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Otago Daily Times, Issue 20708, 4 May 1929, Page 12

The Railways Department; is experimenting with the use of “stop” signs and' lanterns at level crossings, in'place of the present system of red and green flags. The ■ new method, according■ to -re; marks made at the meeting of the executive of the South,'lsland Motor Union in Christchurch on Thursday night, is likely to be strongly favoured by motorists. Mr J. S. Hawkes stated that, at the invitation of the general manager of railways (Mr H. H. Sterling), lie had attended an exhibition of the signals in ■ operation in Christchurch. For signal work during the day the proposal was the' use of a white inetal sheet on which was the word “Stop” in black'letters.,This disc was held by the crossing keeper in front of traffic ap-, preaching the 'line. At night the light of a lantern' would show up the warning to stop. Mr Hawkes said that he was impressed, \Vith the proposal. The chairman (Mr H. E. Harley) said he thought that the red sind green flag business was disastrqus. One saw a green flag and thought everything was all'’right. ' Many people had made that , mistake. It was very pleasing that the department was moving in this question. The secretary (Mr P: R- . Harman), who also saw the .signals working, said that'tlie word ‘( Stop ’’ could bo seen ,a mile away. He did, not 'agree with the,general opinion that a green flag should . denote safety. Any flag of any colour meant that a,train’was approaching. There was no doubt that the proposals were; a great. improvement. ■ The filial .meeting of the outgoing City :Conrcil- was held last evening to- confirm resolutions passed at previous special meetings in respect to cleans of £25,000 for unemployment relief and, £50,000 for the repairing of damage done by the'recent'flooding of-the Water of Leith and Lindsay s! Creek; ; Mr J. S. Douglas (Deputy Mayor) presided over a’full attendance of councillors. ■ : Tho town clerk. (Mr G. A. Lewin) . reported that no objections had been raised concerning tile proposed loans, ami the resolutions 'were formally confirmed. ■ They wilt now be submitted to the Local Government Loans Hoard for approval.,

The remains of the old Occidental Hotel block at the corner of; Mouse and High streets, which was partly destroyed by fire last year, are to be pulled down, and a new two-storey building will be erected on -the site, , Tenders' have already been called for the job, which is in the hands °f Mr 0. G. Mowat (architect). The building, which will be up-to-date in every particular, will bo of brick with a frontage finished off in plaster, and will provide for about 10 shops. In addition, those premises in the building adjoining the old Occidental Hotel, and now occupied by Mr H. Wilson (bootmaker), Mr A. Mann (newsagent), and C. Ball (confectioner) will be renovated and refitted in the most approved modern style. Several of the proposed new shops, liaVe boon, leased already; The frontage, of the new structure on Manse street will be 103 feet and ou High street 58 feet. The new block is being erected by Mr A. Maun, the owner of the site. This valuable. city section was occupied in 1802 by the Melbourne Club Hotel, the proprietress of which was Mrs Charlotte Dawson. Two yours later it was acquired by 'Mr H. J. Walter, who changed the name to the Occidental Hotel. In earlier days the house was known as otic of the most distinctively select in the city, both from tlm point of view of appointments and service. The disastrous fire of last year removed a familiar landmark from a part of the city (hat had already lost the greater proportion of its original structures. *

The Archdeacon of Tiniaru and Westland, the Rev, J. A. Jacob, was preacher at the special annual "Oranges ahd Lemons Day” service at St. Clement Danes, on March 22 (writes our London correspondent). The archdeacon told his youthful congregation how this particular church was known all over the world and how, since the war, it had become specially dear to Australians and New Zealanders. The oranges- and .’lemons day festival formed an important bond of Empire. The National Anthem' and •■ Oranges and Lemons.” played by. the children on their handbells, concluded the service, and then came the, distribution of the two fruits at the church doors by little Danish children. The small/parishioners went : home tightly, clutching, an orange in . one hand and a. lemon in the other.

The dead body of a man named B. Maybin, aged 45 years, was found yes-terday-morning in a whare on Mr A. J. Tutton’s farm at Swannanoa (states a Press Association telegram from Christchurch). The. man went to the district a stranger, carrying a swag v a fortnight ago, and found employment at potato digging. He was last seen at 5 'o’clock on 'Thursday evening apparently in:his normal health.

. The Otago Witness has secured the, rights of reproduction of the first exclusive photographs of the discovery of flic missing crew of the Southern Cross in north-west Australia. These show the men and the plane when first discovered, and convey a graphic idea of the plight into which the. missing airmen had got during the period of enforced isolation, from the needs of civilisation. The photographs show the airmen, their discoverer, ■ and the attempts to establish wireless communication with the outside world. Another photograph of poignant, .interest shows the airmen who' lost their lives in the endeavour to find their fellowq in the company under happier-auspices of those whom they set but to save. These pic-, tares will appear in the Otago Witness to be published on , Tuesday next. The story of the photographs is . worthy pf , record. .They were taken by a representative of the West Australian, Perth, on April. 13, within ah hour of the-first contact between the resellers, and the Southern Cross, crew, and a few moments after .the West Australian newspaper rescue plane : landed beside the Southern Cross. The ' photographs in the form of undeveloped ' films were sent to Perth by air ■: mail .and reached 'the. West 'Australian newspaper ■ office at 5 p.m. on April IS. The films were ruslied into the dark room, developed and printed, .and both prints and negatives were put on the great western express train for ■ Melbourne at 0.30, p.m. the'same day. In the ordinary course they would have reached Melbourne at about 1 o’clock on April 22, but in order to catch outgoing mails tlie Herald Feature Service .sent an aeroplane to meet. the . train -at Ararat early on the same morning. -Pilot Neill, . of the Australian Aerial Services, secUj'ed the negatives from the guard of the train and- reached Melbourne with them at • 9.55 'aim.,- covering the .120 miles..in' Ihr Smitti Great public interest was aroused by the publication of the pictures in Perth and - Adelaide and Melbourne. The .fact that these pictures were days ahead of any others that, could possibly reach the Eastern States was-due to tile excellent co-operation - between , the postal, newspapers, and, railway authorities ■in the. several. States, and the use of fast aeroplanes. ; , ■ At-'Messrs James ■ Samson and Co.’s , rooms yesterday: one 'of-the, periodical sales -of unredeemed, pledges was held. ■; There was spirited bidding, for, many, of - the lots. Watches, diamond: rings, and, ' gold chains seemed to be ip. most demand,and Under the direction of the auctioneer, Mr P. W. Stabb, they seemed to find a ready sale. The sale lasted until 6 o’clock, by which time ■ the whole of the articles ’ had been sold. ... The following telegram has been received by. the general secretary of 'the ' Melanesian Mission , (Major H. S. N. Robinson) from the.office the mission ’ in Auckland: —“ from Southern Cross; sailing to-day- with, jury rudder; insurance companies agree;. Lloyds will. - send boat to assistance if necessary.” Major Robinson will leave Dunedin to-day for Gore to begin a two months’ depute-, tion tour, of ,the diocese., In view of the mishap to the mission- steamer, it is .possible t.hat he may be recalled to Auckland. . \ The Space Committco of the Otago A. and P. Society has so'far allotted-about 75 per cent, of the applications received, and the balance has, been held over pend* , ing ah'adjustment .'with exhibitors in regard to position, and area'applied for. A number of applications for various exhibits have been declined, and these cannot be: ebusidered - until ' the committee has ?

sortie definite idea what space Trill’be re-, quired to provide' the necessary.accommodation for stock and tire display .of the exhibits entered for competition; ■ Whilst, the entries do riot close until. May 15, it ■would materially' assist the committee to meet all demands'if intending exhibitors would send- in' their "entries; as 'early as possible. The Prime Minister' (Sir Joseph: Ward), in thanking the president and members of the society for their invitation to him to be present at the show, stated that' he.'greatly appreciated the courtesy of the-society. He regretted that ■he was unable at ■ present ‘ to' give a definite answer; "but if his parliamentary duties'did not prevent him be would endeavour to attend the'show. The Minister of ’ Railways' (Mr- W, B,! Taverner) also adyised that lie would be pleased to' be’present if he could ■ possibly arrange it. ' : : •

In reply to representations made to'the' general of railways''in' regard to; the. late running, of the workers’ trains between Jhinedin and Mosgicl, Mr A. E. Anseli, 3!.P„ has received a' reply from the Minister of 'Hallways (Mr W. B. Taverner) pointing out that the train due to arrive at Dunedin at 7,40 a.m. was late only 13 limes between April 1,-1928, and March 31, 1929, and that arriving at 8.51 a.m., nine times during the same period,, so that the running of the trains was, not what .could be called really bad. The department ■ realised, however, . that workers’ trains- in particular! should, if possible, arrive on time! and as a.result of investigations into the running of all the trains.in the South Island; the time .tables bad been so rearranged that any further cause for complaint" in regard to the two trains mentioned would be obviated. The.main-'difficulty, with the 7.40 a.m. train was caused by certain work which the train bad to do'on its outward journey from Dunedin, but an alteration in the work of the trains would,.'it was believed, overcome tilts-difficulty." The train which /was previously timed to arrive at Dunedin'at-8.51 a.m. would, under.' the-new; time table,. which would come into operation at an early date, arrive eight, minutes earlier, so 'that workers travelling by-it would have more time.itoreach their places' of employment by 9 a.m. In addition, the revision of' the sehediile' for. the express train-would re-, more q.ll difficulties in the way of the punctual running! of' the 4.51-and t>.ls p.m. trains to Mosgicl, and as the time table of the Central Otago train was also to; be altered, the 5.15 p.m. train from Mos-, giel would not, after the revised schedule came, into 1 force, be delayed at Wingatui, as'bad frequently been the case previously.' ' ' ' , ■

A remarkable typographical curiosity in the form of a “ souvenir ' Lord’s Prayer,” which reached Dunedin from New) York a day or two ago: has. created much interest, particularly in printing, circles.' It is the product of the American Type L‘ Guilders’ Company,' and consists of a type casting on a diminutive, square measuring .0053 in, or, roughly, half the depth of ah ordinary line of newsprint. ,0n this casting appear; 6G words of the prayer, comprising 271 characters, and including the punctuation marks. Mr Charles Francis, the ■ well-known New York printer, now retired, who visited'this city some eight years ago, forwarded the souvenir to the local secretary of the Otago Typographical' Union. ■ ■

were brought by the Commissioner of Stamp Duties, against 16 Auckland companies ’for failing to take out annual licenses (states a Press Association message). Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M, imposed fines ranging from 10s to £7,assessed,. on , double the amount of the license fee in each case. A novelty in telephonic convenience is being introduced into the Majestic Theatre, now approaching completion at Wellington (states the: Dominion). It : concerns " Doctor’s Row” a ‘particular row of seats ; in tbe circle,,' .where are situated plugs, to which a portable telephone may be attached. h On a .ring received for a medical ’ man■ known to be in the theatre, the attendant will take the telephone ■ along > to the " row ” and' plug in, enabling the doctor .concerned, t* answer the call without leaving his seat. ■

One of the candidates at the Otago Tower Board election in the Bruce County is said to be making the assertion that during the doming year the board will have to strike a rate in the Bruce County in order to make up the loss that has been incurred in-the Lawrence area. In reply to a question on the subject, the engineer-manager,of the board (Mr J. 0. Collins) stated that since the law allows it, when the board does .rate, it will make each portion of the district bear its own burden, and‘hence the Bruce County will only be rated to the . extent‘of making up its own loss. . . Our London correspondent states that by the will of the Rev. J. M. Walker (Newark-on-Trent) the Melanesian Mission has received a welcome legacy of £IOO, and by that of Dr C. S. Du Biche Preller (Edinburgh) a legacy of £6O. By the death of the Bishop of Edinburgh, Dr Walpole, the Melanesian Mission has lost an old subscriber and a warm friend. For being unlawfully on licensed premises on April 25, William Laing was fined 20s, and costs (IDs), at the Port Chalmers Court yesterday. Mr J. R Bartholomew, S.M., was on the Bench. Judgment was given -for the plaintiff by default in the case of Agnes Montecino v James Woodthorpe, claim £46 for board and lodging, with court costs 30s, and solicitor’s' fee 51s od, “ I first slept in the district in 1008, and I have been sleeping in it ever since,” said a candidate for the v One Tree Hill Road Board at a meeting in Auckland on Wednesday - night, when apparently wishing to impress the ratepayers with Ilia knowledge of the district. “It is time you woke up,” came a voice from the back, amid roars of laughter. “To-night .1 am in the position of the boy who, when asked how he would define a vacuum, replied that he did not know, how he would put it into words, but he had it in his head.” This remark by the Governor-General, Sir Charles Ferguason. at the annual meeting of the Auckland branch of the Navy League, created" much amusement. His Excellency went on to say that he knew what the Navy League stood for, but found it was difficult to put it into words. . "I would not advise any man to seek success in Argentina unless be has capital,” said -Mr P. Martin, a young New Zealander, who joined the Tamaroa at Panama and is now returning to the Waikato. Mr Martin, who went to Argentina to take up farming, worked on several ‘ holdings of immense size. He said he had decided that the Dominion was the more promising country. '“Unless you are in a big way yon- can’t get started over there,” he remarked. The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court were continued yesterday. George Spiers, who was charged with the theft of wheat owned : by R.' Hudson and Co., and, alternatively, with receiving the. ■wheat knowing it to have been dishonestly obtained, was found guilty on the second count; In the case in which Spiers and Anthony Cabral were charged with .the "theft of a case of petrol from the water house of White and Co., and with breaking and entering the warehouse of White and Co., with intent to commit a crime, both accused were found guilty on the secopd count. Prisoners will come up for sentence this morning. , At a meeting of the South Island Motor Union at Christchurch, the chairman stated (says a Press Association message) that he and two other members had waited' on Mr W, H. Price, Christchurch manager of the Union Steam Ship Company, in reference to the high freight charges on cars shipped from one island to the other. Mr Price pointed out the risk the company ran in case of damage. The chairman asked if the freights on the Tamahine,, which could accommodate 40 cars, and wjiioh is engaged in the PictonWellington service, could be lowered. Mr Price replied that the last point would receive" consideration by the company. Had.. Judge Curlewia presided in the Quarter Sessions at Sydney, where a Crown- prosecutor is said to- have Used slang in regard to the accused, he would have given his gift of sarcasm, free scope. The judge who presided was not;so particular, and • thus the Crown prosecutor’s truly Australian condensation of his brief may be handed down to posterity without bowlerisation. He is reported to have said, “If you believe the Crown case these men are members of a firm of ‘go-getters,’ which sells ‘dud’ land to country ‘ mugs.’ ” There have be‘en judges on the Supreme Court Bench who would have shuddered at the use of the term “go-getters,” and would have reached for smelling salts upon hearing used on behalf of the Crown words like" “dud’ - and “ mug.” Judge Curlewis is not like that. He feels (says the Sydney correspondent of the Argus) not faint, but irate, that, the English language should be outraged, and he expresses himself so forcibly that counsel wilt. The judges of the Supreme Court may hear this case on appeal. If they do they will plaintively inquire the meaning of each of the quoted words. They have previously asked “What is a punter - ?” and “What is a flapper?”

Jhe Railways Department is advertising: particulars of cheap week-end excursions from Dunedin to Pembroke. ' The United Starr-Bowkett Building Society advertises the formation of a new group, commencing May 13. , ‘ The Railways’ Department advertises in this issue particulars of holiday excursion fares and train arrangements in connection with the Forbury Park trotting races on May 9 and 11. Ladies will be pleased to learn that we have just landed'a fresh supply of Ilka Cream. This beautifulcream at-2s pot, by post 2s 3d, is one of the finest for beautifying the complexion.— EL. L Sprosen, Ltd., toilet specialists and chemists. Octagon, Dunedin.—Advt See our Range of Electric Torches. Prices from 4s 6d each. All Refills in stock.—Barth - Electrical Supplies, Ltd., 90. Princes street. —Advt. ' Those desirous of having electricity installed in their houses should consult the Stewart Electrical Company, 171 P.attray istrbat. Time payments arranged: from 2p 6d a week —Advt . If you are looking for health, happiness, and prosperity join the Dunedin Radiant Health Club. Meets weekly. Membership only 2a 6d a year. Ring secretary, phono 12-765.—Advt. Have your Diamond Ring overhauled at Williamsons. They are the ringmaking specialists (next the Bristol).— Advt. . ' W. V. Stunner, G.A.0.C., D.&.0.1., optician. Consulting room, 2 Octagon, Dunedin Most modern scientific equipment for sight testing.—Advt. A.? S E. J. Blakeley and W E. Bagley, dentists, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office) Telephone 12-369 —Advt. Diamond Engagement Rings,—Before purchasing Compare our values; large Selection; superior quality..—Peter Dick, the most reliable jewellers, - watchmakers, and opticians, 490 Mora? place, Dunedin .Advt.