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Otago Daily Times, Issue 20286, 20 December 1927, Page 8

There will be no publication of the Otago Daily Times on Monday morning next, December 26. Probate has been granted by his Honor Mr Justice Sim in the estates of the under mentioned deceased persons:—Jane Meek, late of Oamaru, widow (Mr A. G. Creaghl; John Kane, the younger, late of Hawea Flat, farmer (Mr J. C. Parcell); Emily Lawson, Late of Mornington, widow (Mr R. R. Aspinall); John Scott Crawford, late of Dunedin, railway guard (Mr R. R. Aspinall); Grace Lilian Mitchell, late oi Dunedin, spinster (Mr J. B. Nichol); Daniel Kinney, late of Ohatto Creek, farmer (Mr G. Gallaway); Alexander Bain, late of Dunedin, retired from business (Mr F. G. Duncan), and Isabella Wallace, late of Dunedin, widow (Mr D. Ramsay). Letters of administration have been granted in the estates of Margaret Grey, late ot Caversham, widow (Mr T. K. Sidey), and Margaret Smith, late of Dunedin,. spinster (Mr G. Gallaway). A report submitted to last night's meeting of the St. Kilda Borough Council showed that during the past two weeks 4,13C,000gal of water had been used in the borough, at a cost of £lO3 9s. Dur ing the first week 2,076,000 gal passed through tho meter, and 2,062, OOCga l during the second week. The total amount paid by the council for water during the previous two-weekly period was £9B 9s. Tho church, which used to stand in Maclaggan street, Where tho members of the Catholic Apostolic denomination wprshipped, having now been re-erected in Forbury crescent St. Clair, will be opened for service on Christmas Day. Along with all its furniture, the church building was, by the great generosity of the members ot tho Catholic Apostolic Church, handed over entirely free of cost, to tho vicar and vestry of St. Peter's Church, Caversham. The building and fittings are in excellent order. Tho formal dedication of tho church on its new site has been postponed until after tho holidays. The fleet of overseas liners in port, including those which arrived yesterday (says a Wellington Press Association telegram, constitutes the largest number of big ships seen at Wellington wharves for a long period. The total tonnage of the 1* liners in port is 116,723. Adding the coastal ships tho aggregate i s 140,000 tons. At the close of last night's meeting of the St. Kilda Borough Council the Mayor (Mr R. W. Hall), in conveying the season's greetings to tho councillors, said the past year had been notable for the advance made in the borough as regard: the various works carried out. His work as the council's chief executive officer had been made very pleasant through the hearty co-opera tion of every member of the council. Throughout the year the councillors had worked in perfect harmony and ho thanked them for their loyal support.

" There is not an hotelkeeper in New Zeal.tnd who could not be convicted every week under the present licensing laws," said a Dunedin licensee yesterday during a chat wilh a Daily Times reporter. "We are hemmed in with so many regulations and limits thnjfc in practice, it becomes impossible to avoid breaking the law. I must say, however, that the police read the law relating to hotels generously, and I have always found that they are prepared to give a square deal to the man who is trying to play the game. If the regulations wercintcrpreted strictly and to the last letter, conditions would be intolerable for us." He added that hotelkeepers throughout rhe country had been passing through a lean period* in 1927. At the present time, if licensees were holding their own and making ends meet, they were doing well. With the opening of the new bridge across the Sclwyn River on the Main South road yesterday the last link in direct road access between Picton and Bluff has been completed (says our Christchurch correspondent) The bridge will save motorists a detour of several miles. It is a ferroconcrete structure. 1050 ft in length, and it cost £IB,OOO. The cost was subsidised £3 for £1 by the Main Highways Board Sir Heaton Rhodes officially declared the. bridge open, and Lady Rhodes v cut the ribbon. Ninety-five women were included among the 135 assisteel passengers who arrived at Wellisgton by the Tamaroa from England on Sunday (says a Press Association telegram). Among the party were 23 domestic servants. By the will of the late Miss Grace Lilian Mitchell, daughter of the late Mr John Mitchell, of Mornington, charities will benefit to a very considerable extent. By her will, of which The Perpetual Trustees Estate and Agency Company of N. 71., Ltd., is the executor and trustee, Miss Mitchell has bequeathed half of her estate for the benefit of charitable organisations and in stitutioiis in I'uneilin and surrounding districts. The la' o Mis> Mitchell expressed :i particular de-ire to as-i-t «neh organ isa tion- and institutions as exist for rhe purpose of h'-Ipin:' per.-ons ;idviT-i-!.\. a fIY-cttvi !,y the Great War. Tiie tru-tce h:i>. power, if it think- fit, in create or endow an in i atiiution for this purjpose. •

A property deal involving over £200,000 in the purchase and rebuilding of premises fronting Queen and Customs streets, in Auckland, and the construction of an arcade linking them round the back of the Dilworth building, has been effected (says our own correspondent). The price paid for the Queen street frontage, approxi mately £1758 a foot, i s a record for the city.

The following are the returns of infectious diseases at the Dunedin and Fever Hospitals for the week ended at noon yesterday:—Scarlet fever; Admitted 1, discharged 1, remaining 4. Diphtheria: Admitted 1, remaining 1. Acute primary pneumonia: Admitted 1, remaining 1. Influenzal pneumonia: Admitted 2, died 1, remaining 1. Puerperal sepsis: Admitted 1, remaining 1. Totals: Admitted 6, discharged 1, died 1, remaining 8.

A complaint to the effect that there had been some alleged irregularity practised in regard to men receiving payment for work not performed was made at a recent meeting of the St. Kilda Borough Council. The matter was discussed at some length, and a committee was then appointed to sift the complaint thoroughly and submit a report to a special meeting of the council on December 8. This meeting was duly held, when the report of the committee was lodged. The Chairman of the committee stated that the matter had been investigated very thoroughly, and, after an explanation had been given, it was agreed to approve of the report, which provided for an alteration in the system of recording the time of workmen employed on the various borough works. The Chairman explained that no loss had been suffered by the borough. The committee s report was placed before the ordinary meeting ol the council last night, and approved.

Messrs Sutton, Simpson, and Webb, representing the Southland Motor Associa tion and Sports Executive, met representatives of the Otago Motor Club last even ing to arrange a programme for the motor oar and motor cycle racing to be held on the Invercargill track on March 3. A programme of four motor car and three motor: cycle events was arranged. It was stataJ that the prize money amounted to oyer £4OO. and it was expected to have entries from all parts of the Dominion, and also from Australia. The Invercargill Beach is said to be the finest in New Zealand for racing purposes, having a firm surface with the required length and breadth. It is intended to arrange for a sPecM train to leave Dunedin on the Saturday morning and to return the same evening.

The series of articles by Mr Kenneth Ross, which have appeared in the Otago Daily Times have created a good deal ot interest in Tapanui (reports our <jwn correspondent) and in reference to Mr Ross s letter published on Friday last, in which the name of Mr W. Quin is mentioned as having been associated with a Mr Mooney in tin establishment of the Tapanui Courier ( it has since been learned that the late Mr Quin was also in carrying the Courier from Lawrence to Tapanui on horseback. On one occasion he rode from Lawrence, to Tapanui and back again to Tapanui in one day. Although, in those days there was a “ short-cut,” by a bridle track over the northern end of the Blue Mountains, the distance could not. have been less than 90 miles, and over rough country at that. The original hand press brought to the town by Mr George is still to be seen in the Courier office, and f o this day is occasionally used for pulling proofs. It was made by a London firm .n 1859, and though it ha s been through at least one fire, it looks good enough to work for another 70 years if a man could be found who was willing to attempt the task of operating it. Three motor boat enthusiasts of Kalapoi, Messrs A.'Johnson, L. G. Harper, and A. Kane, who intended completing in the speed-boat race at the Lyttelton regatta today, had an unenviable experience crossing the Waimakariri Bar early on Thursday morning (says the Lyttelton Times). Leaving Kaiapoi shortly before 6 a.m. in the two motor boats. Meteor and Baby Buzz, the bar was found to be quite suitable, and the party decided to make the (Tossing. The Meteor,' piloted by A. Johnson, got over safely, but the engine of the Baby Buzz, owing to the hatch coming adrift, gave out on the bar. The occupants, Messrs Harper and Kane, paddled through to smooth water outside and endeavoured to restart the engine, the Meteor standing by. Meanwhile the two boats drifted almost oppo 2>:e Woodond Beach. Not being able to got a fresh start, an attempt was tpado to tow the Baby Buzz, but owing to increasing seas and the south-west wind this was found impossible, and after removing some of the fittings, it was decided temporarily to abandon the Baby Buzz and to return in the Meteor. The return was eventually managed, and with the help of a flag hoisted on a tall pole at Brooklands, they were guided into the river again about 9 a.m. In re-crossing they again had a somewhat thrilling experience when the engine of the Meteor failed temporarily, and they touched on the north spit.

Mr P. J. Small, of Kairanga, has announced his intention of standing as - candidate for the Manawatu seat as an Independent Liberal at the next general election (reports the Wellington Post’s Palmerston North correspondent). Mr Small is a well-known and esteemed resident of Kairanga, where he has spent 35 years as a successful farmer and participated ;u many movements for the progress ar ' welfare of the district. He is chairman of the Manawatu Land Drainage Board, chairman of the Kairanga Dairy Company, chairman of the Kairanga School Committee, a member of the Kairanga County Council, and a past-chairman of that body, a member of the Manawatu-Oroua Power Board, and also Dominion president of the Dairy Farmers’ Union. Although a party of motorists on a tour of the North Island recently set out prepared to “ rough it ’’ .while passing through the isolated parts of the centre of the North Island, it was seldom necessary to pitch camp, as the tourists had the agreeable experience of being accommodated frequently at prison camps (states th e Auckland Star). There are camps of about 30 men each at Hautu, near Tokaanu, and at Rangipo, between Tokaanu, and the National Park, where new land is beiug broken in by prison labour. At the park a larger camp accommodates prisoners engaged in road work. As the operations io the vicinity of Waikime are somewhat ex tensive, small branch camps are established during the reading progress, and at these places comfortable accommodation was provided for the members of the party.

A perverted sense of humour wa s exercised "on Grafton Bridge in the early hours of Thursday morning (says the New Zealand Herald). Held down on the parapet of the bridge by a piece of stone was_ an envelope, an inscription on which advised a late home-gcer that " I have gone over the bridge. Please inform the police, farewell." The epistle bore a signature purporting to be that of a resident of To Aroha, while on the flap was a further request .to the finder that he should write to another resident of that centre. The behest to inform the police was obeyed, but a prolonged search of the gully failed to reveal the presence of the man who had proclaimed his intention of " going over the top " in unorthodox fashion. This -s the second time recently that the police have been put to trouble and inconvenience hy such spurious farewell messages. " We could well do with three times the number of missionaries we now have in ciie Solomon Islands to cover the work," stated the Rev. R. E. Tempest, head of a native college at Siota, in th e Solomons, who was a passenger on the Melanesian Mission steamer Southern Cross, which arrived at Auckland last Thursday. Mr Tempest sa''rt they were confronted wiui more work than they could do. Hi 3 college was a refresher institution for native teachers whose work was showing very good results. Although not on the passenger list. thc>-e wore some interesting arrivals by the Tama roa, which reached Wellington from London on Sunday. These were mimcrou.little injects of various species, whose future home is to bo the Cawthron Institute at Nelson, where their habits and pos fible propensities towards destroying some of the Dominion's pests will be watchi"! with inteiot. Owing to the wet summer in KiiL'lnnrl it has been a vnrv bail year for collecting insects, and this p. e-rnt ship rncnt (says the Eve-nine Po.-t) is looked upon by entomologists as a poor one.

A quick challenge to the accuracy of the statement made recently by Mr J. A. Thompson, a former member of the Western Australian Parliament, alleging that New Zealanders were hostile to the Australians, was Entered by the president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, Mr A. G. Lunn (states the New Zealand Herald), hollowing the publication of Mr Thompson s remarks, Mr Lunn wrote to the president of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce deprecating its utterance and giving a renewed assurance of New Zealand's kindly feelings toward the Commonwealth. By the last mail Mr Lunn received a letter ot appreciation of his spontaneous disavowal of the existence of any unfriendly spirit, the letter from Auckland being described as “ added manifestation of a desire to maintain the cordial spirit which exists between the commercial communities of the two countries, and, fc.- that reason alone, is greatly valued.”

Reference to the part which physical culture should play in the education ot girls was made by the headmistress of the Auckland Girls’ Grammar School, Miss E. M. Johnston, at the annual prize-giving ceremony. “ I should like to say,” said Miss Johnston, “ that 1 think it is a very great pity that so many secondary schools make such inadequate provision for the physical education of girls; in far too many cases the drill is left to the ordinary members of the staff, who have had little, if any, training in giving physical instruction. I feel that this is altogether wrong. The physical education of girls, especially of adolescent girls, is a matter of national importance, and should be in the hands of experts.”

Discussing the recently-imported nightingales, the New Zealand Smallholder suggests a basis for predicting where they will migrate for the winter. It states that the nightingales of Britain winter chiefly in Ethiopia, a north-east African territory which consists of Abyssinia and Eritrea. If, as appears likely, the emigrating bird? fly towards the warm rising sun, they will travel to the east, south-east, and south as the sun comes, thus forming an arc that ends in Abyssinia.- Repeating that in New Zealand, the birds would bound off towards South America, veer north-east and north, and finally fall back upon Fiji or (being unused to long ocean voyages) be swallowed up in the great Pacific Ocean. The same writer says the hop gardens of Nelson are likely to ba favourite haunts of the bird, as well as passion fruit plantations, blackberry groves, ivy creepers, neglected old orchards, and shrubberies, and that in addition to its favourite dish of insects (including ant eggs and probably codlin moths and tomato worms) it takes a little dessert like ripe raspberries, strawberries, and currants. It lays in November and December, stops singing in January, and will emigrate nest March. It nests in low bushes and banks, and lays eggs rather like those of larks. Many people have heard, from the concert platform, how Bill Adams, amongst other exploits, won the Battle of Waterloo This doubtless is not an historical fact. But what is a fact about Bill Adams was revealed in Wellington by Mr Tokugawa, the Japanese Consul-General (states the Evening Post). In the course of his lecture, Mr Tokugawa said that about the year 1600 an Englishman named William Adams (doubtless known to his friends as “ Bill ’) arrived in Japan, how, the lecturer did not state. The historical Bill Adams taught the Japanese the art of shipbuilding, hitherto unknown to them, and in 1610 a Japanese ship actually sailed as far as Mexico, the first time that Japan had ventured so far afield.

The population of New Zealand will shortly be increased by an influx of tourists (says the Auckland Star), Never before has the flood of inquiries from oversea* been so great, and those interested in the tourist traffic state with confidence that the Dominion will experience a record season. The healthy seed of publicity that is now finding its way to all corners of the earth is bearing a rich harvest. If the industrial unrest in Australia continues, it will seriously affect the largo numbers expected from the Commonwealth. The belief in many quarters that the Dominion overseas tourist traffic is supported almost entirely by wealthy Americans is dispelled by recent advices received both by the Tourist Department and Thomas Cook and Son. The English tourist firm of Pickfords, Ltd., has organised a party of English people, who will reach Auckland about December 20, and will make a through tour. The Tourist Department has also received advice that another party of influential people living in Norwich will arrive at Auckland from Vancouver toward the end of January. Letters received from them and from the High Commissioner indicate that they are very anxious to take part in both deep-sea and trout fishing. The latest advice from San Francisco states that Pacific Tours, Ltd., which for several years has specialised in escorted tours to this paro of the world, is arranging another party to be sent out early next year. The tour will last 10 weeks, and a great part of this time will be spent in New Zealand.

At the conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, held in Christchurch recently, considerable discussion was given to the subject of “ government in business.” An address was delivered to delegates by a visitor, and a good deal of comment has been occasioned as a result of the telegraphed report of his remarks. In particular, exception has been taken in several quarters to the strictures therein passed on the Public Trust Office. The President of the association (Mr D. J. M’Gowan), to whom this matter was referred by a Dominion reporter, made clear the mind of the executive of the association on the subject. In the first place, he said, the telegraphed report of the proceedings, being considerably condensed, did not do justice to the discussion, nor was the address referred to delivered by any one of the delegates. It was unfortunate, too, that so much should have been made of the Public Trust Office, a s the executive recognised the many benefits that accrued through the establishment of that office. Nevertheless, it was felt that the Public Trustee’s .powers went too far in certain directions, and that some of the special legislation passed was not justifiably or neoesary. As to trading in competition with private ventures, Mr M’Gowan continued, the view of the association was that where trading was undertaken either by the State, a municipality, or any other local body, it should compete oh fair terms, be subject to the same licenses, taxation, and restrictions as were imposed on private ventures. Many of the State undertakings wore conducted under conditions which less onerous than those imposed on their competitors, and this unfair competition was stronglv objected to. In Mr M Gowan a opinion far "too much “trading” was being done by the Government, whose oovioua duty he said was to govern tn e _ country and not to enter into competition with established institutions and business concerns which were already giving good service at a fair and reasonable cost.