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Otago Daily Times, Issue 18465, 28 January 1922, Page 9

Cr Shaddock (chairman of the Electric Power and Lighting Committee of the City Council) has received a communication from the Public Works Department stating that it has approved of the terms under which the council is prepared to supply electric power from Waipori into the Government’s main transmission line from Lake Coleridge to Gore. The Shag Point miners, in common with the men in a number of other Otago and Southland mines, ceased work last November as a protest against the award under the Arbitration Court. The Shag Point proprietary, after waiting for some time for the men to go back, decided to close the mine over the Christmas holidays, A start was made again by th 6 Shag Point Company yesterday morning, but as only a few miners returned to work the company is not yet able to turn out full supplies of coal. It is exported that a considerably larger number of men will be working within the next few days. The Reserves Committee of the City Council has decided to grant an application from the Otago Kennel Cub for permission to hold a dog parade in the Queen's Gardens on February 18 in aid of the Unemployed Fund. No charge will bo made, but a collection will bo taken by the club’s officials, and the whole amount handed over to the fund. The matter is, of course, subject to confirmation by the council. A sitting in Chambers was held by his Honor Mr Justice Sim yesterday morning. Probate was granted in the estates of John Orossan, Henry Varooe, Thomas M‘Connell, William Davidson, Alfred James Aloysios Hall, Thomas Newall, and Elizabeth Beale. Letters of administration were granted in the estate of Efchrie Owen Pulton, Gibson Pierce Martin, and William Henry Mills. An order was made extending the time for registration in the matter of the Companies Act, of John Edward Butler (Ltd.). A complaint was laid before the Taieri County Council at its meeting that herding of sheep and cattle was being conduced on some of the county roads near Mosgiel, and the ranger was instructed to warn the offender that he would be prosecuted if the practice was not stopped.

A large number of tenders have been received for the various sections of the new plant for Waipori. It is hoped that the city electrical engineer may be able to complete his investigations and report in time for the committee to’ hold a special meeting and submit a supplementary report to the City Council on Wednesday evening. Intimation has been received from St, John’s Gate by Colonel Barclay, the senior officer of the St. John Ambulance Brigade in the Dominion, to the effect that the following members of the brigade have been favourably considered by the Chapter and the Council of the Order of St. John, and have been admitted to the rank set opposite their names, viz.;—Honorary Serving Brother, Major William Fleming, Acting Assistant Commissioner, and Mr Percy W. Bfeen, District Secretary, Otago District ; Honorary Serving Sister, Miss Catherine Mackorsy, Lady Corps Superintendent, Dunedin, Mrs ■ Grace M.i, Davis, Lady Superintendent, Hampden Nursing Division, Miss Mary W. Mills, Lady Superintendent, Green Island Nursing Division, Miss Alice M. Andrew, late Lady Superintendent, Dunedin Central Nursing Division. These appointments ate in recognition of eminent service rendered to the order. ■ In replying to a question by Mr A. S. Malcolm (Clutha) in the House of Representatives (telegraphs our Wellington correspondent), the Hon. J. G. Guthrie said he oould not hold out any hope about altering the decision that had been arrived at regarding the southern express train in connection with a further railway cut, beyond that the second express would be kept on until February 13 in view of several events that were taking place up to that date. A heavy rainfall has been recorded in Hawke’s Bay this month, the total to date being 6iiu, a most unusual occurrence for this district (says a Press Association 'telegram from Napier). There was steady rain yesterday, and the rivers are rising rapidly. The Outram Town Board decided at Wednesday’s meeting that the weekly half-holi-day continue to be on Saturday. The Public Works Committee of the City Council is recommending the granting of authority to make an exchange vrith Mr Frank Armstrong of portion of the reserve on the Regent road frontage of Mr Armstrong’s property for .two portions of his property in order to permit of the widening of Warrender street so that a footway may be constructed that will be of use and benefit to the residents and of advantage 'to the hill road in' letting a footway bo made possible all the way round. Mr Armstrong’s land is corporation leasehold, and the transaction will nqt involve the disposal of the foe simple-by the council. The occupation of the areas to he given to the council will add to the beauty hi the street. . The proposed exchange is of land equal in area. It is further recommended that Mr Patillo be permitted to continue in occupation of portion of Warrender and Ailsa streets at present used by him during the pleasure of the council only and subject to his agreeing to pay rental at the rate of £2 10s per annum. . Some of the timber used in the erection of a number, of cottages and cribs. some little distance on the Dunedin side of Brighton has been classed by the authorities as hardly suitable for the purpose. Correspondence on the matter was before the Taieri County Council yesterday from the Health Department, in which it was stated that®» steps would be taken to get in touch with the owners with a view to a remedy. Sir Arthur Pearson, whose death was recorded in the cablegrams a few days ago, had relays of secretaries, and while one opened letters' and read them aloud the other took down the shorthand replies. " A cheque for £IOO from Mr Camegio,” read one secretary. Instantly Sir Arthur dictated to the other secretary: " Telegram, Andrew Carnegie, Skibo Castle. Cheque received £IOO- Surely a mistake.—-Arthur Pearson.” The hluntness of the man was one of the secrets of his charm and his success.

Reference is made in the Public Works Statement to tho New Parliament buddings. The external marble work was practically completed during the year, only the balustrade in front of tho loggia remaining to be done. The following rooms were completed and furnished The Speakers’ suites of both Houses, three suites for Ministers, sitting-rooms and writing-rooms for members of the Legislative Council and House of Representatives, Government and Opposition Whips’ rooms, Leader of Opposition’s room, clerk and assistant clerks’ rooms (Legislative Council), Bill Officers’ room for each of the two Houses, and waitingrooms for Legislative Council. The plastering and internal finishing of the rooms were completed, with the following exceptions: Three suites of Ministers’ rooms on the. ground floor, the front entrance hall on all floors, the main staircase, and the waiting; messengers’, snd store rooms in connection with and adjoining thereto, also the three large social rooms for members oh the second or top floor. Tho Legislative Council chamber was entirely completed. Among the public departments tiiat have suffered severely from building restrictions, owing to the financial stringency, not theleast is that of the Post and Telegraph. The matter is mentioned in the Public Works Statement, which adds: “It is realised that when conditions .improve a very active building programme will bo necessary to bring the facilities up to prewar standard.” The acute shortage in housing during the year made it difficult for officers in some places to obtain accommodation, and rendered necessary the purchase by the Government of residences for postmasters and other officers at Baldutha, Blenheim, Coromandel, ''Barfield, Eltham, Frankton Junction, Greyraouth, Hamilton, Matanmta, Ohura, Pahiatua, Palmerston North, Stratford, Te Araroa, Timaru, Tolaga Bay, Waitara, and Waverley. In addition to ordinary maintenance work in connection with the mental hospitals good progress has boon made with the additions to the Women’s Auxiliary building at Auckland. This now unit, it is remarked in tho Public Works Statement, will accommodate about 80 patients, and is constructed so as to admit of their further classification. At Tokanui tho Male Admission Block is well advanced, and a large workshop is almost complete. Material for the Female Admission Block, the foundations of which are finished, is on the site. The reception house at Nelson should be completed within the current year. The poultry farm has been remodelled, and the necessary buildings erected. The residence for the head attendant at Christchurch is nearing completion, as also are general additions and alterations at Hornby. A two-storey addition, which will increase the day room space of two wards in the main building, is well advanced. Additional accommodation for 60 female patients at -Soadiff is nearing completion. The construction of a balloon loop by the tramways department in High street, clear of the Rattray street footway crossing, is being recommended by the Works Committee, and will receive consideration at the meeting of the (Sty Council on Wednesday. The committee states that tho only way in which it can tjp done is to cut off a strip of the Queen’s Gardens on the High street side about 15ft in width, setting back, the Queen Victoria statue and tho memorial trough, and reconstructing the footpath on the new line. It is recommended that this be done, the cost of tho whole work to be payable by the Tramways Committee. It is further stated that the only alternative is to carry the’ lines into Rattray street. Tho proposals load to a further recommendation—namely, the removal of Dr Stuart’s statue to a site between the Early Settlers’ Hall and the Railway Station. Tho estimated cost of this is £-150. It is stated that the statue} would need to be removed for tho loop, but that in any case its removal to a more suitable site has boen under consideration for some time. The cost would be made a charge on contingencies. A sum of £582,800 was appropriated last year for tho purpose of providing roads to open up Crown lands, but, the Public Works Statement remarks: Labour difficulties and shortage of material retarded progress, and the comparatively small expenditure of £28,920 was incurred. “A more vigorous policy of settlement is‘being pursued, and the construction of roads opening up the various blocks of land for settlement is being carried out as expeditiously .as possible, and works involving an expenditqpe of £154,692 are at present in hand,”

The annual picnic for the local orphanages arranged by the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Club will bo held at Broad Bay this afternoon. The Peninsula Perry Company baa generously offered to carry the children to the Bay and they, may bo embarked at Dunedin or Johnston’s jetty, At the Bay the children and their guardians will be entertained by Meadames A. C. Hanlon, R. Hudson, C. Speight, A. Begg, A. Miller, L. Gooch, M. NyTion, S; Geddes, L. 0. Story, J. B. Galbraith, E. C. Nees, and Dr Emily Nees. Toys will also be given to the children, and at 5 o’clock they will embark for Dunedin. In connection with the prisons of the dominion the' Public Works Statement says that progress in building construction during the earlier part of the year was delayed to a considerable extent through shortage of timber and cement., Subsequently, when materials were more easilyobtainable, a curtailment of expenditure hampered the building programme. At Auckland the expansion of quarrying operations and the erection of staff cottages wore the principal works carried*, out. The installation of pneumatic drills, etc., has enabled the output of crushed metal to be greatly increased. Additional crushing plant is being obtained, and bins and improved loading facilities are to bo installed. The erection of additional cottages and quarters for single officers was proceeded with at Waikeria. Similar work was carried-, out at Wi Tako (Trentham) Prison, where' cottages removed from the Wellington Prison reserve were re-erected, and a new residence for the officer in charge completed. ' The manufacture of brides on the Mount Cook site having been discontinued some time ago, advantage has been taken of the presence of extensive clay deposits on the Wi Tako Reserve to establish the industry there. The work of excavating and preparing the site for the brickyards, as well as the erection of plant, with the necessary buildings, has been completed. A temporary kiln has been constructed in which a large proportion of the bricks required for the permanent kiln have been burnt. It is expected that this kiln will fce completed and in working order by the end of the year. Roadmaking between Waimarino and Tokaanu ceased during the year, and the prison camp was removed to Erua, where a start has been made with the reconstruction of the Ohakuno-Waimarino road (a section of the central main arterial road). At Templeton the construction of the new institutional buildings and officers’ residences has been carried on, and a large supply of concrete blocks and tiles has been manufactured for use in this work, ns well as for the erection of workers’ homes under i.tha Labour Department’s housing scheme, The works carried out at the Invercargill Borstal Institution have again been on a comprehensive scale, and in the development of tho reclaimed area much work has beemdono in .roadmaking and drainage. A massive embankment, a mile and a-quarter in length, enclosing an area of 2?0 acres of estuary land required for a rifle range, has been completed. This area is being used for agricultural and pastoral purposes also. , The erection of cottages and the new kitchen and infirmary block at the Borstal Institution has also proceeded satisfactorily. The question of heavy traffic on county roads occupied a good deal of the time of tho Taieri County Council yesterday. Tho discussion arose over a letter from Mr A. R. Leonard, Balclutha, who had traversed the Main South road with two engines and four trailers laden with wool. In the discussion a councillor pointed out that one of tho farmers in his riding placed an order for tho cartage of coal from the city, and a return trip with wool, with a Dunedin parrying firm. In comparison with the railway charges tho farmer saved £9 on the transaction, apart from the groat convenience it proved to be. It was pointed out by other councillors that this competition with the railway was quite general, and instances were quoted in support of tike statements, particularly the lorries engaged in fruit traffic from Otago Central. Councillors were unanimous that the heavy traffic by-laws, which were framed before the lorries were in use, needed revising. The county roads suffered as a result of the traffic, and many of those using , the roads, for motor traffic did not pay anything for tho upkeep of the roads. In the case under notice it was decided to charge the minimum fee for a license for the engines and trucks 'which had bean driven over the road.

A good illustration of neglect to children’s teeth was shown at the Relief Committee's meeting at Auckland last week. A number of charts were prepared shoiwing how inattention to instructions had completely altered the state of the teeth. Strong comments were made in the case of guardians who had not carried out the instructions given to them by the board’s dentists in regard to wards under their care, and it was decided (reports tho Auckland Star) to draw attention to the serious state of the teeth in many cases. The worst feature of the cases is that the dental treatment is given free to the cases under notice,' and it is pure neglect on tho part of tho people who are in a responsible position regarding their charges that they do not fully avail themselves of the very fine dental service available to them.

Authority to take the necessary steps to obtain tho consent of the Public Works Department to the faying off of a now roadway 40ft wide on the Town Belt at Parkhill avenue, Momington, is among the recommendations to, be considered by tho City Council on Wednesday evening. •* The proposal is subject to the applicants agreeing to contribute £SO towards the ultimate cost of forming the road along their frontage. Hie laying _pff of the road will enable the present owners to obtain a separate title to the three houses at present fronting Parkhill avenue, and at the same time provide a convenient route for through traffic, independent of tho present applicants. Early in the week a painful accident happened to Mr J. Mathcson, foreman cable jointer of the Post and Telegraph Department. While using a receptacle containing molten metal an explosion occurred, scattering the metal over an area of 10 feet Mr Matheadn received severe bums about his face and both eyes were seriously injured. He was removed to the Hospital, whore‘he is progressing as well as oan be expected. Tho accident was attended, with another unfortunate episode, for while cranking up the motor oar to convey his comrade to the Hospital, the overseer, Mr Marr, had his wrist broken.

Though the early dosing of hotels has lessened the policeman’s tusk in regard to ordinary cases of “drunk and disorderly,” the close restrictions on the sale of liquor have naturally led to a noticeable increase in illicit drinking in Melbourne (says the Age). Where the grog is “sly” the customer cannot bo allowed to be fastidious as to its quality, so as a general rule it is unwholesome, and the victims of the harpies who batten on the sly grog trade are for worse than people who drink not wisely but too well in places that are conducted under the sanction of the law. The habit of drinking methylated spirits, the police say, is inareasing in some parts of thp city and suburbs, particularly on Sundays. Being cheap compared with whisky or brandy, methylated spirits is a profitable line for the sly grogsollor, but the effect of this coarse and fiery Hquid on those who drink it is absolutely ntffddening. Amongst the police there is a mbtto, “You can take a man’s beer away, but yon can’t stop him from drinking.” The moral ; seems to be obvious. Fine sport has been obtained recently by anglers in the l Bay of Islands, excellent catches of Idngfish, mako shark, and swordfish having been secured off Piercy Island. A London angler, Mr H.. WhiteWeckbam, spent a week fishing in these waters (says the New Zealand Herald), making Deep Water Cove his headquarters, and caught four mako sharks, one measuring 10ft and weighing 3601 b. The other fish were not quite so large, but provided considerable sport. Mr White-Weckham also landed two swordfish, one being 10ft Sin long, ' and weighing 26Slb. The other fish was very nearly as largo. The larger fish took three hours to land, and the launch, covered over five miles before the fish was finally secured alongside. Besides this, there have been some very good catches of largo king-fish, which have provided excellent sport. Various anglers have secured good catches of large kingfish since the beginning of the New Year. The Taieri County Council has decided to open a fund for subscriptions to a dominion wedding gift foe Prinoen Mfitt

The New Zealand flax plant, which is indigenous only to this country and Norfolk Island, is now growing well in Japan from some seeds sent to that country nearly four years ago by Mr J. W. Poynton, S.M. at Auckland, who is an ardent botanist. A letter received by Mr _ Poynton from a Japanese in Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, states that the seeds sent by Mr Poynton in May, 1918, were planted by*the Department of _ Agriculture and Commerce in the colonies of Chosen and Formosa, but did not grow well. The plant, however, flourished in Japan, and grew to sft or 6ft in height without special attention. Strangely enough, however, the flax plant bears no seeds in Japan, and the only way .of multiplying it is to divide the roots. The writer asks for two pints of flax seeds, and encloses a specimen of its fibres and a sheet of good white paper mad® from the fibres. Mr Poynton says that the reason that Lthe flax will not grow well- in the colonies of Japan was that there were no honey-eating birds and ir.soots to collect flax honey and so distribute the pollen as the tui did in our bush. The flax, by Reason of its commercial value and adaptability, was being planted and grown in various places throughout the world, and its fame was spreading. In the Orkney Islands it has seeded well, and it was now flourishing in the Isle of Skye, while at St. Helena, in the tropics, the people were growing it for export and commercial purposes. Its adaptability was shown by the fact that it grew in sand and dry gravel on th® west coast of New Zealand, and at the snowline of the Mile near Lake Wanaka. Although it was not an animal, it grew abundantly, and by a process of selection it might be made to bear every two or three years, instead of five. The flax plant produced 35 tons of green leaf, yielding over four tons of fibre, to the aero, whereas the annual jute plant of India produced a quarter-ton of fibre to the acre; the banana plant,' from which Manila was obtained, yielded 18 tons pf letfif to one ton of fibre,' and the Mexican sisal plant 25 tons to one ton of fibre.

One of the clauses in the Public Works Statement deals 1 with the expenditure on education buildings. It says that during the financial year the expenditure out of loan moneys in such buildings was easily a record. During the war the necessity for economy led to the restriction of capital expenditure • wherever possible, and consequently when peace came largo arrears of work had to be overtaken. During the year 1920-21 the total expenditure on education'buildings was £459,292 —£244,721 from the Public Works Fund and £214,571 from the Education Purposes Loam Of this total £279,650 was for new primary school buildings, £67,216 for technical schools, £43,910 for secondary schools, and £57,243 for the university colleges. At the end of the - year tho grants promised but not paid amounted to £825,661, yto against £560,051 for the previous year. Tho total new authorities issued during the year amounted to no less a sum than £724,902. Though much has thus been done to meet the pressing needs for more and more school accommodation, unfortunately, owing to the very high cost of building and to the large arrears, the provision falls far short of the essential requirements. The present financial stringency has again necessitated a restriction of the expenditure, but the Government is fully aware of the needs of tho country, and is onlv awaiting more favourable financial conditions to revert to its progressive building policy. In some districts where additional accommodation is urgent the residents have come to the assistance of the Government by subscribing to the Education Purposes Loan tho sums required to provide the additional school buildings, and in this way buildings are being undertaken that otherwise would have to be postponed for a considerable time. The Public Works Statement, which,was brought down in the House of Representatives yesterday, contains the following:— During the past financial year fortysix miles of telegraph and inter-urban telephone pole line, carrying 615 miles of wire, was’ erected. In connection with telephone exchange subscribers’ lines an additional 330 miles of pole line, carrying 4263 miles of open aerial wire and 41 miles of cable containing 11,446 miles of ■ wire were made available. The coin-i4-the-slot telephone machines were increased by 24, telephone exchanges were increased by five, whilst 25 others are in various stages of completion. The number of new subscribers joined to telephone exchanges during the year was 8785, and this increase necessitated additional switchboard accommodation at 55 exchanges. The installation of automatic exchanges is proceeding at Auckland, Palmerston North, Wanganui, Kelburn, and Oamaru. Owing to the comparative shortage of material, tho development of the automatic telephone system has been severely handicapped, but every effort is being made to provide for all requirements as speedily as, conditions will permit. Tho installation of automatic printing telegraphs has been delayed by the non-arrival of the greater part of the apparatus; but this is now coming to hand, and it is expected that an installation of this up-to-date system will be mode at an early date.

_ The services at tho Hanover Street Baptist Church to-morrow will bo conducted by the Rev. A. W. Stuart, of Gisborne, who has occupied Mr Kempton’s place oaring this month while Mr Kernpton has occupied his position at Gisborne. Mr Kernpton will resume his ministry here on the first Sunday in February. , Commissioner and Mrs Hodder, territorial leaders for New Zealand, are paying a visit to Dunedin and suburbs, opening up a groat revival campaign. They are accompanied by Staff-captain Bladin, the newly-appointed young peoples’ secretory. Groat interest has been aroused over these meetings, and the feeling among Salvationists is the great revival that is being carried on in Scotland is possible in Now Zealand., A notice to members of the Otago District, M.U.1.0.0.F.. appears in this issue. The United Starr-Bowkett Building Society invitee membership for the now No. 6 group. Particulars may bo obtained on application. The Otago Officers’ Club proposes to open its new club rooms in Moray place on Tuesday evening next. The opening will take the form of a social evening, to whicn the members and their lady friends have been invited., The Band of the First Battalion will play at the Gardens on Sunday afternoon. By request several items which were rendered at the band’s annual concert will be included in the programme. “A Battered Wreck” is announced as the subject to be dealt with to-morrow evening at Trinity Methodist Church by the Rev. M. A. Rugby Pratt. The Rev. Clarence Baton will conduct both services at the Methodist Central Mission to-morrow. ‘‘Tragio Beginnings” will be the subject of the address at the evening service. The secretary of the Dunedin and Suburban Mutual Money Club advises that loana to the amount of £9BO and 28 shares were applied for at this week’s meeting. ' Ridgway’s Circus will appear at Kaikorai to-night. Notices of the following Sunday services will be found in our advertising columns:— Anglican: St. Paul’s, St. Matthew’s. All Saint’s, Taieri-cum-Greon Island, Woodhaugh. Presbyterian: First, Russell .Street Hall. Knox, St. Andrew’s, Eoslyn, Chalmers, Kensington,, North-East Valley, Opoho, Stuart Hall, Pine Hill, Cavoraham, LeitJi Valley. Methodist: Central Mission, Trinity, St. Kilda, Glenaven, Woodbaugh, Dundas Street, Ravensboume, Broad Bay, Kensington, Macandrew’s Bay, Highdiff. Baptist: Hanover Street Congregational: Moray Place. Wesley: Cargill Road. Salvation Army, Dowling street. Church of Christ: Tabernacle. Theosophists: Dowling Street Hall. Pentecostal Mission: Orange Hall. Spiritualists: Hanover Street, Choral Hall. Impossible to pass a 7-9 Harloy-Devidsor. motor cyde on tho road. Buy one of those machines yourself, and be first on the road W. A. Justice and C 0.., Otago Agents. 292 Princes street. Dunedin.—Advt. Don’t go away on your camping holiday without '‘No-Rubbing” Laundry Help and Golden Rule Soap. All stores stock them —Advt. A Snip. —Fleck bods, covered with, heavy ticking, 'buttoned, siao 4ft 6in x Gft bin. Special sale prioo 56a —Mbllisons Ltd. Advt. Watson's No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth tho money.— Advt. I A E. J. Blakeley, dentist, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray street* (next Tdegreph Office). Telephone 1859. Advt. Save your Eyes.—Consult Peter G. Dick, D.8.0.A.,- F. 1.0., London, consulting and oculists’ optician.—“ Peter Dick," jewellers oad qprioiant, Mamj film, Duaodja.—A«i*4