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Evening Star, Issue 22974, 3 June 1938, Page 8

In connection with a proposed rearrangement of the railway lines on the Bowen pier and George street wharf, in order to promote despatch in handling cargo, Mr G. J. Bertenshaw, chief railway engineer, and Mr A. Urquhart, railway transport superintendent, inspected the wharves at Port Chalmers on Wednesday afternoon. Mr A. Campbell, M.P., and Mr W. Begg, chairman, Otago Harbuour Board, accompanied the party, which also included shipping representatives. The reports of the consulting engineers (Messrs Vickerman and Lancaster) on the progress of work at Waipori Falls for the periods ended April 16 and 30 and May 7 and 14 disclose that, with the exception of some minor adjustments, the tunnel work has been completed. The work on the changeover contract is proceeding steadily. The No. 5 branch has been completed and a satisfactory trial run made. Work is now, proceeding on the No. 6 branch.

At the rate of 35ft to 40ft a week, work on the heading tunnel being cut through the Homer Saddle to link the Hollyford and Miifo T d roads is progressing steadily. Only a light fall of snow was experienced this week, and the weather has since cleared, indicating that the work will probably proceed for some little time yet before being stopped for the winter. An indication of the favourable conditions prevailing in the district i& given by the fact that the work this year is still to be carried on in June, while the avalanche, which caused two deaths last year, took place at the beginning of May.

The Reserves Committee of the City Council recommends that the application of the Roslyn Lawn Tennis Club for permission to use a portion of the Town Belt, on the north side of Leven street, containing an area of approximately one acre, for the purpose of constructing four tennis courts, be approved. The area would be occupied on the usual conditions governing the use of the Town-Belt by sports bodies, the club carrying out the work of preparing the area and constructing the necessary courts at its own expense and paying the usual rental, which is no charge for the first two seasons and thereafter a rental at the rate of £2 10s per court per annum. Acceptance is recommended by the Works Committee of the City Council of an offer from the Commissioner of Crown Lands to dedicate, free of compensation, two small areas for the rounding off of the intersections of Edgar and Ethel streets and Edgar and Mount streets, Roslyn,

This morning Captain Plante, commanding the french sloop Rigault do Genouilly, paid a visit to the Montecillo Home for disabled soldiers, and this afternoon visited the homo of the Little Sisters of the Poor. The vessel will bo thrown open to the public to-morrow afternoon, and in the evening several of the sailors will attend a dance and conversazione at St. Margaret’s College, andl others will attend the dance in the Town Hall. A number of officers will also attend the races to-morrow. On Sunday morning several officers will be taken for a short motor trip, while in the afternoon the officers will entertain their friends and city officials on board. The sloop is to sail for Tahiti direct on Monday morning.

It is estimated that the capital cost involved in the establishment of the iron and steel industry at Onekaka will reach at least £5,000,000. That was the figure indicated in Parliament when the necessary legislative authority was being discussed. The first major work will probably be the construction of a wharf for handling the big consignments of plant and equipment which will be necessary. On wharf equipment and ships alone the capital expenditure proposed is £400,000. This sum will include the' purchase of a suitable shallow-draught vessel to be used in the transport of coal from the West Coast mines to Onekaka. Other items of capital expenditure are: — Plant and installation, £4,000,000; land, £50,000; establishment expenses, £215,000; working capital, £300,000. Tentative plans for the spread of construction involve the following figures:—l93B, £750,000; 1939, £3,000,000; 1940, £1,250,000; total £5,000,000. The Reserves Committee of the City Council reports that the offer of the Roslyn and Kaikorai Ratepayers and Householders’ Association to donate two seats, to be placed on reserves in their district, has been accepted with thanks. The seats will bo placed in position by the reserves department. At the request of the association one will ho placed in the children’s playing area opposite Sligo Terrace, and the other in the children’s playground facing Nairn street.

“ I should like to take this opportunity of congratulating the Hon. R. Semple on his motor regulations, and his endeavour to make the roads of New Zealand safer for the people,” said the president (Mr I. L. M. Coop), at the Canterbury provincial conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union yesterday. “If it "were possible to calculate how many lives have been saved, and how many people have been saved from injury, I am sure everybody would agree that any increased expenditure has been well worth while.”

“ The Sydney people appear to respect their cenotaph far more than wo do,” remarked Mr W.'F. Forrester at the diggers’ gathering at the Returned Soldiers’ Association rooms last night. “ The men all raise their hats as they pass it. One Australian I met who had visited Dunedin told me he could not understand why we allowed people to lounge about on the steps of our cenotaph.” In Mr Forrester’s opinion, the Australians treat their commemoration services more reverently than New Zealanders do

The postal authorities advise that the Mariposa, due at Auckland from San Pedro next Friday, has 197 bags of English and American mail for Dunedin. It should reach here on Monday, June 13.

The importance of the poultry industry in New Zealand was shown in figures given by Mr H. J. Butler, of Christchurch, when opening the annual show of the Christchurch Poultry, Pigeon, Canary, and Cat Club last evening. In 1874, he said, there was a total of 1,058,198 head of poultry in New Zealand, representing 3.5 a head of the population. The total in 1886 was 1,679,021, or 2.9 a head; in 1906 it was 3,187,669, or 3.6 a head; and in 1936 it was 4,019,076, or 2.6 a head. The annual estimated production of eggs in the Dominion was 375,000,000, but the annual export of eggs in all forms amounted to only about 5,000,000. It was estimated that the annual consumption of eggs in all forms in New Zealand was 370,000,000. The average annual consumption of wheat by the poultry industry from 1933 to 1936 was 1,666,000 bushels. Nominations for four members of the Otago University Council closed yesterday afternoon, with the result that three retiring members were unopposed and declared elected, and three nominations were received for two seats, necessitating an election, which will take place on June 23. The retiring members who were elected unopposed were Mr W. J. Morrell (representing teachers in secondary schools in Otago), Mr L. Deans Ritchie (representing members of school committees in Otago), and Mr John Robertson (representing teachers in primary schools in Otago). The three nominations which were received for two members to represent the District Court of Convocation were Miss Muriel Wallace. Mr J. W. Howorth, and Mr H. P. Kidson. In the membership campaign contest between the Returned Soldiers’ Associations of Dunedin and of Christchurch the figures at May 31 were: Christchurch, 1,566; Dunedin, 1,325. Mr Justice Kennedy was engaged; in the Supreme Court this morning hearing an appeal lodged by the Dunedin and Kaikorai Tram Company against the decision of the Magistrate’s Court in respect to the application of an award as to payment or wages. Before the 40-hour week was introduced the men engaged by the company worked an eight-hour day for six days a week. The Arbitration Court subsequently directed that a 40-hour week was to be observed, but said nothing as to the daily hours, although intimating that Saturday work was to be permitted. The company then proceeded. to work the men on 6 days_ of 6 2-3 hours, for which the men received the same wages as for their previous 48 hours. The men objected to this course, claiming that they should be employed for five days of eight hours, and the Arbitration Court then ruled this view as correct. Then one of the men, by way of a test case, sued the company for arrears of wages on the grounds that they were entitled to an eight-hour day under the award every day they worked. In effect, this meant that they wore claiming an extra day’s pay each week. The magistrate upheld the claim, and the company, in to-day’s action, appealed against that decision. Mr A. C. Stephens appeared for the company, and Mr F B. Adams (instructed by the inspector of awards) for the respondent employee. After hearing lengthy argument, His Honour reserved his decision.

Mr S. Ritcliio presided at a sitting of the Conciliation Council this morning to hear an application by the Otago and Southland Dental Assistants’ and Technicians’ Union for an award, the respondents being the Dental Employers’ Guild. The union was represented by Messrs R. N. Watson, C. S. Phelan, and R. J. Calvert, and the employers by Messrs A. S. Cookson, J. C. Kirkland, and J. T. Cooper, The morning was occupied with preliminary discussions, and at the luncheon adjournment no settlement of the claims had been reached.

For several years past the Dunedin Community Sing Committee has received, at the beginning of each season, an anonymous donation of £5. When the present series of sings was started, members of the committee speculated as to whether the anonymous donor would continue his welcome gift. It duly came to hand, the donor forwarding this season’s contribution to Mr H. P. Desmoulins (sing leader) with a covering note, the only words on which were “ With best luck for 1938.”

The growing popularity of the weekly community sing was well illustrated today when the Strand Theatre was filled to capacity, and many people were turned away. Mr H. P. Desmoulins was again a popular leader, and led the audience through old and new favourites. Messrs Harry Marsden, J. Himburg, ami A. Pettitt (at the piano) also officiated. Owing to unforseen circumstances the contingent which was to have attended from the French sloop Rigault de Genouilly was unable to he present. The soloists were Misses Rita and Millie Shrimpton, who presented ‘ In the Springtime ’ and ‘ Little Grey Homo in the West.’ The collection totalled £3O.

Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., presided at the Port Chalmers Court today. For selling, liquor after hours David Alexander Middleton, licensee of the George Hotel, was fined £5 and costs (10s). Two youths, Allen M'Dowell and David Alex. Love, for being unlawfully on licensed premises after hours, were each fined 10s and costs (10s). James Herbert Perry, for a similar offence, was also fined 10s and costs (10s).

For the year ended May 31 the Hamilton office of the State Placement Service placed 2,031 men in private employment. Of that total, which is exclusive of placements effected in State enterprises, 976 men found work on farms. —Press Association, The Electric Power and Lighting Committee of the City Council reports that authority has been granted to take one page of space in a new travel guide being issued under the of the South Islands Travel Association for distribution in Dunedin and elsewhere. The association proposes to print 5,000 copies of this guide, and the cost of the page proposed to bo taken by the council is £lO.

Eye strain—for eye comfort, for better vision, consult Stunner and Watson Ltd., opticians, 2 Octagon, Dunedin.—[Advt.] The Railway Department advertises in this issue particulars of special train arrangements in connection with the Wingatui races to-morrow, Saturday. Juno 4. Dot’s Little Folk will hold their annual ball on Monday, as advertised in this issue.