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Otago Daily Times, Issue 20222, 7 October 1927, Page 8

The postal authorities' advise that the steamer Manuka, which is due at Bluff on Sunday night from Melbourne, is bringing 100 bags of mail (including 83 bags from beyond Australia) and 10 hampers for Dunedin. The mail is expected to come to hand on Monday morning. Observations by the State Forest Service are revealing the fact that there ar© marked differences in the' quality of macrocarpa grown in the same place, and the cause is thought to be hybridisation of the seed. The greatest care in the collection of the seed is necessary for the success of the tree. This lack of unifor uty prevails through all the species of forest trees which are now being used in JNew Zealand. The Forest Service is investigating, so that it may be able to supply the very best type of tree for afforestation purposes. It is considered that the macrocarpa shows the greatest promise of providing a successful timber supply for all purposes, particularly for farmers’ requirements. Already the electric power boards throughout the South Island are planting macrocarpa with a view to supplying the future demand for polos. Aberdeen is an historic port of registry in the British mercantile shipping world. The white wingers hailing from that Scottish port in the days of fast sailing ships made the name famous on the world's ocean highways. The name is not often seen in these waters nowadays, but ;t was recorded as the port of registration on the stern of the big passenger steamer Mataroa which sailed last night from Port Chalmers for Lyttelton and l\orth Island ports. Speaking upon the Fungicides and Insecticides Bill in the Legislative Council yesterday (telegraphs our Wellington correspondent), Mr L. M. Isitt pointed cut that certain persons posed as experts i-> the spraying of fruit trees with the result that the trees were ruined. He sug gestod that they should be required to prove their qualifications and that the Department of Agriculture should authorise recognised men to act as sprayers. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes said he thought there was something in the suggestion that men who called themselves experts should give pi oof and bo licensed. He would confer with the Minister of Agriculture (Mr O. J. Hawken) in regard tp the matter.

A Press Association telegram from Wellington says that the tenders of Messrs Cory, Wright and Salmon, Wellington, have been accepted for the supply of electric locomotives for the ChristchurchI.yttelton railway, £47,958, and overhead equipment, £18,329 6s 7d. The monthly stop-work meeting of the Dunedin Waterside Workers’ Union was held yesterday morning. The meeting, which was in session much longer than usual, was addressed by Mr J. Roberts, secretary of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Federation (Wellington). Work on the shipping in port was not commenced until after the midday meal.

Disapproval of the passing of the Summer Time Bill was expressed yesterday by the South Taranaki Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union (says a I'ress Association telegram), and it was decided to disregard the measure by holding the monthly meetings at the usual standard time. The president and several members declared that they did not intend to alter their watches but would maintain the present time during the summer. The secretary pointed out that as the meetings usually occupied two hours from 11 o clock the effect of the resolution would be sitting from noon till 2 o’clock Summer lime, but the meeting held to its decision. A correspondent—“ Bo’sun’s Mate ” writing to the Daily Times with reference tu the rusty, dilapidated hulls of three Ked Funnel steamers swinging at their moorings in the lower reaches of Otago Harbour, says; “The sight of these oldtime ships brings back pleasant memories. There is the once favourite intercolonial passenger steamer Paloona, which has long since made her last deep-sea voyage. She was a stately vessel when I witnessed her arrival at Auckland 28 years ego on her maiden voyage from Sydney, under the name of Zealandia, and flying the house-flag of the Huddart, Parker Company. How well I remember the reception held on board to celebrate the arrival of such a well-appointed ship. Also riding t ) the harbour swell is the staid Mokoia. another well-known intercolonial passenger carrier during the early part of this centurj-. I also witnessed the arrival of this vessel at Auckland in 1898 on her maiden voyage from Scotland, by way of Sydney. Memories of many pleasant voyages along the east coast, between Auckland and Dunedin are revived when the name Tarawera is mentioned. j.icro again a notable old passenger, and later a purely cargo carrier, has found a resting place on the end of fore and aft cables. What the Tarayvera’s ultimate finish will be no one can forecast. Visit the Union Company’s wharf at Port Chalmers, and one will see the dilapidated shell ot another once notable San Francisco and intercolonial passenger carrier. This is the Moana—a beautiful ship in her palmy days, but now only a hollow shell, as all ber elaborate fittings have been removed. The old ship’s days are numbered, as she will shortly find a last resting place at the Mole just inside the entrance to Otago Harbour. One regrets the passing of these old-timers, but, like the sailing ship of the early days, and they had their period ot usefulness, and must makd way for the more modern ships.’’

At the City Police Court yesterday before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., James Smith Hargreaves, a statutory first offender, was fihed 10s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment for drunkenness.

During the past few year* nearly a dozen new modern cargo steamers have been built in English yards for the Union Steam Ship Company to replace vessels which have long since become obsolete. The new ships include the Karetu, Kairanga, Waipiata, Kartigi, Knponga, Kiwitea, Waipr.hi, Kakariki, and the Konin:. The latter vessel’s career was short-lived, as she became a total wreck through striking a reef of rocks near Bluff aoout two years ago, when oh her maiden voyage from England. It is interesting to note that six or seven well-known Union Company passenger and cargo steamers—ships that played an important part in the early history of the Red Funnel fleet—have disappeared for all time. The Monowai, which 25 years ago was recognised as a fine vessel in the intercolonial and coastal passenger services, was scuttled at Gisborne to form the nucleus of a breakwater; the Wanaka was sunk in the rlauraki Gulf some months ago after the shipbreakers had gutted her from stem to stern; the Takapuna and Poherua were towed to sea and scuttled in Cook Strait; the Pateena, once a noted passenger carrier in the Wellington-Picton-Nelson service, was gutted at the Dunedin wharves and then sunk at the Mole just inside he entrance to Otago Harbour, while the Te Anau has a resting place at the mole outside Castlecliff, the entrance to the Wanganui River. The Talune, onoe a well-known intercolonial and island passenger and cargo carrier, is now almost a mere shell. She is doing .duty as a humble oil-store ship in Auckland Harbour.

To the inventing of rumours concerning reconstruction of the Arbitration Court there is, apparently, no end (says the Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times). The latest story going round is that Mr Cutten, S.M., of Auckland, will bo successor to Mr Justice Frazer, who, it is said, will be appointed to the Supreme Court, and that Mr E. Page, S.M., and Mr *J. S. Barton, S.M., will be appointed assessors. This is nothing but sheer speculation, since those who are most closely in touch with the Government’s proposals state that the whole matter is still in the melting pot. Some weeks ago certain papers published an article predicting that three judges would be appointed to the Arbitration Court, and mention was made of a clause in the Bill. In point of fact, the Bill has not yet been drafted, according to information given to a representative of the Lyttelton Times, and it is doubtful whether the Bill will be introduced this session. It may be that the rumour concerning Mr Cutten's appointment will turn out to be correct, but there are at least a dozen other similar predictions, anv one of which may or may not be fulfilled.

A petrol case received in Christchurch has led to the discovery that there is in San Francisco a man named Mr Z. Hoppletheim, whose theories about petrol and the Great War are interesting (says the Lyttelton Times). Pencilled on the case of petrol ore the words: “Z. Hoppletheim, 16 Fitzgerald avenue, San Francisco, v,al, LhS.A. —We won’ the war and saved the British Islands from defeat and extinction Now I guess you buy our oil.” The piece of board upon which was this striking piece of philosophy was exhibited at the meeting of the executive of the Canterbury Progress League on Wednesday night. The chairman (Mr G. M. Hall) said that it prompted him to invest os 6d in a book by Owen Wister, “The Square Deal,” and to send it on to Mr Hoppletheim with the league’s compliments.

The Government will be asked to make a definite statement recording the sum of approximately £350.000 which has been transferred from the Main Highways revenue fund for the South Island i the North Island road construction fund. The league decided on Wednesday night to ask South Island parliamentarians to move for a Government declaration (says the Lyttelton Times). In moving a motion to that effect, Mr H. J. Knight said that further money from revenue next year might follow in the wake of the £300,000, as the North Island had Overspent its quota. It was best to stop a runaway before it went to c far. It would be a simple matter for the Government to make a statement. When it was stated that the transfer was merely a loan, Mr J. A. Flesher said that such loans had a habit of not being refunded. That was the practice. The South Island had a representation in Parliament lower than the North, the percentages being about 40 and 60 respectively. ihe South had no say against the Nortn, in which, the speaker believed, there was much reading work to do. “ I think tftat the Main Highways Board should spend the money on roads in the South Island,” continued Mr Flesher. . “ even if the local bodies cannot see their way to load themselves with heavy amounts. There should be a separate board for the South Island which would administer this money. It is all right discussing the matter in Parliament, but it does no good, considering the state of the political parties. We are at the mercy of the big party behind the Minister.” Mr Knight’s motion was carried unanimously.

“ That is the way' we treat people like you when they come over here.” said Mr F. K. Hunt, the Auckland magistrate, when sentencing a swindler from overseas to 12 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by two years’ reformative detention. But is it the sane way? (asks the Lookout Man in the Auckland Sun). Under existing conditions New Zealand maintains gaols and an expensive prison staff largely for the accommodation of rogues from other countries. The criminal in this instac > had left Australia, where he had several times* been convicted, to try his skill ah passing valueless cheques here. As a re-* suit, New Zealand undertakes to keep him,; at the taxpayers’ expense, for three years, and if all tales be true, New Zealand prisons are pretty comfortable habitations. A country that took a proper pride n keeping itself clean of criminals would have immigration laws which would provide for the deportation of all “ crooks ” from overseas, immediately on their detection. If criminals elsewhere know that they would not be permitted to stay m the Dominion there would be very few of them come here.

The City Fire Brigade received two calls yesterday. The first one was at 7.39 a.m. to a chimney fire in Castle street, where no damage was done. The other call came at 12.14 p.m. from Carroll street, where a two-storey wooden building had caught fire. Two machines were sent out and the outbreak was speedily subdued, damage to the extent of about £2 being done to the weatherboards.

In his first annual report the. Supervisor of Musical Education (Mr E. D. Taylor) points out that he has observed a keen desire to improve the standard of school music, but that there was lack ot organisation and guidance. The chief weaknesses were neglect of instruction in sight singing, lack of connected instruction throughout the standards, faulty methods of voice training, poor choice of music without definite aims, insufficient time devoted to music, a narrow outlook upon school music and general unawareness of its possibilities, inability of teachers to play the piano, and scarcity of instruments. “ There is no lack of musical gifts in the children,’’ says Mr Tayler, “ althougu -t ha a been difficult in most cases to create an effective musical environment for them. In many schools fine work is being done by individual enthusiasts, and wise use of the gramophone will greatly increase the possibilities of cultivating taste and appreciation of fine music finely performed. It i» essential to cultivate the, child’s powers of musical invention, and already as ths result of help and example given to teachers a npmber of simple melodies of a most promising character have been composed by children in different schools. This i« a most valuable means of stimulating interest and promoting understanding of the real significance of music, besides being the natural reason for the study of theory—namely, that one may record permanently the music composed and reproduce it again from the written symbol.”

A contest unique in the history of New Zealand cycling will take place on November 11. G. W. Prebble and W. Coman will be' the contestants, the route being from Dunedin to Christchurch—a distance of 230 miles. The race will commence at about 1 a.m., finishing at English Park somewhere about 7 o’clock in the evening of the same day. The contest will be held or. Show Day, for which date the Christchurch Cycling Club has arranged a meeting in the evening. The Christchurch Cycling Club will give £ls towards ths prizes, this bringing the stake money ta £55. The contest is the result of lengthy correspondence in the Christchurch Star, in which challenges were made and accepted.

• Writing to Mr Sinclair of Wellington, Mr J. Rentoul, a member of the New Zealand Honey Export Control Board, gives some impressions of Germany. “I looked,” he said, “for the cloven hoof, for the difference that should make us antagonistic, but in their they are very like ourselves, and apart from the language I could not tell who were English and who were German. My centre was Wiesbaden, now occupied by British troops. It was in this area that the French placed black troops, a thing that n© white country should do to another The result has been that our troops, while perhaps not looked upon as guests ( are treated with as much friendship as the circumstances will permit. They move about with as little osten.ation a? possible, while the French, across the rivev, rush around in their armoured cars and are generous with restrictions. ' The old German ‘ Verboten ’ is now replaced by that of the French. It costs us a few marks for crossing a bridge which they levied toll on and a good few miles travelling when they closed it every night. We have our war graves and they have theirs. They appear uncountable, but can we blame the people? I did not encounter a hostile attitude or hear an unfriendly remark and believe- that, under the new order of things, Germany will be nearer to us in friendship than France, "with her temperamental race, can ever be.”

A note of warning was struck by Mr William Goodfellow, managing director of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd., in his latest monthly circular to suppliers. Farmers, he stated, must not expect the present high prices to continue. At the present time, states the circular, mo market for dairy produce was firm, with, the outlook for the coming season good. Owing to drought conditions in Argentine and Australia, a further advance in prices was probable. Canada was an additional buyer on the market endeavouring to cover requirements till March nest. The casein market had registered little activity during the month, but had continued firm due to an anticipated reduction in the Argentine make. In conclusion, the review states that owing to the abnormal conditions ruling in Canada, Argentine and Australia, the outlook for New Zealand dairymen this season was better than if had been for many years. When conditions in those countries became normal, however, undoubtedly a lower scale of prices would prevail.

In the opinion of Mr H. E. Longworth director of physical training in senook, defects in the physique of New Zealand school children are decreasing. Among the principal defects are obstructed breathing, stooped shoulders, spinal curvature, depressed ribs, and pigeon breast, and the fact that they were decreasing could be attributed to the efforts of the teachers, who themselves have undergone a course o f physical training and were thus able to direct the physical development of men pupils along right lines. Statistics compiled by the Health Department indicated that in 1913, when organised physical training was first introduced, no less than 63 per cent, of New Zealand’s school children had postural physical defects such as too so mentioned above. According to the most recent report, this figure had fallen to 20. J per cent,, a result which mot only ..e Government, but the parents and children of New Zealand must find exceedingly gratifying. Mr Longworth, who has wen \nsiting schools in the north, considers that tilose figures can and will be brought considerably lower. Progressive methods were being continually introduced, and next year the teachers of the Dominion would unnerga a refresher course in this important department of their work. The monthly “ At Home ” of the Overseas Club will be held on Monday evening next. An illustrated lecture "will be given on the scenic views of a trip through Canada, the slides for which have been lent by Mr A. E. Anscombe. The “ Wembley ” Club has arranged a “ tennis dance ” (flannels optional) tor tomorrow night in the Early Settlers’ and Pioneers' Halls. It is still possible to secure frocks, costumes, and coats at the sale of Douglas Bernstein’s Liquidation Stock. Last few days. Call early.—Advt. Many years’ experience, plus the most up-to-date equipment scientific otometry can suggest, entitles W. V. Sturmer, G.A.0.C., D. 5.0.1., Octagon, Dunedin, to guarantee complete satisfaction in all eye troubles. —Advt. Eczema, varicose ulcers, psoriasis, and all skin irritation successfully treated by Hoffman’s special treatment. Write Hoffman's Pharmacy, 17 Princes street (next B egg’s).—Advt. A. E. J. Blakeley and W. E. Bagley, dentists, Ba..k of Australasia, corner of ' Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 12-359.—Advt, Diamond Engagement Rings.—Before purchasing compare our values; large selection just landed; superior quality.—. Peter Dick, the most reliable jewellers, watchmakers, and opticians, 490 Moray place, Duusdin. —Adv^.