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Otago Daily Times, Issue 20039, 4 March 1927, Page 8

Three months of solid training by five members of the City Fire Brigade has resulted in a team of men in perfect condition being ready to compete in the demonstration to be held at Gore on Wednesday next. Shortly after' sunrise every morning and before sunset every evening the members of the team have trained in Cumberland street with hose, hydrant, reel, and ladder. Each day every man has become more proficient and a clean, smart run ia now the rule. The team, with one or two exceptions, is the same as that which represented the brigade at the United Fire Brigades' demonstration held on the Exhibition grounds in March last year. The men are being coached by Mr R. Duncan, who was an outstanding fire brigade competition man about 12 years ago. The team, as a result of hard training and also experience gained last year, is expected to give a creditable account of itself in competition with the Hillside Railway and the various country teams at Gore next week. The city men’s strongest opponents will probably be the Hillside and Gore teams. The team to represent the City Brigade comprises ex-Fireman R. Duncan, Senior Foremen J. Cockbum and F. Laidlaw. Firemen G. Pope, E. Crowe, and J. Campbell. Boating matters were discussed by the club delegates who attended a meeting of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association on Wednesday evening. Mr J. T. Paul presided. Formal business in connection with Otago’s representation at the recent Sanders Cup contest at Lyttelton was dealt with. It was stated that the association would finish with a credit balance. There was a general discussion in connection with the recommendation of the Dominion Yachting Conference to the effect that a Dominion measurer be appointed to measure all competing boats for the Sanders Cup at least three months before the date fixed for the races. It was decided that the president and secretary write to the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association pointing out that the proposal lacked concrete form, as intending builders of boats would not accept contracts if there wore any possibility of a now boat being rejected. It was also resolved to point out that certificates once given stating that a boat complied with the conditions were valid for all time. At a previous meeting of the association a letter was received from the Port Chalmers Yacht and Motor Boat Club asking the association to make a ruling on the number of crew to be carried in boats of the Baby Groper type—outboard motors. The association gave a ruling that the crew should consist of one person in the meantime, as the season was drawing to a close. It was also decided at that meeting that the attention of the handicapper should be drawn to the advantage which outboard motor boats have over other motor craft. The association considered that if the out-board motor boats carried a crew of two the class would be hampered. The class should be encouraged, and it was hoped that quite a number of boats of the Baby Groper type would bo seen on Otago Harbour next year. The visit of Professor Strong (Dean of the Homo Science Faculty) to Wellington to enter protest against the sudden droping, without warning, by the Education Department of the customary bursaries in homo science has evidently had immediate good results. Yesterday Mr H. Campman (the University registrar) received a telegram from the Education Department stating that all the home science bursars recommended would he accepted. The department has notified all bursars of this decision. Mr J. R. Bartholomew, 8.M., presided over a brief sitting of the City Police Court yesterday morning, at which he fined a first offender 10s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment, for being drunk in High street. Patrick M'Culchcon was charged with drunkenness and with casting offensive matter in Maclaggan street, and was fined 10s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment, for the first offence, and £2, with the alternative of seven days’ imprisonment, on the second charge. The progress being made by the local bianch of the Labour Department in respect of the solution of the unemployment problem is not unlike the headway made by a monkey on a greasy pole, climbing three feet and slipping back two. No sooner is work found for one batch than another contingent of workless arrive for registration. Employment was found for 26 married men on the Portobcllo road yesterday, but :be fresh registrations totalled 15 (11 married and four single), so that the position is not greatly improved. The number of names on the department’s book at present is 222, of whom are 110 are married men.

In our report of the Patient* and Prisoners’ Aid Society, Mr David Todd was reported to have said that there was only 76U subscribers for 1926. As a matter of fact the correct number is only 160, which, in contrast with anotfter society with 1800 subscribers, is very marked. It is hoped with the appeal about to be made 600 new subscribers will soon bo found, and thus bring the list up to 760, which would be a good start for the jubilee year. New Zealand, with a contingent of 12, is well represented amongst the 40 other countries participating in the celebrations of the centenary of University College, London. University College was the first institution of its kind in the world to offer education without distinction of class, race, creed, or sex, principles which have been followed by all the newer university institutions of Groat Britain and the British Empire. It was founded in 1827 by Henry Brougham, Thomas Campbell, the poet, and Jeremy Bentham, the utilitarian philosopher. With them were Henry Crabb Robinson; George Birkbeok, the founder of mechanics institutes; George Grote, the banker and historian of Greece; Joseph Hume; Zachary Macaulay, father of the historian; James Mill, father of John Stuart Mill, who was one of the first students to bo enrolled; and Isaac Lyon Goldsmid, the first Jew to receive a title from the British Crown. Amongst other countries largely represented at University College, London, are Russia (with 19 students), Holland (21), Australia (24), France (32), Africa (37), Switzerland (39), Japan (41), Germany (51), United States (52), and India (111). A Wellington Press Association message state* that in the Gazette last night there was acknowledged the receipt of sums of £SO and £26 10s, forwarded to the Land) and Income Tax Department as conscience money. A meeting of the various Scottish societies was held last evening in Messrs W. E._o. Reid’s board room, delegates representing the respective societies in the city being present. The rules governing the establishment of a combined federation towards consummating the general welfare of eacn society having been adopted, the election of office-bearers was proceeded with, and resulted in Mr J. S. Douglas being elected president, Mr W, Nicholson vice-president, and Messrs W. E. C. Reid and Co, secretaries. The following were elected membeis of the council: —Messrs J. Hops, T. Gilchrist (Pipe Band), W. H. M'Leod, K. Cameron (Gaelic Society), A. H. Tonkinson, T. Ritchie (Caledonian Society), N. Macdonald, A. M'Millan (Burns Club), J. Mac Kay, X. W. King (I’ipers and Dancers). Extreme gratification was expressed bp delegates that one of the first functions of the combined ’societies will be to take an official part in the welcome to the loyal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York, the Duchess being a member of one of the best' known Scottish families. Their Royal Highnesses have consented to accept an address from the Scottish community of Dunedin. This is being prepared by Messrs Mills, Dick, and Co., and will be presented by the president at the civic welcome at Logan Park. The popularity of Portobello as a weekend resort is increasing. Several weekend houses are at present under construction. The attractiveness of the locality will soon be enhanced by the erection of a small post office, for which a building tender has been accepted. Mr J. A. Robson, an officer of the Public Works Department, waited on the Road Board yesterday in regard to a detail which had cropped up under the local building bylaws in regard to boundary clearance The members of the board said they wished to expedite the erection of the new post office, and they would carefully consider the matter. A warm tribute to the valour and determination of the British merchant seamen during the war was paid by Commander Marsden, R.N., in the course of a lecture on the navy at Wellington on Monday night (states the Post). “The greatest mistake made by the Germans in a psychological way in the whole war —they made many was in under-estimating the spirit, determination, and courage of our British merchant seamen,” declared Commander Marsdon. l ime and again the merchant sailors would be torpedoed, but they were never daunted, and insisted on going to sea.. At one time, he said, his destroyer picked up some sailors whose ship had been sunk by enemy action. The man had one “grouch,” not for the sinking of their ship by the Germans —they recognised that was merely one of the fortunes of war — but because when their ship went down their pay stopped ! Commander Marsden related the story of the bravery of an old skipper of a trawler. The trawler, with a small gun, one day attacked a German craft with heavy guns, and the fight was wholly one-sided. Presently some British destroyers came on the scene and the Germans made off. The trawler, however, was sinking, and an American vessel went to her rescue. Her funnel was over the side, the skippers’ right arm was gone, the mate, his son. was lying dead at his feet, and there was death and destruction all round. The craft had just enough steam up to keep the screw turning, and the skipper, with bandaged head, was just able to twirl the spokes of the wheel with his left hand. “Is the fight all over?” asked the rescuing American captain as he came alongside. “All over be blowed, was the fierce reply. “I’m just going back for more ammunition.” —(Laughter and applause.) The tenders accepted for the construction of the extensive wings and additions to the Waitomo Hostel amount to £27,385 (reports a Wellington Press Association message,. A sun-burned, health.v-looking, and happy army of territorials arrived back in town from the Matarae camp yesterday morning ,and were met at, the station by the Regimental Band. After the canvas swags had been stowed away in a fleet of delivery wagons the troops formed up in column ol route, and marched through town via Stuart street and Princes street, to the Kensington Drill Hall, and how they marched I If they learned nothing more during their week in camp they certainly learnt how to march. The display given in the streets and later on the Oval at the presentation of colours made the eyes of many an old soldier glisten as he realised that the country was still making as good soldiers as it ever sent away. The route through town was well lined with spectators, and it was generally conceded that the Ist Battalion of the Otago Regiment comprised a fine body of men. The troops marched to the Drill Hall, where that quartermaster of quartermasters, Major M'Kenzie, supplied the whole unit with the midday meal. To ration so large a body of men requires no little initiative and administrative ability, but Major M'Kenzle must possess these qualities to a marked degree, as the whole battalion was provided for in an amazingly short space of time. The Wembley Club is arranging another attractive evening in the Early Settlers Hall for to-morrow night. The Kapai Dance Band will provide the music for the old and the new dances. The opening of the Rodcastlo College, Oamaru, has been attended with unprecedented success; and the splendid careei of the college is assured. But the unexpected demand on tho full accommodation has made it necessary far the new buildings to be constructed immediately, and tho organiser of the appeal for the college funds Brother Moore, asks for support in his project for augmenting funds particulars of which will be found in tho advertisemont columns. It is hoped that the public will generously respond. Hoffman’s Pharmacy is still recognised as Dunedin’s loading Chemists for all Prescription work. All drugs used are guaranteed pure and fresh. Their Goitre Cure is known from Auckland to the Bluff.—Advt. A. E. J. Blakeley and W. E. Baglcy. dentists, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859. —Advt. Eyes are precious. At first sign of weakness go to the qualified and experienced (20 years) optometrist, W. V. Stunner, D. 5.0.1., G.A.0.C., Octagon, Dunedin. Most up-to-date equipment, including electrically lit testing charts.— Advt. Barth Elect) ieal Supplies (Ltd.), 90 Princes street, Dunedin. Specialists in every description of electrical supplies and wireless material. Contracting and jobbing promptly executed. —Advt. Developing, Printing, and Enlargements —cheapest and best in town, Cameras and Photographic Material of every description.—H. L. Sprosen (Ltd.), chemists, Octagon, Dunedin.—Advt. Make no mistake. For honest value m jewellery, watches, and optica' goods, “Peter Dick,” the most reliable watchmakers, jewellers, and optometrists, 490 Moray place (opp. City Hotel). —Advt.