Soldiers’ Membership

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22022, 3 August 1933, Page 8

Soldiers’ Membership

At the end of July the Christchurch Returned Soldiers' Association was found to have gained a lead of 95 for the month over the Dunedin association in the membership campaign, the figures being:— Christchurch 1206, Dunedin 1511. An Absurd Allegation Although extensive inquiries were marie yesterday, no evidence could be found to support the statement made by Mrs Reeves at. the meeting organised by the Anti-camp Council on Tuesday night that there were five families living in one room. When the statement was received with derisive laughter, Mrs Reeves embroidered it by saying that one corner of the room was sub-let—that while one family occupied each of three corners of the room the fourth corner was occupied by two families. She claimed that she had the authority of the Health Department for the statement, but this was denied yesterday by Dr T. R. Ritchie, medical officer of health, when his attention was directed to the matter. The City Corporation's chief sanitary inspector (Mr E. J. King) said that no such case had come under his notice, nor were the representatives of various social organisations, when questioned on the subject, able to recall any such instance of over-crowding. Municipal Concert Dunedin audiences have for long borne the reputation of being possessed of a discrimination in musical values which places them upon a high level, and there is no doubt that, when given the opportunity, they are quick to appreciate good music. Such an opportunity will be theirs on Sunday next, when a specially attractive concert will be held in the Town Hall, commencing at 8.15 p.m. The programme has been arranged by Dr V. E. Galway, city organist, who has enlisted the support of the Royal Dunedin Male Choir, Miss Gaynor Paape, Mr Alfred Walmsley, and Mr J. E. R. Benton in 12 items of exceptional interest. The Maligned Kea Many farmers will no doubt, disagree with an opinion expi-essed recently by an experienced aviculturist concerning the habits of the kea. Is it a menace to sheep, or is it being blamed for another bird's sins? At the New Zealand Federation of Cage Bird Clubs' show (says the Auckland Star) a kea attracted considerable attention from the many people who had not seen one. Its drab brownyellow colour, curved beak and stumpy tail give it a sinister look. It. has an ugly habit of continually jerking its body up and clown, its feet not leaving the perch, after the manner of the " knccbend " exercise. Mr S. D. Potter, late ranger for the Acclimatisation Society, who was judging at the show, declared that the kea was not so bad as- it was painted. Very few people had actually seen a kea attacking a sheep or lamb. Mr Potter said that as the bird's natural food was nectar it seemed improbable that it should turn carnivorous and attack animals. The kea now eats roots, if it cannot get sufficient nectar. The one in the show refused to eat meat of any kind. However, its looks were against it, and one felt that the bird was capable of anything. Mr R. A. Falla, ornithologist of the Auckland Institute and Museum, said that, while the kea was frequently blamed for many depredations it had not committed, it had been definitely proved that the kea did on occasion attack lambs. Its isolated lapses did not justify the very bad reputation that it had acquired among farmers.

Suburban Fare#

At the meeting of the Moßgiel Borough Council last night, the matter of railway fares between Dunedin and Mosgiel was discussed. It was stated that the fares on this section of the railways were much in excess of those on the Auckland section, and it was decided to use every effort to secure a reduction, particularly in the case of the workers’ weekly tickets. Burnside Stock Sale Consignments from Central Otago and Southland, with a fair entry from local fatteners, went to form a larger yarding of 207 fat cattle for yesterday’s market at Burnside. The entry included a good proportion of cows and heifers, with a wide selection of bullocks of generally better quality than usual. The sale fluctuated in places, but. values on the average were steady at last week’s rates. Medium weights had the benefit of any extra competition. Extra prime heavy bullocks made to £l3 7s 6d; prime heavy from £lO to £l2 10s; medium, from £8 to £9 10s; lighter sorts, from £6 5s to £7 10s; best heifers and cow’s sold to £8 12s (id; others, from'£3 10s to £6. In the tat sheep section, the quality of both ewes and wethers was lower than last week’s standard. Of the 2000 penned, approximately 300 were wethers, and these included only an odd pen of prime heavy sheep. Owing to the shortage of wethers and prime ewes, there was a keen demand and a consequent rise of Is to Is 6d per head for both these classes. This was steadily maintained throughout the sale, but medium and aged ewes, which sold well at the commencement, later on showed a depreciation in values of Is per” head on last week’s rates. Graziers kept prices steady for lighter sorts. Extra prime heavy wethers sold to 275; prime medium weights, from 18s to 225; light, from Iss to 17s; best ewes made to 235; prime heavy ewes, from 11s to 18s; medium, 9s to 13s; light, 4s to Be. Tho few pens of lambs offered showed a further rise in values on recent. rates, the top price being 19s fid. The store cattle section again attracted only a small entry, there being very few quotable lines forward. A line of well bred one and a-half year old steers in a backward condition realised £2 4s. Vealers, which comprised about half of the yarding, met with good competition, up to £3 12s being obtained for a good consignment from Central Otago. The usual assortment of cull cows was forward in short number, and slightly higher prices ruled on account of the short supply. The yarding of dairy cows was a large one of poor quality, there being very few good animals forward. A dragging sale was experienced throughout, old cows being practically unsaleable, while young spring calvers were wanted only at reduced rates. The yarding of fat pigs numbered 120, but with the exception of a very small percentage of good baconers, the entry was only of medium quality. On account of the over supply, porkers met with poor competition and sold at a reduction of fully 5s per head. A short entry of 64 store pigs was keenly competed for, and prices showed, a marked increase. Attracting Tourists' The view that New Zealand and Australia should co-operate in advertising jointly their tourist attractions abroad was expressed by Mr Arthur H. O’Connor, representative in the United States and Canada of the Australian National Travel Association, who passed through Auckland on Saturday by the Monterey from Sydney to San Francisco. “Everything I have seen in Australia confirms my view that in the matter of tourist promotion New Zealand and Australia should work together,” he said. “ Every point of interest in New Zealand is bound to interest the American tourist who proposes to visit the Commonwealth; in fact, the tourist who wishes to go to Australia naturally expects to see something of the Pacific Islands and New Zealand as well, thus doing the round trip. Tho attractions of New Zealand and Australia are entirely different, and there need be no fear of rivalry. On the other hand, everything is to be gained by jointly advertising the two countries.” An Unusual Fish An unusual fish was hauled aboard Mr W. T. Chant’s fishing launch at the Port Underwood Heads the other afternoon. The crew were engaged in getting in one of the set-nets when it was noticed that an eel-like fish had coiled itself up in the slack of a rope attached to one of the buoys. It was carefully drawn aboard and placed in a benzine tin of water, and wag later brought up to Blenheim for identification, but unfortunately it died shortly after arrival. The fish (says the Marlborough Express) was 21Jin long and slightly under an inch in diameter. It bad no side fins, and in place of the usual gills had 14 small holes—seven on each side of the head. The mouth was nothing more than a large suction cap, equipped with many minute teeth. The fishermen stated that they had never seen anything like it during 30 years on the sea, but recourse to Webster’s dictionary revealed the capture to be a lamprey or “rock sucker.” Though several lampreys have been caught in Marlborough rivers, it seems to be the first time that one has been taken at sea. The fish come up the rivers to spawn. A Woman’s Challenge Intending to find an Australian woman to compete with her, Mrs Kitty O Sullivan, the 52-year-old road walker,- will leave Wellington for Australia by the Wanganella to-day. She intends to challenge any women to meet her in a 40-mile race. Mrs O’Sullivan (says the Press Association telegram) recently walked from Spirits’ Bay to Bluff, averaging 30 miles a day. She did not take up walking seriously until she ■was 50 years of age, and she then took it up for the benefit of her health. “In 14 months I have reduced five stone,” she said, and am now feeling very fit.” A Sacred Maori Stone j

A valuable “mauri ihifi,” or sacred Maori stone, has been presented to the New' Plymouth Museum by Mr William Stanley, of Hillsborough. The stone wag taken from the Mangaoraka River, at the back of Mr Stanley’s farm, near where the Union road crosses the sstream. Doubtless it ivas placed there by an oldtime Maori tohunga to propitiate or attract the protecting “ atuas ’ (gods) ot the river fishes. This “mauri” is made from trachyte, a soft river boulder. Like others of its class it is circ.ilar in shape, pierced by a circular hole from top to bottom. Its dimensions are: Diameter over all, 18in and 20in; diameter of hole, (jin; thickness of stone,_ Bin.

Display of Antiques at North Taieri During yesterday afternoon and evening the attendance kept up well at the North Taieri Church, where the display of antiques is being held. The 400 odd articles claimed much attention. Ine short concert programme in the evening arranged by the Rev. M. Sansom, wag very entertaining, and Mr J. R. Prentice gave the audience an address on eaily settlement on, the Taieri. The function will be open again this afternoon, and will close in the evening.

A Striking Inscription “ Calamity is man’s true touchstone forms the striking inscription, carried out ou a bronze plate, which has been inserted, facing south, midway between the steps and the surmounting marble slab of the sundial which has been erected on the grass lawn of the Napier Marine Parade. Beneath this plate there is another, bearing the inscription, The gift of J. R. Kirk, Esq., M.8.E., 1933, while the two inscriptions round the top portion of the sundial are, pleasantly, “ Serene I stand amid the flow r ers to tell the passing of the hours,” and ‘ bmiles equal sunshine in helping folks along. Some plastering has yet to be carried out round the base of the sundial, and eight bronze arrows, giving the direction and distances to capital cities of the Empire, are to be inserted in the lower circular step.

Mosgiel Borough Council At last night’s meeting of the Mosgiel Borough Council, the Mayor (Mr A. F. Quelch) accepted from the ex-Mayor (Mr M'Lean) and members of the old council an enlarged framed photograph of the late council. In doing so he emphasised the value of such photographs being preserved. Those of the earliest councils that adorned the Council Chamber walls were now of particular interest. It was resolved to send a letter* of thanks to Mr M'Lean for the gift.

Child’s Fortunate Escape As a St. Clair-bound tram was passing the intersection of Forbury and Macandrew roads shortly after 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon one of a party of children ran across the track and was knocked down. The motorman lost no time in bringing the car to a standstill, and it was found that the child, a girl about five years of age, had been picked up by the automatic lifeguard in front of the car. She was taken to Dr Murray’s surgery, and was later removed to the Hospital for observation. The Hospital authorities reported last night that her injuries consist of bruises and abrasions about the head.

Theft of Firewood

The Mosgiel police arrested three men at North Taieri yesterday on charges of stealing firewood. They were brought before Mr A. F. Quelch, J.P., and remanded to Dunedin, where they will come before the court this morning.

City Police Court There were no cases set down for hearing at the City Police Court yesterday.

See the consummation of 27 years' progress of the Austin Car 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. We etill have a few 15a 6d,radiators left. Don’t be left.—Barth Electric Supplies, Ltd., 56 Princes street, Dunedin. —Advt.

Save your eyes. Be wise, and consult W. V. Stunner, optician (2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old age.— Advt.