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Evening Star, Issue 22688, 30 June 1937, Page 10

A deputation from the New Zealand Aero Club interviewed the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, yesterday to ask the Government to provide financial assistance and arrange the rates of interest to' be charged on such loan moneys as would be used for the purchase of more up-to-date machines for use in training. Mr Jones said the matter would have to be referred to Cabinet, but he assured the deputation of his sympathetic co-operation.

The plans for the new administration and biology blocks for Victoria University College have been completed, and it is expected that the work ■will bo commenced within the next six weeks, and that tho buildings will be ready for occupation in about a year. Tenders will probably be called within tho next fortnight. A largo and interested crowd gathered on tho Taranaki street (Wellington) wharf yesterday to watch a seal which had clambered on the rocks nearby. The seal was apparently exhausted and feeling the effects of a small wound, which looked as if it had been made by a bullet, on its right side.

The similarity of the 1933-34 period registration number plates to those of 1936-37 was shown in the Oamaru Magistrate's Court yesterday during the hearing of a case in which the defendant was charged with knowingly using 'a motor vehicle for which_ no license had been issued. Prosecuting, Inspector P. Laughton said an examination of the vehicle revealed that 1933-34 number plates had been attached over those of the period 1935-36. The 1933-34 plates were similar in detail to those of 1936-37, the colouring and lettering being almost identical. Tho only apparent difference was the presence of a dash separating the units in tho earlier plates, and an inverted triangle on last year’s.

The Otaki Borough Council bus received notification that a £7,000 loan is available for the erection ot a theatre. The council hopes to call tenders at an early date.—Wellington Association message, .

Mr R. S. Black has received word that the bonspiel will be held at Naseby on Eriday and Saturday,

That the Govermn’ent had refused permission to the Nokomai Gold Mining Company to secure the entry into the Dominion of three Chinese to replace three Chinese raoemcn who were leaving the company’s employ to return to their native land was mentioned at the annual meeting of the company last night. It was impossible to get Europeans to work a full season on the races at the Nokomai, even though award wages were paid, and the Chinese seemed to be well adapted physically and temperamentally for the work. Although the Government had refused to let three Chinese come into the country, it had promised to send some Chinese unemployed from the Auckland district. So far, however, none had arrived.

At the afternoon sitting of No. 4 District Transport Licensing Authority yesterday, presided over by Mr V. Raines, M. Stevenson Ltd. (Dunedin) applied for a goods service license for contract work in the South Island and the carrying of builders’ materials to a radius of 30 miles of the Chief Post Office, Dunedin. It was opposed by Mr Gibson and by the Dunedin and Suburban Master Carriers and Owner-drivers’ Association, and the decision was reserved.

A circular of the Labour Department states that from April 1 to June 26 the number of men placed in work throughout the Dominion under the placement scheme of the department was 9,950. In Dunedin 789 men were placed under the scheme during the same period, 372 of them in permanent work (nine exceeding three months), 166 in temporary work (one week to three months), and 251 in casual jobs (up to one week). At the usual shoot of the Returned Soldiers’ Small Bore Rifle Club on Monday evening the following were the scores:—A. Bowie 80, 0. Holden 80, T. Mackie 79, H. Edwards 79, T. Menzies 79, J. Judson 78, C. James 78, A. Dodds 78, J. Harrison 78, D. Marr 75, A. G. Bayliss 74, G. H. Ferens 74, G. M'Crea 74, S. M'Cracken 73, H. E. Connor 70, A. Judson 67, F. Manning 67, J. Jackson 63, and D. Colvin 63. Students of art and the general public will have their last opportunity this evening of viewing the exhibits in the winter sketch and crafts exhibition of the Otago Art Society in the Pioneer Hall. Landscape portraiture, still-life work, and pencil and crayon sketches all find a place in the display, which is interesting for the variety of subject and the difference in treatment. A feature of the season has been the efforts of the younger members, who have presented work of promising quality, especially among the black-and-white drawings. There are some choice examples of craft work in various kinds of material.

Negotiations are proceeding for the formation of a company to purchase and remodel the old Alhambra Theatre in Dowling street. At present the building is occupied by Messrs Clarke and Venn, and an agreement for sale by the owner (Mr J. A. Neilson) is being prepared, as well as a prospectus for the formation of a company. The promoters of the scheme intend remodelling the building to provide a parking area for motor cars in the basement and up-to-date offices on the ground and first floors.

The development of Johannesburg since the increase in the price of gold has rivalled, if not bettered, that of Sydney in its most flourishing days, according to Mr J. W. Timberlake, a South African business man who is visiting Christchurch (says the ‘ Press ’). In the four years since the price rose buildings valued at £13,000,000 have been erected in the city. Many gold-bearing areas formerly not worth touching are now in production. The employment of natives has nearly doubled, and that of whites has increased by 20,000 from 30,000.

The belief, that the Government’s opinion was that the raising of the embargo on citrus fruit from the flyfree areas of Australia would merely have the effect of distributing the im r ports evenly was expressed yesterday by Mr T. C. Brash, president of the New Zealand Fruit Growers’ Federation, at the Canterbury provincial conference of growers (says the ‘ Press ’). “We are assured,” h© said, “that no great increase in imports is expected; rather, it is thought that the imports will be steadied.”

A St.- Louis manufactdrer who showed efficiency in acknowledging an order from a Dunpdin firm was a little astray in his geographical knowledge. He must have been under the impression that New Zealand was in the Orient, as on May 27 he posted, at _a cost of 75 cents, a reply, marking it “ Per air mail—China Clipper.” PanAmerican Airways_ carried the letter to Hongkong and air routes took it to Sydney, from where it was shipped across the Tasman, reaching Dunedin to-day after a circuitous journey. A series of American basketball games, played in each of the four main cities, has helped’ to keep the male members of the Marcus Show in form. On each occasion the opposing teams have been composed of Mormons. The local game was played in the Y.M.C.A. Gymnasium last evening and resulted in a win for the theatricals by 32 points to 18. So far they have not been defeated in the Dominion. Those who witnessed last right’s game were struck by the speed of the winning team and by the clever manner in which the members handled the ball.

Eye strain—for eye comfort, for better vision, consult Sturmer and Watson Ltd., opticians, 2 Octagon. Dunedin.—[Advt.]