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Evening Star, Issue 20985, 26 December 1931, Page 8

Tho Wellington Harbour Board has received a further wireless message sent at noon on Christmas Day from Captain Hart, of the tug Zwarte Zee, who is in charge of the towing operations, stating that the Wellington floating dock was then north 39 west 92 miles from Farewell Spit; Tho message also stated that tho tugs were not making such good progress as they had been. The Zwarte Zee is to proceed to Nelson for bunkers. Unless unfavourable weather causes further delay, tho dock is expected to reach Wellington on Sunday or Monday morning. The period of three or four days just before Christmas is always tho busiest of tho year for tho Telegraph Office, and this year, as usual, tho staff worked at high pressure to cope with the public demand. Tho returns supplied by the Telegraph Office officials show that the number of messages received during the four-day period was 2,720 fewer than the number received during the corresponding period last year, while the number of telegrams forwarded was 1,479 fewer than last year. There was also a noticeable drop in tho number of telegrams transmitted. Though the volume of work this year was smaller, there was no lessening of actual work by the staff, for the reason that it has boon depleted during tho year. At the Police Court this morning, David William Campbell was charged with drunkenness, having been once previously convicted within the past six months. Ho was convicted and discharged on condition that cab faro was paid. .Hears .1. W. Patton, J.P., and T. D. Jamieson, J.P., wero on the bench,

The Post Office advises that the Waikouaiti left Sydney on Wednesday for Bluff with seven bags and three parcel receptacles for Dunedin. The mail is due on Tuesday next.

Tho police have not yet found any trace of a motor cycle, the property of Mr E. P. Drew, of 21 Passmore crescent, Maori Hill, which was taken from Moray place on December 19, between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. The cycle was an A.J.S., 1928 model, with aluminium strips round the tank. Its registered number was 29-Gl7. About the same amount of mail matter was handled at tho Dunedin Post Office during tho several days prior to Christmas as was handled during the corresponding period last year. The returns show that tho mails received during tho four-day period were 118 bags fewer than tho number checked in during the same period last year. Tho decrease, however, was almost counterbalanced by tho mails forwarded, the returns showing that the number of bags despatched on the four days was 105 more than tho number handled during the same period last year. Tho heaviest inward mail was handled on Wednesday, when 755 bags were received by express and ordinary trains from north and south. Tho heaviest outward mail was handled on Tuesday, a total of G 67 bags being despatched north and south. Tho recital on the First Church organ by Dr Galway last night was the twelfth of his contributions to Christmas Day observance in Dunedin. A largo congregation assembled. Tho principal items on the programme were tho pastoral symphony from ‘ Tho Messiah,’ Bach’s fugues in E flat on the tunc ‘ St. Ann,’ Guihnant’s march on the chorus “ Lift up your heads,” and a chorale with variations by Mendelssohn. Theso and the other pieces presented were given their true values. Miss Margaret Green, the appointed soloist of the occasion, was not well enough to appear. Her place on tho programme was taken by Miss Bertha Rawlinson, who sang " Ho shall feed his flock ” and the slumber song sympathetically and would have been freely applauded but for the request to keep silence.

A correspondent offers a correction to our article of Saturday last, on St. Thomas’s Day,- .in which doubt was expressed whether there is a church of that name in New Zealand. He states that there is a St. Thomas’s at Outram, another at Newtown, Wellington, and the ruins of a third at Tamaki, Auckland.

An incident on the yacht Northern Light, in which the famous violinist, Mr Balokovic, recently toured New Zealand, was closed on Tuesday (says tho Auckland ‘Herald’), with tho departure for London of the former sailing master, Captain Paul. Tho events which led up to his dismissal reveal Mrs Balokovio as a particularly strong personality and one determined to have her own way. The Northern Light has been at an anchorage in Sydney Harbour for some time, and one day last week Mrs Balokovic, as owner and master, assembled the crew on deck and began to address them on tho question of discipline on board. Captain Paul took exception to this, claiming that he was the person responsible for the crew, and that all disciplining should he done through him. Without any hesitation, Mrs Balokovic said: "You. are dismissed.” Captain Paul replied: Is it, then, madam, the parting of the ways? ” and the answer was a decisive “ Yes.” On both sides absolute courtesy marked tho episode, and neither party has since indulged in recriminations. Mrs Balokovic seems thoroughly satisfied now that she has established her authority as captain of the Tsoitnern Light. She has engaged a new sailing master, who, is, apparently, willing to sail under tho strict conditions which she secs fR to lay down.

Another municipal organ recital is to bo given by Dr Galway m tho down Hall before the year closes. It is fixed for Wednesday evening next, llio programme is made up of compositions that tho public have expressed high approval of during the year. At the head of the list is Handel’s ' Concerto in 1, known as tho 4 Cuckoo and Nightingale. two choral preludes by Bach come next, then tho over-popular buite Gothiquo ’ by Boellmann. That great symphonic poem Fnlandia, and Kiae of the Valkyrie,’ and the overture to 1 William Tell ’ are amongst the other enticements. It is a programme that makes an appeal to all classes of music lovers.

So well thought out are the railway arrangements in tho Dunedin district that tho trains have run to time all tn© week, with tho exception of a couple that on Wednesday were delayed about forty minutes owing to little mishaps caused by greasy rails on the Mihiwaka bank. Those were the trains due at Dunedin at 4.18 and o.i. The general punctuality is worthy ot acknowledgment, for it has been achieved in the face of heavy loading, particularly in tho second class. Uns morning tho express from tho south steamed into Dunedin with twelve carriages sharp on time, and got away to the minute. The orderliness and preparedness of passengers is noted as a factor towards this smart coming and going.

A bugle call sounding the assembly caused notice on the Dunedin railway station as tlio 11.35 express was about to depart. It summoned to their carriage the thirty-two members of the Boys’ Brigade, who were proceeding to the J nnual camp at Waikouaiti, Captain Branks in charge of that party. The Dunedin corps, seventy strong, wont by an earlier train, Captain Moir in charge. The camp at Waikouaiti opened to-day, and will run to January 4. Captain J. W. Clark, of Invercargill, is the officer commanding. The Boys’ Brigade, with which is united the Boys’ Life Brigade, was founded in 1882, Its patron is the King. The objects are the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom among boys, and the promotion of habits of obedience, reverence, discipline, self-x'ospect, and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness.

Yesterday’s showery weather did not vitally prejudice the Christmasing in Dunedin, since many of our people who had determined on such outings as camping sallied forth in full hope of a prompt clearing up overhead, while the greater number who are now in the fu.hit of making Christinas Day the occasion of family reassemblings were content with stay-at-home pleasures. Of late yc s home parties on the 25th are becoming moro and more the custom, as in tho Old Country. There it is a necessity to get the merriment indoors, winter ruling it so. In New Zealand tho summer’s long days give an option, and it is exorcised now in tho direction of house parties on the 25th, and excursions next day. With tho passing of the years tho fashion is apparently to turn from boisterous fun towards tho reuniting of families. With the change several 'old customs are disappearing. “The Waits” are seemingly gone for good, tho early morning perambulation of bands is no longer a prominent feature of Christinas Day. Open touting for Christmas boxes is another practice that has of late taken on more modesty than of old. A further noticeable improvement is that there is little drunkenness in our streets.

The third New Zealand Esperanto Congress opened to-day at Christchurch. A welcome was extended by the mayor, and then Professor Macmillan Brown addressed the delegates, . who subsequently discussed association business. The conference will conclude on Monday.—Press Association. At 1.5 Con Christmas morning the ■fire brigade turned out in response to a justifiable false alarm to the corner of Hajiover street and Auzac avenue, and at 2.30 there was a malicious false alarm registered at the corner of Rattray and Princes streets. At 4.7 in the afternoon a justifiable alarm was answered at tho Phoenix factory, Maclaggan street. Christmas Day weather in Auckland was dull with occasional bursts of.hot sunshine. -A special feature of holiday making this year seems to be the larger number of motorists who are carrying camping gear.—Press Association telegram.

Save your eyes. Bo wise, and consult W. V. Stunner (optician, 2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old ago.— [Arivt.] S. E. Ferguson, jeweller, optician, corner George street and Moray place. A choice selection of Diamond Engagement Rings selling now from £5 10s. Christmas presents in great variety.—[Advt.] Notifications of Sunday services as enumerated below appear in our_ Sunday services advertising columais: —Anglican: St, Paul’s Cathedral, All Saints’, St. Peter’s. Presbyterian: First Church, Knox Church, St. Andrew’s, Caversham, South Dunedin, Chalmers, Musselburgh, Maori Hill, St. Stephen’s. Methodist: Trinity, Central Mission, Mornington, Roslyn, Cargill Road, St. Kilda, Caversham, Dundas Street. Baptist: Hanover Street, Caversham, Northeast Valley, Mornington, South Dunodiu, Roslyn. Congregational: Moray Place, United. Church of Christ: St. Andrew’s, Roslyn, North-east Valley, South Dunedin, Filleul Street. York Place Hall, Playfair Street Hall, Salvation Army, Christian Science, Theosophioal Society, Spiritualists, Orange Hall. At the Palais Dansant, Concert Chamber, Town Hall, last Saturday the ‘ Gaiety Girls’ * Dance Band, judging by the number of encores demanded, immediately stepped into favour with patrons. This unique band will again support Mr Doug. Dagg’s band in the musical programme for to-night's dance. The Wembley Club will hold its final dance tb-night in the Early Settlers’ Hall. The Railway Department advertises in this issi i train arrangements in connection wiht Oamaru races on January 2. The Railway Department advertises in this issue particulars of train services in connection with Waikouaiti races on January 1. Tho Railway Department announces in this issue particulars of train service to Wiii°-atui in connection with Dunedin Jockey Club’s races on December 28, and special attention is directed to the fact that ordinary suburban fares are available by all trains.