Overseas Mail

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21921, 5 April 1933, Page 6

Overseas Mail

The Kia Ora left Sydney for Auckland on Saturday with three bags of mail for Dunedin. The mail should reach the local office on Friday afternoon. Premises Change Hands After occupying their well-known premises in Manse street for a period of about 45 years, Messrs Park, Reynolds, Ltd., auctioneers, are now negotiating for new premises, the Manse street property having passed into the hands of Messrs R. S. M'Kenzie and Co., land and estate agents. The premises were held under a City Corporation lease extending over 21 years, at the expiry of which last month the leasehold was disposed of by auction by the firm of D. M. Spedding. The previous ground rental was £BO per annum, but the upset at the auction was fixed at £lO4 per annum. The purchaser bid £l4O, at which figure the lease changed hands. The valuation of improvements was set down at £1750. About 60 years ago the premises were occupied by Messrs M'Landress, Hepburn and Co., auctioneers, and about 1880 were acquired by Mr Montagu Pym, the latter firm being superseded by Messrs Park, Reynolds, Ltd., about 15 years later. Mr Park was at one time auctioneer for Messrs M'Landress, Hepburn and Co. Broken Collection Boxes A Press Association telegram from Christchurch states that the mystery surrounding the finding of broken relief collection boxes has been heightened by the fact now disclosed that 42 boxes were reissued in the afternoon without an official check, and the collectors in these cases are unknown. To offset that, however, 44 inpayments were made by unknown collectors, this probably being due to the rush late in the day. Another broken collection box was found in Tuam street on Monday. City Police Court At a brief meeting of the City Police Court yesterday morning, before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., a first offender for drunkenness was fined 10s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment. On similar charges James Parker, who created a disturbance at the boxing contest on Monday night, and Harold Boreluun, were fined 20s. in default 48 hours’ imprisonment. and 10s. in default 24 hours’ imprisonment respectively.

Quarterly Court Returns The following business was dealt with by the Magistrate’s and Police Courts, Dunedin, during the three months ended March 31, the figures for the corresponding period last year being given in parentheses;—Civil—plants entered, 1020 (1234): amount sued for, £13,824 3s Id (£15,558 5s 2d); cases heard, 525 (777); amount involved in cases heard, £6978 Os 5d (£11,252 16s 8d); amount recovered, £6827 3s 5d (£10,168 14s 9d. Police Court: Arrests, 193 (287); summonses, 369 (475); appearances before the court, 562—520 males, 42 females (762 698 males, 64 females); juveniles, 44 —42 males, two females (94 —92 males, two females). Investment of Local Body Funds The possibility of investing credit balances held by local bodies and using the interest as an offset to the interest due to be paid by local bodies was suggested by Mr W. Machin at a meeting of the Riccarton Borough Council. Mr Machin said the matter might be carried far enough to include a national scheme. There was an enormous amount of riioney to the credit of local bodies for the greater part of the year which carried no Interest at all. The Mayor (Mr H. S. S. Kyle, M.P.) said the same state of affairs obtained with the Government. While some accounts were in credit others were paying out on overdrafts. Those Rates! A Waitahuna West ratepayer had some very positive remarks to make to the Bruce County Council in a letter read at the meeting of that body yesterday: “ The rates are due again,” he wrote. “ I do not know who I am, what I am, or where I am, but what I do know is that the council thinks that I am an inexhaustible source of money. The rates are altogether out of reason, and they must come down to the 1909 level again. The whole business is rotten. What is the use of paying the chairman £4O per year, when the inspector, if he is any good, should be able to decide what the roads require without the chairman making inspections? The council meets too often. The meetings could be curtailed to one every three months and, in fact, like our useless Parliament, might even be closed down altogether. Anyhow, those high rates must come down or they will not be paid." The letter was received. Revised Railway Time Table Arrangements for a fast day passenger service between Dunedin and Oamaru are now under consideration by the local traffic staff of the Railways Department, and it is hoped to have a revised running schedule along the lines mentioned recently at Oamaru by th'e chairman of the Railways. Board (Mr H. H. Sterling) operating in the near future. It is proposed to convert the mixed train which at present leaves Oamaru at 8 a.m. and arrives at Dunedin at 1.17 p.m. into a passenger train, which will leave the North Otago town an hour earlier and arrive in Dunedin at 11.4. The mixed train that leaves Dunedin at 3.1 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and arrives at Oamaru at 8.30 p.m., will also be made a passenger train, leaving Dunedin at 3.45 p.m. and reaching Oamaru at 8.8 p.m. Instead of leaving Dunedin every Saturday at 2.21 p.m. and arriving at Oamaru at 7.33, the present mixed train will also be converted into a passenger train, and its time table will be altered so as to allow it to leave Dunedin 41 minutes earlier and reach Oamaru at 5.48. It is hoped to be able to bring the new service into operation about the beginning of next month, but details regarding this matter have not yet been finalised. At the same time the train that at present departs for Palmerston at 5.40 p.m. on’Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays will, until further notice, leave at 4.42 p.m. Hobby on Visiting Ship Wireless is the chief hobby among the officers of the steamer City of Cambridge, which arrived at Auckland from New York on Friday. No fewer than five of the officers possess the new “midget’ sets which have recently made their appearance on the American market, but are yet comparatively unknown in New Zealand. As the sets are of different makes, considerable rivalry exists in obtaining long-distance reception, which is claimed to be remarkable for so small a unit. The sets, which can be operated by power from either direct or alternating current, or by battery, contain up to five valves and a loud speaker in a cabinet 9in long, 6in thick, and Bin high, while an indoor aerial can be used. They cost only about £3 10s in New York, a small carrying case being provided with each set. An Unpopular Economy

The suggestion made by Cr Moore at the meeting of the Bruce County Council yesterday that, as an economy measure, the council should meet only once in two months was very unenthusiastically received by councillors. Cr M'Gregor said if they wanted to save his expenses they could have the money, but he was not going to be debarred from attending meetings. Other councillors thought it would not. be safe, and the opinion was expressed that the interests of ridings would not be served by such a course. It was finally decided to consider the matter at the next meeting in the form _of a motion of which notice would be given.

Rural Telephones Advice from the Postmaster-general (Mr A. Hamilton) that the reduction made last year in rural telephone rentals will be continued has been received by Mr A. D. M'Leod, member for Wairarapa. The Minister telegraphed as follows: “In reference to the concessions granted last year to party line telephone subscribers in rural areas, in which a reduction of 50 per cent, in rentals was granted, but not so as to reduce the rentals payable to less than £lO per annum, I beg to inform you that in view of the present economic conditions, it has been decided to extend the concession for another 12 months.” Mr M'Leod has replied as follows:—“While back-country rural subscribers will appreciate the extention of the concessions, I am of the opinion, in view of the telephone branch being a payable one, that at least the full amount of the salary cut and interest reduction should be passed on to subscribers in general.”

Church and Property Values The proximity of a church is detrimental to property values, according to evidence given by the land valuer in a sitting of the Assessment Court at Auckland. The witness was asked (says our special correspondent) whether the property occupied by the Parnell Lawn Tennis Club could be regarded as suitable for subdivision. “ No,” he replied, “ the church opposite is really a detriment most buyers.” Asked the reason, he said because of funerals, bells, and things. Regimental Distinction

A signal distinction has been conferred upon the Taranaki Infantry Regiment, a distinction that makes the regiment unique among all New Zealand infantry and mounted units. After about three years of negotiation it has beeu decided by the War Office (says the Taranaki Daily News) that the regiment is entitled to the battle honour “New Zealand” for services rendered in the Maori Wars by the Taranaki Rifle Volunteers, the parent unit of the present regiment. The regiment has therefore been placed on the same footing with regiments of the British Army which fought in the campaign. The disputed battle honour, “ South Africa, 1902,” also has been awarded to the regiment. After the Great War battle honours were awarded to all New Zealand regiments in accordonce with instructions issued by the War Office. Nearly all of those regiments how have new colours with the battle honours of the Great War emblazoned upon them. In the case of the Taranaki Regiment, however, the question of ordering new colours has been held up pending a decision by the Army Council whether the regiment, was entitled to battle honours claimed for the Maori War and for South Africa.

Wellington City Finance The Mayor of Wellington (Mr T, 0. A. Hislop) at the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce last night made a statement very welcome to the ratepayers. He estimated (says a Press Association telegram) that there would be a surplus in the city finances of between £BOOO and £IO,OOO. Although there were new burdens, to face", he thought the surplus would enable those commitments to be made without addition to the rates. Mr Hislop added that the difficulties of unemployment immediately ahead of Wellington were being to a great extent alleviated by the action the Government was going to take, and he wished to take the opportunity publicly to thank the Prime Minister (Mr G. W. Forbes) and his colleagues for the great help given him during his term of office.

Woman’s Solo Flight Flying solo. Miss Hilda Montgomery, of the Canterbury Aero Club, made a solo flight from Auckland to Christchurch in seven and a-quarter hours’ flying time. She began the trip on Saturday, making stops at New Plymouth and Wanganui. Encountering bad weather at Blenheim she decided to land, and spent the night there. The trip south on Sunday was done in the good time of Ihr 45min, with a following wind. The average for the trip is 2hr lOmin. Miss Montgomery, who lives at Wairewa, Little River, and Mrs A. Brustad (nee Miss Aroha Clifford) are the only two Canterbury airwomen with long distance flight* to their credit.

An advertisement appears in this issue reminding householders that written nominations of persons to serve upon school committees for the ensuing year will close at 8 p.m. to-day. Where the average attendance for 1932 did not exceed 240, nominations may also be made by word of mouth at the annual meeting on April 12. Our workshop is always busy. Why? Because we give a good job at a reasonable figure. Try us!—Austin Motors (Otago) Ltd., Hope street. Phone 13-215. Ad vi.

Save vour eyes Be wise, and consult W. V Sturmer, optician (2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old age.— Advfc

A. E J Blakeley and W. E. Bagley. dentists. Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegranh Office) Telephone 12-359.—Advt. Those who are requiring an engagement ring will do well to inspect our rings.— Peter Dick, ring specialist. 490 Moray place. Dunedin. —Advt.