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Evening Star, Issue 22990, 22 June 1938, Page 8

In the Police Court this morning, before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., John Lancelot Gladstone was fined 10s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment, on a charge of drunkenness. Because of the stagnant state of the potato market, the newlji-formed Ashburton branch of the Potato Growers’ Association will request the Government to find new uses for potatoes and new avenues of consumption. The Government will also be asked to ascertain what surplus will be available. It is suggested that an “ eat more potatoes ” campaign be launched, and that the growing of potatoes might be a partial cure for unemployment if the surplus could be disposed of. The aid of the Farmers’ Union is to be solicited in a search for the best means of marketing supplies this season.—Press Association.

“ I like your organ very much,” said Mile Nizan, the French organist, as she was boarding the express for the north .to-day. Mile Nizan added that the Town Hall organ was a remarkably fine instrument, and one she found easy to play. All the organs in New Zealand exceeded her expectations. An accurate estimate of the repairs necessary to the topmast and rigging of the Finnish barque Penang will soon bo made possible, as the clearing is proceeding apace. When this is done tenders will be called for the replacements. Visitors still are numerous to view the progress of the work and to gain—for some—their first glimpse of a sailing vessel of this type. On the question of beer and its containers Mr Justice Northcroft came to the rescue of counsel and a witness during the hearing of a divorce petition in the Supreme Court when a witness mentioned the drinking of a “ square rigger ”of beer. Counsel wanted to know how much beer a “ square rigger ” contained. “ I don’t know,” said the witness. “ Perhaps I could help counsel in that,” suggested His Honour. “ A square rigger contains just a little over two Imperial pints.”—Christchurch Press Association. The City Fire Brigade responded to two calls from the Kiln-dried Timber Company’s premises, Neville street, at 3.35 p.m. yesterday and 3.25 this morning. The South Dunedin Brigade attended to a chimney fire in Park Terrace at 11.19 this morning.

The growing popularity of community singing has been well evidenced locally by the attendances at the Strand Theatre each Friday, but additional proof, if necessary, is to be found in the decision of the South Dunedin Business Men’s Association to conduct a weekly sing in the southern end of the city. Mr R. (“Whang”) M‘Kenzie will be the leader at this function, which will be held every Wednesday in the Mayfair Theatre. The first session is to be held on July 6, and the proceeds of the sings are to be devoted to the mayor’s relief fund of the St. Kilda Borough. Fo The lack of suitable residential facilities for students was a subject of reference by Mr W. J. Morrell, Chancellor of the University of Otago, in his annual review of the activities of the council. “Of 550 students from homes outside Dunedin no fewer than 150 are at present living in lodgings or ilats in no way subject to University approval or control,” he stated. “ This position cannot be regarded as satisfactory, and the council is making further investigations into the matter.”

“ The standard-bearer of horticulture in Otago ” was how Mr Magnus Thomson described the Dunedin Horticultural Society at its fifty-seventh annual meeting last night. “ The society has seen its members, go all over New Zealand and spread a knowledge and love of gardening.” Making a plea for increased support, Mr Thomson said that regular horticultural shows provided tbe opportunity for the public of seeing how plants could and should be grown. “ The society has done valuable work in the past,” he said, “ and it is still doing excellent work.” After hearing further evidence in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon in the case in which George Henry Claridge proceeded against Christopher Claude O’Hara on a claim to recover £23 8s 7d for rent and £6 9s 3d as damages for the breaking of nine panes of glass, Mr J. 8.. Bartholomew, S.M., gave judgment in favour of the plaintiff for the rent, but disallowed the claim for the damage. Expenses amounting to £5 12s were entered against the defendant, who was represented by Mr E. J. Anderson. Mr R. C. Rutherford appeared for the plaintiff. Last year 1,376 students took courses at the University of Otago, according to a report submitted to yesterday’s meeting of the council. The numbers in the various courses are as follows: — Arts, 217 men, 156 women; science, 58-12: music, 10-17; agriculture, 6-1; law, 33-2; commerce, 162-13; dental, 121-8; medical, 376-29; massage, 4-15; mining, 42-0; home science, 0-94.

At a meeting of the Council of the Chamber of Commerce last evening attention was drawn to the fact that air mail facilities in the Dominion for the carriage of overseas matter did not appear to be generally recognised. Reporting on behalf of the Transport Committee, Mr R. C. Burges stated that the Chief Postmaster (Mr N. R. MTsaac) was interviewed in regard to the carriage of overseas mail by air in. New Zealand. Mr MTsaac stated that letters marked “ Air Mail New Zealand ” and having extra postage affixed were already being sent by air mail in New Zealand, but such facilities for quicker deliveries in the south did not appear to be well known. If the chamber cared to address a letter to him suggesting that representation be made to the Postmater-General bo have all overseas mail addressed as above conveyed by air, he would be pleased to take the matter up in Wellington. Tho chairman (Mr J. S. Skinner) said that the air mail facilities filled a long-felt want.

It was announced at the meeting of tho council of the Chamber of Commerce last night that electric vacuum cleaners; electric refrigerators, radio sets and equipment, and bicycles had now been added to the seventh schedule of the Chattels Transfer Act in accordance with representations made by the Associated Chambers of Commerce to the Department of _ Industries and Commerce. In effect, it was explained, a hire purchase agreement for these goods was now valid without registration

At shows to come it is probable that the Dunedin Horticultural Society will have a stall at which exhibits and flowers for which there was no room for display will be sold. The decision was reached at the annual meeting of the society last night, when it was observed that some people came to the show just before closing time on the final night with but one object—to obtain free flowers. The stall should produce a satisfactory profit for the society, and a motion that the incoming executive give the matter its attention was unanimously endorsed, “ Florists will not like that, but I do not think they should begrudge us that privilege,” said Mr E. •E. Young. “We have to look after the finances of the society, and surely we should be able to say what is to be done with our own products,” To provide additional and modern landing facilities for the airways service, the radio branch of the Post and Telegraph Department has now begun the work of erecting three radio beacons on the Taieri Plains, the establishment of a direction-finding station on a site two miles west of the airport, and two short wave stations — receiving and transmitting—for the purpose of maintaining ihterdromo communication. At the direction-find-ing station a special aerial system is also to be brought into operation. When these facilities have been set up the effect will be felt in an improvement in landing under practically all conditions.

In an endeavour to preserve native bird life In New Zealand numbers of bird-lovers place in position in their gardens offerings of honey, crumbs, and tasty morsels when winter makes it hard for the feathered creatures. A resident of Littlebourne who provided a dish of honey has had the pleasure during recent days of witnessing no fewer than nine tuis and several bellbirds eating his tempting offering, while one or. two wood pigeons looked on. The birds fed only a few feet from the front window of the house. This kindness to birds from May to October, especially in the hardest month of all, August, carries them in good health and strength through the winter, so that they will be able to raise sturdy families in the spring. It is really a case of one good turn deserving another, for the birds wage war on the hordes of insects and grubs which like to prey on man’s vegetables and other crops in the spring. Advice received from headquarters at Wellington by the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association states that the projected visit of a contingent of Australian ex-servicemen to hew Zealand in 1940 is already receiving the attention of the Dominion executive. A preliminary meeting has been held with several transport authorities in an endeavour to evolve a reasonable and feasible scheme for adequate entertainment of the visitors.

The annual Dominion conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association will commence at Wellington on Wednesday, July 27, in the civic council chambers. The four delegates to represent the Dunedin Association will be appointed at the meeting of the Executive Committee next Tuesday night.

A Whakataue Association message states that a five-roomed house and all its contents at Eclgecumbe, owned and occupied by Mr H. Matchett, farmer, were totally destroyed by fire at 9 o’clock last night. The family were away at the time of the outbreak. The building was insured for £2OO, and the furniture for £2OO with the State Fire Office.

Following correspondence on the subject of the delay in bringing down the shop assistants’ award which appeared in fast night’s issue, another letter has been received stating that the case was heard by the Court of Arbitration some time ago, but as yet no award has been framed. “ Could you state the cause of the delay?” asks our correspondent. From inquiries made this morning it is learned that the Government is not to blame for the delay, which actually is the result of the court being overloaded with work. In an endeavour to overtake arrears of work the Government set up a second court some months ago, but so far the two courts Siavo been unable to catch up with the waiting work. '

The screening of the British film, 4 The Gap,’ which deals with the necessity of obtaining additional strength for the Territorial Army, which is being shown at the State Theatre, was attended last night by 300 local Territorials in uniform. The Territorials represented the Otago Mounted Rifles, the 12th and 14th Batteries, and the Otago Regiment, while the band of the Otago Regiment was also in attendance and provided musical selections. The motor cyclist platoon of the Otago Regiment rode to the theatre in a body and parked their machines in the street. During the evening the audience was briefly addressed on behalf of the Territorial Association of Otago by Mr J. M'Knight, who stressed the need of more personnel for the Territorial Army. Approximately 50 members of the Otago Ski Club journeyed to the Rock and Pillar range last Sunday to open the 1938 ski-mg season. The range was heavily coated with snow, and the members of the party were most enthusiastic, but despite these essential requirements the opening of the season could hardly be described as an auspicious one. On arrival at the lower hut belonging to the ski club it was found that a fierce north-west gale was raging, and conditions were decidedly the reverse of pleasant. About 40 skiers essayed the climb from the lower hut to the upper hut at the top of the range, but less than 20 completed the distance. On the top a 60-mile-an-hour gale prevailed, and it was impossible to perform on the ski-ing grounds in such a wind. The skis and equipment that had been taken to the upper hut were left there, as it was considered inadvisable to attempt the descent with them.

Eye strain —for eye comfort, for belter vision, consult Stunner and Watson Ltd . opticians 9 Octagon. !)un“din fAdvt I To-uight the Be Luxe Dance will hold another of its weekly dances. The Mayfair Band will supply the music, featuring all the latest hits.