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Otago Daily Times, Issue 19283, 22 September 1924, Page 6

Passengers by the Maori from Lyttelton on Saturday night had an exciting experience (says a Christchurch Press Association message) when the vessel stopped at Lyttelton Heads and lowered a boat to go to the fescue of a big fishing launch, which was ablaze from end to end. The occupants had, however, escaped in a small dinghy and landed at Little Port Cooper, so that the services of the Maori’s boat were not required. The launch was the Wairau, which had been fishing off the heads. Mr Charles Durham, a well-known Lyttelton yachtsman and launchman, was in charge, with one companion. . The registrar of the University has received notification from the Invercargill Savings Bank that the bank has decided to present a sum of £IOOO io the University for the purpose of providing an annual scholarship with a currency of four years for boys from the Southland Boys’ High School. The bank hopes later to endow a similar scholarship for pupils of the Southland Girls’ High School. It is anticipated that the donation will carry a Government subsidy which the bank wishes to be used for the same purpose. The following communication from His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner at Trinidad has been received by the directors of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition Company:—“You may rely on my sympathetic co-operation and support, and that my efforts on behalf of tho Exhibition will not be relaxed.” Art in photography ia personified in two very fine front-page pictures in the illustrations in this week’s Witness, which will be published to-morrow. Bearing tho titles “Through Paradise Woods at Wakatipu’’ and “A Stretch of the Beautiful Catlins River,’' each has an enduring charm of its own for students of nature besides bearing eloquent testimony .to the glory of New Zealand scenery. The diamond jubilee of the Dunedin Savings Bank, 1854-1924, gives opportunity for reproducing in picture the homes of this successful local institution and also in portrait those who have so successfully directed ite activities in the past. New Zealand sporting championships on tho golf links and the hookey fields furnish material for interesting prints. Tho visit of Sir James Allen to Belgium provides a picture of historic interest, and a second of pathetic interest showing New Zealand’s wreath on the Brussels war memorial in grateful memory. Many other illustrations covering the activities of the hour serve to comprise an interesting issue. There is one characteristic of Viscountess Jellicoe that will be lost to the people of the dominion on her departure, and that is a pronounced gift of optimism (says an exchange). Her happy faculty of accommodating herself to immediate environment and atmosphere has won her champions in every social sphere. An apt illustration of this was given some months ago, when the vice-regal party visited the Franz Josef Glacier. A beautiful Sunday afternoon induced her Excellency to ride further south in the bush. . Eventually a lonely roadman’s hut was reached. Its occupier readily recognised his guest, and boiled the billy. Later in the day Lady Jellicoe returned and coaxingly inquired if she might boil the billy, explaining the while that it would be late when tea time at the hotel arrived. “Yep!’’ grunted her Excellency’s hpst, “and you’ll he lucky if you get it then, missus!” This crude observance all but convulsed Lady Jellicoe, who, by way of appreciating the hospitality Extended, advised her host to interest himself in her horse, which was racing at Trentham the following week Ho did—with interest. Seventeen bankruptcies were notified in the latest issue of the New Zealand Gazette, 12 of the number being in 'the North Island. The Port Ohalmers friendly societies held their annual church parade yesterday evening. They met at the Druids’ Hall and marched to the Congregational church in Wickliffe terrace, where an appropriate sermon was preached by the Rev. W. M. Grant. As Mr Grant is chairman of the school committee, the school band attended the parade. In the course of a letter to Mr W. B. Steel (secretary of the Otago Expansion League), Mr D. M‘Quilkan, of Whare Flat, states that the kowhais in that locality will be in bloom in about another week, and that there is every promise of a really good display of flowers. The roads are in fairly good order, and it is hoped that a large number of town residents will take advantage of the opportunity of visiting the district during the flowering period. It is hoped, however, that those who go to Whare Flat will assist to preserve the beauties of nature by refraining from destroying the branches of the kowhais. Owing to the ever-increasing cost of Australian hardwood poles for use in elec- • trical reticulation, the Ashburton Hydroelectric Power Board finds it necessary -to use New Zealand bluegums, though only for certain types of construction, if it hopes to complete its scheme at the cost anticipated. In order to make certain that the use of bluegums in certain conditions will be economically safe, the engineer recently telegraphed the Director of Forestry asking if he considered the cutting of bluegum trees for poles while the sap was still running would seriously affect the life of the pole, and also if it would tend to increase the splitting of the timber. The Director has replied to the effect that the cutting of such trees while the sap is rising will not seriously affect the life of the pole. He adds that care is necessary, however, to ensure steady seasoning in order to obviate splitting. Mr H. R. Spence (secretary of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition Company), who is at present in Wellington, is doing his best to advance the interests of the Exhibition. In the course of a letter to the directors he states that he has seen Mr Page, the publisher of “Progressive New Zealand;’’ and that the latter will submit proposals for a special publication in regard to the Exhibition. Air Spence had an interview with the Hon. W. D. Stewart as to the arrangements for space for the Government exhibits. He also saw the special correspondent of tho London Times, and supplied him with information about the Exhibition. Another interview was with Mr Gray, Under-Secretary for External Affairs, and the result of their talk was highly encouraging. • Mr Gray says that he will do his utmost to provide a most interesting and educational display of the arts, crafts, and products of Samos, the Cook Islands, and Niue. Mr Gray added that the bulk of the department’s exhibits at Wembley is earmarked for Dunedin, and that the perishable stuff will be renewed. Mr Herbert J. Duigan, who represented Wanganui at the Acclimatisation Societies’ Conference, took with him in specimen glasses (reports our Wanganui correspondent), two newly-born opossums, which he is forwarding to Professor Sheldon and Mr Edgar Stead (Christchurch), who are doing research work in connection with the habits and breeding of this furry little animal. Mr Duigan says that surprisingly little is known of their breeding habits or bow often they breed, but trappers have rarely discovered the female with more than one young, although in a few cases two have been found in a pouch. One great difficulty the society has to contend with is that the opossum hardly ever breeds in captivity, and although the Hawera Society baa had several in captivity for some years they thave not succeeded i'n getting them to breed. Advice has been received by Mr W. H. Hayes, surveyor, of Te Awamutu, of hia selection for the position of engineering, surveyor to the Fiji Kauri Timber Company, which intends to exploit a huge tract of timber country on the mainland of Fiji (states an exchange). Tie work to bo undertaken by Mr Hayes is of considerable magnitude, including the laying out of a road that runs right across the island northwestward from Suva, a task which was being carried out by a former Te Awamutu resident, Mr Sealy, who was murdered a few weeks ago. Mr Hayes leaves for Fiji in a few days’ time, end expects the present task to occupy two or three month*.

An unusual application was made to the Auckland Harbour Board recently. It was submitted by a timekeeper and a clerk in the employ of the board, and represented a request for the replacement of an overcoat, valued at £4 15s, and a hat, valued at £1 10s, which were lost while the applicants were on duty at the door of a shed in which was held recently the board’s smoke concert to its employees. Every care had been taken to place the coat and hat in safety, but thieves apparently discovered the locality. The application was referred with smiles to the board in committee. A consignment of 42 quail was recently forwarded to the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society by the Auckland Society, but on arrival at Wellington it was found that four of the birds had died in transit, while the remainder were in a had condition. The Wellington Society, which were handling the birds at that city, sent them to the zoo in order to give them a chance to recover before continuing ilicir journey. "Up till last week 26 of these birds have arrived at Timaru, and lad been liberated in the bush at the mouth of the Orari Gorge. Judgment was given by Judge Woinarski in Melbourne recently in a case in which Suhapia Goldberg sued Isabel Sicree for the return of an engagement ring, valued at £75, a toilet set, a teaset, and a clock, given by Goldberg as presents. Judge Woinarski said that the parties had become engaged in February, 1923, a condition being an undertaking by defendant that she would go through the necessary ceremonial to become a Jewess. Her parents were willing that she should become a Jewess, her father also being of the Jewish faith. The toilet set, the teaset, and the clock were absolute gifts, and defendant had every right to retain them. The principal dispute concerned the engagement ring. There was a strong clash of evidence on the question who broke the engagement. Judge Woinarski thought that the weight of evidence was In favour of the view that plaintiff had broken the engagement. It was clear that almost, immediatly after the 'breach ho was anxious to be back again on the former footing, and he had made repeated efforts to renew the engagement, but had found defendant quite wnwilling. On the engagement being renounced by plaintiff, _ defendant had a right to take him at his word. It was clear who had broken the engagement, and it followed that plaintiff had forfeited his right to any claim for the return of the ring. Judgment would bo for defendant, with costs. “I assnre you that these are not ‘cushy’ jobs either for the workmen or for the engineers who have to look after them,” said Mr S. I. Crookes, in describing some of the stupendous schemes for hydro-elec-trical development which are now being carried out in California (says the New Zealand Herald). ‘Tn one part of the High Sierras the work is going forward at an altitude of 10,000 feet, and the men are above the snow line all the year round. A tunnel is being out through solid granite to get the necessary fall from a chain of lakes up near the summit of the mountains. The tunnel will be 14 miles long. It was slarted-in 1920, will be finished next March, and will establish a world’s record in tunnelling work. Altogether, there will be 86 miles of tunnels through solid rook in these Caifornian mountain projects, and, remembering how much wo thought of the compldKon of the Otira tunnel, we can form some faint idea of the magnitude of these vast enterprises.” The following account was made out by a Maori way back of Taupo and sent to his employer (says the New Zealand Herald)“l start on Monday, June 20, dig post all day; Tuesday, 31, same time all day; Wednesday, 22, she rain same time; Thursday, 23, dig post full time; Friday, 24, same time full day; Saturday, 25, plant poet full day; Sunday, 26, see wahine all day; Monday, 27, plant post full day; Tuesday, 28, dig more holes; Wednesday, 29, just the same full day; Thursday, 30, fix up wire full day; nine days work at 17s. I owe you 3s; I ask you for to go football, ss; you send me happy day X, 13s; come back to me six pounds twelve bob.” X refers to bottle of whisky. A short sitting of the City Police Court was held on Saturday morning before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M. Andrew Goodlet, who had a previous conviction, was fined 20s, in default 48 hours’ imprisonment, for drunkenness. A first offender was similarly dealt with.

Wood’s Great Peppermint Cure for cocgfai and colds never fails.—Advt. Read about the special watch value at Williamsons, The Quality Jewellers, 31 Princes street (next The Bristol), and send 25a.—Advt. A. E. J. Blakeley, dentist, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859. Advt. Save your eyes.—Consult Peter G. Dick, D.8.0.A., F.LO., London, consulting and oculists’ optician.—“ Peter Dick,” jewellers and opticians, Moray place, Dunedin.— Advt.