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Otago Daily Times, Issue 20315, 25 January 1928, Page 6

At the conference of the Otago Motor Club with the Highways Board yesterday, Mr J. M. Dickson, M.P., expressed the opinion that the board should take over the road from Green Island to Taieri Mouth, and that the road from Portobello to the Heads should be made a subsidiary road, if not a highway. For some time the executive of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association has been urging the Government to grant limbless ex-soldiers the type of artificial limb they desire, and at last these efforts have borne fruit. Mr E. J. Anderson (chairman of the committee dealing with the artificial limbs’ question) announced to a meeting of limbless men last night that the Government had stated that, subject to the approval of the Pensions Department, it would order for limbless men the type of limb they required. It was stated that various types would be tried, but eventually one would become the standard. The matter was discussed at length, the president stating that the Government apparently realised that what the executive had said was justified. The executive felt that it had made some advance for the men It -was decided to forward the following motion to the Pensions Department:—“ That in cases where the limb is too' heavy, although the bracket may fit, applications for lighter limbs be granted.” There were no cases set down for hearing at the Police Court yesterday.

At a meeting of the Wairarapa Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union (says a Press Association telegram), the following resolution was carried:—“That a professor of economics be asked to outline a formula as a guiding principle to the Arbitration Court in tho fixation of wages, such formula to aim at the rise and fall of wages in proportion to the value of tho Dominion’s exports.’’

Four Sisters and three outside members of the Order of St. Elizabeth of Hungary were passengers from England by the Arawa, which berthed at Auckland yesterday (says our special correspondent). They have come from the headquarters of the Order at Earl’s Court, London, to take up work at the New Church of England Hospital in Christchurch, which was recently established by public effort. Sisters Vera, Dorothy, and Yvonne will conduct the domestic management of the hospital, and Miss D. Thvvaites, Miss M. Lovegrove, and Miss W. Dunmall, who received their nursing training at London Hospital, will be members of the permanent nursing staff. Miss Thwaites will act in the capacity of matron. Her qualifications include a specialised knowledge of radiology. On account of indisposition, Sister Yvonne will remain in Auckland for a while before proceeding south.

Mr W. A. Veitch, M.P., has been in communication with the secretary of the Royal Humane Society in Sydney in regard to a recognition of Mr F. Corby’s brave act in connection with the Greycliffe disaster (says our Wanganui correspondent). The secretary has replied that the society was most anxious to do honour to Mr Corby, but when the Tahiti arrived at Sydney on her last trip he was not on board. Mr Veitch intends to advise the society that Mr Corby, on vacation, will be joining the ship at Wellington when next she visits that port. According to the Town Clerk (Mr G. A. Lewin) the finances of the city are not in such a condition as to enable the City Council to provide work for the unemployed. Last year tho council paid £IO,OOO out of revenue to help the unemployed, and since then it had had a millstone round its neck. Value had not been received from that expenditure. These statements were made by Mr Lewin at a meeting of the Conciliation Council yesterday, when the demands of the local body labourers for a new award was heard. Mr Lewin said that the method of obtaining revenue was so unsatisfactory that it was placing an enormous burden on the people, who could not stand it. In answer to a question, he said that the council had tried to obtain a revision of the system, but a graduated income tax system was impracticable. It had been investigated all over the world, but had been adopted only in Germany. It was not correct to say that Dunedin was the wealthiest city in the Dominion. The yearly increases in savings banks returns and the rapid taking up of City Council loan debentures was not a good sign. Instead of placing their money in industry, and so providing work, the people took up gilt-edged debentures. People had the idea that Dunedin was wealthy, but money was not wealth.

Mr John Gilkison, of Invercargill, who recently visited the Old Country, made some interesting remarks to a Southland Times representative on the subject of industrial conditions at Home. “It is claimed,” he said, “ that industrial conditions have improved and are improving, but one must bear in mind the enormous taxation. One cannot help feeling that Britain has a long, arduous period ahead before she recovers her pre-war eminence. It is strikingly impressed on the Colonial that our very existence depends on the purchasing power of the British community and every effort should be made to encourage imports of British manufacture. The more we buy from England the more England can afford to buy from us. Our support of British industries is in direct relationship to the purchasing power of our products. The recent amendments to the New Zealand Customs’ tariff, which increased the preference to British goods, was very favourably commented on at Home. Speaking generally, a New Zealander has a wonderful time at Home. The conduct and demeanour of our troops and our football and cricket teams and the high imperial standard set by our leading politicians has made New Zealand much favoured by British people.”

“ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, printer to the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, 1608,” is the inscription in a rare edition of the Bible, in the possession of a Christchurch resident, Mr C. H. Gee. This copy (says the Lyttelton Times) exceeds in age by five years the one possessed by the Akaroa Lodge, and was published three years before the Authorised Version of King James I. It is probably the oldest edition in the Dominion. The Bible was purchased in Ireland by Mr Gee’s great-grandfather, and has been an heirloom in the family for many years. The copy is in a wonderful state of preservation, the paper of many pages being little discoloured by age. The old style of type and quaint old English spelling make the volume most interesting. A special feature is the “ Imprint Page ” inserted between the Old and New Testaments, with the quaint symbolisms on it. It is from this that librarians are able to base their opinions as to the value of the book. On one page is a quaint quotation from an utterance by James I: “ If any be afflicted let him Pray, if any be merry let him sing Psalms.” On several pages references hove been written with pen and ink, but time has made the writing barely discernable. The volume was rebound in the year 1870, by Marcus Ward and Co., London. In some cases the headings of the columns have the letters cut into, although the printing has not been destroyed. It is Mr Gee’s intention to have the- volume valued.

The menace of ragwort to farming in Taranaki during the past few years has been a problem that seriously exercised the minds of many landholders, and has been the cause of many changes from dairying to sheep farming. So marked has been the spread of this weed that farming interests have actively taken up the matter. • The following news has been received in Hawera from Dr Tillyard, of tne Cawthron Institute, Nelson (says the correspondent of the Auckland Star): —“The position in regard to ragwort control is exceedingly promising. We had hoped to have this open permit before this, but our committee (rightly, I think) insisted on very stringent tests being made with cinnabar moth before the permit was granted. We have been carrying out during the present summer a very extensive series of tests with this moth. You will be gratified to learn that the last test was completed this morning, and the general result is such that a permit may now be safely asked for. My report on this moth will go forward to Dr Marsdcn to-morrow, and a request for an open permit will be made. We anticipate the issuing of a permit about the end of February, and plan to have a fair-sized brood ready by then to put out on large open flats of ragwort in our grounds, batches of eggs from three moths will be available for distribution to ragwort centres, and one of our men will come up and demonstrate to your district methods of handling them. You will be one of the first to receive supplies.”

Contributions from the funds of,; the Auckland Museum towards the cost of excavating historical relics in Egypt have had a material result in the form of presentations from the Egypt Exploration Society (says the Star). The latest addition to the Egyptian collection in Auckland is a plaster cast of a portrait head, done in red quartzite. It is an example of ancient art, and represents one of the seven daughters of King Akhenaten, who lived about 1375-58 8.C., in the eighteenth dynasty. Akhenaten was a generation before Tutankhamen, and during his reign brought about a religious revolution, changing the form of worship from that of Amen to Aten. Tutankhamen married his third daughter. It is a speculation whether the plaster cast received by the Auckland museum was inspired by the daughter, who later became queen, but it is a valuable relic in -any case, because of the modelling and the fact that it is done in a refractory sfcona.

Under the Electoral Act, 1927, which came into force on January 1, only one month’s grace is allowed electors in which to claim enrolment after becoming qualified for registration. Those who have not enrolled since the roll closed for the general election of 1925 and are now qualified to do so—that is to say, are British subjects by birth or by naturalisation, and have resided in New Zealand for 12 months, and in their present electoral district for three months —should lose no time in getting on the roll. This also applies to electors who have attained the age of 21, and are otherwise qualified. Then there are others who have removed from one electorate to another three months or more ago. It is necessary for them to enrol in their new district. Electors who have changed their addresses within the same electoral district must notify the registrar of electors. The time allowed for notification without being liable to prosecution is two months. Every person"is liable to a fine not exceeding £SO for wilfully giving a wrong name for enrolment, or" signing the name of any other person, whether requested to do so or not, or signing his name as a witness to any signature without having seen it written or heard the person signing declare that the signature is in his own handwriting and that the name signed is his proper name.

A unique record in mountain climbing, an amateur one that is worthy of wide recognition, is held by Mr J. Blyth, headmaster of Ohakune School. No fewer than 91 times has he scaled Ruapehu, to stand nearly two miles aloft, on the highest point of the North Island, and all who know him and the snow-crowned volcano under whose shadow he dwells are anxiously awaiting till, at some time this year, he reaches his “ century.” Mr Blyth has climbed at all seasons and in all weathers, and no one knows Ruapehu better than he does.

There have been a great many visitors to Norfolk Island for the Christmas and New Year holidays, every steamer from New Zealand and Australia having a full passenger list (says a correspondent of the New Zealand Herald). The run from New Zealand occupies only 60 hours, while the trip from Australia takes five days, and the Sydney beat is five .weeks on the round trip, which includes the New Hebrides. The trip is much favoured by New Zealanders who are to be met with all over the Island. The Hinemoa, on her last trip, took a good consignment of bananas and passion fruit to New Zealand. It struck an excellent market and the prices netted by the growers gave full satisfaction. It is likely that with better shipping facilities that will be offered by the new steamer, Maui Pomare, producers will look more and more toward the southern market for their produce. Passion fruit grows like a weed. The wandering cattle eat the fruit and the young vines spring up all through the bush. One firm has recently started pulping the fruit, and is paying up to 3d a pound to the growers—a highly satisfactory price. Last season one man took over £4O worth of fruit from passion vines running wild in his bush land.

The discovery is reported of two largo caves, which are said to compare favourably with those at Waitomo (states tha Hamilton correspondent of the Auckland Star). The new caves are near the Glen Murray road, near Woodleigh; about 20 miles from Rangiriri. They are of limestone formation, with stalactites, and have a single entrance, which forks off in two directions 50 yards from the entrance. The floors of the caves are covered with two or three inches of water. The entrance is 10 or 15 chains from the road, and it was accidentally discovered by the farmer on whose property the caves are situated.

One or two corrections require to be made in the report of Dr Hill’s address which appeared yesterday morning. It was on the death of Frederick, the Prince of Wales, in 1760, that Princess Augusta turned her attention to horticulture and founded the royal nursery which has now become famous a s the Kew Gardens. Many of the trees and plants that jvere grown the'o well on for 200 years ago, added Dr Hill, were cultivated to this day The sum of £lO in euchre orders will be given to-night at the Waratah Tet Rooms. Beauty, plus quality, makes _ Williamsons engagement rings a great joy to the recipient (next the Bristol Piano Co.). — Advt. Bronchitis, asthma, indigestion, and goitre sufferers will benefit by reading “ Good News for Sufferers,” professional colum. . thi issue. —Advt. Many years' experience, plus the most up-to-date equipment scientific optometry ca. 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, 8.. 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.