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Evening Star, Issue 21009, 25 January 1932, Page 8

Under the will of the late Mr Charles Surfleet, of Allanton, the Public Trustee, as executor, is directed to pay the following legacies:—The l , sura of £I,OOO to tho Presbyterian Social Service Association, Dunedin, for ,the benefit of the Ross Home; the sum of £BOO to the officer in charge of the Salvation Army at Dunedin for general charitable purposes; the sum of £BOO to the Otago Hospital Board for the benefit of the Dunedin Public Hospital; the residue of the estate, after making certain other legacies and devises, to tho Presbyterian Social Service Association for tho benefit of the Ross Horae. It is anticipated that the residue will be in the vicinity of £750.

The postal authorities advise that the Maunganui left Sydney on Friday for Auckland with nine bags of mail and four parcel receptacles. The mail should reach the local office on Thursday afternoon. “ How long do you keep your cows before you cull themp” asked Sub-in-spector Cameron of a dairy farmer charged with selling milk below standard in the Police Court to-day. “ I do not like taking the life of a faithful servant,” was defendant’s way of answering the question. Clothes line thieves are again at work, this time in South Dunedin. One night recently three ladies’ bathing costumes were removed from_ a lino in Surrey street. As the line could not be seen froni the street, it is assumed that the thief was on the premises for illegal purposes. Motorists, in the vicinity of Allanton yesterday, who hat visions of an appetising mushroom tea, were somewhat disillusioned. Several passersby were induced to climb a fence and traverse a paddock by the sight of a group of likely-looking white specks in the green grass. Closer examination, however, showed them to be eggshells which had been scattered about, and it was not till the grins of a number of boys behind a barn were seen, that U dawned on the disappointed ones that they had been the victims of a practical joke.

A relief worker’s wife when applying for a meat ration on Saturday at the depot where distribution Was being made for those unable to obtain meat for the week-end owing to the butcher’s holiday was unwise to state that her husband was at the races. ■ Thereafter all other applicants were questioned, none of those replying to the affirmative being given the right to free moat, it being considered that if they had money for the races they could buy meat—Wellington Press Association telegram.

The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G, W. Forbes) stated on Saturday (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington) that the personnel of the Special Economy Commission will be announced early this week. The commission will consist of five members. A statement as to the scope of the commission’s inquiry will be made at the same time as the announcement of the names of the commissioners. Mr Forbes also stated that the appointment of a Minister to fill the vacancy caused by the defeat of Mr D. Jones, Minister of Agriculture, at the General Election, will bo made this week.

Scrub fires, fanned by a howling nor’-wester, caused some concern to residents of Bromley, Burwood, and Wainoni (Canterbury) on Saturday 'and Sunday, but no damage was done. The localities concerned are sandhills, covered with lupin and broom, with a few pine plantations scattered about. The scrub was burnt off over a large area, and trees were damaged, but houses in the vicinity were not touched, though at times they # were menaced. The New Brighton Fire Brigade did good work, and, assisted by residents and volunteers, beat out the flames. Yesterday afternoon thirty acres of lupins and broom were destroyed at Wainoni. A gorse fire at Kowai bridge burned 20ft of planking, but did not impair the usefulness of the structure. A homestead and a few week-end baches in the vicinity were threatened, but the flames were speedily suppressed.

The Wellington Gliding Club’s new machine, imported from Australia a few weeks ago, crashed on Saturday, crumpling one wing beyond repair. The glider (states a Press Association message) was being towed by a motor cycle, with a member clinging to either wing. A tyro was in the cockpit. The glider rose about Bft, and one man let go his wing. The other, however, kept hold, and, despite tho efforts of tho pilot, the machine crashed on one wing and turned over.

Judged by the receipts at the St. Clair pavilion, last Saturday brought together the largest number of surfers so far this season at St. Clair. The record kept by Mr 11. Eaton, the caretaker, shows that £8 2s lid was received in fees. The next best total this summer was on Sunday, the 17th inst., £5 19s lid. Christmas Day supplies the minimum to date, Is 3d, and Boxing Day brought in only £1 Os 9d. The patronage is entirely governed by the weather. Yesterday morning the sun shene, and by the way the people were going to the beach the caretakers spied the promise of a record; but a light shower at noon threatened real rain, therefore the afternoon’s business was negligible. An inspection of the register shows that children by far outnumber adults. The sexes are about at a. balance in botl the juvenile and adult section. The ladies, however, contribute the most to the funds, since it is from them that the larger demand comes for boxes. AH this week the pavilion will be open, no matter what the weather may be.

“ Dental nurses iri tho school clinics are very much a law unto themselves. They do their work well; but the human element enters in, and I think that as far as discipline is concerned the nurses should bo under the control of tho head masters,”, said Mr C. S. Thompson at the meeting of the Canterbury Education Board last week, when the department’s decision to divide the Dominion into four dental districts, each under tho control of a different officer, came up for consideration. Mr Thompson said that one officer could not possibly keep in close touch with all the clinics in Canterbury, Westland, and Nelson. The subject was referred back to the Appointments Committee to consider. “ Mountaineering is gaining in popularity in New Zealand. It is fascinating, and it is dangerous; but I believe that the sport encourages qualities of mind and body that will overcome the dangers,” said Mr G. W, Armitage, chairman of the Canterbury Education Board, when referring to tho death of Mr H. Smith, and Mr C. W. Robbins, who died from exposure on Harman’s Pass. ‘‘They were tragically caught by a creeping death,” Mr Armitage added. A vigorous war is being waged in Christchurch on earwigs, which are invading homes end gardens in unusually large numbers this year. One resident has been very successful ,in his activities, and each evening catches hundreds of the pests. Instead of throwing away his empty wooden match boxes, he places them at intervals'in his garden, leaving the lids partly open. Each evening ho traps dozens of earwigs, which crawl inside the boxes either out of curiosity or for shelter. The pests are then despatched by the simple process of pouring scalding water over them. A modern five-roomed house at Aratika was destroyed by fire, with the contents yesterday morning (states a Greymouth Association message). The house was owned by tho Aratika Sawmilling Coy. and tho tenant,, Mr L, Lovert, was absent at the time. Incendiarism is suspected and the police are malting inquiries. The insurance on the house was with the South British (Christchurch), and the amount is not known; the furniture was covered for £ls with the British Traders Co.

A young seaman who deserted three years ago from the Port Alma at Wellington was before the court at Gisborne to-day, counsel explaining that his desertion had involved seven and a-half hours’ delay to the steamer, and an expense of £162. Accused’s counsel mentioned that last year he had actually gone aboard the Port Alma and had boarded all port boats to visit old friends. The magistrate decided to give accused a chance, and ordered him to come up for sentence, if called on.—Press Association.

As a result of a visit to Dunedin by Mr George Booth, a Timaru bandsman of good standing, and Well known throughout the dominion, our bandsmen and other musicians are actively supporting a proposal which is being favourably received in other centres—a proposal to form a National Military Band of New Zealand. Mr Booth is now organising with that purpose in view, in association with a Provisional Committee. The principal object aimed at is to advertise New Zealand. Our dominion sends out cricket and football teams, and it goes to some trouble to let the world know about the quality of its butter, cheese, fruit, wool, meat, etc. Why not in like manner proclaim to other countries that New Zealand carl produce musicians, The suggestion is to appoint a conductor to receive applications for membership, and that from those applications the committee will select about fifty to constitute the band. Anticipating a ready response in players, the committee has already applied to the Minister of Internal Affairs for a permit to hold an art union wherewith to finance the organisation. Upon the granting of such a permit everything depends as the matter now stands. The High Commissioner has also been written to. If the proposal comes to fruition, which eems likely, it will break new ground. New Zealand did once send out a national brass band, but so far our dominion has never attempted the formation of a national military band.

Large consignments of apples have reached the, Dunedin market within the last few days. The cool stores of Canterbury have delivered quantities of Stunners that are m remarkably good condition, lasting much better than usual, and new season’s apples are to hand. Beauty of Bath from Central Otago, Red Astrakhan, Duchess of Oldenburg. Irish Peach, and Gravenstein from Nelson. Thus wo have the novel choice between tho old and the new growths. Unfortunately the demand for apples is not keen just now, since buyers have at their selection abundance of apricots, peaches, and cherries at reasonable prices. The railway traffic to and from Dunedin is just now about the average for this time of the year. The present arrangement as to two expresses per day for north arid south is to continue till February 2. This week tho Waimea Plains route to and from Queenstown will bo available on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. After that the Saturday service via Waimea is to be discontinued.. The steamer service from Queenstown to Glenorchy, as from today, is to be on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

The following answer is given to the queries of a correspondent, “ Dubious,” who makes divers inquiries regarding the working of the Citizens’ Relief Committee The Citizens’ Relief Committee is composed of several clergymen, the whole of tho staff of the Central _ Mission relief depot, and representatives of the Unemployed Workers’ Committee. The Supervisor is Mr J. H. Hinton, well known as the chief of staff of the Central Mission depot, which operated for six months last year. All moneys are paid into a trust account at the National Bank of New Zealand, and are publicly acknowledged in the Press. . The street collection was authorised by the civic authorities, Mr Hinton having had a talk with tho mayor, in the course of which Mr Black approved of the committee’s work. Strictly speaking, tho name “ Citizens’ Relief Committee ” is, without the mayor, a misnomer, but all those associated with the work are citizens, and it is considered that, in 'view of tho circumstances and the fact that no other organisation bearing that designation exists at present, tho name is justified.

Butchery businesses throughout the city and suburbs were dosed to-day. The annual picnic took place at Tahuna Park, which, during the latter part of the morning and early in the afternoon, presented a scene of much activity. Bright sunshine made conditions for tho outing quite pleasant, a cool westerly breeze checking the temperature, wliich just suited visitors taking part in the running programme. The attendance was quite up to that of the previous year’s picnic, and everyone present entered fully into the the spirit of the holiday. As usual tho programme of events attracted much attention from all in the grounds, and a good deal of happy amusement was to bo derived from watching tho ■ various races and novelty events.

A well-dressed and nice-mannered young woman recently called at a St. Clair residence, announced that she was canvassing for the St. John Ambulance, and was given a guinea cheque that was cashed by a storekeeper at Palmerston. In case others should adventure similarly it is as well that tho public should bo apprised that the St. John Ambulance did not at tho time have any collecting scheme in operation, nor is there such a scheme just now.

W. V. Stunner (optician, 2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old ago. [Advt.] Mr J. V. Hanna’s physical culture gymnastic classes resume for 1932 season from February 1. Prospective and information given daily as advertised in another column. .