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Otago Daily Times, Issue 21578, 25 February 1932, Page 8

Kilmog Road Repairs to the damage pensioned to the Main North road over the Kilmog by the heavy weather during the weekend are now almost completed, and it is expected that this route will again be open for traffic by the end of the week.

Mails Reach London New Zealand mails which were da«-' patched from Wellington by the Makura on January 26 for the United Kingdom, via San Francisco, reached London on February 23.

A Narrow, Escape A serious accident was narrowly averted about 3.30 on Tuesday afternoon, when a portion of the road in Brownville crescent, Maori Hill, flanking a low section, suddenly collapsed just as one of T. West and Co.’s cordial vans was negotiating it. Had it not been for the fact that the differential caught in the road as the ground gave way, the van would have been hurled into the gully. Corporation employees extricated it from the loose material, and the road was ready for traffic again about two hours later. Burnside Stock Sales

There was a decided improvement in the tone of the fat cattle section at the Burnside sales yesterday, prime cattle selling at an advance of £2 and cows up to £1 per head. The rise was mainly due to the small yarding, which was about half of the number offered at the previous sale. There was also an improvement in the sheep sale, best wethers being firmer to the extent of Is per head, and best ewes showing a rise of 6d. The lamb market was firm, and all classes of pigs were sold at advanced rates. The fat cattle entry numbered 130 head of medium to average ' quality, but very mixed. Competition was brisk, and the prices obtained for light,* prime beef were equivalent to 265, per 1001 b. Heavy bullocks sold to £l3, medium to £9 ss, light to £7, heavy heifers to £7 10s, medium to £6 10s, light to £5; heavy cows to £B, medium to £5 ss, and light to £5. About 2500 sheep were offered. The yarding was of medium quality, the bulk consisting of plain to very fair ewes and a few light wethers. In the last few sales of ewes prices eased slightly, but values for medium weights were the same as those which ruled at the last sale. Best 1 wethers sold to 16s 9d, medium to 13s 6d, light to 11s 9d; best ewes to 11s 3d, medium to 8s 6d, and light to 7s. Nearly 1200 lambs were forward. The yarding was of very fair quality, and included some prime heavy and plain lambs. The whole entry met with good competition. The prices obtained for light prime lambs were equivalent to about 5d per lb. Included in the entry of 100 head of store cattle were 20 two and three-year-old steers, and the best of these sold from £4 17s 6d to £5 ss, while forward two-year-olds sold to £3 3s. Prices for other sorts showed little ■ change. The ’ pig entry consisted of 91 fats and 64 stores. The yarding met with keen competition, and porkers and baconers were sold at an advance of 5s and stores about 2s 6d per head. Porkers were worth Sid and baconers 4Jd per lb.

Economy of High Wages From his experience as managing director of one of the largest engineering and shipbuilding firms in the world, Sir William Ellis, who has recently retired from the managing directorship of Messrs John Brown and Co., the famous shipbuilders, does not believe in the principle of low wages, which he says reflect immediately on ,the manufacturers and retailers of the country. “All the manufacturers in Great Britain are anxious to avoid any reduction in wages, or any lowering of the standard of living,” he said, in ’an interview in Christchurch on Tuesday morning. “It cannot be said that the wages of miners, steel’Workers, and engineers are at an unreasonably high level, but there is considerable feeling in England that those of railway and municipal workers Could be cut. They are in many instances higher than those paid to skilled engineers and shipbuilding employees. There is a disinclination, however, on the part of municipalities to take the responsibility for any such measure owing to the fear that it will mean the end politically of any party,, that attempts it. Shortly expressed, the power of the vote is sure to be a governing factor in municipal politics affecting conditions of employment.” Free Place Tenure

In view of the fact that many youths are finding it impossible to obtain employment on the completion of their normal secondary school courses, and must therefore return to school for another year, the Minister of Education has decided to relax the regulations limiting the tenure of senior free places to the end of the term in which the holders attain the age of 19 years. Advice to this effect has been received by the Education Board. The free places will now be extended to the end of the year in which the pupils attain the age of 19 years, provic’ ig: (1) That the parents of the pupils'prove to the satisfaction of-the governing body of the school that they are unable to provide the necessary fees for the tuition of their children after the expiry of the free place; and (2) that the pupils are considered by the inspectors to be fit to benefit by the extension of their free places. Titled Canadians

The death of Sir George Foster, after half a century given to the public life of Canada, has served to remind the public that the little band of titled Canadians is gradually dying out. Meeting the wishes of the Dominion’s Parliament, the King has conferred no titles on Canadians in the past 13 years. There are three knights left in Parliament —Sir George Perley, who is a Minister without portfolio in the’Government; Sir Eugene Fiset, in the Commons; and Sir Allen Aylqsworth, in the Senate, the two latter being Liberals. Outside Parliament titles are growing rare. Sir Thomas White, once Minister uf Finance, is immerfeed in private affairs; Sir Henry Drayton is chairman of the Ontario Liquor Commission; Sir William Mulock sits on the Ontaria Supreme Court bench; Sir Robert Borden, war-time Prime Minister, enjoys the autumn of his days in peace -and quiet, giving some of his time to League of Nations affairs. Sir Robert Falconer, president of the University of Toronto, is retiring in a few months. General Sir Arthur Currie now heads M'Gill University in Montreal. There are a few others less in the public eye—soldiers, judges, bankers for the most part._ But they are not young men. Sir William Mulock is 88, and the youngest of the knights are in their sixties. • Resumption of Express Services

The work of repairing the railway line between Otaio and Pareora was so far advanced yesterday morning that the Railways Department expected to be able to establish through communication by midnight and to have the line clear for traffic to-day. Unfortunately, a portion of the embankment at the Otaio bridge subsided yesterday afternoon, necessitating the driving of two new piles, and that it will be mid-day to-day at least before the lines are finally connected up. It is probable, therefore, that today’s train from Dunedin will be able to get right through, and that the expresses will resume their normal running to-mor-row. As was the case on Monday and Tuesday, it was necessary yesterday to tranship passengers by the north and south expresses between Otaio and Pareora. “ Braid Scots ”

An event of great interest to lovers of old Scottish language and customs will be the visit to Dunedin this week of the Rev. T. W. Armour, of Knox Church, Christchurch, who, before he came to New Zealand, was minister of Ness Bank Church, Inverness. Mr Armour will preach at Roslyn Presbyterian Church on Sunday, when the evening service is to be given an unusual character. Lessons, prayers, and the sermon will be in “ Braid Scots.” Many years ago services were conducted in Gaelic in Chalmwrs Church, but services in the broad Lowland dialect are very uncommon, even in Dunedin. Mr Armour’s visit will be of special interest to lovers of Robert Burns and the “Cottar’s Saturday Night.”

Sloop Laburnum Advice has been received by the Mayor (Mr R. S. Black) to the effect that the jloop Laburnum will arrive at Dunedin on March 16 from the north. She will remain at this port until March 29.

Cricket Test Insurance The New Zealand Cricket Council apparently has, less faith in the weather at Christchurch than at Wellington, judging by the precautions being taken against rain affecting the attendances at the test matches against the South African touring side. According to an announcement made by Mr P. B. Broad, chairman of the Management Committee of the Wellington Association, at the weekly meeting of the committee on Monday night, the council has insured against one-tenth inch of rain between 10 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. on Saturday, the first day of the match at Christchurch, but no insurance policy against rain had been taken out for the match against Wellington. The practice of insuring against rain is frequently adopted by cricket authorities in England, but is not so common here, mainly, it is understood, because it is more difficult to obtain suitable terms.

Shrinkage in School Attendance The. dismissal of three Auckland secondary school teachers —two at the Girls’ Grammar School and one at the Mount Albert Grammar School—is to be effected. This is the direct result (says our special correspondent) of the appreciable shrinkage in the number of pupils. The position at the Takapuna Grammar School is also being considered, but if no further reduction in the roll occurs this term the present staff will be retained. No dismissals are expected at the other schools. The roll at the Auckland Girls’ Grammar School has fallen from 614 at the beginning of last year to 553 this year, a decline of 61. The figures for Mount Albert are 659 to 635 and for Takapuna 491 to 481, decreases of 24 and 10 respectively. Goodwill Between Churches

The Presbyterian General Assembly and the Methodist Conference yesterday exchanged complimentary visits (says a Press Association telegram from Christchurch). The moderator, with a delegation from the General Assembly, waited on the Methodist Conference, expressing wishes of goodwill from the Presbyterian Church towards the Methodist Church. Similar good wishes were expressed by the president of the conference, who, with a delegation of Methodist ministers, visited the General Asembly.

Revision of Hospital System The North Canterbury Hospital Board yesterday gave consideration to the Wellington Board’s proposals for a revision of the hospital system, but the Wellington suggestion that the matter be placed before the emergency session of Parliament met with little support. It was decided (says a Press Association telegram from Christchurch) to support the recommendation of the Palmerston North Board that consideration be deferred, and it was resolved accordingly that the matter be held over until after the election of the new board in May. Fresh Water in the Ocean

Surely it i e a strange thing to talk of fresh water in the ocean, miles from the shore. It sounds like a tale_ of the Fortunate Isles, of which the Vikings speak, but one may read of fresh water 50 miles from the mouth of the Amazon, and it was a common thing for those old sailing ships, which for the love of adventure sailed over the rim of the world, to pass that way when short of fresh water. History has repeated itself. It was given as evidence of the immensity of the recent flood in China by Mr Walter Coath, of Epsom, Auckland, who has recently returned from a tour of the East, that while still in the Yellow Sea, and 50 miles from the entrance of the Whangpoo River, fresh water could be obtained by merely putting a bucket over the side. The Whangpoo River is a tributary of the Yangtse-kiang, one of the great rivers of China. Mortgagors Relief Act

One amendment which is likely! to be made to the Mortgagors Relief Act during the present session covers an Order-in-Council which was issued on December 15, 1931. By this Order-in-Council the following class of mortgages was exempted from the terms of the Act;—“Mortgages executed before April 17, 1931, of which the terms or conditions have been varied by the parties since that date, or are at any time hereafter so varied.” A lawyer pointed out to a representative of the Christchurch Press on Tuesday that, in the first place, probably more than half the mortgages on New Zealand farms had been varied in some way during the past year. Was that fact to prevent the mortgagors having recourse to the Act? He declared also that this clause gave mortgagees opportunity for a serious abuse of the Act, since by allowing any temporary concessions to their mortgagors they could prevent the mortgagors from securing the assistance of the Act at any later date. The position has been brought to the notice of the Government, and an amendment is anticipated early in the session.

Another Long Trail Even in this luxurious age there are still to ibe found some youths who have the determination of the early pioneers. Such a one was seen in Patea recently, in the shape of a small boy, aged 14, a resident of Wellington, who had been offered a position in Auckland. Having no other means of- transport and little money, he decided to set out on his bicycle •to cover the 500 miles to Auckland. When seen in Patea he had been given a bed the previous night en route, and he had the sum of four shillings in his pocket. A commercial traveller who admired his pluck had great difficulty in persuading him to accept a small contribution to assist him on his way.

The Austin Light Six, specially designed for the owner-driver. 1932 models at showrooms.—Austin Motors (Dtago), Ltd., 284-6 Princes street. —Advt. Save your eyes. Be wise, and consult W. V. Sturmer (optician, 2 Octagon), thus conserving trood vision for old age.— Advt.

Ladies, Save Your Hands. A pair of cm Household Rubber Gloves will do this for you. Price, Is 6d pair.—H. L. Sprosen, Ltd., chemists and photographic dealers, corner Octagon and Georee street. Dun edin. —Advt. Barth Electrical Supplies. Ltd., 56 Princes street Dunedin, are specialists in Electrical Appliances, Wireless Material, and Fishing Tackle. Every description of repairs undertaken. —Advt. A. £. J. Blakeley and W. E ' Bagley dentists, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office) Telephone 12-359. —Advt