Overseas Mails

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21977, 12 June 1933, Page 6

Overseas Mails

The liner Mariposa, which is due at Auckland on Friday from San Francisco, is bringing 54 bags of English and American mails for Dunedin. The mail is expected to reach the local Post Office next Monday evening. Malicious False Alarm

At 6.6 p.m. yesterday the City Fire Brigade turned out in response to a malicious false alarm from the corner of London street and Heriot row.

Probates Granted

Probate has been granted by his Honor, Mr Justice Kennedy, in the estates of Priscilla Heggie Lewis, of Dunedin, and Edmund Chrisp, of Dunedin.

City Police Court In the City Police Court, before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., on Saturday morning, John Campbell, who was charged with drunkenness and with being found unlawfully on licensed premises, was fined 20s, in default 48 hours’ imprisonment, on each charge.

Art Society’s Exhibition The Otago Art Society’s exhibition of sketches and craftswork, now being held in the Pioneer Hall, is drawing to its close, but it is satisfactory to note that during the past few days attendances have shown a decided increase. The work on view is entirely that of local artists, and art lovers as well as members of the general public who inspect the exhibits will find themselves amply repaid, as both in the crafts work and the sketch sections the general standard of the work is distinctly high. The exhibition will be open until Wednesday night.

The Power of Music A remarkable illustration of the power of music to sway an audience, particularly an impressionable one, was afforded in a Dunedin school the other day. For the purpose of endeavouring to instil into his class, composed of children from about nine to 12 years of age, an appreciation of music, the teacher had decided to give a number of lessons based on gramophone records, and in this instance he had chosen a rendering of Schubert’s well-known song, “ The Erl King,” by a baritone singer. He explained the various points which are to be noted in the song, and after he had played the record over twice he was surprised to see one of his girl pupils rush from her' seat sobbing, clutch him round the body, and implore him not to play it again. Notwithstanding this urgent request the teacher decided to play the record once more, and as it commenced another of the girls ran from her seat crying, also asking that the song should not'bo heard again. By the time the record was finished more than half of the girls in the class were in tears. The action of the first two girls was spontaneous, and although some of the others might have been influenced to some extent by the former, there was no doubt of the tremendous power over the children this fascinating song with its tragically dramatic climax. It was also evident on this occasion that the girls of the class were influenced by the music to a much greater extent than were the boys, although the latter might possibly have been restrained from such a display of emotion by motives of pride not uncommon to lads of their age.

A Giant Stingray In a net set for flounder off Whenuapai last week, two fishermen, Messrs G. Barclay and A. Solheim, caught a giant stingray weighing only 31b less than 4cwt. When they discovered the fish in their net (says the Auckland Star) they attacked it with their oars, but finding it too big to land they rowed ashore and left it to be stranded at high tide. They then killed it and floated it ashore on the next tide. It was 7ft 2in long and over sft across the wings. It was of the blackbacked variety with stings in the top of its tail, the largest being 20in long. This is the most dangerous of all the stingrays, as the position of its spines enables it to use them in any position. In its stomach were a large kahawai, two eels, a mullet, and a lot of pipis.

Burglar at Work On Wednesday night last a burglar gained entry to the residence of Mr David Steadman, Eglinton road, Mornington, and, after ransacking two rooms, stole about SlO from a bedroom. The theft was a particularly impudent one, as the intruder, who entered the house through a window that had been left partly open, carried out his search while the occupants were sitting in one of the front rooms. On Friday night a visit was paid, apparently by the same person, to the residence of Mr George, which is next door to that of Mr Steadman, and again, although the family was at home, the thief managed to ransack one of the bedrooms without being heard. His haul on this occasion, however, amounted only to 7s 6d and a trinket box.

Municipal Organ Recital There was a very large attendance at the Town Hall last evening, when the city organist (Dr V. E. Galway) presented a varied and attractive programme of organ music, obviously chosen to suit every taste. That Dr Galway’s recitals are gradually winning the recognition to which they are unquestionably, entitled was evidenced by the keen appreciation displayed by the audience, not only of the organ numbers, but also of the items presented by the supporting artists. Miss Estelle Burnard, Mr Evan Tuckwell, and Mr W. E. Snow. Dr Galway’s first offering was a Fantasia on “ Veni Immanuel ” (Harris), which was interpreted with characteristic artistry, two Mozart numbers “ Larghetto in A major ” and “Minuet in G minor,” also receiving competent treatment. The organist gave a masterly rendering of Bach’s “ Fugue in A minor,” a dignified and impressive number which he treated with all the sympathy that has gained him recognition as an authority on the works of ,the great composer. A special request number, “ Suite Gothique,” was another delightful item, as was a captivating Caprice by Crackel. Other numbers were:—“Berceuse” (Crookes), Schumann’s popular “ Traumerei ” and “ Triumphal March ” by Hollins. Mr Tuckwell’s offering was “The Blind Ploughman,” which he sang with considerable feeling and understanding, while Miss Burnard interpreted Sullivan’s “ Orpheus and His Lute ” with delightful delicacy and expression. Handel’s “Honour and Arms” was sung with fine, robust expression by Mr Snow. Mrs Alfred Walmsley accompanied the vocalists.

Surrounded by Police The woman driver of a small car got a surprise in Christchurch on Friday night when she ran into a small boy at the intersection of Colombo and Hereford streets. The oar was travelling slowly, and the,' boy was not hurt, but when she stopped within a foot or two of the scene of the collision she found the car surrounded by nine constables and two sergeants. The sudden police response was due to the fact that the collision occurred at the exact moment when the police were changing beats, and the night duty men were marching to the intersection when the accident occurred. The array of policemen rapidly attracted a large crowd. With so many men available the necessary details were collected in a few moments, and from the centre of the crowd the small boy appeared, being put on his way by a sergeant, who gave him a pat on the head.

A Valuable Estate

A Wellington Press Association telegram states that the will of Mr D. M. Sutherland, sheep farmer, of Hinakura, Wairarapa, has been admitted to probate. The estate is sworn by the executors at £82,000. Charitable bequests are £250 to the Salvation Army Children’s Home at Wellington; £SOO to the Presbyterian Orphanage, Wellington; £SOO to be set aside and the income applied during 10 years towards the stipend of the Presbyterian minister or missioner at Hinakura, the principal at the end of the 10 years to be paid to the Presbyterian Church at Hinakura. After the provision of an annuity to an old station hand the residue of the estate is given in trust for the benefit of the deceased’s family.

Rapacity and Dishonesty Described by the magistrate, Mr Levien, as a particularly mean and wilful act on the part of the defendant, whose rapacity and dishonesty should be fittingly punished, Gavin Percy, aged 48, was fined £2O in the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court on a charge of misleading a Labour Department official, thereby securing employment to which he was not entitled. “This is probably the most serious ease of imposition in connection with unemployment administration which has yet occurred,” said Mr F. Wilson, who prosecuted on behalf of the Labour Department. Percy was employed at Innes’s brewery until October, 1931. when, owing to trade conditions, he was dismissed. He registered as unemployed on October 19, 1931, and commenced relief work on November 14. In the meanwhile Mr Innes decided to employ a night watchman,. and Percy was reinstated. The employment _ was casual, but he continued on relief while employed at the brewery. From the brewery and relief the defendant averaged £6 weekly.

Desperate Circumstances That he was desperate and needed money with which to buy food and pay rent was the excuse advanced by Walter Hunter, aged 36, a Maori, who pleaded guilty in the Auckland Police Court last week to two charges of stealing jewellery valued at £l7 18s and 17s 6d in money from two dwellings in Ponsonby on May 20. Evidence was given that both houses were entered by raising windows during the absence of the occupants. Detective H. E. Knight said he recovered a quantity of broken jewellery on May 23. This old gold had been sold to a dealer in the city for 18s by a man who gave his name as “Davis.” The next day witness saw Hunter in the dealer’s shop. As soon as Hunter saw witness he made off, but was caught in Queen street. On being searched Hunter was found to have a number of precious stones in his pocket. These were loose. In a statement which Hunter made and signed, he said he was a married man and was unemployed. He added that lie had had one continual struggle to maintain his homo. Hunter said he sold music which he composed himself. One piece had been accepted in America. He said he stole from the house because he was in desperate circumstances. He used the money which he stole and obtained from the sale of jewellery to pay for food and rent. “I am extremely sorry for' this and was forced to do it because I was short of money,” he concluded. Hunter was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, on both charges. Crossing Dangers

The increasing danger of level crossings with the larger volume of road traffic was remarked upon by Mr N, Little at the Taranaki Automobile Association meeting on Wednesday last. He said that the weak lights carried by some locomotives added to the danger. He thought the goods engines should at least carry glaring lights to offer sufficient warning to motorists. Mr W. Wilton said that he had found that jiggers using the rails were a source of danger. They carried no warning device of any kind and it was impossible for motorists to see them. Mr W. C. Weston thought the attention of the Railways Department should be drawn to both matters. Something should be done to improve the lights, and he thought it would be a simple thing for jiggers to carry bells. "I must say that engine drivers in the province exercised great care in the past and their action must have kept down the number of level crossing accidents,” added Mr Weston. It was decided (says the Taranaki Daily News) to bring both questions to the notice of the Railways Department.

Ta raw era Eruption It was on June 10, 1886, 47 years age on Saturday, that, practically without warning, Tarawera blew up. This volcanic outburst, judged by the amount of material ejected and the distance It was deposited, ranks as one of the world’s major volcanic outbursts. Fortunately the sparsity of population in the immediate neighbourhood prevented an appalling loss of life. As it was, about 100 Natives were overwhelmed in one of their settlements and one white man, an English tourist* at Wairoa, was killed. The eruption buried and probably destroyed the world-famous pink- and white terraces and materially altered the whole face of the thermal belt near the mountain.

Lost Russian Child It was announced at a meeting of the Wellington Centre of the Red Cross Society last week that a letter had been received from the League of the Red Cross Societies, Paris, enclosing a recent photograph of Galena Bogatiroff, the child lost in Russia, for whom arrangements are being made to bring he’r to her parents in New Zealand. The photograph had been received through the Red Cross :n Moscow and forwarded to the parents for their inspection. The league stated that it hoped soon to advise the route which the child was taking in her journey to New Zealand.Nuts from the Sea A strange sea harvest is being reaped on the west coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, between Amodeo Bay and Papaaroha. A correspondent of the New Zealand Herald reports that during Monday and Tuesday last thousands of Barcelona nuts and almonds have been coming ashore. The exp’anation has been advanced that the stock has been “ dumped ” at sea because of some defect in the quality, bflt the children in the neighbourhood are reported to have sampled the nuts with relish, and it is stated one family has gathered over 201 b of nuts. '

A Notable Anniversary Saturday was the twenty-seventh anniversary of the death of Mr Richard John Seddon, one of the most outstanding figures in the political history of New Zealand. Mr Seddon was first elected to Parliament in 1879. He became Minister of Public Works in the administration of Mr John Ballance, and succeeded him as Leader, of the Liberal Party and as Premier in May, 1893. He held office until the time of his death, May 10, 1906. Mr Seddon was largely responsible for the humanitarian and industrial legislation which made the nineties such a notable period. ,

Successful Wallaby Shoot Although it is not generally known, wallabies are fairly plentiful in certain parts of the back country of the South Island, a bag of 20 being secured yesterday in the Hook Valley by a party of seven sportsmen, including three from Dunedin and four from South Canterbury. The Dunedin members of the party— Messrs Stewart Pitt, G. Jardine, and J. Trengrove—motored on Saturday night to Makikihi, where they were joined by the Timaru men, and where the night was •spent. An early start was made yesterday morning for the shooting ground, and, despite a drizzling rain and dripping wet bush, an excellent day’s sport was enjoyed. Messrs Pitt, Jardine, and Trengrove will return to Dunedin to-day, and are bringing with them three trophies of the chase.

A Parent’s Right A letter received by the Auckland Education Board from the Bay of Plenty School Committees’ Association at a meeting last week asked whether a head teacher had the right to withhold from a parent or a school committee details of marks gained by a pupil in any or all subjects for the proficiency examination. The chairman (Mr T. U. Wells) said that he thought the information should be supplied. A parent had the right to know how his child had fared at the examination, although, of course, that right applied onlv to his own child. Other members of the board agreed with the chairman, and it was decided to inform the association accordingly.

China’s Military Expenses Interest in the affairs of a Chinese fruiterer, Harry Bowson, who has filed a petition in bankruptcy in Napier, took a new turn when, at a meeting of his creditors last week, the fact that Chinese in New Zealand had contributed to the military expenses of the war lords who had been fighting the Japanese was mentioned. “I am president of the Chinese Society in Hawke’s Bay, and as such have had to send some money,” said the debtor, in reply to a question by a creditor, who asked whether bankrupt had sent any money away to assist the war in China. The debtor added that all the Chinese in the district had had to send something to help the war lords. “ Some send £SO and some send £l.” he added.

Too Many Teachers The Canterbury Education Board has sufficient teachers to meet its requirements for two years and a-half according to figures that have been drawn up by the secretary of the board. The number of unemployed teachers is at present 316, of whom 156 are temporarily employed. Dur. ing the last six months 37 permanent appointments have been made, and taking this as the average absorption for six months it is estimated that there would be sufficient teachers till 1935 if no more were trained. The board considers that the training of graduate students who are more fitted for secondary departments, and for whom there are comparatively few openings, is not necessary. The board would prefer that a year’s probationship and two years’ training be given to ordinary students in place of the engagement of graduate teachers. Radio Broadcasting

An important step affecting future con-, ditions of radio broadcasting in New Zealand has been taken by the Government. The Postmaster-general (Mr Hamilton) announces that official notice - had been given to Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) , Ltd., to terminate the patent right agreement under which 3s from every radio listener’s fee is paid to the company as a royalty for the use of the basic patents held by it, and regarded as essentia! in radio broadcasting. The agreement has been in existence for several years, and the notice just given will terminate it 12 months hence. The Australian Government, which also has an agreement with Amalgamated Wireless involving a royalty payment of 3s per listener’s license, gave notice about two months ago of its intended termination. “ Early Christianity as Viewed by Classical Writers” is the title of the lecture that will be given by Professor Lawson before the Classical Association in the Museum lecture room this evening at 8 o’clock. The public are invited. The Otago Motor Club will hold & general meeting of members to-morrow night. You buy a Car, but you invest in an Austin. Running costs are lowest and repairs negligible. Austin Motors (Otago), Ltd., 284/6 Princes street. Phone 13-215.—Advt. A. E. Blakeley and W. E. Bagley, dentists, Bank’ of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 12-359. —Advt. Save your eyes. Be wise, and consult W. V. Stumer, optician (2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for ohkage.— Advt. Those who are requiring an engagement ring will do well to inspect our rings.— Peter Dick, ring specialist, 480 Moray place, Dunedin.—Advt.