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Evening Star, Issue 23094, 21 October 1938, Page 8

Further consideration has been given by the Reserves Committee of.the City Council to the application of the United Summer Hockey Club for the use of an area on the Oval to enable them to play hockey in the summer evenings. It has been decided that the permission previously granted be withdrawn and that the club be 'offered another site at Prospect Park. This ground is not used for summer games. The Railway Working Account for the four weeks ended September 17 discloses revenue as £632,752 and expenditure as £659,318. The total revenue from April 1 to September 1, 1938, was £3,942,068, and the total expenditure £3,975,126, leaving an excess of expenditure of £33,058. The totals for the corresponding period last year were— Revenue, £3,802,012; expenditure, £3,617,778; net revenue, £184,234. Ah the request of a number of residents in the district the tramway manager has been to run two extra trips on the Elgin road bus service, as follows: —8.17 a.m. from Mornington, and 8.22 a.m. from Elgin road on week-days, and 5.47 p.m. from Mornington, and 5.52 p.m. from Elgin road, Mondays to Thursdays inclusive. The latter trip will bo extended to Fridays and Saturdays as soon as the department has a bus available. The postal authorities advise that the Waikouaiti left Sydney on Wednesday for Bluff with 42 hags of Australian mail for Dunedin. The mail should be to hand on Tuesday. The Water Committee of the City Council recommends that the sum of £IOO be paid to Mr and Mrs Edgar in full settlement of their claims for compensation in connection with the construction of the Deep Creek pipe line through their property at Mount Hyde. Mr and Mrs Edgar originally claimed the sum of £349 10s, hut, after protracted negotiations, the sum recommended above has been agreed upon between all the parties concerned.

The forethought of those responsible for the planting of trees and shrubs round the city parks and reserves will have the blessing of the children of to-morrow. Those planted in the city and suburban streets will provide a welcome touch of green in an otherwise artificial landscape, while in the reserves, such as the Oval, in the years to come the trees, now being mantled with a gentle greenery; will provide welcome shade on hot, sunny days. The dairy farmers and their wives to-day were certainly a sweated section of the community—working for less than the Government’s Investigating Committee recommended, said tho Hon. F. Waite, M.L.C., at the annual meeting of suppliers and shareholders of the Co-operative Dairy Company of Otago Ltd. yesterday. The farmer could not strike like other sections of industry, and so inconvenience the community. But if farm production declined the community would be definitely worse off. The Works Committee of the City Council recommends that arrangements be now made to complete the purchase for £450 from the Children’s Rest (Inc.), of the strip of land 20 links in width, containing 9.9 poles approximately, along the Highgate frontage to the Rest Home property. It was arranged in 1933 that this land should be purchased for the price above mentioned when the council was ready to carry out the work of widening the street at this block, and as the sum of £9O has now been provided in the petrol tax allocations for the completion of the road work, it is desired that the purchase of the land should be completed, and charged to petrol tax.

The gas engineer’s report, showing the carbonising results obtained at tho city gasworks for tho month of September discloses that the gas output for this month was 25,609,000 cubic feet, a decrease of 943,000 cubic feet, or 3.5 per cent. The coke sold amounted to 496 tons, and tar sold to 15,606 gallons. The community sing to-day in the Strand Theatre was the last in aid of the Mayor’s Relief Fund. Tho attendance was again large, and enjoyed to the full the entertainment offered. Chief place on the list of items presented was taken by Master Alan Loveday, the 10-year-old violinist, who presented three numbers on his instrument— ‘ Mazurka,’ by Muzin, ‘ Souvenir,’ by Drdla, and a jigs and hornpipe medley. The artist received a great ovation, and briefly thanked tho audience for their reception of his items. A song introduced by Mr J. Himburg found immediate favour. Composed by an Oamaru resident, Mrs Donaldson, the words wore supplied by her daughter, a deaf and blind girl. A novelty item which caused considerable amusement was a poi dance by tho sing leader, Mr H. P. Desmoulins and Mr Himburg. Mr A, Pettitt again officiated at the piano, while also on the stage was Mr H. Marsden. The collection realised the sum of £l6. Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., held a short sitting of the Port Chalmers court to-day. James Bain was convicted of discharging a Winehestex rifle in Island l Terrace to the danger of passers-by, and was fined 10s and costs (10s). James Yule Patterson, a young man residing at Sawyers Bay, was charged with being the.owner of a dog which rushed at a schoolgirl passing on a push bike and caused her to collide with a motor lorry. The magistrate said the evidence was not sufficient to sustain the charge, which was dismissed.

It -was to bo regretted that the Otago Boys’ High School and the King’s High School Held their annual sports on the same day, said Mr F. H. Campbell, at the monthly meeting of the High Schools Board of Governors yesterday. There was always someone ready to say it was a question of one school lighting against the other, but this was not so. An unfortunate misunderstanding. the speaker said, was the cause of the clashing.

A warning to bathers and other sunworshippers that prolonged exposure to direct sunlight may be dangerous was issued by a Wellington doctor in an interview by the Dominion.’ The danger was particularly great, he said, ■■for people suffering from arrested tuberculosis. The effect of the sun’s rays on the tissue-thin covering of the lips was causing considerable concern to the medical authorities in Australia, the doctor added. It was considered to bo the cause of cancerous sores on the lips and face. As a result of medical advice made public in the Commonwealth it is now usual to see children equipped during the summer months with wide-brimmed hats which effectively shield their faces. Authority has been granted the city librarian to commence the hospital library service already approved by council. Under the agreement with the Hospital Board the council is to supply hooks for use in the Public Hospital and to provide the part-time services of an assistant, who will issue the books. The Hospital Board will provide all the necessary facilities at the Hospital, and will pay 15s per week for the half-time services of the assistant. The Arbitration Court has filed its award covering the wages and working conditions of employees in tea rooms and restaurants throughout New Zealand. The only matter which had been referred to the court was the date of the coming into force of the award, and this, so far as wages are concerned, has been fixed as September 5. The other conditions of the award come into operation on October 14, and will remain. in force till September 5, 1939. Wages have been made payable retrospectively in accordance with the agreement of the parties. In all other respects the award embodies the recommendations arrived at by the assessors in the Conciliation Council.

At tho request of a number of employers, the conditions governing the issue of apprentices’ tickets have been reviewed, reports the Tramways Committee of the City Council. At present these tickets are available to apprentices in receipt of wages not exceeding 15s weekly at a charge of Is for 30 sections, but in view of recent wage increases, the uso of the tickets has been considerably restricted. The committee has decided, therefore, to increase the maximum wage restriction to 25s weekly and to increase the price of the ticket to Is 3d for 30 sections, or Id a section. Inquiries reveal that good progress has been made with the scrutiny of the rolls during the present week, and this work will finish to-day. In one electorate the official count is well advanced, and the complete figures will be available by Tuesday next at the latest, with tho others coming to hand on Wednesday or Thursday at the latest. Whatever the corrected figures may be, they can have no actual hearing on the position- as it now stands. The stigma of being “ a dirty city,” which many citizens regarded as having become attached to Dunedin, is being literally swept away, and comment of a complimentary nature is being passed by shopkeepers and by the public generally in regard to the regulations as now being carried out by the city engineer’s department and under which the footpaths in the shopping areas in • Princes and George streets are thoroughly cleaned by corporation employees early in the mornings. The slight inconvenience which pedestrians in George street are being subjected- to by the fact that the footpath on the western side of the street is being’-dug up in sections will not be of long duration, as the work is being speedily carried out. Moreover, it is the important work of laying tho water mains in order to obviate the service to the premises on the western side being any longer carried under tho tram lines. A further, and even more important, advantage of a new line of pipes will ho that, in the case of a fire occurring on tho western side, the brigade will have access to plugs adjacent to the premises affected instead of being obliged to bring the hose across the street from plugs on the eastern side.

The tramways manager, reporting on the traffic receipts for the fortnight ended October 8, states that the position from April 1 to October 8 (27 weeks), compared with the corresponding period of last year, shows a total decrease of £1,045, or 1.04 per cent. The decrease on the city electric lines during the period was £2.951.

The Minister of Education (Hon. P. Fraser) has notified the chairman of the Education Board (Mr J. Wallace) that he will be pleased to lay the foundation stone of the new training college on the morning of Saturday, October 29. In the afternoon he will attend the annual sports demonstration of the Primary Schools’ Sports Association at Logan Park. The water level at the Mahinerangi Dam at Waipori on October 12 stood at 62ft lOin, which was 3ft 9iu better than at tho same date last year, 'ihe full-crcst level is 67ft. The Electric Power and Light Committee of the City Council reports that the units generated at Waipori during the first six months of the financial year amounted to 27,534,992, compared with 40,500,517 for the same period last year. The extra power purchased from the Government during this period accounts for tho improvement in the water storage position. Last of the Do Hayillaud 86 Union Airways liners to visit this city, the Kotuka (White Heron), ZKAEF, left the Taieri aerodrome at 8.15, and circled the city this morning as a farewell gesture. Commander M‘Lood was at the controls. This afternoon tho Kahu (Hawk), ZKAG, first of the Lockheed-Elcctra machines to come to this terminal, passed over the city en route to the aerodrome. Servicemanager A. G. Durand was in charge, while associated with him was Second Officer J. Winefield, of Dunedin. _ Tomorrow the liner leaving the Taieri will bo a full ship, her complement being 10 passengers. They will depart at 8.15 a.m., and will arrive at Wellington just 3h lOmin after leaving here. The flower plots round the city at the present time are a blaze of colour. In the Queen’s Gardens the wallflower, primrose, and polyanthus provide a striking blend in colours, while round the Stuart Memorial statue next to the gardens is a wonderful varicoloured collection of tulips in full bloom. Just a touch of Holland in these southern latitudes! After a retirement of half an hour 'the jury in the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon returned a verdict of guity (with a recommendation to mercy) in the case in which George William Thomas was charged with carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of 16 years. Thomas was remanded in custody for sentence this afternoon. James John Green, who had been committed for trial on a similar charge, changed his plea to one of guilty, and was also remanded for sentence. The district medical officer of health (Dr T. M'Kibbin) advises that tho returns of notifiable diseases for the Otago-Southland district arc very light for the week ending to-day. Southland shows a clean bill of health, while cases reported in Otago were: Scarlet fever 2, and erysipelas 1.

Reports of the reprehensible conduct of a number of persons in disturbing the nests of the young albatrosses at the Heads have been made of late, and in view of the protection that has been afforded these birds by the Bird Protection Society, it is a great pity that the irresponsible conduct of a very small section of the community may tend to frighten the birds away from their adopted haunts. In the event of the happenings being continued no doubt they will lead to serious trouble for those concerned. The remarkable record of Foden’s Motor Works Band at tho anilual contests in England has been communicated to a local music firm,'which has received advice that the band won the contest last month at Alexandra Palace, London. This is the eighth time the band has taken the premier place, and the fact that it lias come first three times in succession automatically debars it from competing in 1939. The trophy which the band has won is valued at £I,OOO. Local bandsmen will be interested to know that the test piece at the last contest was Percy Fletcher’s ‘ An Epic Symphony.’ The Gas Committee of the City Council reports that the contractors, the West’s Gas Improvement Company, have commenced their contract for the demolition and re-erection of the No. 3 vertical retort bench. The work is expected to occupy a period of practically six months, and will necessitate woiiking a portion of the horizontal retort plant during this period.

With hho arrival of the Union Airways Lockheed mononlane this afternoon the first flight of the new service was made. Tt will now be possible to flv from Dunedin to Auckland without changing aeroulanes at Palmerston North. Th° Krhn. as the Lockheed is named, clipped about 15 minutes off the scheduled run of the D.H. 86 machines which wore on the run previously, and arrived at the North Taieri airport at 2.30 p.m. Eve strain —fnr eye comfort, for better vision, consult Stunner and Watson Ltd., opticians, 2 Octagon, Dunedin.—[Advt.] The Commissioner of Taxes draws the attention of taxpayers to the notification appearing in to-day’s issue that the due date of payment of land tax for the current year is on Monday, November 7, and that the demands will be posted on or about October 31.