Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 20987, 29 December 1931, Page 6

There will bo no publication of the ‘ Evening Star 1 on Friday—New Year’s Day. The mayoress (Mrs 11. S. Black) advises that the St. Andrew street depot will be open for the distribution of meat on Thursday morning. Those who desire to obtain a portion will need to lodge their applications at the depot between 10 and 12 o’clock to-mor-row morning. This is necessary in order that the staff will know the size to cut the pieces from the carcases that are available for distribution. The steamer Breeze, which was extensively damaged when she went ashore at Port llobinson on December 18, has been abandoned to the underwriters, who intend to dismantle the ship and sink the hull. The damage to the hull and the keel was more extensive than was first supposed, and the cost of repairs would be more than the value of the vessel. The company will carry on with the Calm, Gale, and Storm, and will later replace the Breeze with a new ship. Having a definite place amongst our community organisations, the welfare of the Dunedin Jockey Club is a matter that concerns the public at largo, and it is satisfactory to learn that its Christmas race meeting is panning out financially with a balance on the right side—not a large sum, but enough to cheer the heart of a treasurer who has had to face many deficits. The result would bo more welcome if it could be attributed to increased attendance. As a fact “ the gate ” was smaller than that of last year’s Christmas meeting. The profit is largely brought about by enforced economies in the way of stakes and expenditure generally. So the club cannot yet awhile launch out into rejoicings and restorations. Perhaps by the time of the Dunedin Cup meeting the money position will ho improved. Meanwhile the club needs the friendly assistance of all concerned, and it is consoling to know that such aid is well deserved. This is a reminder as to the organ recital to be given by Dr Galway in the Town Hall to-morrow evening. The organ that Mr A. S. Paterson gave to the city is a magnificent instrument, fully fit for concert purposes; the programme is compiled from the pieces that the regular attenders have picked out for special commendation; and the performer has the discriminative faculty, being able to give to each work its native character. What more can bo asked for? Dunedin hotelkeepers are finding this Christmas season dull as to the demands for accommodation and also as to the business in the bars. One of the leaders answered a question this morning by giving his opinion that the receipts generally for the week would run from 25 to 30 per cent, below the average. Those who do a large bottle business may bo doing better than others. But “ the trade ” is not disheartened. Brisker business may bo expected when people settle down after the holidays. There is seldom a rush in the Christmas week.

Yesterday was tlio first day of the holidays on which bathers wore able to enjoy to tho full tho benefits of both sea and sun, and many on the beaches at St. Kilda and St. Clair acquired a coat of “ tan ” on tho skin in basking in the sunshine after disporting in the foam-flecked surf. There were particularly largo crowds on tho beaches yesterday afternoon, and there was a scene of animation and colour as tho bathers' splashed about iu the water and as tho many children played about on the sand. St. Clair residents who have a daily dip iu tho briny found conditions early this morning about best so faa; Jins peasooj

How far will the recent showery weather help Otago and Southland farmers to a financial recovery ? That was the question put to-day to Mr R. B. Tennent, field superintendent, who is in a position to answer reliably. He replied to the effect that the rains will puu the pastures round, ensure the grass seed crop, and bring away the bulk of the turnips that-were languishing from want of moisture. North Otago in particular is blessed by the refreshing of the pastures. Some of the paddocks there were absolutely bare until a few days ago. There is no hope, he fears, for a general enlivening of the wheat and oats. In many places the stunted growths, earing without stalk worth speaking of, have been fed off. There are not, however, so far as Mr Tennent is aware, many cases of stock having had to be driven to outside districts to save their lives. Farmers have been able to eke out the sustenance and Nature has come to their relief.

It is doubtful if even a Royal Commission could get to the bottom of the mystery which surrounds the problem of ascertaining exactly where the profits from selling fruit find their permanent resting place. A Roxburgh farmer who was in town the other day told a ‘ Star ’ man that he was forced to sell big, firm cherries at 3d a lb — a price which merely paid the expenses of picking and packing. In Dunedin he saw exactly the same kind of cherries (perh-.ps they were from his own orchard) selling at Is 6d a lb. There certainly does seem an unreasonably big jump from 3d to Is 6d, and, even if this should indicate a sharply-defined and More or less isolated example of profiteering, a system of marketing which makes such a state of affairs possible should be investigated and overhauled by the proper authorities. Some individuals —message boys probably—have formed l the annoying, not to say dangerous, habit, of parking their bicycles in a spread-eagle fashion over the kerbs of the city streets. It has been reported that a lady was recently painfully injured through tripping over the handlebars of a prostrate bicycle which was lying in wait for its master between Dowling street and tlte Rattray street tram terminus. As his machine has been seen almost daily in the same position, _it is not merely a case of its having fallen accidentally. It is to be hoped that the necessary stops from an authoritative quarter will put an end to the nuisance.

“If anybody wants to enjoy all the thrills of broadsiding without having to attend organised speeding meetings let him run his car up and down the main road in the Milton district,” said the owner of a light car, who braved the perils of the southern, highways yesterday. “With corrugations, potholes, and loose patches of surface all conspiring against one, the driyer of anything but a tank or a traction engine has not a chance of getting a smooth run. Several times I found my little bus swinging her tail and broadsiding in great style.” He added that the corrugations were becoming worse every day, and that unless the roads were soon put in first-class order for motoring, the county concerned would probably find that travellers would prefer to pass through the district by train. “They tell me that very small cars can get lost _in the potholes,” concluded the motorist with a smile.

Inquiry at the city engineer’s office shows that during the recent drought period the lowest flow of water from the Deep Stream catchment area was twenty-nine million gallons a day. The city’s consumption per day during the same pei'iod was about one-sixth of that quantity. The catchment area from which the city’s supply of water is drawn at present is about 11,500 acres, and the Deep Stream catchment area is about 40,000 acres. Perhaps the most consistentlypatronised of the daily trains originating at the Dunedin station is the 8.55 a.m. to Oamaru. It carries a big load of passengers every morning of this holiday season, indicating a general rush to seaside resorts. Efficient work by the railwaymen enabled the up express from Invercargill to make a smart trip to Dunedin this morning. It left thirty-two minutes late and lost ten minutes more on the run to Waipahi, but two cars were there taken off to lighten the load, and from that station it gained twelve minutes, getting to Dunedin just half an hour behind time—a good run for such a heavy load. A further decrease in the registration of unemployed is shown in the latest figures issued from the Minister’s office. The decrease since October is approximately 6,000. Part-time relief workers last week totalled 37,356, leaving 8,168 registered, but unplaced. The_ last figure is less by 1,187 than the figures of a week earlier.—Press Associaton.

Savo your eyes. Bo wise, and consult W. V, Stunner (optician, 2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old ago.— [Advt.] S. E. Ecrguson, jeweller, optician, corner Goorgo street and Moray place. A choice selection of Diamond Engagement Kings soiling now from £5 10s. Christmas presents in great variety.—[Advt.] A dance will be hold in the Glencairn Hall to-morrow night. Music will he supplied by Eastern Orchestra. Buses leave Queen’s Gardens at 7.45. The main Town Hall has boon engaged for Palais Dansant’s New Year’s Eve dance, which will bo extended to 1 o’clock. Two bands —Dagg’s and “ Gaiety Girls ” —will supply tho musig for the old and new dances.