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Otago Daily Times, Issue 21775, 14 October 1932, Page 8

Sanders Cup Boats

The class of boat suitable for Sanders Cup contests was discussed at some length at a meeting of the Otago Yacht and Motor B(sat Association on Wednesday night. Mr N. Treurn said the new class of boat, known as the American Snipe, was a far more suitable boat for the Sanders Cup contest, as it was cheaper and of simpler design than the Rona type.

Magistrate’s Court An unusually brief sitting of the Magistrate’s Court, before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., was held yesterday morning, no judgments by default or other matters of public interest being dealt with by the court.

Real Estate Market

During the last few weeks there has been considerably more inquiry, and it can truthfully be said that indications are much more favourable than they were, say, three rponths ago, and that the volume of business has increased (says the annual report of the Otago branch of the New Zealand Real Estate _ Institute). If vendors were more inclined to meet the market, more business would result, but whether it is further evidence of the “solidity” of Dunedin or not, vendors, as a rule, are not prepared to reduce prices in conformity with the drop in other securities. From information received from time to time it would appear that the price of real estate has suffered less in this city than in some of the northern centres.

! The Visit of Dr J. H. Rushbrooke The Rev. J. H. Rushbrooke, M.A., D.D., secretary of the Baptist World Alliance, | will arrive in Dunedin to-night. He ' has, we are informed, created a profound impression in Christchurch, where he has been attending the jubilee conference of | the New Zealand Baptist Union, now in | session. All his utterances have *e- • vealed a remarkable knowledge, not only • of ecclesiastical affairs throughout the i world, but also of all international movements. His address at the Rotary Club : on Tuesday upon the European situation was described as masterly. Hundreds were unable to gain admission last' Sunday ’ afternoon to the Civic Theatre, when he '.delivered the lecture which he is to repeat | in the Hanover Street Baptist Church I to-morrow night on “ Religious Persecution in Russia.” To-morrow at 11 a.m. • Dr Rushbrooke will be accorded a civic I reception. This is the only time during I his brief visit at which the reception | could be arranged, but in spite of the i awkwardness of the hour, it may be conj fidently expected that many of our citi- | zens will arrange to be present in order | to extend to him a cordial welcome to our 'city. Dr Rushbrooke. will preach both morning and evening in the Hanover Street Baptist Church on Sunday. He will leave by the first train on Monday for Wellington.

The Investment of Capital Some of the statements made in our issue of yesterday on the authority of one who l) a 8 f° r many years been intimately associated with stockbroking have', in so far as they relate to the investment of Otago funds in gold mining, been challenged by members of the Dunedin Stock Exchange, It is, it is declared, erroneous 'and misleading to state that practically the whole of the capital of mining companies listed on the St°ck Exchange, aggregating £457,567 —which sum may be presumed to represent the capita] of companies listed only within the last 12 months—and of the private ventures, with a capital estimated ( at £200,000, has been raised in Otago. It is asserted by members of the Stock Exchange that the bulk of the capital has been subscribed in the North Island, and one prominent member expresses the belief that the amount subscribed in Otago does not exceed £250,000.

Training College Petition The petition which is to be presented to Parliament asking for the ■ retention of the Dunedin Training College is to be posted to the Speaker (Sir Charles Statham) to-morrow morning. The number of signatures already exceeds 20,000. Miss C. M. Cutten, a granddaughter of Captain Cargill, who wrote asking 'that a copy of the petition be sent her for her signature, stated,in the course of her letter: “My interest in the matter dates back to the foundation of the Otago settlement, as- it was in large measure due to the wisdom and foresight of my grandfather. Captain Cargill, that the original plans for setting aside proportionate moneys for religious, educational,, and civic purposes were made.” Link With the Past

The Otago Early Settlers’ Association has received a plan of the accommodation arrangements on board the ship Deborah, dated 1839. The Deborah sailed from Wellington in 1844 with the surveyor (Tuckett) aboard on q. quest for, a suitable site for the Settlement of New Edinburgh, which it was proposed to foUpd. After a number of unpromising experiences, the mission eventually resulted in the purchase of the Otago block from the Maoris in 1845. Whatever may have been her merits as regards seaworthiness, the plan does not suggest that the Deborah was built on clipper lines, and the marine designer of to-day would probably stand aghast at the sight of her bluff bows breasting the waves. The plhn itself should be of interest to visitors, as ..conveying some idea of the interior of a ship, presumably similar in most respects to .those in which, so many of the early settlers made the long voyage to New Zealand.

Adverse Exchange The difficulties caused by an adverse exchange rate were mentioned by the secretary and treasurer (the Rev. M. W. P. Lascelles) in presenting the missionary budget to the Baptist Union Conference on Wednesday. Mr Lascelles said that it cost £9 10s in every £IOO to send money from New Zealand to India, where the union carries on mission work. This adverse exchange, said Mr Lascelles, meant a big expenditure. In the missionary budget, £4IOO was allocated for work in India, and the sum of £430 was set aside for interest and exchange. . Exchange by Barter

Money is so short in America that the system, of exchange by batter is being reverted to in some places. When in Chicago Mr Albert Russell, of Wellington, saw the process in operation. He says that a certain section of pavement in Michigan avenue had been lent to the artists of the city for the display of their pictures, etchings, oil and water colours; and craft work, and it was related that one had sold an oil painting to a restaurant keeper in return for meals for a month. Mr Russell saw an old woman secure a nice little water colour for six dozen eggs. Little Barrier Bird Sanctuary

According to the report of the caretaker of the Little Barrier bird sanctuary, which is contained in the annual report of the Department of Tourist and. Health Resorts, there is a noticeable increase among native birds, an interesting example being the stitch-bird, which may be seen regularly in the dense bush. The rifleman, the smallest of native birds, has been located, and as usual scores of bellbirds and tuis, which are very tame, are feeding near the house on the island. The yellow-fronted parrakeets, although rare, are certainly increasing in numbers, and the bush wrens, which, are numerous, usually feed in dense bush and are not easily seen. "The, kiwis, which approach the house nearly every evening, may be heard calling at the close of thq day, and the native pigeons feed on the beach "on a small sweet grass and also on the berries of the puriri trees.

Study of Botany ' Botany is the Cinderella of the sciences taught in our schools and colleges, state Mr A. H. Cockayne, assistant directorgeneral of agriculture, and Mr H. H. Allan, of the Plants Research Station, in the latest number of the Junior Red Cross journal. Even the girls’ schools seem to be forsaking it. “It is queer," comment Messrs Cockayne and Allan, “how botany has so often been slighted as tit for ‘girls and parsons.’ We are far from depreciating home science, but we do think that the science on which the homes of New Zealand so largely depend should receive adequate recognition in our educational programmes. We welcome the signs that the primary schools, at any rate, are becoming seized with, the importance of real, 1 live, observational study.”

Derating of Farm Lands .The principle of the derating of farm lands was affirmed at a conference of representatives of county councils, borough councils, and branches of the Farmers’ Union from all parts of the Waikato and King Country, held at Hamilton last week. A resolution was passed urging the Government to grant immediate and substantial relief to payers of rates on rural lands. Total derating was adopted as the ultimate object of the conference, and a special committee was set up to further that object. The conference viewed with . grave concern the recommendation of the National Expenditure Commission that the main highways revenue fund be abolished, and decided to urge the Government to refrain from adopting such a course, as the abolition of the fund would be detrimental to the reading interests of the Dominion. The conference also passed a resolution urging the Government to meet the position with regard to rates owing on land on which the Crown held mortgages.

Southland Hospital Control , 1 The Southland -Hospital Board yeskef* day decided (says a Press Association tel®» gram from Invercargill) to adopt a proposal made by its medical superintendent. Dr Owen Johnston, by which he will bo relieved of the responsibilities of his present position, and with a reduced salary will take charge of the surgical work of the institution with the right, within certain defined limits, of engaging in outside consulting surgical practice; It is the intention of the board to appoint, a physician as medical superintendent. '

Batting Cup to Roberts A Press Association telegram from Christchurch states that A. W, Roberts has been awarded the Redpath Cup for the best batting in first-class cricket in the 1931-32 season by the Management Committee of the New Zealand Cricket Council;

New Zealand Films . . Criticism of New Zealand films was indulged in by Mr W. a member of the New Zealand delegation to the Ottawa Conference, at a garden party held near Hamilton. Mr Goodfellow said he was disgusted with the type of film shown, both on the steamer and in Ottawa. Every day at 6 o’clock In Ottawa films of Great Britain and the various dominions were shown. The New Zealand .ones were the worst of the lot, and the Canadian the best. “ Someone,” remarked Mr Goodfellow, “should give the Government a dig tp get it to send our good films'of New Zealand —-the present ones do more harm than gbod. Better, none at all than that.” , .

Corse (or Canada ; v - v , Many a landholder in the south has cursed the gorse plant, which finds the climate and 'soil of Southland so congenial that it flourishes in that province. Though a recognised pest, gorse looks beautiful when in. bloom and attracts flower-loving visitors from overseas. A case in point happened recently (says the Bluff correspondent .of the Southland Times). The sight of a patch of gorse blooming in brilliant sunshine on Bluff Hill so appealed to the captain of the Canadian Cruiser, lately in port, that he sent.* man to secure a plant for him to taka to Canada. Close investigation of the bloom convinced the skipper that he had obtained a horticultural treasure and the plant was duly prepared for the voyage to its new owner’s home garden. / The nature of gorse wes explained to the captain, and needless to say he was subject to much good-natured He stood it all with equanimity, content in the belief. that he had a prize. The final comment of one,man was: “ You have, a beautiful plant captain; but if you live another 16 years you will see gorse all over Canada! Great things grow from small beginning*; maybe the forecast will prove correct.

American Expedition ' * A semi-scientific expedition on a yacht will leave San Francisco in February next year with a party of. 14 scientists, naturalists, photographers and sportsmen for a year's tour : of the South',Seas. The leader will be Mr Murray N. Fay, who spent 18 months in the South Seas at the head of the successful Narwhal expedition in 1923 and 1924. The. expedition will travel about 40,000 miles in the year, and will visit New. Zealand. . Plans have been made to spend 100 days at. sea and 250 days at the various places of interest. The expedition is the result of seven years’ planning by Mr Fay. Special equipment has been designed to meet the conditions which will be- encountered,' and undersea and sound ‘photographic equipment has been purchased; .

A Tagged Balance Sheet . For the past three years the Lower Hutt* Borough balance sheet has been-re-turned from the Audit Department with a “ tag ” attached, drawing the attention of. the council to the ■ fact that its action in placing, the balances of loan money* temporarily Iqqf the', general i account was contrary to law, and the department has now asked the council" to show cause why action should not bo taken against councillors for a breach of the law. The Mayor (Mr W. T. Strand) said at the last meeting of the council that the action taken might be good law, but it certainly was bad business/ The law required that ~, loan money could not be used for any other purpose than that for which it was raised. Any unexpended balances must \be placed on deposit and the interest used only for the particular purpose for which the loan was, raised. If so placed de 1 posit the amount of interest it wqnld earn would be only about 2 or 3 per cent., while if placed temporarily in the general account it reduced the council's -overdraft. It was decided to refer the Audit Department’s letter ; to the Finance Com-mittee-for the purpose of having' a reply drafted. ,

Old English Newspapers ' ' Three very old newspapers are in the possession of Miss K. Hamertdn, New Plymouth. The . oldest is a. copy pf the “English Mercuric, published by author'tie, for the prevention of, .falsie re-* portes" on July 2’3,. .1588, giving news of the progress, of the Spanish'Armada, Miss -Hamerton also has two; copies of the London Times, then a small fouf-page publication, dated January 26,' 1793, and November 6, 1805. In the first is published a letter giving details, of the execution of Louis XVI of France, and » copy of his will (says the Taranaki Daily News), and in the later paper-is ,a report giving . the . official narrative of the Battle of Trafalgar. The Mercuric, is a four-page publication, each page-: measuring about 12 inches by 6 inches, and each page of The Times was about four times that size. Teachers’ Summer School- ‘

The eighth session of the teachers’ summer school is to be held in Nelson from January,9 to 20, next year. The Nelson Boys’ College, with its fine range , of residential facilities and splendid recreational equipment, has been placed at the disposal of those attending the school. The school is designed to be stimulative, provocative,' and informative. No attempt is made to elaborate classroom technique, the, main objects being to enrich per-, eonality by interests and social- contacts and to liberalise vision. Representative .teachers- from"; all branches . fraternise ‘in a social and recreational atmosphere, pool experiences, discuss lectures and kindred interests, and by interchange of view acquire broader, views of the teaching mission and a more informed national consciousness. On the lines of: a university extension movement, popular lectures; are given, and musical and dramatic entertainments are organised for the benefit of the community as well as the members of the school. Seven sessions; of the school, held respectively at Cambridge (2), Nelson, Waitaki, New Plymouth, Christchurch, and Whangarei, have built up distinctive traditions in unbroken continuity. ...

The monthly concert and dance of the Orkney and Shetland Choir will be Held in the Returned Soldiers’ Association Rooms to-morrow evening- ; The Ideal Car for business or pleasureThe Austin Teh Four —35 miles to the gallon—so miles per hour.—Ahstin Motors (Otago), Ltd., 284/6 Princes street, phone 13-215. —Advt. Save your eyes. Be wise,, and consult W. V. Stunner, optician (2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision tor old age.— A* E. J. Blakeley and W. E. Bagley. dentists. Bank of Australasia, corner of , Bond and Rattray Streets (next Tele* graph Office). Telephone 12-359.—Advt. Those who arc - requiring an Engagement Ring will do well to inspect our Rings.—Peter Dick, ring specialist, Moray place. Dunedin.—Advt. ,