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Otago Daily Times, Issue 21705, 25 July 1932, Page 6

Dock Pumping Plant The new electrical pumping plant, which was installed last week at the Otago Harbour Board’s docks at Port Chalmers will be officially tested to-day. Stolen Car Recovered A five-scater motor car, which was stolen from Bowler avenue, Morningtou, early on Saturday morning, was found in Kenmure road on Saturday evening. The car is owned by Mr Ira Fraser, of Ranfurly. Waterside Workers’ Dispute A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that, according to Mr R. Irvine, a national assessor, the shipowners proposals for a.new award were rejected by the waterside workers of the Dominion by approximately 25 to 1- He made this statement in contradicting a report that the majority for rejection was 6 to 1. Fire in Boarding House At 3 o’clock yesterday morning the City Fire Brigade was called to a twostorey brick building at the corner of Stuart and Smith streets, fire having broken out near a defective hearth. A fioor and a ceiling were slightly damage'! before the blaze was extinguished. Iho building is occupied and used as a boaiding house by Mrs Barry. Particulars of the insurances were not available yesteiduy. A Record Flight . A record flight from Christchurch to Wellington was made by Captain Bolt (says a Press Association telegram) in the Wellington Club’s three-passenger biplane on Saturday morning. He made a trip to Christchurch on Friday with Mrs Hislop, Mayoress of Wellington, as a passenger. Leaving again at 9.15 on Saturday morning he landed et Rongotai at 10.50, taking one hour and 35 minutes for the trip. The journey southwards on Friday occupied 2hr 25min. A Prohibited Practice

Coincidently with the increase in the number of camps operating throughout the Dominion in connection with the unemployment relief schemes, an appreciable increase has been noted by the postal authorities in the number of packets con tabling matches. It has become necessary, therefore, to point out that the sending by post of matches of any kind is prohibited and to remind the public of the danger to the mails that attends the inclusion of such articles in packets The forwarding of matches by post is an offence under the Post and Telegraph Act.

Hospital Board Economies The Minister of Health (Mr J. A. Young), speaking at Auckland on Saturday, expressed gratification with the efforts of the hospital boards to meet the demand to reduce expenditure. He said that all the boards had come into line, but efficiency had not been sacrificed.

Prize-giving in Schools On Friday night a largely-attended meeting of the Dunedin Headmasters’ Association discussed the following motion:— “ That this meeting of the Dunedin Headmasters’ Association recommends the elimination of prize-giving in our primary schools on the ground that such a practice is educationally unsound.” There was considerable divergence of opinion on the motion, which, when put to the meeting, was carried by a small majority.

An Ingenious Ruse In the City Police Court on Saturday morning a youth, publication of whose name was prohibited, appeared before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., and pleaded guilty to the theft of 10s. Chief Detective Young explained that the accused, with two other hoys who would later appear in the Children’s Court, had conceived a rather ingenious method of obtaining money. The complainant was a milkman, and they had left a note in the billy of one of his customers, asking that he should leave 10s in change in it, as the customer had nothing less than a £1 note and required some silver for another purpose. The note further stated that the cus tomer’s bill would be paid later in the day, and that the loan would then be refunded. Unsuspectingly, the complainant left the money as requested, and it was collected by the accused and his two companions, who spent it. In view of the fact that the accused would not be 18 years of age until December next, the magistrate referred the matter to the Children’s Court.

Closing of Training Colleges Notification of the Government’s intention to adhere to its decision to close the Wellington and Dunedin Training Colleges was contained in a lengthy letter received on Saturday by the chairman of the Otago Education Board (Mr J. Wallace) from the Minister of Education (Mr 11. Masters). Mr Wallace stated on Saturday evening that, pending a thorough investigation of the position as set out in the letter, the full text of the communication could not be made public. He intimated, however, that the Education Board proposed forwarding a reply to the Minister at an early date.

Sale of Government Land When the flood protection works were being carried out on the Taieri plain by the Public Works Department, several farms which were seriously affected by the construction of the walls were bought outright by the Government, which ha# now decided to dispose of the whole area of about 1100 acres between Henley and Otokia. The sale of this land will con elude the department’s activities on what is probably one of the largest drainage and protection works in Otago.

Society of Railway Servants The election of president of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, in place of the late Mr J. Churchouse, held recently, resulted in the return of Mr E. J. Dash, of St. Andrew’s, who secured 2805 votes. Mr M. Connolly, of Dunedin secured 2599 votes. Mr Dash, will hold office for the unexpired term for which Mr Churchouse was elected, that term ending in March next.

Mortgagors’ Relief Commission • The meeting of the Mortgagors’ Liabilities Adjustment Commission will be held in Dunedin from August 8 to August 11 (inclusive). This week the commission will sit at Tapanui, Dunedin, Owaka, and Balclutha.

Flying Too Low The finding of the Court of Inquiry into the crash of the Wairarapa Aero Club’s aeroplane, ZK-ABE, at Carterton on Saturday, June 25, is —“ That the primary cause of the accident was that the pilot, M'Laren, was flying over very unsafe country too low to effect an emergency landing in the event of engine trouble. Engine trouble did occur, with the result that the aeroplane crashed. Had McLaren kept his aeroplane higher, then he should either have been able to get his engine going again or make a safe landing in a more convenient paddock. From the evidence is appears that whatever caused the stoppage in the engine was a temporary trouble only; the engine had been passed before the trip was made, and subsequent examination by experts showed the engine to be mechanically airworthy. There was no evidence that M'Laren had been indulging in aerobatics.”

A Rumour Denied . “ There is nothing in it,” the Christchurch manager of the State F ire Insurance Office told a Press reporter who asked for confirmation, or otherwise, of statements in circulation in the city that the proposal to build new offices for the department in Christchurch had been abandoned, and that negotiations were afoot for the purchase of a building in Hereford street. An Unfortunate Caie

After wandering round New Zealand for two years without permanent employment, a young Englishman was before the Police Court at Wanganui on Thursday, charged with being an idle and. disorderly person, in that he had insufficient visible means of support. Senior Sergeant M'Lean asked for a remand for one week so that an opportunity might be had to find the young man work and assistance. It would amount to cruelty if. he were turned out with nowhere to go. He had come to New Zealand two years ago with his brother, who had got into trouble. Since then he had been wandering about in search of work, with no success. Lately he had been found unconscious near a car from which a bottle of whisky had been stolen. A remand was granted, and the police will endeavour to find out who was responsible for bringing the young man to New Zealand with no prospects. Endeavours will be made to find him work. First Woman Judge

In accepting the position as judge of Red Poll cattle at this year’s Royal Show at Palmerston North on November 2,3, and 4 next, Mrs P. R. Woodhouse, of Bluecliffs, St. Andrews, South Canterbury will have the honour of being the first woman judge of stock at New Zealand Royal Shows. So far the following other judges have signified their willingness to act:—Mr J. W. Blair, of Outram (Clydesdales and working horses); Mr P. Walker, of Palmerston, Otago (Ayrshircs); Mv W. Brash, of Invercargill (Fricsians); Mr J. M. James, of Mgsterton (Herefords); Mr W. H. Miers, of Rototuna (Jerseys); Mr R. Peach, Rangiora (milking Shorthorns); Mr E. S. Anderson, _ of Hawarden (Corriedales); Mr P. V. Smith, of Gisborne (Lincolns); Mr E. R. Black, of Gisborne, and Mr A. of Masterton (Romney Marsh, natural condition); Mr W. J- Jenkins, of Sheffield (Southdowns, open); Mr A. R. Gudopp. of New Plymouth (Berkshires and Tamworth); Mr A. M. O’Sullivan, of Stratford (associate judge in large blacks and large whites). The Shining Cuckoo

At the meeting of the New Zealand Bird Protection Society in Wellington last week it was decided to obtain films of bird life on the Little Barrier Island, a bird sanctuary. This decision was the outcome of a visit made by Captain E. V. Sanderson, secretary of the society, who. seeing the extreme tameness of the birds there, thought that a film taken and ex hibited through New Zealand would bring home to people, more than any amount ol writing, the way in which native birds will become tame with proper treatment. Mr Johannes C. Andersen suggested that it would be a good thing to have a film taken of the arrival of the shining cuckoo at Maunganui Bluff. The white people had been in New Zealand for nearly a century, he said, and yot the coming of the shining cuckoo to this country had not once been witnessed by the pakeha. There was only one record of the birds having been seen immediately after arrival, by two school children and their schoolmaster; and the birds were so tired that they were sitting in hundreds on the fences, buildings, and on the ground, twittering whilst resting, before scattering through New Zealand. Until this was recorded, they had no actual testimony other than that of the Maori that the, birds ever migrated at all, said Mr Andersen. The marvel of the migration was that the birds covered over a thousand miles of ocean at one flight. It was not known for certain what land they went to or what land they came from. These were things yet to be discovered.

“ Thin End of the Wedge ” “ This is the thin end of the wedge, and J think we should oppose it,” remarked the Mayor of Devonport (Mr H. F. W Mcikle), when the Borough Council re ceived a request for support of the pnuciple that motor vehicles used by farmers should be exempted from the payment of heavy traffic fees. The letter, which had been forwarded by the Commissoner of Transport, stated that representations were being made to the Government that farmers’ lorries did a very small annual mileage, compared with the commercial truck, and the burden of the heavy traffic fee was therefore much higher. Another point mentioned was that if the farmer had to continue to pay these fees, he might replace lorries with horse-drawn vehicles, which would be much more damaging to the roads. It was decided not to cooperate in the request. "No class is getting such favourable treatment at present as the farmer,” said one of the members of the council.

Bishop on Divorce “ We must refuse any longer to submit to a law which cuts at the very root of family life in New Zealand,” said Bishop Cherrington, Bishop of Waikato, when referring to the need for overcoming evil, in the course of an address at a public meeting under the auspices of the Church of England Men’s Society, held in Auckland last week. He said they should press for the’removal from the Statute Book of a law which permitted the divorce, after three years, of people who grew tired of each other. All of them recognised that in the first years of a man and woman’s married life there might be difficulties. He was not one to assert that there was not a way of dealing with those difficulties as they arose. That, however, was a different thing from having it known that if they grew tired of each other they could part.

Teachers’ Summer School The 1933 Summer School, open to all teachers of the Dominion, is by courtesy of the Nelson College Council of Governors and the principal to be held at the Nelson Boys’ College. The dates provisionally fixed are from Monday, January 16, till Friday, January 27, but it may be decided to hold the school a week earlier. The school will again be under the patronage of his Excellency the GovernorGeneral (Lord Bledisloe). The lecturers will be Miss Ferguson (Christchurph), Professor Shelley (Christchurch), Dr Marshall (Wellington), and Messrs Hollinrake, Falla, Shaw (Auckland), and F. Milner (Waitaki).

Costly Enthusiasm Enthusiasm on the part of the volun teers of the Ist Battalion, Auckland Regiment, for their military training has led the battalion into financial difficulties. In February the battalion went to Long Bav for its first annual bivouac and stayed there two days longer than was officially allowed for. As the troops had to be fed rations were drawn, but the two extra days spent in bivouac resulted in an overdrawn! of foodstuffs from the Government to the value of £5 lls. A sequel is an appeal issued by the headquarters of the battalion to its officers drawing their attention to the two days excess of rations, and asking for assistance ih liquidating the liability. The circular states that it has been suggested that all officers should contribute six shillings from their uniform grant as there are insufficient regimental funds to meet the claim. Bivouacs were introduced last year for the volunteers to take the place of the annual camp. No payment for attendance was made, to the pressing need for economy in State expenditure, but the Government provided free quarters, rations, fuel and cooking.

At the women’s meeting to be held in the council chambers at 3 o’clock on Wednesday afternoon a full explanation of the present movement to accelerate the building of the Post Office will be given. The Mayor (Mr R. S. Black) trusts that women will attend in large numbers. We have received 10s anonymously from Palmerston to help to provide boots for men’s camps and 10s for blankets (town social service). Kawarau Dam —buy Ford Car as new, £35 complete.—Austin Motors (Otago) Ltd., 284-6 Princes street. Phone 13-215. —Advt, Save your eyes. Be wise, and consult W. V. Sturraer (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. Those who are requiring an Engagement Ring will do well to inspect our Rings.—Peter Dick, ring specialist, 499 Moray place, Dunedin. —Advt.