Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 21099, 11 May 1932, Page 6

The First Brigade answered a call at 3.56 p.m. yesterday to High street, where a chimney fire was extinguished before any damage was done.

The second ordinary meeting of tho Otago Institute was held in tho physics room of tho University last night, when Professor Jack delivered an address on ‘ New Conceptions of Matter.’ Mr F. J. Turner presided. Dr Jack spoke of protons, electrons, wave lengths, atoms, light, diffraction, and scintillating, and by experiment and the aid of lantern slides, supported his arguments in a most interesting fashion. The world was a wonderful thing, he said, and tho more one knew about it the more one stood in awe. On the motion of Mr J. C. Begg, Dr Jack was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. The Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association has, for some time, been active in dealing with a number of cases of unemployed single returned soldiers who have been requested to go to relief camps. The association has dealt with several to tho entire satisfaction of the soldiers concerned, and a number of other cases are at present being dealt with. Since the cases handled by the association are personal, and the particulars given must bo treated confidentially, the association has not sought or received any publicity in regard to its efforts in this direction. The policy of the association is to handle each case separately, and in order to enable the association to act it is necessary that every unemployed single returned soldier who wants its assistance should call and see the secretary and give him tho necesary particulars. The association is prepared to do all in its power to assist any returned soldiers, whether members of the association or not.

A highly interesting Dickens recital was given by the Rev. James Smeeth in the United Congregational Church last evening. Mr Smeeth took as the basis of Ins reading the ‘ Bardell v. Pickwick ’ action that follows the amorous widow’s misconstruction of Mr Pickwick’s meditation upon the acquisition of Sam Weller, and gave his audience a colourful interpretation of the delightful characters associated in that famous scene and the events that precede it. All these familiar and fascinating people were ■ presented with charming individuality, and the audience heard the recital of their fortunes with much pleasure. Yocal solos by Miss Alison Tyrio added considerably to the enjoyment of the evening. This entertainment is the first of a series, tho funds of which will be devoted to liquidating the debt on the new church and to building a new Sunday school. The monthly meeting of the Caversham School Coipmittee was held on Monday evening, the following being present:—Messrs T. A. Brown (chairman), R. H. Todd, E. J. Allen, J. J. Friend, O. Sherlock, and J. Reid. The chairman extended a welcome to Mr A. Pemberton, appointed to fill the vacancy on the committee. The head master’s .report showed a roll of 722, with an average attendance of 703. Miss Cable had terminated her connection with the school on the previous Friday, taking up a position at the Normal School. The annual parents’ day was held, when 427 adults took the opportunity of visiting the school. Accounts amounting to £ls were passed for payment, and expenditure on sports material authorised. To enable spoil to bo carted to the ground for topdressing it was decided to erect a suitable gate in tho hedge at the rear of the school grounds. The janitor reported on his trial of various coals for heating purposes, and it was decided to call for tenders for the supply of suitable fuels. It was agreed to call on a special meeting to consider the question of prize-giving and other matters concerning financial expenditure. Intimation was received of the retirement as from the end of May of Miss Bonnin, who has filled the position of infant mistress, for a number of years. Tho committee placed on record its high appreciation of the services rendered by Miss Bonnin during her long term of service with the school. Advice was received from, tho board that Miss Long had been appointed to fill tho vacancy on the staff.

' In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon, before Mr J. 11. Bartholomew, S.M., William Marr sought to recover £7 from Mrs M. M‘Bride (Burkes) for plumbing work done at her residence. The plaintiff detailed the work he had carried out on the defendant’s premises, and maintained that his charges were reasonable, expert evidence as to the time that should be taken on each job being tendered.— For the defence it was contended that the plaintiff’s charge was exorbitant, and evidence in support of this contention was given by Robert M'Bride, a son of the defendant, who assessed the time worked by the plaintiff at less than half of that charged up by him.—The Magistrate said that the note taken by the plaintiff of his hours impressed him much more favourably than did the witness M'Brido’s record. Moreover, the expert evidence given on behalf of the plaintiff indicated that he had charged a proper price. Two items charged for under material, however, were not satisfactory, and judgment would therefore be given for the plaintiff for £6 6s, with costs (£2 10s) and witnesses’ expenses (17s). When the members of the Otago Land Board assembled this morning for the monthly meeting, they saw in front of them an order paper made up of about forty committee items and 140 others, an accumulation that could hardly be cleared off in one day. Many of the applications were in respect to finance, from tenants who have to ask for consideration. No subject of general public interest came up this morning. Vandalism in Dunedin is fortunately of infrequent occurrence, but an act of mischief, to say the least, took place hear the Municipal Baths recently which might have had serious consequences. Excavation work is in operation near the main building, and on a recent night a “ Danger ” sign, was erected by the man in dhargo of the work. When ho returned about an hour later, the sign was missing, and anyone who had stumbled upon the work might have had a nasty fall. In the Police Court this morning Edward James Thom was charged with indecently assaulting a boy of five years. After evidence had been heard, tho Magistrate (Mr J. R. Bartholomew) stated that it would be futile to send the accused to the Supreme Court for trial. The case was_ a suspicious one, but the account given by a boy of tender years, on which the charge depended, was not corroborated by his mother’s statement. The accused was discharged.

In connection with the declaration made in Wellington that boycotting of firms by public servants was going on at Dunedin, the secretary of the Auckland Employers’ Federation (Mr S. E. Wright) said yesterday afternoon that the association had not heard of any boycott in Auckland. Mr J. W. Court, president of the Auckland Retail Drapers’ Association, said that, as far as he knew, there was no boycott. Mr W. J. Evans, president of the Auckland Retail Grocers’ Association, had never hoard of any boycott.—Auckland correspondent. The postal authorities advise that the Niagara, due at Auckland on Monday from Vancouver, has 153 bags of mail for Dunedin. This should reach the local office on Wednesday evening next.

“ A. 8.” forwards £5 for the mayor's blanket and boot fund. Messrs C. and W. Shlel’s big brickmaking works at Fairfield will bo temporarily shut down on Thursday of next week. Forty men, including those who are to be paid off from the same firm’s quarry in the North-east Valley (known of old as Calder’s), will thus be thrown out of employment. Slackness of orders, caused by inactivity in the building trade, makes this step necessary, to the deep regret of the owners and all who are affected. It is hoped that trade will soon revive, and make up the loss that more or less afflicts all classes. A halt of this nature in production need, not be interpreted as meaning that the depression is growing worse. No doubt in some of tho industries that have slackened off heavy stocks are held, and when business brightens up a bit and stocks come down to normal the wheels will recommence revolving. An inquiry of the butchering trade as to whether unemployment is causing our Dunedin people to economise in meat eating leads to the statement by a man who is in a large way of business that he has not noticed any radical change in that direction. The quantity that he sells is as largo as in normal times, and prime cuts are not neglected by customers. Trade is a little weaker in the middle of the week, but that is made up for by the briskness at the week-ends. “ I am surprised at tho way the trade is keeping up,” he added; “it could hardly be expected considering the great quantity that is given away in relief of distress. Of course it must be borne in mind that meat is now abnormally cheap, at least 25 per cent, lower for beef than it was a twelvemonth ago, with even a greater reduction in mutton, and mothers still find that meat is a sustaining food.” A poll was being taken to-day at Port Chalmers for the election of a member to the Hospital Board few the combined Counties of Waikouaiti and Waihemo, also the Boroughs of Palmerston, Waikouaiti, and Port Chalmers. This was polling day also at the other centres. The candidates are Cr Anderson (of Port Chalmers) and Cr Sheat (of Palmerston). Following lengthy proceedings Alfred George Walker was committed for trial by Justices on a charge of negligent driving, thereby causing the death of a passenger, Norman M'Leod. Walker was the driver of a car which collided with a power pole a mile out from Hawera on the evening of March 22. The car somersaulted and M'Leod was killed instantly.—Press Association. One deliverance to be thankful for is in respect to infantile paralysis. No neV cases have been recently reported, and I;he medical officer of health for this district says he hopes that that trouble is now done with for the year. As a fact the public health is at present not causing any anxiety, thanks, no doubt, to the preventive activity of the department and the wholesomeness of tho climate.

There is no doubt that the holding of competitive events at tho Municipal Baths until the season is well advanced has a beneficial effect upon the attendances, which havq been exceedingly well maintained of late. The lunch-hour session has been more popular this year than for many seasons past, and there is no doubt that tho introduction of mixed bathing to the after-business session has also had a beneficial effect upon the attendances. A mysterious poster, the headings, “Dunedin Post Office Site,” “ Unique Ceremony,” fell into the hands of an ‘ Evening Star ’ reporter this morning. It reads: “On Saturday, May 14, 1932, at 11 a.m., tho three Cabinet Ministers who are mainly guilty of Dunedin’s disgrace will be publicly ducked in the above pond, and no attempt whatever will be made to save them from drowning unless they can ‘ float a-lone.’ By order. ‘ Honi soit qui mal y pense.’ ” Is it safe to hazard the guess that tho “Come to Dunedin Week ” officials are arranging something quite out of tho ordinary by way of popular entertainment? The Poppy Day returns now in hand are about £2OO in advance of the amount-, received last year, the total having reached £1,804 12s 4d. The following additional returns are acknowledged :—Waitahuna, £5: Waipiata (per Mrs Cook), £8 ss; Tahakopa (R.S.A.), £1 17s lOd; Pembroke (R.S.A.), £2l 10s 8d; Momona (Women’s Division, Farmers’ Union, per Miss Campbell), £6 7s; High Street School (Women’s Division, Farmers’ Union), 10s; Middleraarch (per Mr Alex. M'Kinnon), £8 3s. There are seven returns still to come.

Rotanans have arranged to attend a speeifll conference ' service in First Church on Sunday evening. The subject at the service will be ‘ The Story of Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp Retold.’ All are cordially invited.

Save your eyes. Be wise and consult W. V. Stunner (optician, 2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old age.- [A lvt.| Tho Botanical Gardens Tea Kiosk dance patrons are reminded that the fortnightly dance will bo held to-night (Wednesday).