Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 23503, 17 February 1940, Page 8

Under the foundation stone of the Centennial Memorial, to be erected at Signal Hill, will be placed an urn containing copies of the city’s dady newspapers and a number of coins. The ceremony of laying the foundation stone will take place at 3.30 next Wednesday afternoon. Probate has been granted by Mr Justice Kennedy in the following deceased estates; —John Fraser, retired mariner (Dunedin); Catherine Sickels, widow (Green Island); Thomas Robinson, coal merchant (Dunedin); William Goodlet, retired caretaker (Dunedin); David Farquhar, retired farmer (Warepa); Diary Ann Gordon, widow (Ototora); Alexander DlTvenzic farmer (Otahuti) ; John Ronald Hamilton, farmer (Winlon) ; Mary Strongman, spinster (Wymlbam); and Sarah Jane Medio, widow (Invercargill;.

It is not generally realised that New Zealand’s nearest neighbour is Japan. Though it may be hotly argued, this is nevertheless a fact. Curiously enough, what brought the matter to mind was an instrument of war, and one more savage looking than any tank, aeroplane, cannon, or mine could ever be. But it is harmless enough now, lying in a glass case at the Museum It is a wooden sword, lined on both sides with shanks’ teeth, and it comes from the Tokitau Islands, New Zealand’s northern-most possession. The nearest group to the north are the Marshall islands, Japanese owned. The sword, by the way, is one of a collection recently presented by Mrs VV. Stevenson to the Otago Museum. Other items in the same group include a shell adze from the Northern Cook Islands, a Bonito hook, from Sikaiana, and a ‘‘ pudding knife ” from the Northern New Hebrides.

Why he was appealing to everyone to economise in the use of food was explained in a recent interview by Mr W. S. Morrison, British Minister of Food. “In times of peace,” he said, ” the policy of ‘ Guns Before Butter ’ is barbarous. But war modifies our values. We now need all our available resources of foreign exchange and shipping capacity to bring us essential war materials; every foot of cargo space normally used for food imports that can be saved for war purposes is an addition to our strength.” The practice of some people_ of leaving small children locked up in motor cars while they attend race meetings was referred to by the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W, E. Parry), who indicated that he proposed to obtain a report with a view to adopting measures that would put a stop to a practice which he described as inhuman and dangerous. On one country course it was found necessary to break the window of a car in order to give ventilation to the child imprisoned inside, and vl similar incident is said to have occurred at the Rotorua races a few days ago. “ I was amazed to hear of people going away and leaving children shut up in such a manner,” said Mr Parry. “ I cannot say, off hand, whether there is power under'the .Police Offences Act to deal with such cases, but I shall certainly investigate. I shall see what can be done to check what is undoubtedly a highly dangerous and most inhuman practice.” A memorial is to be erected this year at Haast Pass to commemorate the linking of Otago and Westland by road. It has been sponsored primarily by the Westland County Council and the Vincent County Council., It will be built of local stone with granite panels containing a brief history of early explorations and crossings of the pass, and will embody the coats of arms of Westland and Otago, and a device of Maori designs. Nearby will be constructed a log cabin with a fireplace, for'the convenience of tourists, according to advice received at a meeting of the South Island Motor, Union executive in Christchurch. To keep the cost of the project within reasonable limits, local materials such as stone, totara logs, and shingles are to be used as far as possible A circular from the Vincent County Council stated that the Public Works Department had to assist hy providing the materials delivered on the site. Practically the only materials that would have to be brought into the district would be the cement and granite inscription slabs. The estimated cost of the memorial and adjoining shelter is £350.

At the Mosgie! Court yesterday George Nicholson was fined 10s with costs (10s) for being in possession of intoxicating liquor in the vicinity of a dance hall. The police stated that Nicholson had been seen with a bottle of beer and a glass about a chain from the East Taieri Hall where a dance was in progress. The defendant said that he had been informed that liquor could be consumed beyond »a chain’s distance from the dance hall

Tim Otago Division of the R.N.V.R. has already built up a record of which its members have good cause to be proud, and with two members leaving on Monday morning to join the New Zealand Naval Forces this brings the number of members of the Division for active service to 56. The remaining members of the Division will leave as they are required. The members of the Division going north on Monday are Leading Seaman T. Richards, R.N.V.R.. and Telegraphist A. H. Knewstubb, R.N.V.R. In response to the invitation of the mayor (Mr A. H. Allen) to observe a whole holiday in connection with Schools’ Day, which is looked upon as the highlight of the Centennial Week celebrations, Mr .Allen has received a telegram from the Internal Affairs Department: “The Public Service Commissioner. the general manager of railways, and the Director-General of the Post and Telegraph Department have agreed to minimum staff arrangements for Tuesday, February 20, to enable officers to attend the ceremony. A number of motorists have already been involved in difficulties because they have lost their petrol coupons. As the sheets are made out to cover a period of months, there is no reason whv the entire sheet should be carried, and the Automobile Association (Otago) advises that motorists should take, at least, the most obvious precaution and not carry all their coupons about with them. The coupons for one month can easily be detached for immediate. use, and the remaining portion stored safely away until its use is valid. Vivid lightning flashes slashed the western and south-western skies last night between 7.30 and 8, and a bank of heavy clouds moved slowly beyond the St. Clair hills and out to sea. The storm centie appeared to be well awav from the city area, but the lightning made a brilliant spectacle, being of the sheet and chain variety. At times it completely illuminated the western skies, and in the gathering dusk the celestial fireworks were seen to best advantage. Some of the flashes were linked over miles of sky, thin streaks of violet and white light clearly revealing the tracks of the release. At least two streaks appeared to make contact with the sea. Some thunder was heard, but only three peals were in any way loud. It was almost like a pyrotechnic introduction to the Centennial celebrations, and as such was definitely successful. At 1.36 this morning the City Brigade was called to 13egg street, St. Hilda, to attend a chimney fire. An amazing feat of memory has been brought to Tight recently in connection with a hei-tiki which was included in the Chapman collection presented recently to the Museum. Mr Murray Thomson, who viewed it, recognised the piece instantly, although he last saw it in 1880. It was found on Murdering Beach in the [ate ’seventies by a boy named Willie Little, who discovered it in a heap of sand thrown up and discarded by an excavator who was seeking Maori curios. It is a beautiful piece of translucent bluegreen pounamu.

Consigned to tin- Southland stall at the Centennial Exhibition, the first oysters to be carried by plane from |>nneclin this season left this morning for - Wellington. There was only a small (pmntiiy, however.

, Stranded on a window-sill on the first floor of Hudson’s factory in Cumberland street, a small eat was wailing plaintively this morning, and attracted the attention of a number of passers-by. There seemed to be little that could be done about it, but a lorry parked unattended by the kerb was carrying a ladder as part of its load. Two good Samaritans availed themselves of the opportunity, took a loan of the ladder, and rescued the cat. On ground level, pussy proved to be possessed of an injured leg. A Taumarunui Association message states that a train, comprising an engine, five carriages, and a guard’s van, was returning to Taumarunui late last evening, when, after dropping passengers at Tangarakau, the engine jumped the line in Mangapara station yard, five miles from Ohura. No one was injured, and no serious damage was done, but the Now Plymouth-Auckland express was delayed for two hours. The derailed engine and carriages were brought to Taumarunui this afternoon

When a branch broke oil' a tree at Abbotsford, the southern suburban train was held up for two hours and a-quarter last night between 7.45 and 10 o'clock. The falling branch struck a power line, breaking it, and the failure of the power prevented the operation of the signalling and points systems. The service had to be temporarily discontinued while repairs were hurriedly made by the relief gang. During the interval, buses were run for the convenience of passengers. Anglican Church people in the Wellington Diocese responded splendidly to the appeal made by the Bishop of Wellington, the Rt. Rev. H. St. Barbe Holland, for them to provide £I,OOO toward the cost of completing the Anglican Church hut at Trentham camp. The amount to hand on Monday was £1,285, and there were still about a dozen returns to come in. Collections in churches throughout the diocese last Sunday were devoted toward the hut. Make-believe was used during the hearing of a case before Mr Justice Callan in the Supreme Court at Auckland in order to show the positions three men took up at an hotel bar. The deputy-registrar's, desk was chosen as the bar, with, on His Honour’s suggestion, the deputy-registrar in the position of barman. The court crier was then called upon to act as one of the men concerned, and, when a witness was finding slight difficulty in placing him in the precise position and attitude adopted by the man he represented. His Honour remarked: “Of course, the constable would not know how to lean on. a bar.’’

Notifications of Sunday services as enumerated below appear in our Sunday services advertising columns Anglican ; St. Paul’s Cathedral. All Saints'. Presbyterian: First Church. Knox Church, St. Andrew’s.-Mus-selburgh, St. Stephen’s, Roslyn, Kaikorai, Maori Hill Wakan Methodist: Trinity, Central Mission. ■ Mornington, St. Kilda, Caversham. Dundas Street, Abbotsford, Cargill Road, Maori Hill Baptist: Hanover Street, Caversham, Mornington, South Dunedin, Roslyn, Sunshine, North-east Valley, Green Island. Congregational: Moray Place Church. United Church of Christ: St. Andrew Street North-east Valley. South Dunedin York Place Hall, Salvation Army, Playfair Street Hall, Christian Science, Theosophieal Society, Spiritualists The monthly concert of the Dunedin Burns Club will be held in the Concert Chamber, Town Hall, bn Wednesday next. An attractive programme has been arranged. • A meeting of shareholders in the Dunedin Starr-Bowkett Building Society will be held in the Manchester Unity Chambers on Wednesday next, when appropriations in Nos. 5 and 6 groups by sale will be held. The Railway Department advertises in this issue particulars of a special cheap day excursion, Dunedin to Invercargill, on Sunday, February 25. Two fast trains will be run, returning the same day from Invercargill. The Railway Department advertises in this issue particulars of train services in connection with Children’s Day at Wingatui, on February 20. Particular attention is directed to the hours between which there will be no trains available for the transport of the general public to and from Wingatui The Railway Department advertises in this issue particulars of excursion fares and train arrangements in connection with the Dunedin races on February 22 and 24. The New Zealand Institute of Secretaries, which was founded in 1931 and has a membership of 640. conducts examinations twice a year. An advertisement in another column announces Hie next examinations to commence on April 22. . The usual weekly old-1 into, dances will be held in the Knrly Bottlers' Hull to-night.