Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 23496, 9 February 1940, Page 6

Two cases of tuberculosis in Otago, and two in Southland, are reported by the district health officer (Dr. T. M'Kibbin). Again the godwits, about to begin their long flight to Siberia, where they nest, have been under licensed fire. “ It has to be said to the credit of the Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs, that he has caused the killing season to be limited to a fortnight, but his action does not go far enough,” comments Captain Sanderson, president of the Forest and Bird Society. “ During many years pleas have been made by many New Zealanders that the godwit deserves absolute protection. It is well known that the pot-hunter type of shootist who lacks the principle of a decent sportsman, maims many birds by firing into flocks. It is held by many critics that the slaughter of godwits is really a disgrace to New Zealand.”

A New Zealander who has returned fom England said (reports the Auckland ‘Star’) that he was glad to be back in the Dominion once again. Referring to the black-out, he said that there were some people who could see in the dark far better than they expected, and others who, to their dismay, found that the absence of light presented them with new dilemmas and new dangers. Some of them might almost .be without eyes at all. They groped wildly, became alarmed, and were a peril to themselves and others. Medical men who had been interviewed explained that the state of the eyesight indicatd to a great extent the general health of the individual. If eyes quickly adapted themselves and functioned with more or less efficiency it was proof that vitamins essential to perfectly-bal-anced health had been included in the diet. If there was no response to the new demands by the darkness upon the eyes the essential vitamins had not been provided.

Many questions are asked concerning the fate of the Evangelical Christiana in the part of Poland which fell to Russia (states the * Outlook,’ official organ of the Presbyterian Church). In their midst stands Dr Zoeckler, of Stanislawow, the superintendent of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg and Helvetic Confessions in Poland, the world-famous founder and director of the evangelical charitable organisation in Galicia and the promoter of the promising evangelical movements among the Ukrainian people. The information service of the Foreign Office of the German Evangelical Church at Berlin published the following information concerning him. At first he was interned by the Poles in prison and then set free during the advance of the Russians. He was allowed to stay in Stanislawow and prepare for the reorganisation of his institutions. Dr Zoeclder is well, and is expected soon in Cracow, where lie will make a decision as to his further activity.

An appeal to young men not to neglect politics and public life as a career was made by the Rt. Hon. R. G. Casey, Australian Minister-designate to Washington, in an address at a semiofficial State luncheon held in his honour in Auckland. Mr Casey said ttiat in Australia, and perhaps in New Zealand, there was too much of a tendency to regard politics as a “ dirty game ” that could bo left for older men. He believed that this was a mistaken outlook, and felt that young men should be encouraged to fit themselves for public life as a high of endeavour.

The City Fire Brigade was called out yesterday afternoon to Bay View road, where fire damaged a wood and iron shed belonging to Yuck Young and Co., market gardeners. At 11.2 last night machines also turned out to a call from tho corner of Eglinton road and Peel street, which proved to be a malicious false alarm.

The Works Committee of tho City Council has recommended that authority be given for tho deviation of tho roadway through the council’s 10acre reserve on Signal Hill to enable tho Centennial Memorial to be erected at tho site which has been selected by the Otago Provincial Centennial Council. A formal resolution will be required from the council and also by the West Harbour Borough Council, as portion of the deviation is included within tho borough boundary. The travelling exhibit at present on show at the Museum comes from Napier, and it is a product which must have entailed a good deal of research work on the part of members of that staff. It is composed almost entirely of photographs, and illustrates the first unsuccessful attempt to cross the Rnahine Ranges, made by William Colenso in February, 1845. William Colenso was a minister, whose parish extended from Napier to Wellington, and he covered most of this district on foot, to the accompaniment of almost incredible hardships and dangers. Botany absorbed his spare time, and he made a large number of discoveries on this pictured attempt on the, Ruahines, so that, although ho did not succeed- in his object, his expedition could not be called a failure. The exhibit shows graphically tho difficulties in his way, besides the settlements and tho Maori routes of that time. It is an unusual form of exhibit, and one that is a credit to the Napier Museum.

“ God bless New Zealand ” is the text of a cablegram received by the Prime Minister (Mr Savage) from Miss Alice Jervois, of Bournemouth, daughter of Lieutenant-general Sir William Jervois, who was Governor of New Zealand from 1883 to 1889. The message is dated February 6. From April 1, 1939, to January 6, 1940, the figures in the Railways Working Account were: Revenue, £7,336,693; expenditure, £6,845,285; net revenue, £491,408; and for the corresponding period of the previous year the totals were: Revenue, £6,657,756;' expenditure, £6,604,831; net revenue, £52,925. “ You are not deaf and I am not dumb,” Dr Halliday Sutherland said to his audience in His Majesty’s Theatre last night, “ and 1 am glad to be able to say that this is the first hall in which 1 have spoken and not been confronted by microphones.” Everywhere else he had gone, and particularly in the 11 neighbouring island of Australia,” he had had to speak into amplifying microphones so that people might hear him properly. “At one hall,” he exclaimed, “1 was actually told that I would have to hold a microphone in my hand while 1 spoke.” He added that under such circumstances the proper place for him was behind the curtain.

. An object suspected of being a floating mine, but proving later to bo a buoy, came ashore at Taharoa Beach, eight miles south of Kawhia, and was examined on Monday by military officers from Hamilton (states the ‘ New Zealand Herald ’). The discovery was reported to naval headquarters in Auckland. A party of Maoris who were walking along the beaoh first saw the buoy, which they believed to be a floating mine that had been washed ashore. The Army Department at Hamilton was advised, and Major W. H. Allen, area officer, and Lieutenant S. A. M'Namara, adjutant of the Waikato Regiment, left for Taharoa to investigate, Although a comparatively short-distance from Kawhia by airline, Taharoa Beach is difficult of access. The officers travelled by launch to Te Maika and then rode horses over the sandhills. They did not return until late on Monday night. The action of the Maoris in reporting a suspicious object on the beach was perhaps prompted by memories of a mine, laid by the German ship Wolf, which went ashore not far from Raglan after the last war. It exploded, causing loss of life.

Many British Government service men from the East may be expected to choose this country for their holiday furloughs during the war, according to a visitor from Malacca, in the Straits Settlements, Mr D. H. Trumble, who is now in Christchurch witli his wife and child, and has been in Malaya for 12 years (states the ‘ Press ’). He stated that he had been told that there were many bookings for Australia and New Zealand, and that because they were now unable to go to England—and would not even if they were able to —most men would probably come here. Mr and Mrs Trumble will spend five months in the Dominion. Among many New Zealanders in the Straits Settlements, Mr Trumble’s neighbour in Malacca is Mr W. Jerram, who works in the Survey Department. Mr Trumble said that most of the Survey Department men were New Zealanders, and most of the tin mine employees were Australians.

When the Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal’Affairs, stated recently that he would make an investigation into the killing of young albatrosses on the Chatham Islands, he remarked that “ certain species were protected.” The full fact is that ’nine species of that majestic bird are protected under the provisions of the Animals Protection and Game Act, 1921-22. The list comprises the royal albatrosses, the wandering albatrosses, the sooty albatrosses, and the following mollymawks: —The black-browed, the yellownosed, the Bounty Island, Campbell Island, Snares Island, and the Chatham Island. It, is well known in certain circles that many young albatrosses during many years have been killed for food in the Chatliarns. “It is nob a case of need,” states one complainant. “ The persons who do the killing have plenty of other food—all kinds of fish, beef, mutton, poultry, and so on—but they regard the young albatross as a delicacy, when it is cooked in a special way, and so they go on cheerfully breaking the law, year after year. It will be very easy—or should be very easy—-for the Minister to get plenty of evidence in support of that statement.”

The question of payment by the City Council of the superannuation contributions of those employees of the council who are serving with the special force has been considered by the Finance Committee, particularly those cases where the employee’s military pay and allowances exceed the maximum laid down by the council. This aspect of the matter was very carefully considered by the committee when the proposals eventually adopted by the council were being formulated, and as a result the allowances recommended w-ore increased to cover the position. In view of this fact, and also that the proposals adopted by the council are subject to review in dune next, the committee, in its report to the City Council, states that it is of opinion that no action should bo taken meantime.

A comment by Mr H. Sampson on a typist’s error caused laughter at the meeting of the Loburn Fruitgrowers’ Association on Wednesday evening (the ‘ Press ’ reports). Mr Sampson, who is secretary to the association, was reading from a letter dealing with the State marketing of pip fruit when a sentence “ on the basis of the purchase of the grower ” occurred. There was general laughter when Mr Sampson ceased reading and exclaimed: “Purchased! We haven’t been purchased, wo have been sold.” At the Port Chalmers court this morning Mr J. Watson, J.P. and Mr W. J. Johnston, J.P. heard charges against Sawyers Bay residents of allowing cattle to stray in that locality. George Hodgson was fined 5s and costs (10s); Harriet Ledgerwood 10s and costs (10s); George'Poulter on each of two charges 10s and costs (10s). Probate in the following estates has been granted in the Supreme Court by Mr Justice Kennedy:—William Clark, machinist, Port Chalmers; Jane Todd, widow, Dunedin; Ethel Mary Mayston, married woman, Dunedin; Ann Eliza Arras, widow, Dunedin; George Proudfoot Crighton Sligo, paperhanger, Alexandra; Annie Anderson, widow, Dunedin; Lewis Barclay, carrier, Palmerston; Mary Ann Kitchin, widow, Dunedin. Letters of administration were granted in the estate of Michael M'Kone, labourer, Oamaru. The secretary of the National Patriotic Council has advised the secretary of the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council that the national body has received many requests from various parts of New Zealand for information in regard to tin trunks that are required by officers in the Second Expeditionary Force. An appeal was made to officers of the First Expeditionary Force to release their trunks for officers of the Second Expeditionary Force, and a fair number of trunks have been provided in this way. These trunks can bo made in New Zealand, and advice has been conveyed to the provincial patriotic council that one firm is making them at a best of £4 15s, and that no doubt other firms can also make them. A communication has been received by the Water Committee of the City Council from the Commissioner of Crown Lands advising that there is an area of Crown land situated on the Silverstream near Wharo Flat suitable for recreation purposes. The area, which is situated below the Silverstream race and below any source of \water supply, is partly river flat under light bush and contains a natural swimming pool. The extent of the area is 3 roods 8 poles, together with an adjoining road which the Government proposes to close, and the committee is of the opinion that it would be very suitable for use by picnic parties visiting the district. The commissioner has asked if the council would agree to exercise control over this area in the event of the Government proclaiming it a'recreation reserve, and the committee recommends that the council agree to accept such control. The final draft of men for the second echelon will leave Dunedin by the 11.35 express to-morrow for Burnham camp. There will be 29 men in the draft, and in addition one man for the Burnham Fire Brigade and one man for the Burnham Band. Some 30 or 40 names arc now in hand for the third echelon.

Dunedin Telephone Exchange subscribers are reminded in this issue that where halfyearly subscriptions remain unpaid by February 15, telephones are liable to be disconnected without further notice.