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Evening Star, Issue 22343, 20 May 1936, Page 8

The air mail despatched from Wellington on April 30 and also from Auckland on May 1, arrived in London on May 18.—Press Association. The postal authorities advise that the air mails despatched from Dunedin on April 29 via Sydney and Singapore, arrived in London on May 18. Solemnly signed, as having been examined and found correct, "by J. H. Fowler, Deputy-Controller and AuditorGeneral, the statement of accounts of the Mapoutahi Pa Scenic Reserve for the past two years caused amusement when presented to yesterday’s meeting of the University Council, in which the Pa is vested. The statement disclosed that the Reserve had no revenue and no expenditure, and no banking account. Accordingly, it has no balance. The “statement” was returned without a tag!

An alteration in a name without the apparent authority of the person swearing the information evoked critical comment from the magistrate (Mr H. 1?. Lawry) in the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, when several persons were charged with failing to keep their sections free of ragwort. In one case the name Edward was added to that _of Keith Kirkcaldie on the information and the summons after an attempt to serve Keith Kirkcaldie. Mr Lawry said that this was an extraordinary procedure, and the information was withdrawn, with the leave of the court, by the Department of Agriculture. A high-powered car, apparently started in reverse gear, suddenly careered on to the footpath in Queen street, Masterton, yesterday afternoon (states a Press Association message), smashing two veranda posts and three bicycles and knocking over a girl named Molly Passpe, aged 11 years. Fortunately, the girl escaped serious injury. The car came to rest against a gate between the Regent Theatre and a bakery shop. The Cameron bust for Otago University is about to be despatched to England to be cast, Mr F. A. Shurrock, the sculptor, advised the University Council yesterday afternoon.

The Arbitration Court will commence a sitting in Dunedin on Friday, May 29, at 10 a.m. Fixtures will be made for compensation cases, etc., on Saturday, May 23. The danger threatened by damp to valuable pictures in the Art Gallery at Logan Park caused the Gallery Society to write yesterday to the University Council asking for a grant of a small piece of land from the university playing area to allow of an extension to the south end of the gallery. It was stated that the pictures had to be removed from time to time to prevent damage. The Chancellor (Mr W. J. Morrell) said he was sure the council was anxious to' assist the society, but the encroaching of buildings on to the playing area called for close attention. It 'was decided to refer the letter to the Finance Committee and to obtain a report from the Students’ Association. A hardy annual for discussion by the Otago Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is the subject of coursing. At yesterday’s meeting of the executive, a St. Clair resident wrote complaining of the cruelty involved in such a sport and urged the society to take steps to make it compulsory for coursing bodies to use tin hares as the prey for the rapacious greyhounds. Members of the society agreed that coursing in its present form was quite lawful and the society could not interfere. It was further pointed out that endeavours were being made by the governing body of the society to change the existing legislation. Tomtits, fantails, anil bellbirds are numerous, states the Otago Acclimatisation Society’s ranger (Mr F. David) in the annual report of the society. Tuis, riflemen, and other wrens are to bo found in fairly large numbers. Pigeons are increasing, and kakas are still numerous in certain districts. Robins and moreporks, however, appear to he scarce, and there are no parakeets to be seen anywhere, although it is reported that a few are to be found in the Gatlins district. There are also some blue herons, _ bitterns, stilts, and oyster-catchers, with dottrel in good numbers. Many grey owls are to be seen in Central Otago, but they aro loss immorous in (he hush districts.

Comprising over 200 paintings in oil and water colours and numerous examples of craftwork, the winter sketch exhibition of the Otago Art Society is attracting considerable interest at the Pioneer Hall. With a view to interesting the general public in the work of local artists, the society is not charging for admission, but it hopes that liberal support will be accorded a sixpenny art union that is being conducted. The paintings cover a wide range of subjects—landscape, portrait, and still life all being included, and the manner in which different artists treat similar subjects makes an interesting study. Among the exhibition of craftwork is a very fine scale model of Nelson’s famous ship Victory. The exhibition will be open during the day and evening till May 27. The process of Nature which continues unceasingly on the Ocean Beach is interesting to watch. The heavy southerly weather of some weeks ago tore away a great quantity of sand, particularly at the St. Clair end of tho beach, exposing heaps of rocks at the foot of the Esplanade and on the beach near the baths. Again, however, ns happens periodically, the sand is gradually being brought back, recovering the rocks and forming a fine smooth surface. The deepest cut was made at the easterly end of the new portion of the Esplanade, usually tho danger spot, and some weeks ago the Domain Board staff hurriedly put in sandbags and other obstacles to protect the path that runs along the foot of the sandhills, a protection that has not since been disturbed. “ The world to-day is in rather a mess and the greatest criticism that can be levelled at the people of New Zealand and of other countries is that they have no vision,” said Professor J. Shelley, in an address delivered under the auspices of the Workers’ Educational Association in Timaru. The speaker said that if the average person was asked what he was building up or what he was aiming for, it would be found that he had no vision. It should not be taken for granted that anything called progress was necessarily right. They knew it was possible to fly through the air at 200 miles an hour compared with eight miles an hour on horseback, but he asked if this could be called progress when aeroplanes were employed to pour poison gas on humanity. People would have to begin to think constructively, said Professor Shelley. The golden age would come if people were equal to it. Every individual had to face facts and ask himself what he was creating. That was why education was so important. The individual had to think out a new vision and not shrink from the responsibility of putting jt into practice. It was not a matter of grabbing some piece of the globe, but of people saying, “ Here are human beings; what can we do for them?” Whether old age pensioners should be granted concessions to sefe Rugby football matches at Lancaster Park was briefly debated by the Management Committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union last evening (says the ‘ Press ’). It was suggested by some members that the union should admit old age pensioners on the same basis as relief workers—the production of a card showing bona fides and the payment of 3d. Other members argued that there were a great many old age pensioners and there would be more if the qualifying age were reduced in the next 12 months. The committee finally asked its Finance Committee to consider the matter further.'

At a large meeting of farmers representing Poverty Bay, Wairoa, and Hawke’s Bay, held at Wairoa yesterdav, the following resolution was carried unanimously : “ That this meeting heartily applauds the work that Mr W. J. Poison has done on behalf of the farmers of New Zealand as president of the Farmers’ Union, and as a member of the House of Representatives.”— Hastings Press Association. The Metropolitan Licensing Authority sat this morning to consider an application hy the tramways department for the issue of a seasonal passenger service license to operate from Rattray street and the Roslyn tramway junction to Wakari. Mr A. H. Allen presided, and associated with him were the mayor (the Rev. E. T. Cox) and Mr F. W. Mitchell. Mr W. H. Mackenzie (tramways manager) explained that the application had been instituted at the request of Wakari residents, and it was proposed to commence a 20minnte service between noon and 8 p.m. After representatives of the Kaikorai Tramway Company intimated that they had no objection to the service and the suggested scale of fares the Licensing Authority granted the application.

Viewing the children proceeding up Stuart street to schools, people sometimes wonder what the future holds for these girls and boys in the way of employment, after the sad experience of the last few years. It is almost a certainty that the majority of these young people will have to find their future in the commercial world and in our secondary industries. This fact was frequently emphasised by Dr Fisher when professor of economics at Otago University, and this week’s article on ‘ Juvenile Employment,’ which appears on page two, deals with the attractiveness of the secondary industries in providing employment for young people.

The Mayor of Port Chalmers at the council meeting said it would be a gracious act to name the bus route through the town the Allen Highway, in honour of the late Mr E. 6. Allen, who rendered Port Chalmers valuable service as mayor, chairman of the Dock Trust, and member of Parliament. There was already a Maoandrew road to commemorate the Hon. James Macandrew, and a Bauchop road in memory of the late Colonel Arthur Bauchop. The suggested Allen Highway would include Grey, Magnetic, and Harrington streets, also portion of Meridian street. These streets would retain their individual names, as they were but component parts of the suggested highway. ’ Owing to the abnormal seasonal conditions during the last summer and autumn resulting in prolific growth of pastures, producing feed conditions which are anything but ideal for sheep and lambs, there is now a grave possibility in the North Island of serious losses during the winter period. This warning is issued by the Department of Agriculture, which adds that the autumn season in the South Island this year has favoured the conditions which set up scouring in hoggets, and there is evidence of trouble in this connection, with a probability of extension, during the next two or three months. Fortunately the position is not so serious here as it appears to be in the North Island. Scouring is very evident in all districts at the present time, and while worm infestation plays a large part in this, the farmer must realise that the feed conditions are also a very important factor. Unsuitable feed and hush pastures favouring worm infestation bring about a vicious cycle inasmuch as the under-nourishment of the animal makes it easier prey to ■ the parasites which infest it. It will be apparent from this that not only must the stock be treated to control worm infestation, but careful consideration to provide better feed conditions is still more essential.

A mysterious explosion occurred along the foreshore at Oamani recently, but little, if any, damage was effected, and no one was injured. The detonation shook houses in the vicinity and many feared an earthquake. An eye-witness saw large pieces of rock blown many feet in the air, and on investigating noticed rocks strewn about a wide area. The explosion took place where a quantity of rock had recently been placed for the purpose of protecting the foreshore embankment, and, as there were no persons in the vicinity at the time, it is thought that the sudden caving in of rock on to gelignite left ever from quarrying operations caused the mishap. The Finance Committee reported to the Otago University Council yesterday that certain books and journals belonging to the University Library were destroyed in the fire sustained in the printing firm of Messrs C. B. Smith Ltd. The value of the books destroyed was £lO3 and the insurance available was only £SO.

Eye strain—for eye comfort, for better vision, consult Stunner and Watson Ltd., Opticians, 2 Octagon, Dunedin. —TAdviJ

Watch Repairs _ a specialty with W. Strachan; satisfaction guaranteed. Dependable Wrist Watches, reasonably priced and guaranteed. 197 George ' street.-—fA-dvt.] The management lias engaged the Revellers’ Band For a season at the Vcdic. This orchestra will feature novelty numbers, piano-accordion, xylophone, and saxaphone solos.