Untitled

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18954, 30 August 1923, Page 6

) During the absence of Mr Massey from New Zealand (reports our Wellington correspondent), Sir Francis Bell will be the Acting-Prime Minister, and Mr Downie Stewart will act as Minister of Finance. In reply to a telegram despatched by the New Zealand' and South Seas Exhibition Company on Monday urging that the question,of Government subsidy should be settled prior to the Prime Minister's departure, Mr J. Sutherland Roes (chairman of provisional directors) received the following from Mr Massey yesterday afternoon: —"Your telegram of yesterday ■ received. In. the press of parliamentary business impossible to secure.a definite decision before leaving. Matter will be considered by Cabinet at an early date." The secretary of the General Post Office states that the 'following warning was, broadcasted by Melbourne radio at 12.53 a.m. yesterday (reports a Wellington Press Association message):—"Keep a lookout for a lightkeeper adrift in a small boat. He was last seen south-east of Cliffy island."

The exhibition ■ of photographs, held under the auspices of the Dunedin Photographic Society, was again open to the public yesterday afternoon and evening in the club room. South British Buildings. A fairly large number of those interested in camera work visited the exhibition during the afternoon, and there was an increased attendance in the evening. The exhibition will bo open to the public again this afternoon, and in the evening, when Mr A. H. O’Keefe, the judge, will be present, and will probably make a few interesting remarks. , As was generally expected prices for fat cattle at Burnside yesterday showed an advance, as compared with last week,' of from 15s to 17s 6d a head. The bulk of the yarding was little better than stores in the matter of condition, but nevertheless realised prime) quality prices. The yarding totalled 229 head, compared with 308 last week, and 225 the previous week. Extra prime light-weight bullocks brought up to 42s fid per 1001 b; heavy-weight prime ox beef sold at from 38s to 40s; prime heifer beef (only four or five pens forward), 37s 6d to 40s; and old cows round about 30s. There was a large yarding of fat sheep, 2500 being penned, compared with 2000 last week, and 2379 the week before. The demand was irregular. The sale opened at Is a head lower than last week, and gradually weakened, prices at the close showing about 2s a head decline. Some heavy sheep were in evidence. These carried great skins and brought up to 63s 9d. Prime, handy-weight wethers sold on the basis of Td to 7Jd; prime heavy-weights up to 7d; priino heavy ewes, 5d to sid; prime handy-weight ewes to s id, and inferior to sd. A few hoggets ’were sold, and brought up to 31s. There was a,full yarding of store cattle, mostly of a non dcscript character. . there were only a few pens of matured steers, and these failed to find 1 a purchaser, being passed in at £7. One lot of three and four-year-old steers, in backward Condition, sold at £6 8s per head. Aged cows, in good condition, sold well.' Young cattle, in poor condition, were not in request. There was a medium yarding of pigs, consisting principally of porkers. The was fairly keen, and last week’s prices were maintained. Prime baconers were worth from 6jfd to 7|d, and arimo norkers from Bid to 9d.

A demonstration of a new type of machine for eradicating weeds and digging potatoes, etc., patented by Mr J. Robertson, was given at Waitati on Tuesday morning, and proved highly successful. When operating in a paddock overgrown H-ith twitch, sorrel, yarrow, and other Jioxious weeds, the machine ia set to dig a desired depth by means of a leverage system. The coulters cut the turf into »trips in advance of the furrow-maker, and is the machine progresses the strip-cut furrow is -projected by means of the mould board into the rolling screen, and then pulverised by the rotating tines of the disintegrators. The soil is finally sieved through the rolling screen to the ground, while the twitch and other weeds, separated from the soil, pass through the screen and n.rb deposited therefrom on the surface of «-ho ground. When the machine is used for lifting root crops, such as potatoes, etc., the , ploughshare is set sufficiently deep to lift the crop and deliver it with its surrounding soil into the screen, where the potato or other root crops are separated from the soil and deposited on the surface of the ground in rows. The screen can be detached and the machine can be worked as an ordinary plough. '■ The whole of St. Kilda borough is, now 6olely under the protection of the City' Fire Department, which is in accordance with the agreement recently entered into between the St. ■ Kilda Borough Council and the Dunedin Fire Board. All the street alarm boxes have been connected up with the Central Station, and any person notifying the brigade of an outbreak, by telephone is requested to ring up No. 1. The 'City Fire Brigade had three calls yesterday. The first, received at 2.55 p.m., was to a 14-ropmed house owned by Mr William Duke, situated in Wallace street, Dunottar. The fire was' caused through a painter's blowlamp, which ignited the outside wall of the kitchen', and spread to the lining of this room 'and to a bedroom, both of which were damaged.. The insurances were not obtainable. The second call was received at 4.50 p.m. to North View crescent, where some scrub was ablaze. No damage was done. The third call was received at 5.15 p.m., and proved to bo a* malicious false alarm, given from a street box in Patrick street, Mornington.

Arthur Oldfield, manager of tho Poplars Station, of 100,000 acres in North Canterbury, was found guilty -at the Supreme Court of the theft of two sheep, valued ' at £3. irom a neighbouring runholder (reports a Christehurch Press A«sociation message). The jury recommended his Honor to treat the prisoner with tho utmost leniency on account of his inability to manage a station such as was under his control. His Honor said he would give due consideration to the recommendation, and postponed passing sentence till Saturday. At a meeting of returned soldiers in Ohristclrureh the following radio message was' sent to Mr Massey (says a Press .As-, sociation message):—"A mass meeting of returned soldiers and war pensioners, held here last night, expresses its heartiest thanks and appreciation of the provisions of the War Pensions Act Amendment Bill and the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act' Amendment Bill. We stand with you for a united British Empire.—-Ahzac." In moving the adoption of the Gas Committee's report at the .meeting of the City Council last night, Cr Scott stated that they had enough coal to go on with at the gasworks, and there were abundant supplies in sight. - An early announcement of the personnel of the board of management to control tho affairs of the Commonwealth Line of Steamers will be made by the Prime Minister (reports the Melbourne Age). In view of the importance of reorganisation of the ■ line and the disposal of old non-paying tonnage, the Government is anxious to establish the board as early as possible. The board will have entire responsibility for placing the line upon a sound business basis as a competitive enterprise; it will decide what vessels are'to be sold and what vessels retained, and will have authority to effect actual sales on behalf of the Government. It will also control the Cockatoo Island, and Garden- Island dockyards and establishments. MrJI. B. Larkin, genefal manager of the line, and Mr * arquhar, superintendent of commonwealth shipbuilding, have been mentioned as likely members of the board. The Auckland Star of Monday thus describes an incident of the Prime Ministor's departure from Auckland last Sunday night:—"Mr Massey was leaning on the platform railings of his carriage last night just before the Main Trunk gave its first jerk for the long trip south. The Senior Cadetb' Band burst into a blare of "Auld l*nng Syne.'-' Two elderly bewhiskered men wore standing gazing in rapt admiration at Mr Massey's portly figure. "I say, ain't it grand, the band a-nd everything!" whispered one of the old fellows. "And he's a pitchfork man, he is. What We want is more of the pitchfork men! Eh?" Removing his pipe from his mouth, the other old chap very deliberately. "Aye," he answered, "a pitchfork man, as you say. Look what he's rose to! It seems great, looking bade to that first meeting when his name was approved. I was at that there rneetin', an' we didn't think he'd ever rise so high. But when you come to think —what does a man who ain't a pitchfork man know about gettin' things for the farmer." And the band blared on, and the crowd doffed hats to cheer, while "The Pitchfork Man" beamed a parting smifle on the assembly. As the train pulled out howls and jeers wafted: over the railings of the station fence, reminded some that "pitchfork" men are not held in loving regard fcy everyone. But those who howled had perhaps never seen a pitchfork, which explains it., "The housing problem" is a well known phrase by now, but as far as Dunedin is concerned it does not apply so readily as it does in northern centres. Inquiries' among several land agents by a Daily Times reporter yesterday showed that while there was a strong demand for houses, there was by no means a dearth. Most of the houses at present under construction are being built by the builders themselves, and'they are finding a fairly regular demand. Middle priceTiouses are, of course, the ones mostly sought. ' Another agent stated that there was an/' insistent demand for property at St. Cliir, St. Kilda, and Maori Hill, and should the proposed tramway route via Pitt street be inaugurated the last-named suburb would make rapid strides in the right direction. Anderson's- Bay. was a popular suburb, but' the lack of a proper drainage system and good roads had hitherto proved a deterrent. "As in most other towns," one agent said, "there is in Dunedin a tendency for the business centre to expand northwards, and it is probable that before long the busiest part of Dunedin will be north of tho Octagon." Some of the most valuable business sites at present, he continued, were between Manse street and'the Octagon, and there was not a building in that space available for purchase except at a very high figure. It is understood that next Sunday, weather permitting, will so© a contest in pedestrianism between four well-known citizens. ■ This test of endurance embraces a. lengthy and undulating walk, and as none of the contestants is characterised by extreme youth or even extreme slenderness of waist, interesting developments are expected in some quarters. On tho last man to reach the destination will devolve the duty of providing for the delectation of the others a quantity of valuable and greatly tiupfeciittocl refreshment. It is stated that the competition is arousing a good deal of interest, and the start from the old Post Office is likely to be watched by an assemblage representative of the followers of athletics who still preserve a kindly feeling towards the dying sport of amateur pedestriani&m. "

Regulations for the Macmillian Brown prize for English composition were adopted by \the Board of Governors of Canterbury College (says the Christchurch Press). The prize., which is to be limited in the meantime to £2O, is to be awarded triennially for excellence in English composition. The subject of the composition may be literary, historical, philosophical, or social, but shall always be such as to allow scope for imaginative treatment, and one which has not been set for the Macmillan Brown prize of the University of New Zealand. The length of the composition shall not exceed 3000 words. The examiners shall be directed to give preference, after originality and imaginative conception, to poetry and to terseness and concentration, that without originality no award shall be made. The composition shall be open to all undergraduates of whatever standing, and to all graduates of not more than two years’ standing.

Before the business of the City Council was proceeded with last night, the Mayor (Mr Tapley) said he had a very pleasant duty to perform, and that was to present a framed certificate awarded by the Royal Humane Society to Master Leslie Richard Henderson for saving the life of a child. It afforded himself and the council extreme gratification to have the privilege of presenting the certificate. On January 6, 1923, at the swimming pool in the Woodfiaugh Gardens', a cry went up that a child was being drowned. Master Henderson, who was 16 years of age, rushed up and saw the child disappearing in the water, which was between 6ft and 7ft deep, with an undertow. Without hesitation Henderson dived in and brougflt the child to safety. After the rescue . Henderson walked away, and considerable difficulty was experienced in ascertaining his identity. About'l2 months previously Henderson was instrumental in saving the life of a young , boy about the same spot, but this was not' brought under the society's notice, and no action was taken. The Mayor said be was sure the act was worthy of the highest' commendation from the citizens of Dunedin, and that Henderson had done an honour not only to himself, but also to the city to which lie belonged. In presenting th*> certificate the Mayor congratulated Master Henderson on his bravery. Mr A. Juriss, the local representative of the Royal Humane Society, congratulated Master Henderson on his bravery, and thanked the Mayor and council for giving the opportunity tc> have the certificate presented. ,The rigour of an unusually long and severe winter appears to be vanishing (reports our Cromwell correspondent). There was a sudden change on Tuesday to springlike conditions, and to-day a northerly gale has be«m raging and there are signs cf an occasional shower of rain in the back country. The changed conditions must have the effect of clearing the pastoral country, which, after coming through a hard winter, is very backward in growth. Rain and a period/' of warm weather are badly needed. The branches of the Navy League throughout New Zealand have decided to hoM the next conference at Auckland, beginning on January 29, 1924. Matters of great import affecting the naval situation in New Zealand and the Pacific will be discussed; The air service of New Zealand will also receive particular attention. Remits are now being received from all branches of the league throughout .New Zealand by Mr R. Darroch, hon. secretary to the conference. The • president of tha conference for this year is Mr R. D. • Douglae Mac Lean, of, the Napier branch. The- Dunedin Starr-Bowkett Building, Society held a meeting last evening in the ..Oddfellows' Hall, Stuart street, Mr A. Cable presiding. The 130th appropriation" of £SOO was disposed of by ballot. Cluster 332 was drawn, being held by one shareholder. The 131st appropriation was sold at £5 per cent. The 48th appropriation of £SOO in the 'No. 4 group was disposed of by ballot, cluster 87 being drawn. It was held by two shareholders. At a .meeting of directors of tfop Kaikorai Tramway Company, held yesterday, Mr Alex. Sligo was appointed chairman in succession to the late Mr H. V. Haddock. A dividend at the rate of 7 per cent."*per annum for the half year ended July 31 waa declared. As-is usually the case at such considerable humour waa imparted to th« proceedings at the anniversary smoke nigh! of the Commercial Travellers' Associatiqn ot Victoria recently (remarks the Age). During the evening two of the members gav« an exhibition of "thought, transference." Taking the parliamentary pass of th« Minister of Customs (Mr Chapman) in hit hand, one of the "performers" inquired ol his blindfolded comrade what was written on the pass. "Quick as thought came th» retort, "Australia expects every man to pay his duty." The quip was heartily applauded. Later in the' evening the Minister said he was prepared to appoint. the thought transference experts as .customs searchers, and went on to relate an incident which he declared had occurred that day in his department. One of the custom* staff, upon informing a new arrival—a female—that he desired to search her portmanteau to ascertain whether there were any articles subject to duty, was greeted with astonishment. "Why, the bag contains only my under.-linen, and-surely ybu are not going to insist on a search." In the circumstances, the officer, a young bachelor, blushingly said he would not look in the bag. He put his hand in the portmanteau, however, and the first thirjg he encountered was a bottle of gin. "Is that linen?" asked the officer, with a triumphant grin. "It is part of my apparel," responded the ■unabashed female. "In our country we call that a nightcap." The story went off well, though some of the less unsophisticated members of the. C.T.A., whose repertoire of yarns is an extensive one, appeared to recognise an old "chestnut." l Commenting on the statement in a Sydney letter'that a picture picked up in a junk shop in Hongkong had been identified in Melbourne as a valuable original portrait of. Napoleon, by the eminent artist David, Mr J. M. Sohapiro, art dealer, Auckland, states that he has had similar: experiences (says an Auokland exchange). He bought in a London auction mart, during the war period, an old miniature painting of a burgomaster, whicu he subsequently eoild in New Plymouth for two guineas. The lady who bought it had the curiosity to remove the back, and seeing what she took to be a German name;" returned it to the vendor, as she did not want a German picture-in her house. JJot long afterwards a soldier, in search of a keepsake for a friend, bought the same miniature for 10s. The friend was dissatisfied, and wanted something bigger—an engraving, for instance. .Again Mr Sohopiro . had the miniature returned to him. He subsequently examined it .with care, and found it bore the signature of Rembrandt, and was in the owner's opinion, a gentu'ne work by that artist. Upon his return to England he submitted the picture to the Expert Committee' of the National Gallery, London, who stated that it undoubtedly belonged to Rembrandt's period—and waa. "almost likely to be quite genuine." When he asked them to make a positive assertion of fact they remarked that they would not do that unless he "offered it to them." That be did not feel inclined to do. Mr Sohapiro also possesses a (miniature which / he'believes to be a genuine portrait of the poet Robert Burns, by an unknown artist, and a miniature of "Delia" bearing the juame of George Morland, which were "finds" in the course of his search for art treasiirfes.

Sir James Wilson writes to the Residing Star : —Might I ask you to let your readers who may be anxious to get the little steel grey or black ladybird, which we hope will save our gum trees, that at the moment they oan procure them from the giant blue gum just fallen in tho Manse paddock at Bulls. These gums wepe planted about 40 years ago by the late Rev, Mr Doull, and throve well. When they began to show signs of the scale I put a few ladybirds on them, and to-day as they were lying on the ground I found several on the first piece of bark detached. Judging by this there must he great numbers on tho trees, and they should be gathered. The ladybird seemed much -more active than I anticipated, for the season has scarcely advanced far enough for them to move freely. Unless these insects are taken away or able to fly to other food, they will be-starved in about a fortnight. lam gkd t-6 note many of the gums which have been so blackened of late are showing signs of ’no now and fresh leaves are shooting out.