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Evening Star, Issue 22085, 19 July 1935, Page 5

After further evidence had been called in the case in which Frederick Fraser proceeded against Edward George V. Hart claiming £45 damages as a result of a motor accident, and the defendant counter claimed £lOl 13s lOd, the Magistrate (Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., said the accounts given by the respective drivers of the van and the bus were at variance. It was seldom, however, that there was a case in which the surrounding evidence all pointed in the one direction —in this case that the accident was due to the negligence of the driver of the van. The account of the bus driver, therefore, must be taken as being correct. Judgment would be given for the defendant on both the claim and the counter claim.

A story of the fidelity of a dog is told by a kennel writer in the Christchurch ‘Press.’ He writes: “I saw a pathetic 'sight, and one which aroused my curiosity, in the streets of Timaru last week. A dog of no particular breed, but of the Airedale type and obviously of advanced years, I noticed in the afternoon sitting facing the window' of a certain public building. The same evening I saw the identical dog sitting for nearly two hours, still rigid and watchful, but oblivious to all around and of passing strangers. My interest further aroused, I examined him closely and found him quite friendly, but unwilling to budge. Thinking he was lost I made inquiries, and was about to entice him inside for a meal when I was informed by friends that this same dog carried out this daily vigil at the same places and times waiting for his beloved master, Mr Ted le Cren, who died some months ago. My one consolation was that ho was we!) fed and cared for.”

A caption to an illustration in the * Star ’ last night made it appear that the University Council had approved of proposals for the walling of the Leith in the University ground at a cost of £8,600. Such, however, is not the case, for, as was mentioned in a’ report submitted to the University Council meeting on Tuesday, the matter is merely under the chairman of the Works Committee having been asked to consult with the city engineer and to report to the next meeting of the council.

A strange-looking shark, caught yesterday by Mr Bert Lewis whilst fishing in the reef that lies well out at sea abreast of Otago Heads, was sent to Dunedin for view and identification, and is now in Stewart’s window in Princes street. As yet it is upt named.

Among the recommendations to he submitted by the Hospital Committee at the monthly meeting of the Otago Hospital Board on Thursday evening next will be one that the 'board’s new maternity hospital, which is to be erected in Castle street, shall be named “ The Queen Mary Maternity Hospital.”

The unusual occurrence of, seven eclipses this year is worth thinking about by the public, as well as by astronomical students—five of the sun and two of the moon. The eclipse this week leads to this very rare occurrence being noted. It last happened in 1917, and there will not be seven again in one year until 2485. The eclipses of the sun will be of but little observational interest, four of them being partial and mostly small. The fifth one this year is to be annular (the ring right round), and it will occur on Christmas Day, Greenwich time, but visible in this part of New Zealand at 6 a.m. on Boxing Day. The whole range of visibility will be between latitude 60 and 90, complete at the South Pole.

As the Dunedin lloyal Male Choir is now in the entrance of its fiftieth season, it may be regarded as fully mature, and very prominent amongst New Zealand’s musical organisations. Its beginnings were as the Dunedin Liedertafel, the first meeting •of which was on May 1, 1886, when, according to the minute book in the possession of Mr J. G. Butler the persons present included' Messrs H. W. Stockwell, H. E. Chiron, J. Jago, J. C. Norman, A. H. Norman, T. A. Hunter, S. M. Moyle, and Walter Ibhotson. Mr A. H. Norman was elected secretary, Mr Ibbotson treasurer, and Mr Moyle conductor. Of the persons here mentioned, Mr Ibbotson (Dunedin) and Mr Hunter (Wellington) are still with us. In the meantime the performing strength has grown from a double quartet to nearly 90, and of the total Dr Galway will have in front of him on Monday night a choir of 74. Although the body has grown so much the constitution is unchanged, the rules have been only amended, not altered, and the subscription stands at the same sum. Evidently the foundation was well and truly laid. Residents of the Cannington road area of Maori Hill appear to have every justification for their contention that ft public telephone box should be established at the corner of Cannington road and Cairnhill street. Many new houses have been erected in the district during the last few years, and, as matters stand, residents who wish to use a public telephone have to face a, tenminute walk up the hill to the terminus of the electric tram line before they can get in touch with their objective. There is no doubt that- a telephone boyplaced at the intersection mentioned would feed a large area, including the lower end of Cannington road near the Clear.

In an article which appeared last night under the heading ‘ Schools and Milk ’ many school committees were criticised for not adopting the milk ration scheme under which pupils are given half a pint of milk every morning. Only eight Dunedin schools are distributing milk this winter, and, out of these eight, two are working along modified lines. According to the statement of one school committeeman, it may not be that the committees should shoulder the whole of the blame for the dilatory attitude towards a very worthy scheme. He instanced the case of his own school in illustration of the alleged apathy of the householders. Early in the term a large gathering of householders of the children) wore asked three times for their views on the milk ration scheme. Not one person had the courage or enterprise to stand up and speak! Our own reporter telegraphs from Naseby:—At a meeting of curlers held last night it was decided not to-com-mence the bonspiel before Monday owing to the unfavourable state of the ice. The local team is playing for tbo Baxter Cup to-day.

The complaint - that people have had to wait for a long time to receive their share of the meat being sold to relief workers at the Central Mission relief depot under arrangement with the mayor’s committee does not seem to be justified according to the figures quoted by the lady in charge this morning. Yesterday 430 people were served in 6| hours, the staff working at top pressure and dealing with each customer in less than a minute all round. Again this morning the staff dealt expeditiously with those who called, 240 people being served in three hours. Appreciative reference has been made by many of the people to the work of the staff, the members of which are all voluntary workers.

Authority has been given by the Finance Committee of th'fe City Council for the insertion of a steel joist under the arch of the landing of the top floor of the municipal buildings, at an estimated cost of £3O. A report from the building surveyor indicates that the joist is needed for strengthening the existing wooden supports which carry the landing. The investigations indicated that some further strengthening work may be needed in the vicinity of this portion of the building, and a further inspection is accordingly being made by the building inspector, with a view to submitting a detailed report and estimate of any work that may be required. The Salvation Army’s annual selfdenial appeal in the shape of a street collection in Dunedin and suburbs for the general fund is usually fixed for a day in November. This year the date was shifted to July, and this was the day. About 40 of the officers and soldiers took up positions at 7 a.m., their efforts being supplemented by members of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. It was believed by the collectors that the contributions in the morning were satisfactory,' the appeal meeting with a generous response from men and women of all classes. No one who gives a thought to the splendid work of the Salvation Army can find a reason for withholding good wishes to the appeal and such practical assistance for whatever can be afforded.

Two Chinese whose premises in Haining street, Wellington, were raided by the police yesterday were fined £25 and £lO respectively, in default a month and 21 days respectively, and four Europeans found on the premises were fined £2, in default seven days. The charges were under the Gaming Act.— Press Association

Roxburgh orchardists say that their trees are this season looking all right, giving promise of average crops. The apricot trees are not expected to yield so heavily as they did last season—it would be strange if they did, and too severe a strain —but there is reason to hope for as big a return as in an ordinary year. No new diseases or pests have appeared on any of the trees. Mr J. 11. Bartholomew, S.M., presided at the Port Chalmers Court this forenoon. John Watson Limited obtained judgment by default against Joseph T. Erridge for the sum of £2 4s fid, with costs (15s). At a sitting of the court yesterday John William M'Brearty was sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment for; vagrancy*

A programme of works estimated to cost £782,000 spread over three years was submitted to the Auckland City Council last night by a committee set up to consider unemployment in the city. A list of suitable works was submitted to the city engineer, the details being referred to various committees. A recommendation that the present school term holidays, held in May, should be in June instead was carried by a small majority at the annual conference of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union at Wellington yesterday. It was argued that the change would suit the farmers and would have the effect of making even the length of of the three terms. Well known to the Bench, Cecilia Old and William Percy Old were sentenced by Mr Mosley ; S.M., to six months’ imprisonment in connection with the robbery of a farm labourer named Ling, who came to town with over £2O and went on a drinking bout. While very drunk he was taken home by the woman. He awoke at midnight to find them gone and also his money. —Wellington Press Association. Probate was granted to-day by His Honour Mr Justice Kennedy in the estates of Isabella Fraser Park, widow, Dunedin; Mary Christie Green, married woman, Dunedin; Samuel Edwin Green, farmer, Taieri Mouth; James Peter Christiansen, labourer,. Mosgiel; and Henton Macauley Davey, engineer and architect, Dunedin. Letters of administration were granted in the estate of John Webster, gardener, Oamaru.

The Otago Adjustment Commissioner will sit in Dunedin from Monday till Friday of next week. Sittings will he held at Cromwell on July 30, at Blacks on July 31, and at Naseby on August 1. The members of the commission are Messrs F. Waite, M.L.C., E. H. Murney, and C. R. Skeat. In the membership campaign contest between the Rc 'aimed Soldiers’ Associations of Dunedin and of Christchurch the ‘figures at July 15 were: —Dunedin 1,689, Christchurch 1,338. As far as the Dunedin Association is concerned the position is very satisfactory, for the present total is in excess of what it was at this time last year. At the end of the last financial year at March 31 the membership was 2,532, and the objective this year is 3,000, Members of the St. Kilda Bowling Club were guests at the R.S.A. Club last night, a pleasant time being spent in games of billidrds and snooker. The scores were:—Billiards: St. Kilda 689, R.S.A. 645. Snooker: R.S.A. 390, St. Kilda 380. The visitors were later entertained at supper. Following its policy of last year the executive of the Dunedin R.S.A. will hold a meeting of unemployed exservicemen at 7.30 on Monday evening in the social hall of the club. Discussion will take place upon matters affecting the unemployed ex-soldier, and reference will be made to what was done at the recent N.Z.R.S.A. conference.

The police at Port Chalmers are investigating damage to horses’ harness belonging to the contractor for railway horse haulage on the wharves. The harness was stored in a railway enclosure, and on Wednesday night it was slashed, the cuts in the leather having evidently been done with a sharp knife.

The sum of £l4 6s 6d was collected at to-day’s community sing in the Strand Theatre, and, with donations promised by radio listeners, this amount is expected to be increased to well over £ls. With the baton, Mr H. P. Desmoulins was in good form, and his audience sang with enthusiasm. Mr A. Pettitt, at the piano, also played no small part in the success of the sing. Miss Mae Matheson was the attraction to-day, and her singing was greatly appreciated. The stall conducted by Mrs A. M'lntyre was well supplied with gifts from generous citizens, to whom the committee is greatly indebted.

To be Well, See Well. See Sturmer.~W. V. Stunner, Optician, 2 Octagon, Dunedin. Consulting Opticians: W. V. Stunner, F. 1.0., N.Z.j A. It, Watson, F. 1.0., 5.D.0., N.Z.—-[Advt.] At the Burns Hall at 7.45 to-night the Rev. J. R. Blanchard, B.A. (president), and Mr J. Malton Murray (secretary of the New Zealand Alliance) will speak on the ‘ Road to Freedom.’

Those attending the old-time dance in the Early Settlers’ Hall • to-morrow’ night are promised a jolly time. Various competitions have been arranged and excellent prizes are offered.