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Evening Star, Issue 21510, 7 September 1933, Page 8

The announcement that the Morris Minor oar, the prize in the Wellington Ambulance art union, had not been claimed by the holder of the winning ticket temporarily inflated the hopes of Dunedin investors who had participated in the raffle and had retained their tickets. Many inquiries us to the winning number nave been received at the ‘ Star ’ Office, but the investors’ hopes slumped when they were informed of the correct number. The drawing took place in Wellington on August 24, the winning ticket being DK2233, from a book sold in Christchurch.

The monthly meeting of the Forhury School Committee was held on Tues day. in the absence of Mr 3. Slight, (chairman) the meeting was presided over by Mr O. O. G. lie id. The head master gave a favourable report. During the term holidays the whole of the school floors were oiled. The committee decided to co-operate with the St. Clair School Committee for the establishment of a dental clinic at Forhury, The school buildings are at present being painted by the Education Board workmen. In an endeavour to keep the buildings tidy and also to protect the weatherboarding from damage the committee has prohibited the use of any walls as volley boards. Arrangements are in hand for special hoards for use as volley hoards to he erected.

Aii attack on the methods being used by the Queen Carnival Committee to raise Itinds for the relief of distress in the city has been launched by the Council of the Otago Christian Endeavour Union, which, at its meeting on August 21, passed unanimously the following resolution:—“ This meeting enters a strong protest against the deplorable means which are being used to raise money in connection with the queen carnival, as such gambling spirit, being essentially anti-Christian, antisocial, and anti-economic, saps the character, and must do irretrievable harm to the moral life of our community and especially to that of the young people.” The “ Grand Old Man ” of the accountants’ profession was a tribute paid by Mr G. W. tic id, president of the New Zealand Society of Accountants, to the late Mr .James Brown, one of the most respected and best-liked business men in Dunedin. This remark was made at the recent meeting of the society’s council, on the receipt of a letter covering a bequest of Mr Brown to the society’s benevolent fund. Mr Beid mentioned that it was the first, gift of the kind ever received by the society. A bright story, with a sporting flavour, of his first visit to a city was told, with apologies previously made for “poetic license,” by the mayor (Rev. E. T. Cox) at the Dental Association’s dinner last night. Many years ago he had been in Wellington, and had attended a church service. The preacher had delivered an inspiring address on ‘ Benevolence,’ and he had been so impressed with it that he had made up his mind to put the precepts into practice. The next morning he had mot a man who appeared to be in want, and taking his purse out of his pocket he had handed him a couple of pound notes. The man appeared rather surprised, and asked what the notes were for. He had replied for “ charity,” and the man took the money and disappeared. The following day the man had called at his hotel and had handed him a roll of notes. He had also been somewhat surprised, and had asked what the money was for, and ho had received the answer; “For Charity; you were the only one that backed him.’’ Mr Cox said that ho had told them he was speaking with poetic license. Had it been a true story he would probably have been a bookmaker’s tout for the rest of his life instead of the first citizen of Dunedin. (Laughter.) An unusual event, the cremation of an Indian on a funeral pyre, took place at the Hamilton Cemetery yesterday. The pyre was built on the river bank, and the deceased, in a plain coffin, was placed on it. After a brief Sikh funeral service the pyre was lit, and six pounds of butter, cloves, and camphor were sprinkled over it. Later the deceased’s ashes were cast into the river in conformity with Indian custom. A further investigation of the hull of the Rangatira (damaged when she backed into the crane ship at Lyttelton) was carried out by a diver at Wellington. A large number of people watched the operations at the ferry wharf. The Union Company announces that no damage has been suffered other than that announced. The vessel is not affected beneath the waterline, and will not be withdrawn from service for repairs till October 8, the time originally scheduled for her annual overhaul. Quite a tit-bit of early history came to light at the meeting of the East Taieri ex-Pupils’ Association to discuss the eightieth anniversary celebrations. Mr William Allan (Mosgiel) exhibited an early minute book, containing, a record of the steps taken to build a school and to secure a teacher. Permission was asked from Captain Cargill to cut timber in the Big Bush (now the site of Mosgiel) to build the school. The settlers preferred that timber to what was growing on Saddle Hill. Mr Proudfoot was given the contract oi building the school. Then there is a copy of the agreement between the committee and the teacher, dated September 7, 1863. The opening meeting of the residents was held on November 5, 1852, and the school opened in October, 1853. To celebrate the anniversary of all this special functions will be held on November 3,4, and 5.

la the pre-totaiisator days betting at races did not much concern the general public. Many men who attended the meetings contented themselves with mutually- .anaged sweepstakes. Bookmakers fixed the odds, and mainly relied for custom on regular punters. .Nowadays the majority or persons who go to races have some sort of bet on the totalisator, therefore it comes about that the totahsator system lias become of widespread interest oven to persons who go to races mainly for the outing and have nothing to do with the pure dividend-hunters. A lot of discussion is heard as to whether the new method of working the totahsator business by the paying in one machine on first, second, and third horses in equal shares and on another machine giving all to the first horse, is likely to last and supersede the older system of 75 per cent, for the first and 25 per cent, for the second. It is claimed on behalf of the new method that it suits the crowd, giving three chances to the person who simply backs his fancy and does not trouble to seek for inside information, and that the volume of business is thereby increased. On the other side is the argument that the big punter is being disheartened, because when he knows of “a good thing ” he is risking too much if he patronises the straight-out machine, having been deprived of some insurance against heavy loss if his horse is pipped on the post. Argument seems likely to continue until further trial has settled the question. Meanwhile it is suggested that a fair compromise would bo effected by the plan of paying out on three at the rate of 70 per cent, for first, 20 for second, and 10 for third, and that proposal scorns worth considei - - ing.

At the recent half-yearly meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Society of Accountants it was mentioned that Victoria College was now the only university college which did not make full provision in tuition for the degree of bachelor of commerce. The society’s Education Committee had given this matter very keen and careful consideration, and had come to the conclusion that the society should give the measure of financial assistance desired. The meeting adopted a resolution, moved by Mr H. Valentine (vice-president), for the appointment of a sub-commit-toc to make arrangements with the Victoria College Council for the desired tuition, on an understanding that the society would contribute up to £450 a year for a period not exceeding three years. It was anticipated that the classes would have an average of ten students each at the outset, and that the members would steadily increase. It was expected that the actual cost to the society might not bo more than £2OO or £250 in the first year, and that the classes might be self-support-ing at the end of the third year. Mr James Hogg remarked that when similar courses were arranged at Otago University the classes soon showed good growth, and bo was confident that a similar result would ho seen in Wellington. Young folk liked to ho linked up with university life.

The motor car, the property of Mr 11. R. Harvey, of Outram, which was stolen from Mosgiel on Saturday night, was recovered in Gourie street, Ilosiyn, last night. A motor cycle side chair has been recovered by the police in Fryatt street, and may be claimed by the owner at the police station. There was a clean sheet at the Police Court this morning. It might have been the beautiful spring morning that made them oblivious to the hustle of Stuart street traffic at train time this morning, or it might have been indifference to the claims of the motoring public that made two people of opposite sex choose the centre of the road for the holding of a more than brief conversation. The scene was near the ' Star ’ corner, and, conveniently stationed in Cumberland street, a traffic inspector, with > note book yi hand, confined his activities solely to erring motorists. A now bridge is about to bo built on the Otago Central railway, crossing the Silverstream near Wingatui. The old timber bridge has served its turn. The new one is to be of steel and concrete with three 60ft spans and one 33ft span. The plans are complete, the concrete piles, each 35ft long, are being cast, and it is expected that the structural work will commence shortly. The whole job is to be carried out by the Railways Department under the direction of Mr P. H. Morey, district engineer. It was not before the flames had a firm hold of the building that an outbreak of fire was discovered in an unoccupied house in Short street, Burnside, early this morning, and when the brigade arrived shortly after 0.30, portion of the roof had collapsed. The fire was burning so fiercely that the firemen’s efforts were of no avail, and tho building was totally destroyed. The owner was Mr A, Scoullar, of Ravensbournc. No particulars are available regarding insurances. The gradual ascent in prices for fat sheep at the weekly Burnside sales is partly accounted for by the fact that portion of the supplies is being bought ou behalf of Canterbury, interests. Some of tho sheep for the northern province are killed here, while others aro railed to Addington to be resold, the Canterbury district being short this season of its own sheep. At a meeting of tho New Zealand Chess Association, held in Wellington last Monday, it was reported that His Excellency the Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe) had donated a handsome silver cup, leaving it to the association to decide how the very valuable national trophy' is to be allocated. It was decided to submit two schemes to the affiliated clubs, to notify within two months which they favoured. The first competition of this cup will bo Held at the chess congress, to be held in Dunedin at tho latter end of the year, and will create a great interest iu the championship tournament. Save your oyos. Be wise and consult W. V. Stunner (optician, 2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old age.—[Advt.l Being tho last of the season, to-night’s Thursday dance in (he Oxford Street Hall should prove well up to the standard. A special programme has been arranged.