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Otago Daily Times, Issue 19407, 17 February 1925, Page 6

'Due just indignation of a correspondsnt has impelled him to write to us concerning an incident on the Main South road last Saturday afternoon, when a motor car which was being driven from town had to be steered into a ditch, at the cost of some damage, in order to avoid a collision with a car homeward bound from the races at Wingatui that was tearing along the wrong side of the- road. It may bo because the drivers of the cars have imbibed something of tho spirit of the sport they have been witnessing that unwise and reckless speeding-up is as prevalent as it is on the return to town after a day spent at the racecourse, and wo apprehend that it is more through sheer good fortune than through skill on the part of the drivers that we have not had to record serious accidents on race days. The police officials aro nob blind to* the practice of “exceeding the limit” on these occasions, but it is not possible for them to detect every instance of :t, and tho use of tho new number-plates on tho cars will render their task more difficult than it Iras been. The members of the Motor Club owe in this matter a duty to the public—and to themselves. Tiro, identity of the reckless .drivers is known to them better than it is to anybody else, and their services in the repression of an undoubted evil which, while it is not checked, reflects injuriously on the whole of them, should be made available to the authorities.

The statement that Central Otago fruit is being offered for retail sale in Wellington at a price appreciably leaver than that at which it is procurable in the shops hi Dunedin has, as will have been noticed in our issue of yesterday, been made by a northern business man who is engaged in the fruit export trade. It is, therefore, not the idlo statement of a person who might in perfect good faith, draw unreliable comparisons between the prices in the two cities. It is probable that it supplies tlie explanation why fruit does not form, as it should form, a daily article of diet in the homes of our own people. It may be suggested that Central Otago fruit is brought into a competition in Wellington to which it is not exposed here, with fruit from ether districts, and that this accounts for its being sold there at a lower price than that at which it is offered in Dunedin. But if it is profitable to the fruitgrowers in Central Otago to despatch peaches and apricots to Wellington for sale there at sixpence per pound, it would clearly bo more profitable to them if they were themselves to dispose-of their produce at this price in Dunedin, and they would enjoy a double advantage in the respect that the demand for fruit would be stimulated in a way it never has been in the past. Curious though it may seem, the consumers arc not attracted by the opportunity of purchasing fruit at the auction rooms in case lots, astonishingly low though the, prices may be. They pay for their immediate requirements only, and those requirements are small, hut thov would pay more and buy regularly if they could secure fruit in retail quantities at rates lower than those now charged to them.

-. ■ i - i ■ ■ —■ ■■ ""A A large quantity of oversea mail matter will reach Dunedin within the next two or three days. The postal authorities have been advised that the Marama, which is due at Wellington to-day from Sydney, is bringing 46 bags of Australian mails and also 21 parcel receptacles for Dunedin. This mail should come to hand to-morrow evening. The steamer Ulinruiroa. which is due at Auckland to-day from Sydney is carrying four bags and one parcel receptacle for Dunedin. The mail is expected to arrive here on Thursday evening. The Maunganui is due at Wellington this morning from San Francisco with a large English and American mail. The Dunedin portion, consisting of 259 bags and 171 parcel receptacles. should come to hand to-morrow evening. The contents will bo delivered in the city and suburbs on Thursday rooming. A Wellington Press Association message reports that after an excellent run of seven days sailing time from Auckland Mr J. MLean’s 40-foot yacht Restless arrived at Wellington Heads at the end of the week. The vessel carried a complement of five. The Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children, which is indebted to Mr Wolf Harris, of London, for numerous munificent gifts, has received from him an additional sum of £IOOO as a contribution to its endowment fund. Tne name of Mr Harris is identified with the principal institution maintained by the society is til at it is called tho KaritaaeHarris Hospital. Tho following aro the returns of infectious diseases cases in the Dunedin and Fever Hospitals for the week ended at noon yesterday: Diphtheria—admitted two, remaining six{ scarlet fever —admit,led one, remaining six totals—admitted three, remaining 12. A complaint has reached us in regard to the growing nuisance of rata in Roslyn and Kaikorai Volley. A resident informs us that considerable damage has been done to the paper on the walls of his house by rats. Lately ho has been using traps, and yesterday morning he showed a representative of the Daily Times a catch of three young ones killed together in one trap. Other residents living near our informant have had similar trouble. We are informed the matter has been referred to the Health Department. Shortly before noon on Saturday a motor delivery van, belonging to the Growers’ Produce Stores, which was standing outside the Chalet Hospital in High street, suddenly moved off. The van dashed down the street and crashed into the front of a motor car owned by Dr K. Robs, whicb was standing unoccupied outside the doctor’s residence. The driver of the van was delivering goods at the time, and the cause of tho breakaway is not known. The motor car was badly smashed, and a certain amount of damage resulted to the van. A large number of clergy who attended the sittings of tho Anglican General Synod travelled north by tho second express yesterday. The party included Bishop Averill (Auckland), Bishop Sedgwick (Waiapu), Bishop Kempthorhe (Polynesia), Bishop Sprott (Wellington), Bishop Stewart, Archdeacon Innea-Jones (Wellington), Rev. E. H. Strong (New Plymouth) and several ministers and laymen from various parts of the dominion. Archbishop Julius travelled •to Christchurch by the first express. Tho thirteenth session of the school of massage and physiotherapy of the Dunedin Hospital will begin on March 12. Miss M. L. Roberts, a member of the teaching staff of the school, will return shortly to resume her duties at Dunedin after a course of post-graduate studies at St. Thomas’s Hospital, London. Mias Roberts took a high place in the recent examination for teaching certificates of the Chartered School of Massage and Medical Gymnastics, London. A proposal for the erection £n the Exhibition grounds of a house which would demonstrate to the public the work of homo science was recently made to the executive of the Oourt of Education by Professor Strong on behalf of the department of home science of the University of Otago, and the home science instructors of tho secondary, technical, and primary schools in Dunedin. It was suggested that tho house should comprise at least five rooms, and be furnished so as to illustrate arrangement, sanitation, economy, and good taste, and also that tho instructors would organise demonstrations of the various aspects of housework and keep the house in working order during the period of the Exhibition. Tho executive of tho Education Court considered that such a model house would be a desirable adjunct to the court, but ifc was hampered by lack of finance. It therefore decided to convene a meeting of representatives of the Hew Zealand and South Seas Exhibition Company, City Council, Institute of Architects, Builders’ Association, Plumbers’ Association, and the executive with a. view of evolving if possible a scheme whereby the proposal might be given effect to. That meeting was held last night, and was attended by representatives of all the bodies named. Those present decided that (he scheme was a desirable one if the necessary finance could be arranged. The architects preson t undertook to draw the plans and submit estimates to a future meeting, which will be held as soon as these are available, and the whole of the representatives present agreed to ascertain in the meantime from the bodies they represented whether they are prepared to give financial assistance. Tho scheme has so much to recommend it that there are probably other bodies, or individuals, who would be glad to contribute to the cost. A shunting accident at Henderson, Auckland, on Saturday afternoon (says a Press Association message), resulted in two carriages breaking away from the train and falling over a bank, while a third carriage sustained damage. In their fall the carriages carried away a telegraph pole, which fell across the main route. The_ delay caused disorganisation in the running of trains. No one was in the train when the accident occurred. With reference to the notification of the Government’s intention of modifying the conditions under which imported goods were permitted to enter the country under British preferential tariff, Sir Francis Bell (acting Minister of Customs) has issued the follow : statement (says a Wellington Press Association message}:—-‘‘The question as to conditions governing tariff preference has been for a considerable time receiving the continuous attention of the New Ziea: Government. It will be remembered thai at the end of September last it was announced in Parliament that Australia ano New Zealand had decided to adopt the requirement of 75 per cent, of British material and (or) labour as a basis of preference instead of the existing 25 per cent, basis. It has since been announced in the press tliat the Government has received a communication from Canada suggesting that a 50 per cent, basis should be accepted. Strong representations to a similar effect have reached tho Government from otherquarters. In view of tho importance of the matter and of the fact that discussion with tho Australian Government is still proceeding, it has been decided to postpone until October 1, 1925, the date upon which the amended conditions to be decided upon shall take effect.”

With reference to the burning of Bishopscourt, the offical residence of the Bishop of Christchurch, on Christinas Eve, the Church News says: —“Old Bishopscourt, of course, is too old to rebuild, the new part hud its roof practically destroyed, and it is unsuitable lor addition in view of altered requirements. Consequently the historic home of the bishops of Christchurch since 1858 will shortly bo no more, as a contract for the removal of the whole of the buildings was being lot as we went to press. The standing committee, meeting at the end of January, was to receive a report suggesting the use of the contra’, paddock comprising more than an acre, for the site of a nevv Bishopscourt, approached from Park road by an avenue at least a chain wide, giving thus ample space and dignified position and complete privacy for the bishops’ residence.’’

An area of land cn Haulashore Island, adjoining the Boulder Bank, at Nelson, formerly privately-owned, has been purchased I,v Captain Moucrieff and presented to the Nelson City Council in memory of his late son. Practically the whole of the island \.iil new I'clong to the city. Tho council bus decided to add £3OO to the loan proposal for improvements of reserves and spend it in making tho area into a children’s playground, in which work Captain Monoricff has expressed his willingness to assist.

In reference to Saturday’s cablegram from Sydney announcing the cleatli of Mrs Alice Davey, claimed to have been the first white woman bom in New Zealand, Mr E. Estall, of Spreydon, writes to the Christchurch Star.(says a Press Association message) stating that his mother, nee Harriot Wooldham, should have that honour, having been born at Te Aro Flat, Wellington, in 1840. “East is East, and 'West is West,” said Mr R. R. Scott at the Magistrate’® Court in Wellington last Friday, when appearing for a young Chinese named Chang .Foo, charged with landing in New Zealand while a restricted immigrant. The man, raid counsel, did not even then understand that he was guilty of on offence. It was quite evident, said Mr Scott, that accused should bo deported, and a plea of guilty was entered. Sub-inspector Hollis stated that the defendant was a seaman on the Australlnd, and that he had deserted. An order was made by the magistrate that Chang Foo bo removed from New Zealand on the first boat to England, where Ke signed on the Australoid, and that he should be retained in custody in the meantime. The lease of the well-known premises of Messrs A. Sligo and Co„ booksellers and stationers, George street, has been purchased by Messrs Barton and Trongrove, who will shortly open another branch of their butchery business. In response to representations to the Union Steam Ship Company suggesting the running of excursions to Milford Sound (reports our Invercargill correspondent), the Southland League has been advised by the company that the head office has gone carefully into the matter and considers that at the present time it is out of the question to commission a steamer specially for the purpose, as they could not hope to secure a sufficient number of passengers to clear expenses at the fare it would bo necessary to charge. It was proposed, however, to strengthen the intercolonial service whilst the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition is open and to make calls at suitable opportunities to Milford Sound with the Bluff-M'elbourne steamer.

Dancing.—Mr F. Read© Wauohop, who has lately returned from America and Australia, will teach at, the Wentworth Dance Chamber, Stock Exchange Buildings, from Tuesday, February 17, all the latest ballroom dances, including Fox Trot, Modern Waltz, One Step, and Tango. Prospective pupils interviewed from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. from February 17 onwards. Appointments can also bo made by ’phone 2044.—Advt. The grocers’ picnic, which was to be held at Mount Stuart on Saturday, February 21, has been postponed until further notice Beautiful Sbmi-indirect Electric Bowl Fittings just landing.—Barth Electrical Supplies (Ltd.), 61 Princes street; also all Electrical Supplies, Jobbing, and Contracting promptly executed. —Advt. 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 street* (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859. Advt. Save your eyes.—Consult Peter G. Dick, D.8.0.A., F. 1.0., London, consulting and oculists’ optician.—“ Peter Dick,” jewellers and opticians, Moray place, Dunedin.*— Advt.