Untitled

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21265, 20 February 1931, Page 8

There was a clean sheet at the City Police Court yesterday morning.

In order to assist public economy Mr J. R. Fow (Mayor of Hamilton) considers that municipal and other public body elections should be deferred for a period. He said he regarded this (says a Press Association telegram) as one of the most practical methods yet suggested to practice economy and to effect a considerable saving of public money.

A name inadvertently omitted from the list of notable helpers in the account of the Mornington Methodist Sunday school, published yesterday, was that of the late Mr George Harvey. For many years he was the generous and untiring friend of the children in the work of the Sunday school, and his name will be one of those inscribed on the commemorative tablet to be unveiled at the official opening of the school to-morrow. A soft, hesitating voice, a carefullyexecuted make-up, and a pitiable manner were responsible for a male party of Napier, citizens who were motoring to Palmerston North for the week-end being completely duped by a Maori (says the Napier correspondent of the Auckland Star). Three or four miles out of Dannevirke the party was held up by some young men, who begged a lift for a “Maori girl,” who wanted to get to Palmerston North. The young men, had taken her part of the way, but they were going no. further. The girl, they said, was walking to Palmerston North carrying a heavy suitcase when they overtook her. The woman refugee was accordingly given a seat at the expense of one of the passengers and her impedimenta was stowed where room could be found. An offer of a cigarette was declined, and the guest appeared to suffer from an impediment of speech. Palmerston North was reached without incident, and the party made 'for the relief camp, where refreshments were given them about 1 a.m. Quarters were afterwards found for everyone, and it was while members of the party were settling for the night that one of them voiced his suspicions regarding the identity of the young “lady.” Through the mask of powder, rouge, lipstick, and other makeup he was sure he had noticed a blue .tinge, and even the wearing of copious jewellery, including' large pearl earrings and a carefully-prepared coiffure, had not deceived him. An official searched the portmanteau, which proved to contain male attire. The police took charge of the “ lady,” who had claimed to be a niece of a well-known and respected resident of the Napier district. At least one member of the motoring party will not be allowed to forget that in the course of a memorable motor drive he was most attentive to a Maori youth.

What should prove to be one of the most interesting exhibits at the Dunedin Horticultural Society’s Show, which is to be held towards the end of this month, is a collection of 150 varieties of New Zealand ferns and 24 varieties of ferns from Rarotonga and other Pacific islands. The late Mr C. C. Armstrong started collecting ferns as a hobby in the late sixties and later developed the hobby into a commercial proposition. The majority of the ferns in the collection, which is now in the possession of Mr A. F. Armstrong, were collected about 35 or 40 years ago. A human skeleton and a number of ancient coins found near the mouth of the Moore River, 50 miles north of Perth, Western Australia, are believed to be relics of the Dutch treasure ship Der .Vergulde Draeck (Golden Drake), which was wrecked on that part of the coast in 1649 with 78,000 guilders on boarcl. The bones were on a ledge of rock known as Eagles’ Nest, and they fell to pieces when handled. Some distance away were 23 pieces of hard, white inscribed metal and 12 coins of two sizes, dated from 1618 to 1648. On one side was the head of a man or woman with foreign words, and on the other the figure of a unicorn. The Der Vergulde Draeck was engaged in trading between Holland and the Dutch East Indies. Of the crew', 118 were lost and seven survivors reached Batavia. Sixty-eight were left behind to protect the cargo and treasure. Several relief vessels found wreckage, but the whereabouts of the castaways remained a mystery. 1

The work of wekas in keeping down some insect pests was commented on by a speaker at the last meeting of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society. The earwdg pest, which was becoming more noticeable than ever, was partly due, he claimed, to the fact that the native birds were no longer in sufficient numbers to kedp them down. ’lt was not generally known that the weka was also an excellent rat and mouse-killer. The society is procuring 24 wokas from the Chatham Islands, and will liberate them in various parts of Canterbury and on the Peninsula.

The first issue of the Hawke’s Bay Tribune in its original sized sheet since the earthquake is of peculiar interest, and a brave evidence of the Hastings spirit which encourages “ Business as Usual ” as an.antidote for “earthquake nerves” and lethargy. Advertisements cover the first page, and are a strong indication that the business houses are not wasting time in reopening under the changed conditions. A motor firm announces that it is “ carrying on business in usual premises with a skeleton staff for all urgent repair work," a building society urges readers to take shares in its new issue, a firm stocking timber, spouting, cement, etc,, says: “No profiteering; pre-quake prices will be maintained if possible.” Many of the advertisements ask patrons to use the back entrance, indicating that the front is not yet clear of debris (elsewhere in the issue it is mentioned that the lump of masonry blocking the Tribune’s front door is calculated to weigh 12i tons). Real estate agents, a dentist, photographers, a dressmaker, fishmongers, etc., announce their new addresses or emphasise that they are still to be found at their old ones. The advertisements alone make the Tribune’s new issue an interesting publication. The news columns are naturally taken up with earthquake matter—even the lady editor’s remarks bear on the allimportant subject, and give sensible suggestions for the making of broth and the steps to take to combat invasions of flies and fleas. The whole issue is pregnant with the desire to relegate the past, face up to the present, and plan for the future. Newspaper work is not the least arduous of occupations in normal times, and the 'staff which is producing 'the Tribune just now surely deserves a “ pat on the back ” for its successful efforts at rehabilitation. ,

The first issue of the N a Pi e r Daily Telegraph since the office was wrecked by th* earthquake on February 3 was on Saturday of last week, the issue beinjß one of four pages of considerably smallerfj size than the original newspaper. Tho paper is of exceptional interest, as it reflects graphically the spirit of the townspeople. The adver* tisements indicate that many of the business firms are carrying on in their original or temporary premises, motor garages, real estate agents, hairdressers, and others announcing their ability to render service as usual. “Do not send work out of the town” is the request of the Daily Telegraph in advertising that the job printing department is now prepared to do all descriptions of that typs of work. The news columns, naturally, are devoted almost exclusively to stories of the catastrophic visitation, and here again the spirit of optimism is very pronounced, plans for the rehabilitation of the town and its inhabitants being given the greatest prominence. The work of the staff of the Telegraph in bringing out the paper under such trying conditions is worthy of the highest praise.

At a meeting of the committee of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children, held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, on Monday, there were present Dr M‘Kinnon (in the chair), Mesdames Foster, Cameron, Ross Fliett, Adamson, and Todd, Miss Runciman, the Mayor (Mr R. S. Black), Mr H. L. Tapley, the Rev. A. Astor, and the secretary. The following resolution was passed:—“That the Minister of Justice be urged to introduce an amendment of the Act to raise the age of marriage from 12 years in girls and 14 in boys, to 18 years in both sexes.” A glaring case was brought to the notice of the committee, in which a man of 43 years, having victimised a girl of 14 years, married her to escape trial. To-morrow afternoon the members of the Methodist Conference will be entertained at a garden party at “ Marinoto,” Newington avenue, Maori Hill, which haa been kindly lent by Mr P. R. Sargood. The function should be mosit enjoyable, as the grounds are at present very attractive. Various competitions will be engaged in, and the Tramways Band will be in attendance. In the evening the conference fellowship meeting will be held in the Dundas Street Church at 7.30, and at 7 p.m. the new Mornington Sunday school will be dedicated by the president, and Df Laws and Mr A, H. Reed will also speak.

It is recognised that as a prelude to the study of piano- playing, hhe group instruction system is invaluable. For the third year in succession Messrs Chas. Begg and Co., Ltd., realising this, are continuing their classes, which are being conducted under the directorship of Mr J. Crossley Clitheroe, lecturer of-music in the Teachers’ Training College, Dunedin. A competent staff of assistants is in attendance, and parents can be sure that their children will get a very sound introduction to piano playing. Particulars as to enrolment, etc., appear in our advertisement columns. We Britishers are justly proud of our skill as engineers, for we know that we can build a motor car engine that will stand up to the highest speed test. The further a British Austin Motor Car runs the better it is. See the latest model Austins at The Austin Motors (Otago), Ltd., 284 Princes street, Dunedin. Phone 13-215 Advt. W. V, Stunner, 6.A.0.C., D. 5.0.1, optician. Consulting room, 2 Octagon, Dundin. Most modern scientific equipment for sight testing.—Advt. A. E. J. Blakeley and W. E. Bagley, dentists,. Bank of Australasia, corner o£ Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 12-359.—Advt. S. E. Ferguson, G.P.0.C., consulting optician,, watchmaker, and jeweller. Consult us about your eyes; our advice and long experience are at_ your disposal. Optical repairs a speciality; done at shortest notice. —45 George street.—Advt. Who is Peter Dick? The most reliable Jewellers, Watchmakers, and- Opticians, 490 Moray place, Dunedin.—Advt.