Overseas Mails

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21989, 26 June 1933, Page 6

Overseas Mails

The steamer Marama, which is due at Wellington to-morrow from Sydney, is bringing 37 bags of Australian mail and 17 parcel receptacles for Dunedin. The mail is expected to reach the local Post Office on Wednesday afternoon.

Easy Divorce “ Woe betide the girl who marries a native of Egypt,” said Mrs B. G. Hogg, when she related her impressions of her recent visit to that country to members of the Federation of University Women (says the Christchurch Times). It was quite common for young men from the Egyptian colleges and schools to go to English universities, continued the speaker. Occasionally an English girl married such a native and went back to Egypt with him. This was sealing her fate, because she became an outcast as soon as she arrived among her husband’s people. Even this was not the ■whole extent of her unfortunate position; it -was still the custom to permit a native husband to divorce his wife by repeating “ You are divorced,” three times before witnesses.

“ Free and Easy ” Night A “ free and easy ” night for returned soldiers was held on Saturday evening at the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association rooms, an excellent programme of musical and humorous items being provided by the local branch of Toe H. There was an excellent attendance, the visitors being welcomed by Mr A. Thomas, vice-president of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. Mr W. H. Armstrong, chairman of the Toe H. Committee, briefly addressed the gathering on the aims and objects of the Toe H, organisation. During the evening items were provided by Messrs I. Douglas, T. Bond, P. Smith, G. Salmond, G. Dunn, and M. Weeks. Messrs M. Tyrrell and W. H. Armstrong played the accompaniments.

War Pensions Appeals The War Pensions Appeal Board, of which Sir Walter Stringer is chairman, concluded its Dunedin sitting last week. Of the 26 cases sponsored by the secretary of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association (Mr O. L. Ferens), 16 claims were upheld, seven were dismissed, and three hospital cases were deferred. Five claims out of eight for reassessment of pensions were upheld. New Aeroplane

The latest addition to the Dominion’s aircraft is the "Redwing” light biplane. The machine has been imported for the use of Mr H, T. Parry, of Hokitika. All the parts are to hand (says the Christchurch Times), and the work of assembling the plane will probably be begun early this week at Wigram Aerodrome. The plane is a new make and is the first to be imported to New Zealand. It has an Armstrong-Siddeley "Genet” engine capable of producing from 80 to 88 h.p. and of lifting a weight of 14501 b. The unladen weight is 8501 b. The machine has accommodation for two persons, including the pilot, seated side by side. No other light aeroplane in New Zealand has side-by-side seating. The maximum speed is 95 miles per hour and the cruising speed 85.

A New, Zealand Contralto „ The very definite views held by Mr John Brownlee as to Miss Mary Pratt’s possibilities as a vocalist find confirmation in the opinion recently expressed by Mr Peter Dawson after hearing her sing. He described her as a vivacious girl with a wonderful voice and all the promise of a great singer. “ She has brains and magnetism,” he said, “ and, in fact, I don’t know when I listened with greater pleasure to a young singer.”

Fast Aeroplane Trip On Saturday, for the first time in the history of the South Island Motor Union, delegates attending a meeting of that body travelled to the venue of the conference by air. The union’s quarterly meeting was held in Dunedin on Saturday evening, and the delegates from the Southland Automobile Association — Messrs D. J. Wesney, J. R. Haigh, and Dr S. Brown—effected a considerable saving of time by leaving Invercargill at mid-day on the Southland Aero Club’s four-seater Fox Moth plane and arriving at the North Taieri aerodrome shortly after 1 o’clock. The party, which was under the charge of Pilot S. Gilkison, left bn the return journey at 11 a.m. yesterday.

Unspoken Warnings One of the most effective forms of checking speeding motorists used in Christchurch (says the Times) seems to be the placing of a traffic inspector on a suburban footpath alongside one of the main roads leading to the city. It is interesting to observe the manner in which speed is reduced when the motorists sight the inspector. Cars, large and small, and heavy vehicles of all descriptions immediately slacken down, and few of the drivers care to increase their pace again before they reach the city. It is seldom that the inspectors on this duty have to take numbers; the mere sight of them is sufficient to place an effective check on the driver who dashes across intersections at high speed.

Don’t < Blame the Maize That the Australian pest, the Bathurst burr, has been introduced into the Dominion through the importation of maize from Australia is denied by the Commonwealth Department of Commerce. “Expert authorities in Australia associated with the Agricultural Departments of the various States emphasise that there is practically no possibility of . Bathurst burr being introduced into New Zealand in maize from Australia in view of the method of harvesting and threshing the grain ” (says a statement issued by the Department of Commerce). “The cobs which are covered with husks are gathered in the field and then taken to the barn, where the husks arc removed. If any burrs were adhering, which is extremely unlikely, they would be removed with the husks and could not be included with the grain. The Department of Commerce of the Commonwealth of Australia makes this information available to correct any misunderstanding of the position that may arise and any prejudice which may be caused the particular trade which has apparently been blamed for the introduction of Bathurst burr inco New Zealand.”

Synthetic Nitrogen How synthetic nitrogen can be used to economic advantage in bringing land into production was mentioned during an address on “ Electro-Chemical Industries ” given by Mr S. H. J. Wilson to members of the technological section of the Wellington Philosophical Society last week. He remarked that the production of superphosphates was an important industry in New Zealand. It was of importance to primary producers that phosphoric acid was now being made with electric nirnaces and concentrated fertilisers were being made. To bring land into production under ordinary circumstances might cost £lO an acre. The same production might be obtained with 1.34 of a ton of synthetic nitrogen at a capital cost of only £3. Countries able to benefit by this economy would certainly have an advantage in production costs.

Combating Club Root Remarkable success hag followed tht recommendations of Dr Freeman, of the Nelson branch of the Department of Agriculture* in connection with swede crops in the Murshkon district, where clubroot disease was prevalent last year. He recommended (says a Press Association telegram from Nelson) the Herning variety for one crop. This variety was grown on an area approaching 30 acres with good results, while alongside on the same farm other varieties of turnips failed owing to the clubroot disease. As this district is dependent largely on its root crops for winter feed, the success of this variety is of importance. Rapid Increase of Mallard

The rapidity with which mallard duck increase when unmolested was shown by a report received by the Wellington Acclimatisation Society from Mr H. G. Goodall, Bulls, who stated that two pair had multiplied to 50 in two years on a protected farm. The question of assisting the increase of mallard, which the chairman (Dr G. F. V. Anson) characterised as a fine sporting bird, by distributing pairs to farmers in sympathy with the society, which would prevent their being poached, was referred to the Game Committee.

Small Change Needed “If you are ever going to ' travel in Egypt, I advise you to take nothing but your personal belongings,” Mrs E, G. Hogg told members of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Federation of University women last week. Egypt seemed the most difficulty country in which to satisfy the Customs authorities, and all superfluous luggage cost the traveller dear. It was necessary also to have large supplies of small change, for the natives were very badly paid for all classes of work and depended largely upon the tips they received from tourists., Not one man. but three, would carry a suitcase, and they would all expect to receive tips. .

Draining of Lake Ellesmere Despite the opposition of a number of sportsmen, a large meeting of Leeston settlers on Friday evening approved of the plans for the constriction of a mole to ensure a permanent outlet for the drainage of Lake Ellesmere. The commissioner of Crown lands (Mr W. Stewart) and Professor Percival told the meeting (says a Press Association telegram from Christchurch) that the sporting activities on the lake would not be interfered with whatever, and said that the Acclimatisation Society was under « misapprehension.

Patient New Zealanders The opinion was expressed by the Rev. J. Alfred Kaye, of Tollington Park Church, London, who (says the Auckland Star), after a strenuous four days in Auckland, where he usually spoke three times a day, and later paid a flying visit to Whangarei before leaving for Rotorua and the south, that the people of the Dominion must be gifted with a good deal of patience. He had struck a cold time in Auckland, much colder than he expected, and he had been surprised to find that none of the places in which he spoke had been artificially heated.- On the Sunday evening at Beresford Street Church he had found the church very cold indeed, yet it was packed with worshippers, who sat patiently through a long service. If people had to go to church under similar conditions in the Old Land they would simply object and give as a reason that they got colds and other troubles through sitting in the cold building. He was not here to criticise, as he was a guest, but much more comfort could be obtained if the churches were heated in the winter time.

“ Guarding ” Oysters Some interesting information about the New Zealand products which were shown at the British Empire Pair at Hongkong last month is contained in the South China Morning Post. After recalling the partiality of the Prince of Wales for tohera soup, which was one of the exhibits, the newspaper says:—"The famous Stewart Island oysters will also be on show. Stewart Island is the largest oyster bed in the world and carefully guarded by inspectors to ensure the perfect health of the oysters. . . . The Oystrine soup powder is another famous product of New Zealand, and well known for its perfect flavour. The food value of one tin is equal to a sack of oysters.” Magistrate on Dress

“On the eve of her wedding the plaintiff came to the defendant and asked her for £2 5s to pay for her wedding dress,* remarked counsel in a case at the Hastings Magistrate’s Court. “You will have noticed,” said Mr A. M. Mowlem, S.M., “that there has been a wedding in my house recently, and I would like to know where on earth you can get a wedding dress for £2 55.” Counsel said that he was afraid that he had not had much experience in wedding dresses. His Worship: “Well, I have, and I know it costs more than £2 5s for one.”

Napier Will Not Repudiate . . “We have heard that it is proposed to repudiate the debts,” said Mr P. W. Peters, chairman of the Napier Retailers’ Association, speaking at the annual meeting of the association in reference to the reconstruction moneys advanced through the agency of the Rehabilitation Committee after the Hawke’s Bay earthquake. “To'that suggestion T'wish to give an emphatic denial. If we did repudiate the debts, it would not be to the Government, but to the people of the rest of New Zealand from whom the money came. They opened their homes, their hearts, and their sympathy to us in our hour of trial, and then found the best part of £500,000 for us. We cannot go back on our liabilities. We accepted them and intend to go through with them. As honourable men, we must stand to our deal, and, make or break, we must go through with it.” This view was supported by Mr F. Thorp, who stated that any thought of repudiation was far from the minds of the Napier business people. City Police Court There were no cases set down for hearing at the City Police Court on Saturday morning. Why the Austin Seven excels is because of its all-round superiority. See the 1933 Models 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. Sturmer, 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.-r-Advt.