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Otago Daily Times, Issue 18511, 23 March 1922, Page 4

It is 74 years to-day since the first pioneers landed in Otago, and the day is being celebrated as practically a general holiday. All Government offices will be closed, and there will be only one delivery —in the morning—by postmen. It is understood that several picnics are being held. The Hon. J. G. Coates, who has completed a tour «£ Central Otago, and arrived in Dunedin by motor oar lost night, will leave here this morning for Ashburton, and on the following day he will visit the work in progress at Otira. The week-end will be spent in Christchurch, and he will return to Wellington on Monday. The postal authorities advise that there will bo only one full delivery by the lettercarriers to-day—Anniversary Day. Postmen will deliver correspondence this morning, but not during the afternoon. Sergeant M'Glone, of Clyde, telephoned to the Central Station yesterday afternoon stating that Arthur Dominio Plunket, the one-armed prisoner who escaped from the Dunedin Gaol with Allan Aitcheson on November 6, 1921, had been arrested at Ohatto Creek by Constable Wroblenski, of Ophir, and Constable Murphy, of Alexandra. Plunket will be brought to Dunedin by the Goldfields train this evening, and will appear at the Police Court on Friday morning.’ The glass-manufacturing works commenced in Auckland by an Australian firm will be affected by cheap lines of bottles, jars, etc., made in Japan (telegraphs our Wellington correspondent). An exhibition of the company’s glassware was given in Parliament Buildings during the session, and it was then understood that the company was anxious to get a strong preference through the Customs over the articles made in Japan by labour. The party of half a dozen Australian tourists for whom the Milford track has been specially reopened for one trip went on from Dunedin to Queenstown yesterday morning. The party is accompanied by several travellers who are taking advantage of the opportunity afforded. The local Tourist Office is finding bookings for the Easter season very satisfactory, particularly as a somewhat slack time was anticipated. Most of the bookings are for rtorthorn centres, but the prospects for the new Doubtful Sound track are fairly good, though it is rather early yet to know what the demand will be. The attention .of sportsmen is directed to the fact that clause 14 of the Animals’ Protection Act, 1921, provides that “no person shall take or kill any imported game or native game during an open season in any district unless he is the holder of a license under this act to take or kill imported game or native game in such district during that season.” The fee for the shooting of native and imported gome for the coming season within the boundaries of the Otago Acclimatisation Society’s district has been fixed at £l. The Otago Early Settlers’ Association, in addition to the usual Anniversary Day reunion, to be held in the Early Settlers’ Hall this evening, is holding an afternoon gathering from 2 to 5 p.m., particularly for the real old identities. The president, Mr G. C aid or, will preside, and opportunity will be taken during the afternoon to bring together those who came out to New Zealand as fellow-passengers in the early days. For the evening a very enjoyable programme of entertainment has been arranged. A Press Association message from Wellington says: “With reference to the protests of A. and P. Societies against their being celled on to pay the amusement tax, the Prime Minister stated that, os he had said when the tax was imposed, the Government was obliged to take revenue from sources which had hitherto escaped taxation. Ho hoped to be able next session to ask Parliament to amend the law so as to relieve. A. and P. shows from future payments. He had replied to quite a number of societies to this effect.”

The Middlemaroh breach of the Farmers' Union, at its recent monthly meeting, passed a resolution protesting “against the excessive charges now being made by the telephone department, and requesting the provincial executive to urge the department to reduce them to the former level.” Interest is not lacking in municipal affairs at Port Chalmers, judging by the fact that five candidates were nominated yesterday for the vacancy in the Borough Council caused by the resignation of Cr D. M'Donald. The returning officer (Mr J. Tait) announced that there will be an election next Wednesday. In response, to an inquiry from the Inspector of Awards for an interpretation of a clause in the Otago and Southland Shearers’ Award, the Arbitration Court has ruled that the bonus of 2s 2d (less 20 per cent.) is not payable where the shearing done is in the nature of a test only, as when the shearers do a couple of sheep to ascertain whether they are dry enough for shearing. The United Starr-Bowkett Building Society held a members’ meeting at Messrs Hugh Mitchell and Co.’s office 4ast night for the purpose of disposing of £IOOO in Nos. 2 and 4 groups, which resulted an follows: —The 86th appropriation in No. 2 group was drawn by cluster No.. 13, held by one member. • The -43rd appropriation in No. 4 group was drawn by duster No. 173, held by two members. The chairman of directors (Mr E. A. Rosevoar), who presided, stated that it was his pleasure to announce that the No. 1 group, which had now reached its final stage, is paying the extremely satisfactory dividend of £ls per share, being far in excess of dividends paid by any other society. He also Stated that large numbers of applications were being received for the new No. 6 group, which Would hold its second ballot of £SOO next month. He stated that with the £IOOO drawn that night the United had granted loans amounting to the large total of £229,034 4s lOd. A simple method of catching earwigs has been brought under the notice •of a representative of the Daily Times. The method is to take an ordinary wooden matchbox, open it about a quarter of on inch, and pass a fine wire between the bottom of the box and the outer case. This wire, terminating in a hook, enables the trap to be hung to the plant where the peat congregates. If earwigs are at all plentiful, half a dozen may be found in each box when examined in the morning. As an instance of the increased productivity of the land of Central Otago under the influence of irrigation, Mr R. K. Smith, of Terras Station, told the Hon. J. 0. Coates (Minister of Pablio Works) the other day that, although in the jtast history of the station no fat sheep had ever been sent away, he had been able this year to fatten and despatch to the freezing works from the irrigated portion of his land no fewer than 3000 sheep. Mr Smith added that from one patch of 80 acres of lucerne he had l already obtained '4OO tons of hay, and he expected to harvest another crop before the end of the season. In this connection it is also interesting to note that an Ardgtmr settler told the Minister that from one small lucerne paddock he had' obtained the remarkable yield of eight tons to the acre — a striking testimony to the quality of the soil. As the price of baled lucerne last year was £6 a ton on truck, the value of this product, made possible by irrigation, can easily be seen. A visit of inspection has been made by Mr F. E. Ward, a fields instructor of the Department of Agriculture in Christchurch, to experiments being conducted in connection with toe regrassing of !toe dry areas of the Mackenzie Country (wires our Christchurch correspondent). Bowings were made last September of certain species of grasses, which have proved themselves capable of resisting toe dry weather conditions of the Mackenzie Country. Sowings were made on flat land with sunny faces, and with dark (or shady) faces. Mr Ward found there was no strike of grasses on toe sunny faces; toe strike was light on the Bat areas, but was surprisingly good on the dark or shady faces. The grasses noted as doing best were; Cocksfoot, Yorkshire fog, yarrow, _ lucerne, toll oat, and tall fescue, and a little Danthonia and white clover in the damper situations. A monthly return of the patients in toe Dunedin Hospital, submitted at last night’s meeting of the Otago Hcapital Board, showed that at the end of February there was a total of 482 admissions end 244 discharges, leaving 238 in hospital. The return was received. . An application was made in toe Supreme Court in Chambers on Tuesday to alter the tide of “The Standard Fire and Marine Insurance Company of New Zealand, Ltd.,” to the “Standlard < Insurance Company, Ltd,” The application was granted. The deliberations of the Parliamentary Recess Committee on licensing law amendments were continued yesterday, and toe committee hopes (says a Wellington Press Association message) to conclude them this morning. The draft report and the recommendations are practically complete, but it is anticipated that when the session opens the committee will take an opportunity of revising toe draft before it is finally submitted to Parliament. The University Council and the members of the Presbyterian Churcty Board have again made arrangements for a course of university extension lectures in history. The subject which Dr Elder has chosen this session is “Europe and Pacific Exploration”—a subject which will doubtless appeal to many who ere interested in the manner in which the countries of Western Europe and Britain in particular have gradually made the Pacific their aim. The university extension movement has done a great work for adult education in Britain, and, with its development in New Zealand, a great deal can be done to make the university, far more than it is at present, a factor in the life of the people. The annual meeting of the Dunedin Burns Club was held last evening in the Lower Bums Hall. Mr Alex. M'Leod (president of the club) occupied the chair. There woe a fair attendance of members. The annual report showed the club to be in a very healthy condition, both financially and otherwise, A net profit of £IOB 14s Id had been made on the year's work, chiefly through too splendid success of :ho Hallowe’en and anniversary concerts. In moving the adoption of toe report Mr M'Leod expressed his pleasure at the success of the monthly meetings, giving credit to the secretary (Mr J. Paterson) for the high standard of the concerts presented. He also mentioned the death of Mr Dugald M'Pherson. a past president of the club. Mr J. Wallace (vice-president) seconded the adoption of the report, which was carried by acclamation. The election of officebearers resulted as follows;—President, Mr Dugald Paterson; vice-presidents—Messrs J. Wallace and W. Nicolson; secretary, Mr (Jas. Paterson; treasurer, Mr Alex. M’Millan; committee —Messrs D. Auld, W. Richardson, T. Gilchrist, W. Brown, N. M'Donald. J. Weir. R. MTCinlay, A. M'Leod, R. Paterson. A hearty vote of thanks to toe committee, the retiring president (Mr M'Leod), the press, and Mr Jas. Brown (hon. auditor) concluded the meeting. , There were good yardings in all departments at Burnside stock sale yesterday, the prices generally were better than those ruling a week ago. The entry of’fat cattle was above the average, and prices improved by from 10s to 15s a head. Handyan'teed animals were in keenest demand. Prime ox beef brought from 22s to 24s per 1001 b, and cow beef was worth from 16e to 20s per 1001 b. Eat sheep were also in good supply, a good proportion of the entry being heavy wethers, the remainder being ewes and medium-weight wethers. Freezing buyers wore operating freely at slightly increased limits, and prices advanced by from Is to 2s a head. Prime wether mutton was worth in the vicinity of 4d per lb, heavy-weight wethers about 3id, and ewes approximately 3d. There was a large yarding of lambs, and freezing operators, who were buying at increased limits, bought freely, with the result that enhanced values were obtained, the increase amounting to about le per bead. Prime lamb was worth approximately 7d per lb. Pigs were in somewhat short supply, and competition for all sorts was keen. Prices were a shade firmer than those ruling last week. Baconers brought from 6jd to 7id per lb, and porkers from 7|d to Bd. Thera was a large yarding of etoro cattle, and prices showed a slight improvement on those ruling during too past few months.

At a meeting of the Balelutha Retailers* Association on Tuesday evening the subject of the proposed advance in telephone rentals mas discussed at some length. It was pointed out that although a business firm might consent to pay £l6 & year rental, private subscribers would certainly refuse to pay £9, and the result would be that the department would loee a very large number of subscribers, and storekeepers would suffer through their customer* being unable to communicate orders by ’phone. It was resolved to send an emphatic protest against the proposed charges to the Prime Minister, and to employ a paid canvasser to get signatures to a petition, which it was hoped would include the names of all the subscribers in Bslolutha and vicinity. Keen interest is being taken in the Young Bird Show this year. The White Leghorn and Black Orpington. section, which represents the finest laying* birds in the dominion, will be a fine show, and the novelty class, among which is a four-legged chicken, is sure to excite the curiosity of all. Hie show is to be held to-morrow aad on Saturday. Built for sidecar work, 7-9 h.p. HarleyDavidson motor cycle. Call for a demonstration. Otago agents: W. A. Justice and Co., Imperial parage, 292 Princes street, Dunedin.—Advt The run is on No Rubbing Laundry Help, Golden Buie soap, and “ Keep Smiling" boot polish; exceptional merit; that’s the reason why.—Tours truly, Dunedin grocers.— Advt. ' Men’s warm Union shirts, collars attached, light grounds, with assorted coloured stripes | splendid line for winter wear; poioe Ids 6d post free.—Mollisons Ltd.—Advt. Watson's No. 10 it a little dearer most whiskies, but is worth the money.— Advt. A E. J. Blakeley, dentist. Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray street* (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1559. - Advt. „ Save your Eyes.—Consult Peter G. Dick. D.8.0.A., P. 1.0., London, consulting and oculists’. optician.—“ Peter Diok,” jeweller* and opticians, Moray place, Dunedin.—Advt