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Otago Daily Times, Issue 19404, 13 February 1925, Page 6

An American mail, consisting- of on** bag of letters, 35 bags of news matter, and 16 parcel receptacles, ex the steamer Wairuna at Auckland, reached Dunedin last evening. The contents will be delivered in the city and suburbs this morning. The letter portion of the Australian mail for Dunedin ex the Maheno was despatched from Auckland on Wednesday evening, and should arrive this evening. This mail consists of two bags from Sydney, two from Melbourne, and one from Brisbane, Nine bags of nows matter and seven parcel receptacles, also ex the Maheno, were despatched from Auckland on Wednesday night by goods train, and should arrive here tomorrow

In spite of the drought tho prospects in tho country districts are good (reports our Invercargill correspondent), but there is a clamant desire for rain. Stock of all kinds never looked better, and the crops are good, though in some districts the caterpillar plague has made its appearance. Some of the oat crops in the Boggy Bum district have been ruined, and Iho plague has also attacked timothy grass. Some oat crops are not worth threshing owing to tho plague. Ihe registration forms of electors are coming in steadily, and the officials report that matters are satisfactory. An average of 1000 forms are being received each day. It was stated yesterday that people wore still failing to read tho form correctly, with the result that many had to bo returned. It was pointed out that some people persisted in labouring under the misapprehension that if they were already on the roll they did not have to register. It has leen repeatedly pointed out that every person over the ago of 31 years must register, whether previously on tho roll or not. Such attention to -details will greatly facilitate tho work of tho officials.

A slump in “militancy” seems to have set in amongst the minors on tho West Coast, more especially at Runanga, where the State Miners’ Union was formerly so active and “advanced.” In conversation with a Christchurch Press representative, a Runanga miner stated that tho Union there had practically gone out of existence, and recent efforts to call a meeting have not resulted in a quorum. The organisation is without a secretary, the official formerly holding this position having re-signed to act as a- check-weighman at tho James mine, and his successor residing after a week. The Rcwahui branch of the State Minors’ Union is still functioning, howeve®.

At the meeting of the directors of the New Zeala/nd and South Seas Exhibition Company last night a letter was received from the Director of Amusements recommending that the Exhibition directors offer the Ivaikorai, St. Kilda, and 3rd Artillery Banda the use of No. 1 Court for the purpose of giving a combined concert on Sunday. It was pointed out that the bands were experiencing some difficulty in raising the necessary money to assist them to proceed to Auckland to take part In the band contest to bo held there. This will bo the first occasion on which any of the Exhibition buildings have been opened to the public, and the directors decided to agree to the recommendation, providing the contractors and the insurance companies raised no objections. The committee of the Taieri Amateur Athletic Club mot last night at Mosgiel. Mr Frew presided. On account of the restrictions placed on gatherings of the public, the dates of the sports meetings already arranged were sot back as follows:—Afternoon meeting, March 21; evening meeting, March 11, subject, of course, to the approval of the centre. The President reported that some substantial donations and trophies had been sent in as prizes. Some additional events wore added to the programme already arranged.

A meeting of supporters of the combined bands of Dunedin was held last evening for the purpose of considering the best means of raising funds to enable the Dunedin bands to proceed to Auckland to take part in the band contest commencing on February 23. Mr J. H. Walker occupied the chair, and after some discussion it was decided to make a street canvass, the following ladies being appointed to take

charge of the various sections of the city: Mrs Maofie, Mrs Goughian, and Mr s Crolley (Jacobs’s corner); Mrs Horner (Stock Exchange); Mrs Jackson (Government life Insurance corner); Mrs 1 Thompson (Bank of New Zealand); Mrs Whitburn (Moray place corner); Mrs T. Hunter and Mrs Paterson (H.B. oomor). Miss Davie Andrew street comer), and Mrs Lees (Miollison s corner). It was proposed, and the proposition will probably be earned into effect, that the Kaikorai, St. Kilda, and Artillery belli ds play to-night at the Monument, Dowling street, and the Octagon respectively.

At a representative meeting at Mosgiel last night, presided over by the Mayor (Mr J. P. Walls), arrangements were made to meet the Minister of Railways (the Hon. J G. Coates) to-night at Wingatui onthe arrival of the special train from Otago Central. It is intended to convey Mr Coates by motor to the Moegiel township station, and return to Wingatui by Gladstone road. En route, the Minister will be shown what is desired in, the matter of a loop line so as to provide better railway facilities for the centre of the town. A deputation headed by the Mayor and the president of the Taiori Expansion League (Mt W. E. MToan) will address the Minister on the l>orough railway facilities dunng his short stay.

The “Wit watersrand” or Whitewatersridgo goldfields, said Mr E. J. rtoward, M.P. in a lecture at the Christchurch Trades Hall, had produced £800,000.000 worth of gold since they were first discovered in 1885. The man who discovered gold on the Rand, Mr George Walker, died in poverty last year. The Witwatersrand reef extended for 60 miles, and Johannesburg was roughly in the centre. There were about 18,000 Europeans employed m the various mines. Thirteen thousand of these were miners under ground. Twentysix thousand awards under the Minors Phthisis Act ha<l been made since 1912 There had been 3000 miles of excavations done on the Rand since 1885. Or, to give a local application, one ha.d only to thins of three tunnels running side by side from the North Cape to the Bluff to imagine the amount of development works done. “The memory of Robert Louis Stevenson is still cherished dearly by the islanders,” said Captain Edward ReffeH. of the Royal Air Force, who arrived in Sydney recently from a trip round the Pacific Islands. “General Richardson, the Administrator of Samoa, has helped splendidly to perpetuate the memory of the great author,” said Captain Roffell. “Until he took over control Stevenson’s old homo resembled a wilderness. The proper measures have been taken, and now the grounds are like a beautiful park. A step path leads to the monument erected on the top ot a peak to the memory of Stevenson. I had an interesting conversation with Mr H. J. Moors, who was a friend of the author, and who lived with him at Samoa.” Captain Roffell praises General Richardson; who, ho says, is very popular and gives the impression of being a great While in Fiji Captain Roffell was entertained by Rate Pope, the native leader, at Ban. Commenting on his elevation to the gupremo Court Bench, the Lyttelton Times says that Mr Justice Alpers is the second judge appointed from the Christchurch Bar, the first graduate of Canterbury College appointed to the Supreme Court Bench, and, it is believed, the first Dane appointed to the Bench in the British Empire. On the same day as Sir Francis Bell wrote to him stating that it was intended to offer him a seat on the Bench, he received a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen, stating that he had been appointed Consul for Denmark in Christchurch, with jurisdiction over the South Island. A remarkable tribute to the personality of Mr Justice Alpers and a striking demonstration of the popularity of his appointment to the Supreme Court Bench, was given at tho Theatre Royal on Saturday night shortly before the rise of the curtain (says the Press). As he came into the view of the audience on his way to the stalls a ripple of applause broke out in the gallery. This quickly spread to tho stalls and dress circle, and before his Honor and his party had reached their seats practically the whole house had joined in the spontaneous expression of congratulation. “Johannesburg,” said Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., in a lecture at Christchurch, “can be termed a mushroom city. Thirty-five years ego where the oity stands to-day was a very uninteresting piece of veldt that could probably have been bought for 10s per acre. To-day there stands a city where business sites could not be bought for less than hundreds of pounds per foot, and frontages at £IOOO per foot. Its buildings stand equal to those of Melbourne. It has a town hall a!nd very handsome public buildings. It stands nearly 6000 feet above the level of the sea, and the air has an exhilarating effect. Tho population of Johannesburg is cosmopolitan. Representatives from tho four comers of the earth seem to have got there. It is a rich town and the cost of living is high. The Mayor of Johannesburg- is paid more than we pay our Prime Minister. Tho Mayor receives £2BOO, while each councillor is paid £2OO per annum and each chairman of a committee £IOO in addition. Tho Mayor has a private secretary and a chaplain, and all the councillors wear robes.”

Sailing round the world in the 25-ton ketch Saoirse, Mr Conor O’Brien arrived at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, about the end of December, according to a cable advice received at Dublin by Mr O’Brien’s sister. The Saoirse sailed from Dublin on June 20, 1923, and called at Madeira, Pernambuco. Capetown, Durban, Melbourne, Picton, Napier, and Auckland. The vessel arrived at Auckland on May 25 of last year. On July 16 she loft for a trip to Tonga, from where she returned about a month later. After refitting at Auckland the ketch took her departure froni New Zealand on October 22, on her long journey back to Dublin via Cape Horn. On her arrival at Port Stanley the small vessel had travelled about 20,000 miles. The suggestion that a number of Australian snakes ;of non-poisonous species should be placed as an exhibit in the Auckland Zoo, has caused some concern to many people who find no comfort in the thought of snakes of any sort being introduced into New Zealand (says the Star). Snakes are elusive creatures at all times, and if one or two of such captives escaped there would be very quickly a fine crop' of these reptiles crawling about the laud. The Mayor of Auckland states, however, that the suggestion was very definitely declined by the City Council, which refused to accept the responsibility for the introduction of_ snakes in to New Zealand, oven if authority were given by the Government. Sir James Gunson added that it was extremely unlikely that the council would reconsider that decision.

The smartness of a constable in detecting the difference between a hand and a machine-made cigarette is reported to have been responsible for the arrest of a young man named Frank Auld at Invercargill in the early hours of yesterday morning (reports our correspondent). The man was brought before the Magistrate’s Court to-day and charged with breaking and entering the shop of Thomas Lumsden, jeweller, and stealing goods to the value of £2 12a 8d The accused was remanded till Wednesday next, bail being allowed in one surety of £IOO. The police state that owing to recent cases of breaking into jewellers’ premises the constables on duty have been keeping a very sharp look-out, and when Constable Willis saw a man disappear into a doorway at 1.30 a.m. and fail to reappear he decided to investigate. The man was discovered in the doorway, and being asked what be was doing there bo replied: “I just slipped 'm here to roll a cigarette,” and showed the constable a lighted cigarette butt. The constable examined the cigarette by the light of his torch. It was machine-made, and his suspicions now being roused the constable ordered the young man bo accompany him to tli e oplice station. Here he was questioned and made a statement to the police.

Already many farmers in the King Country are for the first time in their experience in that region getting in large quantities of coal for winter use before the roads get too bad (says the Auckland Star). Wood has always been very plentiful till recently, when it has become much scarcer. Labour has been so hard to get this season that it has been impossible to get a cord of good rata cut under 30s, then there is the cost of carting on top of that. Wood was never so expensive to the outback districts os now, and the old-time bushman who used to be able easily to earn his £1 a day at firewood cutting seems to have died out, and those who have taken his place are not able to split their cord a day. Coal, when got in truck loads, can be got to the farm at a cheaper rate than firewood, and it just shows the trend of the times, for the old order in the country districts is giving way to different methods.

A sensational diversion was provided at the Bundaberg (Queensland) Turf Club races recently. After the horses had gone out for the fourth division of the Flying Handicap, Mk R. Hill, a stipendiary steward, recalled the horse Waltzola, with the object of substituting the jockey Tindall for Dean., A woman interested in the horse approached Mr Hill, and remonstrated with him. She struck Mr Hill, and clung to the horse. The horse plunged and struck the woman, who was attended by the ambulance. After being treated she returned to the ' track, again ana again struck Mr Hill. Meanwhile Waltzola, with his substitute jockey, won the race comfortably!

Are ■ foreign shaving brushes being imposed on the Australian public as Britishmade? The chairman of the Health Commission, Dr Robertson, hinted as much in Melbourne recently when referring to the case of anthrax which had come under the notice of his department. The brush in question had been bought at an auction room in Swanston street for Is by a young man. Both he and his brother had subsequently used the brush. Upon consulting a doctor concerning a facial eruption—the result of a cut while shaving—he was informed that he was suffering from anthrax. The peculiar part about the whole affair was that the brush, which, on examination, had been found to contain anthrax bacilli, bore the stamp, “British manufacture, guaranteed free from anthrax.” Commenting on this. Dr Robertson emphasised the fact that the guarantee was not stamped on the handle of the brush, as was common with all genuine British brushes, but was merely attached to the brush in the form of a label, which could be put on by anyone. He said that the task of trying to trace the origin of the brushes was practically hopeless, in view of the fact that the brushes had been transferred from one firm to another, and had been in Australia for probably two years. However, tlie Customs Department would continue making inquiries.

Discussing tho state of the timber industry at the present time, the West Coast correspondent of the Christchurch Press says that there is no demand in Australia for rimu, and even in white pine, buyers across the Tasman are insisting on special sizes. Local mills who have in stock lines covering a wide range find that the demand is for 12, 11, ,6i, and 6in timber, and that other sizes are hard to place. This is a hardship, as there is no profit in the business unless all the timber out from tho tree can be sold. Should the spell of dry weather, now prevailing, continue for another week, several of the West Coast sawmills will again be in difficulties owing to the water shortage.

In the description of an under-water flame apparatus, referred to in the cablegrams, mention was made of an earlier patent, that of a London firm, Mr G. Anderson, of 18 Prospect terrace; Mount Eden, Auckland, states (says an exchange) that he has a share in a still earlier patent, one dated 1920, and this apparatus has been demonstrated in the Auckland Harbour. The Same is of the acetone-oxygen type, similar to that which is so commonly used in machine shops to-day for cutting and welding metal. In tho underwater apparatus the nozzle through which the flame comes, is fitted with a sort of extra nozzle with a space between the two. Into this space extra oxygen is fed under piessure and this not only keeps the water from the spot on which the flame is working, but it also feeds the flame. In some patents this protective cushion, as it might be called, is composed of compressed air, but the oxygen is said to be more effective. The apparatus is used by the diver just as an above water mechanic uses the flame. The cylinders containing the acetone and the oxygen are placed above water and connected to the nozzle by long lengths of tubing. One peculiar thing about under-water catting of metal is that the cut is cleaner than the out made in the open air, there being an entire absence of slag.

The proposal that exhibition trains, specially fitted up to display New Zealand goods, should be run on the North Island railway lines, and on some sections of the South Island system, was discussed at a meeting of the council of the Auckland Provincial Industrial Association. The proposal originated with the executive of the Industrial Corporation. All the larger centres would be visited, it was explained, and a comprehensive selection of Now Zealand manufactures would he carried. Exhibiting firms would he allowed to send their representatives on the trains. The exhibition cars would be stripped of all seats and other equipment, and provision would bo made for the effective display of goods. A corridor would be left, so that when a call was made at a town people would bo able to walk right through the train. About a day would be spent at each centre, the train being shunted on to a convenient siding. It was resolved that the scheme be adopted, subject to satisfactory arrangements with the Government.

An extraordinary shooting occurrence is reported from Moor Creek, seven miles from Bendermeer, New South Wales. Mr Joseph Douglas, a resident of Moor Creek, reported to the police that while his two sons, Joseph Lawrence, aged eight, and Mervyn, aged six, were in an orchard about 100 yards from the house, ho heard a shot fired and a boy screaming. The father rushed out and found that his son Lawrence had been shot. The boy's band and the front of both his legs, from the hips down, were bleeding profusely from wounds, which had evidently been made from the pellets of a shotgun. Mervyn informed his father that a tall man. with a beard, knelt down on the ground on the opposite side of the creek, looked along his gun, and fired at the boys. After firing ho ran away into the scrub.

The grocers’ picnic, which was to bo held at Mount Stuart on, Saturday, February 21, has been postponed until further notice. Williamsons, Jewellers, can again supply their popular Welden Lever Watch for men. It’s fine value. —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, «L, F. 1.0., London, consulting and ' oculist*’ optician.—“ Peter Dick,” jewellers and o; ticians, Moray place, Dunedin.— Advt.