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Evening Star, Issue 22261, 12 February 1936, Page 8

A Wellington Association message states that the air mail which left New Zealand on January 24 arrived in London on February 10.

“ Wo are paying to keep a lot of scroungers, as Mr Semple says,” said Mr V. Simms, a member of the Auckland provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union, when that body was discussing again yesterday an old-stand-ing grievance, the incidence of unemployment taxation. The speaker added that as much as 4s an hour had been paid for harvesting in the Waikato this season. Another speaker, Mr A. Briscoe Moore, said that so far they had only been dealing with details, and it was time to have the whole matter threshed out, especially as it was possible that the tax might be raised. It was decided, on Mr Moore’s motion, to arrange for a deputation to interview the Minister of Employment, 'the Hon. H. T. Armstrong.—Auckland correspondent. The rector reported to the Mosgiel School Committee last night that the school roll stood at 311 primary and 78 secondary. As the year progressed he expected the 400 mark would be passed, lie applied to the committee for improvements to the school gymnasium. Better ventilation and a stage were wanted. The building was now being made use of for lectures and plays. It was decided to take steps to see what could be done to bring about the desired improvement.

During the year iust ended 73 cases of alleged enmity to animals were investigated by the Otago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Annuals, as compared with 53 cas.s tor 1934. A total of 49 cases which were inquired into called for no further action, while 23 cautions were administered and four persons were prosecuted and fined. The dog poisoner was still present throughout the year numerous instances of persons having lost their dogs by this despicable practice having been brought under the committee’s notice, although there was a standing reward of £lO for information that would lead to the conviction of the person or persons so offending. Low barometer readings were reported from various parts of the North Island during the severe tonn recently, the New Zealand ‘ Herald ’ publishing a letter from Mr V, B. Inghs, a consulting mining engineer and assayer, of Coromandel, who stated that at midnight on the Saturday his barometer, read 28.10 in, and at 6 a.m. on the Sunday it was at 27.92 in. Another observer—Mr L. J. Matthews, of Doubtless Bay—reports a reading of 27.91 in. The motor vessel Holmglen, at sea off Kawhia, about midway between New Plymouth and Onehunga, also encountered tlie same conditions, and her master reports a barometer reading of 28.45 in on the sane night, A young man one afternoon was painfully embarrassed when he entered the Blenheim' Post Office and mistook a person standing at the counter for one of his friends (says the ‘ Marlborough Express’). Stepping up silently behind, he used the rather unorthodox method of surprising his friend with the toe of his boot. To his astonishment the “ friend,” when he sprang round to see the cause of such a sudden attack from the rear, turned out to be a complete stranger to the town. A few moments’ explanations, and the two parted the best of friends, to the accompaniment of hearty laughs from those waiting at the counter.

The Sunshine Social Club has arranged another of its popular excursions to Queenstown, leaving next Saturday night and returning on Sunday night, provision being made for buses on the arrival of the return train at Dunedin. The Otakou Maori Concert Party will accompany the excursion, and already more than 300 bookings have been made.

The winner of the first prize of £2,000 in the “ Lucky New Year ” Art Union, which was drawn in Wellington yesterday, is Mr Alexander Wells, a single man, aged 51, of Wailiopo, Mangonui County, North Auckland. He has been a gnmdigger and bush worker for over 30 years, but on account of indifferent health during the past 18 months has been unable to follow his usual occupation, and is now on relief work. Mr' Wells was born in Auckland, and except for four years’ service witji the Otago Regiment in the Great War and a period of bush work in the King Country, he has resided on the gumfields of the far north. He did not wish to be interviewed when communicated witli at Houhora by telephone, but intimated through a neighbour that the first thing he Intended to do with the prize money was 'to pay his debts. He has been in the hospital for 18 months and has been unable to pay the bills. His plans for the future are indefinite. Ho intended to continue his relief work to-day. The winning of £2,000 is the first piece of good luck that Mr Wells has had, although he has been buying art union tickets for some time. This is the first time that the chief prize in an art union has gone to the far north.—Auckland correspondent.

A meeting of the Otago Land Board was commenced this morning Commissioner N. C. Kensington presiding over a full attendance of members. The business dealt with was of a routine nature, and the agenda paper is of sufficient size to occupy the board’s attention until Friday.

During 1935 a school savings bank was established in Mosgiel. The rector (Mr Kaye) reported to the committee last night that the scheme was proving popular. The Savings Bank Department notified the committee that though no profits were yet available they would come in due time. In the meantime a grant of £2 was made to the school library.—On the rector’s recommendation the committee decided to spend the sum in school magazines. In the Police Court this morning Gavin Cockburn (77) was charged with assaulting a small boy in Kew Park. He was represented by Mr F. C. Dawson and pleaded not guilty. Chiefdetective Young said that it was alleged that Cockburn, who had been drinking, interfered with several children while they were playing in the park. There was no question of his identity, the only point at issue being whether he committed a technical assault. Mr Dawson said that his client did not have a very clear recollection of that afternoon, but denied that he was actuated by improper motives in playing with the children. After hearing the evidence Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., characterised the offence ns that of a semi-drunken old man slobbering over children. The clement of indecency had not been proved, but it was an unpleasant thing, and one never know' ■what it might lead to. There was no suggestion that the accused made a practice of this, and His Worship considered the case would be met by Cockburn being convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within six months.

The question of introducing a Bill for the compulsory dehorning of cattle is mentioned in the annual report of the Otago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Advice had been received from several societies promising their support, and the Minister of Agriculture had been communicated with, and had promised to bring the Bill before Parliament at the earliest opportunity. Nothing had been done during the last session, however, and it was hoped that the new Government would give this matter their early attention.

A Konini resident, Mr Job Mabey, who incurred broken ribs when he was blown off a high roof during the recent storm, had a further run of bad luck this morning, when his house was destroyed by fire during milking operations. His sick wife was in bed at the time. The property was insured in the Standard Office.—Pahiatua Press Association.

Misfortune not unmixed with blessing attended an experience of a district mill owner the other day (states the ‘ Mataura Ensign’). Taking from his pocket a £5 ami eight single notes, together with a Rotheram watch, he placed them in a position in close proximity to a chaff-cutting plant. Subsequently, oblivious of their presence, be commenced forking into the machine, and the articles in question found their way into the gnashing blades. Under ordinary circumstances this procedure would spell the end of the valuables. But luck played a hand in the game of chance. The watch itself met with no quarter from the greedy knives, hut the wallet and the notes were found to have been fairly efficiently mangled except for the numbers, most of which were left intact.

Dudley Holdsworth Smith (24), a motor engineer, was committed to the Wellington Supreme Court for trial on a Charge of conversion of a car, the property of William Trevor Hume, a farmer, of Piniroa. The car was taken from the Royal Oak Hotel and was recovered next day at Levin. The speedometer showed that 130 to 160 miles had been covered.—Press Association.

The Port Chalmers section of the highway to Dunedin was recently tar sealed, and the improvement was most apparent. The borough council is now calling for tenders for the final coating which will have a finished bituminous surface.

The Railway Commissioners are beginning to realise with the owners of the chain stores that small coins and plenty of them give bigger aggregate returns than high fares and a few coins (writes the Sydney correspondent of the Melbourne ‘ Ago ’). During the school vacation the railways arranged for the issue of tickets for chidlren under the age of 14 and that age. These tickets were issued for 6d return on journeys set down by boundaries which would enable them to travel 150 miles. The boys soon worked out the gift, for on the days the schools reopened it was announced that 163,000 boys had paid into the commissioners’ coffers £81,500. The trains had not been unduly congested and the consumption of coal had not cost even a penny more, and not one extra hand had to he taken on. As the announcement of the new travel scheme was only made a few days before the holiday it was not generally known. But it the commissioners intend to keep it going they should get in early next time, and there is no reason why the boys and girls should not make a gift of £500,000 to the State on the next holiday.

“ To mv knowledge farmers in Otago and Southland greatly appreciate the weather reports published in the Press and broadcast by wireless. I have never heard any complaints of their inaccuracy,” said the Hon. F. Waite, M.L.C., when the view of the Kaipara Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union that weather reports issued by the Meteorological Department were misleading was referred to him this morning. Mr G. A. Hamilton, president of the Southland Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union, also held that there was no cause for complaint of the inadequacy of the service, and remarked that it was the consensus of opinion in Southland that the reports were remarkably accurate.

Members of the Auckland Waterside Workers’ Union will in future work Australian vessels manned by licensed crews. This decision was made yesterday at a stop-work meeting of the Auckland Union. During two months tire men have refused to discharge or load cargo on Australian vessels which have visited New Zealand. At first action was taken because the vessels carried volunteer crews, but afterwards the embargo was extended to vessels carrying licensed seamen.

A pleasing announcement was made by the rector of the Mosgiel to the committee last evening. “A parent whose child had been successful at school last term handed the rector a donation for school funds to show his appreciation of the training the child had received.” The committee gratefully accepted the donation, and asked the' secretary to acknowledge it.

“England has been badly let down by the freetrade policy,” said the Earl of Selbourne in a recent interview with the ‘ Evening Post.’ The clanger of relying on imported food w r as very” definitely shown in the last war, but apart front the considerations ot safety and security Great Britain needs an agricultural population balancing her industrial population to maintain the standard of physique. Moreover, a properons agricultural population _at Homo is the best market for Britain’s manufactures. You cannot therefore expect the British Government to sacrifice the British farmer for the sake of those in the Dominions, any more than the Dominions’ Governments w'ould do the reverse. Great Britain will make the best possible compromise with the Dominions on the question of the importation of their produce, but that is the most that the Dominions can expect.”

The postal authorities advise that the Matakana left Sydney for Oamaru at 6.30 a.m. on Tuesday with four bags of Australian mail and five parcel receptacles ; also the London air mail of January 26, for Dunedin. The mail should reach the local office on Monday morning.

“ Nigger Cannon,” the second prizewinner in the “Lucky New Year” art union is Alfred Smith, a relief worker, married with two children. Last Wednesday he bought tickets for a passage to England for himself and family. He said to-day that had he not already bought the steamer tickets he would remain in New Zealand, He was formerly New Zealand open cornet champion, being a member of the Greymouth Municipal Band. He chose “ Nigger Cannon ” in memory of a regimental sergeant in the Lancashire Fusiliers, with which Mr Smith served during the war.—Greymouth Press Association.

Occasional letters in the daily papers refer to the occurrence of what is regarded as an unusual fish in rivers and streams, ancf the animal is identified as the lamprey, which is the subject of the current weekly exhibit at the Canterbury Museum (states the ‘ StarSun’). Although not often seen by the casual observer, lampreys constitute an important part of the population of some rivers, particularly in the winter and spring during the spawning runs. The adults are commonly about 20in long, with no paired fins, but having a tail fin and two dorsal fins situated far back. The gills are indicated by seven pores on each side, the water being drawn in and sent out through these openings. The mouth, situated in the middle of a strong sucker, is armed with teeth on the upper border, against which operate teeth based on the end of the tongue.

A Wellington Press Association telegram states that an inquest held today failed to establish the identity or cause of death of a new-born female child found on January 11 in a sack on the Terrace.

The Animal Welfare Week, which was held from September 29 to October 6 in Otago, proved most gratifying. Pamphlets on ‘ Kindness to Animals ’ were against distributed amongst the schools throughout Otago, while teachers, Sunday school superintendents. and ministers had addressed their pupils and congregations on the subject, and the committee of the Otago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals greatly appreciated the assistance rendered in this direction. It had been suggested that next year the committee should offer prizes for the best essays on ‘ Kindness to Animals, and it was proposed to approach the Education Board and ascertain if it would permit the scoiety to offer prizes for this object.

The Railway Department advertises in this issue that a special train at cheap excursion fares will run from Timaru to Dunedin on Sunday, February 16.

lliyo strain —for eye comfort, for better vision, consult Sturmor and Watson Ltd., Opticians. 2 Octagon, Dunedin.—[Advt.l

The Railway Department advertises in this issue train arrangements in connection with the Dunedin races at Wingatui tomorrow.

The Railway Department advertises in tliis issue that another special train at cheap excursion fares will be run from Invercargill, stopping at Balclutha. Stirling, and Milton, on Sunday, February 16, returning same day.