Overseas Mails

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21987, 23 June 1933, Page 8

Overseas Mails

The R.M.S. Maunganui, which is due at Wellington on Monday from San Francisco, is bringing KHUbags of English, American, and Canadian mails and 15 parcel receptacles for Dunedin. The mail is expected to reach the local Post Office on Tuesday afternoon. Burnside Stock Sales It was stated in yesterday’s issue of the Daily Times that the lamb yarding at Burnside on Wednesday was sold at an average per lb pyice of approximately 9jd. The actual average price realised for the whole yarding was 6ld per lb. Power Loan Poll Carried A message from Nelson states that by 496 votes to 65 the Riwaka, Motueka, Mariri, Lower Moutere, Tasman Bay, and Mapua districts carried a £57,000 hydro electric supply loan. Puzzled Listeners

One of the Dunedin community singers at last week’s session is probably quite oblivious of the distinction he gained for himself. The wireless operator, having decided to try out two microphones, placed the second one down in the body of the theatre. By chance there sat in closest proximity an ardent singer with a powerful voice, whose singing was notable more for its vigour than its tunefulness. Listeners-in were quite puzzled at what seemed to be leadership with, a, dual personality, and communicated their bewilderment to the wireless operator, who promptly solved the problem and tactfully applied the remedy.

Warning to Investors A warning was issued at a meeting of the Timaru Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday night by the president (Mr A. P. Greenfield) that investors should make the fullest inquiries from firms, . brokers, or reputable persons, that investments which they were thinking of making were reasonably certain of success. He stated that unscrupulous but brilliant salesmen had been operating recently, and had been doing a considerable amount of business, and mentioned the fact that two men representing a firm outside the Dominion had collected a, big sum of money in Timaru in this manner in a short space of time. Business men north and south of Timaru had asked him to draw attention to the position, and he urged the greatest caution on the part of prospective investors before committing themselves,' Harassed Jews “ The Jew is just what the world has made him,” said Dr L. S. Talbot in an address to the Timaru Rotary Club on the history of the race and its vicissitudes in many lands. “The characteristics and moral outlook of any people at any age in their history is an inevitable result of their heredity and environment.” The business instinct in the Jews, he thought, was a result of the prohibition of landowning, their sharpness and resourcefulness the result of ages of cruelty. They paid the price of success. Their past had bred a race nimble in intellect and infinitely adaptable, and their success was a constant wonder to' their competitors. “It almost seems to me that if they were given a chance they would remove a great many of the economic barriers which the rest of the world is putting up,” concluded Dr Talbot. ■

Policemen as Life-savers A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that the training of all policemen in life saving work was advocated by a deputation from the Royal Life Saving Society, which waited on the Minister in charge of the Police Department (Mr J. G. Cobbe) yesterday. The deputation contended that it was very necessary that all members of the force should be able to effect rescues and resuscitate life when necessary. The methods of the society were effective in the case of minor electric shock as well as drowning. Mr Cobbe said that he aud Commissioner Wohlmann were thoroughly in sympathy with the request. He suggested that officers of the society should call at the police stations and arrange for the constables to take voluntary lessons in resuscitation.

The Public Library Probably as the result of the prevailing unemployment, with the resultant periods of enforced leisure for many men, the attendances at the Public Library have shown a tendency to increase month by month. The figures for the month of.. May' reveal that this increase, as compared with the corresponding month of last 7 year, has been very marked. The total attendance in the newspaper and magazine rooms and in the reference library last month was 23,242, compared with 22,273 in May, 1932. Of this total 4468 visited the reference library, where they consulted 7295 books (5409 books jin May last year). The number of books taken out from the lending department by •-ftrtults was 32,118. It is stated by the library officials that the standard of taste on the part of the reading public is rising, and that there is a noticeable increase in the number of works of a more serious nature which are being read by the public. In this respect books dealing with historical subjects and travel came an easy first with 1916; biography was second with 709, while the interest taken to-day in matters affecting the general life of the community is shown by the fact that 408 books dealing with sociology were borrowed by readers. In the fiction department it is reported that there is at present no outstanding popular novelist, but a hook which it is anticipated will attract a great deal of attention within the next few months is “ The Street of the Sandal Makers," by the Scandinavian author, Nils Petersen.

School Attendance Returns

A report on the returns of attendance at the State primary schools in the district which was submitted yesterday ,at the monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board, showed that at the end of the term ended May 5 of the present year, there were 244 schools, including sideschools, in operation. The figures for the term were as follows, the returns for the corresponding period of 1932 being given in parentheses:—Roll ''number at end of term, 18,130 (20,157) —decrease 2027; average weekly roll .number, 18,128 (20,016) —decrease 1888; average attendance, 17,127 (18,990) —decrease 1863; percentage of attendance, 94.48 (94.87)—decrease 39 per cent. Since the end of last term a household school was opened at Glenledi and the Cook Rock and Tahumatu Househool Schools were closed. The decrease in roll number showed that the schools were now feeling, the full effect of the recent alteration in the school admission age. Mr D. T. Fleming thought that the exodus to relief camps might have some bearing on the position. The chairman (Mr. J. Wallace) said that the reduction in school ; age, practically accounted for all of the decrease. The schools were just beginning to feel it now. The secretary (Mr 6. W. Carrington) said that so far not many schools had lost assistants, but it was quite clear that at the end of this year there would be a big reduction in staffs.

Encounter in the Night A report has been received from the Waiotahi settlement on the OpotikiWhakatane highway, to the effect that Mr Eddie Fryer, farmer and contractor, had a terriffic encounter during last weekend with a swagsman, who, it is alleged, was crazed by drink. Mr Fryer had just retired to bed about 10 o’clock, when he heard his dogs barking loudly. Soon after that there were loud crashes on the back door, which was smashed in. Mr Fryer states that he was walking along the passage, to put the light on in the kitchen when he was suddenly seized by the throat by a man. A terrific struggle then took place, both men rolling about on the floor and finally tumbling into, the kitchen. Mrs Fryer, it is stated, then managed to put on the lights, and her husband called to her to telephone for the police. Meanwhile the men struggled furiously, the intruder, who was a big/ powerful man, screaming at the top of hijs voice. Finally the householder got the upper hand and managed to get the man outside, telling him to clear off. Mr Fryer and his wife then retired to bed. Later the dogs commenced barking and Mr Fryer again went outside. He says that the intruder rushed at him and without warning seized him by the legs, throwing down in the mud. The men fought furiously while Mrs Fryer called to neighbours for help, but they did not hear her. Eventually her husband got on top of the man and seized him by the throat. After getting him quietened down ne led him to the gate and the unwelcome visitor went off down the road.

Number of Local Bodies

The question whether or not it is desirable to reduce the number of local bodies in New Zealand was dealt with by the Acting Prime Minister (Mr J. G. Coates) in a statement made to Mr F. B. Logan (chairman/of the Hawke’s Bay County Council) and Sir Andrew Bussell during a recent interview with him on, various county matters. Mr Coates said that the subject of amalgamation was under review, as he realised that something would have to be done. Just how this was' to be brought about was a little difficult at present, he said, tt probably will be suggested to Parliament when it meets that a special committee should be set up to deal with' the position and confer with officers of local bodies. Referring to the hospital levy- upon counties, Mr Coates agreed that an alteration is necessary, but said he would be guided largely by the result of the Counties’ Conference next month.

A Feminine Swagger It is one of the natural consequences of hard times that large numbers of men should be encountered on the main highways trudging from town to town m search of work, food, or shelter, and in the past two or three years this fraternity of the road has had many additions to its ranks. The experience of a Dunedin motorist yesterday suggests the thought that all are not men who carry a swag. Of course, there are certain personages who elect to tramp from end to end of the country for some purpose or end, but it would appear that there are some, or in any case at least one, of the weaker sex compelled to take to the road from sheer necessity. At the foot of the hill on the Green Island side of Lookout Point yesterday afternoon a motorist noticed a young woman walking along the road. She was not dressed for hiking and was carrying a small bag. Asked if ebe would like a ride the young woman quickly accepted the offer and said she was going a long way. Five miles further along the road the driver had gone as far as she intended, and asked her passenger if she had much further to go. “ I’m walking to Kelso,” was the reply which the surprised driver received.' Anxious to assist the woman further, she continued several miles out of her way, and finally dropped the passenger at Mosgiel, her last view of her erstwhile passenger being the sight of a drooping figure with none too cheerful step turning her face southwards determined, in spite, of fast approaching darkness to cover a few more of the 87 miles which still stretched ahead of her. Chimney Fire The City Fire Brigade was called out at 12.50 p.m. yesterday as the result of a chimney fire in Duncan street.

Youth in Trouble Before Mr J. E. Bartholomew, S.M* in the City Police Court yesterday, William George Bateman Stanley pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a purse containing two rings, a wristlet watch and 10s in money, of a total value, of £l9 10a, the property of Mary Vickery. Chief Detective Young said that the complainant, who was a widow, had dropped her purse in the street on June 12. She had advertised for it, but had" received no reply, and had then reported . tha matter to the police. The accused, when first interviewed, had denied any knowledge of the matter, but a . search of his room had revealed some of the property hidden under the floor. The watch and a ring were later traced to two young women to whom they had been given by the accused. The purse and money had not been recovered. The accused had been in trouble several times previously. No conviction was entered, but the accused was ordered to be detained at Weraroa Training Farm, the magistrate remarking that if Stanley’s conduct there proved unsatisfactory arrangements could be made for his transfer to the Borstal. In the meantime the case would be adjourned sine die. Boat with a History

An interesting relic of the early day* is swung on the deck of the Northumberland, which is due at Wellington this morning from Lyttelton. It is a boat with a history—the royal gig which saw 37 years of service on the royal yacht Victoria and Albert. It was one of two gigs carried on the royal yacht, aud when it was condemned, four years ago, Captain H. L. Upton applied to the Admiralty for possession of it, for although it was considered too old for use in the royal service, it was, and still is, in excellent condition. To-day it is used by the cadets of the Northumberland in rowing races against the boys of the Worcester and Conway training ships. Fully manned it is rowed by six oars. It is 25ft long, and its beam at the widest part is sft 6in. It is made of mahogany throughout, and despite its age is still as sound as a bell. At the bow, the Royal Arms have been replaced by the official badge of the Federal Company. . The Victoria and Albert is one of the oldest craft on the navy lists, for it was laid down at the command of Queen Victona and launched in May, 1899. The christening ceremony was performed by tha Duchess of York, who is now Queen Mary. The vessel was designed by the late Sir William White,

In Event of Disaster

The annual report of the New Zealand Red Cross Society mentions arrangements that are being made to organise various bodies should the country be involved in a disaster. The report states that during the year the chairman of the Red Cross Society consulted with some of the principal officers of the military medical service and the nursing service. and the attitude of the executive of the New Zealand Red Cross Society regarding work to be carried out in the event of national disaster was fully explained. Further steps were being taken, the report continues, to keep in close contact with the Health Department, military medical services, and also with various local organisations lhat had been set up. to coordinate as far as possible in the event of national disaster. There was still a considerable amount of work to be done in this respect throughout New Zealand, as there were many organisations endeavouring to set up schemes for disaster re*, lief without attempting to approach and arrange for co-ordination with other bodies, particularly the Red Cross Society, which was in a position not only ably to conduct the. work, but was bound to take every possible step .to be prepared in the event of disaster. .

Ice in Central Otago

Frozen stretches of water and rime forming a filagree network on fences and trees lend an especial charm to a journey through' Central Otagb at the present time. Mr R. S. Black, who returned to Dunedin from this district last evening, spoke with enthusiasm of the pictures painted by winter in the hinterland of the province. The ice, he said, had never been so perfect as it was this year, and at the Half-mile dam, about two miles on this side of Alexandra on the Roxburgh road, a large area of water was frozen, on which the exhilarating pastime of skating is being enjoyed. At Naseby and St. Bathans the ice is also in splendid order and at both places devotees of the sport of curling are making the most of the favourable conditions. The council of the New Zealand Curling Association met at Oturehua last' night, and it was expected that a decision would be reached to hold the bonspiel there on Tuesday of next week. \ Mr Black added that the owners. of cars, especially those who enjoy the rigorous sports of winter, should make every endeavour to" pay a visit to Central Otago at the present time. Interesting Snuff Box

Admirers of the works of Sir Walter Scott will be particularly interested in the snuff box -which has been presented to the Public Library by Dr D. Colquhoun. The box itself is made from timber taken from the tree under , which Colonel Gardiner was killed at the Battle of Preston Pans in the Jacobite rising of 1745, which figured so prominently in Scott’s novels. On the lid of the box a heart, cut in wood, has been skilfully superimposed. This wood was taken from the Tolbooth in Edinburgh, which was known as “ The Heart of Midlothian." Built in the sixteenth century, it was used as a meeting place for. the Scottish Convention and also for the Council of Justice. It later served as a prison, and in this respect it figured in Scott’s novel, " The Heart of Midlothian.” The snuff box was obtained by Dr Colquhoun from a London Scoi, who brought it from Edinburgh in 1820, and it is thus considerably over 100 years old.

Long-buried Maori Skeleton While digging a hole in their garden to excavate shell, Mr and Mrs G. Hoffman, of Queen street, Thames, unearthed the skeleton of a man. The lower jaw bone was shown to Dr J, B. Liggins, who said it had been that of a Maori aged about 60 years. He considered that the body had been buried about 100 years, as the teeth -were those of a fern-root eater. The place where the bones were found was once a beach, and the theory is held that the Maori was drowned and his body washed up and covered by shell. The bones have been carefully collected and will be interred in the Totara Maori cemetery.

Bank Mistaken for Hotel

The story of an hotelkeeper who was visiting . Greymouth and who wandered into the Bank of New South .Wales and leaned on the counter, under the impression that he was resting on an hotel bar, was told in the Greymouth \Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday morning, when the man in question was charged, before Mr W. Moldi-urn, S.M., with being found on the premises of the Bank of New South Wiles without lawful excuse’in a position that did not disclose the commission of or intention to commit any offence. The accused was convicted and discharged, an order being made for the suppression of his name. The police stated that- at 9.45 on the previous night a constable noticed that the back door of the Bank of New South Wales was open. He entered and discovered the accused dying against the bank counter under the influence of liquor. Mr Hanan, who appeared for the accused, said, that he was a returned soldier and an hotelkeeper. He came to Greymouth' to do business with counsel, but. was so drunk that counsel refused to have anything to do with him. He had apparently wandered into the bank thinking that it was an hotel. “Don’t you think you had better take out a prohibition order against yourself? ” asked the magistrate, apparently forgetful of the accused’s occupation, “ He’s an hotelkeeper, sir,” protested th* senior sergeant amid laughter.

Sympathy for Mortgage* “One of the worst, blunders in the history of New Zealand legislation,” was Mr E. H. Quilliam’s description of the Mortgagors Relief Act when speaking to New Plymouth Rotarians and a number of farmers. He claimed that the application of the Act was having an indirect but distinctly derogatory effect upon the fulfilment of contracts. “ The idea that the mortgagee is a Shylock should be removed from every mind,” he said. “ Many of them are actually in poorer circumstances than the mortgagors, and others of them are widows of settlers relying for their income on the proceeds of some mortgage.” Memory of 1891 It may not be generally known that Major-general J. E. B. Seely, who was recently raised to the peerage, visited New Zealand as a young man and nearly lost his life when crossing the Mangawhero River. He is the author of several books, and in one of them, “ Adventure,” he relates the story. IHe came to New Zealand in 1891 in company with two fel-low-Carhbridge University students, Lord Burford and Mr T. Connolly, in the old Kaikoura. Arriving in Wanganui, they obtained horses and a Native guide and rode up the Parapara (or Field’s Track, as it was known then), to ride throned) the middle of the island. When crossing the Mangawhero River, young Seely’s horse was swept away with him, and he was carried dotyn under a ledge. Had it not been for his companions, who lowered a rope over a rocky cliff and towed him upstream, he would have been drowned.

Quinnat Salmon Caught Some days ago a party of Maoris fishing for eels in the Rangitikei River at Onepuhi, 40 miles from the sea, captured a magnificent female quinnat salmon weighing 211 bin perfect .condition. During the spawning season quinnat generally have three runs of the rivers. Evidently quinnat salmon have established themselves in the Rangitikei River, for recently several dead fish have been picked up on its banks and a shoal was also seen after a flood not long ago.

Bull Attack* Cyclists A bull which broke away from a mob which was being driven to the boilingdown works created consternation among traffic in Church street, Penrose, on a recent afternoon. After leaving the mob (says the Auckland Star) it lay down in pocky country on the roadside and refused to budge. The driver left it there temporarily, but before he returned the bull recovered its lost energy, got back on the road, and charged any traffic that appeared. Four cyclists attracted its attention, and with the bull in an obviously infuriated state, they dropped their cycles and sought refuge in a motor bus parked on the roadside. Other cyclists subsequently had narrow escapes, and the bull even pursued a motor car which was passing along Church street. Eventually the hull jumped the fence into a paddock adjoining the Southdown railway station, where it was shot.

The Rev. W. P. Nicholson, who is at present conducting a mission to students in Allen Hall, will address a public, meeting in the Concert Chamber on Sunday afternoon. Very considerable interest has been aroused outside the University by hig visit, and many have expressed a desire to hear him. The new Ten-Four Austin, with fourspeed gearbox and four wide doors—--38 to 40 miles per gallon. See the latest Austins at Austin Motors (Otago), Ltd., 284/0 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 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.