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Otago Daily Times, Issue 20283, 16 December 1927, Page 10

Tho postal authorities advise that the steamer Waikouaiti, which is due at Bluff on Monday from Sydney, is bringing 13 bags and three hampers containing Australian mail matter for Dunedin. The mail is expected to come to hand on Tuesday morning. Fifteen borer holes to tho square inch were found in a piece of timber imported by a Wellington firm from Vancouver this month. The holes appear (our special correspondent reports) to have been made by the marine borer, and it is believed that the wood was attacked while lying in a pond on the Pacific Coast or when being raftod from the milling ground. A sitting of the Supreme Court will be held on Monday. Banco and Chambers business will be taken, and the following prisoners will be called on for sentence: Stephen James Giles, carnal knowledge, at Naseby; Allan Reuben Barnett, William Henry Martin, and Alexander Hodges, breaking and entering, etc., at Dunedin. Several reports of damage being done to the new road at Green Island have been received by the Otago Motor Club. It is stated that the construction of tho road 'is being seriously hampered by the actions of caro.css and thoughtless motorists who persist in encroaching cn the portions at present under treatment. Instances are cited of motorists actually knocking down the standards and bursting through tlie ropo barriers, while ■ ecently a 6-ton lorry was driven post the barrier and in turning gouged a huge hole in tho surfacing. An appeal is made to all users o£ the road, who are warned that their actions are both discouraging to the contractors and costly to those who are obliged to foot the bill. As the coat of formation is borne largely by motorists themselves, the practice of ignoring tho barriers contains an element of stupidity more tragic than amusing. At a meeting of the directors of the Southland Woollen Mills, Ltd., held at Gore on Monday evening, a definite move towards establishing the mills was made (says the Southland Times), the directors deciding to take the necessary step to procure a suitable site. Plans and specifications of the proposed buildings and plant wore submitted, and it was decided to consider these at a meeting to bo held next week. On tho notice calling yesterday’s luncheon of the Dunedin Rotary Club, Rotarian Dr E. N. Merriugton’s Christmas greeting to his fellow-mernbers was as follows: —“in good Rotary fashion, the wheel of the year has come full circle. Christmas is once more close upon us, throwing petals of roses upon the path in lieu of snowflakes. Our hearts grow warmer with the season of tho year, and we feel the call of the festival of love. Christmas expresses and transcends all the principles of Rotary. Wo may take the objects, article by trticlo, and tind them represented and consummated in the massage of Christmastide. This is the spring of the Rotarian year. Service, fellowship, mutual under standing, and international goodwill, are ail incarnated in the Spirit that was made human at Bethlehem. Rotary is but a fresh application of the old message of Christmas Across the ages, and over all the earth, floats the ancient song that falls like a benediction upon the wond of need and discord, —Glory bo God in the Highest, and on earth peace among men of goodwill ! From the Rotary Clubs that encircle the planet there arises a practical contribution towards the promised goal of brotherhood and peace.” Something cosily covered up in her ” pram " attracted a Grey Lynn mother on Wednesday (says our special correspondent in Auckiand) and on lifting tho coverlet she was horrified to see a hairy little face and two rows of sharp teeth. Her cry of astonishment resulted m a small monkey bounding forth and making with alacrity for the backyard. It appears that the monkey has been seen by other Grey Lynn residents. Some have fed it and others have chased it, but the general opinion is that a stray animal of the kind does not add bo the attractions of Grey Lynn, and the feeling has grown that the wanderer had escaped from the Zoo. The Zoo authorities however, say that the monkey is not theirs. Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe do not appear likely to cause the National Park Board any anxiety by depreciation as assets, and it might puzzle the average person to imagine what amounts such a body could find to write off its books (says a Wellington paper). But there are such things as Government auditors, as the last meeting of the board emphasised. “ One maul, ss, worn out,” was an asset seriously written off, and it was followed by such possibly less lengthily used things as mops, ski-ing props, and plates (worn out or broken). The Chairman (Mr J. B. Thompson) remarked that these articles had to be replaced and any attempt at generalised expenditure would be “ tagged.” A rat which escaped from some Wellington premises where rebuilding was oiua on, and ran 30 or 40 yards down the street and into a tea room which was .•e.im we!) patronised at the morning tea .our, created a commotion among the fair sox (.-ays the Dominion). The cashier pimped on the top of the cash desk, and in a minute there was a scene ~f confusion as ladies scurried away with screams from tho vicinity of the rodent. Some of them scrambled on to tables and chairs. There were several men present also one in possession of a croquet mallet making a tremendous blow at the rat, only to catch an unfortunate individual on the -bins. A second attempt, however, was more successful, and the rat was soon only fit for the destructor.

Six years ago a. young -woman who was gardening in Whangarei lost a ring containing two diamonds (says the Northern Advocate). Search at the time failed and it was thought that the loss would be permanent. Since then the young woman married and resided in Auckland. She was on a holiday visit to her old home, and while using a trowel in the garden, without any thought of searching for the lost ring, found it, none the worse for having been buried so long. The City Fire Brigade received an automatic false alarm at 9.32 a.m, yetserday, the call coming from Messrs Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co.’s premises in Stafford street. The British-Imperial Oil Company’s tanker, Silver Shell, which arrived from Singapore with about 0000 tons of bulk petrol for Now Zealand ports, brings (reports our special, correspondent) the first taxable supply of petrol to Auckland. By volume this cargo is equivalent to 1,600,000 gallons which will involve about £26,660 in taxes. No announcement has yet been made regarding the amount of petrol allocated to other ports from the vessel’s cargo. Representatives of the oil companies have been conferring with the Government with a view to formulating a policy of collecting the taxes so as to involve as little complication os possible. One suggestion placed before the Government was that bulk oil • storage tanks should be regarded similarly to bond warehouses, but no finality has yet been reached. So far the companies have come to no decision as to when or how the tax will be passed on to the consumer. Another consignment of petrol, amounting to 40,000 cases, is due at Auckland next week. This will be subject to petrol tax amounting to over £53,800. Three cases of pneumonic influenza, all from the city, were admitted to Hospital yesterday. None of the cases was serious, and the Health Department advises that, as far as can be ascertained, there do not appear to be any indications of an epidemic occurring. “ Fire-fighting should be a communal business,” declared Mr H. M. Didsbury, chairman of the Auckland Underwriters Association, when speaking at the official opening of the new Mount Rosidll fire station a few days ago (says the Auckland Star). He said that the insurance companies were now hit both ways. They were required to contribute largely to the establishment of fire-fighting equipment ol a modern kind, and they were also called upon to reduce premiums, because of the excellence of the fire-fighting equipment. It was a rather Gilbertian situation. The chairman mentioned that it was interesting to look back upon the evolution and history of fire brigades. It would be within the memory of some when it was a common practice for insurance companies to put an enamel piate, bearing the name of the company, on each building that it insured. In those days each company had its own fire brigade, and each tried to put out a fire in a building if it were insured with their company. The nameplates were to enable a brigade to identify its own company’s risks. It was such a crude idea that it had to be discarded. The bear pit in connection with the Wellington Zoo, which was originally to have been constructed at a small cost to the ratepayers, will now involve an expenditure of £2OOO. At the inception of the scheme, the excavation was to be done by a briok company, which was to pay for the clay, but wnen it came to construction much massive concrete had been used. The Mayor of Wellington, when approached on the matter, was quite candid. He said it would have been better if an engineer had been called in before the excavation waa started. However, the whole business was being exaggerated. The bear pit at Auckland cost more than the Wellington pit, and was only 80ft by 40ft, against 120 ft by 50ft. Still, it is remarked that £2OOO seems a lot of money for lodging two bears. Much laughter was caused by Sir Maui Pomare when he told of his youthful ambitions at the opening of the new fire brigade station at Mount Roskiil, Auckland, on Saturday. He confessed that when a boy his greatest aim in life was to belong to a fire brigade. When his mother told him he must leave school, and go to college, he asked to be allowed to go to a certain college because the students wore red stripes Like the members of the fire brigade (reports the Auckland Star). • At the same time he wanted to join a lire brigade at Christchurch because of the rod stripes and brass helmets. The subject of fire was an interesting one. Fire had been an object of worship, also of dread and terror in this world—and in the world to cime. Fire engines, he said, were the only vehicles allowed in New Zealand to carry a siren. At one time sirens were used on the sea coast to attract ships to destruction, now they were used only to save life and property—(Applause.) New Zealand had some good records. It was the healthiest country in the world, and had the lowest death-rate —for infants. It had the least number ol fires in the world. The frequency with which compensation claims set down for hearing at the Auckland sittings of the Arbitration Court are settled out of court by agreement among medical men was commented upon by Mr Justice Frazer the other day. When the court assembled, Mr J, J. Sullivan stated that a settlement had been reached in a case in which Charles Lynds, a waterside worker, waa proceeding against the New Zealand Shipping Company for compensation. “ The system you have in Auckland of very often settling disputes by medical agreement is very satisfactory,” commented his Honor. “ It is very difficult for the court to decide on medical evidence when doctors fail bo agree.” The facts were that on June 15, Lynds was assisting in the unloading of the Remuera at the Queen’s wharf when a sling of cargo struck him. His left arm was fractured and he had been under medical treatment since the accident. Mr Sull.van said that his client had agreed to accept a commuted sum, equal to 21 per cent, of the amount for permanent disability. Judgment was entered accordingly. There was a chorus of protests at a meeting of the Council of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society last week, when a letter was received from the Internal Affairs Department suggesting that the maximum, “ bag ” of native game next season should be limited to 10 birds on any one day (states the Auckland Star). The department urged that the matter should - be considered in its widest aspects, otherwise there was the possibility of native game being exterminated, as sportsmen would visit districts where they could get the biggest “bags.” A Member: ” It’s no good a man going out if his ‘bag’ is limited to 10 ducks.” The Chairman (Mr O. A. Whitney) said they would have to consider limitation of the *‘ bag ” for the season. It was almost impossible to get a “limit bag” conviction, and there was. only one on record as far as the society was concerned. They had had evidence of birds breeding in the middle of June. A Member: “ They will want a limit ‘ bag ’ of five soon.” Mr G. Kelly said that a mistake was made last season in having the season open in July, as when one mated bird was shot the other one flew round until it became a victim. At Mercer one sportsman came on a duck with her brood, so he lowered his gun and left them. Mr W. G. Wohlmann considered that the season for imported game should be of the same duration as the one for native game. The council decided to limit the season for the shooting of native game to a period j of six weeks, from May 1 next te sunset I on June 16, following with a maximum bag i of 25 birds. It was decided to adhere to a decision made at a previous meeting ai Huntly, when it was decided that the next season for imported game should be of a period of two months. There will be some delay in declaring tlio ro-:-lls of written examinations lately conducted in New Zealand by the Associated Board of the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music, London. Ail the board’s examiners in Australia and New Zealand arc fully occupied with practical examinations, and it has been necessary to send the papers to London for marking. The results are not expected until the end of January, perhaps later. j

Mrs A. R. Hall, principal of the child* rea’s department of Radio Broadcasting, arrived in Wellington yesterday (says a Press Association telegram), on her way to Auckland from Christchurch. At 6 a.m. on Christmas Day a special early programme of songs and stories, etc., will be broadcasted for the benefit of the children from all New Zealand stations. At the Musselburgh School break-up ceremony in tre St, -Kilda Town Hall last evening, the chairman of the committee made reference to the dangerous cornea: ol Culling Park, at the corner of Bowen street and Royal crescent, and stated that ; the St. Kilda. Council was endeavouring to arrange to have the street widened at this corner, as it was admitted by all who knew it to be a very dangerous corner. The Health Department was being urged to remove the unsightly and unhealthy convenience at this corner. Reference was also made to the very unsatisfactory state of Culling Park, which was not being used for the purpose intended by the donor, as the boys of Musselburgh School could not get even a cricket pitch on it, the grass being very long and the whole park showing evidence of neglect and lack of attention. It was a first-class ground going to waste, j The School Committee had arranged with | the Education Board to improve the school j grounds greatly during the vacation, and | the front gate was to be removed to give entrance to the school grounds direct from Bowen street. | During November (says a Press Associa- ! tion telegram from Wellington) the live births registered for the urban areas of the Dominion numbered 1173, compared with 1162 in October, an increase of 11, The deaths in November were 553, a decrease of 13 as compared with the previous month. Of the total deaths, males contributed 315, and females 233. Sixty-seven of the deaths were of children under five years of age, being 12.12 per cent, of the whole number. Fifty-two of these were under one year of age. For a number of years a retired Waikato farmer, who made his home at Stanley Bay, was saddened to see that much good grass seed went to waste on the vacant spaces and streets of Devonport (says the Auckland Star). Long before daylight saving came into operation he bad been an early riser, so when the grass-seeding time came each year he used to be out at daylight gathering the seed, which he threshed with an old-fashioned flail. Many people used to pity the old man in hi rough garb, whom they thought was making a precarious living, and benevolent householders often gave him a cup of tea and food. Often the grass-seeder made his 15s a day, and much good seed waa consigned to a Waikato farm to be sown on a summer bush burn. Probably the old man chuckled to himself when cups ol tea and food w r ere proffered, and puzzled Devonport residents who received on occasions small presents will perhaps now be enlightened. “ It just shows what the London financiers, who are the experts of the world, think of the financial condition of this city,” said Mr J. S. Brigham, town clerk of Auckland, on Saturday, in reference to the fact that a loan of £450,000 for Auckland city had been oversubscribed on the London money market. “ Auckland ha» indeed a high standing in the I/mdon market,” continued Mr Brigham, “and the readiness with which this loan has been raised should _stand as a complete- answer to the people who show an inclination to to question the stability of the city’s finances.” Regarding the terms on which i the loan has been raised, Mr Brigham said that 5i per cent, at par was an exceptionally favourable rate when looked at from the point of view of the present financial conditions. A loan on these term* should be most satisfying to any city. Mr Brigham said that the loan, was for !33 years from December 1. A sum of £310,000 was for street improvements, £IIO,OOO to be used in connection with waterworks, and £30,000 for tramways. Most of the money, Mr Brigham continued, had already been advanced from the general revenue of the city, and the loan was being raised in order to recoup I the finances. Special rates were struck some time ago to cover interest and sinking fund. The Maoris are too great a race to die, but die they undoubtedly will unless the pakehas lead and help them. Civilisation’s duty to the trust which the coming of the white man to New Zealand has imposed was emphasised, by the Rev. .B. T. Olds, assistant superintendent of Methodist Maori mission work in New Zealand, in an address to the New Plymouth Rotary Club on his work among the Maori people. He referred to the dwindling of the Maori race from 400,000 —the estimate of Captain Cook —to 40,000. Aiding in the destruction of the Maoris by bitter intertribal strife was the musket. Mr Olds warmly defended his friends against the allegation that they were “not much class,” and would not work, and asked whether the pakeha, deprived of his best land by the invader, would be enthusiastic in working the rest. The Maoris had been compelled to leap in 100 years to that civilisation it had taken the pakeha 1000 years to reach. But the Maoris were now progressing, and it was not the idea of the Church workers to make them “ good, superficial pakeha churchmen ” —they wished to help them fill their own destiny, for they had a part to play in the life of New Zealand. The growth of education among tiie Maoris and their better acceptance of pakeha. medical treatment were stressed as points of progress with a peop.e who will prosper providing they have pakeha sympathy. An interesting discussion upon the technicalities of fishing took place in the Magistrate’s Court at Palmerston North on Tuesday morning, when Walter Ernest Gosling appeared before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., charged with using hand lines tor the purpose of taking trout in the Manawatu River (says the Wellington Post). An Acclimatisation Society’s ranger stated that he had visited Gosling’s property and had found three hand lines set in a backwater of the river, -The tackle was an ordinary hand line, attached to strong trout traces. Gosling had stated that the lines were set for eels and flounders. The ranger was of the opinion that the tackle used was not strong enough and too expensive to use for eels, while, as tar as the flounders were concerned, he had seen ] many thousands of trout taken on such tackle, but had yet to see a flounder taken in this manner. The Accused stated in evidence that ho had never taken trout this season out of the Manawatu. The back-water in which the lines were set was a far more likely place for eels and flounders than for trout. The tackle was not expensive, and although he_ admitted that it was not usual to use this type of gear for eels, he had caught them on such tackle, as well as a number of flounders. After ’ a brief discussion between the accused and the ranger as to the advisability of using trout traces to catch eels and flounders, the Magistrate stated that as there seemed to bo a certain amount or I doubt in this case he would discharge the : accused. At the same time, ho would 1 issue a warning that in future any persons found using such tackle would bo severely dealt with.

Port Chalmers ratepayers are notified that rates unpaid after January 16 will be subject to the 10 per cent, penalty n We have received 10s from “ R. R. R, (Central Otago) for the Hospital Boards “ Christmas Cheer ” fund. The Wembley Club is arrangeing a gala ; dance in the Early Settlers’ and Pioneers Halls for to-morrow night, i The Dunedin Euchre Assembly is giving j £lO in orders to-night in the Waratah ; Tea Rooms. ! Rheumatics, Neuritis. —Arthur Malcolm, the rheumatic expert (for over 38 years), now consulting daily at 377 Leith street. See advt. on another page.—Advt. Many years experience, plus the most up-to-date equipment scientific optometry ca suggest, entitles W V. Sturmer, 0.A.0.C.. D. 5.0.1., Octagon. Dunedin, to guarantee complete satisfaction in all eye troubles Advt. A E <1 Blakeley and W. E. Baglay, dentists. B. k of Australasia, cornci of Bond and Rattray street.' (next Tele- * graph Ofiice) Telephone 12-359. .Advt.. Xmas Jewellery.—Compare our values. Just landed, large selection Diamond Rings. Reliable Watches, Jewellery, and Silverware. —Peter Dick, the most reliable jewellers, watchmakers, and opticians, 490 Moray place, Dunedin.—Advt.