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Evening Star, Issue 20988, 30 December 1931, Page 6

Catering for strangers as well as our own citizens, the Otago Early Settlers’ Association is again this year open on every day of the midsummer holiday season bar two. The exceptions resolved on, as usual, were December 25 and January 1. The attendance to date is up to the average, many visitors being glad of the opportunity to look through the museum. That there were a few months ago at Porirua Mental Hospital 147 ex-service men patients paying the greatest penalty of war that a man can suffer—loss of reason—will come as a shock and grim reminder that the aftermath of war is still with us. It falls within tho activities of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association as champions of tho Digger to pay fortnightly visits to this hospital, and together with the Red Cross Society to provide comforts in the way of cigarettes, tobacco, sweets, and literature to those sufferers. Unfortunately this number is increasing as tho strain suffered during the Great War becomes mo: 3 and moro evident with the advancing age of tl. Digger. These visits and comforts are greatly appreciated by the Digger patients, as they bring a little ray of light into their darkened lives. One of the holiday fixtures that is not dependent on the weather is tho organ recital by Dr Galway in the Town Hall this evening. Cheap conveyance from every home for miles around is at command, and tho big hall is a comfortable place to sit in, even on a cold night. The programme is made up of sound compositions, some of which are of a thrilling character, such as the 1 Finlandia ’ symphonic poem and Wagner’s ‘ R : - 1 e of the Valkyrie ’; others of the seductive order, Schubert’s 4 Cradle Song ’ and Rubinstein’s ‘ Rove Angeliquo ’ being outstanding examples. Some particulars of tho horrid Cumberland street murder in Dunedin on March 14, 1880, are asked for. Tho tragedy was reported early on that Sunday morning. Tho victims were James Murray Dewar (aged twenty-nine), his wife, Elizabeth Dewar, and their uiue-raouths-old child, Elizabeth Murray Dewar. They were murdered in bed, the husband being slain by the blow of an axe, tho wife rendered senseless in tho same manner, and dying about noon on tho same day, and tho baby being suffocated by smoke from tho fire apparently lit by the criminal. Robert Butler, charged with tho murders, was acquitted of that offence, but convicted of burglary and sentenced to. eighteen years’ imprisonment..

At this time last year Dunedin .had six miniature golf courses, and the craze for this form of amusement was at its height. To-day there are only two in the city, and these have been opened only temporarily for the holiday season. There are still two putting greens open for play, one on the St. Clair esplanade and the other in the Gardens. Numbers of art lovers have visited the Pflblic Art Gallery in Logan Park during the past week or two for the purpose of seeing the Turner landscape that is the latest of the pictures to bo permanently hung there. The attendance keeps up remarkably well. Visitors from other centres often express surprise with respect to the art value of the exhibits, and ungrudging praise is bestowed on the building and the way it is kept and managed. An extra attraction is available to tho public during the festive season. Air P. L. Halsted, who recently returned after a trip to tho Old Country, purchased there several pictures for his own private collection, and with his characteristic thoughtfulness for the community has lent them to the gallery before hanging them in his rooms. The secretary of tho St. Kilda Unemployed and Relief Workers’ Association announces with regret that, owing to an inability to secure a suitable hall, tho social which was to have been held on December 30 has been postponed. In the Police Court this morning, before, Messrs H. E. Moller, J.P., and G. Stratton, J.P., Edward Charles APLaughlin was charged with being a rogue and vagabond in that he was found by night without lawful excuse on the building occupied by J. Romison and Co., High street. Senior-ser-geant Cameron, in asking for a remand till January 6, said he thought the charge should come before the magistrate who had had the accused, who was only twenty years of ago, before him on several occasions. The accused was found on the premises under suspicious circumstances at 2 o’clock this morning. Tho remand asked for was granted. A visitor to the city commented on the fact that a number of vacant sections in the suburbs of Dunedin, some of them on the main roads of travel, are in a very untidy condition. He suggested that at any rate weeds such as thistles should be cleared out of consideration to people in the vicinity who have gardens. Drivers of the motor buses that have tho Otago Peninsula as their route say that so far during tho holiday season tho traffic has been up to the volume of last year. They recognise that the maintenance of the number of passengers is due to some extent to the withdrawal of tho two steamers that used to start from Dunedin. What is noted with satisfaction is that the Peninsula is as attractive as in previous years. Str-is is also laid on the fact that all the resorts along tho rente, from Alacandrow’s Bay down to Harrington Point below the Kaik are in favour with excursionists and picnickers. The current holiday season has made opportunity for many of our busy residents to pay a visit to the Otago University’s Alusenm in King street. With some it has been their first chance to spend time in going through the new Fels wing. The classification made possible by the structural additions is such as to completely satisfy scientific visitors. Alany persons who go to tho Aluseum out of curiosity remain to study. A week ago the stir at the Dunedin railway station was such as to prompt the question as to whether a depression does really exist. To-day it was a different picture. Excursionists are away, the outward traffic is lighter, and preparations are being made to bring back those who have only short holidays. Thus it came about that the putting on of thirteen cars to the 11.35 for Christchurch meant only a demand up there for cars to accommodate tho rush back to Dunedin.

Savo your eyes. Be wise, and consult W, V. Stunner (optician, 2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old age.[Advt.] Elsewhere in these columns attention is drawn to tho Country Club’s danco at Waitati on Saturday After the initial success last Saturday a large attendance is expected. A bus will bo run for tho convenience of patrons. A danco will bo held in tho Glencairn Hall, Tomahawk, to-night. Buses leave Queen’s Gardens at 7.45. So that patrons may have the opportunity of dancing the old year out and tho now year in Palais Dansant will hold a special dance to-morrow night, and in anticipation of a largo crowd has engaged the main Town Hall. Two bands—Dagg’s_ and “ Gaiety; Girls ’’—will supply the music.