accused came to town a lew days before he was arrested, and had been sleeping out. On December 10 he was found in possession of quite a good pair of binoculars which ho was trying to dispose of to a second-hand dealer. In the first place ho said bo had bought them from a man on the road for £2, and then he said ho had purchased them from a man at an hotel. Finally ho admitted stealing them from a house in Henley. So far the owner had not been found. The accused was not known here, but ho had quite a list in Canterbury. The accused said he was down in that districtlooking tor work, and it was while in drink that ho had committed the offence. He was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.

The estate of the late Mrs Helen Paird, of Otahuhu, who died on December 2 leaving a number of bequests to Presbyterian Church organisations, has been sworn for probate purposes at £70,000. —Press Association. The following names were omitted from the Otago University examination results published yesterday: Pure mathematics (stage 1) ; First B.Sc.— Lambert, G. F.; Mackic, J. B.; 3lacFedyen. 3V. T.; Pybus, E. 3V. L.; Smith, W. E. C. ; Beaumont. G, 31. • Bleekly, 3f. C.; Chisinau, J. E.; Lang' Edna. ”

An innovntion that must he (not merely may be) of great value to the crowd is to be introduced by the Dunedin Jockey Chib at the race meeting on the_‘26th and 28th inst. It is that a detailed description of each race will bo announced through loud-speaking apparatus by Mr A. 'll. Allardyce, o? Christchurch, who is a perfect wizard at that work, as he proved at the Cup Meeting at Riccarton. At that meeting the speakers were placed in the stands. At Wingatui they will be either on the lawn or at the* number board, whichever position is adjudged to be the more suitable as a result of a try-out that is fixed for Christmas Day. The apparatus to be used is that which Mr H. A. Hogg installed at the Summer Show on Tahuna Park, and which answered very satisfactorily’! The loud speakers will also supply all the music at the races, from hand and orchestral _ gram phone records, and between whiles it will announce • current information, such as scratchings, results of inquiries, the Auckland Cup, any alteration in train-running, names of persons wanted on the telephone, and so on. Mr L. G. Hill is doing ail he can to add by this means to the enlightenment of the people as a body, specially in the matter of informing those without glasses as to positions in Jh© ' ’ ~

Quarantine Island, opposite Port Chalmers, a Crown reserve, is to be offered for lease by auction on January 8, The area is thirty-seven acres, the minimum rental £4O per annum for a term of twenty-one years from July 1 next. The right of quarantining stock is reserved, also free access by theCrown, and free access to the Harbour Board, which body has a beacon there. The buildings, valued at £3,000, must be paid for in cash, and no further buildings are to be erected without the consent of the Commissioner of Crown Lands. One obvious use of the island is as a grazing area.

The Chief Justice, the Hon. M. Myers, has endowed a prize which will be’ open, to law students at Victoria College. It is to be awarded to the student who, in the opinion of the professor, shows the _ greatest proficiency in professional subjects. • The prize will be available nest year.—Press Association.

The Rev. V. G. Bryan King acknowledges receipt of the sum of £5 towards the Christmas fund for those in need, with a warm appreciation of bis work in the city, from a “ Friend.” In Chambers this morning His Honour Mr Justice Kennedy beard a motion by Mr H. L. Cook in respect to John Bullcid and Co., Ltd., asking that the court should consent to an order to a reduction in the capital of the company not represented by assets. The application was granted.

Your eyes arc Nature’s most precious gift. Take care of them. Consult W. V. Stunner, optician, 2 Octagon, Dunedin.— [Advt.J

Attention is directed to the railway advertisement appearing in this issue giving particulars of the train arrangements during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Messrs Thomson and Co., cordial manufacturers, remembering the festive season, have sent us as an evidence of their good wishes copies of a very fine picture which they are issuing to their clients, following an excellent custom that they have established, they have had reproductions made in colour of a painting of a beautiful girl by C. Wards Travel - . ‘ Sweet Sincerity ’ is its appropriate title, and, as usual, the sole reference to the firm is (he word “ Purity,” which is the emblem used for its goods. Jt is an admirable Christmas souvenir.

Go to Todd's 11 While House,” George street, the dollies’ hospital and children’s leal toy shop, for all Christinas gifts.— [Advt.i