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Otago Daily Times, Issue 22020, 1 August 1933, Page 6

Overseas Mails

The Niagara, which is due at Auckland on August 7 from Vancouver, is bringing ]O7 bags of English, Canadian, and American mails for Dunedin. The mail is expected to reach the local Post Office on the afternoon of August 9. Motor Car Recovered A Baby Austin car, which was stolen from High street on Friday _ night, was recovered in a damaged condition at Romahapa. The car is owned by Mrs Oliver, of Cargill street. Rush for Lottery Funds The fact that the Government is inundated with applications for lottery money was mentioned by the Minister of Interna] Affairs (Mr J. A. Young), when replying to a Mountain House deputation at Dawson's Falls during the week-end. The Minister indicated that the whole of New Zealand had gone wild in connection with such applications. He produced a portfolio and an index showing the hundreds of applications already in hand for participation in lottery profits, and said that others were coming to hand every week.

Public Health Return*

A case of scarlet fever was admitted to Dunedin Hospital and a case was discharged during.the week ended at noon yesterday. A case of erysipelas remains in the institution. Fourteen cases of scarlet fever remain in the Logan Park Hospital, five cases having been admitted and two discharged during the week.

The Value of the Individual A letter written by a woman resident in North Russia to her brother, who has been providing her with assistance, affords an illustration of the conditions under which large numbers : of people are existing in that country. "In our camp," she writes, "there still is snow. We have to sleep in sheepskins. The scanty food ie raw.' . . . We women have to

drag the timber out of the forest on our backs. . . . Many are ill with

spotted fever. . . . Hunger torments us greatly. ... We have already eaten up the old horses. . . . It is only through your help that I live. . Thousands have died of hunger. Typhoid rages here." Volcanic Activity

Commenting on the statement made by Dr H. T. Stearns, of the United States Geological Survey, concerning the possibilities of a renewal of volcanic activity in the thermal regions, Professor J. A. Bartrum, geologist at the Auckland University college, commented yesterday that it was impossible either to affirm or to deny that another eruption might occur at Tarawera. It should be pointed out that Dr Stearns did not say that he actually saw portents that another eruption was imminent. His remarks were far more general than that. Professor Bartrum said the value of a volcanic, observatory was unquestionable. To neglect the precautions which science now placed at our disposal was to be content to live in a fool's paradise. A Marine Curiosity

A message from Nelson states that a description of portion of a strange fish 14ft long found by Mr Ronald Vollmer at Ruby Bay, and possessing many of the characteristics of the so-called "sea serpent," has been forwarded to Mr L. T. Griffin, director of Auckland Museum, who expressed the opinion that it is Regalecus Pacificus, or the Great Oar. Fish, complete specimens of which are seldom found. Only 10 had been found in New Zealand up to 1891.

Building Activity in Auckland The Auckland City Council, for the month ended yesterday, granted permits for the building of 135 premises, the largest number in any one month since May, 1930. They are mostly for alterations and for houses, at a total estimated cost of £33,429. A Legacy

Under the will of the Rev. Frank Rule, of which the Public Trustee is appointed executor and trustee, a legacy of £IOO is bequeathed to the Presbyterian Social Service Association for the general purposes of the association. _ The bequest is subject to a prior life interest.

Vital Statistics

The following are the vital statisticsfor the month'of July compared with the figures for the corresponding month of last year, which are given in parentheses: —Births, 101 (79); marriages, 90 (100); deaths, 50 (43). f

Oldest School Rugby Fixture That the annual Rugby match between Christ's College and the Otago Boys' High School, which was first played in 1883, is the oldest school Rugby fixture in the British Empire was stated by the headmaster of Christ's College (Mr R. J. .Richards) at an entertainment held in the college gymnasium for the visiting players on Saturday evening. Mr Richards said that as far as he knew the oldest public school fixture in England was that between Marlborough and Clifton, whose first match was played in 1896. Thus the fixture between Christ's College and Otago (the fiftieth anniversary of which was celebrated yesterday) was the oldest in i the Empire.

A Life of Adventure A life full of incident has been lived by Mr Michael Gill, who celebrated his ninety-sixth birthday at the Awapuni Old People's Home on Thursday afternoon. Mr Gill was entertained at the institution by Mr- J. K. Hornblow, chairman of the Palmerston North Hospital' Board: Mr Gill was born in County Claire, Ireland, and joined the 57th Foot (the "Die-hards") as a drummer boy at the age of 17 years. He was present at the Crimean War, and still has vivid recollections of the privations suffered by the British troops before the fall of Sebastopol. He can also still recollect meeting Florence Nightingale and her assistants. At the conclusion of this campaign, Mr Gill served with his regiment at Adenij Malta, and saw active service against thfe' Arabs. Mr Gill served in India, and coming to New Zealand, joined up with the militia in this country. He fought in the Maori War, and was a member of'Major von Tempsky'a Forest Rangers when the leader of the rangers was killed. ,Mr Gill escaped through the bush and rejoined his old regiment. He was later transferred to Wellington as a drill instructor, and later was engaged in the search for Te Kuiti in the hills about Gisborne. Mr Gill settled in Wanganui and Clive (Hawke's Bay), after which he entered the Parke Island' Old People's Home. During the disastrous Mawke's Bay earthquake in 1931, Mr Gill was buried for two days in the ruins of the Home. During the disastrous Hawke's the Awapuni Home with a number of inmates of the Parke Island Home, and has since resided at Awapuni.

Main North Road

A proposal to shorten the road between Timaru and Christchurch by nearly 10 miles by sending vehicular traffic over the present railway bridge across the north branch of the Rangitata River, which the Railways Department intends to replace with a concrete structure, is contained in a report which is being/prepared by the district Public Works engineer (Mr F. Langbein), and which will be submitted to the Main Highways Board and probably considered at the board's next meeting in about three weeks' time. ' The use of the railway bridge for road traffic would abolish the deviation which the main road makes at present from Hinds upstream to Arundel and would save nine and a-half miles. The present road 'crosses the river at Arundel and then runs through Geraldine, meeting the railway line again at Winchester. At present the distance from Hinds to Winchester is 29| miles, but by the direct route across the railway bridge it would only be 20J miles. The Railways Department is already making preparations for building a new bridge over the north branch of the river and test piles are being driven. /

Governor-General Praised High praise of the community service work and duties performed by Lord and Lady Bledisloe was voiced by Mr A. J. Hutchinson when speaking at the ceremony in connection with the laying of the foundation stone of the home for the aged at the Jubilee Institute for the Blind in Auckland on Thursday afternoon. " The knowledge and understanding of our difficulties, and the ability with which his Excellency advises us upon so many and varied subjects are most remarkable," he said. " I venture to say that you could search the Empire from end to end, even the English-speaking world, and you would not find a more capable, thoughtful, generous, and broad-minded gentleman. His Excellency has studied the needs of this Dominion, he understands our difficulties, and he has given us his considered opinions, his best service and his best advice —and his best is of the Empire's best. If we, on our part, accept and follow that advice, prosperity will return.''

Woman Missing A Press Association telegram from Opotiki states that Mrs Attewell, wife of a service bus driver, walked out in her night attire and slippers on Sunday night and disappeared. Search parties are out, but up to, the present have failed to locate the missing woman. Life Insurance and Debts

The proceeds of a life insurance policy taken out with a company having its head office in Scotland and not carrying on business in New Zealand, are available for payment of a testator's debts even though the proceeds of the policies' of certain companies operating in New Zealand arc protected, according to a reasoned judgment delivered by Mr Justice Ostler iri the Supreme Court yesterday '(says a Wellington Press Association telegram). The case waß one in which an originating summons was taken out by the Public Trustee as administrator in the estate of George Douglas Lyan, deceased, of Murchison, a farmer, to determine whether the provisions of section 65 of the Life Insurance Act were applicable to a. ■ policy taken out ' with the Scottish Widows' Fund and Life Assurance Society so as to render moneys payable under it not available for payment of the testator'* debts. Launch Founders

The big launch Wharekawa foundered in Rangitoto Channel on Sunday night while being towed from Kawau Island. The Wharekawa set out towing a barge, but owing to engine trouble (says a Press Association telegram from Auckland) another launch was despatched to tow both the Wharekawa and the barge. The Wharekawa broke away, and when efforts were being 'made to recover it, it crashed against the barge and instantly sank. Fortunately its two occupants had previously clambered aboard the barge.

Wedding Postponed i The non-arrival of the father of the bridegroom in time to attend a wedding in Waimate on Friday has led to a feeling of fear for his safety. The wedding was arranged for Friday, but as in the morning the bridegroom's father, who was engaged in rabbiting in a lonely district of North Otago, was not in attendance as was expected, inquiries were made for the missing man. A search party went out and his horse was found, but otherwise there was no trace of him, and the fear that an accident had occurred- .led to the postponement of the wedding. Inquiries made on Saturday revealed no trace of the missing man.

The Origin of Sects " I am sure that there is not a religious cult, on earth that would not do well in Christchurch, and go strong for a week," declared Archbishop Julius, in his sermon at the Anglican Cathedral in Christchurch on Sunday night. "At the bottom of all these sects is some fundamental, living truth, in the grasping of which it has become disproportionately large, and other important truths have been thrust into the background. ■ All sects have arisen as the result of inquietude and discontent. Religious sects that were revivals of old religions were springing up again. Theosophy, for instance, was a relic of much older days."

Quail-shooting Season Writing in regard to the quail-shooting season, which closed yesterday,"our Cromwell correspondent says that fewer licenses were issued this year in that district than for several seasons, although it would he ridiculous to say that quail were taken only by license-holders. It was a good senson as a whole, and two local sportsmen, Messrs W. Veint and R. Varcoe, took their full license quotas during the past four week-ends. Some further interesting information is to hand regarding the chukkor. Two resident* of Bannockburn reported that a flock of eight of these birds was seen recently in Smith's Gully, which is just behind the settlement, the first occasion on which chukkor have beqgj seen in the district.

A Cheque for Threepence Considerable interest has been aroused by a framed cheque for threepence, which hangs on a wall in the office of the \< deputy-official assignee of New Plymouth (Mr J. S. Medley). On Thursday, while waiting for a bankrupt to put in an appearance, Mr Medley told the tale of one of the smallest cheques on record, (says the Taranaki Daily News). The'cheque was payable to Robert Wardrop or bearer, and was drawn on the Bank of New Zealand at New Plymouth. It was made out on March 8, 1905, and was signed by Mr Medley. the sum of threepence represented a dividend in the estate of Peter Gibson Clark, but the creditor never received the benefit of the paymeut. He resided at Whangarei, and it would have cost him sixpence to cash the cheque, involving a net loss of threepence, so he framed it instead. A coincidence occurred later. The man to whom the cheque was payable was himself a bank officer, and he was transferred tc- New Plymouth. There he met Mr Medley and presented the cheque to him, and it has hung on the wall of the office since then, aia ever present reminder of an anomaly which is no longer possible. Nowadays, Mr Medley explained, no dividends for less than sixpence may be paid, and those for less than four shillings are not paid by cheque, but through a Government De- \ partment. $. . v

Port Chalmers.—J. Watson's winter clearing sale; genera! drapery, clothing, boots and shoes, household furnishings, now proceeding.—Advt. Order your Austin Car direct from the Austin Factory, England. See the latest models at; Austin Motors (Otago), Ltd., Showrooms, 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. We still have a few 15 8 6d radiatort left. Don't be left.—Barth Electric Supplies, Ltd., 56 Princes street, Dunedin.'—Advt. Save your eyes. Be wise, and consult W. V. "Sturmer, optician (2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old age.— Advt.