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Evening Star, Issue 21960, 21 February 1935, Page 8

The dry conditions in Taranaki definitely ended with twenty-four hours’ warm rain, totalling well over an inch in most districts. The pastures have been well soaked, and a good autumn growth now seems assured. Rain at Egihont was very heavy, and the rivers flooded.—Press Association.

The general secretary of the Y.M.C.A. makes an appeal for magazines and periodicals. These are for providing reading material for ,the men in the Y.M.C.A. marquees at Sutton and Waikouaiti military camps.

The annual meeting of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Society was held on Tuesday last. The president (Mr A. Pemberton) occupied > the chair, and there was a good attendance. The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted, these showing the society to be in a favourable condition. The election of officers resulted;—President, Mr R. Harrison; vice-president, Mr D. Maden; secretary, Mr A. Ellis ; treasurer, Mr W. Sharp; trustees, Messrs W. Crossley and A. Pemberton; hostess, Mrs Harrison; kitchen conveners, Mesdames Brooks and Swift; auditors, Messrs W. Long worth and A. Moorehead; executive Mesdames Swift, Finch, and Brooks, Messrs Swift, Moorehead, Longworth, E. Pemberton, J. Stavanger. A vote of _ thanks was passed to the retiring officials.

After the first section of the A grade test at the bands contest last night, the judge, Mr A, H. Baile, said that he had enjoyed every minute of the evening. The selection was a most difficult one, abounding in technicalities and occupying twenty minutes in the playing. He had that night listened to three of the finest bands he had heard. They were outstanding, but that was not to say that the other four bands were bad.' The three he referred to had played consistently throughout the evening, and vrhat mistakes were made ho would describe as accidental ones. Mr Baile said he had been asked what he thought of the standard of bands in New Zealand and Australia as compared with those in England. His opinion was that there was no such thing as a standard between these bands. Before he had taken his own band to England a few years ago he bad been told that he would be wise to keep away from the contest field, but within six weeks of arriving there he had won a contest, and later won another contest by an even greater margin. . The bandsmen wore to be found in Zealand, and he would say that properly led, New Zealand bands were as good as any m the world.

Inasmuch as it reduced the water storage depletion for the twenty-four hour period from the 1,200,000 gal® of the previous day to the 410,000 gals recorded this morning, yesterday s rainfall had a definitely beneficial effect. Nevertheless, the fact that there was still a depletion is not entirely satisfactory; it goes to prove that copious rain is needed. The ram which fell amounted to ,20in at Hess Creek, .18in at Whare Flat, and .10in at Sullivan’s Dam. The total water in storage is now 58,891,000 gals. The lowest level reached last year was 52,265,000 gals on April 2. The annual sea training of the Otago rating's, R.N.V.R., has been completed, and H.M.S. Wakakura left Oamaru last evening for Akaroa and Lyttelton, where the ratings will be discharged to-morrow, and Canterbury ratings will be taken aboard. The training of the Otago contingent took place at Oamaru, and occupied a period of about four weeks. Manoeuvres were carried out at sea off Cape Wanbrow, and on one occasion in conjunction with H.M.S. Leith off Pukeuri Point. The weather experienced throughout the period of training was exceptionally fine, and the seas, except on one occasion, were comparatively calm.

An Australian scientist, Mr A. L. Tonnoir, of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, is to make the study of the grasshopper pest his chief work during the next few years (says the Melbourne ‘ Age ’). He will'leave for England shortly on study leave, and while there will collate evidence as to what is being done to combat grasshoppers in other countries where they have become a pest. It is a fortunate circumstance for Australia that Mr Tonnoir will be able to accept an invitation from Professor Efflatoun Bey, of the Egyptian University, to visit Giza in April and see the work that is being clone there on the North African species of locusts. There have been plagues of locusts in Egypt since time immemorial, ancl of recent times Egyptian scientists have made exceedingly thorough studies of the local species and their habits. So comprehensive is the scale on which experiments are carried out at Giza that swarms of hoppers have been raised in captivity and their migrating tendencies noted. The Egyptian Government spends large sums on this work. In 1929-30 no less a sum than £200,000 (Egyptian) was provided for a locust campaign. Though the Australian plague differs in some respects from the Egyptian, it is expected that Mr Tonnoir will obtain much useful information from' his entomological colleagues at Giza..

Thirty years this week—l9os —the brass band contest was being held in Auckland. It was the North Island Association contest, with Southern and Northern bands competing. The musical judge was Mr W. S. King, of Christchurch, the supervisor being Mr J. I). Hunter, of Dunedin, and assistant secretary and treasurer Mr H. Gladstone Hill, now of Christchurch. These three men had never been all together since that time until this week at Timaru, whore they have been exchanging incidents which memory has refreshed. As one member of the younger generation “listening-in” expressed it, “The occasion certainly provides an excuse. . . —Our own correspondent.

Further letters from country schools expressing appreciation of the decision to close during the afternoons in hot weather were received this morning .by the Education Board. The head master at Cromwell wrote stating that the temperature had frequently been over lOOdeg during the past week, and the children and parents greatly appreciated the closing during the afternoons. It was pointed out that the question of closing during the afternoons was left to the headmasters and chairmen of committees in country districts, and that in the city the schools could be closed an hour earlier if the day was very hot.

A proposal came before five Education Board to-day that the names of country schools should be placed on the buildings. The architect reported that to write the name on a board and screw r it up on the wall of the school would cost about 8s 6d. The total cost might be about £llO, but the work would be done only as schools were being painted, and would be spread over a period of seven or eight years. The chairman (Mr J. Wallace) said be did not think any useful purpose would be served by the proposal. Mr D. C. Cameron said the naine would localise the school and would let people passing through the place know what school it was. Mr Wallace replied that their schools were for the education of the children, and he would protest against the expenditure of £llO in such a way. It was decided to hold the matter over for further consideration. In Southland the turnip crop on coastal areas is coming on well, and promises to fulfil expectations, but on the farms inland the crop is badly blighted. Such is the latest information on the subject, conveyed by Mr J. M. Smith, the fields superintendent for Otago and Southland, in answer to a reporter’s question. In South Otago the turnips are backward, but the January rains effected a marked improvement, giving justification for the hope that they will serve for winter feed. Mr Smith is quite pleased with the wheat harvest in North Otago. A lot of the crop has been threshed straight out of the stocks, that work going on without a day’s break.

To assist persons of moderate means to acquire their own homes is the chief object of the Starr-Bowkett building society scheme. Its plan is, however, commending itself to incorporated bodies that depend upon co-operative finance, and two or three such bodies have recently profited by becoming shareholders in Dunedin. A bowling club is amongst those that have been lucky lately. A Dunedin resident who as a young man belonged to Timaru recalls to mind the fact that the making of Caroline Bay as a public resort originated, in a working bee, in which a number of citizens took delight on Thursday afternoons. They began with no capital except their labour and their enthusiasm, and fashioned a playground about 200yds square. The enterprise took hold of the public, a municipal loan was approved of by a large majority, the Rhodes brothers gave a rotunda, and there has never been a set-back in creating the great park that is now the rendezvous, of thousands from all parts of the dominion.

A little joke passed round in the Somerset Lounge yesterday, at the luncheon tendered to the Australian Trade Commissioner, was that in Sydney oranges were selling at twenty-four a shilling and potatoes at five a shilling. The figures mentioned were ot course imaginary, but they served the purpose of illustrating the absurdity of the present embargo on trade in produce.

A small increase in the minimum rate of wages, though the amount was not stated, was agreed to at adjourned conciliation proceedings at Wellington, when various unions of workers engaged in the painting industry discussed the dominion award with the employers. The whole of the classes in dispute were agreed upon,' and the _ general provisions will, remain as in the present award.

It is interesting to watch the different styles of conducting by those taking part in the brass band contest at Timaru. Take the B Grade bands: There were nine of them competing, and there were nine different styles and attitudes adopted by the conductors. We had the quiet, yet efficient style ot Mr W. L. Francis, of Greymouth, easily the best conductor seen that evening. Mr Francis keeps his elbows close to ms side as if glued there, yet the response his men gave him caused much favourable comment. Quite a contrast to the Greymouth man is Mr Kelly Mara, or Westport. Mr Mara shed his coat, rolled up his sleeves, and in typical Irish style appeared to say to himself “ Now let’s wade in.” And wade mho did! Not only did he use his arms, but his legs, too. When he wanted a soft passage he bent his legs and drooped his arms, rising into natural position again as he desired a crescendo. He worked hard, too. At the end of tho selection he was bathed in perspiration. Then we had the two-handed conductor. Using no baton, but with fists closed he implored, then threatened, then cajoled his men to do as he wanted. Of course, natural characteristics of the conductor come out in his conducting, and the playing of the band follows the same course. There is plenty of variety and entertainment at a band contest!—Our own correspondent.

The Government steamer Matai, which was to have sailed last night for the Cook Islands, was delayed by heavy rain, and sailed to-day. There was great activity aboard the vessel yesterday, when supplies and equipment were being loaded, concrete telegraph Violcs, timber, food, and medical stores being shipped, and a large weatherboard deckhouse being erected on the forward welldeck for the accommodation of the lepers to be transferred to Makogai Station. The Matai will proceed first to Palmerston Island, a week’s steam from Wellington. After calling at the southern islands of the Cook group, the Matai will visit the northern islands, going as far as Penrhyn. The whole voyage is expected to last for five weeks.—Press Association.

At a Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Savoy yesterday, Mr C. B. Barrowclough (president) said he had been informed that the camp of the First Battalion of the Otago Regiment would lie held from Saturday, March 2, till Saturday, March 9, and asked for the co-operation of the business community in granting leave to lads to attend the camp. The chamber, added the speaker, had always requested its members to extend every facility to allow the boys to go into camp, v

Butchers’ sheep continued to sell at increased rates at Burnside yesterday, but medium sorts were about equal to last week. Prices:—Prime heavy wethers, to 29s (id; prime wethers, 25s to 27s 6d; medium, 22s 6d to 245; light, from 18s; prime heavy ewes, to 255; prime, 18s Gd to 21s; medium, 13s 6d to 15s; light, from 11s.

A scene of striking brilliance and beauty was provided at Bt. Clair, last night for those who were fortunate enough to be on the Esplanade, the beacli and sea being lit up by the four big floodlights which are being used as part of the illuminations for the carnival which will commence to-night. It was a unique spectacle as the whitetopped waves rolled in under the glare of the powerful lamps, and the effect was heightened when a number of bathers entered the water and disported themselves under the artificial lighting. So impressed were the onlookers with the scene that the opinion was« generally expressed that the floodlights should be a permanent installation and used frequently on fine summer evenings. The announcement that the Government had appointed Mr R. B. Hammond, architect and town-planning consultant, to the position of Townplanning Adviser was made last night by the Minister of Internal Affairs. Mr Hammond will be attached to that department. The Minister said there were certain schemes before the Townplanning Board in addition to other schemes submitted by local bodies, and these would be dealt with as opportunity offered.' When a hot steam pipe burst at the mattress factory of A. Ellis and Company Ltd., Kaikorai, yesterday afternoon, the automatic fire extinguisher operated and brought out the Roslyn Fire Brigade. A barrel of rubbish outside the premises of Cameron Brothers, chemists, Stafford street, caught fire last night and turned out the City Brigade at 11.5. No damage was done.

Due to a different drainage system in Dunedin there is no probability of a similar explosion to the one reported in Auckland occurring at the pumping station at Anderson’s Bay. An official explained this morning that the advents in the drains provided ample outlets for any fumes that might find their way into the pipes, the only possibility of an explosion being if the fumes got into a pocket in the drains. However, it was quite unlikely that such would occur. The possibility of petrol escaping from the storage tanks on the foreshore and causing danger in the drains, an oil company officer said, was very remote. In order to comply with the law the storage tanks'had to be erected in a hollow completely surrounded by an earth or concrete wall forming a basin of sufficient area to contain all the petrol from the tanks if a leakage should take place. A reporter was also told that even if a garage hand cleaned parts of a car with petrol and afterwards threw the soiled spirit down a drain there was very little danger or an explosion, but it would; be a foolish action to tip. out the petrol m that way.

Two Spanish noblemen —Due Santo Mauro and the Comte de la Vega del Ren—who lost their estates in the re* cent revolution, arrived here by the Orient liner Orford (states the Melbourne ‘ Age ’ of February 13) . They are on their way to New Zealand for a few weeks’ deep-sea fishing. There is nothing of the Spanish grandee about either. The Duke Mauro, who is almost English in appearance and speaks the tongue fluently, was a lieutenant-com-mander in the aircraft-carrier Dedalo, which was in port at Constantinople when the revolution broke out. In his own words, he “ simply left the ship and walked ashore.’’. There was no alternative. u Spanish* nobility, t said the Duke, “ is not in a happy position, although it is not really as badly off as it was at the beginning of the trouble.” He added, that the hope for King Alfonso’s return to the throne was not a forlorn _ one. He and his companion, a Spaniard, whose expressive hands help him to elucidate English words which ho cannot twist on his tongue, affect the conventional attire of the average tourists —grey flannels, soft shoes, and sports coats. They are making their first visit to Australia, like the peace of the cities that have no palaces.

The city organist. Dr V. E. Galway, will give an after-church recital in the Town Hall on Sunday evening; when the programme will consist or _ such interesting items as Prelude in G (James Lyon), Gluck’s Gavotte m A major, Finale from the F minor Sonata (Rheinberger), Andante from the String Quartet (Tschaikowsky), Mendelssohn’s ‘Allegro Molto,’ Overture to ‘ Egmont ’ (Beethoven), ‘ Elizabeth’s Prayer ’ from ‘ Tannhauser (Wagner), ‘ Hungarian March’ (Berlioz). The supporting artists will be Miss Nellie Pickett, who will play Saint-Saens’ ‘ Toccata,’ Miss Dora Drake, who will sing ‘No so pin ’ from "Figaro ’ (Mozart), and Mr Murray Hood ‘ The Diver ’ (M'Millan).

In the Police Court this morning, Charles Goodman appeared before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., on an adjourned charge of obtaining credit (a meal at a restaurant) by fraud. The case had been previously adjourned to enable the accused to pay the amount (3s 6d). Senior-sergeant Packer informed the court that the amount had been paid and the proceeding were accordingly withdrawn.

Don’t delay with eye troubles; they lead to other troubles. See the optician without delay. To give satisfaction is the ideal of W. V. Sturmer, optician, 2 Octagon, Dunedin. —[Advt.l Provision has been made for 1,000 visitors to the Glen Leith College garden party on Saturday afternoon. In the grounds is to be found one of the most beautiful pieces of native bush remaining in the district. By one of the streams is the only Kauri of any size in the South Island. All kinds of goods will be offered at the stalls. A special service of Corporation buses runs from Duke street from 1.30,