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Otago Daily Times, Issue 19201, 18 June 1924, Page 4

On the recommendation of the Professorial Board the University Council yesterday agreed that the annual graduation ceremony of the Otago University bo held this year on the afternoon of Friday, July 18. It was decided to ask the GovernoiGenera! (Lord Jellicoe) to attend the ceremony. A small committee was set up to meet representatives of the Professorial Board and make the neocssary arrangements. A whole holiday on Wednesday, July 16, the day of the Capping Procession, was granted to the students. The shell of what was once the coastal passenger steamer Rotomahana (reports our Auckland correspondent) was taken to its last resting place at Pahiki Island yesterday to be sunk at the sandspit to form the foundation of a wharf in order to facilitate the loading of shingle. The final dis posal of the vessel is of more than passing interest as she is a relic of the early days of Auckland, where she was built in 1876 The first steamer built in New Zealand was a wooden paddle steamer, Governor Wynyard, which was constructed at Auckland in 1851. The Rotomahana, which it is understood was the first iron steamer built, at Auckland, was constructed by Messrs Fraser and Tipnc. Another smaller iron steamer, tho Kina, was being built at the same time by Mr J. Fraser, an engineer and boilermaker, and there was great rivalry ns to who should have tho honour of building tho first iron steamer. The result was that the Rotamahana was launched 20 minutes ahead of the other vessel. The Rotomahana, for nearly 40 years, carried passengers and cargo from Auckland to the Thames and Coromandel When she became too old for active sornce she was utilised aa a store hulk in tho harbour for her owners, the Northern Company. Eventually she became unlit for that work, and last year was sold to the shipbreakerfi. A deputation consisting of Professors Thompson. Jack, Barnett, Inglis, Carmalt Jones, and Dr Riley waited on the University Council from tho Professorial Board yesterday afternoon and was hoard in committee. The object of the deputation was to ask the council to adopt tho practice of setting up an advisory committee ot outside experts to assist, it in making professorial appointment. Tho spokesmen wore Professors Jack and Carmalt Jones mid Dr Riley. After the matter had been fully discussed by members of the council they agreed, by a considerable majority, to adhere to their previous decision not to take any action in the matter. In the. Juvenile Court at Wairoa yesterday (says a Press Association' telegram) a small boy, II year s of ago, was charged with negligently driving a motor vehicle recently without lights, thereby causing injuries to a police constable. Ho was severely admonished by tho magistrate, and tho father was ordered to give an undertaking not to allow tho boy to drive a motor car for five years. The Borough Council was censured for not having bylaws prohibiting anyone under tho age of 16 years driving oars.

Her Excellency, Viscountess Jellicoe, has withdrawn her patronage from the Cos grave Peace Scout Movement (says an Auckland Press Association message), and has received a warrant of appointment from Lady Baden Powell appointing her president of the Girl Guides. The official statement of mortgages includes an amount of £1,000,000 registered in March in each of four districts and in a fifth in April. It is understood Isays the New Zealand Herald) that this unusual amount represents a mortgage given Py the New Zealand Breweries (Ltd.) to the New Zealand Insurance Company as collateral security to a trust deed, in respect of the issue of £1,000,000 first mortgage debenture stock. The prospectus of the Breweries' Company issued last year stated that the New Zealand Insurance Company would ho appointed trustee for the stockholders, holding a trust deed constituting a first specific charge on the company’s freehold and leasehold properties, movable machinery and plant and a first floating charge on all itg assets and undertaking. It has, already been indicated that the question of civil servants’ salaries is to be raised in the House of Representatives daring the coming session, and judging by an article in the Public Service Journal, the Public Service Association is counting on Parliament authorising the Government to grant the civil service an increase in salaries based on the cost-of-living figures. ‘At the present moment,” says the Journal, ‘‘we will have to wait until the session ha 3 commenced before anything effective can be done in regard to further action in connection with our legitimate claim for this all-round £22 10s per annum increase. Our claim is on the same basis as that lodged in 1920, and which was granted by the Government. We merely ask for the same treatment as was conceded us then as being reasonable, which is not to be confused with any suggestion of our being placed on the same level as in 1914.” At the executive meeting of the Returned Soldiers’ Association last night several members commented strongly on the fact that ex-soldiers were experiencing very groat difficulty in securing loans either under the State Advances Act or the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act, and it was decided to advertise requesting all exsoldiers who have applied for, or who intend applying for, assistance under these Acts lor building purposes to notify the secretary of the association with a view to ascertaining the local demand. The Union Steam Ship Company’s Mahe.no, from Sydney, which arrived at Wellington at noon yesterday, brought a largo Australian mail for New Zealand. The Dunedin portion, which comprises 2'i bags, is due hero to-night, and will be delivered to-morrow morning. The Moeraki, from Melbourne, which if due at Wellington to-morrow, is also bring ing an Australian mail, and the Dunedin portion, comprising nine bags and five hampers, should arrive here on Friday night. The Port Chalmers District High School after being closed for a month on accouni of an outbreak of diphtheria, was reopened yesterday. In connection with the recent presidential nominations in the Republican Party, the New Zealand Alliance (s; Wellington Press Association message) is ii receipt of a cablegram from Mr “Pussyfoot” Johnson reading ag follows: —“The movement led by President Butler, ol Columbia University, for a ‘wet’ plank in the National Republican platform collapsed entirely. The convention ignored the proposal, declaring unanimously for the strict enforcement of the law. President Coolidge and General Dawes were both in favour t of a bone dry country.” 1 A previous cablegram stated that it was expected that President Butler would stage “a sharp though ineffective fight to secure modifications of the Volstead law.” A Press. Association message from Ashburton states that, in view of the indisposition of Sir Heaton Rhodes, the member for Ellesmere, and Mr Burnett, member for, Tcmuka, Mr Wilford (Leader of the Opposition) has decided not to speak in these gentlemen’s electorates during his present tour of the South Island. A motorist met with an alarming experience on Monday evening (says a Press Association message). When proceeding along a road a few miles from Opotiki he encountered a wild bullock with horns two feet long. The bullock charged three times, almost overturning the car and knocking a child out It smashed the windscreen and mudguard and damaged the mechanism. The bullock’s leg was damaged. Assistance finally arrived, and the bullock was confined to an adjacent paddock. A defendant who was proceeded against on a judgment summons at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday made a vigorous protest against paying the amount claimed. Ho asserted that he was a man with a family of 13, and was quite able to meet his engagements. The claim, he said, was of two years’ standing, but he had known nothing about it till three or four weeks ago. It was a question of living within his means, and if this sort of thing went on he would be in the Bankruptcy Court. Ho worked away from home during the week and came home on Saturday, and left again for work on Sunday. “H is not fair,” ho said, ' tor a man to come to my door and wheedle my wife into buying things. The articles were not required, and were only w r anted to go to Sunday school in. 1 never knew these things were not paid for. This is what I am up against, and I am determined to put a slop to it.” Finally plaintiff was nonsuited. A notice to members of the Otago Tramping Club appears in this issue._ Nominations for the appointment of delegates to the Electoral Committee bj which producers’ representatives on the Meat Producers’ Board are elected will be reoc-ived at the board’s office, Wellington, up to noon on July 16, whilst nominations for producers’ representatives on the board will bo received up- to noon on August 14, 1924. The members of the board who arc to retire in August are Messrs T. A. Dun con (Hunlorvillo) and Adam Hamilton (In vorcargill). The Otago United Starr Bowkett Society invites membership in its No. 3 group. Tomorrow' night a sale loan of £SOO will be balloted. Euripodes’ powerful play, “The Medea,” will be read before the Classical Association to-morrow evening in the Museum lecture room, and the public are invited. Wood’s Great Peppermint Cure for coughs and colds never fails. —Advt. You get exceptional value in diamond rings at Williamson’s (next the Bristol Co.). They are ring specialists.—Advt. A E, J Blakeley, dennet. Bank oUAntralasia, corner of Bond and Rattray otreota next Telegraph Office). Telephone J.BA3. - Advt. Choice Jewellery; compare oar values; large selection diamond rings, watches bracelets, silverware, etc. —Peter Dick, jewe. lets. 490 Morav place.—Advt.