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Evening Star, Issue 22882, 14 February 1938, Page 10

A total of 4,034 eels, 3,410 of which weighed a total of 12,8441 b, have been caught by two men whom the _ ranger for the Southland Acclimatisation Society (Mr C. J. Evans) employed for the purpose. He reported to the meeting of the council of the society that the men were now working 25 pots a day, working one set of 25 upstream from the junction of the Dunsdalo and the other 25 downstream.

The strong and gusty north-west wind which prevailed on the Taieri yesterday afternoon was not very favourable for the parachute display given by Mr G. W. Sellars. In spite of this, however, Mr Sellars made two jumps in the presence of a large crowd of spectators at the aerodrome. One jump was to have been from an altitude of 4,000 feet, with a smoke streamer. o,n account of the dangerous conditions, however. both drops from 1,500 feet without the'smoke. On each occasion the jump was accurately made, Mr Sellars alighting on the aerodrome.

The postal authorities advise that the Awatea left Sydney on Friday for Auckland with 68 bags of English and Australian mail for Dunedin, and also the London air mails of January 27 an,d 30. The air mails should be to hand on Tuesday afternoon, and the ordinary mails the following evening. What first attracts the eye along the promenade to the St. Kilda Beach is the profusion of flowers at the entrance. Summer tints of every shade are represented in this drift of colour, which flanks one side of the walk for a considerable distance. This show, coinciding with the large crowds that are being drawn to the surf, has been the subject of comment by visitors. The garden is a fine advertisement for the work of the Ocean Beach Domain Board in improving the amenities of the areas it controls.

The favourite interjection of a crowd of interjectors at a public meeting held by the ' National Party on Saturday night was “ What’s your policy?,” (says the Christchurch ‘ Press ’). Replying to it, Mr K. J. Holyoake, M.P.. assured his questioners that they obviously could not read, because a statement by the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, had been published a few days before. The other speaker, Mr W. J. Broadfoot, in his answer, defined the function of an Opposition. It was entitled to criticise the acts of the Government, to point, out to the public the bad points of its legislation, and then at election time to produce its own alternative policy. “We have a perfect right to ■ criticise, and you’ll get all the policy you want,” he finally shouted to his interjectors.

A girl, aged 14. named Lanrette Alice Adshead. is reported as missing from her home, 87 Russell street, since noon yesterday She is sft 2in tall and well developed, and was dressed in a blue tweed frock, fawn tweed coat, fawn hat, brown stockings, and black shoes. The elderly woman who was * missing from her home at 105 Stafford street has since been located.

The cost of Ministerial delegations overseas—to England particularly—was a subject frequently mentioned by Mr K. J. Holyoako, M.P., in his- address in Christchurch on Saturday night (says the ‘ Press ’). Heckling followed each remark; but it became most intense when Mr Holyoako good humouredly announced his own views in the matter. It was not the cost of such delegations to which he objected, he said, but the Changed attitude to the expense by the Labour Party in and out of office. He had told a questioner, he said, that he approved of New Zealand being represented overseas. In fact, he would himself bo attending the next Coronation, “ because Prime Ministers always go Home to coronations.”

The opinion that New Zealand is an ideal place for Indian army officers to spend their retirement was enthusiastically expressed in an interview with the Christchurch ‘ Press ’ last evening by Captain •A. Wheeler; of Quetta, who is on leave in the Dominion. “ After 25 years in India an army man simply cannot take the Eng- fl lish climate.” he said. “ I have been in India only three years, and I feel, cold when in England when I am away from a fire. And ’ one has to put on so much clothing when one goes that one gets tired very quickly. You have magnificent deer stalking, pig shooting, and fishing, everything that we like.” he added, stating that he liad already done some fishing; and found it very satisfactory. Captain Wheeler also mentioned the advantage to an array officer in the high rate of exchange, which would make a retired officer’s pension worth more in New Zealand. The only objection ho raised was the problem of securing servants. Everyone was accustomed to native servants in India. He paid his own man the equivalent of about 55s in New Zealand money, and for. this he was oij call 24 hours of the day and 365 days. “ A retired officer could not afford to pay the wages required by servants in New Zealand,” he said. A person who talks very loudly and broadcasts unrequired information in a public place deservedly earns the appellation of “ public nuisance number one.” During the cricket match Dunedin v. University, played at Tonga Park on Saturday afternoon, a spectator, in. a very loud voice, proceeded to express his utmost displeasure at the batting, the bowling, the fielding, and tka general nature of the game, concluding with some disparaging remarks on the British Empire. This obviously not meeting with approval, the man turned hi* attention to one of the University batsmen, and proceeded to release a string of insulting remarks which he repeated time and again. Frequent indignant reproaches from others had no bearing on him and it was not until a concerted move was made threatening him with annihilation that' the commentator removed his presence by beating a hasty retreat from the ground.

Probate has been granted by His Honour Mr Justice Kennedy in the estates of the following;—Edgar Thomson Shand,, sheep farmer, Kokonga; Robert James Pearson, farmer, Dunedin; James Christie, sheep farmer, Tiroiti; Beatrice Mary Heathcote, widow, Dunedin; Thomas Falconer, retired, farmer, Kakanui; John Walker, farmer, Katea. Letters of administration have been granted in the following 1 estates:— Thomas Andrew Clapperton, farmer, Dwaka; Thomas James Harrison, butcher, Port Chalmers; Margaret Blacklaws, married woman, Waitati; Ellen Cessford, married woman, Mdsgiel.

A 15-year-old bov named Thomas Carrington, who had been admitted to the Caversham Boys’ Home from Christchurch on Friday last, escaped from that institution yesterday afternoon. When last seen he was wearing a light grey suit, a white shirt, and black shoes. He has fair hair.

A fine of £ls was imposed on John Paea Corner (28), a labourer, of Ohan, in the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court on a charge of being intoxicated while driving a motor car. It was stated by the police that the defendant nearly collided with a traffic inspector, and that he had six passengers aboard. Defendant’s license was suspended for 12 months. He was also fined for a breach of his prohibition order. —Press Association.

A gorse fire in the tramway cutting in Rattray street above York Place was dealt with by the City Fire Brigade at 11.45 p.m. on Saturday, and at 4.45 p.m. ydsterday a similar fire at Abbotsford was attended to by the Green Island Brigade. ,

The Port Chalmers reservoir is down 2ft ,6in or one million gallons under normal. The water level is falling at the rate of lin daily due to. the result of the draw-off during the day. It is not yet known, how the level of the reservoir, in addition to the fall of lin during the day, falls Jin every night. Late rains, combined with continuous warm weather, have saved the honey situation in North Otago. Before Christmas it appeared that this season’s crops would be most unsatisfactory, but favourable weather conditions have considerably brightened the . prospects. There is every indication ohat crops in other parts of Otago and in Southland will be normal this year, although the day heat'in Central Otago has had the effect of drying the nectar, with the result that "the bees have been delaying their work until the evenings.

To-day was St. Valentine’s Day, a day of great antiquity, yet one that has always passed in New Zealand without any of its real significance being heeded. In England and in the United States the custom of sending cordial greetings to friends on this day is still in vogue, and is a development from the earlier and more sentimental habit of sending expressions of affection to loved ones. The day derives its name from St. Valentinus, an’ saint, presumed to be the patron saint of friendship, affectiqn, and love. During pagan festivities in the month of February he was beaten to death, and in the passage of the years it became the custom to send a present or a greeting to a girl on February 14, whereby she became a young man’s “ valentine ” Tor a year. This development actually arose in the Middle Ages and continued through the centuries until the Victorian period, when it reached its height and became very sentimental. The very excess of sentimentality virtually killed St. Valentine’s Day, and the custom soon began to suffer a setback. Recently the day was revived in Australia, and now an attempt is being made to revive it in New Zealand, but on moderate lines. It is hoped that the sending of special greeting cards to friends and to members of the family will become a twentieth century habit that will help in some small .way to offset the materialism of our everyday life. Whether attracted by the novelty or not the public has, according to leading retailers participating in the revival, shown considerable interest, more especially in the purchasing of cards. Young people have been keen buyers, and many cards specially prepared for “ Mum and Dad ” have been sold. It is an attractive and harmless custom, and the receipt of the cards, sent in a genuine spirit, must be a pleasant surprise for the favoured ones.

' An inspection, of the Otago Division, R.N.V.R., - will be made by Rear-Ad-miral E. 11., Drummond, N.V.0., commodore commanding New Zealand Division, on the evening of March 10. The Otago Division will begin training at divisional headquarters next Wednesday evening at 7.30. The H.M;S. Wakakura proceeded on Saturday to Stewart Island with the fourth section of Otago R.N.V.R. ratings for training afloat. She will return next Friday, and will sail again the following" day with the fifth and final section, which will return from Christchurch by rail.

An Association telegram from Napier states that the number of sexual charges coming before . the Supreme Court in Napier during the present session was deplored by Mr Justice .Blair iu his address to the Grand Jury this morning. Altogether, there are 11 eases on the criminal list, half of which are of a sexual nature. Of the other charges, the outstanding one is a case of alleged negligent driving causing death, the sequel to a collision in Hastings. The judge remarked that the accused was apparently in the wrong in not giving way to a lighter car approaching from the right, the driver of which was killed. The accused’s car continued 70 feet after the collision’ and crashed through a low concrete fence.

At some time between 11 a.m. on Saturday and 8 o’clock this morning the premises of the Petrous Tile Company Ltd., 53 Crawford street, were broken into. Access was apparently obtained through an unlatched window after the intruder had climbed to the roof. The office was entered and the safe blown open, a sum of about £ll in money being taken.

Eye strain—for eye comfort, for better vision, consult Stunner and Watson Ltd., opticians, i Octaeon, Dunedin- - lAdvt.l Owing lo alterations being carried out at the club rooms, the monthly luncheon of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association to-morrow will he Held in the Vedic. Tlie speaker for the occasion will he Mr K. W. Mitchell, who will recount some of his experiences during a recent tour abroad. Attention is drawn to an advertisement of an amateur athletic, cycling, and pushball carnival to be held at the Caledonian Ground to-night.