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Otago Daily Times, Issue 21688, 5 July 1932, Page 6

A Novel Theft A new manifestation of “ ways that are dark and tricks that are vain” is reported from North-East Valley, where a milkman and one of bis clients on a recent morning bewailed the loss of a ten shilling note. At a very early hour in the morning a feminine occupant of a certain house was awakened by the sound of footsteps on the front path, and on going to investigate the matter, saw a man disappearing out of the front gate. She went back to bed again, but shortly afterwards heard footsteps returning. This time it proved to be the milkman. Not long afterwards more footsteps were heard, and on looking out the watcher saw the original visitor making another hurried exit through the gate. The curious affair was explained next day when the milkman called to discuss the matter of a note requesting the loan of 10 shillings which he had found in the milk billy on the previous morning, and in respect of which ho had obliged. Inquiries showed that no member of the household had had any knowledge of the matter, and it is confidently asserted, at least by one party to the discussion, that the early morning intruder devoted his first visit to depositing the request for financial assistance in the billy, and his second to the collection of the money, which he obviously expected would be forthcoming.

Christchurch City Rates A reduction in the general rate by 10 per cent, from 2ld to 2}d in the £1 was decided upon by the Christchurch City Council last night. A motion to reduce the rate to 2d was (says a Press Association telegram) rejected on a party division, the Labour councillors voting for a rate of 2|d, as it was proposed that some of the economies to be effected to make the reduced rate possible would involve reductions in wages and salaries.

Australian Mails The steamer Monterey, which is due at Auckland to-day from Sydney, is bringing eight bags of Australian mail and three parcel receptacles for Dunedin. The mail is expected to reach the local Post Office on Thursday afternoon. Returned Soldiers’ Membership The Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association has a lead of 79 over the Christchurch Association in the membership campaign at present, the figures being: Dunedin 1272, Christchurch 1193. Mails Reach London New Zealand mails which were despatched from Auckland by the Niagara on May 31 for the "United Kingdom, via Vancouver, reached London on July 2. Sunday Picture Programmes The Wellington City Council last night decided (says a Press Association telegram) to accept an offer by the combined film companies to exhibit a film programme every Sunday night at a leading city theatre, the entire proceeds to be handed to the Mayor’s Unemployment Relief Fund.

A Warning Residents of North-East Valley were canvassed yesterday by men selling tea, and representing that half of the proceeds would be devoted to the funds of the Central Mission relief depot. The Rev. Leslie B. Neale informed a Daily Times reporter last night that these men have no authority from the Central Mission to sell tea or anything else. The only persons authorised to canvass citizens on behalf of the depot are the official outside organiser {Mr R. Waterson) and Mr J. Anderson. The latter collects orders for wood, the proceeds being devoted to social service work. Both of these men have written authority to carry out their work. Shop and Dwelling Damaged

A few moments before 2 o’clock yesterday morning, the Fire Brigade was called to Richardson street, St. Kilda, where fire had broken out in a shop and a four-roomed wooden house. Both the shop and the dwelling were considerably damaged before the outbreak was quelled, and the fire 'spread to the house next door, one wall and a room being slightly damaged. The shop is owned and occupied by Mr W. M'Kenzie, and is insured for £550 in the Liverpool and London and Globe Office and for £250 in the A.P.A. Union. The contents are coveted for £l5O in the 1.0. A. Office. The other building, which is owned and occupied by Mrs A. Morton, is insured for £6OO in the Standard Office, the furniture, valued at £250, not being covered. The cause of the fire is unknown.

A Dry Month The rainfall registered at Oturehua for the month of June (writes our correspondent) was 51 points. It was the driest June experienced for at least the last 16 years. Unlucky Venture

Extraordinary misfortune has followed the adventures of the auxiliary schooner Navanora, which left Auckland two years ago to engage in the pearl-fishing industry in the New Hebrides. According to a report brought to Auckland by the Melanesian Mission steamer Southern Cross, a part-owner in the vessel, Mr N. M. Sarich, died recently in the islands. He is the third partner in the vessel to meet his death within 18 months, the others being the late Mr C. A. Cowan and the late Captain F. C. Townsend. The Southern Cross reports further that the schooner suffered damage on a coral reef at the Reef Islands. The only surviving partner, Mr J. O’Neill, of Auckland, is now in the islands hoping to sail the vessel to the Solomons and offer her for sale. The Navanora, formerly named the Saucy Kate, was built at Mercury Bay)s6 years ago. She was purchased from J. J. Craig, Ltd., in 1930, her owners spending about £I7OO on refitting. She left Auckland on May 10 in that year for Vila, doing the voyage of. 1800 miles in 30 days. While in the islands Captain Townsend, the navigator, became ill and returned to Auckland by the Southern Cross, He died soon after landing. Mr Cowan was the next to die. Mr O’Neill, who had also returned to Auckland, then decided to join Mr Sarich in the islands. He left by the Southern Cross in April last, and arrived at the Reef Islands in time to hear of Mr Sarich’s death.

Husband’s Tragic Discovery On returning to his home some distance from Rotorua last Wednesday evening, after having been absent since the previous Saturday morning, Mr William Angell found his wife lying dead on the bed, fully dressed, and with her infant daughter, aged' two years and a-half, asleep beside her. Mr Angell’s house is situated on the shores of Lake Rotoehu, at Rotoma, in a lonely spot about 25 miles from Rotorua, sthe nearest neighbour being about three miles away. It is thought that Mrs Angell had been dead at least 24 hours. The child had been playing with its toys, which were near her, and, although she traces of having been crying,, there seemed nothing amiss with her. As far as is known, she obtained no food other than some sugar that was in a basin on the table. On his arrival home Mr Angell called to his wife, as he found the door fastened. Receiving no reply he forced the catch of the door. He went into the bedroom- and made the tragic discovery that his wife was dead. He picked the child up and went to his neighbour and telephoned to the police. Mr Angell says that his wife never objected to being left alone. She had been in indifferent health prior to the middle of May and had received medical but she was in a normal state of health when he left home. Curious Earthquake Damage

Doubt whether a number of the Norfolk pines on the Napier Marine parade, the roots of which were damaged by the earthquake, will ever recover, has been expressed by Mr C. Corner, superintendent of reserves in Napier. Many of the trees have been looking very poorly since the earthquake, on account of the tap roots having been severely wrenched and injured by the upheaval. The injured, appearance of some- of the pines was noticed some five or six days after the earthquake, and, although every effort has been made to bring them back, many do not seem to have made much progress. Some time ago they were pruned, the tips being cut off, but when this was found to be of no avail, holes were bored into the ground and the roots fed in this manner. Several have made very little response to the treatment, however, and Mr Corner is doubtful whether they will recover. Death of Maori Chief The death of Whatarangi Teka, a chief of the Wanganui Maori tribe, removes another link with the early history of the district, particularly during the Maori wars. Whatarangi Teka was a personal friend of Major Kemp, the famous Maori general who was decorated by Queen Victoria, and was' a counsellor of the major in all his deliberations, whether military, political, or social. Teka was well known to many pakeha friends in Wanganui, and was a prominent figure in Maori local government. He was a resident of the Putiki pa. Forbidden Addresses Irish sweepstakes attract considerable attention even in New Zealand, though it is unlawful for a person to purchase a ticket in an overseas lottery. The announcement in the latest Gazette that an address in Dublin is now listed as one to which- the issue of money orders and the transmission of postal correspondence in New Zealand is prohibited, is therefore interesting. The addressee is a public analyst who holds the degrees 8.A., B.Sc., and F.I.C. The grounds for the action taken are stated to be that the department has “reasonable grounds for supposing that the person of the address given is engaged in carrying out a lottery or scheme of chance.” Also listed is an address to which money orders or letters will not be forwarded is one in Melbourne. The grounds for action are similar to those in the Dublin case.

" The Glorious Fourth ” Yesterday was the “ glorious fourth,'’ the day when all good Americans celebrate their, “ Independence.” Since July 4, 1776, when the Declaration of Independence ended America’s allegiance to Britain, this day has been recognised in America as a public holiday. Yearly, reports of large numbers of deaths and accidents, resulting from the demonstrations, come to hand, for such is the spirit in which the Americans enter into the celebration of their day of days that recklessness frequently prevails and carnival ends in tragedy.

Unpaid Water Rates A test case is to be taken in the Supreme Court in Auckland on the question whether local bodies are entitled to cut off the water supplies of houses which have fallen back into the hands of the State Advances Office, and in respect of which the State has refused to pay water rates accruing before it entered into possession as mortgagee. Some time ago certain local bodies, including the Auckland City Council and the One Tree Hill Borough Council, decided to cut off water supplies in such cases. The State Advances Office thereupon threatened to take proceedings in the Supreme Court for a mandatory injunction compelling the reconnection of the services. The City Council, acting on the advice of the city solicitor, resolved to defend any action of the kind that the State Advances Offiqe might take. Later the matter was referred to the Municipal Association, the executive of which, at its last meeting in Wellington, decided to take the matter up if the department instituted proceedings. The dispute arises from the refusal of the department to pay ordinary- and special rates, either current or in arrear upon properties on which it has foreclosed. It is prepared to pay water rates from the date of re-entry, but not arrears. Income Tax Discount Assessable!

Interest allowed by way of discount on income tax pre-payments will be assessable for income tax, in ■ the same way as interest earned from other sources. This announcement is conveyed in a letter received from the Commissioner of Taxes (Mr E. J. R. Gumming) in reply to an inquiry instituted by the Christchurch Press. Payment of income tax, to avoid the embarrassment of a demand for a lump sum, may now be spread over six months by the purchase of income tax certificates from any post office. Interest by way of discount is allowed on the certificates at the Post Office Savings Bank rate of 3| per cent. Certificates to the value of £1 or multiples of £1 are available. Commenting on the ruling given by the Commissioner of Taxes Mr A. 0. Wilkinson, president of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, said that the suggestion -that interest or discount on ‘income tax prepayments should be assessable for income tax was preposterous and absurd. It meant that the scheme was no encouragement for early payments and was against any advantage being gained by payment by instalments. The interest was looked upon and cited as a discount and as such should not be assessable. .

Wellington Organ Recitals The committee set up by the Wellington City Council to report on the question of municipal organ music recommended (says our special correspondent) that a three months’ trial be made of recitals from 12,30 p.m. to 1.45 p.m. each Friday, at which a collection would be made for the Mayor’s Relief Fund, and that a programme of organ music and instrumental and vocal items be given each Wednesday evening, a charge of 6d being made. The report was adopted, the question of the city organist’s salary being held over until the next meeting of the council. Dental Clinic Treatment

Dental clinic treatment will not be denied children under the permissive school entry age of six in spite of the fact that they will be debarred next year from entering the primary schools,, according to official information supplied yesterday. Before the raising of the school age it was a common practice (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington) to give dental treatment to children who were too young to go to school, and it is stated that this practice will not be departed from.

Russia and Religion “In. Russia they have started to found a society where those who have been underneath can have their share of the good things,” said Bishop West-Watson, preaching at St. Mary’s Church, Addington, on Sunday evening. “ It is a tragedy that the Church in that country has so lost the respect of the people that they are starting the new order without the aid of religion; indeed, as an anti-re-ligious state.” The Church could not allow itself to become too satisfied with the existing order of things, he said. It must progress, and it must help to rectify the things that were.evil. Labour Leader's Optimism

“The general indications are that a general election would give the Labour Party a majority in the House,” declared Mr H. E. Holland, Leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party, in an interview in Christchurch bn Saturday. He said that the further the Government went with its present policy the worse conditions would become. Mr Holland stated that the growth of the Labour representation in Parliament had been steady since 1914, in which year there were about 50,000 votes behind the candidates, four or five of whom were returned. Since then the aggregate number of votes cast had steadily increased until 1925, when, although there was a heavy increase in the total votes recorded for Labour candidates, there was a loss of seats. Labour, however, won the by-elections immediately following, and became the Official Opposition with 14 members. _ When the members were increased to 20 in 1928 the title of Official Opposition ’was lost, but it was regained on the formation of the Coalition Government last year. At the election in December last Labour increased its strength to 24 members, polling 229,884 votes, or 44,111 more than it secured in 1928.

The seventh of the series! to-morrow of educational lectures arranged by the Y.M.C.A. will be delivered by Dr C. M. Focken, lecturer in physics at Otago University, who will take as his subject “ Our Debt to Michael Faraday,” The Otago Early Settlers’ Association’s old time dance will be held in the Early Settlers’ Hall to-morrow evening. Motor ambulance. Should your car be sick, phone 13-215. —Austin Motors (Otago) Ltd., 284-6 Princes street, and Hope street. —Advt. Save your eyes. Be wise, and consult W. V. Sturmer (optician, 2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old age.— Advt. Osrara Valves for A.C. Radio Sets. Britain’s best. Be sure it’s an Osram.— Barth Electrical Supplies. Ltd., 56 Princes street, Dunedin. —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