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Otago Daily Times, Issue 20743, 14 June 1929, Page 8

The postal authorities advise that the R.M.M.S. Aorangi, which is due at Auckland on Sunday from Vancouver, is bringing 188 bags of European, American, and Canadian mails for Dunedin. The letter portion should arrive here on Tuesday afternoon, and the balance of the mail on Thursday next.

The Railway Appeal Board sat in Dunedin recently to hear the appeals of two stationmasters and two clerks against the appointment of a junior member to a posi-tion-in the commercial branch. The board also heard several appeals in Christchurch and Wellington concerning the same applicant. After hearing evidence in Dunedin the case was closed, and the board reserved its decision. It is now intimated that, after consideration, the board has dismissed all the appeals.

In the City Police Court yesterday morning, before Mr H. J. Dixon, S.M., further evidence was beard in a case adjourned from Clyde. Proceedings were taken against William Wheatland (licensee of. the- Hartley Arms Hotel, Clyde) on a charge of obstructing a police-sergeant in the execution of -his duty on April 26. Mr W. A. Harlow appeared for the defendant. Eileen Richards, formerly an employee of the Hartley Arms Hotel, and now of Dunedin, stated that the defendant had not been .long in business as an hotelkeeper and was under the impression that Sergeant Armstrong was encroaching on his privacy. His Worship stated that there had been no denial of the charge that there had been some form of obstruction, but be was quite prepared to accept the statement of the. defendant, who was inexperienced as a licensee. He would be fined 10s, and court costs (10s). Inquiries have been made concerning the whereabouts of the - schooner yacht Valkyrie, which left Auckland three weeks ago for Suva (says our special correspondent). The vessel has not yet been reported, -but as 'stormy weather was experienced round the ,New Zealand .coast shortly after the vessel left there, she was probably blown some distance out of her course. The Valkyrie is owned and commanded by Captain E. Gilling, who, before leaving Auckland, equipped the vessel with a radio set capable of sending 100 miles. She also has an auxiliary engine capable of driving her at five knots in calm weather. Sails were relied upon, however, and the vessel may therefore have been delayed for Weeks by contrary .weather. On Saturday next (says our Wanganui correspondent) farmers from Otago will be met by the Mayor, representatives ot the Farmers’ Union, the Agricultural Association, the Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce, and other kindred bodies. An extensive itinerary has been arranged. On Sunday morning the City Council’s buses will run a two-hour observation tour, and in the afternoon the visitors will be taken for a two hours’ motor tour in the country. In the evening Queen Alexandra’s Band will provide a special concert. The visitors will leave Wanganui on Monday morning.

A young man was arrested yesterday evening on a charge of theft of money from the South Dunedin Post Office. He is alleged to have reached over the counter and snatched a handful of silver. He will appear in the City Police Conn this morning. Detective Kearton arrested a young man yesterday morning on a charge of false pretences. He will also appear in the Police Court this morning.

Under the will of Sophia Bates, a resident of Dannevirke for many years, the Dannevirke Hospital benefits by a legacy estimated at f 1000, which (says a Press Association telegram) it is proposed to devote towards the cost of erecting a maternity home.

A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that in a report to the Acclimatisation Society on native birds in the Western Sounds, Mr Iv. Sutheiland says the- kiwis are plentiful on the seaside between Doubtful and George Sounds, but not inland. Wekas are numerous and kill stoats and weasels, thus keeping this pest down. Kakapos, keas, kakas pigeons, and other birds are plentiful. The worst enemy is the morepork, which in the absence of rats and mice has taken to eating sinall birds, and the sparrow hawk is next. On the whole, Mr Sutherland considers the birds are quite as numerous as 45 years ago.

A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that advice has been received by the Minister-in-Charge of the Cook Islands (Sir Apirana Ngata), that the newly-erected wireless station at the small isolated island of Mauke was opened for traffic on June 10.

Reserved decision has been given by .Mr E. Page, S.M., in the case in which Grange and Sons, Ltd..' claimed £4l 12s 6d from the Union Steam Ship Company, Ltd., and the Wellington Harbour Board. The claim arose out of a case of silk which was consigned to the plaintiffs and which went astray after it had been transhipped at Sydney. The plaintiffs said that the case was lost by the Union Steam Ship Company, or, alternatively, that, if the case was landed at Wellington, which was not admitted, it was lost by the Wellington Harbour Board. After reviewing the evidence, Mr Page, in his written decision continued: " I think that the onus of proof of due delivery rests with the shipping company. It received the plamtiffis case in Sydney, and to escape liability it must show that it has delivered it in Wellington. If the shipping .company adopts "a system of handing over all the ship’s cargo without a tally, it runs the risk of being faced with the difficulty that has arisen here of proving delivery. . . . Upon »> careful review of the whole of the evidence 1 think that the shipping company has not discharged the onus that lies on it. In my opinion the evidence falls short of establishing that the missing case was ever landed in Wellington, and therefore the plaintiffs are, in my opinion, entitled to judgment against the shipping company.” Judgment was entered for the full amount claimed against the Union Steam Ship Company.

The Central Fire Brigade received a call at 3.30 p.ni. yesterday to a chimney lire which had broken out in a fiveroomed dwelling in Meadow street, Mornington, owned and occupied .by Mrs West. The outbreak was suppressed without difficulty. American railway companies cater in every possible way for the comfort oi travellers over long and short distances According to the officers of the overset freighter Port Auckland, which arrived it Dunedin yesterday from Antwerp, Portland (Maine), and New York, sleeping berth carriages are a feature of every train despatched from the cities am’ principal towns in the States. Iravtllert may arrive at their destination in the eaxdy hours of the morning, and are not disturbed until breakfast time. After reaching its destination, the train is sidetracked, and the passengers thus enjoy a flight’s rest undisturbed, and proceed to their homes or business completely refreshed. It is thus possible for a business man to travel from city to city over a period of many days without suffering from loss of sleep.-

What was characterised as a very mean case of stealing at the Lyall Bay dressing shed on Saturday last was brought under the notice of the Management Committee of the Wellington Rugby Union on Tuesday evening by the Miramar Rugby Club A letter from the chib stated that members of the intermediate team were completely robbed of not only their money, but personal belongings, tram tickets, etc. In view of the numerous complaints received of similar thefts, the club suggested that arrangements might be made for a custodian to look after players’ belongings each week at a.cost of. a few shillings. “ Although only 60 players are. accommodated at Athletic Park each week,” added the letter, “ their property is protected, yet at Lyall Bay, for instance, 300 players’ belongings are at the mercy of anyone who cares to ransack them.” It was decided to forward the complaint to the police, the opinion being held that the catching of one or two people rifling players’ clothes would probably check the practice. 4

As the result of his dismissal as master of the trawler Nora Niven in January, William Double proceeded against the New Zealand Trawling-and Fish Supply Company, Wellington, for £93, basing his claim on wages and commissions, and also expenses incurred in moving to Christchurch, where he had obtained employment. He claimed that he was entitled to six months’ notice, but was claiming only one month’s wages, having obtained employment by tfiat time. It was claimed that ip. 1921 Double, who was master of fishing vessels in the North Sea, was engaged to come out to New Zealand, as. skipper of the Nora Niven, and had been master from 1922 to January of this year, when he was dismissed summarily without notice'-or a proper reason being assigned. Counsel for the defence stated the defence was that the company was entitled to terminate the engagement, if there was an engagement, summarily, subject to' 24 hours’ notice. Decision was reserved.

Alleging that the State Forest Service had shuffled and shelved and refused to give permission for the establishment of a paper mill on the West Coast, Mr F. G. Dunn (secretary of the Westland Wood Pulp and Paper Syndicate) waited on the Canterbury members of Parliament on Wednesday afternoon to solicit their sympathy and help in securing permission from the Government to operate on an area of land on which the sawmillers are working. Mr Dunn was introduced by' Mr J. O’Brien, M;P.fbr Westland, who said that before the war newsprint was brought into the country at £l2 a ton until it was shown that it could be produced in New Zealand at that price and with a fair margin of profit. Then, with the outbreak of the war, the price rose to £76 and £3O a ton. The first syndicate would have been all right, but the principal engineer was a German, and he was interned, and he withheld the process, He explained that the syndicate proposed to deal with those areas the sawmillers held and at the same time as the big timber was being taken off. The company had made representations to • the Cabinet-for an area of 75 miles by 25 miles, but that had been turned down without a reason being given. If there were something in the application the Minister objected to they could alter it, but they had no idea what the objection was. , They proposed only to use land that was being milled. Mr Dunn said that negotiations had started in 1927, the founders being two men interested in.wood pulp from a scientific viewpoint. An expert had been brought out from America, and his report had cost them over £IOOO.

The “ Medea ” of Euripides, in Gilbert Murray’s translation, will be read before the Classical Association in the Museum lecture room on Monday evening by Mrs Wakefield Holmes, Miss Bessie Thomson, Miss Anita Winkel, Mr J. Fleming, and Mr H. W. Hunter. W V Sturraer, G.A.0.C., D. 5.0.1. optician. Consulting room, 2 Octagon. Dunedin Most modern scientific equipment for sight -testing.—Advt

A. E J Blakeley and W E. Bagley dentists, Bank of Australasia, corner ol Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office) Telephone 12-351) —Advt Diamond Engagement Rings.—Before purchasing compare our values; large selection;* superior quality —Peter Dick, the most reliable jewellers, watchmakers and opticians. 490 Moray o’ace. Dunedin Adit,