Overseas Mail Matter

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21649, 20 May 1932, Page 6

Overseas Mail Matter

New Zealand mails which were despatched by the Monowai from Wellington on April 19 for the United Kingdom, via San Francisco, reached London on May 17. The Wainui left Melbourne on Wednesday with 16 bags of mail and four parcel receptacles for Dunedin. The mail should be to hand on Monday evening. Counterfeit Florins

Counterfeit Australian' ’florins, dated 1927 and 1931,.-have come under the notice of the banks in Wellington. They can easily be passed and accepted as genuine. They, are lighter than the real coins by about a quarter. The nitric acid test is unreliable,, unless the base metal underneath is exposed.

An Illegal Practice At Napier yesterday the magistrate (Mr J. Miller) held that it was illegal for car owners to carry passengers who agreed to “share expenses.” A fine, of £1 and costs (10s) was inflicted on a motorist against whom a charge was laid. Wilful Damage

What appears to be a case of wilful destruction has occurred at 'Wotser Bay (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington). Two 30ft motor launches, which were anchored in the bay, were discovered yesterday morning to be in a sinking condition. The boats were beached and an investigation disclosed that holes had been bored in the hulls beneath the water line. The holes were not very large and were probably made with a brace and bit or auger. ; The interiors of both launches were considerably damaged by sea water. .

Christchurch Tram Service A full tram service was run in Christchurch yesterday and everything was back to normal. ;

Boys as Typists The statement made by a member at a meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce that boys might be employed, in offices ap shorthand 'writers and typists did not find much support from several well-known business and professional men in the city who discussed the matter with a Daily Times reporter yesterday. , The view was expressed that whatever opinion might be held as to abilities of boys in this direction as compared with girls, the work itself was of such a nature that no boy would be justified in taking it up as a means of livelihood. It was stated that a typist’s work was largely mechanical, calling for little initiative and making no great demands on the intelligence of those so engaged. The result was that the salary offered to the average typist rarely exceeded £2 or 13 per week, and in many; cases did not reach that figure. In a few instances a private secretary was paid at a higher rate, but even in this case the position offered few prospects of advancement for a man. What was stressed by those interviewed was that, while a boy might be satisfied .with a typist’s position for a few years, he would sooner or .later realise that there was practically nothing ahead of him, and it would be quite impossible for him ever to earn a salary which would enable him to marry and support a family. The girls who became typists usually looked upon their work as being of a temporary nature, and generally married after a few years’ office experience. As the head of a legal firm employing a number of typists pointed out, it would not bo fair to encourage boys to take up work from which they could not eventually hope to make an adequate living. Find of Moa Bones

Bones of many moas, long dead, were recently found among the sand dunes in the far north by Mr E. T. Frost, of Ohia Bay. At the place at which the discovery was made, the sand had blown away, leaving the older sandstone uncovered, and it was on this that the remains were found In many cases the skeletons were almost complete, and from the amount of broken egg shells found with the bones it would seem that hundreds of moas had perished on their nests.. There are evidences of fires having traversed the area,, as charred sticks appear in the sandstone. The remains are those of the smaller species, but some'of the bones found indicate that some of them were at least 12 feet high. Mr W. R. B. Oliver, Director of the Dominion Museum, who saw a photograph of some of the bones, stated that it was a very interesting find. Moa remains were often found in the sand dunes, but this find was largc'r than usual.

kauri Gum Industry “The kauri gum industry produced an export' valued at £BOO,OOO in' 1914. At present it is in serious danger of extinction, and probably 1500 gum diggers are idle,” states the report of the chairman of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. “The reason for this rapid decline,” the report goes on to say, “ is the introduction of standardised nitre cel lulose lacquers and the introduction of varnish made from tung oil and resin and the competition of low-priced Congo copals in the linoleum industry. The primary cause is the fact that kauri gum is not a standard product, and whereas the manufacturers of synthetic lacquers service their product by given formulae to users with instructions, etc., the same service is not possible with the highly diver sificd lots of kauri gum which reach the American and English markets. Thp New York importers have for some time been advocating the necessity of research into our own 'kauri gum so as to improve the product, and recently in the Dominion laboratory solvent extraction methods have been worked out for purifying low grade gums and for producing a lighter colour without essentially altering the final product. Thus was obtained a material essentially suitable for the varnish and lacquer trade and at a cheaper price than the synthetic lacquer and for many purposes more suitable. Two factories are commencing operations shortly in the Auckland district, but considerable work is still necessary on the production of the gum so as to give some reliable information to users and promote its use.”

The Petrol Tax Protests against 'the Government’s appropriation of £500,000 from the.petrol tax, and against, a monopoly of petrol supplies were made at the Dominion Executive meeting of the Farmers’ .Union in Wellington on Thursday (says a Press Association telegram), and the following remit was carried:—“That all funds collected by way of benzine tax should be utilised' for the purpose of reading and a reduction of rates, and not for any other purpose.” ' • A Railway Record

This month the London and NorthEastern Railway Company's breakjfast car express from Leeds to King’s Cross is coverirife the 105 J miles from Grantham in 100 minutes, at an average speed of 63.3 miles per hour. This will then become the fastest train,,run in Europe for non-stop journeys of over TOO miles. An express from Paris to St, Quentin, on the Nord Railway of France, performs its journey in 88 minutes, but the distance is only 95| miles.

Dunedin’s Prayer Granted An example of the delightful humour of Mr- Sydney W. Pascall, president of the Rotary International, in the form of a joke at the expense of Dunedin people, was quoted at a luncheon of the Auckland Rotary Club on Monday. In welcoming delegates to the New Zealand Rotary Conference, -Mr R. S. ' Black, 'J. Mayor of Dunedin, said a; Dunedin man’s morning prayer w r as “God, give us a good conceit of ourselves.” ‘.Mr Black then referred to the great advantages held by Dunedin and to the success of its sons throughout New Zealand., “I think the, Dunedin people may now stop praying, as their prayer has evidently been’granted,” said Mr Pascall in his, reply. Optimism in Britain

“If the rest of the world was as : optimistic as Ty e are in England we - would soon be finished with our troubles,” said Mr F. Mills, director of Messrs A. J. Mills and Co., produce agents, of'London, who arrived at Auckland by the ' Niagara from Vancouver. Mr Mills said, he would not comment upon the dairy industry, as he had been absent from London for three months, but speaking’ generally people in Britain were, optimistic and believed that they had seen the' worst. The departure from the. gold standard was helping British exporters, and an unmistakably hopeful, spirit had seized the country. In the United States there was an air of gloom. It appeared as if they could not yet see their way out of the ■ depression. Although there was a distinct improvement in Britain, it seemed that the world as a whole would not experience better times until . a Settlement had been reached concerning reparations.

London-New Zealand Flight The announcement was made by Mr P, C. Marler, a director of Messrs H. M. Marler and Co., London, in Melbourne last week, that he intended to undertake a flight from ~ London to New Zealand, to occupy seven days.' In August,; if conditions are favourable,/Mr Marler will set out on this venture with Captain; Muir, of Croydon, as , his "navigator.. He will have extra petrol • tanks fitted to his machine at Sydney to cross'the Tasman Sea.. M r Marler recently flew. 240Q.miles through Great Britain while visiting the agencies of his firm., ' ‘ ■■■"■

Gold Mining for Unemployed As a result of further experience on the West Coast, and particularly in the headwaters of the Buller River, Mr C. Lawrence, Avonhead road, Chrmtchurch, iff convinced that gold mining,' Will do , much, toward solving the unemployment problem, so far as Christchurch is concerned at least. Mr Lawrence said that if the Government .engaged prospectors to seek payable claims, there would be no difficulty about placing the men. The trouble was that there was no private capital to pay the prospectors who were essential to the success of any such enterprise, Himself an old prospector, Mr Lawrence took a party of 12 from Christchurch about two months ago. They travelled by lorry first .to Lake Rotoiti.and camped between the Dividing Range and Mount Robertson. “We had no blankets, - and at nights we sat round the fire in bur overcoats,” he said. This, venture was unsuccessful, and the party went down to the Howard River! “This is all gold- , bearing country, and I went up the New Creek, where I prospected 17 years ago,” - continued Mr Lawrence. “ A tnate and I pegged out what we believe to be a payable claim. Four others webt to the Maude Creek nearby, and there are two more with claims. Four others came to the end of tbeif Resources, and I brought them back.” - - - 1

A Monkey Ha» No Feel Six monkeys which arrived at Folkestone shortly after the British tariff ■ duties were imposed set the' Customs authorities a problem. The monkeys were consigned from the Continent to a London firm, and the question arose as to whether they were liable for duty. The railway company submitted. that monkeys were four-legged animals and as quadrupeds were exempt. The Customs officials held that the monkeys were liable to duty as bipeds, having two legs and two hands. Finally the question was referred to the “nondurable Board of Customs” in. London. Its ruling was: “ A monkey has no feet. It' has four hands. In official language it is a quadrumanous mammal; It is not a quadruped. Hence, full duty must be paid on the monkeys.” The consignee still finds it difficult to believe that a monkey has no legs. The Horror* of War

After a six months’ tour of the East, during which he spent -a. great deal of the time in the Shanghai international settlement during the Sino-Japaneso conflict, Mr A. Kent, a Melbourne business man, arrived in Brisbane on May 10 by the steamer Kamo Maru, on his way home. He said the Chapei area had been absolutely wiped out, and the majority of the residents of that quarter went to the international settlement, for safety. He paid a visit to what was known as the slum area of the settlement, and was amazed to see the conditions existing there. Thousands ■of refugees—men, women and children —were living and sleeping in three huge barns. 'All had lost their homes and property in the destruction of Chapei, and all showed only too plainly the sufferings and terror through which they had gone. Tiny children, 'under-nourished and frightened, were huddled in groups. The mothers were distracted by the want of food and necessities for their children and themselves, and the men were crazed with fear, making an unforgettable and pitiful sight. There-was absolutely no organisation amongst the Chinese for feeding or clothing the-refugees. During the war the women took their places in the ranks. The scene at Chapei reminded him forcibly of the Somme during the Great War, in which he served for three years and a-half. There were shell hole* in. the streets 30ft deep and 20ft in diameter. The. Shanghai streets when he left were assuming a normal aspect, and the curfew had been lifted. ’

Saved by a Dog Awakened by the frantic barking of a dog at 1.30 on Monday morning, Miss Molly Doyle discovered that the house, a six-roomed building in MTntyre road, Mangere, Auckland, was on fire, arid made a hurried escape in her night attire. The house was completely destroyed, and none of the contents was saved. ''Miss Doyle was the only occupant of the house at the time, her father, Mr F. Doylebeing employed on night duties at the tramway depot, Epsom., Returning from the country on Sunday evening, Mise Doyle retired early and was roused by th*dog leaping on to her bed and barkingThe bedroom was filling rapidly witt smoke, and there, was a noise of .falling, crockery and crackling of burning timbe: from the direction of the kitchen. Miss Doyle was faced in the passage with smokf and flames as she groped her way to .the front door. * She ran to the house of neighbours some distance away on Coro' nation road. The rear portion of tht house was enveloped in flames, whict spread quickly and made it impossible’<•. save any of the contents.- ; ; 1 -

Cost of Missions The churches of New Zealand in their overseas work spend on an average £90,000 • year and support at least 365 mission- - ariea, besides sharing in the work of several of the great British societies whose headquarters are in London, stated the Rev. David Calder at the annual meeting of the Taranaki branch of. the British and Foreign Bible Society at New Plymouth oh Monday. The world expenditure on missions to the heathen by the Protestant Churches averaged £11,000,000 a year. That expenditure was guided though not controlled by. an international organisation which met every few years. Its last great meeting was at Jerusalem in 1928. The Caledonian Ground As a result of the operations of the Dunedin Drainage Board in connection with the construction of the storm-water conduit which runs down Wilkie road, through the Caledonian Ground to the foreshore, it is now practically certain that the Caledonian Ground will not be available for cricket next summer. ■When work was first commenced in opening up a channel through the grounds, it was anticipated that the turf would be relaid in time to allow of football matches to be played there this winter, but an alteration in 1 the general plans, by which the turf which was to have been replaced was allowed to remain on the railway side of the ground for the purpose of forming an embankment for spectators, made it impossible to keep to this schedule. It was hoped, however, that the work would have been completed in time to allow the superintendent of rc■erves (Mr ,D. Tannock) to make an autumn sowing of grass, which would have come away rapidly in the spring, forming a reasonably thick turf by early summer. The wet weather which has been experienced .of late has so delayed work on replacing the top soil that all hope of an autumn sowing being made has been abandoned, and Mr Tannock •tated yesterday that it will not now be possible to proceed with this until next spring. The Caledonian Society is, therefore, of the opinion that it will not be ia its interests to permit cricket matches upon the ground in the early part of the season, although, given favourable conditions, the turf may become sufficiently firm for cricket in the early months of 1933. It is, expected th%t the ground will be available for . athletic meetings throughout* next season,, as the running track, except at either end, has not been interfered with, and the end sections have already been 1 regrassed and top-dressed. Top-dressing will be carried on throughout the winter, and the track should be in its usual condition by the spring, although it may be necessary to bar field events, which usually are conducted in midfield.

An illustrated lecture, entitled “Russia To-day,” will be delivered by Mrs H. J. Scott, of Auckland, in the Trades Hall this evening; at Green Island to-morrow evening at 7.30 oclock, and in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall oh Sunday at 8 p.m. Mrs Scott, who has just returned 'from Russia, will deal with conditions there as they appeared to her. Motor ambulance. ■ Should your car'be ■ick, ’phone 13-215. —Austin Motors (Otago) Ltd., 284-0 Princes street, and ' Hope street. —Advt. Save'your eyes. Be wise,'•and consult W. Y. Stumer (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. For rings of quality, purchase from -Peter Dick, watchmakers, jewellers, and opticians, > 490 Moray place, Dunedin.— -Advt.- : ■ - ■ ~'■ •' ‘ i■ ■