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Evening Star, Issue 20555, 6 August 1930, Page 8

Tho trial was resumed in the Supremo Court this morning of Gilbert William Lewis, who is charged with sheep-stealing at Snringvale, Central Otago. Mr F. B. Adams is conducting the prosecution on behalf of the Crown and Mr A. C. Hanlon, K.C., with Mr G. M. Lloyd, appears for the accused. This morning Mr Justice Kennedy heard evidence in support of tho accused’s case, this being on the lines of tho testimony previously submitted. In his address to the jury, Mr Hanlon askpd why tho Crown had not secured corroboration in regard to Mr Iles’s statement that, after the hearing in lower court at Alexandra, Lewis had gone to tho hotel and offered him £IOQ to let tho ease go. Mr Hanlon’s address lasted from noon till 1 p.m., at which time tho court adjourned till tho afternoon.

Tho Auckland city brigade quickly suopressed a dangerous fire which broke out at 7 o’clock this morning in stacks of timber, tho property of Smith and Smith, Ltd., on tho waterfront. Tho blaze was seen from tho harbour by passengers on tbo ferry, and in a few minutes it seemed as if the whole timber yard was alight. After suppressing the fire tbo brigade discovered a number of empty liquor bottles among tho timber. Tho damage to the yard is not yet ascertainable, but work is temporarily suspended.—• Press Association telegram.

As the parliamentary finalising of tho Tariff Bill draws near the merchants are very anxious as to its emerging free of complications. Queer anomalies call for correction, some of them almost unbelievable. For example, as tho Bill at present stands American dried raisins can come in absolutely free, whereas Australian dried raisins arc subject to the primage.

The Otago delegates to the meeting of the South Island Brass Bands’ Association at Christchurch did uot succeed in carrying the proposal to take steps for a merger with the North Island Association. The Christchurch delegates were dead against it, and one of them proposed a motion to tho effect that separation stand—an incompetent motion which Dr Thacker, of course, ruled out of order. But tho Otago men pressed for tho merger with all the means at their disposal, and eventually achieved a partial success, to the extent that it was agreed to make the preliminary move in trying to bring about a conference of delegates from the two associations to discuss tho question of union, such conference to bo held this month. In an interview at Christchurch, the new Police Commissioner, Mr W. G. 'Wohhnann, said that no definite policy had yet been formulated, but tho reduction of tho police grant by £15,000 had made it necessary that tho work of tho department should ho carried on as economically as possible. Nothing drastic, such as reductions in wages or staffing, was intended, but where transfers or promotions were necessary the costs of transport would have to bo considered. —Press Association.

The Government’s decision to suspend compulsory military training is causing the Green Island Borough Council to consider how it can make up the annual rent of £6O paid by the Defence Department for the use of the borough’s hall. At last night’s mooting of the council, the town clerk emphasised the need for the council to consider the position in order to make the hall pay. He suggested that the council should turn down all applications for the use of the hall free of charge, if it desired to meet the expenditure. The clerk intimated that he had made inquiries with regard to the possibility of starting a skating rink in the borough, but from inquiries made it was impossible to procure skates either in New Zealand or Australia. The matter was hold over in the meantime. The Cromwell Development Company’s undertaking to so block the bottom of the Kawarau River weir as to make it tight and raise the water level lias been carried out by Mr I'. J. Williams. civil engineer. The purpose of the scheme is to so raise the river as to supply tho conduit leading to the powerhouse and thus enable the company to resume the delivery of water for irrigation to a height of 161 ft, which was accomplished in 1923. When that is assured it only remains to pump up the Kawarau water another 60ft or so to reach tho reservoir from which tho whole of the Ripponvalo land can ho reticulated. It is estimated that to instu] the necessary pumping plant would entail an expenditure of about £3,000 —not a very large sum when it is considered that it would brum about tho fertilising of orchard and grass land, some of which has had to be abandoned.

In giving the seasonable tidying up to the pretty little shrub garden at the corner of Forbnry and Cargill roads, the Reserves Committee men are this year taking down the railings and effecting other improvements that will bp appreciated by the numerous tramway passengers who have to wait thereabouts

Tho mayor acknowledges tho following donations to his unemployment relief fund; —Trinity Methodist Church, £lO 8s 3d; Church of Christ, North-east Valley, £1: To Kainpa Club, £3; North-cast Valley Methodist Church, 13s. “This is onlv tho second time Mr H. E. Moller has failed to attend a meeting since ho has been connected with public affairs,” remarked Sir W. Connor (town clerk), when tho mayor was unable to attend tho monthly meeting of the West, Harbour Borough Council last evening. Mr Connor stated that Mr Moller had been a member of tho council for a period of thirty years or more. At a meeting hold at Wellington of the Dominion Executive of the Order of St. John, it was reported that the King had approved of the foundation of a Commandry of tho order in New Zealand; also that as next year would bo tho centenary of the revival of tho Grand Priory in England, the celebration would take tho form of an inspection of tho Brigade at Hyde Park by the Prince of Wales, an historical pageant, first aid competitions for men and women, an overseas gathering at Buckingham Palaeo. lloyal garden party, and a service at Westminster Abbey. Many visitors from overseas are expected to take part in the proceedings.—Press Association. In connection with tho -If per cent. War Bonds which were issued in 191 b for war purposes, and which mature on September 1, the Minister of Finance stated yesterday that tho Government was offering the holders of the maturing bonds renewal for a further period to September 1, 1937, in either inscribed stock or bearer debentures. Mr Forbes said: “The securities issued in renewal will bear interest at tho rate of 5} per cent., payable half-yearly on March 1 and September 1. The maturing securities were issued with the condition of freedom from income tax attached thereto, but the income from the securities issued in renewal will not bo exempt from taxation. It should bo clearly understod, of course, that income tax will not lie deducted from the half-yearly interest payments, but will be payable only by investors whose incomes are assessable for taxation in the usual way. Bonds which are not to be renewed will be paid on presentation at maturity.—Press Association. Various notions exist as to the date of the beginning of spring in New Zealand. Many persons fix it as the Ist of August. Another popular belief places it as tho Ist of September. By the sun the true date is tho 6th rf August or thereabouts, if we accept the ordinary calculation of three months for each of the four seasons and allow tho shortest day to Lo called mid-winter, as it really is as a matter of light. On that reasoning, as to-day was six and a-half weeks from tho shortest day; wo arc now in spring. The question of temperature is another matter. The adage that “as the day lengthens the cold strengthens ” is quit© obviously correct. But before very long w© should find the sun putting forth its true spring influence. Every day brings us nearer to that desired change.

The motor ship Port Waikato, duo to sail from Whangarei yesterday, was delayed till 7 o’clock this morning owing to tho absence of four seamen, who wore eventually located by tho police at Hukerenui, twenty-on© miles north from here. They were taken back to the vessel, which was waiting down tho harbour at the Onerahi wharf.—M hangarei Press Association telegram. Tho mayor announced to-day that tho Choral Society had offered to give a repeat performance of ‘ A Talo of Old Japan ’ in aid of tho unemployment relict fund on August 23 in the Town Hall. A flat charge for admission of Is is to bo made, extra being charged for reservations, Mr Black also stated that Barnett’s Radio had offered to install two loud speakers in the Town Hall on Saturday, when tho whole of tho proceeds from the charge for a comfortable seat while listening to the broadcast description of th© fourth test match at Wellington will be devoted to the relief fund. His Worship is appealing to radio retail firms not to provide loud speakers outside their premises so that the fund will benefit by the attendance of the public at the Town Hall. Expansion of industrial activity in New Zealand will follow from tho increased tariffs, according to a statement made by tho members of the council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. Mr A. Jacobs said it had been decided definitely, in view of the tariff that was going to operate on certain lines of goods, that one firm at Homo should open works in Canterbury. Unfortunately the industry would not employ a great number of workers. A member said that another industry likely to employ eight hundred was to bo established in the dominion as a result of the tariff increases.—Press Association.

Approval of the admission of sixth year medical students to St. Helens Hospitals for experience in obstetrical work has been placed on record by tho principal branches of the Young Women’s Christian Association. The New Zealand directors of the_ branches in Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin, Timoru, Gisborne, New Plymouth, and Whangarei have approved of a continuance of the present arrangement under the supervision of the medical officer or matron.—Press Association.

Special interest is attached to tho fortneoming production of the pantomime ‘Jack and Jill’ by the pupils of tho Otago Girls’ High School in that the work is entirely original. Mr C. Roy Spackman, who is in charge of music at the school, has collaborated with Miss King (tho principal) and Miss Garrett (the dancing mistress), and their joint effort promises to bo a really outstanding one. Miss King has written some quite brilliant dialogue for the production, and this has been set to charming music by Mr Spackman. Tho pantomime will be presented' on an elaborate scale and will be original in every respect. It is a highly colourful fantasy that has entailed a great deal of thought and work, and already great interest is being manifested in its performance. Mr Spackrnan’s music is decidedly worth more than passing mention. It is distinctly melodious, cleverly conceived, and artistically developed, and it is obvious that Mr Spackman lias devoted a great deal of care to its composition. This did not entail the writing of two or three pieces, but the evolution of a complete score to accompany tho action of the pantomime. There are songs, choruses, dances, and ballets, and the music in each is bright and most refreshing. Everything is in Eerfect sequence, and leads up to a ighly effective climax. The whole work has a definite melodic value that will he readily appreciated when the performance is given in public. A largely attended meeting of tho Federated Seamen’s Union yesterday considered the report of the commission, which reported on the Statutes relating to compensation for accidents to workers. The meeting carried a resolution recording its emphatic protest against the proposal in clause 7, whereby it is proposed to reduce tho weekly payments of single seamen thrown out of employment, as a result of an accident, from £4 to £3 a week, it lining considered that this contained within it a scheme to reduce wages and divide the membership into two groups, married and single.—Wellington Press Asso^Jimj;

Tho paragraph which appeared in yesterday’s ‘Star’ relating to fully booked accommodation on tno Lyttel-ton-Wollington ferry steamers until after the test match is stated by the Union Company to be incorrect. The Thursday and Friday night trips have been heavily booked, but there is still a little accommodation left for both men and women, and the company has not yet closed down on the booking for tho return trip on Saturday night. Vour eyes are Nature’s most precious gift. Take care of them. Consult W. V. Sturnier, optician, 2 Octagon, Dunedin.— [Advt.J Dr A. H. Driver, of Dunedin, is addressing meetings throughout New Zealand as a member of the amnia! London Missionary Society deputation. He has been for the last eight years in charge of a large mission hospital in the Cuddapah district, Madras Presidency, and will lecture in the Moray Place Congregational Church tonight on ‘ Political and Religious Conflicts in India. 1 Wedding Time is “Gold Band” Time. Ring the Wedding Fleet of Dunedin. No increase in fares. Dial XB-066.~-£Adyt^