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Otago Daily Times, Issue 20642, 14 February 1929, Page 8

It is expected that some time will elapse before the negotiations between the City Council and the Government regarding the proposed sale of the Waipori head works will have reached anything like finality. The council, it may be added, can complete the sale without a vote of the ratepayers. Only the head works would be sold to the Government, and the power would be delivered to the council at the Waipori station at a certain charge. The distribution thereafter would be the concern of the council. A Dunedin citizen who is not unfamiliar with the Waipori works, asked a Daily Times reporter yesterday if it would be a commonsensc attitude to say that in no circumstances would it be advisable to sell a property like Waipori. Sentiment had to have an end somewhere. It is not divulging any confidence to say that the price that will be charged for the power will be on the same basis ns is now charged by the council—namely, the complete cost of the works with a proportionate revenue, to that cost. This is a point to which the council’s sub-committee will give full attention, and the period over which the arranged charges for power will run will also be a very important feature. As a matter of fact, the Government, if, it purchases Waipori, may not deerii it necessary to .carry out the full programme of works there, as it will have the Waitaki power ready for distribution in Dunedin and Otago in a year or two, and the capital expenditure at Waipori would therefore be reduced. The citizens of Dunedin can rest assured, however, that their interests will be fully safeguarded by the sub-committee of the council.

The Dunedin Chamber of Commei ce yesterday received two requests from the United States for a supply of literature giving information in regard to Dunedin and the Dominion in general. The fact that Commander Byrd’s expedition sailed from here has been noted in America, and one writer (evidently a youth) hopes Commander Byrd will get to the South Pole safe and sound. He also asks for “ spme posters showing animals, fish, fruits, city, and mountains.” The other writer wishes to subscribe to one of Dunedin’s leading newspapers. The Land Board' decided, at its meeting yesterday afternoon, to hold a special sitting in the Waitaki County Chambers on Monday next to consider the cases of those Crown tenants who suffered mss by ■the recent hailstorm in the North Otago district. It is understood that the losses are not. so serious as was at-first anticipated, the rape and turnip crops particularly having recovered in a wonderful manner.

Messrs R. S. Black and W. Mac Ewen waited on the executive of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday in connection with the proposed loan for extensions to the City Library. After hearing the deputation, the executive decided to support the proposal for raising a loan. The chamber recognises the great value ot the library to the city, especially in view of the extensive use of the Reference Library by students. It also feels that if , the library is to maintain" the high status it has already gained the proposed additions are a necessity.

In the Supreme Court case Hogg and Co. v. Murphy and Co., claim lor an injunction, the hearing" of which was fired for to-morrow, the parties have agreed upon terras of a settlement.

An important application for a transfer' was considered at the meeting of the Land Board yesterday morning. The property concerned was the largest subdivision of the original Gallaway station, and it comprised an area of 23,000 acres, including the homestead block. The station changed hands last week, the seller being Fabian Eric Spain and the purchaser Harold M. Preston, of Oatnaru. Considerable discussion resulted on the application for the transfer, which was taken in committee. On resuming in open board the commissioner (Mr R S. Galbraith) said that the board Pad decided to grant the transfer, and that Mr C. J. Inder desired to record his dissent.

Steady progress is being made with the, erection of the buildings at Hillside, but principally on account of the ‘fact that the demolition of the old buildings and the construction of the new ones have to be undertaken simultaneously, so as to interfere as little as possible with the work of the shops, it will be fully two months yet'■before-the works are in full swing as a complete unit. The steelwork and the roof of the foundry are nearly completed, and. the foundations for the machinery are well under way; in addition the two large blast furnaces, with their charging platform, are already in place.. As an annexe to the locomotive erecting shop,. an ambulance room and offices are being built, and this building, will also contain lockers for the staff. The general reticulation of air, water, and electricity in the boiler and locomotive shops is gradually nearing -completion, and - already : a large . number of pneumatic, electrical, and. hydraulic machines —all of them amazingly efficient—is in operation. The floor of the boilererecting shop is now ready to take the machinery,, and the girders of the huge 100-tou electric crane, to be used in this department, have been put in place The lifting of these girders, which weigh approximately 30 tons,.was no mean.engineering feat, and it is worthy- of note that the work was carried out entirely by the members of the staff at- Hillside without a hitch of any description. Bit by bit, the old erecting shop is being demolished, and in,its place is rising! the new heavy machine shop, and this changeover is a- tribute to the organisation of ..those responsible, as it is being carried out -without any cessation of the work in the former department. The new building at the northern end of the yard, which will house the steel wagon, department, is flow completed, and the laying of'the floors arid tracks is progressing rapidly

The plant to be installed in the Otago Hospital Board’s new laundry has arrived from England. As the building is nearing completion it is expected that the laundry,. which will deal with..all washing from the. Palmerston and Wakari Sanatoriums as well as from the board’s town institutions, will be opened in about four months’ time.

A theft unique in the history of New Zealand was perpetrated at Dannevirke on Monday (says a Press Association telegram). After much agitation the rail-' way authorities recently installed a wigwag warning signal at the Allardice street railway crossing, the scene of several accidents. The hell had such a sonorous 1 tone that it disturbed the peace of the whole, neighbourhood, and on Monday evening a letter on behalf, of the residents, .asking for an . abatement of .the nuisance, was before the Borough Council, who deputed the Mayor to confer with the authorities, but some unauthorised person got .in first by removing the gong of the apparatus, which is now effectively silenced.- The matter is in the hands of the police. As an aid in the instruction of apprentices in the various railway worshops, Mr E. T. Spidy (superintendent of workshops) has arranged for a series of industrial and educational films to be screened at intervals so as to give the young men a clear idea of the various processes of the manufacture of the materials and machines with, which they work, and also of the working of the more intricate parts ■of the machines themselves. The first of the Dunedin series -was screened, vcaterday afternoon at-the Hillside Workshops before about 50 apprentices, when there were shown two -interesting ■ pictures, one depicting 1 the manufacture of belting, and the 1 other showing .the operation of the M'Cabe flanging machine. Both pictures were followed keenly, and a brief, but lucid, description of the various processes given by Mr A, S. Fraser, considerably enhanced their educational value.

Prices for sheep at the Burnside sales yesterday were'a little easier than those ruling last week, while fat cattle, Hhough opening at slightly lower values, firmed up as the sale proceeded. Store cattle were also down. Heavy wethers were generally easier to the extent of about Is on' last week’s rates, and light prime wethers and medium ewes were sold about Is Cd lower. Prime light lambs were from par to 9d easier than last week, while heavias were unchanged. There was a yarding of 205 head of fat cattle, including some good quality bullocks and heifers, as well as a race of medium steers and cows. Heavy bullocks made up to £2l; medium £lB ss, light £l6, heavy heifers £l4'los, medium £l2 15s. light £ll ss, heavy’ cows £l4 15s, medium £l2 10s, light £ll 15s. The price for good os beef was up to 47s per 1001 b. The penning of sheep numbered 1600. These were of fair mixed quality with a few heavies, the proportion of ewes being fairly large. There were also some fine woolled sheep. Heavy wethers made up to 42s 6d, best ewes 365, and prime ewes to 345. Good ewe mutton realised about 6d per pound. There were 325 fat lambs penned, and for the most part they were well grown, fairconditioned to prime. Prime lambs brought to 34s 6d, medium 28s 64. and unfinished to 235. Prime were sold on a basis of 9id per pound. There was a good entry of 300 store cattle,-, including 100 three and four-year-old station cattle The remainder was made up of good cows and a few yearlings. Well-bred three to four-year-olds made £ll 10s to £l4, two and a-half-year-olds f 8 2s 6d, and speyed heifers £B. There was a yarding of 125 fat pigs and 55 small stores. Bacon pigs and porkers met with a brisk demand, realising 5s to 7s 6d more than last week. Baconers were sold at about 6ld, and porkers at 7ld per pound., “ That this meeting congratulates the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward! on his emphatic public utterance that the Government intends to tackle the question of Government interference in' business,” was a motion moved at the meeting of the Manufacturers’ Association last night 1 by Mr James Hogg. Mr Hogg stated that Sir Joseph rightly recognised the unfairness of relying upon the business enterprises for income tax and revenue, and at the same time competing with them through the channel of State activities. It was also interesting to note that in replying to a deputation recently, the Minister of Education (Mr H. Atmore) stated that it was the policy of the Government to have as few regulations and orders-in-council as possible. The motion was carried. :

The president of the-Dunedin Chamber of Commerce (&Ir E. A.Rosevear) has telegraphed as follows to the Minister of Railways (Mr W. B. Taverner) in Christchurch:—“On the occasion of the opening of the electrification of the railway through the Lyttelton tunnel, the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce desires to join in congratulations on the consummation of a long-cherished wish. The new mode of transport will be greatly appreciated by all.”

Though the recent St. Kilda Carnival, which had a run of nine nights, Was a success in many ways, the financial returns, which are unofficially stated to amount to £I3OO, are very disappointing. This sum. will be further decreased as several outstanding. accounts have yet to be settled. This second effort to raise funds for beach improvement provides a striking contrast with v the previous carnival, which was run for only three nights and two afternoons, and yielded about £2600. •

During a visit of inspection io the Auckland Prison, the Minister of JustiM (Mr T. M. Wilford) had a conversation with the Samoan chief Tamasese, who is serving a sentence of six months’ imprisonment for resisting the police on tha occasion of his arrest on a charge of refusing to pay his taxes. Mr Wilford stated subsequently (reports our special correspondent) that Tamasese was doing no work in prison and was entirely separate from all the other, prisoners. “He was busy with a very substantial ' meal when I saw him, and his weight is 17st 61b,” added tbe Minister.

Reference was made at the meeting of the Manufacturers’ Association last night to the Otago A. and P. Society’s- proposal to erect, buildings at Tahuna Park.- ■lt was stated that the suggestion had been made that the matter was being unduly held .up. This was absolutely incorrect. A tremendous number of difficulties was being ■ encountered, but the work was going- steadily -ahead. •

The. most spectacular war manceuvrea arranged in New Zealand will take place near Auckland just before daybreak today (telegraphs our. Auckland correspondent) , when, for the first time, the Array and Navy and Air Force will combine in an attack upon Auckland, tbe landing being made at a beach in Hauraki Gulf. Tbe warships Dunedin, Diomede, Veronica, and Laburnum left port last night with territorials on board. These troops will make the landing- in the -warships’ boats under cover of the warships’ fire, and at the same time an aeroplane will act as a scout for the attacking force. In the aeroplane, will be the Minister of Defence -(Mr T. M. Wilford), who will observe the progress of the battle from the air. An inmate of the Seacliff Mental Hospital, who was committed to. the institution after being found not. guilty of the attempted murder of a police officer at Auckland in July, 1927, escaped at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. He is 27 years of age, and sft Ilin in height. His right forefinger has been injured, and a scar is noticeable over his right eye. When last seen he was wearing a brown overcoat, a dark coat, dark tweed trousers, and black boots.

■ Mr Justice Kennedy’s debut on the Supreme Bench yesterday was marked by a mild sensation (says a'Press Association telegram from Auckland). Cyril Kevin MTvenna and John Siddens were charged with assault and robbery. M*Kcnna walked quietly into the dock, but a violent struggle took place between Siddens and a constable, the former being eventually forced into the dock alongside MTvenna. Counsel later explained that his client’s attitude was due to a mistake, as he was under the impression that he was being forced into the witness box.

It ig the opinion of Mr M‘Rae, the chief, inspector of primary schools in Victoria,, that vocational guidance for young people is. one of the most important functions facing educationists to'day, and that •it must eventually be adopted. The recent conference of State school teachers strongly urged its introduction, which Mr M'Rae warmly suppprted. ■He said, he had been greatly impressed with what was being achieved in other countries in this direction, and particularly in Chicago, where statistics were prepared as to the number of positions available "in various occupations, as well as details Of the remuneration. The Victorian department was prepared to give every encouragement in its power to teachers, who were prepared to undertake the work.

The work done by some of the district nurses leads them into strange occupations (says the Auckland Star). Members of the Auckland Hospital Board Who visited Warkworth last week learned that a district nurse up that way had earned a high reputation for all-round ability. On one visit she found that a settler and his wife were both in bed ill. After attending to her patients, the nurse went out and milked a herd of cows, and then fed the calves. On another occasion the nurse found' a horse bogged in the road, and with the ’help of a spade and a rope ’she saved avaluablelife; The fact, that the nurse is about to leave the district has led the settlers to express the warmest appreciation of her services. Research into the past history of -Hokitika 1 and Greymouth will be carried out during the next few days by Dr Guy H. Scholefield, parliamentary librarian, who ■passed through Christchurch- on Tuesday on his 1 way to the West Coast.-" Whilst there, he will search the ancient archives of the towns and' take steps to see that the old records are made safe , for the future. 1 He hopes that he will find material which will reveal more fully some of the incidents of the early days. Later, ■Dr Scholefield will- visit Dunedin and Invercargill on a similar mission. ■ The. seventy-fourth anniversary of the Eureka Stockade fight was. celebrated at the Eureka Reserve, Ballarat, recently. At the conclusion of the outdoor ceremony the gathering adjourned to the hall, Where the Mayor unveiled a photo of. Mr J. L. Potter, aged 94 years, at present residing at Timaru (says the Herald); The Mayor said that Mr Potter, he'believed, was ' the only, living participant Stockader. He was pleased to inform his hearers that they Had present with them 1 that day some of the relatives of Mr Potter, who had made a special trip from Melbourne to be present at the gathering and unveiling ceremony? He felt honoured at being allowed the privilege of unveiling the photograph, and congratulated Mr Potter upon his good health, which he trusted would be enjoyed for many years. He could only say that they were all deeply. thankful for the benefits received from the action of the Eureka Stockaders, and voiced the sentiments of the citizens of Ballarat and members of the Eureka Progress Association on receiving such a fine memento as this enlarged photograph of Mr Potter, which they gratefully appreciated. He had great pleasure in unveiling the photograph, together with Mr Potter’s .gold license issued : inV 1854, and his miner’s right of 1856.