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Otago Daily Times, Issue 18752, 4 January 1923, Page 4

An Australian mail of 16 bags and seven hampers, ex the Manuka, at Wellington, will come to hand to-day, and will bo delivered to-morrow morning. There are eight bags and one hamper from Sydney, five bags and six hampers from Melbourne, and one bag each from Brisbane, Adelaide, and Hobart.

There is still about £7OOO outstanding of the £193,000 of rates to be collected by the Dunedin City Corporation for the current financial year. During the month of December £136,000 was paid, prior to that £50,000 was received. Tile percentage of rates unpaid this year is 3.6; in 1921 it was 3.1, and in 1920 it was 4.0. It will be seen that the position is not quite so satisfactory as it was last year, but the average has been fairly well maintained. The re-manning of ships in Lyttelton nft<*r the holidays is proceeding without a hitch (says n Lyttelton Press Association message), there being ample labour offering for vessels needing it. Many men stood by during the holiday period, and are now accepting re-employment on, their vessels. Crews were signed on to-day for the Kaimanawa, the Kamo, and the Waikouaiti. Our Queenstown correspondent wires that the weather over the New Year holidays was somewhat showery, militating slightly against, excursions. However, large num bers of visitors took advantage of the various outings, particularly the steamer trip up the lake on New Year’s Day. A successful bowling tournament (rinks) was held on New Year’s Day, concluding yesterday, when a tie was played off between Domigan, a local man, and Adess (a St. Eilda player). The latter was beaten by a few points. A large number of people are returning to their homes and business this week, many making a longer stay this year.

An important meeting of the members 6f the Government Party will be held in Wellington next week (cays an Auckland Press Association message), when the position of the Government and the party in respect of administrative responsibilities will bo considered- The projected short session will probably open about February 14. The Dunedin waterfront was very busy yesterday, when work was resumed after the Now Year holidays. The majority of the labour available was engaged, about 70 men being employed on the Waipori, 65 on the Kaituna, and about 30 on the Whangape, which arrived here yesterday afternoon from Sydney, via Wellington and Lyttelton, and has a. considerable quantity of cargo for discharge at this port. The Holmdalo also employed several gangs. The only vessel not working the whole day was the KaitAngata, her labour being transferred to another steamer. A busy period will be experienced during the next few days as the Port Darwin, from Glasgow and Liverpool, is due to-morrow, with over 1000 tons of general English' cargo. The Waihora, with Eastern cargo and hardwood, from Bunbury, is due here to-day, and also (he Wingatui, from Auckland via ports. Work was also commenced'' on the Shaw, SaviH, and Albion liner lonic, which has been delayed at. Port Chalmers owing to the holidays, about 40 men being engaged in loading wool, tallow, and general cargo. It is hoped to despatch her tomorrow for Wellington, where she will complete Homeward loading. Yesterday the city in some respects resembled a drowsy child that, half awake, sits up and rubs its eyes and would fain fall back to sleep. ■ The retail places of business displayed their wares as usual, it is true, but, with the exception of those shops that cater for everyday wants (which experienced brisk trade) “business as usual” could scarcely bo described as the experience of shopkeepers. Even in the walk of people about the streets there was a noticeable lethargy, but then the temperature may have contributed to that as well as the first unwelcome realisation that there was a long road of eat, work, and sleep called 15"23 stretching in front of the walker. Of course, custom having re-assertcd its claim to obedience, the road should wear a much more inviting appearance by today. Regarding the coming visit of the French cruiser (latest advices are that the Victor Hugo will not visit Now Zealand), the Mayor yesterday despatched the following telegram to the Consul for France. Auckland:—“Would be pleased if you will make representations for a visit of the French cruisers Victor Hugo and Jules Michelet to this city. Carnival Week in Dunedin "begins on. February 3, and there are several other important functions during the same month. A visit from the Industries Commission would help to strengthen commercial relations with France.”

So far as can be gathered the unemploy ment spectre which hovered about Dunedin for a goodly part of 1922 has, with the promise of a plentitude of work during the summer months, taken wings to itself. There are now numbers of jobs of s. varied nature offering in the country, and, due no doubt to the brighter outlook for the country’s producers, it looks as if employment in the cities is going to offer much more freely. Whether or not there will be a return to the unfortunate conditions of last winter during the winter to come depends, of course, upon the gods who control produce prices, taxation, and other departments of importance in the intricate system called civilisation. The Harbour Board, which had a number of “relief” men on the deviation works during last year, does not see any necessity for continuing to invite this class of labour during the summer. In the current issue, the Railway Officers’ Advocate points out the grave necessity that exists fer the strict observance of all rules governing the movement and handling of trains, on the part of both the train crews and those ip charge of the signalling or in control at stations. “There exists throughout the whole of the staff dealing with the running of trains a very laudable desire to minimise train delays, more especially if these are caused I by some failure of the equipment or accident that could not have been foreseen, or by a faulty time-table arrangement which does not permit of sufficient time to enable the actual work at a station—for example, the crossing of two rrains to be got through” (says the Advocate). “But anxiety to give trains quick despatch should not be permitted to lead to the use of ‘short-cut’ methods with respect to signalling at any station, and least of all at those where the home or other signal governing the entrance to the station precincts is only just in view of the station. It may be very convenient for the driver of a heavy train to pull up out of sight in order to avoid re-starting his train, on a grade or a curve, leaving the signalman to guess whether or not he has come to a stop, but .... such a practice, or, indeed, any loose method of handling trains, .sooner or later leads to trouble. For the safety of the travelling public and the crews of trains, and for their own protection as well, all members concerned with train-signalling should* adhere strictly to the rules governing this branch of their work.” The Rev. T. Fielden-Taylor, the wellknown missioner of St. Peter’s Church, Wellington, who is at present camping wita 160 city boys,/is keen upon securing about 20 acres of land in the Wairarapa to establish a farm on which to train, some of the boys that pass through his hands. “I believe,” said the rev. gentleman, “that if such a farm v,-cre at my disposal it would prove instrumental in reforming many a promising lad whom city life had caused to make a false step.” Mr Taylor said he had already unfolded his scheme to the Anglican clergymen of the Wairarapa, who were entirely sympathetic, but who had not yet been able to discover a land-owner magnanimous enough to place the proposal on a promising footing. 6olonel Sir Henry G. Norris, chairman of the Arsenal Football Club,- contributes an outspoken article on “The Road to Ruin in Football.” to Cassell’s Magazine. When a player was transferred from one club to another before, he says, any sum around £2OOO was considered to be tremendous. even for-players of the very highest class. Since the war, however, £SOOO has been paid for the transfer of a star player, and there are several oases on record in which the £4OOO figure has been exceeded. Sir Henry suggests a maximum transfer fee of £1650, and is convinced that no player is worth more than £IOOO. He believes that the present unlimited transfer system is the road to ruin for the clubs, and that the expenditure cf fortunes for star players does much to annoy the sportsman. . A touching little incident occurred at the King George Hospital, Rotorua, the other day. One of the infantile paralysis patients, a small boy of 10, going borne for Christmas, and, incidentally, also cureu, approached : the sister in, charge of the ward with extended hand and the remark that he would like sister to have / “this” for Christmas. “This” was fourpence—a threepenny bit and a penny, and surely no more touching tribute could be given to tho kindness shown to these unfortunate little children by the hqspital staff, and particularly the sister concerned. During the past year 151 persons or firms were adjudicated bankrupt in Auckland province, including the city (states the Auckland Star). Some idea of the position may be gained by comparison with the figure for 1921, which was only 56. The number of bankruptcies recorded during each month were January, 8; February, 12; March, 11; April, 7; May, 22; June, 17; July, 15; August, 16; September, 11; October, 10; November 11; December, 11. In reviewing the position, the Official Assignee (Mr W. S. Fisher) said that the increase in the number ,of bankruptcies had neen large, but so far as he could gauge the rush was now passing. He thought that 1923 would show a great diminution in failures. The Curator of Birds in the New York Zoological Gardens, Mr W. Beebe, who is also a Director of the British Guiana Tropical Research Station, has written to Mr R. B. Owen, Christchurch, in reply to a request for advice os to the best means of establishing white swans on the upper reaches of the Avon. Mr Beebe wrote on 28111 November:—“l am unable to proffer help in regard to the swans without a more detailed knowledge of the general condition of the river, ancf of the food they can get at the estuary, etc. I should think that several months’ confinement on an island, with feeding in one spot, would result in their always returning to that spot. If you had a flock with one leader, by tethering that bird it might be possible to induce the others io remain.” Tbs present position in regard to fireblight in Auckland district was described on Tuesday by Mr G. A. Green, a member of the local Fireblight Committee (wires our Auckland correspondent). He said blight was now fairly prevalent- throughout the Waitemata county, and other Auckland districts, but the outbreak was -not regarded as very serious. In every instance it was still showni by observations throughout the district that pear trees yere more subject than apple trees to infection, and some types of trees were more prone to attacks than others. In some parts of the districts blight appeared to be more virulent in one season than in another, and in this respect the experience of America was being reproduced. It was quite evident, added Mr Green, (hat the main basis of elimination was the cutting out of hawthorns and of all infected tv.’igs and branches before the “ooze” or suppuration stage waa reached. Meetings will lie held on January 6 ct Millers Flat and Roxburgh for the purpose of forming Farmers’ Union branches. £SO Reduction: 19215 model Harley-David-son motor cycles, fitted with carriers, lames, pump, tools, Goodyear tyres; best value offering. Remember, £SO per machine reduction. 1925 models now on view.—W A. Justice and Co., Imperial Garage. Princes street, Dunedin. Advl. As a dirt ejector and scientific clothes savor “ No-Rubbing” Laurv’ry Help holds premier position. Is packet docs seven washings perfectly.—Mackerras & Hazlett, wholesale distributors.—Advt. The always-busy tailor, the tailor that has set Dunedin buzzing—G. S. Roberts, Stock Exchange Buildings, It’s the material in the garment that gives the wear. Seo that it is good.—Advt. Attention is directed to the advertisement in this issue of Hawera Borougn Council sale of leases of hotel and shop properties. —Advt. Port Chalmers.—Clearing sale for ten days. All showroom goods and boots and shoes.—J. Watson (Ltd.), George street. Port Chalmers.—-Advt. Buy your Christmas gifts now while we have the largo selections.—Mollisons Ltd., corner George and Frederick streets, Dunedin. —Advt. The nip for nippy winter weather. Watson’s No 10. Fine old Scotch whisky.— Advt. A. E. J. Blakeley, dentist Bank cf Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859. Advt. Xmas Jewellery.—Just landed, large selection diamond rings, watches, brooches, pendants, and silver wans. Compare values.— Peter Dick, Jewellers,, 490 Moray place.— Advt.