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Evening Star, Issue 22325, 29 April 1936, Page 8

The 4 Sports Special,’ containing 64 columns of the latest sporting news, a host of special articles, and numerous illustratins, will commence issue .on Saturday night next, May 2. The air mail despatched from New Zealand on April 9 arrived in London on April 27.

The Postmaster-General, the Hon. F. Jones, stated to-day that an indication of the return to prosperity in New Zealand is contained in the greatly increased business which is being transacted in the Post and Telegraph Department. For the four months ended on March 31 the toll calls have exceeded 1,000,000 a month, this being the first time in history that such a figure has been recorded in New Zealand. Compared with the depression year, 1932-33, the increase in volume has been 27.29 per cent. The heavy storms which swept the' North Island in February reduced the figures for that month considerably, but still did not reduce thepi below the 1,000,000 mark.

The Blackstone Hill observance of Anzao Day was held in the schoolhouse, which, despite the weather conditions, was well filled. The service was conducted by the Rev. P. Keene, of Oturehua, who, besides giving a forceful address, also delivered the prayers and read the Scripture passages. The returned soldiers’ address was given by Mr W. B. Bridger, ex-imperial Forces, who also presided at the organ. A short service was subsequently held at the memorial gates at the cemetery, where many beautiful wreaths were deposited

Although much attention is at present being focussed on New Zealand authors, how many people think of the work provided for printers when a new book is printed in the Dominion? For instance, in Dunedin alone, there are over 400 people engaged in the trade. Prospects for juvenile employment in this trade are discussed in the Vocational Guidance Association’s weekly article which appears on page 2 of this issue.

As was expected, the sale of Anzac stamps yesterday showed a considerable drop over the previous day’s iigures, £SO being the amount taken, as compared with approximately £250 for the opening day. The rush by collectors is now over, and although it is anticipated that future sales will not approach the first day figures, increasing demands by business firms and private individuals are expected as time goes on. The special envelopes prepared by the Returned Soldiers’ Association are still meeting with a keen demand, some 15,000 already having been disposed of. Orders have been received from numerous local commercial firms, while one order has come from Central Otago.

The work of a practical joker caused considerable amusement to a number of people recently. A large, rusty, and very old boiler was being transported on a lorry past the railway station, and chalked on the side of the boiler were the words: “ Urgent; Glasgow Docks—Queen Mary.” Of 1,513 votes recorded in the Anzac Day observance ballot conducted by the Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association, 857 favoured strict observance on the day as at present, 604 desired all ceremonies in the morning, and 36 did not favour Anzac Day in any form. Dissatisfaction was expressed at the small numbers of votes recorded, but many returned men were not given an opportunity of voting. In reference to the opening of the game shooting season on Friday, the following are the areas in Otago in which shooting is not permitted:— The property of Mr E. J. Docherty (Sutton), the property of Mr J. Philip (Palmerston), Northburn Station (Lowburn), Brighton River from Duff’s bridge to the sea, the lake on Mr G. R. Young’s property at Wilden, Finegand lagoon, which is the lagoon on the property of Mr Maoallister (Balclutha). With a roar like thunder a whirlwind struck the small township of Te Uku, seven miles from Raglan, early this morning, partially unroofing the residence of Mr Arthur Moon, overturning a shed, and sliifting another building several feet. The post office was damaged slightly, and a number of fences in the vicinity were levelled. No one was injured.—Hamilton .Press Association.

Subscriptions from the King Edward Technical College in the purchase of badges for Poppy Day totalled £9, according to the principal’s report mitted to yesterday’s board meeting. Novel, if unusual, was the claim for assistance made to a young housewife in Dunottar yesterday. Pitiful was the tale told her by a man in search of work. She couldn’t assist him, but on being told that he had walked from Christchurch her sympathy_ was aroused, so that when he mentioned that he had four letters to post, and had not the wherewithal to buy stamps, she supplied him with the required. stamps. In the afternoon, Avhile visiting a home in Roslyn, nearly one mile distant, she learned that the self-same caller had received stamps from that diome after a recital of a similar tale of woe.

Probate has been granted by His Honour Mr Justice Kennedy in the estates of Emma Powell, widow, St. Clair; Patrick Joseph Greaney, billiard room proprietor, Balclutha; Ann Stevenson, widow, Waitati; Jessie Jane Jamie, widow, Alexandra; Henry Kroll, retired farmer, Kakanui; Pereival Clay Neill, retired merchant, Dunedin; Isabella Chalmers, widow, Dunedin; John Potter, farmer, Dunedin ; Donald M'Naughton Stuart, merchant, Dunedin; James Stevenson, retired labourer, Sawyer’s Bay; Robert Paterson, retired jeweller, Queenstown; and Robert Rutherford, farmer, Hillend. Letters of administration have been granted in the estate of Robert Stark, traveller, Oamaru. So far as the health of Otago stock is concerned; the Department of Agriculture’s year that has just ended was a particularly successful one. There were no serious outbreaks of trouble among stock, while the present indications for the winter are promising. There appears to be plenty of feed available for the animals during- the winter months, and the outlook generally is good. At the beginning of the year, it will be remembered, the dry weather caused a drop in the available feed in certain districts, but fortunately rain came in time, and the stock was thus saved from any ill-effects that had previously threatened. A definite case of hardship in regard to the imposition of the gold export tax appears to exist in the case of the Waimumu Sluicing Company Ltd. (Gore). In the company’s annual report the directors state that, had the anomalous gold export tax not been imposed, the company’s accounts would have shown a much better position. The tax paid to April 21 amounted to £230, considerably more than the company’s loss on workings—namely, £64 16s 4d. !< It appears to be most unfair,” the directors state, “ that a company which is making no profits should be taxed to such an extent.” Illustrating the trend in the motion picture industry to produce musical comedies, five out of the seven local theatres are featuring this type of film. Although the films vary in theme, each has as its background music in one shape or another. One picture features a modern band, another the stage of other days, a third the 8.8. C, Orchestra, and so on.

“ I was disappointed with the meagreness of the news about New Zealand in Australian newspapers,” said Mr G. M. Hall, general manager of Booth, Macdonald, and Co. Ltd., who has returned to Christchurch after a visit to Australia (says the ‘Press’). Naturally, he said, he had been interested to know what the Labour Government here had been doing. In his three weeks there he searched various papers in vain. One paper had a cablegram from New Zealand. In about an inch ’it stated that a girl aged 10 had won the bare-back jumping competition at the Wellington Show. “My friends and I wondered what was the reasoning of those who sent the message,” Mr Hall said. It seemed peculiar reasoning which concluded that that news would interest New Zealand or Australian readers more than the legislation of a Government-something which was of importance to both countries.

Eye strain—for eye comfort, for belter vision, consult, Sturrner and Watson Lid., Opticians, 2 Octagon, Dunedin.—fAdvt.l The Railway Department advertises in this issue that the Christchurch-Xnvercargill express train will stop at Port Chalmers Upper on Saturdays, if required, to set down passengers from north of Timaru,