Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 22575, 17 February 1937, Page 10

A request from the Alexandra Borough Council to support a proposal to have that portion of the OlarksvilleQueenstown highway between Alexandra and Clyde altered to the north-east side of the Molyneux River was supported by the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce council at its meeting last night. Several members reported that the proposal was receiving support from various bodies which had been approached about the matter, and that the chief advantage to be gained from a change of route was a considerable shortening of the road. It was also pointed out that the main highway would then pass through Alexandra. The possibility of Australian representatives competing in future Sanders Cup contests was mentioned by Mr W. P. Rollings, commodore of the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club, in a speech at the club’s celebration of the winning of the trophy by its boat and crew. Referring to the littleknown fact that the Sanders Cup contest was entitled an Australasian champonship, Mr Rollings said that no boat from across the Tasman had yet competed, but the growth of public interest in the contest was so great that he foresaw the possibility of Australians taking part in it.

Both Maori and pakeha attended at the Maori Church at Ohinemutu, Rotorua, a few days ago on the occasion of placing in one of the walls of the church a specially designed and unique coloured window as a memorial to the Rev. S. M. Spencer and his son, the Rev. F. H. Spencer, both well-known missionaries, who worked among the Maori people in the Bay of Plenty district in the early days. The window was dedicated by the Right Rev. F. A Bennett, Bishop of Aotearoa. In his address the Bishop recalled his earlier acquaintance with the elder missionary, who spent a lot of his spare time as a hobby in repairing the so-called highways of those historic days. The window was made in the United States of America, and presented, it was said, to the Rotorua Maori Church by a connexion of the Spencer family living in that country.

The dual effects of more expensive fares and the removal .of the epidemic restrictions have so far financially benefited the tramways department, according to the manager (Mr W. H. MacKenzie). There has been a substantial increase in revenue so far this month compared with the corresponding period last year, even though traffic is not yet back to normal so far as children are concerned.

Favourable comment was made at last evening’s meeting of the Management Committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union on the action of the New Zealand Management Committee in purchasing woollen jerseys of New Zealand manufacture for the New Zealand team’s use during the South Africans’ tour (says the ‘Press’). Members said it had always been a matter for surprise that overseas teams coming to New Zealand _ wore woollen jerseys and yet cotton jerseys were supplied to the New Zealand team. Mr W. C. Dailey said that a New Zealand team in Australia had found woollen jerseys too warm.

“ That the time has come when consideration should be given to holding the various provincial anniversary holidays on one common date, instead of eight separate and different dates as at present,” was a resolution from the Wellington Chamber of Commerce before the Dunedin Chamber last night. Several speakers expressed the opinion that from a business point of view the adoption of a universal holiday would be beneficial, but they could not expect to be successful against the opposition that woudl be aroused against such a proposal. The meeting agreed, however, to support the Wellington resolution.

“ English butchers have a very high opinion of New Zealand lamb,” a Dunedin business man, who has recently returned from a trip Home, told an ‘ Evening Star ’ reporter this morning. The lamb was well advertised, he added, not only in London, but in country districts, where he was surprised to find the meat so highly rated. Fine quality Argentine beef was also very popular in the Smithfield district.

Included in the cargo carried by the steamer Durham, which was expected to berth at Port Chalmers this afternoon, are- two 23-ton electric lifts consigned to the City Council. The engines for the Stewart Island vessel, Ranui, which is at present at the Rattray street wharf, are also expected by the Durham.

Farmers in the Clinton district, which has had perhaps more rain since last November than any other part of the province, have had their work further retarded, and in some cases ruined, because of the latest heavy fall lasting a week. Pastures are now virtually waterlogged, and it will require a lengthy period of sunshine and also a drying wind, before sowing and cropping operations can be resumed. One farmer has had to postpone sowing work on 12 occasions in the past four weeks, while many ripened and damaged crops have not been fit to be cut because of their wet condition.

The effort of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce to have Wellington made the terminal port for the transtasman air services was not supported by the Dunedin Chamber last night. Mr M. S. Myers expressed the opinion that Wellington’s move was purely parochial, and that the authorities had good reason for the terminal port being at Auckland. Furthermore; he said, it was only a matter of time when the flying time from Dunedin to Auckland would be reduced to three hours, and the site of the terminal port was therefore of little consequence to Dunedin. The delay experienced in obtaining telegraphic communication with the North Island was the subject of a complaint before the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce last night. After Mr M‘lsaac (chief postmaster) had informed the meeting that th© department was about to inaugurate a greatly increased service in the near future it was decided to take no action.

While approving of many of the proposals made by th© 1929-30 Parliamentary Recess Committee (th© “ Atmore Committee ”), the Auckland Education Board last night recorded its opposition to others which, in its view, were intended to whittle down the powers of local educational bodies and centralise control at Wellington. The board, like other public educational authorities, had been asked to express its views upon the report for the information of the Parliamentary Sub-committee which is giving preliminary consideration _to the reorganisation of the education system.

The Committee of Management of the Museum recommended to the University Council yesterday afternoon that the lower gallery in the Fels wing be known as “ Th© Chapman Gallery,” in memory of Sir Frederick Chapman, the recommendation being approved.

Speaking along the lines of his Martinborough address, Mi* A. Hamilton, Leader of the Opposition, met members and supporters of the National Party in the four Wellington electorates. Mr Hamilton made a further appeal for a united Opposition, and he spoke also on the monetary system, the Government’s housing policy, and the church and the totalitarian State. He was accorded an enthusiastic reception, and at the conclusion of his speech a motion was carried unanimously expressing confidence in the party and loyalty to Hr Hamilton as leader. —Press Association.

Acting on the recommendations of the Conciliation Council in the coastal cooks and stewards’ dispute, and on the application of both parties, the Arbitration Court has agreed to make the agreement into an award. —Press Association.

Delegates to the annual Press conferences assembled at the Hermitage during the week-end, and last night the guests numbered nearly 100. The weather is beautifully fine. A number of delegates visited various points of interest, including Ball Hut, the Tasman Glacier, Hochstetter Icefalls, Kea Point, and Hooker Valley. Last night a general meeting of delegates was held, but the real business of the conference commenced to-day.

The statement that very few buses used for the conveyance of school children in the country would measure up to the Transport Department’s requirements was made by Mr W. I. Bowyer at a meeting of the Auckland Education Board this morning. Some of the buses, he said, were in a very bad condition, and in the event of an accident he understood the school committees would be held responsible. The chairman, Mr T. U. Wells, said the new regulations would require an inspection of such vehicles, and it would be the responsibility of the State to see that they were in order. It was decided to seek advice from the Crown Law Office regarding the liability of school committees in the matter.—Press Association.

Eye strain —for eye comfort, for better vision, consult Sturmer and Watson Ltd., opticians. 2 Octagon. Dunedin. —fAdyt.7 The Railway Department advertises in this issue particulars of another popular ex-, cursion, Dunedin to Invercargill, on Sunday, February 21. Many readers will learn with regret that Driver’s, Dunedin’s oldest established book shop, is closing down. The premises have been sold, and stocks must be cleared within a few days. Parents of school children will find the clearance sale particularly opportune, as the new year’s text books are being offered at a very special discount. —[Advt.] Port Chalmers ratepayers are notified that the 10 per cent, penalty will be added to rates unpaid by March 1. The usual weekly old-time dance will be held in the Early Settlers’ Hall on Saturday evening.