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Otago Daily Times, Issue 20311, 20 January 1928, Page 6

The postal authorities advise that the steamer Manuka, which is due at Wellington on Monday morning from Melbourne, is bringing 16 bags and three hampers containing Australian mail matter, and also 46 parcel bags from beyond Australia for Dunedin. The mail is expected to come to hand on Tuesday afternoon.

Mr T. T. Hugo, Government inspector of New Zealand fire brigades, working under the jurisdiction of fire boards is at present in Dunedin. He inspected the South Dunedin Brigade yesterday afternoon, and the City Brigade last evening, the men being put through ladder drill and rescue work. The evolutions were carried out in a smart and efficient manner. Mr Hugo inspected the Roslyn section of the brigade on Monday last. That he had definitely decided to visit New Zealand this year arid give exhibitions was the informaton contained m a letter from Richard Reti, the Czechoslovakian chess master, received in Dunedin yesterday. M. Reti mentioned that in Europe he is paid £6 for one exhibition, and has his travelling expenses paid. “ He shot the duck, out of season, and I found that it had seven little ones swimming around it. an unsporting shot if ever there was one.” That was the evidence given before Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Christchurch on Tuesday, by John Digby, /ranger for the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society The society was proceeding against William Small, for taking native game at Kaituna during the close season. Continuing his evidence. the> ranger said that he had noticed a car drawn up by a stretch of water. A gun was fired out of the car. He ran to the spot, the car having moved on, and found the dead duck and the young He pursued the car and found that the shot was fired by defendant. “It is a serious and unsportsmanlike offence,” said Mr Gresson, who appeared for the society. “This man was fined £5 not so long ago for taking game without a license.” “In view of the previous conviction,” said the magistrate, “ and the nature of the offence, defendant will be fined £lO and costs.” On Wednesday afternoon a five-seater touring car, the property of Mr Bert Nees, was removed from Manse street, during the absence of the owner. The number of the car is 10Q-822. It is painted a greyish brown, and the hood and side-curtains were up when it was left in the parking place.

Speculation is rife concerning the political future of the Bay of Islands electorate, represented by Mr Allen Bell (says the Russell correspondent of the New Zealand Herald). Two names which have been suggested as those of possible opponents of the sitting member at the next genera! election are Mr R. Russell, general manager of the Hokianga County Council and formerly its chairman, and Mr \V. Grounds, of Hokianga, chairman of the Dairy Produce Board. Mr Russell stated definitely on Monday that he has no intention of seeking parliamentary honours at the forthcoming election, although he conveyed the impression that he might view the proposition more favourably on a subsequent occasion. “ I really know nothing about it,” said Mr Grounds, when the question of the petition being circulated in the interests of his possible nomination was mentioned. He would go no further than to say that he had/fnofc' considered contesting the Bay of Islands seat. However, he is freely mentioned in the settlements as a likely candidate.

1 Multitudinous and varied are the article* that fail into the hands of the police in the o o Urße of 12 m o nchs . Yesterday afternoon a collection was sold by Mr Macassey, auctioneer, in the presence of a large number of the public. So numerous were the goods that the sale occupied over three g ourg _ Many o{ artlcleSj such „ umbrellas and overcoats, had been left in 1 different parts of the Exhibition, and were I unclaimed. The umbrellas, ladies and ss> others ha if- a . crow n or a shilling. Bicycles | found by police officers in different parts of I Otago numbered eight. They realised fiom Crlwn tke resu ] t of a po i; C6 rau i f n a country | own brought £l2. Another lot of whisky i from the same source fetched £lO. Several ! rifles sold for £1 each, but there was little competition tor a Mauser rifle, which was : knopked down for ls> while a double-barrel | rnuzzlcloader went for ss. A boy became the possessor of a rifle for 5s and paid for it on the spot. Everything on the lengthy list wa* disposed of.

Yesterday added another to the long succession of hot, dry days experienced in the Queenstown district (reports our correspondent). A light southerly in the evening gave promise of a continuation of the long spell of sunshine. There is a decided influx of tourists to the city; one of the leading hotels has had a full house for some days, and, judging by the bookings, this pleasant state of affairs will continue for, some time to come.

The Government (says a Press Association message) intends to appoint an officer to take charge of the provision of meteorological information for aviators tn New Zealand in accordance with the recommendation of the Imperial Airways Mission, which was here a few months ago. Before taking up the duty he will have some training in London. Owing to one or two of the examiners delaying the return of the papers, the matriculation examination results will not be available for a week (says a Press Association message).

The remarkable stories, full of exaggerations, which are sometimes credited to Americans are always calculated to cause astonishment and amusement to those who hear them. Judging by an incident which occurred during the holidays, however, wb.le a party were at the Franz Josef glacier, there is apparently 'something to be said to condone these exaggerations. Among the party were an American and his wile, who were touring in the Dominion. The American had a full equipment, so far as nasal intonation was concerned, and was never afraid to lift his voice in any argument or discussion which arose. He could not, nevertheless, be called a cute Yankee in view of the point which was “ put across him.” One of the party had found a fearsome looking insect, and he gave it to a guide to work out a plot which had been arranged 'by a Dunedin member of the schemers. Up on the glacier the guide saw to it that he came into contact with the American, and he then became quite distressed as he made desperate attempts to extract something from under his arm which it was obvious was badly irritating him. At last he drew out the insect, and the astonished American asked what it was. “ A New Zealand flea,” nonchalantly replied the guide. Down in the boarding house that night one of the stay-at-homes who was in the plot casually asked the American if he had seen anything of rote during the trip on the mountain. “Anything of note?” queried the tourist from overseas. “I guess we did—a New Zealand flea. And he was some flea, too, believe me.” Whether New Zealand desires to obtain fame in the land of the almighty dollar for the size of its fleas is a matter on which there will no doubt be a considerable diversity of opinicn.

They are following a new procedure at the Auckland Magistrate’s Court (comments the Sun). When a young woman from Hamilton was presented there on the elastic charge of “ idle and disorderly,” the prosecuting officer said he did not desire to bring the facts before the court, and handed a written statement to the magistrate, who read it, observed it was “a fine state of affairs,” and adjourned the case for six months, so that the o irl could be placed in the care of the Salvation Army. If the court continues to follow the procedure (continues the Sun’s protest!, it will save a lot of trouble. All the police will have to do will be to arrest a man (or woman), write their opinions on the case and leave the rest to the magistrate, or judge. It will then be as easy to hang a man as a dog, and the public will not be harrowed by the morbid details of the murder. The suppression of names is a regular thing; the suppression of evidence follows. Logically, the next thing should be the suppression of the courts. It is likely that the Union Steam - Ship Company will provide a special steamer from either Auckland or Wellington to Sydney to take numerous New Zealand people who will attend the Eucharistic Congress in Sydney early in September. There is no mail steamer scheduled to leave Auckland on Friday, August 24, for Sydney, so that if a vessel is provided it will probably leave from Auckland. The Eucharistic Congress is the greatest event in the Roman Catholic world, and lively interest is being taken in it in the Dominion. This is the first time the congress has been held in this part of the world, and it is not likely to be held here again for many years. From inquiries made up to the present it is anticipated that at least 1000 New Zealanders will journey to Sydney to take part in the congress, apart from a large contingent of clergy. Just prior to Christmas a Wellington firm of merchants forwarded a five gallon keg of whisky to a settler at Ure River, about 40 miles from Blenheim, who, it is alleged, refused to accept delivery as he had not ordered it. The liquor was returned to Blenheim by service car and deposited in a garage awaiting further instructions. While it was in the garage someone who did not know its history but had read the address which still remained on it, placed it on a oar and sent it back to the [Jre. Again delivery was not effected, and the keg was left in a storage shed for the time being. It was on Boxing Day that one Neil M’Pherson, a Caledonian, aged 52 years, apparenty feeling the urge for the companionship of something as Scotch as himself, discovered the amber liquid in its resting place, and promptly annexed it. Gathering a few bosom pals about him he breached the keg, and, ere its disappearance from the shed had been noticed nearly half the five gallons had been consumed. A day or two after the ‘ spree ” Constable Byrne of Seddon, was asked to make a few inquiries as to the whereabouts of the keg. The result was the appearance of M’Pherson in the Police Court at Blenheim to answer a charge of having committed the theft of the whisky which was valued at £2l. The accused pleaded guilty. The police sergeant said that £9 10s worth of the whisky had been drunk, but the rest was in hand. M’Pherson, he added, was “ a very decent chap ” when he left liquor alone, but on the day of the theft he was under the influence of drink. The court imposed a fine of £5 and ordered the payment of £9 10s for the whisky consumed and the return of the balance remaining in the much-travelled keg.

The Otago Boys’ Cricket Association players selected for practice in view of the representative games are requested to meet the selectors this evening at the Oval at 6.45.

Arthur Malcolm, Rheumatic Expert, is retiring shortly. Read new advertisement on another page of this issue—Advt. Many years' experience, plus the most up-to-date equipment scientific optometry C a.. suggest, entitles W. V. Sturmer. G.A.0.C., D. 5.0.1., Octagon, Dunedin, to guarantee complete satisfaction in all eye troubles. Advt. A. E. J. Blakeley and W. E. Bagley, dentists, B-.-k of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 12-359.—Advt For Diamond Engagement Rings, Reliable Watches, and Optical Service, Peter Dick, the most reliable Watchmakers, Jewellers, and Opticians, 490 Moray place (opposite City Hotel). — Advt.