THE CIVILIAN BLIND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18547, 6 May 1922, Page 9

THE CIVILIAN BLIND.

The reproach that nowhere in the British Empire is less done for the civilian blind than in New Zealand is one under which self-respecting citizens of the dominion must be disinclined to rest. By them support should he readily given to Mr Clutha Mackenzie, M.P., in the movement of which he is the principal promoter for the organisation of a fund as a memorial of Sir Arthur Pearson, to whose enthusiasm and energy is due the establishment of the remarkably successful scheme for the training and after-care of sailors and soldiers who were blinded iu the Great War. Sir Arthur Pearson’s name cannot but be revered by all blinded persons for the simple and sufficient reason that he brought into their life a strong ray of hope, carrying with it the practical certainty that they might, by the exercise of their will, triumph over their personal misfortune. The proposal with which Mr Mackenzie has identified himself and to the promotion of which he is dedicating a large measure of his activity is to secure for the blinded inhabitants of New Zealand benefits corresponding to those that have been enjoyed by the ex-service men in St. Bunstan’s Hostel; in London. The Jubilee Institute for the Blind in Auckland is described by Mr Mackenzie as of a pre-Pearson type. It is designed to modernise it as an institution for the purposes of education and training in craftsmanship and in professional callings and to graft on to it an After-care Department of the kind which has been proved by Home experience to be absolutely necessary. Given instruction and after-care on the lines which are followed at St. Dunstan’s, the blinded members of our community may he fitted to become useful, economic units in the society of the dominion. It is a great object which Mr Mackenzie has in view and it is an attainable object. The advantages of its achievement will be public as well as personal. It conveys a message of cheer to the blinded and it contemplates the addition of all who are deprived of sight to the ranks of the industrial and productive assets of the community. A movement which is directed to this beneficent purpose merits all the support that may be* given to it. A cable message published in Australia with reference to the five million loan, which the Government of New Zealand has floated in London, states that £3,000,000 of the loan money is already booked for expenditure in Great Britain on railway material which is urgently required in the dominion. Prior to the clc«e of the. meeting of the Otago Harbour Board yesterday afternoon Mr Loudon referred to a matter in connection with the possible establishment of a new industry in Dunedin. He stated that during the previous week a deputation from the Otago Expansion League, and including several business men. had waited on the chairman (Mr Scollay) and some of the members of the board with regard to the extension of Messrs Bryant and May’s match works in New Zealand. The deputation stated that this firm had experienced difficulty in securing accommodation for its new factory in Wellington, whereas splendid facilities could b© offered in Dunedin on the Harbour Board’s lands. Mr Scollay had informed the deputation that the board had not been idle,, and that particulars oif their available lands had been distributed broadcast throughout..the . dominion and the commonwealth. A telegram had later been sent to Messrs' Bryant and May and a courteous reply had been received, stating that the representations made therein would be fully considered. On the motion of Mr Loudon the board authorised the chairman to take- any , steps he considered necessary to further the matter, and it also agreed that Mr N. Galbraith, who purposes visiting Wellington early next week, should be authorised officially to wait upon Messrs Bryant arid" May and supply them with full details, as to the sites and facilities available on the harbour lands in Dunedin for the establishment of their factory. At Thursday’s meeting. of the- Commit; tee of "the Amenities and T6wK Planning Society, Mr A. Bathgate presiding,- arrangements were made for proceeding with the' year’s operations. Some work, previously authorised, has already been begun under Mr Tannook’s * direction. This includes the planting of trees iti View street, the planting of trees in Meadow street, Mornington, and the extension of the line of ash trees in Eglinton road. The questioner placing trees in Cumberland stree't,' near the railway line, from Rattray street to the Anderson Bay road is Under... considers: tion. There wae a brief discussion on the question of increasing the membership, and tiie matter was reserved for further consideration. A full supply of fish waa on sale-at the Rattray street wharf - yesterday, no fewer - than five trawlers—the Braves, . the Moe/angi, the Freda Powell, the Kaiora, and the Christina—having brought harvests from the sea.. One vessel had 25 cases of full-bodied trevalli, each case containing Seven dozen, <or 2100 trevalli in all. This supply wax rather too much for • the local market, but the greater proportion -were sold at three and four a shilling. It is expected that the rest of the supply -will be sold out this morning. Large soles,-at three for a shilling, met a keen demand, ‘ and about 300 dozen *of these fish -were purchased from the trawlers. Red cod were disposed of at three and four for a shilling, large-sized ling brought a shilling each, and terakai ■ ahd kingfish also, met a sound demand. Flounders were scarce, but those on offer brought 4s a dozen. Trevalli are' very plentiful in the Lower Harbour at present, ahd most of the catch brought to Dunedin yesterday were caught in Seine nets at the Spit. Despite the large number of purchasers at the wharf yesterday, there are still apparently a number of people who are unaware that these fish sales take place. This is pro- / bably accounted for by the fact that not sufficient publicity- is given in regard to the arrival of the trawlers in Dunedin. At the meeting of the City Council on Wednesday night the Finance Committee will recommend that authority bo granted to proceed with the flotation of the unraised balance of the tramways loan of £26,000, subject to a satisfactory reply being received from the Government relative to the department’s antecedent liability. The General Committee of the City Council reports that an offer has been received from the Now Zealand Wax Vesta Company, Ltd.,' to exchange portion of its land for portion of the council’s property at Forbury corner, known as the Children’s Playground. The matter is being, investigated, and will be reported on in due- oourse, A diagram has- been received by the General Committee of the City Council from the Early Settlers’ Association showing the proposed location of Dr Stuart s Monument in the northern comer of the reserve adjoining the Eaxly Settlers’ Hall. The committee considers that the site suggested is not a suitable one, and haa again communicated with the association suggesting ■ that the monument should be placed' ia~ the centre of the reserve.

The proposals submitted to the City Council by the Otago Labour Council relative to the council undertaking the importation and retailing of electric fittings, and the provision of lighting and heating services on the time-payment system, have been given duo consideration by (he Electric Power and Lighting Committee. The department has already extended, to a modified extent, the time-payment principle to various classes of consumers who undertake to return to the' council sufficient revenue within a period of four years to cover the cost of the extension. The existing statutory authority, however, enables the council to deal satisfactorily with owners of premises only, and not with occupiers. With regard to the suggestion that the council engage in the business of importing and retailing fittings, the committee is of opinion that it would be unwise at the present time to enter into the retail trade. Large stocks would need tb© carried, and money is too dear to afford any prospect of the council being able to materially reduce prices to the general public. Arrangements are under consideration for the more effective control ond direction of the traffic in Anzao square. The Superintendent of Police is being approached in the matter, and it is hoped that definite proposals may bo submitted to the City Council at an early date. Tbe operations of the Dunedin Drainage Board for the past year showed a surplus of £2419, -while the surplus for the coming year is estimated at £I3BO.- Provision has been maefe in the statement for a contribution to a renewal fund to the extent of £2500, the committee being of the opinion that it is essential that such a fund be now established. The amount available for loan works, etc, during the year is estimated at £5406. The tot estimated cost of the works proposed to be carried out during the present year of the board’s general fund is £4559. It may- be remembered that the Otago Patriotic Association voted to the Belgian Orphan Fund the balance of the sum raised by it for relief purposes in Belgium. After years of delay the money has reached the hands of Mr B. Pollett, Consul-general for Belgium in London, along with a sum by the Auckland Patriotic Association, which comprises the larger part of the amount forwarded from New Zealand to the Belgian Orphan Fund. Mr G. L. Denniston, Consul for Belgium in Otago, has now received a letter from Mr Pollett, which, acknowledging a donation of £7141 from the Otago Patriotic Association as a part of a total cheque of £23,161 10s lid from the High Commissioner for New Zealand, will be of interest to thdSe who were instrumental in raising the money. “I have to thank you most sincerely for what you have done in the matter,” Mr Pollett writes to Mr Denniston, “and beg you to express our profound gratitude. to the Otago Association for its very important donation. As you know, the money will be used for the establishment and working of an agricultural, horticultural, arid professional school we have organised at Mont Saint Guihert, Brabant, Belgium. We think no better use of the donations could be made, and . I am Sure. the New Zealand donors, oil interested in agriculture, will' approve of our decision.” ■ It is reported'by the Works Committee of the City Council that steps have been taken to remove fences which have been erected on the Leith walling at Forth street by an adjoining property owner. It is intended to take any further steps that may be found necessary to preserve the right of the public to the free passageway over the portion of land forming the original bed of the Water of Leith. ‘ His Honor Mr Justice Sim has granted probate, in the ©states of Eleanor Robinson, Agnes Shore,.. John Bell, Mary Fogarty, Christina Briggs Middleton, Frederick Tripp (Outram), John Fleming (Kaihiku), Thos. Johnston (Waikouaiti), and Alex. Orr (Clinton) letters .pf _ administration have -been granted, in the estate of Jane Emery. A . motion for ..a direction for service of an originating summons was granted in the matter of Annie Louisa Turnbull v. Jphri Roberts arid others, in connection with a marriage deed of settlement!. .X A Press Association telegram says that a representative'meeting of-cheese factory suppliers at Carterton approved the pror pdsal to Establish a dairy produce pool. “In reference to a German school, it is true a deputation from these districts approached me on the matter,” said the Hon.. C. J. Parr, when yesterday morning. It seems that a number of children of German descant are living in these places, and a schdol. is in Course of construction for them (says a Press Association" wire , from Aucklarid). The deputation was averse on. patriotic grounds to separate national,schools being .established,, so far as; education was concerned, arid thought they - should be discouraged.. It drew ■ attention to .the amendment to the Education Act last year, and requested him to take action under it. ; Mr, Parr addo< 1 that an" important issue had been raised, and declined* to rimke any, further statement until he had thoroughly investigated the .situation. ,• , At, a meeting of the Committee of the Christchurch-Plumbers’ Union a letter was received from the New Zealand Plumbers’ Union asking for inforriiation as to arrival of immigrant"plumbers from England (wires our Christchurch correspondent). It was stated that advertisements appeared some months ago in English newspapers stating that the services,, of ,25 plumbers were required in New; Zealand. .As. a result a number of plumbers recently arrived in Auckland froni Erigland, only to discover that work was not available, and tbit quite a number of plumbers were already out of employment in the dominion. It was reported that so, far as Christchurch was concerned there had been no new arrivals from England, recently. Members of the committee agreed that, generally speaking,- the building trade was in a .more healthy condition in the South Island than in Wellington or Auckland. A Christchurch plumber, when asked about this matter, said- ho thought advertisertrents-'-which appeared in the English papers were inserted by the New Zealand Government,, and possibly the plumbing work to be done was in connection with.Jhe railways. He thought this was another aspect of a misleading propaganda campaign, about which complaint was heard recently.- There was no unemployment among plumbers in -Christchurch at present, 'and, with better prospects jn the building trade, what unemployed immigrant plumbers there were about would find vfork shortly; Mr H. E.- Holland, M.P., Leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party, addressed a public- meeting at Invercargill last night on the lines of his speeches elsewhere • (says a Press Association tmeasage). . There was an attendance of,about .600, and Mr Holland was accorded a .vote of. thanks and confidence. At the Port Chalmers—Court yesterday, the hearing of a charge against Dr Arthur ■John Cottrell of motoring at lawyers’ Bay at a rate of speed exceeding that permitted by the. West Harbour Borough by-laws, was adjourned for a month. John M'Master, manager of the Port Chalmers Cash Butchery, pleaded guilty to a charge of selling meat after hours, but he stated that he supplied it to .-a man after 6 p.m. because that man said he had to catch an early train next morning before the butchery opened. A fine of 20s, with costs (7s), was inflicted. Mr J. R Bartholomew, S.M., was on the. bench. Ip all 4496 boxes of a'pples were consigned from Beaumont at the beginning of the week for shipment per s.s. Cornwall, for London. Of these 1750 boxes are from Roxburgh, where they were packed in a central packing shed. These are being shipped through the National Mortgage and Agency Company (Dunedin), while the others are going through Thomas BossWalker, of Hobart. The packing, locally, was under the Supervision* of a local committee, assisted- by the Government instructor, Mr Goodman, and the packing and handling staff, as well as material, was supplied by it, the cost-to be divided pro rata among the shippers. The fruit was mechanically graded, and though the packers did not possess a' great deal of experience in packing for export, their output after the first day was quite up to the standard of experienced packers, and the duty of the inspecting officer was very light. Quite as much''interest is being centred in the cost of packing The consignment as in its ultimate. result, -os it will afford a practical demonstration of the cost of operating a central packing shed.

The retail price of milk in Balclutha has been reduced from 5d to 3d a quart. The price in Dunedin has been increased from 4d to 6d a quart os from the beginning of the month. The final meeting of the M'Oulloch Presentation Committee was hold last evening, Mr A. E. Usherwood presiding. The treasurer presented a satisfactory statement, and all arrangements were made for the public presentation to Mr M'Oulloch and the crew in the Art Gallery Hall on the evening of Thursday, May 11. The Mayor has consented to preside, and the committee will have the assistance of the Dunedin Pipe Band and a number of leading musicians to enliven the proceedings. The express from Christchurch was held up again last night on the Puketeraki incline owing to the slippery state of the rails, which was due to a thick drizzle round the coast. The train had to be divided and pulled -up the grade in two -sections. It was about 40 minutes late in arriving at Dunedin. The Dunedin Highland Pipe Band will play in the Botanic Gardens to-morrow (Sunday) afternoon, when some new selections will be submitted. Sie secretary for the Dunedin and Sub,n Mutual Money Club advises that loans to the amount of £17.60 and 66 shares were applied for during the month of April. The Dunedin Starr-Bowkett Building Society invites applications for shares in No. 5 group, to be started shortly. The United ' Starr-Bowkett Building ✓Society invites membership for the new No. 6 group. The annual week of prayer and selfdenial on behalf of home and foreign missions appointed by the Baptist Union will be observed -by the Baptist Churches of the city from to-morrow. A united communion service will be held in the Hanover' Street Church on Thursday evening. At the evening service at the Hanover Street Baptist Church' to-morrow a missionary address will be delivered by Mr Wilfrid L. Mills, who has just returned on furlough from the Sudan, where he-has spent some nine years in pioneer mission work in connection with the Sudan United Mission. In order that the general public may have an opportunity of seeing the collection of v paintings, statuary, etc., brought to New Zealand by -Mr A. ChiarOni, the Art Gallery Hall, in which the collection is housed,, will be open .from 2 to 4 p.m. to-morrow. U.T.A. Spiritual Church mission services will be held in Kroon’s Hall, Moray place, to-morrow at 3 "and 7.15 p.m. The Otago Mutual Starr-Bowkett Society is disposing of £SOO. free loan on Thursday, May 11, in the secretary’s office, at 8 p.m., and also invites applications for shares in No. 3 group. The fine old English comedy “Our Boys will be staged in His Majesty’s Theatre from Wednesday, -17th, to Saturday, 20th May, by the Dunedin Comedy (Club, the proceeds to be devoted to the fund for St. Paul’s (DimedinUCathedral Soldiers’ Memorial Window. ' The design for this magnificent wort is now on exhibition at Braithwaite’s (Ltd.). . The annual meeting of the Patients and Prisoners’ Aid Society, will be held in tha Council Chambers, Town Hall, at 5 o clock on Monday afternoon. The speaker will be Mr Justice Sim; -the Mjiyqr, Sir George Fenwick, Professor Davies, Dr Barnett, Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., and Mr F. G. Gumming. - . . The morning! service at the Central Mission to-morrow will be conducted by the Rev. Clarence Eaton, the subject being • The' Wonderful Works of Gdd.” MisS Mattie Edgar will sing “The Children s Home.” A church parade of Y.M.C.A. lads' will take place at the evening service. The Rev. R. Ditferich, of Melbourne, will bo the preacher. ' Miss Kitty M'Callum will, sing “The Harvesters’ Night Song, and Mr Chaa. A. Martin Will render as an organ solo “Nocturne in F minor” (Bohm). At Trinity Methodist Church to-morrow morning the preacher' will bo the Rev. K. Ditterich, who . holds a . high position in the Australian church. ' THe etenmg service will be conducted by the. Rev. Rugby Pratt, who will preach on “The Passion for the Piquant.” .. „ , • ' Notices of the following Sunday services will be found in our advertising columns : Anglican;'St. Paul’s, St. Matthew’s All Saints’, Taieri-oum-Green Island, Woodbaugh. Presbyterian: ' First, Russell Street Hall, Knox, St. Andrew’s, Roslyn, Chalmers, Kensington, North-East Valley, Opoho, Stuart Hall, Pine Hill, CavershAm, Leith Valley.’ Methodist: Central Mission, Trinity, .St. Kilda, Glenaven, Woodhaugh, Dundas Street, Ravensbourne, Broad Bay, Kensington, Macandrew’s Bay, Highcliff. Baptist: .Hanover Street. Congregational t Moray Place. ' Wesley;'Cargill Road. Salvation Army, Dowling street! Church of Christ: Tabernacle. Theosophists; Dowling Street Hall. Pentecostal Mission: Orange Hall. Spiritualists: Hanover 'Street. Theomonists: Kroop’s Hall Built for side-car work, 7-9 h.p. HarleyDavidson motor cycle. Call for a demonstration. Otago agents: W, A. Justice and Co., Imperial Garage, 292 Princes street, Dunedin. —Advt. Abraham Lincoln will always be lovingly remembered for abolishing .negro slavery; likewise Dunedin commercial travellers for their nart in abolishing washboard slavery with “No-Rubbing” Laundry .Help.—Advt. 18-ineh floral nets for evening-wear; shades—cream, sky* Paris-, .and -pink;. usual price 3s lid; May bargain price-, 2s fid yard. Mollisohs Ltd.—Advt. ; Otago Motcfr Cycle Hih_ Climb.—H. Burr row, on 7-9 h.p“ Indian, . secured fastest time sidecar' claps; , also fastest time sold class.—Od.oke, _ Howlisort,' agdfits,. Dunediri,— Advt. Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure, • for Coughs "find ’ Colds', never fails.—Adyt,. Would respectable person ..look after children’s graves? Also, would give orphan child.di'ome for company.—Apply. Mrs Weir M'lntosh, 61. Melville street.—Advt. !. Strange;- ‘but true. .'• Startling reductions in tailored suits. There,, are -reasons why you should let us make your suits! Style, satisfaction, arid workmanship guaranteed. Suits, frbrii £6 10s.—G. S; Roberts, Stock Exchange Buildings.—Advt. • Watson’s No. 10 is a little .dearer than, mist - whiskies, but is worth the- moneys Advt. ' '; “ ; A E. J. Blakeley, dentist, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph 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 and opticians, Moray place, Dunedin,—Advt,