DAYLIGHT-SAVING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15552, 6 September 1912, Page 4

DAYLIGHT-SAVING.

Mb Sibkv lins shown a laudable perseverance in liis effort to secure statutory sanction of a trial of the principle of daylight-saving in New Zealand. In the brief discussion to which the New Zealand Mean Time Hill was subjected by the Uouso nt the committee stage on Thursday night soiuo light was cast upon the principal objections that arc adducible against, the proposal. Apparently tho members of the farming community) and especially the dairy farmers, hold thai already the hours v of daylight arc fully utilised, and undoubtedly the circumstances under which their industry is carried on arc entitled to due consideration when legislation that is likely to interfere with them is under consideration. The proposal embodied in Mr Sidey's Bill is that from the first Sunday of October to the first Sunday of March in each year New Zealand clock time shall ho an hour in advance of New Zealand mean lime. Kxccpt for n slight reduction of the period of the year that would be covered by the legislation the proposal is the same as that contained in the Bill upon which, in 1909, a committee was appointed by Parliament to take evidence. It is worth recalling that the witnesses who were examined by that commillco were representative of almost every section of the community, and that they were almost, unanimous in the opinion that the extra hour of daylight would be an advantage to the community. Evidently at that time, however, the farming community was not alive to the desirability, from its own point of view, of having any effective protest lodged in its behalf against the suggested. change. Upon quite a number of grounds, and particularly perhaps upon that of health ami recreation, the idea of daylightsaving must be fairly considered to commend itself. 11 stands for a more economical use in many ways of a commodity of which people are at present somewhat spendthrift. It may be, however, that Mr Sidey's proposal is in advance of public opinion, which certainly cannot be said to be very strong on the subject, and possibly the adoption of the provision that for live montlis in the year the clock shall be put forward an hour would be a more sweeping innovation than is altogether expedient. If that be the case it might be Advisable that the experiment of lengthening the day should he tried at first for a shorter period than five montlis If its success over a period, say, of tho three months of November, December, and January were generally acknowledged, a proposal to extend the time would meet with little or ]io opposition.

His Honor Mr Justice Williams returned from lnvercargill lost evening. This morning he will hold a silting in divorce to hear tho undefended case of Cutfield v. Cutficld, and will then transact other business in Chambers.

. As showing the urgent necessity for some kind of public tepid baths being available in Duncdin, it was stated at a. recent meeting of the local brnncli of the Royal Lifo Saving Society that not one boy in every 20 over 10 years of ago attending public schools could swim.

We arc informed that arrangements are now well in hand, to fittingly celebrate tho jubilee of tho Dunstah Rush. The committee is anxiou's to get in touch with all the pioneer miners of '62 nnd '63, and to that end has requested us to auk nny of these to forward their names at an early date to the secretary, Mr 11. E. Stevens, Clyde.

At the Magistrate's Court, St. Batham on Wednesday, before Mr W. R. Haseldei S.M., Henry Hyde Parker, a travcllin

saddler, was charged with cruelly beating and ill-treating his horse on August, 22 at Blackslone Hill. Mr John Craig appeared on behalf of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and Constable Sivyer acted on behalf of the police. The defendant was not represented by counsel. lilgar Williamson (Blackstono Hill) and John Wil-

kinson (St. Balhans) gave evidence thai after striking the animal several times will

an instrument used for stuffing horso collars, defendant had eventually knocked it down and left it for dead on the road. Mr Wil.

linmson afterwards found tbc horso standing on the road in a distressed condition, nnd look charge of' it. The horso had been underfed and overworked. Defendant was convicted and fined £5, with witnesses (12s)

and court costs (6s), in default of immediate distress one month's imprisonment, with

hard labour, in Duncdin Gaol.

The Trades and Labour Council,

meeting last'night, instructed its secretary to write to the Duncdin Expansion League with the. object of ascertaining from that body the particular industries in Duncdin in which there is a shortage of skilled and unskilled labour. The decision was arrived at as a result of a resolution which the Trades and Industries Committee of tho Duncdin Expansion League siassed at a recent meeting. The terms of that resolution were as follows:-" That, it having Ik'cii ascertained by (he league thai there wns at the present time a great shortage of labour, particularly boys and girls and also skilled labour, in all classes of industry in Duncdin, the Government be urged" to take steps to cope with the diflij culty by adopting a system of immigration I of suitable immigrants, work for whom it was stated could be guaranteed."

Term holidays will lie observed al the Musselburgh School during competition week '(from 23rd September), as this will enable scholars to take part, in the competitions without interfering with the school work. The School Cadets, accompanied by the St. Kilda Munimnl Hand and St. Kilda Fire Hrigadc, «'iH a " c,1(l churc'li parade at the I Musselburgh Fres-bytcrian Church on SunI day morning. The conditions tinder which jaol and mental hospital attendants worked wcro referred to at a meeting of the Trades and Labour Council last night. It was slated that the hours nnd general conditions to which these public servants were subjected were very unsatisfactory, and that thoro was ample room for improvement. After a lengthy discussion it was decided to hold the matter over until further information wis obtained.

Uoborl Turner, of Fovbtiry crescent, .St. | Kildn, will appear, on remand, at tho Police ' Court this morning, to answer tho charge of murdering his son Percy by shooting him. '. . ; At Iho Hospital Inst night llr Champla- j Ion;) (District Health Officer) provided a j pleasing and instinctive hour for members ] of the Hospital Hoard and of the Univer- j sity Council.. l)r Chamntaloun exhibited a I number of scientific cinematographic films, and gave lucid explanations to demonstrate the value of the machine for teaching purposes. Recently (says an Press Association tele, gram from Ohristchurch) local anti-mili-tarists invited the City Council to remove from publio gaze a pompom captured during tho Boer War. Tho gun was displayed in Victoria square, .whero it, was fixed with bolts In a concrclo bed. The council took no action. .On Wednesday night the glin was removed from its position and thrown into the River Avon. In the early hours of Wednesday morning a fire broke out in a 10-roomcd twostorey house at the corner of Queen street and Mill road, Waimate. Tho. outbreak was discovered by a musician who was returning from a dance, Tind the flames had a good hold of the property beforo the water could be turned on to it. The Waimate Times states that the house, which was a boarding-house, occupied by' Mrs Ebzcry, was practically destroyed, and very little of the contents was saved. Mrs Ebzcry, her two children, and Miss Arbucklcs were sleeping in the house at tho time, Mrs Ebiery escaping through a window, Mr Ebzcry was absent in tho fjuth. Thcro were no boarders. Tho furniture on the premises was to have been sold on Thursday by auction, Mr Ebiery having arranged to remove from the district. How tho fire originated is not known. The furniture was insured in the Atlas office for £250, and the piano for £50. The house belonged to Mrs Goldsmith, anil was insured for £375 in tho London and Lancashire and Globe office. In this philanthropic age, when suffering and distress call forth so much ready sympathy, we aro constantly hearing of new schemes for alleviating the distress of tho unfortunate. One'of tho most effective of these schemes, and one which should be more widc|y known, was brought under tho notice of n Times representative yesterday at the homo of Mrs M'Larcn,6o2 Cumberland sheet. It i 3 known as a Stocking League, and is quite undenominational in character though, at the request of the Baptist Missionary Union, the league has been formally associated with that organisation. The central object of the league is to transform worn-out stockings into warm garments of various kinds for destitute children, and Mrs M'Larcn has a largo assortment of dainty clothing to testify to tho taste and skill with which tho transformation is made. In her varied store aro little jerseys, dressing jackets, gay caps, singlets, underskirts, frocks, and dresses, scarves, cuffs, and mittens for Iho old people, and warm winter underclothing of all kinds for children. Most of thowork of making tin these articles is dono by kindly disposed ladies in their own homes, but the league also holds a meeting about once every two mont'hs. The thinner garments aro sent to missionaries in India, and tho warmer ones to Dr Barnardo's Homes , at Stepney Causeway, and to tho West ( Ham Baptist Mission. From the authorities of these institutions most grateful letters , have, been received in acknowledgment of i boxes of gifts sent by the Icuguc. Tho i director of Dr Barnardo's Homes (Mr W. ■ Baker) .stated that the last box arrived I just when tho shelves of t'heir clothing store were almost empty, and as they have a family of over 9200 to provide for there is no necessity to emphasise need for such gifts. Packing cases arc always freely supplied Iho Icaguo by Mr James Molliaon, and the Shaw,' Savill, and Albion Company very generously makc3 no charge for handling its consignments. Vigorous branches of t'lie Slocking League arc now in existence at Gore and at Mosgiel, and it is hoped that other branches may bo formed in different parts of Duncdin. Tho | work of the league is not confined strictly to old stocking material, and gifts of now, warm clothing or material aro always acceptable. The next consignment is to bo sent away by the Corinfhic, which leavca Port Chalmers before the end of the month, and any confributions may bo left cither with Mrs M'Larcn.or with Mr Peter Dick in Moray place. It is felt that this is a work which brings in very valuable results for. a comparatively trifling expenditure of limo or money, and that tho usefulness of the league might be largely extended if more people, through gaining acquaintance with its objects, decided to give it their assistance. The tram service on the Papanui lino at Chrislehurch (says the Press) was- held up on Tuesday night by tho fall of a Irco across tho road. The I roe, a large pinus insignia standing in a section situated on the right-hand side of the road between Knowics street and Weston street, was being felled during the evening, and at about a quarter to 9 it unexpectedly crashed down, straight across the roadway, smashing the fence of (he section in which it stood, and bringing down the electric tram and telephone wires. Two of i'he arms projecting from tho centre posts and bearing the wires were completely broken, jind two :, others further on" wero considerably twisted i, by tho drag put upon them by the fall ir of the tree. Several 'lanterns were placed about tho scono of tho wreckage as a warning to traffic, for tho tvee extended over almost the entire width of the road. By the aid of extra curs sent out from the. depot, passenger's, transhipping from one car to another, were enabled to continuo their journey, so that the actual dislocation of the service was only temporary. ■ Owing to the danger of the live wires, no i attempts could bo made to clear away the debris until after the power bad been cut elf at midnight.

A charge of having pluycd a game of chance, known as hotip-la, within tho view ot passers-by in Queen street, Auckland, was preferred against" two men, beforo Mr K. C. Cuttcn, S.M., at tho Auckland Police Court on Friday (says the New /calami Herald). The game consists of throwing light cano hoops, in llic nature of quoits, over various articles, such as flocks, watches, matchboxes, criicls, and trinkets, which nr/> arranged on u sloping bench some little distance from tho thrower. A small charge is made for every half-dozen throws, each article -which is encircled becoming the property of the thrower. It was contended by the prosecution that it was more by luck than skill that the quoit ever encircled the article. A player might aim for one article and the hoop would bounce and encircle another. Mr Singer, for the defence, contended that the game was one of skill, and, furthermore, that the public wore given a chance to become skilled players. For the defence a witness watf called who stated that he had invented the game, and that he could ring any article on the board. His Worship reserved his decision, and agreed to witness, prior to delivering judgment, an exhibition of expert 'houp-la playing.

The story nf an appointment fo tho police force was told in Parliament last week by Mr T. M. Wilford, member for Hull. Mr Wilford said that a young man of good physique had called on him, and had asked if he could get him into the police force. After making inquiries, the member for Mutt had recommended tho man, and the man had got an appointment. A few days later the sub-inspector of police had met Mr Wilford in the street, and had said:

"My word, Mr Wilford, if you have aJiy more men like that send them along right away."Thc Sub-htfpcctor had described the man as one of the smartest fellows who had joined tho ioreo for some time. Three weeks later an Australian Gazctto had toino to hand, ami the publication contained a photograph of the newly-appointed policeman, who, it slated, had boen convicted of cmbciiloment.

Tho English trees aro how putting forth their lenves, and that spring has como ia evidenced by the budding of tho daffodils. This year, however, plants ham suffered largely from tho depredations of slugs and snails, which for sonio reason seem to bo very numerous litis, season. To get rid of these thcro is tho usual method employed— a nocturnal raid with a bucket and a few pounds of salt—but it is said that the best specific is a light sprinkling of limo all round the plants. The slugs travel at night, and the best timo to lay the limo is between 8 and 9 o'clock, whether the ground is wet or dry. In order that this process shall ba effective it will ,bo necessary to repeat tho operation each night so long as tho pest is troublesome.

, How a doctor was tho means of getting into Woolwich Academy a boy who had been too short was narrated recently by V>r G. A. Gibson, of Edinburgh, at a sectional muling of tho Ilritisli Medical A»> socintion at Liverpool. The 18-year-old son of ono of 'his'medical friends was lin below. sft in height. He had set his wholo mind on entering Woolwich, for which his only chance was about six months ahead, Tho family, said Dr Gibson, turned to him in deep' distress, and lie resorted to thyroid extract, by tho employment of which tho youth grew seven inches in six months. As ho obtained ono of tho highest places in the entrimco examination, it was obvious that tho cerebral functions 'had been in no way disturbed by tho treatment. Tho thyroid gland, situated in tho neck, 6ccrctcs a substance, which is absorbed by tho blood or lymph, and which exerts a profound influence- on tho nutrition of tho body. A preparation from tho thyroid gland of a sheep is used, among other' directions, in cases of stunted growth.

The fact that in many parts of Taranaki cheeso is ousting butler was referred to at the annual meeting of tho Tarariaki Producers' Freezing Works Company on Saturday by tho chairman (Mr A. Morton). Thcro had, lie said, been a decrcaso in tho quantity of butter put through tho works, but' more than u corresponding incrcaso in tho, quantity of cheese had been handled. To his mind tho increase in cheese was going to bo very much more- marked in tho future- than in tho past. This year tho comjiany was going to feel the effect of two or three of its largo shareholding factories going over to cheese. Unless there was a big natural incrcaso in tho quantity of butter manufactured and butter handled this year tho company must necessarily show a decrease; but he did not'think any increase would be sufficient to mako up for tlio decrcaso occasioned by some of the companies going in for cheese. Ho also commented on tho largo quantity of butter stored for winter sale in tho year under [ review as compared with the previous year. I As a matter of fact, at the end of Juno

thero wcro between 7000 and 8000 boxes of kilter in storo at the works, as against only 350 boxes for tlio previous year.