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Evening Star, Issue 22684, 25 June 1937, Page 8

, The Otago Rugby Football Union forwarded to the Otago Hospital Board last evening a cheque for £37 15s as its share of the proceeds from the rccent ( “Charity Saturday.” The Otago Hospital Board was advised last night of a legacy of £2OO from the estate of the late Elizabeth Thompson, who had asked that this sum should be used to endow two cots in the Dunedin Hospital in memory of her son and cousih. Once more the Australian oyster has been eulogised in a maimer that loaves no opening for doubt that lie is “ the best in tho world,” with the possible exception of tho New Zealand rock oyster, which may rank level. A scientist has declared that the oyster has been overestimated as an article of food. He told a shocked audience that this shellfish had no food value worth talking about (says tho Melbourne ‘Argus’). The economic zoologist of Sydney Technological Museum stepped forward on behalf of tho reputation of tho oyster, and told the truth as he knows it. This authority gives the oyster high marks for everything that is good. The audience thrilled at tho information that it is 300 times richer in iodine than any other food, and also very rich in valuable elements for blood making. Australians can afford to eat oysters, he remarked, whereas they are sixpence or sevenpence each in London.

° liitcrferouco with the board’s property is becoming altogether too rough,” said Mr W. Bcgg (chairman) at last night’s meeting ot the Harbour Board when the engineer reported damage to the barracks at the Mole works. Several doors had been forced, and vandals always appeared to bo about at week-ends. The board decided to ask the Aramoana Progress League to assist in preventing the recurrence of such acts and also, if possible, to name'the culprits. The Superintendent of Police advised that, despite exhaustive inquiries into the recent interference with the harbour lights, no trace of the offenders could bo ascertained, and it was suggested that the damage was the work of irresponsible youths, as adult persons, realising the serious results that might follow, would not be likely to do such a thing. Yachtsmen and others using the harbour had offered to inform the police if they saw any signs of the vandals at work. “If these culprits can he brought to earth they should receive very short shrift,’ 1 ’ remarked Mr Begg. Unceasing watchfulness is necessary in order to circumvent the activities of sham collectors for charity. There are some who collect with success and “ tell the talc ” with a pathos that prompts moisture in many eyes; hut they are strict believers in the distorted adage that charity begins at homo. The Chief Secretary’s Department, Sydney, which is the people’s watchdog in this regard, and oasionally has what its officers term “ good hunting,” takes great pleasure in a recent capture (relates the Melbourne ‘Argus’). Its officers trailed a “ charity ” which bestowed its collections on the establishment of a home not for orphans, hut for the controller of the enterprise. Ho was providing himself a villa at the seaside, where the invigorating breezes would stimulate him to formulate fresh plans and stories for the loosening of suburban purses. Bogus collectors will exist so long as there arc what are known colloquially as “ easy marks,” or by the the American term “ suckers.’

, Those who intend listening to the local rebroadcast of the Sydney shortwave station’s commentary on the first test match between South Africa and Australia to-morrow are advised of an alteration in the previously announced starting time. The match is now timed to begin at 4.30 p.m. (New Zealand time), not 4.45, and should, therefore, finish about 0.10, and not at 6.25, as advertised before.

Despite the bitterly cold weather prevailing in Dunedin to-day, many citizens revealed a warm spot in their hearts for the mothers and children who derive inestimable benefit from the existence of free kindergartens in their midst. The appeal by the kindergarten administration for funds to maintain and extend its valuable work was obviously receiving a generous response, though the actual result of the collection will not be known until tomorrow. The kindergarten council is faced with raising about £BOO annually in order to maintain its existing service, and it has to rely on the general public for its funds.

With no dissentient vote, a meeting last night of representatives _ of the Christchurch City Council and contiguous boroughs and counties, approved a scheme for the assumption of traffic control in these areas by the City Council on September 30. The adjoining boroughs and counties represented were New Brighton, Sumner, Riccarton, Heathcote, and Waimairi. Riccartou Borough Council was represented only by the town clerk, who stated he had not been authorised to vote, but the Minister of Transport (Mr Semple) indicated to the meeting that a majority decision would be sufficient, and if any minority opposed the scheme he would override the objections by legislation.—Press Association.

Six constables were doing nothing else but making inquiries in regard to motoring cases, Senior-sergeant Packer stated in the Police Court to-day. Even then, he jaid, they were not able to cope with them all. The supply of milk to Dunedin and suburban schools will be resumed in about four or five weeks, it is expected. The supply was discontinued early this month owing to the lack of winter feed causing a milk shortage. The Returned Soldiers’ Association at its annual conference passed a resolution urging the Government to complete the National War Memorial, Wellington, by the construction of a hall immediately behind the carillon tower, the hall to be Gift by 40ft and at the end thereof a bronze symbolising the spirit of sacrifice and holding a vellum book containing the names of the men who lost their lives in the Great War.—Wellington' Press Association.

A mild case of infantile paralysis at Queenstown has been notified during the week ended to-day, according to the returns of the Health Department. There have also been two cases of scarlet fever—one each in Otago and Soutldand —in the same period, while two cases of tuberculosis in Southland, have been notified.

Systematically ransacking shops in the suburbs of Christchurch last night, thieves left a trail of- broken locks and smashed windows. Tho tstock in many of the shops was strewn in confusion on the floors. Desks were forced open and paper thrown about. 41io thieves were ill rewarded, however, for as far as can bo ascertained they secured only two shillings’ worth of pennies.— Press Association. -

Mr Scott Thomson had an attentive audience last night at Port Chalmeis when he gave an illustrated address on the native plant life of the South Island. The coloured slides were particularly realistic. Cr J. Farqubarson said that the lecture should bo an education for the young people, who in a few years’ time would enjoy the advantage of having a wide range of native trees in Raugi Park. The lecturer was thanked for his address.

People who met the Russian ballerina, Miss Helene Kirsova, .when she was hero recently and wore a little hurt over a Sydney report that she found New Zealanders dull, may now set their minds more at ease. It is the country she thinks dull, not the people. Writing to a representative of the Christchurch ‘ Press ’ she says: “ The real wording of my comment in Sydney after the Now Zealand tour, which’ has been so misinterpreted in various papers, was as follows:—‘The people were very nice and charming, the country beautiful but dull, that is, dull in the sense of lack of variety.’ It is my wish to convey to the New Zealand public once more my thanks for their marvellous hospitality and enthusiasm that made my whole tour of New Zealand a delightful trip.” Tho Sydney ‘ jMorning Herald ’ reported Miss Kirsova as follows: “ New Zealand is very lovely, and the people generally arc very comfortable, but so dull.” The Penang, a Finnish barque, one of tho few surviving vessels of her type, lias been iixed to load phosphates at the Seychelles Islands for New Zealand ports, according to an Australian exchange. The Penang is a barque of 2.0T0 tons, and is owned by Gnstnf Erikson of Marioliamn. She was built at lireinerhavcn II, 'V .

Work was found for over 100 men from the ranks of tho unemployed on the Lyttelton waterfront yesterday through the exceptionally heavy export of potatoes to Montevideo. Employment has been given extra hands in the wharf sheds, re-sorting and bagging tho potatoes, while others were allotted to loading the cargo. Consignments of over 1,000 tons have already been made from that port, and a large/quantity is still awaiting shipment.