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Evening Star, Issue 20999, 13 January 1932, Page 8

The most popular passenger on the Monowai, which left Wellington /for San Francisco towards the end of last month, was Phar Lap, the champion Australian stake-winner, said Dr 11. F. Hindmarsb, of New South Wales, who was a through passenger to Sydney by the Makura from San Francisco. Dr Hindmarsb, who is returning to Australia after a holiday visit to Rarotonga, was a passenger on the Monowai. Phar Lap, he said, was the centre of attraction, and it seemed to become a custom on the boat for the passengers to pay their respects to him every day. “Ho is the most docile racehorse I know,” said Dr Hindmarsh. “ Even when the passengers crowded around his exercise yard and endeavoured to stroke him he displayed no emotion at all. He was the most favoured passenger on the boat. Nothing was too good for him. The sea journey did not appear to worry him at all, and when I last saw him he was ns fit as ever.” “ Now that we are going,” said Wing - commander Dalton, former Director of Air Services, on the eve of his departure from Wellington last week, “ I feel I must say that my wife and myself have enjoyed every moment of our all too brief stay. New' Zealand is famous for the hospitality that it extends to visitors. Every single member of my family can vouchsafe that, and so far as tliey are concerned this fame does not rest upon mere empty words. For the last few months we have been able to gain knowledge of the life in the country districts of New Zealand. It is a life not to be obtained in many other countries. Wo shall never forget the fun we have had and the friends we have mado._ We are all sincerely sorry to be leaving. Indeed, it is perhaps not giving away a secret to say that there is every chance in the near future that we may decide to return and settle in New Zealand.” A Wellington Association message states that shortly after the Eastbourne ferry steamer Muritai left Wellington on the trip to the bays last evening the steering gear carried away. With the engines still going, the vessel drifted, turning in circles, slowly up harbour towards Kaiwarra. The Union Company’s tug Natone was sent to pick her up, and the steamer w'as brought back to her berth shortly before Y It is expected that the Muritai will bo running as usual this evening.

At a meeting of the executive of the Dunedin Free Kindergarten Association held on Tuesday, it was decided in the meantime to open only the three schools held in the association’s own buildings (Kelsey-Yaralla, R. Hudson Memorial, and R. S. Reynolds). These schools will assemble on February 2 as usual. A meeting will be called early in February, of representatives of the various local committees and others vitally interested, to discuss the whole position. Yesterday marked an important step forward in the history of the Dominicr i Order 1 in New Zealand. Yesterday four sisters set out from St. Dominic’s Priory to establish a branch of the order at Helensville, in the Auckland diocese. This foundation is being made at the invitation of the Right Rev. Dr Liston, Bishop of Auckland, whose zealous work in the interests of both primary and secondary education is well known. The many friends of the order scattered throughout the dominion will be interested to know that the community set out under the charge of Mother M. Cecily, who was for many years prioress at St. Dominic’s Priory. His Lordship, Dr Whyte, celebrated Mass in the Convent Chapel, and then were recited the beautiful prayers prescribed in the rubrics of the order for those setting out on a journey, after which Solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was given.

A high compliment to the spirit of the New Zealanders is contained in a letter received by a Dunedin man; from a friend in New York. _ “It is bad enough to suffer financial reverses,” writes the New Yorker, “but when it is all climaxed by an earthquake it is enough to make most anyone lose heart. However, from what I read in the Press here and saw in the illustrated paper you sent me, the people of New Zealand did not sit back and look for sympathy, but pitched right in and helped themselves to rebuild better than before.”

A collision, fortunately fraught with no injury to persons, occurred at Oban street, Roslyn, at 7.35 last night between the Maori. Hill electric car and a motor car, driven by Mr Arthur Bell. The motor car apparently skidded, and though both the tram and the motor were pulled up quickly they met headon. Minor damage was done to the tram, and the motor car was extensively damaged.

Extensive damage was sustained to the Hawke’s Bay Aero Club’s moth plane at the Gisborne aerodrome. On Monday evening the plane, piloted by Mr K. Gould, with a lady passenger, arrived at dusk and in landing the under-carriage was stripped from the machine and the wings damaged. Neither the pilot nor the passenger ivas injured. The machine was sent back to Hastings by a lorry.—Press Association telegram.

The presence of prospecting pans in the display window of a local shop seems to indicate that the- search for gold is becoming increasingly popular. Queries by a ‘ Star ’ reporter elicited the information that the pans had been procured from Sydney, it was stated, however, that, although these articles were now r and then asked for, there was nothing in the demand for them that suggested a gold rush. During the holiday season several amateur prospectors have been back in tow r n for a few days, and tales, both optimistic and the reverse, have been told of the ventures.

A resident of Port Chalmers pointed out to a ‘ Star ’ reporter that if the cocksfoot grass at present being out by relief workers at Port Chalmers were allowed to ripen the seed would be equal to the Akaroa product. The grass is being cut in connection with cleaning up street plantations, and grass grown areas near to side streets. The point is that a few pounds could be realised from the sale of the seed if it were collected and marketed, and Port Chalmers was not the only place where that applied. Heather, Otago’s challenger in the Sanders Cup contest, which commences at Wellington on Monday_ next, was crated and placed on a railway truck to-day. The crew, which consists of Messrs C. Pettit (skipper), I. M'Grath, A. Shanks, and R. Reynolds, will leave by the second express tomorrow. The boat has been thoroughly overhauled and is in tiptop_ condition, the crew having spent no pains to have her in the best possible trim for the trials. The crew has worked from morning till night and on several occasions have finished by lamp light. _ The boat and crew will arrive in Wellington on Friday morning which will give the crew an opportunity of a thorough tryout befort the first race. It is hoped that as nu ny yachtsmen as possible vv ill be at the station to-morrow to bid farewell to the crew.

There was a clean sheet at the Police Court this morning. Visiting motorists to the city have every reason to commend the enterprise and agility of the executive _of the Otago Motor Club in establishing such an excellently-appointed camping ground as the one in operation at Taluuia Park. In conjunction with the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society, the Motor Club has fenced off portion of the park and erected a camping kitchen wdiich offers every desired facility for camping motorists. For a moderate charge motorists and their families can be supplied with an abundance of hot water, not only for use in the preparation of meals, but for baths and showers. A Jong bench and forms for meals have been provided, wdiile even the equipment for the ironing of clothes has not been neglected. Though the conveniences were not completed till the day before Christmas, the camp has been open since the beginning of December, and a glance at the visitors’ book, which contains 150 names, reveals the utmost satisfaction with the club’s venture. A motorist from Auckland expressed the opinion that it was the best camping kitchen in the South Island, while the comments of other visitors prove that the Motor Club’s effort has been a step in the right direction.

Approval of holding formal inquiries before a stipendiary magistrate and assessors into the mishaps to the coastal steamers Storm and Breeze on December 18 has been given by the Minister of Marine. The inquiries will Ije held at Christchurch, the dates to be fixed after the assessors have been chosen. —Wellington Press association. The Temuka ‘ Leader,’ which was first published in 1877, and has since continued as a tri-weekly paper, is to cease publication at the end of February. The first owner of the paper was Mr J. Ivess, who was succeeded by Mr Utting in 1878. In 1881 it was sold to the Hon. J. M. Twomey, M.L.C., who controlled it for many years.

Save your eyes. Bo wise, • and consult W. V, Sturmer (optician, 2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old age.— [Advt.]

The New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board draws attention in our advertising columns to the fact that now is the time to order presents of prime Now Zealand lamb for delivery at Homo at Easter time. Under this well-known scheme anyone can have a single carcass of lamb delivered at any time to any address in the United Kingdom for the sum of 245. Elsewhere in this issue attention is drawn to the Winter Garden dance in Arthur Street Hall on Saturday next. In spite of the low admission charges, the management aims at setting a high standard. Right of admission is reserved, and no pass-out checks will be issued.

The Railway Department advertises in this issue particulars of a special cheap day excursion Dunedin to Timaru on Sunday next. The intention is to make the excursion as attractive as possible by putting on fast special trains and exceptionally cheap fares. Seats for both journeys can be reserved for Is.