School Children and Boots

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21981, 16 June 1933, Page 8

School Children and Boots

When the question of procuring boots for relief workers was being discussed at a meeting of the Port Chalmers Unemployment Committee yesterday afternoon, a member said there was equally as much necessity for children’s boots in Port Chalmers as there was for boots for the unemployed. He cited cases where children were going to school in all classes of footwear. Some children had no boots, and some were wearing boots which were so badly worn that all their toes were exposed, while one child was trying to wear boots two sizes too small for her feet. It was very distressing to see such things, and it was very unfortunate that the committee could not do anything at the present time to alleviate the misery of the children. Unemployed Ex-servicemen The secretary of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association (Mr 0. L. Ferens) reports that the sale of the truck load of fat sheep sent by residents of the Roxburgh and Miller’s Flat districts for the benefit of unemployed returned soldiers proved very satisfactory, and a net sum of about £25 will be available for the relief of distress. Mistaken Generosity The other day a young man of presentable appearance called upon a resident of Roslyn and introduced himself as a friend of relatives of the latter in the North Island. He explained that he was unfortunately short of money to pay his hotel bill here, and succeeded, on the strength of a well-told tale and his genuine knowledge of the North Island family with which he claimed friendship, in borrowing a sum of money. Becoming suspicious a day or two later, the victim rang the hotel at which his visitor had claimed to be staying and was told that no one of that name was known there. He is now regretting his generosity, and is determined that the next borrower who comes to him will receive a less hospitable reception, i

Mails Reach London New Zealand mails which were despatched from Wellington by the Maunganui on .May 16 for the United Kingdom, via San Francisco, reached London on June 14.

Waipiata’s Fast Trip

■A particularly fast round coastal trip was made recently by the Union Company’s east coast trader Waipiata, whose running was disorganised by the shipping dispute a few weeks ago. The Waipiata left Bluff early on the morning of June 1. It was very rough weather at the time, and as the Waimarino was then at Dunedin loading for way ports and Auckland, the Waipiata was ordered to proceed to Timaru. She loaded at that port and Lyttelton, whence she sailed direct for Auckland, arriving there on June 8. A large quantity of cargo was discharged and loaded, and the Waipiata sailed cn June 10 for southern ports. She left Wellington last Monday evening, discharged at Lyttelton on Tuesday, and sailed at 3.45 p.m. the same day for Dunedin, arriving here at 8 a.m. on Wednesday. In spite of the fact that heavy southerly weather was encountered during the run from Lyttelton to. Dunedin, she made this portion of her journey in IGJ hours, at an average speed of about 13J knots. The complete voyage from Bluff to Auckland and back to Dunedin occupied 14 days. The Waipiata is an oil burner and is one of the fastest and most up-to-date cargo vessels trading on the coast.

Fruitless Search for Parents A naturalised New Zealander named P. Antemieff, a farmer in' North Auckland, returned this week from the Far East after vainly attempting to reach Vladivostok. He left Russia’ in 1912, and until recently received letters from his parents. The letters suddenly ceased, and, being anxious, he resolved to go and find his parents, but he was blocked by the Japanese at Kobe, who constantly shadowed him, and by the Russian Consul, who refused him a .visa. He returned to Shanghai and vainly endeavoured to get into touch with his parents until a shortage of money forced his return. Antemieff said the Shanghai Russian community was certain that Russia and Japan would not fight, because Russia was afraid of a revolution.

Bathing Costumes At a special meeting of the Auckland City Council, the by-law setting out that “ neck to knee ” bathing costumes must be worn at all baths and beaches controlled by the council was repealed (reports our special correspondent), and in place of the old by-law the following new by-law was passed:—“No person shall bathe in any place under the control of the council which is open to the public view or to the view of the occupants of any dwelling house in the city unless such person, while bathing or going to and from the water, is so clad as not to cause offence, and no person shall dress or undress or remove or unfasten any part of his bathing costume in any place open to the public view so as to be indecent or offensive.” In the past the term, “neck to knee,” had been the subject of considerable controversy.

Art Society’s Exhibition The patronage which has been extended by the public to the exhibition of paintings in the Pioneers’ Hall under the auspices of the Otago Art Society has given every cause for satisfaction. The display will be brought to a . close tomorrow, and those who have not yet taken the opportunity of viewing the pictures and who intend to do so have, therefore, only two more days in which to pay a visit. To those with the slightest knowledge of art it will be apparent that the work of some of the younger students is distinctly promising, while the more mature artists are represented by some very attractive paintings. The section devoted to the crafts work reaches a high standard, and is really one of the features of the exhibition. The sale was recorded yesterday of a painting by Mr W. Allen Bollard entitled “ Smaill’s Beach.”

Heavy Consignments of Sheep As the result of the operations atLorneville on Tuesday of buyers representing a Canterbury freezing wiorks, a particularly large consignment of fat sheep was despatched north by rail on Wednesday. Sixty-eight trucks were sent from the Invercargill district for the Belfast Freezing Works, and these were joined by nine others from the Dunedin district. In addition to this, eight trucks were consigned for other destinations in Canterbury from Invercargill and Dunedin, making the total consignment for Canterbury from the south 85 trucks, representing over 6000 sheep. Although not the largest number of sheep which has gone north from Dunedin this season, it is the largest to have been sent to Canterbury. It is stated by those connected with the freezing trade that the action of the particular company in buying such large numbers of sheep in the south is mainly caused by the shortage of feed in the northern province, which has resulted in a diminution of the near-at-hand supplies coming forward to the works. It is considered that this outside competition is largely responsible for the marked rise in prices which has characterised the fat sheep and lamb market at this week’s sales.

Strawberry Planting Season Planting for the next strawberry season in Auckland has been completed (reports our correspondent), and a total of just over 3,000,000 plants has been set out in the growing areas near the city. The number is well up to the average of previous seasons. It is apparent that the Marguerite variety still enjoys the greatest popularity among growers, and it. has accounted for more than 2,000,000 of the plants. The Captain Cook variety is next in favour. 14lh Battery Trophy The trophy won by the 14th Medium Battery early this year in competition with northern batteries for the most efficient medium battery in the Dominion is now on view in a shop window at the corner of Broadway and High street. It is a beautiful howitzer modelled in silverplate and housed in a glass case. The model, which is a perfect replica of a sixinch howitzer, was made in the ordnance workshops in Wellington, and is valued at over £IOO. It was first held by the 17th Battery from 1928 to 1930, and after the introduction of the voluntary system of training it passed into the hands of the 19th Battery, from which it was won by the 14th Battery. In addition to this trophy, the various other clips and trophies won by the battery in competition are on view.

City Fire Brigade ' The City Fire Brigade received a call at 1.47 a.vn. yesterday to the premises of Messrs Fort, Roche, and Co., where a pan of fat in an oven had caught fire. No damage was done. At 6 a.m. the brigade was called to the City Corporation’s stables in Anderson’s Bay road as the result of an automatic false alarm, and at 3.26 p.m. a fire in a macrocarpa hedge in Jackson street (Roslyn) was responsible for the brigade again turning out.

A Vast Project The construction of a road from Tuatapere round the coast to Puysegur, and from there through the Sounds to Milford, eventually joining up with the West Coast at Jackson’s Bay, was a suggestion placed before the executive of the Southland League last evening in a letter from Mr R. A. Anderson. There was general agreement on the far-reaching possibilities of the vast project, which (our Invercargill correspondent states) the president of the league (Mr W. Hinchey) roughly estimated would cost one million sterling. A committee was set up to study the scheme from the point of view of practicability and cost and to discuss it with Mr Anderson, and, if possible, the Minister of Public Works (Mr J. Bitchener).

Tariff Duties and Quotas A largely attended meeting at Whanga,rei was addressed by Messrs W. Goodfellow and W. Grounds on Wednesday; night, when a resolution was passed demanding a substantial reduction in tariff duties against British goods to keep faith with the spirit of the Ottawa agreement, ant] as being the only means of preventing the enforcement of the suggestion to restrict New Zealand dairy exports. Sideshow Fraud Exposed Prosecutions from time to time have revealed how remote are the prospects of the public being successful in some of the so-called “ contests of skill ” conducted by sideshowmen, but one of the most glaring instances of the lengths to . which some showmen will go to ensure their own enrichment has just been revealed to the police in Gisborne. Among the 1 equipment confiscated from a showman some time ago was the familiar red, white, and blue dart board, which is generally regarded as a fair game and is not objected to by the police. Even this, however, has been adapted to the “ heads I win, tails you lose” principle. In destroying the board the police discovered that the red and blue sections were backed with tin, only the white being left to hold the darts. In this game the proprietor offers three to one on the red, and two to one on the blue, but’ since the dart cannot penetrate the tin lining of these colours he has no chance of losing his money, and a player who has been inveigled into trying his “skill” has no chance whatever of winning, or even of getting his money back.

An Early Settler’s Outfit In the course of an address on “ Old Wellington ” at the Rotary Club luncheon N in Wellington on Tuesday, Dr D. Macdonald Wilson caused some amusement by reading a list of articles recommended as suitable for a bachelor cabin passenger to take when coming to New Zealand in the year 1850. The list was as follows, the writer, Mr G. Butler Earp, remarking that “ any more will , only be found cumbersome —Eighteen plain calico shifts, 18 coloured shirts, 12 longcloth shirts (linen fronts), 12 nightcaps, 12 night shirts, 6 flannel waistcoats, _ 6 merino waistcoats, 12 cotton or muslin cravats, 3 black silk handkerchiefs, 48 pairs brown cotton socks, 12 pairs worsted socks, 48 pocket handkerchiefs; assortment of gloves, one dressing gown, 2 blouses, 36 linen towels, 12 Russian duck jackets, 18 pairs duck trousers, 1 shooting jacket, pilot cloth pea-coat and trousers, cloth clothes ad libitum, cloth cap, Manila hat, 4 jean waistcoats, 2 \ cashmerette waistcoats, 8 pairs sheets and pillow cases, 3 blankets, 2 counterpanes, a beaver hat, clothes bag, toilet articles and soap. 121 b sperhiicetti candles, and candlestick, hair mattress, pewter crockeiy ware, and 2 bullock trunks. It was evidently thought, added the speaker, that there were not many shops in the colony where, these articles could be obtained in those days. Climber’s Narrow Escape

An escape from serious injury was experienced on Sunday by Mr H. W. Martin, county clerk at Inglewood, when he fell over a bluff on Mount Egmont. With two others, Mr Martin was climbing to the ski-ing ground near the Second Staircase. The snow was frozen and they were wearing crampons to prevent slipping. It is thought that, as Mr Martin was walking,'’he caught one crampon on the other leg. He stumbled and fell, and immediately commenced to slide down the face of the frozen snow. A little soft snow slowed him down, but did not stop him. Mr Martin then rolled over a few rocks, which were protruding from the snow, and fell over'a 15ft bluff. Fortunately, the scoria and rocks at the bottom were well covered with snow and, although he suffered a cut knee, shock, and bruises, he escaped serious injury. Mr Martin was able to return to the North Egmont Hostel, and later left for his home.

World Cruise in Canoe

A Queenslander is planning a cruise round the world in a 15-feet canoe of a special type that is claimed to be unsinkable. Its capacity is to be limited to 5001 b, including the crew of one. The adventurer proposes to follow a route from Cairns, where he resides, to New Guinea, the East Indies, the Philippines, Formosa, then on to Kowschatka and along the festoon of islands to Alaska. From there he plans to go down the west •coast of . North America, through the Panama canal, and up the coast to New York. The attempt to cross the Atlantic may be made in company with a convoy, and when England is reached a course is to be set through French _ canals to the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean, Bed Sea and India represent stages planned on the homeward journey to the East Indies and Australia. The voyage of 50,000 miles is expected to occupy between five and six years. It is scarcely necessary to add that the man who is to set out on this cruise has bad an adventurous career in all parts of the world.

Effects of Taxation

An interesting point was raised by the chairman of the Waihi Gold Mining Company at the annual meeting in London. He said the new gold duty of 12s 6d per ounce would have the effect of tending to shorten the life of the mine by making it unprofitable to work some of the lowgrade blocks. Other mines where the margins were narrower would he more adversely affected. No doubt there is something in this (comments the Dominion), and it becomes a question whether the State may not lose more by shortened income tax and employment, and by private loss of profit, than is 'yielded by the gold duty. The latter is just one example of the depressive effect of taxation. Its braking influence on enterprise is -felt throughout the nation’s life. It does not press only on the marginal gold mine or claim, but on every sort of marginal proposition. Taxation beyond a certain limit tends to increase the distress it is supposed to relieve.

A Minimum Taxi Fare Holding that owing to excessive competition and unfair and illegitimate actions by certain taxi-drivers men are unable to carry on the taxi business in a legitimate manner, the Wellington City Council last''night expressed itself in favour of the fixation of the minimum fare at one shilling per car mile. Recommendations were adopted from the Bylaws Committee (reports our special correspondent) that steps be taken to this effect through the Municipal Association to ask Parliament to fix the minimum fare at one shilling. Introduction of German Owl

In the Evening Post of June 10, Dr Anson, chairman of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, denied the statement of a correspondent, “New Zealander,” that the Otago Acclimatisation Society was responsible for the coming to New Zealand of the German owl. Dr Anson wrote that “ New Zealander ” “ must absolve the Otago Acclimatisation Society from the responsibility for tbs German owl. Its introduction was opposed by that society. Indeed, the records of acclimatisation societies show them to be singularly free from blame for introduced pests. The societies a* a whole are certainly very much hampered in their worktby the multitude of Government departments that, each exert some prejudiced interference in wild life matters.” An inquiry on this subject (saj's the Post) was made at the Department of Internal Affairs, and the department stated in reply that its record* show that in 1905 the then president of the Otago Acclimatisation Society* when in London, made inquiries as to obtaining a supply of the little owl. On his return the matter was placed before the council of the Otago Acclimatisation Society and an order was placed for 100 birds. In November, 1906, the then secretary of the Otago Acclimatisation Society advised the Colonial Secretary that his society had received a numbsp' of the birds the proviou* moatK

Water Divining Condemned Condemnation of any method of locating stater by what is commonly known as Vater divining was made at a meeting of the geological section of the Wellington Philosophical Society on Wednesday evening. The speakers emphasised that water underground could not be accurately located by • any method other than by a study and investigation of the geological nature of the strata where water was thought to be. Dr P. Marshall, the wellknown geologist, said that 30 years ago he had exposed the failure of water divining, and he blamed lack.of publicity for the present-day ignorance of the general public on the subject.

An Economy Measura The office of the American trade commissioner for New Zealand is being closed down. Mr Julian Foster, commissioner, and Mrs Foster, and also Mr West, assistant trade commissioner, will leave New Zealand by the Mariposa on July 1. The closing of the office (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington) is in pursuance of the United States Government’s policy of economy. . The office of the United States Department of Commerce, to which the trade, commission is attached, will be closed down in most other cities throughout the world. Remarkable Radium Cure

A walking testimony to the wonderful curative powers of modern radium treatment is supplied by Mr S. Kalman, a South Australian news agent. Several months ago the medical profession of Sydney substantiated the report of Adelaide medical men in classifying his case as incurable; to-day he is perfect health. Some time ago (says the Melbourne Age) Mr Kalman contracted a growth in the throat, which threatened a strangulation of the jugular vein. On the advice of a friend, he went to Sydney, where he obtained admittance into the New South Wales Home for Incurables. After months of treatment his case was diagnosed as a hopeless one; and the patient, faced with death, willed his body to the medical profession for the furtherance of science. It was then decided by- a young Sydney surgeon to .perform a drastic operation in the faint hope of a cure. The patient was on the table for one hour and a-half, during which 76 radium needles, valued at £IOOO, were inserted into the neck; this being the largest amount ever inserted in one operation. The operation proved highly successful, and after eight weeks in bed Mr Kalman left the hospital fully cured. City Police Court At a sitting of the City Police Court yesterday, James Linton Beck Cottle, charged with drunkenness, wa s fined 22s 6d, in default 48 hours’ imprisonment.

The Rev. W. P. Nicholson, of the Irish Free Presbyterian, Church, will arrive in Dunedin this evening, and will give during the next few.days a series of,lectures to students in Allen Hall. _ The Austin Seven, Austin Ten-Four, the Austin Twelve-Four and Twelve-Six are built and designed to excel in Economy and Dependability. See them at 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. Stunner, optician (2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old age.— Advt. Those who are requiring an engagement ring will do well to inspect our rings.— Peter Dick, ring specialist, 490 Moray place, Dunedin. —Advt. j