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Otago Daily Times, Issue 18763, 17 January 1923, Page 4

The Dunedin portion of the Maunganui’s mail came to hand last night and will be delivered to-day. There are 16 bags from London, one from San Francisco, nine and four hampers from Sydney, four from Melbourne, and one each from Brisbane, Adelaide, and Hobart. The Makura, which arrived at Auckland from Vancouver on Monday, brought 63 ’ bags of letters and periodicals from America for Dunedin. These should reach here to-day. 'lhe Prime Minister was asked yesterday whether New Zealand was to be represented at the proposed Imperial Economic Conference (telegraphs cur correspondent).

He replied that that matter had yet to be considered by Cabinet. It did not appear possible that he himself tfould to able to attend. A Wellington Press Association message states that following upon the reading of a paper before the ethnographical section of the Science Congress by Captain Fitt-Rivers on “The Decline and Extinction of Certain Races' in the Pacific,” a series of resolutions were passed calling on the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, without delay, to take steps *to segregate and prevent the destruction of the primitive races within their dependencies, and appointing a committee to inquire into the factors contributing to the de-

cline of certain native races in the Pacific. In the City Engineer there is at least one person in Dunedin who can afford to look upon the unseasonable weather with a certain amount of equanimity. With the season of summer almost at an end, it might have been expected that there would be a noticeable diminution in the city water supply with consequent numerous and annoying inquiries by irate ratepayers. But this year there has been an abundance of rain, and therefore an abundance of water in the reservoirs. Five members of the visiting English cricket team left for Lumsdon yesterday on a fishing expedition. The remaining members will leave for Queenstown to-day, and after visiting the scenic resorts there they will leave for Invercargill on Friday. leaving Invercargill after the match there the team will travel north to Wellington to play Us match against that province. 'lhe Otago Taxi Owners’ Association has organised local tours for the purpose of acquainting visitors and others with the beauty of the environs of Dunedin. The Mayor (Mr J. S. Douglas) and representatives of the Otago Expansion League, who recognise the municipal value of the tours, have accepted an invitation to make a trip to-rnorrow from Dunedin to Blueskin Saddle, via the Leith Valley, returning via the reservoir, Maori Hill, and Queen’s drive. Gardena and reserves in the city and suburbs are looking exceptionally fresh at

the present time, and are all in excellent order, '.there is one reserve, which, although of no great size, is winning the admiration of all passers-by—the small triangular section at the intersection of George and Albany streets. Some years ago there was nothing to be admired in this particular spot, but it has now been transformed into a place of beauty in which a profusion of plants artistically arranged are very pleasing to the eye. The plot consists of a circular patch of yellow in which there is a 'dark red star. .Surrounding the yellow is a light green border, and the corners of the triangle are Idled up with separate and equally beautiful designs in red, yellow, and green. A splendid example of the excellent results that am be secured by the adoption

of irrigation in Central Otago has b:eii brougiit under our notice in the shape of two sheaves of oats, one of widen was grown on land that secured the beiielit of irrigation, the other being raised under ordinary conditions. It appears that last, autumn Mr IT. L. Paterson, of Cloudy Peak, Lindis Valley, put some 18 acres of land in Oarton oats, using li bushels of seed to the acre. 'The configuration of the country was such that it was impossible to irrigate three acres. The whole of the crop made good growth at the start, and in October, when it was about 6in high, irrigation was applied to the land where it was practicable to do so. 'This portion was thoroughly soaked vigut down to the subsoil, the water being turned on for about two hours. 'The ertect was mown in a very marked manner in the subsequent growth of the crop. The oats cn the non-irrigated portion came along slowly, with only one or two stalks from each plant, whereas those on the remainder cf the land grew splendidly, each plant throwing out, several stalks. There seems to be every reason to believe that the area served by the Government’s new Ardgour water race, which will be available for seme 2000 acres of land, will prove a decided success, judging by the results so far achieved. The value of irrigation in Central Otago will be realised when it is mentioned that its application increases the yield of crop four or five times.

It has become so much the accepted custom for people to go some distance afield tor their holidays that the attractions ot the many near-at-hand resorts such as the sheltered bays and inlets on the Peninsula side of the harbour are apt to be overlooked, except by those who have discovered their particular charms; and when the inconvenience and expense of travelling are contrasted with the advantages of a “holiday at home” it is more than ever surprising that this should be so. Portobello, Broad Bay, and Macandrew’s Bav are all within easy reach of Dunedin, and while they were well patronised during the recent holiday season their attractions were not availed of to the extent that they might have been. At the same time there are evidences, notably in the building of numerous “cribs” and cottages, that these places are enjoying an increased popularity, and as they are provided with adequate’steamer facilities, enabling their temporary or permanent residents to go backwards and forwards to business in the city each day, there is no reason why they should not be even more extensively patronised during the summer months than they are at present. It will no doubt be ot interest to Itarn that many residents of Dunedin have found the attractions of the harbdursido so pleasant that they spend the whole of the school holidays nt one or other of these bays, and there are not a few who have permanently taken up their residence down the harbour. The ferry steamers make the journey to Portobello in a little over an hour, and except for the fact that they are rather largo to be run nt a profit they fulfil the ordinary requirements ot the traffic admirably. In the interests of the residents down the harbour and also of the Ferry Company it may be mentioned that certain parts of the old channel used bv these steamers could with advantage receive attention from the Harbour Board in the way of dredging, notably that portion near the end of the half-tide wall, which has shallowed to such an extent as materially to impede their progress.

The Wahine, on leaving Wellington on Monday evening, ran into one of the worst southerly gales that the vessel had experienced for a long time (says a Lyttelton Press Association message). The weather was exceedingly rough across Cook Strait, and. did not improve until towards tiro close of the trip. Mr Whyte, chief steward, said that the run down was one of the worse he had made on the ferry steamer for many months. Ihe passengers, who numbered about 600, had a bad time, and he had never known so much seasicknesa on any other trip. The Post and Telegraph Department ha*

granted the Otago Radio Association permission to use its -transmitting plant, and Dr Jack, who is in Queenstown, and his assistant, Mr J. Sutherland, who is at present at Pukerau, will conduct four experiments. The first of this series, wnich will be made to-night from 8 to 10 o’clock, will be on a 370-metres wave length. As wireless enthusiasts are scattered all over the country valuable information should be derived as to the strength and direction • i the waves.

“That the relations of Capital and Labour be reversed, and that Capital be paid a pre-determined rate and assured against risks, and that Labour take all can make out of the proceeds of the venture by increased efficiency and application,” was the suggestion contained in a paper road before the Science Congress yesterday by Mr G. H. V. Hamilton, a practical man controlling a saw-milling company with 500 hands (states a Wellington Press Association telegram). At present (he said) Labour’s wage was pre-determined on a basis permitting of bare subsistence, the proposed scheme would average a higher standard of efficiency, and would give the knowledgethat every employee would receive his rightful share of proceeds of his efforts, the employee to hsve such measure of control in the business as was justified by the services rendered. A premium on the bank rate to cover risks could be paid over the pre-determined rate to cover Capital’s risk; half the directorate to be elected by the Capital shareholders, and half by the labour shareholders. Competition and taxation would safeguard the consumer’s legal status, without which the scheme would be impossible on a permanent basis.

The City Fire Brigade received a call at ?.40 e-m. yesterday to the Dunedin Battery and Magneto Company’s premises, Moray place, where a , switchboard was destroyed owing to fusing in the eleotrio installation. The damage was slight. At a short sitting of the City Police Court yesterday, before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., a young man named Thomas John Henry Foote pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing two ox hides valued at £3 9s, the property of Todd Bros. Seniorsergeant Mathieson said that the accused, who had been arrested on Monday night, had stated that he was acting under the instructions of another man, and he asked for a remand, in order that the statement might he investigated. The accused was remanded till January 21, and bail was allowed in his own recognisance of £25 and one surety of £25, on condition that ho reported daily to the police.

The modern Portia came to the Police Court recently (says the Auckland Star). She was charged with having rounded a corner on the wrong side. She walked right up to the bench, armed with a plan and a copy of the city by-laws. The former she handed to tile magistrate, and the latter she opened and quoted from in a musical voice. She argued spiritedly with a redheaded constable in the witness box, whilst reclining against the table which is solely and sacredly the habitat of the clerk of the court on ordinary Decisions. Finally, however, Portia admitted that she had committed a breach of the by-law. “But,” she said, ‘‘it was to save our lives, for otherwise I would have run into a tram.” Then she folded her arms and smiled charmingly at the magistrate. Mr Poynton was disarmed. He smiled back. “You’re just convicted and discharged,” he said. “Thank you,” said Portia, and she passed from the court, still smiling. In many lines of retail business there seems to be a danger of overcrowding, observes the Mercantile Gazette. “During the war period when trade was good and prices were soaring anyone with moderate capital could get a start, but nosy that competition is becoming keener a large number of the new entrants to the retail field find that they are up against it. When prices were on the up grade it did not; take any particular skill or ability to make a success because the main requisite was to sell. Nowadays the difference between profit and loss is measured by a trader’s ' ability to buy. During the past year we regret to stale that a large number of retailers either had to compromise with their creditors or go through the Bankruptcy Court, and in our opinion the reason in many eases has been that the trader should never have started in business on his own account at all.”

Motorists generally will be interested in a statement by Mr J. W. Poynton, b.M., who, when hearing, in the Auckland Police Court, a charge brought by_ the police against a taxi-driver for driving without lights after sunset, said ho did not think the by-law or the Act under which it was framed was reasonable. The police evidence (states the Herald) was to the effect that at 7.21 on a recent evening defendant drove a car without headlights. It was stated that the time was taken by the tramway clock. Sunset that day was at 7.3 p.m. Counsel said (he by-laws unnecessarily affected the public rights to use the King’s highway. It could be framed m such a way as not unreasonably to affect those public rights. According to the by-law there was power to prosecute if lights were not on one minute before sunrise, a time when, he submitted, there was the greatest visibility. The magistrate said the by-law should be altered. It was quite unreasonable to light up at sunset, but it was to prevent disputes as to the lighting-up time that that hour was fixed. It meant a waste of benzine, a waste of thousands of pounds a year; and no one observed it. He- would reserve his decision.

In the three-year-old drv heifer section at the Blueskin Show, G. Fox was placed first, not G. Ford, as appeared m our respite French Consul invites the French residents of New Zealand and the members of tho French clubs of the cities and universities to visit the French cruiser Jules Michelet during her stay in Auckland and Wellington. ~__ , _ £SO Reduction: 1523 model Harley-David-son motor cycles, fitted with carriers. lamps, pump, tools'. Goodyear tyros; best value offering. Remember, £SO per machine reduction. 1025 models now on view.—\\ A. Justice and Co., Imperial Garage, Princes strict. Dunedin. —Advt. Thrilling enthusiasm prevailing throughout Ns v Zealand for “No-Rubbme” Laundry Help, “Keep Smiling” Floor Polish, and “Golden ’ Rule” Soap—the ruling soap.— Mackerras & Hazlett, wholesale distributors. —Advt. The always-busy tailor, tho tailor that has set Dunedin buzzing—(s. S. Roberts, Stock Exchange Buildings. It’s the material in tho garment that gives tho wear. See that it is good—Advt. You can buy such pretty boxes of Lingerie Braid for Is lid; 5 pieces, 4 shades, in each box; at Mollison’s (Ltd.), George street, Dunedin. —Advt. Try Watson’s No. 10 in hot milk for nightcap. Induces sound, refreshing' sleep. Great whisky.—Advt. A- E. J- Blakeley, dentist Bank cl Australasia, corner of Bond and Kattrey streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 3869.-• Advt. . , , , Xmas Jewellery.—Just landed, large selection diamond rings, watches, brooches, pendants, and silver ware. Compare values.— Peter Dick. Jewellers, 490 Moray place.— Advt;