DUNEDIN NOTES.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 3901, 11 June 1929, Page 5

DUNEDIN NOTES.

(From Our Own Correopondent.) June 6. From the weather point of view Dunedin has been extremely lucky for the show and the D.J.O. races. Still, dry, and mild days have made the conditions ideal. The city is thronged with visitors and it is to be presumed that they have thoroughly enjoyed themselves. It is declared that never before has the winter race meeting been run under such circumstances. Late summer rather than winter has been suggested. Saturday, Monday (the King's birthday), and Wednesday were the days set apart for the Wingatui events, land the crowds who found their way to the picturesque course had no reason to grumble, for in addition to three perfect days from the climatic aspect, good fields and some close finishes enhanced the interest of the sport. The Dunedin Jockey Club has reason to feel pleased with the result. For the three days the totalisator returns amounted to £80,510 compared with £75,039 last year. The centre of attraction has been the winter show* Each season sees it increase in popularity, till now it is one of the biggest fixtures in the Do* minion. It has been held this year in the old premises in Crawford street, but the general hope is that before long a move will be made to Tahuna Park, for the present accommodation is hardly adequate to the needs of the situation and as time rolls by the congestion will be naturally greater. The show, indeed, has grown out of all recognition when its early days are recalled. The traders and manufacturers, quick to see the advantages offered, are co-operating enthusiastically, and the event is now reminiscent of Dunedin's big exhibition, on a small scale, of course. There is a magnificent display of agricultural produce of all "kinds, and the array of manufactured goods is a tribute to the enterprise and efficiency of those who conduct our secordary industries. At one time it was the custom to open the show on Tuesday and continue till the end of the week. The arrangement now is to make Saturthe opening day and close on Thursday. This seems to be regarded as an improvement. The opening address was given by the Hon. P. A. de la Perrclle, Minister of Internal Affairs, who first expressed his pleasure that they had with them that day Sir John Roberts, who fifty-one years ago was one of the founders of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association. Then fthe Minister went on to gi/ve an interesting exposition of the Dominion's primary industries, submitting an analysis of them (wool, dairy produce, meat, fruit, etc.), section by section, showing that the welfare and prosperity of this Dominion depends on their successful prosecution. As indicating the popularity of the winter show, both with town and country people, it may be mentioned that the takings for the four days amounted to £1238,. an increase of £63 over the four days for last year. This is a great contrast to our summer show, but the winter fixture has the advantage that it is held at a time when the farming community can leave home when work is comparatively slack and the townspeople have not the distractions that the long summer evenings provide; more especially in these days when the introduction of summer time gives further facilities for outdoor enjoyment. One remark that N is frequently heard is that one winter show is much like another. .So it is to the casual eye but the trained and shrewd observer detects many objects of novel and special interest. As the president of the society (Mr W. 0. McKellar) very truly remarked: "So long as New Zealand depends, as it now does, for its very existence upon the ability of its primary products successfully to compete in the world's markets, so long must such exhibitions as we have here to-day be of the' utmost value, educationally, towards that end." While in town the farmers have a crowded time for in addition to the show itseir there are various meetings, such as those of the Farmers' Union., to be attended and private business to be transacted. In the intervals our visitors manage to get a little relaxation from the races and the evening entertainments. There is plenty of choice with the numerous picture houses showing the ever-open door. In addition Sir Harry Lauder ami his company are appearing nightly in His Majesty's Theatre. Sir Harry, notwithstanding his fifty-nine years, retains his capacity as an entertainer in a wonderful manner. He ) has done much to add to the gaiety of our Empire and when his retirement into private life is definitely announced there will be a distinct sense of loss. - the visitors to Dunedin this week was a band of 180 Taranaki farmers, who came to see things in the South for themselves. During their stay in 'this fcity they were entertained at a social evening when they expressed their thanks to the Otago farmers and the citizens for the kindness and hospitality that had been to them. One of the spectator said it had been a memorable trip and most of them had learnt a lot about the South Island, its country and its pursuits. They had been greatly impressed by the land, and the speaker added that he was convinced that this end of the Dominion had a great future. In parts of the North Island it appears to be a current belief that the southern portion of the South Island is ienveloped in wintry conditions for the greater part of the year. The Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle tells a good story intjhis connection.. The Minister recently gave an address at Kaitaia, in the Far North. His subject was 'Southland, ! its Climate and Productivity.' An old resident of the Kaitaia district eaid afterwards that he was glad to have heard Mr Perrelle's description as he had been under the impression that Southland was a place "full of icefloes and close so where Commander Byrd was operating." Hinemoa is a name suggestive of beauty and romance. It recalls a fairy story of the dim past in Maori legend. When Sir Julius Vogcl raised a public works loan for the colony in 1875 provision was made for building I a ship for the New Zealand Government, and in the following year j one was launched at Greenock, 200 ft

i in length and with a tonnage of 542 1 gross. When she reached the colony I she had three masts, with square sails in the foremast. With her clipper bow she had a graceful appearance. A thing of .beauty, she was appropriately named the Hinemoa. During the first thirteen years of her career she was used as a Government yacht, and was engaged in carrying members of Parliament to and from Wellington. Afterwards she was transferred to the Marine Department for lighthouse work. During these operations she visited almost every bay, port and anchorage in New Zealand and also the outlying islands of the South. In course of time naturally enough the work got too great for the Hinemoa. She was withdrawn and employed for a time in the Niue Island, Norfolk Island, and Samoan services, but for last few years she has been dying idle at Auckland. There is now talk of her being utilised to carry passengers for a private company to the West Coast Sounds during the summed' months. It is curious that these trips, once »6 popular, should have been discontinued. The Union Company at one time ran three each season, and they were quite a feature of the summer activities in this part of the world. It was on one of these expeditions, it will be remembered, that the steamer Waikare struck a submerged rock in one of the sounds and was sunk, fortunately, without loss of life. \ As was to be expected, the announcement is made that the term of office of Sir James Parr is not to be extended. Naturally, there is speculation about his successor. The name of- the Hon. T. M. Wilford has been mentioned, but nothing official has been divulged. There has been some criticism of the Government's action, the suggestion having been made that the present occupant of the office might remain in London for another year. Sir Joseph Ward's decision, however, is quite in accord with the customary procedure. As a rule, the High when the time for a fresh appointment arrives, is chosen from a prominent member of the party in powej:. There is little to be said against this practice. It is quite natural, and when ai is said, the results have been satisfactory, for New Zealand's representative has invariably been a man of high standing. To realise this we have only to recall the names of Sir James Allen, Sir. Thomas Mackenzie, Sir Westby (Perceval, ISir William HallJones, the Hon W. P. Reeves Sir James Parr has carried out his duties with success, but there is no occasion for perturbation over his departure. The interests of the Dqminion are not likely to suffer by the change. It is very largely an ornamental office in iii the sense that among the High Commissioner's chief functions is the duty of representing this Dominion with dignity at the various social and official events in London and elsewhere. In the early days when our representative was Jtnown as the Agent-General an Otago representative held the post for many years. This was Sir Dillon Bell whose sheep run at Waihemo is still in possession of the family. He is the father of Sir Francis Bell, who has played an important part in New Zealand politics in late years. Two noted horticulturists were in Dunedin this week. They were Mr Henry Morse and his son, Mr 'Frederick Morse. Norwich is their home town, and they are amongst the largest rose-growens in England. Their visit to this city occasioned great interest among gardeners here, both amateur and professional, for in Dunedin the culture of the rose has reached a high standard. Our clay subsoil arid the climatic conditions suit it admirably. The name Morse is well known because two well-known varieties bear the name of that familyMrs Henry Morse (pink) and Mabel Morse (yellow). The latter is a magnificent variety and so is the finstnamed, but unfortunately it is subject to mildew. Each year great numbers of new roses are coming to hand, and though people have a fondness for the varieties they know so well there is no doubt that some oE the new kinds are of outstanding merit. The hybridisers to-day are aiming at producing vigorous free-flowering roses with stiff, branching, glossy, foliage, and scent is also being placed in the forefront. It can be "safely assumed, however,, that old favourites such as Hugh Dickson, General Macarthur. \ Caroline Testout, Eed Letter Day, ' Madame Abel Chatenay, and Frau Karl Druschki will be retained, because of the combination of merits possessed by each. Mr Henry Morse was complimentary to the rose growers of this Dominion. Our nurserymen are well uj) to date, for each year they import from the noted I English hybridisers a number of the choicest of the new varieties.