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Evening Star, Issue 21091, 2 May 1932, Page 6

“ Sometimes pure research is lost sight of in the presence of the practical,” said Dr H. C. Denham, professor of chemistry at Canterbury College, in proposing a vote of thanks to Dr Compton, professor of physics at Chicago University, after his address on cosmic rays on Saturday evening. “We have come to look on science as something that pays only when a definite goal is in view. I hope that Dr Compton will take the opportunity of drawing attention to the need of pure research before he leaves New Zealand. The powers that bo are inclined to regard science as merely a tool for their need. I feel that as far as the university is concerned the main thing is to carry on pure research, A few seeds dropped by Dr Compton will help those who are interested in keeping pure research in the eyes of the public.”—Christchurch correspondent. The steamer Port Huon is to load about 10,000 cases of pip fruit, mostly apples. That consignment finishes the Otago overseas export for the season. The total will be approximately 25,000 cases, or something like a third of the total last season. The October frost caused the shortage. An increase in deaths, a decrease in marriages, and a maintenance of birth figures are reported in Dunedin for April, as compared with the vital statistics for the same month last year. The returns for the month, with comparative figures in parentheses, are:— Births 117 (117), deaths 70 (60), marThe committee of the Taieri Poultry Society met on Saturday night and transacted business in connection with the forthcoming annual show. Amongst other correspondence was a reply from. Mr R. C. Wilson, of Invercargill, agreeing to judge all classes of poultry, including bantams.

The continuation of the storm water conduit through the Caledonian Ground is finished as an engineering operation, and the playing area is now resting for recovery. The cut was straight through the centre, so as to make the_ most of the fall from the Wilkie road side. In finishing off the whole of the centre playing field was raised lOJin. This will be a help towards keeping the surface firm in wet weather. The elliptical running track has not ’been interfered with, excepting for the returfing of the ends over the cut. Mr Tannock’s men did the returfing, and have made a neat job of it. The entire playing area is to be resown as soon as possible, probably before winter sets in, and it is hoped that the ground will be ready for cricket _next; season. That part of the restoration is to be undertaken by Mr Tannock and his staff, and the society is content with that arrangement, being assured by the workmanlike manner in which the big embankment was turfed by the same men that they will leave the ground better than ever. In consideration of the loss of revenue the Drainage Board has paid the society £2OO. The general outcome of the sewer building is that the old “ Gale.” will he permanently improved by the centre being raised and by the turfing of the embankment, which it is said will accommodate _ a greater crowd than the terrace at Carisbrook.

Tie game shooting season in Otago opened this morning. If 'the weather in other places was the same as in the Dunedin district it should have favoured the sport. The number of licenses issued by the Otago Acclimatisation Society in anticipation of the opening day was slightly in excess of the number last year. From . that and other indications it is thought that men who take their pleasure with the gun are this season earnestly interested,. and there is no reason to suppose that the birds have failed to breed normally. After the 1 horror in respect to the loss of life had allowed other thoughts to arise as .to the wreck of the Tararua, near Waipapapa Point, fifty-one years ago, what struck those immediately concerned was the rapidity of the vessel’s break-up. When the Jdawea reached the reef and got a little daylight to see by not a standing vestige of her could be sighted. It must have been one of the quickest effacements of the kind ever known. .The stranger because of the smoothness of the sea. There was not a ripple on the water, but the heavy blind rollers bespoke immense destructive power. One of the most experienced of shipmasters who has been for awhile on the Foveaux Strait run told a passenger not long ago that in passing that spot he always calculated to keep at the least three miles off.

To-day Mr E. Murray Fulller’s exhibition of British contemporary art in the Pioneers' Hall was open until 5.30 p.m., and well attended. To-morrow the last dav, the doors will be open till 9.30. One" of the latest sales is of Gerald Aokermann’s ‘ Cloudy Weather, Cley.’ A number of etchings have been purchased, among them ‘Leaving the Church,’ by Percy Lancaster, and ‘The New Heir, - ’ ‘ Ave',’ and ‘ Bagno della Marchesa,’ by W. Russell Flint. The Postal authorities advise , that the Makura, due at Wellington on Monday, from San Francisco, has fortyseven bags of English and American mail, and five parcel receptacles for Dunedin. The mail is due at the local office to-morrow afternoon.

The monthly meeting of tbe Portobello and Broad Bay Ratepayers’ Association Executive was held in the Coronation Hall. Complaints were made that a number of cyclists and horsemen were riding along the footpaths in the district, to the danger and annoyance of pedestrians. The Public Works Department, after having completed the widening and forming of the Beach road to Portobello, has been busy for some time scarifying, levelling, sanding, and metalling the surface of the road in preparation for the bitumen, and, having completed the portion between the bitumen at Macandrew’s to the bridge at Ross Point, has started at the Portobello end, working back to Ross Point. Dissatisfaction was expressed at the apparent intention to terminate the bitumen at the hotel, the opinions expressed being that it should be continued on to the north side of Hooper’s Inlet road. The opinions were also expressed that the width of the bitumen from Leith walk to Hooper’s Inlet road should not be less than 24ft wide, and that a letter be sent to the county council requesting it to attend to the matter without delay in order to have the surface prepared while the Public Works Department has the plant in the district.

The chairmai and members of the Harbour Board paid a visit of inspection this afternoon to the board s works at Port! Chalmers. Included in the itinerary fir the afternoon was inspection of a ste for depositing dredge spoil in Musse! Bay, where the dumping of detritul would obviate much steaming wherjthe dredge is working in the middle or fower harbour. The promotirs of the proposed new steamship senice to Melbourne met the mayor and a lumber of local residents in the mayor’f room at Port Chalmers this afternooil. The need for such a service was jointed out, and various details in coniection with the proposal were fully diimssed.

Save your cfes. Bo wise and consult W. V. Sturmef (optician, 2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old ago.—[Aivt.] The League »f Nations Union hold the annual mcetiir on Tuesday evening, of which Dr A. d. B. Fisher is a vice-pre-sident. Those pf the public' who have had the privilege oj listening to his Russian experience may ]Jok forward to about other countries visited by him, for his tour included Gernariy, Czecho-Slovakia, Denmark, and Poind. The public are assured of an interestiig address. The Eailwai Department advertises in this issue 'parlculars of time-table alterations operating from Monday, May 9, 1932. With regard to Dundas Street Methodist Church advertling in Saturday's paper, the subject in th< advertisement should have read ‘ Immerson, Is It Scriptural ? and not ’ Immersidi Is Scriptural,’ as it appeared. !