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Evening Star, Issue 21639, 7 February 1934, Page 6

The lighting in the Green Island Borough is to be changed to the series system. This decision was reached at last night’s council meeting, when it was made clear that the present system was in bad order, and about £2OO would require to be spent to put it in good shape. It was further ' explained that the system now employed was obsolete, and the opinion was expressed that it would be money well spent to ejfect the change, which would give more satisfying lighting. The matter was referred to the Finance Committee to submit a report later.

In accordance with a recommendation contained in the Works Committee’s report, the Green Island Borough Council decided at its meeting last night to commence assigning street numbers to houses. A start in the numbering is to be made in one street in each section of the borough, the streets chosen being Brown street, Abbotsford; Shand street, Green Island; and Mulford street. Concord. It was explained that the householders in each of these streets would be advised of their numbers, and it would then remain for them to procure their number signs and to attach them to their gates or houses.:

The problem of establishing an adequate commercial airport in Wellington was discussed by the Chamber of Commerce, which decided to refer tho matter to its Transport Committee for a preliminary report on the best manner in which to proceed. The suggestion was made that the Wellington City Council, the Aero Club, the Town Planning Institute, and possibly the Ratepayers’ Association and other organisations should bo represented on a committee which should take evidence upon which the report would bo based. —Press Association.

The Wellington Chamber, of Commerce has been invited to give its expert advice on the question of matrimony (says a Press Association telegram). Some amusement was caused at the meeting last night by the following letter from an Austrian girl:— “ Of one of my friends, well informed about the situations of your country who has permission to live there already and has the intention to leave Vienna in the next month, I am informed that there are favourable chances for Austrian girls to marry. As I am interested to leave Austria and to marry, I would be obliged to you for stating me a serious address, occupying herself with interferences or such marriages. I am able to state you all wanted dates, foto, references, etc,”

Some particulars about Canberra as it is to-day are supplied by Mr J. A. Strong, who is in business there and has come to Dunedin on a visit to relatives. The Federal capital is 204 miles from Sydney and 429 from Melbourne, connected with the trunk railway by a branch line from Goulburn. The fare by train or bus is about 30s. The city is on a plain very like the Manapouri Plain, surrounded by mountains, with the Molonglo River running through it. A very fine water supply is unfailing, and people use as much as they like. The resident population numbers 7,300. Houses are now being built to accommodate more Civil servants. As to temperature, the mean of the hottest days in February is fifideg. In winter it drops to 42, the plain being 1,900 ft above sea level. The city territory has eighty miles of made roads, forty-eight being in concrete or bitumen, with plantations on each side. Surrounding Parliament House is an area of 163 acres, planted ■in trees or shrubs. Tho Horticultural Society is laying out a rose garden that will carry 8,000 plants. Canberra is proud of its Institute of Comparative Anatomy, in which there is a platypus exhibit that is unique. America has offered £B,OOO for fifteen or eighteen of the platypus embryo specimens.

Mr W. Appleton, of Wellington, who returned from England yesterday, said that Wellington’s credit stood exceedingly high in the London money market. He had been surprised by the ramifications of municipal activity in England. He quoted many examples from Birmingham, which, he said, provided a good example of the wisdom of eliminating unnecessary local bodies.

The laying of a foundation stono in the days of our grandfathers was usually the first act in the building process. The stone was in the groundwork, sometimes out of sight after the structure was completed, in which case it had no commemorative value unless dug up.. In later years it became the fashion to have corner-stones instead; the inscription thereon became perpetual reminders to the passers-by of governmental Ministers, clergymen, mayors, and perhaps other persons who otherwise would bo forgotten in the course of time. Thus it comes about that the inserting of a corner-stone may be delayed till the framework is partially in position. So it will be with the Dunedin Post Office. There is to be a ceremony over the laying of the stone, and it will bo duly made the occasion of deserved congratulations and rejoicings, but it will not be for a couple of months, probably early in April, by which time a mass of steel and stone and concrete will testify to good progress in the work by the Fletcher Construction Company. It is understood that one or more Cabinet Ministers will attend. The details of the function are not yet settled. An unusual experience was the lot of the large congregation at St. Luke’s Church at Hinds on Sunday morning for the monthly family servme. Owing to three swarms of bees having taken up their quarters in the building (says a Press Association telegram from Ashburton) , the service was conducted outside under the shade of the trees. The ceremony included two christenings, which were faithfully performed despite the unorthodox setting.

The postal authorities advise that the Lurline, due at Auckland on Friday from Los Angeles, has 114 bags of English and American mail for Dunedin. The mail is due at Dunedin on Monday morning. Of 503 unemployed teachers when the rationing scheme came into operation this year 481 have been placed in (positions.' There were nineteen who did not require a position, and three refused contending that £6O per year was insufficient to cover the cost of living. Thirty-eight were placed in positions at ordinary scale rates.—Auckland Press Association.

The Minister of Industries and Commerce (Hon. R. Masters) to-day announced the personnel of the first Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council. Three members (including the mayor, Mr Hutchinson) represent the City Council two represent other local bodies within the district, two are milk vendors’ representatives, and two dairymen’s representatives. Mr Masters said by means of securing to producers and vendors a remunerative price and to consumers a reasonable price it was hoped by organisation to provide a more economic distribution of the system, and so reduce the costs so that a fair wage could be paid to the workers in the industry. The council will have the sole right to issue licenses to milk vendors trading in the metropolitan area and to fix prices. It has no power to strike a rate, but will derive revenue from levies on the milk vendors and from license and other fees.—Press Association.

A Napier radio enthusiast recently received a post card of verification from broadcasting station JOHK, Sendai, Japan, in acknowledgment of his report upon a broadcast from that ,tation (reports the ‘ Hawke’s Bay Herald ’). The text of the reply was couched in the following quaint and felicitous terms:—“Dear Sir, —We thank heartily to your earnest report. We are very glad to know what part our programmes are playing for the mutual friendship. We here wish jou every happiness and your prorounder investigations than ever.—Yours truly, Sendai Broadcasting Station.”

Many cricketers are vague as to what entry should he made in the scorebook when the umpire signals a “ no ball.’’ Members of the Hawke’s Bay Umpires Association explained the rules to official scorers. When a run is made off a “no ball ” it is credited to the striker and debited against the bowler.

If a batsman who strikes a “ no ball ” is run out, the “no ball ” alone counts. If runs are scored off a “no hall,” the bowler is still allowed an extra delivery. A “no ball ” is not reckoned as one of the over, hut is recorded in its proper place on the score sheet, unless runs are made by the striker hitting it, when the runs are added to his score.

A pretty ceremony attracted a good attendance to tho Garrison Hall at Port Chalmers last night. It was the crowning of tho regatta queen. The throe queen candidates were Dorothy Smith, Laura Nelson, and Isobol Lcftwich. Miss Smith, tho winner, was “ crowned ” by Miss A. Stevenson, who presented her with a gold mounted greenstone brooch from Mr Isaac Stevenson (commodore of the regatta), the Misses Nelson and Smith receiving similar souvenirs. They were the pleased recipients of further presents from Mr J. Watson (mayor), who, on behalf of the committee, presented each with a gold watch. The graceful pageant of thirty-two little girls had been trained by Mrs E. Brown, and the coloured lights, which made the pageant very picturesque, were operated by Mr C. J. Thorn. Mr W.J. Wilson (chairman) acknowledged tho fine response to the committee’s effort to finance the jubilee regatta. The mayor also commented on , the financial achievement, stating that the Regatta Committee had indeed done well to raise £6OO during three months. The Port Chalmers regatta would now be established for many years to come. Mr Watson complimented tho children taking part in the entertainment, which was a credit to all concerned. Tho hall was then cleared for dancing.

The breaking of the leading buffer on a carriage, a short distance south of tho Puketeraki tunnel, delayed the south express for approximately half an hour yesterday afternon. Until the train stopped, tho passengers were unaware of the accident, and except for the delay , they were in no way inconvenienced. The defective carriage was taken to Seacliff by one of the two engines and left there, after which the journey to Dunedin was resumed. The train which had previously been running fifteen minutes late, instead of arriving at the scheduled time (4.20), arrived a few minutes after 5 o’clock. The enrolment of scholars in tho Albany Street Intermediate School on the opening day, yesterday, did not reach expectations. Provision was made for 360, that estimate being based on the number of Fifth and Sixth Standards for the present year who were entitled to enter from Normal Albany Street, and George Street Schools, but only 336 enrolled. It is therefore decided to admit qualified pupils from other schools. Parents who wish to take advantage of this opportunity should act without delay.

The Canadian National steamer, Canadian Leader, which arrived on Sunday, is to ship a full load of wool from Bluff and Dunedin from the last sales. The vessel is now idle, having discharged her cargo, but os the wool is not released for fourteen days after the sale she cannot commence loading for the present. She will proceed to Bluff on Monday to take in the first of her cargo, and will later return to Dunedin to complete before sailing for New York, Boston, and Halifax. Wyndham is not the only place where the notes of a strange bird are being heard. A lady who resides at the north end of Dunedin sends word that she hears tho threefold unfamiliar call every, morning between 4 and 5 o’clock from a bird in the Botanic Gardens. She is sure it is not from a bellbird or a tui. At Balclutha, also, bird-lovers are inquiring about a similar experience.

It usually happens when a seasonal change in railway train running comes about that some travellers make mistakes as to the day on which their trains run. Several persons came to tho Dunedin station on Monday of this week to catch the 11.35 for Christchurch, and, of course, learned that Monday is the day on which the 11.35 does not run. It is despatched every other day of the week. . The 8.40 goes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. An unusual motor car capsize, fmtunately without injury to those involved, took place yesterday afternoon at the corner of Passmore crescent and Pilkiugton street. A priva to car travelling down Passmore crescent towards the golf links had to swerve suddenly to avoid a collision with a delivery van that was proceeding south along Pilkiugton street, and, in doing so, managed to escape with little other trouble than a glancing impact. In conjunction rvith a skid in the long wet grass at the side of the road, however, this was sufficient to upset tho car, which, before being removed by a “ break-down ” vehicle, reclined for some time on its left side.

A chimney fire at 2 Bellevue street, Mornington, was extinguished by the City Fire Brigade at 3.18 p.m. yesterday before any damage was done. Forty-eight delegates, representing twenty branches of the New Zealand Registered Nurses’ Association, were present when the annual central council meeting was opened at the Medical School this morning. The dominion president (Miss E. J. Young) presided, and there was also present Miss M. Lambey (director division of nursing, Wellington). Business dealt with included the confirmation of minutes, and business arising therefrom, annual reports, and the balance-sheet. The conference will continue for three days.

Some landless returned , soldiers in Franklin waited upon the Minister of Lands, urging the acquisition of land for small farms, and one said: “Look here, sir, we do not want the usual replv of a Minister, that it will be looked into, etc.’’ Mr Ransom, in a surprised tone. . interrupted the speaker: “Surely you do not get answers like that, do you?” “Oh, yes, we do,” was the reply. “ And to-day we want a yea or nay.” The Minister, in replying to the deputation, said that his answer, of course, would bo “ Yes ” if it were possible, and wont on to explain that as Minister he had to see that all sections of the community got a square deal. “1 have banished the word Australasia from my vocabulary,” said Sir John Sandeman Allen, a member of the House of Commons, in an address at Auckland. By the efforts of the Royal Empire Society and similar organisations , people in Great. lintain were getting a better appreciation of the dominions, and New Zealand was no longer regarded as “an island off the coast of Australia.”

Figures showing how dependent the people of London are on overseas countries were given recently by the superintendent of the London Central Markets (states an exchange). “As far as the metropolis is concerned,” he stated, “ there is one great centre— Smithfield —with more than 8,000,000 consumers on its doorstep to be fed daily, and mostly on imported meat.” This situation applies with many other commodities, tobacco, for example. In New Zealand we are more fortunate. We can grow our own meat and our own tobacco.

Mr Leslie S. Adam, Dip. Mus., resumes his group pianoforte classes in the Reid Hall, South Dunedin, on Saturday morning. The Railway Department advertises in this issue train arrangements in connection with the Dunedin races at Wingatui tomorrow.

The Railway Department advertises in this isssuc particulars of a special cheap day excursion. Dunedin to Invercargill, on Sunday, February 11. The intention is to make the excursion as attractive as possible by putting on fast special trains and exceptionally cheap fares, also reserving seats for both journeys for Is,

Save your eyes. Be wise and consult W. V. Sturmer (optician. 2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old age.—fAdvtd . Wanted, second-hand Technical College text books, all school books bought and sold second-hand; Returned Soldiers’ Factory attache cases.—Nowbold’s now premises, 289 George street (corner George and Frederick streets. —[Advt.] Fort Chalmers ratepayers are notified that rales unpaid by February 16 will bear an added penalty of 10 per cent.