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Evening Star, Issue 21824, 13 September 1934, Page 8

There was a dean sheet at the Police Court this morning. The postal authorities advise that the Tainui, due at Wellington on Tuesday next from London, has eight bags of English mail and 233 parcel receptacles for New Zealand. The Dunedin portion of the mail is due at the local office on Wednesday afternoon. An organ programme of exceptional interest was presented by Dr Galway in his recital in the Town Hall yesterday afternoon. The city organist opened with the Bach Prelude and Fugue in D minor, of which he gave a performance of dignity and power. This was followed bv the haunting ‘ Traumerei ’ of Schumann, played with delicacy and taste, and Cesar Franck’s ‘ Chant Heroique,’ a modern work of compelling interest. Three movements from the Mendelssohn sonata in D minor were played with excellent effect. ‘ The Question ’ and the ‘ The Answer,’ by Wolstenholme, proved most engaging, other selections of equal interest being the ‘ Concert Study,’ by Josef Bonnet, Cyril Scott’s ‘ Evening Idyll,’ and the Kieff Processional ‘ At the Merchant’s Gate,’ by Mpussorgsky. The bicycle has been used for many' strange purposes, and recently a novel suggestion was advanced to the Sydney Shark Menace Advisory Committee. A bicycle frame erected on two.floats to form a means of patrol in the surf whs suggested, but was rejected. “ It can safely be stated that we in New Zealand have only touched the fringe of electricity development,” said Mr W. E. Seeker, of Waitomo, speaking at the conference of power board secretaries at Wellington. “ Experiences of other countries show a phenomenal consumption per head of population. In Winnipeg, for example, in 1932 the consumption per head was 2,087 units. Per consumer it was 4,321 units. We are selling an ‘ article ’ that the public wants, and our expansion is only limited by the consumer’s purse, and it is quite likely in a few more years, if a progressive policy is adopted, that the Government will have to provide more power to cope with the growth in load.”

Reference to Littlebourne Park is contained in the annual report of the High School Old Boys’ Cricket Club, which states that the services of a groundsman had been obtained. The report stresses the need for every effort to be made to improve Littlebourne Park in order that some senior grade matches be played there, and thus afford the club the opportunity of gaining something in return for the outlay. It was regarded as certain that attendance of the public at Littlebourne would be good, for the ground has a cricket atmosphere about it as well as being central. Last season £26 of the club’s funds were expended on the ground. Because the New Zealand white pine timber is odourless Major John W. Oldfield, a member of the Ceylon Tea Propaganda Board, considers that there might be a market for this timber in Ceylon. It would be used in the making of tea chests. However, be doubts if New Zealand is in a position to export timber at a price to compete with Japan. Major Oldfield is at present in Dunedin in connection with a campaign to promote the sale of tea generally. A grant of £IOO to assist in dairy hygiene research was made yesterday- by the Electric Power Boards and Supply Association Conference with a few dissentients. Delegates expressed th© view (says a Press Association telegram) that it was the association’s duty to aid dairy hygiene improvement in whatever way would contribute to the rehabilitation of the industry.

In final preparation for the departure of the expedition ship, Wyatt Earp, for Deception Island, the leader of the venture, Mr Lincoln Ellsworth, is expected to arrive in Dunedin this evening by aeroplane from Tongariro National Park via Christchurch. The little vessel is practically ready to put to sea, and it was stated to-day that she would sail by Monday at the latest. Mr Ellsworth will stay at the Grand Hotel until the day of departure.

Whilst on a visit to Central Otago recently, Mr Edgar Hazlett noticed, lying on the hank of the Clutha. between Cromwell and Pembroke, the old notice board stating the hours that the ferry punt would (be working in the years before the bridge was built, and he suggested that the Otago Early Settlers’ Association should ask for it as a relic. This was acted upon, and the board came to band yesterday, carriage paid, as a gift from the Vincent County Council. It is not merely a curiosity. It is a specimen of wood carving', the lettering being done by chiselling the whole surface. The notice runs thus: “ Albert Town Ferry. Notice. This punt will be worked for the convenience of the public, free of charge, during the hours folowing;—On week days from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., with intervals from 12 noon to 12.30 p.m., and from 5.40 p.m. to 6 p.m.; on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. By order. L. D. Mac George, qounty engineer.” Another donation that will interest many visitors is a photographed group of Crimean veterans, taken in Dunedin, the presentation being from Mrs W. Spence, of Pine Hill. The group numbers thirteen, amongst them Captain Eastber. Mr P. J. O’Callaghan, and Mr Martin Pearce.

An exciting reminder that street accidents are not always due to the erratic behaviour of some motorists was supplied shortly after 11 o’clock this morning by a carrier’s horse, which staged a sensational bolt down High street, across Custom-house square, and which was finally pulled up through a minor collision with a stationary motor van outside the premises of Messrs Sargood, Son, and Ewen. The horse and express van were standing about a block up High street from the Stock Exchange, when suddenly the animal took fright, and, in spite of the fact that a wheel of the vehicle was chained, set a hectic pace down the hill and across the square, just missing a motor car and a tramcar seemingly by a matter of inches. Neither the horse nor the motor van which checked its progress was seriously damaged. The horse, its leg bleeding from a flesh wound, was quickly unharnessed and calmed into a more tractable frame of mind. A bystander pays a glowing tribute to the courage and presence of mind of a woman, who. just in time, whisked a child away almost from under the hoofs of the runaway.

On the stocks in Millar and Tnnnago’s boat-building yard at Port Chalmers are two Diesel-engined launches which are expected to bo ready for launching at the end of next month. One of these is a large luxury launch for a Christchurch yachtsman; the other is a fishing launch for the local fishing fleet. But despite such craft, the days of sail are not quite past. In this shed is being laid down a 'keel yacht which will be Marconi rigged with a sail area of 350 ft. Her length is 28ft over all, and she is in a way a reduced model of the well-known harbour yacht Dawn. A day cruiser, and of a style to meet the requirements of younger yachtsmen, the now yacht is not being built for speed. She was designed by Mr C. Smith for Mr C. Nees. A fine specimen of a Maori stone axe was shown to a ' Star ’ reporter by Mr R." Scollay, master of the tug Dunedin. The axe is made of flint stone of a bluish-grey tint, and is about J2in Jong. It is in almost perfect order as suck implements go. The axe has an historical value in that it was used by Topi, a chief of Ruapuki Island, Foveaux Strait, to slay the captain of the brig Henrietta. The brig came to grief at Ruapuki, in Henrietta Bay, which was afterwards named after the vessel. Topi was a youth when he slew the captain of the vessel with his native axe. Years afterwards he still regarded it as a commendable deed done for his country. Topi himself gave the notorious axe to the master of the Dunedin as a friendly gesture. On the .foreshore at Carey Bay'there is a prospect of a fish by-product plant being erected. Fish offal will be converted into marketable fertiliser. Odourless oil and fish meal are likely to be also manufactured, one result of which will be that when the fish market is glutted, as is occasionally the case, fishermen will be able to dispose of their catch to the factory.

The Board of Governors of the John M'Glashan College met in First Church Hall yesterday afternoon. Mr T. C. Ross was in the chair, and welcomed Mr R. G, C. M‘Nab, the uewly-ap-pointed head master. Mr M'Nab commenced liis duties at tire college when the school reopened on Tuesday. Appreciation was expressed of Mr Dunning’s work as acting-principal till Sir M‘Nab could take over the duties. The board also recorded its appreciation of the Rev. H. A. Mitchell’s kindness in conducting the senior Scripture lessons during that period. The board members expressed great regret that Miss M‘Callum found it necessary to* withdraw from the board’s service, and the board recorded its warm appreciation of the services she had rendered to the college during the past thirteen and a-half years. Miss H. M. I. Sutcliffe has been appointed to carry on her work for the rest of this term. Miss Sutcliffe is a fully-qualified training college teacher, and the board is fortunate in securing her services at such short notice.

The monthly meeting of the Dunedin Drainage and Beverage Board was held last night, the mayor (the Rev. E. T. Cox) presiding over the following members;—Crs J. L. M'lndoe, W. A.’ Scott, J. J. Marlow, J. B. Shacklock, A. H. Allen, M. Silverstone, W. Begg, and H. C. Campbell, The Works Committee’s report, authorising the drainage engineer to proceed with certain works, was adopted without discussion. In.moving the adoption of the Finance Committee’s report, Cr Allen said that the total amount in the sinking fund came to £95,835 18s Bd. and that the interest earned during the year -worked out at 4.7 per cent. “In view of the present value of money, this is very good,” commented Cr Allen. The report was adopted.

“It has been common ta|k about town and on tramcars that if a man paints or repairs his house his fates go up,” said Cr W. H. Borrie at last night’s meeting of the City Council. “I do not think they do, hut I have promised that I would ascertain the true position.” Cr A. H. Allen (chairman of the Finance Committee) replied that all such matters were a maintenance charge and had no bearing whateven on the rating. The mayor (the Rev. E. T. Cox) confirmed Cr Allen’s answer.

That local bodies and associations are throwing their weight in the launching of Dunedin’s More Work Campaign (Bristol scheme) is evident from the splendid response for funds to finance the scheme. The Dunedin City Council having donated £25, Otago Employers’ Association £ls 15s, Rotary Club £lO 10s, Otago Harbour Board £lO 10s, Returned Soldiers’ Association £1 Is, Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association £lO 10s, Dunedin Oil and Colour Merchants’ Association £lO, it is hoped with a number of promises made in addition in addition to raise sufficient funds to bring the scheme to a successful termination. The Appeals Committee will commence operations to-morrow covering a complete canvass of the residential area of the city, and help is asked for by the organiser at his office in the Town Hall from anyone anxious to assist in this work.

“ I was pleased to receive yoiir courteous letter, the contents of which i conveyed to the other members of the commission’s broadcasting team. It is very pleasant to knew that one’s efforts are enjoyed, and I trust you found the last game as interesting as the others. If I ever have an opportunity of calling at Port Chalmers I shall be delighted to do so.” Thus Mr M. A. Noble, cricket commentator, wrote from Sydney to the Port Chalmers Cricket Club. The letter was read last night witli appreciation. It had come in response to a letter from the club secretary congratulating Mr Noble on his broadcasting of the “ ashes ” matches in England. The final reference in the letter to visiting Port Chalmers was, it appeared, in response to a pressing invitation -from the club secretary, who had rounded off his invitation with, a reference to the shellfish delicacies available in the lower harbour, but unknown in Australia, to wit cockles.

The suggestion that a new name should be given to Flagstaff was suggested to city councillors at their-meet-ing last night through the receipt of a letter from a citizen who considered that the present name was paltry and insignificant, and did not do justice to the magnificence of the surroundings. The writer said he was sorry that the name Mount Kettle had had to be rejected owing to the fact that some obscure peak already bore that name, but he thought they could quite well call it Mount Burns (in which case it would he in keeping with Mount Cargill) or Mount Wakefield (in memory of a great man, Edward G. Wakefield, who had done wonderful work many years ago for the province). It was moved that the matter be referred to the General Committee. “ Why not the Reserves Committee?” asked Cr Marlow. “It is a reserve.” Cr M'lndoe asked if it was in their power to rename Flagstaff, and Cr Scott suggested that they should let somebody else do it. Another suggestion was that the council should write to the Government about it, but the mayor (the Rev. F. T. Cox), after expressing the view that the Government was not likely Up give its consent, said the matter must first go to a committee. Finally, it was decided to refer the letter to flic Reserves and Genera! Committees jointly.

The cablegram in Tuesday’s issue about the recent discovery with regard to vitamin C is made very interesting and applicable to' all classes by the following commentary kindly supplied at our request by Professor Malcolm of the Otago University staff: —“The only really new information in the cablegram is the discovery of a method for producing this vitamin at a low cost. Lack of vitamin A is the main cause of scurvy, a disease common in the days of long sea voyages and in sieges.' It occurred at the siege of Kut in the Great War. • Vitamin C is very sensitive to the methods used for preserving or cooking food. Trouble is liable to appear in mild form if there is an insufficient supply of fresh material such as fresh vegetables in the diet. It ought to be supplied to infants that are'fed on humanised milk, and the advice usually given is to daily administer a small amount of orange juice or larger amounts of almost any fresh vegetable food. The discovery of the true chemical nature of vitamin C in 1932 by the professor mentioned in the cablegram—Szeut Gijorgi—created quite a sensation in scientific circles, for it has been difficult to isolate the different vitamins, and of the six or more known this is the third td be prepared as a pure chemical substance.” In the sixty acres of park and flower attractions that is the measure of the Dunedin Botanic Gardens there is always a comprehensive delight for visitors. Under glass the variety is wide of things that are blooming or coming on—hippeastrum, schuzanthus, clarkia, cyclamen, primula, anemone, and the belbargia or tartau plant; whilst in tho open beds and borders one may see in differing stages of growth innumerable examples of wallflowers, polyanthus, grape hyacinth, pansy, anemones, and daffodils. The rhododendrons are also attractive, already a feature in these gardens, and the rockery is just now peculiarly ! interesting, especially to visitors who have a grounding in botany. There is no bigger botanic garden elsewhere in New Zealand, and none of the others show, the same variety in landscape effect. Ratepayers will he pleased to learn that in quantity about 60 per cent, of the seeds required aro raised under the direction of Mr Tannock and his staff. „ Preparations for carrying on the scheme of providing unemployed men with vegetable-growing plots in the Dunedin district are - going on as usual this spring. The usefulness of this method of helping genuine workers is fully realised by the promoters and by tho persons thereby assisted. This spring, so far, the number of men who take advantage of the scheme is smaller by about a third than last year, this reduction due not to lack of interest, but to the departure of previous holders to work in the country or to permanent occupation in town. It therefore comes about that plots are now available to new applicants, and the committee in charge is preparing for a largo number, the orders at present including six tons of lime, six tons of seed potatoes, and six tons of superphosphate, whilst the seedsmen are empowered to distribute seeds on the same terms as last vear to men who present the unemployment card. The oversight and instruction will be on the same lines as in last season.

Three prisoners for sentence will appear before His Honour ‘Mr Justice Kennedy in the Supreme Court to-mor-row morning.

A bird like the jackdaw of Rheims, of ‘ Ingoldsby Legends ’ fame, whose solemn cursing by the Cardinal resulted in a sadly drooping plumage and a head as bald as its ecclesiastical persecutor’s, was owned by a one-time Waitati resident, who relates a tale of the inquisitive and cheeky kaka. When first captured the bird’s appearance might have •suggested a withering interview with Hitler —he was quite bald and ho was very lame. Within a month, however the kaka. regained his strength and guile, and several times outwitted his master. Then came a day when old scores were repaid in full. The bird was very fond of raisins, but the digestion of a hot one. cunningly placed within reach of his beak, more than satisfied his hitherto insatiable appetite. With a scream of rage ho flew round the hut, extinguishing the light and breaking most of the crockery. After that experience he kept at a respectful distance from his master for a few days. A detached wooden washhouse, owned by Mr G. Pundo, was slightly damaged by fire this morning. The South Dunedin Brigade was summoned to the outbreak at 8.5 and discovered that the five was due to the copper having been built on a wooden floor. No insurance covered the building.

Don’t/ delay with eye trouble.®. To give* complete satisfaction is the Ideal of W. V. Stunner, Optician, 2 Octagon, Dunedin.—[Advt.] Additional amounts received for the Toe 11. wireless fund for camps are 10s from 6s from Westport Coal Company s yard employees, and Is from J.B.