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Otago Daily Times, Issue 18867, 21 May 1923, Page 6

Fifteen bankruptcies were notified in the New Zealand Gazette last week, seven of them being in the North Island. \ The stone of completion of the Papatoetoe Orphans’ Home was placed in position on Saturday by the Governor-General as Grand Master of New Zealand Masonic Grand Lodge with full Masonic honours (says an Auckland Press Association message). The ■t reemasons have played a large part in raising funds for completing the building, which can now accommodate 100 orphans. A Wellington Press Association message states that in replying to a deputation from the Technical School Teacher’s Association, which stated that it was desired to thank the Minister of Education and the department for introducing the system of grading or classification, which was a decided improvement on the old order of things, the Hon. C. J. Parr said it had to be remembered that the grading system was as yet in its infancy. Gradually perfection would be attained. He promised to consider sympathetically the cases of old teachers who lacked academic attainments. The Dunedin branch of the R.S.A. recently telegraphed the Prime Minister urging that immediate publication be given to the report of the War Pensions Commission which sat in November of last year. The secretary (Mr A. C. Laing) is now advised by the Minister of Defence (Sir R. Heaton Rhodes) that after careful consideration it has been decided that the report will not be made public until it is laid on the table of the House. A Christchurch Press Association message states that the schooner Zita has been released on payment of debts and handed to the mortgagor, Mr A. Rout, of Nelson. The Superintendent of Police has received advice that Herbert George Gilchrist, 17 years of age, left his narents’ house at Oturehua at noon on Friday to go rabbit-shooting, and his dead body was found in the evening, with a bullet wound in the right side. It is supposed that ho accidentally shot himself. Jhe City and South Dunedin Brigades each despatched a machine at 9.47 a.m. yesterday to a. gorse fire, at Gallon Hill, Caversham. The outbreak was quickly extinguished, no serious damage being done. Sir Francis Bell’s house at Lowry Bay was entered on Monday and jewellery and money to the value of £BO stolen from Miss Bell’s room (says a Wellington Press Association message). A man who was arrested in Masterton on other charges is alleged to have been in possession of similar jewels. He will appear before the court at Wellington this week. At a meeting of farmers under th* auspices of the Dannevirke branch of the Farmers*’ Union (says Dannevirke Press Association telegram), on the motion of Mr F.. A. Ransom, M.P., seconded by Mr K. S. Chadwick, it was decided to support the principle of establishing agricultural banks in Now Zealand. “I am largely in accord with the desires of the conference as to examinations,” the Hon. C. J. Parr (Minister of Education) told the Secondary Schools’ Association (says a Wellington Press Association message). He was entirely in accord with the association’s view that it was not in the interest of post-elementary education that the Senate of the University of New Zealand should be in a position almost to state what the examination should be. To permit this to continue would not be in the interests of education. There was something wider and bigger in secondary education than matriculation. Ho could not say how far, or how long, (he Minister of the department could permit Ihe old system to go on. and the whole system of post-elementary education to be overshadowed by the Senate. They had approached the Senate on the subject, but that body bad proved somewhat obstinate; and it might be necessary for them to take other steps in future. » A Christchurch Press Association message stales that according to a telegram despatched to the Prime Minister by Messrs Sullivan, Armstrong, Howard, and M’Combs, M.P.’s, unemployment is again in evidence in Christchurch. The telegram reads: “There are well over 100 unemployed registered with the Labour Bureau in Christchurch, and more with (he labour unions. We urge you to go on immediately with public works in Christchurch. We suggest the immediate problem could bo helped at once bv commencing the West Christchurch. Richmond. Opawa. West Lyttelton, and Boys’ High Schools. Provision should also be at once made for more nemanent work during the winter months, as unemployment is apparently going to be acute.” A telegram has also been sent to. the Minister of Education urging that, the work on the schools mentioned be commenced at once. A similar telegram was sent to the Minister of Public Works. The Prime Minister has received cabled advkH' from (ho Imperial Government to the effect that the Sea Carriage of Goods Bill, passed during last session of Parliament, received the Royal Assent on the 4th inst (says a Wellington Press Association message). This Act in the main includes existing legislation relating to the liability for sea carriage of goods, taken from the Shipping and Seamen’s Act, 1908. Other clauses which are included were agreed upon between the shipping and importing interests during the hearing of evidence last sess’on before the Statutes Revision Committee of both Houses of Pa..lament.

An Auckland Press Association message states that the Makura’s' passengers have been ordered to remain in quarantine until June 4. This period will be completed with the voyage to Sydney. . The vessf will fly the quarantine flag until she is* cleared at that port. The Makura will be allowed to proceed to Sydney after the transhipment of her cargo, which will commence to-day. No fresh cases of smallpox have been reported among the passengers and crew'. The health authorities are sparing no efforts to make the passengers comfortable on Quarantine Island. Taranaki has the reputation—and a deserved one, too —of possessing the best roads in New Zealand (states a tocal exchange!. They are macadamised roads with what is commonly called a tar sealing, though the word "tar” is made to cover several preparations. The best streets in New Zealand cities are of macadam covered with an asphaltic cushion. Experience has taught that these roads and streets, though more costly to construct than ordinalmacadam, are more economical in practice and mere satisfactory in every respect, on© very great point in their favour, especially in city streets, being that they are comparatively dustlesa. In and around Auckland concrete appears to .be held in high favour, possibly because the cement is a local production and there is abundance of good aggregate. At a conference ofAuckland suburban local bodies the . other day it, was stated by one speaker that concrete is the only material’that will stand modern motor traffic. Such a statement betrays a want of knowledge which, if acted upon, may prove costly. When John Francis O’Keefe, who was recently sentenced to three years’ hard labour at Palmerston North for theft of various articles from the Club Hotel, Dannevirke, was on his way to gaol he took the opportunity of informing Mr G. W. Merrylees, the owner, where he had planted a -watch that was amongst the articles stolen, saying that he had thrown it in some hay in an old shed at Matamau. Mr Merrylees (says the Dannevirke Evening News) went to the shed, but was unable to locate the watch, although he recovered a scent bottle which had been taken from his bedroom. The shed had the appearance of having been occupied by swaggers, and it is presumed a wayfarer had picked uv> the watch, which the owner valued at £SO. It was an 18-carat gold chiming piece. Tlie executive of the Auckland Industrial Association on Wednesday received a letter from the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association asking whether it would be prepared to allow Dunedin a free hand in deciding the scope of the Exhibition to be held there in 1925-26, and whether the support of manufacturers would still be forth’coming if an international venture were decided upon. It was decided to reply that the scope of the Exhibition was one for the decision of the citizens of Dunedin. If the Exhibition were made international the matter would be considered by the Industrial Corporation. In any circumstances, however, members of the Auckland Association would do all in their power to aid the success of the Exhibition. An extraordinary accident occurred on the West Coast of the South Island recently. Mrs A. Ritchie was walking in her garden when suddenly the ground gave way beneath her. She clung to the .surface, however, and her cries soon brought assistance. Whefi’ she was rescued it was •discovered that an old digger’s -shaft, which had apparently been covered over with timber and earth, had been sunk in the garden many years ago. No one knew of the shaft, and the possibilities of a serious drowning accident were hidden under a well-kept lawn. The depth of the shaft can only be estimated, as a pole, 16ft long, could not reach the bottom of the water, which was about five feet from the surface. The King Edward Technical College .ExStudents’ Association held a social in the Burt Hall on Saturday night. There was ' a large attendance of members and friends, aiid a happy time was spent in' playing games and dancing. The attitude of the importer toward the proposed Customs regulations governing the 1 admittance of German goods into New Zealand vva s explained in a letter received by the executive of the Auckland Industrial Association last Wednesday from Mr J. R. Rendell. Mr Eendell put forward a recommendation that to the imposition of the 10 per cent, or 15 per cent, preferential tariff should be added a depreciated currency duty of, say, 20 to 25 per cent., levied upon the normal export price of such goods quoted in English currency. The antidumping clausa relating to goods sold below the local market price for local consumption could still be given effect to when necessary. In moving that the letter be received, the president, Mr J. A. C. Allum. said that under the proposed regulations it would be almost impossible to tell what the landed cost of German and Austrian articles woulU be. No better protection could be devised than this, for no importer would be likely to send for goods the landed cost s;f which would not be known until they were actually on the shelves of the Customs shed. If, after the goods were imported, it was found they could compete jrith locally-made articles, manufacturers "would be able to make a protest and have the Customs duty raised. Dr H. E. S. Stiven, the principhl medical officer at the Government Hospital, Port Said, gi v ®s a u account in the “Lancet” of a perfectly white negro whom he treated. “His father and mother are typical black Sudanese.” writes Dr Stiven. ‘‘No relatives of his mother were abnormally coloured, and his father, by another wife, had all black children. His eyes are hazel brown, hair on head and body fair flaxen colour, and his skin perfectly white all over the body, but of a curious thick texture. He had a sister and a brother, both dead, who wore white like himself." Mr Fred E. Bussy, of the Daily Mail, « director of Associated Newspapers, has been appointed managing director of Wembley Amusements (Ltd.), concessionaires for all the amusements at the British lunnire Exhibition. A site of 55 acres in the Exhibition grounds has been specially set apart for shows and novelties. Mr Bussy will have a free hand in the expenditure of £600,000 on the equipment of the Amusements Park, hut is finder an obligation to spend half that sum on forms of amusement that are novel to Great Britain. An entertainment is to be given by Mr De Spoilg and his supporters m aid of the flood relief fund in His Majesty’s Theatre on May 30 and 31 and June 1. Tickets are available at the office of the Overseas Club. Those willing to assist in the distribution are requested to apply for same to Mr Brown, secretary. Ladies and gentlemen 1 the whiteness of your linen is a splendid index of your characters and an absolute triumph for “NoRubbing” Laundry Help.—Advt. Did you know Molliaons Ltd. are giving up business'? Yes! They are going to hold a' big closing down sale. —Advt. Watson’s No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiskies, but it is worth the money.— Advt. Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure, for coughs and colds, never fails. —Advt A. E. J Blakeley, dentist, Bank cf Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 3859. Advt. Choice Jewellery,—Just landed, large selection diamond rings, watches, brooches, pendants, and silver ware. Compare values.Peter Dick, Jo well era, 490 Moray place.— Advt