Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 20585, 10 September 1930, Page 8

Further evidence was hoard at the Magistrate's ourfc yesterday afternoon in the case in which Alexander Stewart Stephen (Queenst'wn) proceeded against George William Kidd on a claim for £l5O. the amount paid by the plaintiff to the defendant as deposit in respect to the purchase of n hotel, and £7B 5s 9d damages arising out of the defendant’s failure to complete the sale after he had arranged to do so. Mr E. J. Anderson appeared for the plaintiff and Mr A. G. Neill for the defendant. The case was adjourned for a fortnight.

The International Labour Office at Geneva recently issued the first results of its inquiry into the problem of the real wages paid in various industrial countries. In accordance with this research work, computed on a now basis, the If host wages were paid to the workers of the United States. If Great Britain were taken as the starting point with 100 per cent, wage level tho real wages paid in America reached the level of 197 per cent., in Canada 168 per cent., in Australia 152 per cent., in Sweden 115 per cent., in Denmark 112 per cent., in Ireland 100 per cent., in Holland 89 per cent., in Germanv and Czecho-Slovakia 77 per cent., in Poland 68 per cent., in France 59 par cent., in Austria 53 per cent., in Italy 51 per cent., in Spam 49 per cent., and in Estonia 45 per cent. A communication to this effect was received last night by the Dunedin Ma nu fa ctu rors’ Association.

Nothing is being said about the Aranuni breakdown by the Minister of Public Works (Mr Taverner) until the report of Professor Hornoll, the Swedish export, has been received by the Government. The Minister explained that the visit to Arapuni at the week-end was made purely as the result of an arrangement with Professor Horncll that he should visit Arapuni and discuss various points with tho professor. The Minister made it clear that he could not anticipate the report the professor would later make. Mr Taverner was also unable to say when the expert’s report would be submitted, although ho indicated that it would be preferable to have the report before the session of Parliament ended. —Press Association.

“ There will bo medhal evidence only,” plaintiff’s counsel informed the Arbitration Court to-day, “ and the case will take only half an hour.” But Mr Justice Frazer was not so certain that the case would be so brief.” You may know more about medical witnesses than 1 do, but I think the estimate of half an hour is too optimistic, was His Honour’s comment.

One by one, tho electric light and power consumers from the Dunedin Corporation’s works are being brought to acquaintance with the provisions ol the Electrical Supply Regulations Act of 1927 that relate to tue inspection of installations. A pleasant-mannered man, provided with a step ladder and a notebook, and accompanied by a helper, goes through eacli building on his rounds, feeling anti trying all the electric attachments, and then gives to the occupier a written instruction to engage an authorised expert to make the adjustments necessary to bring the equipment up to date. This has been going on in and about Durledin for three years, three examiners being fully employed and getting through an average of about fifty a day each. In order to speed up the work a fourth man has now to be put on. Of tho 23,000 consumers of the Dunedin department 17,000 are or have to be done by 1932. The expiration of the live years which the Act fixes for the periodic overhaul. That so comprehensive a job has been going on for three years without causing friction is evidence of the non-aggressiveness of the examiners. They must be inquisitive, yet they understand how to go round without irritating occupiers.

Our paragraph of a day or two ago, as to the St. Clair beach, new scrub fences resisting tho attack of an angry ocean, would have been all the better for a touch of prophecy. Whilst it was being written tho sea tore down tWo of the five fences. The turbulence of the sea on the coast came to its maximum on Monday night, and yesterday the roaring and foaming attracted and fascinated visitors.

Tho following St. John Ambulance Association examination results are announced:—Railway (locomotive branch) first aid class: Passed for medallion —J. Harrison. W. Motion,. T. M’Lennan, and C. Young; passed in advance aid— R. Hunter, D. Holland, and L. Philip; passed for certificate —W. Agnew, A. Fullerton, T. M'Connell, and W. Kruskoff.

Holding that the Wellington City Council bad discretionary power, Mr Page, S.M., in a reserved judgment upheld its action in refusing to grant Gilbert Hamilton M’Meeking, a nearly farmer, a renewal of his license to vend i in the city. The magistrate said that, having regard to the past record of appellant, he was of opinion that tie counrii acted rightly. The refusal of the council to grant M’Meeking a license did not mean that ho would have no market for his milk. Ho could sell the whole of the milk to the Wellington Dairy Farmers’ Co-operative Association, a body f r cm which substantially tho whole of tho City Corporation milk supply was drawn. Under that method the milk from every supplier was tested separately every day.—Presf Association.

A Gisborne Association message states th-t the district’s worst snowstorm since 1906 swept the back country early this morning, with a light fall on the fiats and in town. This is the first occasion that snow has fallen in tho town f.,. twen / i. In the hi_T country tho snow is lying lOin deep in some parts, and concern is felt for the safety of the flocks.

Are litigants superstitious? “We will set that case down for Friday,” said Mr Justice Frazer at a sitting of the Arbitration Court to-day .” Everybody seems to have shied off that unlucky day.” In the Police Court this morning, before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., Dallas M'Nicol was charged with disorderly behaviour in Manse street. He pleaded guilty. Sergeant Hall, who prosecuted, said that yesterday afternoon Constable Turgis’saw the defendant in Manse street. He was running around, chasing people, and dancing in the street. This was his first appearance in court. Ho had been working at To Anau. The accused said he had come in from the country and had had a few drinks. He did not remember anything else. A fine of 20s, in default forty-eight hours’ imprisonment, was imposed

The Dunedin Competitions Society has this year adopted the same principle as that outlined and advocated by the Prime Minister—the principle ot’ facing rocky times by cutting down expenditure and living the simple life —and it is satisfactory to learn from Mr E. S. Wilson (secretary) that the economy has so far not given any indication of lessoning the general interest. The entries count up to a very good total, and from all quarters one hears of preparation of an intensive order. For the elocution sections the aggregate is 370, for the instrumental contests 140, for the vocal competitions 390, including four church choirs, four (inns’ choirs, six secondary schools’ choirs, and three half-hour entertainments, whilst 170 entries are in for the dancing and eight for the impromptu speeches, the later section being full of promise. The programme is so arranged as to provide a star attraction each evening. Choir contests will be the draw on three nights. The impromptu speeches are to serve for another night, high-class work is expected from the half-hour entertainments on three evenings, and ballets are sure to bo attractive on the night they are to be given. The children’s programmes are as usual, fixed for the Saturdays. In each section only one judge will act at a time.. The festival opens on tho 25th hist..

Maungatua looked this like an immeasurable iced cake, and Taieri residents say that the snow on the bilver Peaks seemed to bo the heaviest for tho last ten or fifteen years. . There must have been a great fall with the tail-end of tho south-wester. . Nearer town, too, tho tops of tile hills were densely white at sunrise to-day, Flagstaff in particular. This morning the wind came fresh from the north-east, drying up the soaked gardens.

Members of the Otago Land Board were kept busy at to-day’s meeting with a long order paper made up of applications to transfer, for the right to occupy, and so forth—mostly of interest only, to the parties. All the members were present, Mr N. C. Kensington in the chair. Workers who are engaged on Saturday mornings, not free till noon or after, will be pleased to learn that the Kailway Department has agreed to run a third special train to Wingatui for the Otago Hunt Club’s races on Saturday of this week. The two specials usually scheduled to depart at 11.35 and 12.5 will be followed on this occasion by one at 1.15. A case was called before His Honour Mr Justice Kennedy in the Supreme Court this morning in which James Edward Ashley Perry claimed £650 gen eral damages and £176 4s special damages from H. W. Frost, Dunedin, Ltd. (an incorporated company), and Henry Robert Dalzeel Moore for alleged injury caused to the plaintiff as a result of tho extraction of a tooth by the defendant Moore. Mr J. S. Sinclair appeared for tho plaintiffs, and Mr A. C. Hanlon, K.C., with him Mr J. M. Paterson, for the defendants. Mr Sinclair asked that the case should stand down for ten minutes to allow the parties to discuss the matter, as negotiations were proceeding in the way of a settlement. After an adjournment of about half an hour Mr Sinclair said a settlement had been reached, and he asked that the case should stand over indefinitely so that if necessary it could bo mentioned again. Mr Hanlon concurred, and said it was not likely, that the court would be troubled with the matter again. His Honour said the fixture would simply be vacated, and the action would not be struck out.

The City Fire Brigade turned out at 9.55 last evening in response to a justifiable false alarm from the waterfront.

The fishing launch Virginia, which has been missing since lasi Friday, was located this morning off the Great Barrier Island by a seaplane which left the Hobsonvillo base about 6 o’clock. The four men on board w.ero well, and rowed in a dinghy to the seaplane, which supplied them with bread and water. The living boat Cutty Sark also participated in the search. The launch bad been delayed owing to head winds.—Auckland Priss Association telegram.

A Wellington Press Association telegram states that Mr George Hunterwill also be an assessor at the inquiry into the sinking of the Tahiti. Mr Hunter came to New Zealand six years ago, and has been for most of the time on the casual staff of the . railways. For a long period he was district engineer for the North-eastern Railway in charge of the Hull docks, and during that time controlled the. repairs to some thirty-seven ships, besides supervising the construction of new ships. He has had considerable experience in Admiralty Court work, chiefly as an expert witness.

A statement made by Edward Martin during the bearing of an . affiliation order case that he was married in October, the statement being . repeated in cross-examination, led to nis appearance to-day on a charge of perjury. Sergeant Pender gave evidence of interviewing the accused. Tho latter admitted that he was not married, but said he had been living since October with a woman as man and wife, and he regarded this as a marriage. Martin pleaded guilty, and was committed for sentence. —Wellington Press Association telegram .

The secretary of the Otago Motor Club has received advice from Mr F. M'lvor, inspector to the Waihemo County Council, that portion, of the main highway between Palmerston railway crossing and Muddy Creek will be closed for all through traffic from Friday next until further notice. A detoim will require to be taken via portion of Horse Range and Fleming’s road.

Wedding Time is “Gold Band” Time. Ring the Wedding Fleet of Dunedin. No increase in fares. Dial 18-066. [Advt.J Your eyes are Nature’s most precious gift. Take caro of them. Consult VV. V. Sturtner, optician, 2 Octagon, Dunedin, f Advt.]

To-night, at the Moulin Rouge, a novelty fox-trot will be held, when good prizes will bo 'given tho winners. The latest hits will be supplied by tho Broadway Dance Band.