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Evening Star, Issue 21717, 11 May 1934, Page 8

According to :i commercial traveller who does the rounds in Central Otago, the good prices obtained by farmers for tTieir wool are proving a valuable stimulus to trade and money circulation generally. He states - that the people up country now seem to be launching out on the purchase of articles which they have been wanting for a long time, but which, owing to the financial stringency of the past few years, they have had to do without. In evidence of the brighter tone, this traveller says that during the last month he has done more business than he did during a period of six months two years ago.

A chimney fire in Main avenue, St. Kilda, received the attention of the Central Fire Brigade at 8.36 a.m. today. No damage was done. It was on Wednesday afternoon of last week that the dirty weather set in, and no real change came till last night, when the south-westerly wind dropped. Eight days of cloudiness and moisture that often developed into rain is a long spell of sunlessness for any time of the year, especially about the junction of autumn and winter, when frosts are more to be expected than rain; and it was a great relief to see the sun this morning and feel a drying, it cold, bree/.e. The countryside has had a more thorough soaking than has been (lie experience in May for many years.

By merit the Dunedin Horticultural Society’s show’ in the Early_ Settlers' Hall this week won through financially after a most unpromising opening on account of the wet w-cather. Flower growers of all grades got to knoiv that the exhibition was of high quality, and they thronged the hall last night, the attendance being the largest in recent years. When the show closed at 10 o’clock the president (Air James Nelson) expressed bis pleasure at the success that had attended" it, and gave thanks not only to growers for sending in exhibits, but to the public for liberal patronage. Begg’s Orchestra played delightfully at intervals, thus adding to the pleasure of the crowd. One more item has to be added as to the facts about the results. Mr W. Stracban, a woll-knoAvn groAvor of single chrysanthemums. went before the Certifying Committee Avitb a very line example in a dark red seedling, and it was aAvardcd preliminary recommendation. The total Noav Zealand Railways revenue from April 1, 1933, to March 31. 1934, Avas £6,332,711, tho total expenditure Avas £5,247,153. and the net revenue Avas £1,085,558. Tho totals for the corresponding period of last year were: Revenue, £6,034,403; expenditure, £5,183,859; net revenue, £850,544. The Highland Ball in Mosgiel is always a very successful affair, and last night’s was no exception to tho rule. Tim hall Avas packed Avith a gay throng, and the dances folloAved in quick succession to music by tho Tom Katz Band. A number of members of the Highland Pipe Band acted as M.C.s. The band headed the grand march at 10 p.m. The members of committee followed, and then the dancers. Conducted by Drum-major L. Lloyd, the march was carried out in quite military fashion, and furnished a bright spectacle. The Highland uniforms blended Avith the manv dainty frocks, and gave five march an attractive appearance. Two pipers played the music, Avalking a few paces ahead of the “ rank and file.” A number of “old time” dances were on the programme, and Avcre very much enjoyed. “ There Avas only one complaint—there was not enough beer,” said the secretary reporting at the meeting of the Canterbury branch of tho Navy League on the success of St. George’s Day celebrations. “I think I ought to clear myself; I left before the beer was turned on,” commented the Rev. Canon Norris, avlio presided.—Press Association. The Abstract of Statistics notes that business statistics for the month of, March are vested' Avith special interest, since that month marks the close pf the financial year. Most of the statistical series reflecting economic conditions in New Zealand reveal increases as compared Avith the position ruling this time last year, Avhilo recent official publications from Great Britain, Canada, tho United States, and Australia report a continuing upward tendency in business generally. The financial year closed in Britain with a substantial budgetary surplus, and in NVw Zealand the effect of improving business conditions is reflected in a budgetary position at tho end of the financial year substantially better than Avas anticipated some months earlier. In a recent collection taken in a church in tire Reefton district appeared a betting note connected Avith a recent race meeting (states the Reefton correspondent of the ‘ Grey River Argus ’). This did not surprise the churclnvardens, as at different times all sorts of odd contributions appear in the plate. A little later the same evening, hoAvever, the vicar had a call from tAVO men, one of Avlvom had attended tho church service that evening, and Avas asked whether any note or other untoward article had appeared in the collection. The vicar replied that lie had taken a betting note from the plate, but he regarded it as a joke. One of the applicants thereupon apologised to the vicar for the strange contribution, saying that he did not often go to church, and he intended giving a 10s note to make up for his nonattendance. He asked tho vicar to take that sum and return the betting slip, which Avas done with a good laugh betAvcen the parties. A former resident of the AVaikato, Mr M. C. Lawson, writing from Australia House, London, mentions that it may be of interest to readers to knoAV what it costs to buy Ngav Zealand mutton in London (says the ‘ Poverty Bay Herald ’). “I went into a butcher’s shop and asked for one’ pound of loin chops. New Zealand,” he says. “ They were duly cut and handed over. ‘ One and sixpence, please,’ said the shopman. I thought lie Avas joking, but no, he Avas in dead earnest, and I found, during the resultant chat, that no part of the carcase could be bought for less than Is per pound. Most of it was about Is 3d _to Is 4d per pound, Avith best cuts priced at Is 6d.” Mr Lawson goes on to say that he had not seen any New Zealand butter on the shop counters. Splendid quality Danish butter could be purchased for lid to Is per pound. Living as a Avhole was very dear, and meat appeared to be quite beyond the reach of the poorer people. In fact, it Avas hard to understand boAV they lived. The Ngav Zealand Amateur Athletic Association lias been advised by the International. Board of the English Amateur Athletic Association, Scottish A.A.A., and Northern Island A.A.A., that in all probability a conference Avould be held during the Empire Games at Avhich Dominion Amateur Athletic Associations Avould be asked to attend. It has been decided that the Ngav Zealand Association be represented by Dr A. E. Porritt and Messrs J. E. Lovelock and H. K. Brainsby. An insistence that the use of fresh cream Avas essential in the making of butter Avas made in an address by Professor W. Riddet, director of the Dairy Research Institute, to a conference of dairv factory managers m Palmerston North recently. “We want the finest quality of cream and the freshest cream Ave can get,” he said. “ Time after time the results of our investigations have borne out this one very significant fact.” Its use Avould bo the main solution of the problem of flavour in Ngav Zealand butter on the English market, and, indeed, Avas essential if New Zealand was to bold, let alone imurove, its position on the British butter market. “It is no use the people of New Zealand thinking that Ave can copy other countries and make the typo of butter they are making, ho added “We have'to Avork out our own salvation.”

\u amusing anecdote illustrating the old adage, “There is nothing new under the sun,” was . related at a luncheon of the Blenheim Rotary Club by Mr W. Martin, B.Sc. (states the Marlborough ‘Express’). On one occasion, he said, he was on a botamsmg expedition on the Chatham Islands, and had formed the habit of referring to an old Maori resident for confirmation of native names, history, and uses or various plants. On one occasion ho produced for the old man s_ inspection one of the Astelia, a plant with a white leaf Instantly the native knew that be had obtained it from an island m Lake Rotorua, the only place on the Chathains where it was known to exist. When he asked the old fellow if it had a use he laughed, and, running his hand along the leaves, scraped off a white substance like powder and made as it to be sprinkling a baby with, nursery toilet powder. “ Maoniflid that long before vour mother did 1 ” he ejaculated.

Potatoes that are free from blight are readily saleable in Dunedin at good prices, whilst inferior kinds and those that the blight has touched are entirely neglected, it being a waste of money and time to send them to the market. Of onions there is an over supply just now, and sales are difficult to effect. Tho St. Kikla Band is advised from Ballarat that tho prize money for the two. test selections there has been increased from £l5O to £2OO. During the long spell of wet weather Dunedin housewives were buying mostly from hand to mouth, making shift with small orders. The fruit trade was in consequence very slack. The change to sunshine to-day effected a marked improvement, and as business is brisker prices are likely to harden. A radio message from the Maui Poraare advises that she is bringing a full shipment of both Niue and Samoan bananas. _ In view of the Winter Show Week it is anticipated that there will be much keener demand for this shipment than was experienced last month. Bananas are being sold in this market at far less than cost price. Fortunately for importers, it has been decided to restrict consignments, and 3,000 cases less each month during June, July, August, and September will come forward to the New Zealand markets. The Empire Art Loan Exhibition in the Pioneers’ Hall is attracting increasing interest, and excellent attendances have been recorded. The picturs are being studied with the closest attention, and amply repay many inspections. Indeed, it is only after several,.visits to the exhibition that one fully appreciates the significance and beauties of the pictures. Tea is being provided on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. Arrangements have now been completed for the pictures to be exhibited in Wanganui, possibly during September. Up to the present time the four machines owned by the Otago Aero Club have travelled 293,760 miles without injury having been sustained by any pilot or passenger. Mr J. 11. Bartholomew, S.M., was on the bench at the Port Chalmers Court to-day. John Watson Ltd. sued James Dow Keenan for £4 2s, balance of account. Mr J. B. Thomson appeared for defendant. The point at issue was whether a receipt produced in court was for the balance sued for or for another independent account. A number of documents were produced and evidence was given by defendant and his wife. The magistrate said it was not very satisfactory to deal with a matter that took place nine years ago. Tho evidence was not free from doubt, but plaintiff had failed adequately to prove his claim. He would bo nonsuited for the whole claim, or alternatively have judgment for costs only, as he chose. Plaintiff elected to be nonsuited in order that the case might be gone on with again, find fresh evidence produced. Defendant was allowed costs (21s). Extempore statements as to speeds and the flight of time made by people in court are productive of many curious mistakes and innocent exaggerations. A Main Highways Board inspector left an astounding impression of the speed at which he had driven to locate an offender whom he prosecuted in the Police Court to-day. He said tho car passed him at a terrific speed. He started up Jus car, came behind the defendant’s machine at the end of a mile, and followed him for an additional three and a-ha!f miles. ; He submitted that defendant’s speed was from fifty to fifty-five miles an hour. Questioned, the inspector said it took him a minute in which to start his car; yet he was behind the offending car at the end of a mile. Worked out on the figures the inspector’s speed over that mile reached the phenomenal mark of about 300 miles an hour! The inspector told the court that his car was a fast model! The views and comments of New Zealand primary producers are being sought by the Standards Association of Australia, with the object of improving and unifying the standards of grading for pastoral, agricultural, and dairy products in Australia, and the association has written to tho New Zealand Standards Institute to- be supplied with all possible information. Particular reference is made to wheat, malting barley, and peas, and wire netting standards are also mentioned.

When an application for a single man came before the North Taranaki Unemployment Committee the certifying officer, Mr C. P. Smith, stated that there were no single men available in the district. Members of the committee regarded this position as most gratifying. Mr W. 6. Reid stated that the greatest difficulty was in finding positions for the boys between the ages of eighteen and twenty years. Save your eyes. Be wise and consult W. V. Sturmer (optician, 2 Octagon!, thus conserving good vision for old age.—f Advt. I A variety entertainment has been arranged for the Empire Theatre at 8.15 on Sunday night, by some of Dunedin’s lead-., ing artists. Admission by silver coin.