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Otago Daily Times, Issue 21579, 26 February 1932, Page 6

Mails from England The steamer Tamaroa, which is due at Wellington on March 2 from London, is bringing 529 bags of mail and 374 parcel receptacles for New Zealand. The Dunedin portion of the mail is expected to reach the local Post Office next Thursday afternoon.

North Railway Line Clear Advice was received yesterday afternoon from the Dunedin railway traffic manager that the main railway line to Christchurch .is now clear for through traffic. The southbound express was- held up at Pareora for half an hour in the hope that repairs to the bridge could he effected in time to permit of its completing the south run, but the work was hindered by a slip of earth, and it was decided to transfer the passengers to a train on the south side of the damaged section. The relief express reached Dunedin nearly two hours late. The northbound express, which left Dunedin at 11.35 a.m. yesterday, was, however, able to proceed to Christchurch without any delay occurring.

Automatic False Alarms Automatic false alarms at 12.12 p.m. and 3.13 p.m. yesterday were responsible for the summoning of the City Fire Brigade to Messrs Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co.’s warehouse in Stafford street.

Sloop Veronica Sails The sloop Veronica, which had been in port for more than a week, sailed yesterday afternoon for Stewart Island. While at the island the sloop’s crew will hold its regatta. The Veronica will afterwards visit Timaru, Akaroa, Lyttelton, and Picton. The ship is also scheduled to visit the West Coast Sounds or Bluff, but the state of the weather at the time will determine which of those two places it is to be.

Tourist Season The Government Tourist Office in Dunedin has received advice that the season on the Milford Track will be closed on March 8 for the winter months. A few parties which have already booked will make the trip before the season ends.

Angling at Roxburgh Four Roxburgh anglers who have recently been to Lake Onslow report that the trout were fairly plentiful and in good condition, but the fish caught were on the small side.

City Police Court In the City Police Court, before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.,_yesterday morning, David William Campbell, who appeared on a charge of drunkenness, having been twice previously convicted of the same offence, was fined 20s, in default three days’ imprisonment. Alexander Marshall, a second offender for drunkenness, was also fined 20s, in default three days’ imprisonment. Eric John Smart was fined 10s on a charge of riding a motor cycle at night without sufficient lights.

Flights Over the City As a fitting finale to the flying tuition competition which has been held during this week with the - “ Pilot Instructor ” machine, for which the. winners will be chosen this evening, the Otago Aero Club is staging a grand exhibition of “ stunts ” and fancy flying at the aerodrome, North Taieri, on Saturday afternoon, when opportunity will 1 be given, to all those who desire it, to make a flight over the city. For the convenience of those who intend to go out to the aerodrome the City Corporation has agreed to run a bus service from Cargill’s Monument from 2 p.m. onwards. Admission to the grounds will be free.

Summer Time Summer Time, by which an extra half an hour of daylight is gained in the evenings, will operate for only four more weeks. The change was effected on the morning of Sunday, October 11, by the advancing of clocks by half an hour, and it is to continue in force until Sunday, March 20. The suggestion was made that this year, when Easter occurs towards the end of March, Parliament should be asked to extend the summer time period to cover the Easter vacation, but the proposal has not met with the approval of the Govern,ment. Protection of Tenants

Our parliamentary reporter states'that the Government was asked yesterday by Mr H. T. Armstrong (Christchurch East) to introduce this session a Fair Rent Bill giving protection and relief to business people who are unable to pay the unreasonable rents which some landlords are claiming, and also giving protection to workers who are unable owing to the Wage reduction and unemployment to pay the high rents , demanded.

Horticultural Society’s Show The Dunedin Horticultural Society’s autumn show attracted large numbers of visitors to the Early Settlers’ buildings yesterday, the colourful and varied display presented being the subject of highly laudatory comment by enthusiastic flower lovers. The riotous colours of the banks of gladioli were in striking contrast with the sombre greens of Messrs H. Bennett and Sons’ Loder Cup exhibit of 825 varieties of New Zealand plants and shrubs, the one section of the show setting off the other to perfection. Complimentary remarks as to the general quality of the show were made by a prominent Christchurch horticulturist, Mr C. H. Moir, who stated that it was one of the finest exhibitions he had seen.

A Cosmopolitan Ship The Chinese-owned auxiliary schooner Aratapu, a New Zealand-built vessel with a Maori name, and registered in Peru, sailed from Auckland with a British crew on Sunday evening for a French possession. The Aratapu has been well known in the intercolonial and New Zealand coastal trade for over 50 years (says the Auckland Herald), and during that period she has had an interesting career. Built at Aratapu, on the Northern Wairoa River, in 1878, the vessel was first rigged as a brigantine, with square yards on 1 the foremast. She was engaged in the coastal timber trade for 44 years, during which time she occasionally went to Australia., There were several changes of ownership, and in 1922 the Aratapu was converted into a fore and aft schooner and fitted with an oil ’engine. Her name was changed to Zeta, but later she was renamed Aratapu. Last December the Aratapu was recommissioned. She reached Auckland from Waitara on January 12 and a few weeks later she was sold to Mr C. H. Mardon, who intended to utilise the vessel in the Fiji Island trade. The project, however, was dropped. This resulted in the Aratapu changing owners again and she was purchased by Mr A. Chang, a Chinese merchant, of Auckland. She was registered at Auckland on Saturday under the Peruvian flag. From Auckland the vessel will proceed to Papeete, Tahiti, to enter the Islands’ trade. There is a possibility that she may later go to Peru to load a cargo of guano for New Zealand.

Organisation Needed “ If -war broke out to-morrow the country would get the money to fight. During 3he last war we could organise for the 4estruction of life; surely now we can organise for the preservation of life by r helping the unemployed,” said the Rev. A. A. Armstrong (Wellington) at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Christchurch on Wednesday evening, when unemployment was being discussed. " What is wanted is the Christianisation of political action, and the only thing is for the Church to exert conatant pressure until we get the Christianised politician. The time has come for organisation on a national basis, for the small local organisation is no longer sufficient. Germany knows how to deal with its unemployed young men, drafting them on a compulsory basis. We want something more than mere voluntarism at this time of national peril.”

New Industries • The possibility of important new industries being established in the Dominion as a result of the setting-up of the Development of Industries Board was referred to by Mr I. Woolf, a member of the board, at the meeting of the executive of the Canterbury Manufacturers' Association on Wednesday evening. He said that the Prime Minister-(Mr G. W. Forbes) and the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr R. Masters) were enthusiastic regarding the development of new industries, and were greatly concerned at the large amount of unemployment among boys who had recently left school. One of the proposals under consideration was the manufacture of wool packs from New Zealand flax. If this industry were set going every flaxmill in New Zealand would be working again at full pressure. Another proposal was for the manufacture of an article not now made in New Zealand which, it was asserted, could be sold at a price cheaper than the imported goods. A capital of £600,000 would be required and employment would be provided for 80 men from the outset. Mr Woolf emphasised that the board was acting in an advisory capacity only.

New Australian Stamp A male lyre bird is depicted on a new shilling postage stamp, which will be issued by the Australian Postal Department. The stamp will be one of a series illustrating the fauna of Australia, and will replace the stamp of the “ kangaroo ” design now in use. When it was decided to produce such a stamp, the stamp printer was asked to prepare designs. Sketches were submitted to the ornithologist at the National Museum for criticism. The conventional manner of showing the male bird is with the tail feathers erect at right angles to the body, and it is in this manner that the bird will be seen in the new stamp. In ordinary circumstances the feathers are folded and rest in a line with the body, but on the occasion of a display the feathers are spread out in tbe shape of a lyre and are lifted over tbe bird’s head and neck.. Surmounting the centra] figure are the words “Australia” and “Postage”

Maori Salutations The growing practice of kissing by Maori girls as a medium of greeting in public was unanimously condemned by resolution at an extraordinary meeting of elders of the Ngaruru tribe, Waitotara (says a Wanganui paper). Speakers said that kissing was undignified and an un-Maori-like way of expressing and conveying the emotional feeling. It was opposed to the traditional etiquette of salutation. The hygienic question was also raised. One elder said that to depart from the more graceful and customary hongi was to invoke the wrath of the god Tawhiri Matea. The elder recited an incantation to impress the gathering of the value of preserving with austere religious care ancestral laws and customs. Extra Year at School Approval of the retention in Form 111 of boys and girls, .who had gained a proficiency certificate, ■ but'who, because of the cost of books or for other reasons, were not likely to enter a post-primary school, was expressed in a memorandum received '.by the Wellington Education Board on Wednesday from the Director of Education. It was stated that such pupils were to remain at the primary school for one year .only, and that it was to be understood that head teachers were not to retain pupils, who could remain long enough in a post-primary school to benefit by properly organised advanced education. The additional time spent in a primary school was not to be counted as equivalent to the free-place period in a post-primary school.

Its remarkable moderate price and economical running will certainly make a strong appeal. See the Austin Light Six. —Austin Motors (Otago). Ltd., 284-6 Princes street. —Advt. Save your eyes. Be wise, and consult W. V. ’ Sturmer (optician, 2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old age. — Advt. A. E. J. Blakeley and W. E. Bagley, dentists. Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 12-359.—Advt. When you buy a watch, buy a Watch. Purchase from Peter Dick, jewellers, watchmakers, and opticians, 490 Moray place, Dunedin. —Advt.