DUNEDIN NOTES.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4044, 12 April 1932, Page 4

DUNEDIN NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent). April 6. Not since the days of hi® mighty ancestor Carbine has a horse been such a popular favourite as Phar Lap. Courage and stamina, consiisitently displayed, always appeal, and these qualities Phar Lap displayed in addition to brilliance. His visit to the American Continent, opened so ausspiciously that his- sudden death.came as a blow to. lovers of the turf and horses. Yesterday a flag was observed flying at half mast from one of the city hotels, and on inquiry being made as to who wais dead, it was stated that the mark of respect was in honour of Phar Lap. It is mo exaggeration to say that more conconcern has been exhibited overPlhar Lap’s death than any event in the spoiling world in the Domimiom in recent years. Already there has been controversy as to which was the greater horse, Carbine or Phar Lap, and the discussion is likely to be revived. Comparisons now will be more difficult, for the former raced for the normal time of a sound horse, while Phar Lap has died in his prime, with the possibility of many victories, ahead. ■The older generation will remember the affectionate regard in which Carbine was 1 held in Australia and New Zealand. It was seriously proposed to erect a statue to him in Melbourne, and when “Old Jack” was shipped lor England to join the Duke of Portland’s stud there was quite a demonstration as he departed. A cartoon in the Sydney ‘Bulletin’ pictured a tone settler on a point oil' the desolate Australian coast as the ship passed 'passed by in the distance. He held! rip a board on which was printed in large letters ‘How is Carbine?’ All thisi may seem absurd to seriousminded individuals, but behind it lies a suggestion of the sporting spirit which has helped in no small way in the development of our Empire. When the British troops first went to France in the Great War the French people were disgusted at the way in which our soldiers devoted themselves to sport in their oil' time, hut they showed that they lacked nothing in serious devotion to duty when the occasion called.

The members of the Railway Board, accompanied by the general manager, have arrived in Dunedin. The purpose of their visit is to complete their investigations on a number of branch lines in Otago and Southland, some of which will probably be closed. A transformation has been wrought by the coining of the motor vehicle. Not many years ago railway leagues abounded in the Dominion, their object being to stimulate railway construction, and great wore the rejoicings when new lines were, opened. Now many of those who. were strong in their advocacy of these lines patronise the bus routes instead. _Generally speaking, it is doubtful (policy, because the losses on the. railways have to be made good by the taxpayer. But it is hardly fair to blame_ the individual, especially the man in the back blocks, for in many cases the buses offer him conveniences for reaching his destination that are not possible by train. He has undoubtedly has come to stay, and the best thing to do. is. to adjust the conditions. to the circumstances. Where heavy losses are entailed by the working of certain lines and reasonable services are otherwise provided the Government can hardly .be- blamed if it takes 1 decisive action.

“Use more wool” is one oi‘ _ the slogans of .the day, and in pursuit ot this object the Dunedin retailers have combined to make displays ol woollen goods in their shop windows this week. It is a good movement, tor the welfare of the Dominion is largely concerned with the woollen industry. We have 30,000,000 sheeip and New Zealand is sixth on the list of the wool producing countries of the world. Our secondary industry in this connection is important also, for our mills turn out some products that cannot be surpassed anywhere. Our travelling rugs have won worldwide fame, and many visitors from overseas take them away for use themselves or ; for their friends. If the advice to use more wool, to buy N'wv Zealand-made goods, and to buy Umpire goods was more generally practised the result to the dominion would be highly .beneficial. It cannot be said that the mutton bird is a popular article of diet with the pakeha, though from the numbers one sees in the fish shops occasionally a fair number must oe -onsinned. It is strong food tors ring digestions only. Furthermore, til ire is the inconvenience of cooking it, because of the penetrating odour, which apparently Is not disagreeable to some hardy individuals. The habits of this queer bird are a source o! perennial interest. A'ow is the time when it migrates from Stewart Island to the North, and this was brought under the notice of visitors to the Ocean Teach on Saturday. Thousands of small fish came ashore, being driven by millions of mutton birds, who led on them with avidity. The birds migrate to the North in the autumn. They leave their young in the nests, veritable balls of fat. This keeps them going till they reach the adult stage, about the beginning of April, when the season opens, and the Maoris take them for the market. Those that escape follow their parents, under the urge of some strange instinct and return with the others in the spring. Naturalists, by means of leg rings, have discovered that the Stewart Island mutton birds sometimes go as far as California. It is not usual for fish to be driven on our Ocean Beach in tills way. What happened was probably that a shoal of these little fish were unfortunate enough to come within view of the mutton bird army, which playhavoc with thein. The Dunedin ivelurned Soldiers Association is making ready for its annual Poppy Day appeal. There is no doubt that the funds are badly needed, and as usual, notwithstanding the hard times, the response is expected to lie generous. II is now clear that many men, who had apparently recovered from their injuries ur p:-i vat ions or boll) arc feeling tire effects as they approach middle age. f.ast year U'JtM) was collected in the city and suburbs, and on tills occasion 13.0110 poppies are available for sale in the streets. During the war

time enormous sums wore collected. There were street collections on at least one day a week, and on many other days stalls displaying goods were to he seen at the street Conners. A large portion of the 'money obtained in this way went to the Belgians. Just at this moment extracts are being cabled from the- last volume of the offleial history of the Gallipoli operations. It is a tale of tragedy and pathos. The suggestion is clear enough that with decision and promptitude by the authorities' m England success, would have bran achieved in the Dardanelles campaign and the war would probably have been much shortened. Side by side with this unhappy reflection, is the knowledge of the unavailing heiroisim of the men who fought on the Peninsula. But it does mot do to be too critical. Those who- clearly remember - the events of 19IT realise the magnitude of the task with which the Allies were confronted and make allowances. What we have to iremember is the sacrifice! and courage displayed on Gallipoli, the- West front, and the other theatres of war and to help as far as. possible those who have suffered so greatly. By the death of Mr H. D. Stronach, Dunedin loses a citizen who was highly esteemed. He took no part in public life, but had a wide circle of friends. He was in the insurance business, holding various responsible positions, and had lived in Dunedin, nearly all his life. He was the fourth sou of Mr Donald Stronach, who was for years manager of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Coy here, and was well known throughout Otago- and Southland. In his younger days Mr Harry Stronach was a keen cricketer and was the first batsman to score a century on the Carisbrook Ground. Tie also played Rugby football, being a member of the Pirates Club. In .those days the membership of the. Carisbrook and Pirates clubs was recruited from the same quarters, and to be a member of one almost invariably implied membership of the other. Later in life Mr Stronach found recreation in golf. In the 'matter of dairy production this season, the reports at the S'outfbern end of the Dominion are. satisfactory on the whole. The drought in Canterbury .and North Otago in the spring and the earlier part of the summer was. so bad that farmers had to resort to all kinds of methods to keep their stock alive, and in some case® the position was wo bad that animals had to be killed. In Mid and South Otago and Southland, however, the production of the factories is said to bo excellent. The rain that came in February with suchabundance has 1 had a reviving effect on the pastures from •'Palmerston northwards, so that there are prospects of a good winter supply io|f food. There is further activity in the cheese' market, and the ‘Star’ is informed that one Southland factory has sold the balance of its output for the season at 6 3-lGd per Jib, f.o-.b.

There is a tendency in these days' to scoff at the churches and to ignore the immense service® they render to the community. In this city alone ■there are numbers of orphanages doing invaluable work, as well as homes for the poor and needy and the aged. Since the economic blizzard hit this Dominion the amount pif me lief afforded by the. churchc® is immense, and though their own people are specially cared for there, is nothing exclusive in their operations, and the widest charity is exercised. Mention of this is occasioned by remarks of the Ilev. AAC Trotter, at a meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery this week. He said that last year the 'Presbyterian Church in the Dominion spent £32,000 in social service work, and it provided for 500 young people, .as well as actively supervising the welfare of affairs. This is in addition to the relief afforded by the individual churches to the distressed. The other denominations are equally active. It is only fair to remember these things when criticism of the clergy and the other church worker is so often heard.