Overseas Mail

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21980, 15 June 1933, Page 6

Overseas Mail

The Rotorua, due in Wellington from London this morning, has nine bags of English mail and 207 parcel receptacles for New Zealand. The Dunedin portion is due to-morrow afternoon A Motorist’s Blunder A Dunedin motorist who for many years has been an ardent advocate of standardised ears has, as the result of an experience a few days ago, now modified his views considerably, so far, at least, as similarity in appearance is concerned. Having, during the progress Of repairs to his own car, borrowed a friend’s machine to come into town, he left it standing in Stuart street while he went off to transact his business. On his return he found, to his dismay, that the door had automatically locked, and a frantic telephone message to his friend brought him only-, the meagre comfort that the keys were in the switch-lock. Obviously, there was nothing for it but to adopt other means of entering the machine, so he procured the services of a mechanic, who, after half an hour’s hard work, managed to get the door open. No keys, however, were found in the switch-lock, and in another telephone conversation the owner suggested that perhaps the motorist had mistaken the car. Hurried investigation revealed that this was exactly what had happened, and the original car was found only 100 yards away, where the driver had left it, with the door unlocked and the keys where the owner had left them. Fruit for Soldiers

The fifth consignment of apples from growers in the Roxburgh and Miller s Flat districts has been received by the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association for distribution among unemployed ex-service-men. The fruit, of which there are 50 sacks, will be distributed this morning.

Poppy Day Returns The secretary of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association (Mr O. L. Ferens) reports that only one amount has yet to come in to complete the Otago Poppy Day returns for 1933. He has received the sum of £4 12s 6d from Middlemarch, and the total now stands at £1733 11s 10d.

Prisoners : for Sentence In the Supreme Court to-morrow morning three prisoners will be called on for sentence.

Financial. Centre of the World In illustration of his contention that London is the financial centre of the world, Mr P. L. Porter explained to commerce students of Canterbury College on Tuesday evening that from the Bank of England it was but a 10 minutes’ walk round all the leading public, private, and foreign banks. Thus a broker attached to one of the big discount houses would in one morning visit branches of banks of New Zealand, Australia, Canada, China, Afghanistan, Japan, South Africa, and the many European countries, as well as many other foreign or privately-owned banks. It had been found necessary for every big business house in the world to have a representative in London. The banks in London, concluded 'Mr Porter, were the essence of cosmopolitanism.

Appeal Dismissed Mr Justice Kennedy occupied the Bench in the Supreme Court yesterday, and dealt with an application to dismiss an appeal for want of prosecution. When the case was before the court some time ago, the appellant was George Alexander Perry, of Oamaru, who appealed against an order made against him by a magistrate. Mr F. B. Adams (Crown solicitor) informed his Honor yesterday that the necessary papers had been served upon the appellant, who had consented to the appeal being dismissed. His Honor accordingly dismissed the appeal, making an order against the appellant for the payment of costs, amounting to £9 9s.

Sale of Newspapers on Sunday The question whether newspapers could be sold and distributed in New Plymouth on Sundays was raised in the Police Court yesterday (says a Press Association telegram), when a bookseller was charged with selling papers on a Sunday evening. The defendant said he had followed the practice for some years. Counsel said that at Auckland the distribution, but not the actual sale, of newspapers was allowed on Sundays. The police said even if that were the practice in Auckland, the New Plymouth police would not allow it. The charge was dismissed, but the magistrate warned the bookseller that the practice must cease. Valuable Bequests

Bequests made under the will of Mr C. S. Sanders, who died at New Plymouth last week (says a Press Association telegram), are £IOOO to the Western Park Board, £SOO to the board controlling reserves, £350 to the New Plymouth Borough Council for a rhododendron dell,in Pukekura Park, £250 to the New Zealand division of the Cancer Research Campaign, and £250 to the Stratford Public Hospital. The residue of the estate, after the private bequests have been disposed of, is bequeathed on trust for the benefit of Pukekura Park, New Plymouth. It is understood that the residue will be a substantial sum. Mr Sanders was once the owner of Ngaere Gardens.

“ Miss Hook of Holland ” The financial result of the production by the Dunedin Operatic and Dramatic Society of “ Miss Hook of Holland ” has been made known, and it has been found that a profit of about £IOO was made. This is considered very satisfactory considering the large amount of expense which was involved in presenting the play. The cost of production was in the neighbourhood of £BOO, all of which, with the exception of the amount of royalties and some incidental expenses, was spent in Dunedin. The costuming was one of the major items on the list of expenses, on account of the size of the cast and particularly the ballet, which required four changes of costume. The society, it is reported, is now giving consideration to its next production.

The Growth of Debt

It was impossible to dissociate governmental and municipal expenditure, said Dr J. S. Elliott, at a meeting of the Wellington Ratepayers’ Association on Tuesday evening. The gross Government debt in 1919, he said, was 176 millions. In 1931 it had risen to 276 millions, and another five millions had been borrowed since, making a total of 281 millions, an addition of 105 millions in 12 post-war years. This was the more astounding when it was realised that the war expenditure was 68 millions. The local body debt had also increased considerably, and stood to-day at 76 millions, bringing the gross public debt of New Zealand to 357 million pounds. “ In New Zealand,’’ said Dr Elliott, “we are still living at a very high standard in comparison with our depleted resources. The New Zealand exporter is selling in a market 20 per cent, below the 1914 level, and we are attempting the impossible task of maintaining internally a standard about 30 per cent, above that level.” I

Arfe Society’s Exhibition That the decision of the Otago Art Society to extend the season of its sketch and crafts work exhibition now being held in the Pioneer Hall was justified is evident by the patronage that is being accorded the display by the art-loving section of the public. A feature of the exhibition is the fact that all the work on view is from the hands of local artists, and the standard throughout is remarkably high. Sketches of landscape subjects predominate, but the studies of figure and still-life are also interesting, while a section devoted to camera-pictures reveals some exquisite examples of the photographer’s art. The crafts work on view in the centre of the hall will well repay careful inspection, including as it does many artistically executed articles, which combine both beauty and utility. Burnside Stock Sales A further sharp rise in fat sheep values was recorded at the Burnside market yesterday, and fat cattle also showed an increase on last week’s rates.- The quality of the cattle yarding was disappointing, for, of the 231 offered, there was only a small proportion of prime sorts. Best prime bullocks made to £ll 17s 6d. or £1 per bead better than last week, and medium and light sorts and cows and heifers sold to 10s better. Prime ox beef was worth to 225, light and medium from 10s to 18s. heifers from 15s to 18s 6d. and cows from 10s to 13s per 1001 b, according to quality. A short yarding of sheep included only a small proportion of wethers, and sold at an advance of 2s per head on last week. About 1400 were penned. Best wethers sold to 24s 6d. the price per lb being 3fd. and best ewes to 20s 9d. or per lb The lambs offered were secured mainly by butchers and for the Belfast works at the latter’s full schedules, the market being 2s to 2s 6d better than last/week. About 700 were penned, and some extra prime heavy lambs made to 20s 3d. A small yarding of store, cattle was offered. Values for vealers,'" which were in short supply, appreciated considerably. A pen of good four-year-old forward steers realised £5 7s. and a pen of young steers sold at £2 2s 6d. A small number of cows and heifers sold at late rates. In the pig section 119 fats were offered, consisting principally of porkers. Prices at the commencement of the sale showed a slight improvement on last week’s rates, but then receded as the sale progressed, to close firm at values on a par with the last sale. Store pigs, of which there was a medium entry: met with a poor market. Proposed Cruise to England IA yacht 30ft long, in which he purposes sailing to England, has been built at Motu, 60 miles inland from Gisborne, by a young Englishman, Stanley Ward, and transported to Opotiki, where it is being fitted out for the voyage. “ The Crucifixion ” The rendering of Stainer’s “ The Crucifixion ” by a massed choir of about 400 voices, to the accompaniment of the Town Hall organ, should provide a musical thrill. To supplement the Mayor’s Unemployment . Fund this has been arranged for Sunday, June 25, after church hours.' All church choirs by whom the work has been performed are invited to participate, and already 14 choirs have signified their intentipn to take part. The massed choir, which will rehearse on Sunday night next at the Town Hall, will be conducted by Mr Alfred’ Walrasley. The soloists will be Mr Ernest Drake, Mr E. R. Benton, and Mr Allan Fleming, Dr V. E. Galway being at the organ console

A Successful Dunedin Artist Included in the list of New Zealand artists represented in this 'year’s Royal Academy catalogue, as given in the Otago Daily Times yesterday, was Mr Heber Thompson (Wellington). This New Zealand artist is Mr Ernest Hebef Thompson, a native of Dunedin and a son of Mr J. B. Thompson, of Cavershamu Mr Thompson served an apprenticeship of five years with the firm of Messrs J. Wilkie and Go., of Princes street, and was a pupil of Mr A. H. O’Keeffe, the well-known local artist. He served with the New Zealand Forces in the Great War, and on its conclusion was granted a scholarship by the New Zealand Government to enable him to study: art in London. With this he a ttended the Slade School of Art for three years, and has since made considerable progress in his profession. He is now teaching art in London. While in Dunedin Mr Thompson published several issues of the Sketcher.

A Feasible Suggestion . Commenting yesterday on the suggestion by the Minister of Justice (Mr J. G. Cobbe) that the services of justices of the peace should be morq*fully utilised in the magistrates’ courts of the Dominion, a prominent Government official expressed the opinion that there was no reason why justices of the peace should not preside over the preliminary hearings, in the lower courts, of indictable charges. Such proceedings consisted in most cases merely of the hearing of evidence, and deciding whether, according to the plea, the accused should be committed to the Supreme Court for trial or for sentence, and no magisterial experience, was required to carry out this duty, excepting in instances where some doubt existed whether the case should go for trial. It was rarely, however, that an indictable case was thrown out in the lower court, and as the police were sufficiently experienced to know when such a contingency might arise, they could arrange to have a magistrate preside over that particular hearing. A special day set aside for the preliminary hearings of indictable cases, with justices of the peace on the Bench, would result in a considerable saving of time to the police and court officials, and of expense to the country.

City Police Court In the City Police Court yesterday a youth named Kevin Hugh Mooney appeared before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., and pleaded guilty to having, at -Palmerston, fraudulently omitted to pay to Peter Walker the sum of £3 2s 2d received on his behalf, and to having stolen two sums of 2s 6d, the property of Leonard John Rankin and William M'Leod respectively. Chief Detective Young stated that the accused was employed by the complainant. who was a milkman, and with. respect to the major charge he had collected the amount from customers and had not paid it in. In the other two cases, the amounts had been handed to him to pay to other people, which he had failed to do. He had been before the court previously. After perusing a report submitted by the probation officer, the magistrate said that the accused’s conduct while he was on probation was unsatisfactory, and it was evident that he was hardly amenable to control apart from that which-he would receive in an institution. On the major charge he would be ordered to be detained in the Borstal Institute for two years, and would be convicted on the other two charges.

Charitable Bequests Under the will of Mr J. A. Johnstone, of Dunedin, the following bequests to charity were made:—To the Dr Barnard© Homes’ National Incorporated Association, £500; to the Salvation Army, £500; and to the Presbyterian Social Service Association, Dunedin, £IOOO of the Perpetual Debenture Stock in Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co., Ltd., one-half to be applicable for the Ross Home for the Aged and one-half for the Glendining Home for Boys. Mr Johnstone had intended to make a bequest to the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunket Society), and though this was not provided for in the will, Mrs Johnstone is giving to the above society, in accordance with her late husband’s expressed wish, £SOO of ‘debenture stock in Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co., Ltd.

Rangitata Railway Bridge The wooden truss railway bridge across the Rangitata, which has been in use since 1905, is to be replaced with' a steel and concrete structure, and the staff of the district railways engineer’s department is at present engaged in driving test piles on the site of the new bridge and putting down bores to determine the composition of the foundation. On the completion of these investigations, tenders will be called for the concrete work, and it is expected that the erection of the new structure will be commenced within the next two months.

Rehearing of Theft Charge Refused An application for a rehearing .of a theft charge dealt with in December, 1929, was refused by Mr E. Page, S.M., in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court yesterday (says a Press Association telegram) on the ground that there had been an unreasonable delay in making it. He added that the affidavits that had been filed contained little relevant matter that was not before the court at the original hearing. The application was on behalf of Rudloph von Gruber, who was convicted on a charge of stealing a pair of field glasses, and was fined at the time £2, with £5 18s costs. In the affidavit Gruber explained the delay by the statement that /he was then resident in Auckland and he had found legal charges beyond him. and the position was complicated by the fact that he was advised that he would have to come to Wellington for a rehearing. Welding in Railway Works The work of strengthening the long lattice girder spans of the bridges on the Central Otago line will shortly be put in hand by the Railways Department, and in about a mouth’s time workmen will makq a start on the Wingatui viaduct. In all cases the top and bottom booms and •ome of the bracing members are to bo reinforced with strengthening plates, and an interesting feature of the work will be that the metal will be electrically welded instead of riveted. This will be. the first 1 occasion on which welding has been used in the district on this class of work, and gome idea of the importance of the undertaking can be gained from the fact that, during the progress of the work, no fewer than six portable welding plants will be in operation. Wool Research The proposal for a levy on all wool produced, in order to create a fund for_. research and improvement in the industry, was unanimously supported by a meeting of Poverty Bay farmers after those present had heard the scheme outlined by Mr E. R. Black, a member of the Provisional Committee set up in Wellington to investigate the proposals. Mr Black said it would be necessary to employ a staff for research and instruction, and for this an assured income would be required. The proposed levy of 3d a bale would raise £4OOO in the North Island, and be believed the farmers would secure a return of 1000 per cent, on their investment. Answering a question, Mr Black said the money would not be used for the benefit of stud breeders, but for the benefit of the whole industry. Moving the endorsement of the scheme, Mr J. C. Graham said it,was the best effort yet made for the improvement of the industry. Pleasure Cruises The excursions run in New Zealand waters by shipping companies last summer and autumn proved so popular that steps are already being taken to organise more cruises for next season. / The Huddart, Parker Company in W'ellington has received advice that the Wanganella will make three short cruises next season, two being from Wellington and one from Auckland. On her first cruise the Wanganella will leave Sydney for Wellington on December 15, arriving there on December 18, and leaving again later that day for George and Milford Sounds. Leaving Melbourne on January 24 and Sydney on January 20 for Auckland, she will make a pleasure cruise in the Hauraki Gulf. On her third-cruise she will leave Sydney for Wellington on February 9, arriving there on February 12, and leaving again the same day for George and Milford Sounds. A Fleet-footed Constable Constable Jesse, of Fiji, is a very proud man. At Suva on June 6he gave Norman Robertson, the champion runner from Australia, now en route to America and England, a run over 100 yards, and beat him by half a yard. Jesse received four yards. There were several other local runners, but Robertson easily left them behind. He seemed to hang at the start, but when he r got to the. 70 yards mark he simply streaked past all but the stolid “bobby." There was a,,.crowd of spectators, both local people and passengers from the Monterey. After the race the owner of the racehorse "Winooka, who was watching, was so pleased with the local lads’ running that he gave three prizes for a race for local lads, which was won by J. Boyer.

Attention is directed to the Dunedin City Council’s advertisement in this issue requesting consumers of water to notify the department in the event of any wastage of water arising due to leakages, defective fittings, etc., in order that such wastage may be obviated without delay. To-day,' more than ever, your ear must be Dependable, Reliable, and Economical —that is the Austin Car—Austin Motors (Otago), Ltd., 284/6 Princes street. Phone 13-215.—Advt. v

A. E. Blakeley and W. E Baglej dentists. Bank of Australasia, corner pi Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office) Telephone 12-359 Advt A Radiator with flex for 15s value. —Barth Electrical Supplies, Ltd. 56 Princes street, Dunedin. —Advt. Save your eyes. Be wise, and consul! W. V. Sturmer, optician (2 Octagon) thus conserving good vision for old age. Advt.