A Startling Experience

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22099, 1 November 1933, Page 6

A Startling Experience

A sensation was caused at the Mosgiel RailwaV Station yesterday morning when a young woman about 20 years of age, a resident, of Mosgiel, was observed standing on the. buffer between two sheep trucks on a goods train moving southwards out of the station. It appears that the girl leaves Mosgiel daily to come to work in Dunedin by the five, minutes past seven train, and that it has been a practice by some Mosgiel residents to take a "short cut" to catch this train, and go across the train yards. This the girl did yesterday morning, but her way was blocked by a southward bound goods train which was standing between her add the train to Dunedin. The girl then mounted the buffers between two wagons to cross over, when the train started and she was apparently unable to alight. She was noticed in her parlous position by passengers on the train for Dunedin, and the railway officials were at once informed. By this time, however, the train had run past the signal box, and it could not, therefore, be stopped by the official there. The Allanton Station —four miles and a-half from the Mosgiel Station—was then communicated with, and the train stopped there. Immediately it came to a standstill the girl—who had fortunately decided not to try to jump off as the train sped on—scrambled down from der dangerous position, and made straight back to Mosgiel. The distance, as stated, between the two stations, is".four miles and a-half, but the girl was so little upset by her dangerous trip that she covered the mileage in sufficiently quick time to enable her to catch the quarter past eight train from Mosgiel to Dunedin. The girl must be considered very lucky. In the meantime the officials of the Railways Department are desirous of interviewing her. Health Stamp Campaign With the object of assisting in the establishment and maintenance of children's health camps, the health stamp campaign will be continued this year, and for the occasion a special twopenny stamp (Id for postage and Id for health) will be issued. Supplies of stamps will be available at all post offices shortly, and will remain on sale until February 28 next, the allocation of the net proceeds of their sale to be determined by Cabinet on the recommendation of the Minister of Health (Mr J. A. Young). There are already in existence health-camp organisations with their own land and buildings, and these are subsidised according to the district's contribution to the . fund. The establishment and control of the camps and the selection of children for admission, are subject to the approval of the Director-general of Health.

Supreme Court A date will be fixed later for the hearing in the Supreme Court of an application by Mr A. C. Hanlon, K.C., for a new trial in the case in which C. A. E. Johnson was awarded judgment against J. 13. Gillies for £1407 10s damages arising out of a motor collision in Princes street. The application was to have been made yesterday, but counsel engaged in the case found they required further time to consider the position.

** Brightest Spot in Empire ” “Kalgoorlie, in Western Australia, is perhaps the brightest spot in the British Empire to-day,” said Mr G. Bruce-Smith, general manager for Australia and New Zealand of the Australian Provincial Assurance Association, Ltd., in an interview with an Evening Post representative on his. arrival by the Maunganui from Sydney. Mr Bruce-Smith said that when he was in Kalgoorlie four years ago half the hotels were closed and half the houses were empty. To-day the hotel bars were thronged with people, and it was practically impossible to obtain a house in the city. The reason for this air of prosperity was the gold mining activity. This meant a great deal to Western Australia, because the people were practically dependent upon wheat, and farming at the present time was in a very parlous state. There was a considerable quantity of gold left in the district, and the high price of the metal enabled prospectors to work the low-grade ore. Before the price of gold increased this ore was not worth working. The Brown Owl

At the meeting of the Otago Acclimatisation Society on Monday night, Mr 0. Howes had a few words to say in favour of the much maligned German, or brown, owl. He had examined a number of these birds, he said, and the contents of their stomachs did not disclose that they were destructive with respect to young birds. Instead, it would appear that they fed largely on mice, beetles, snails, and worms. No doubt they were responsible in a, few instances for the dfeath of small birds, and evidence pointed to introduced birds falling a prey to the owl more than native birds, for the reason, no doubt, that the native birds have been accustomed, over a long period, to protect themselves against another enemy, the morepork. The introduced birds did not possess that instinct, though it would evolve in time. Mr Howes added that some of the birds sent to him had evidently been shot in the evening, before they commenced to feed, and it would be preferable in order to determine their feeding habits to examine birds shot about daylight or in the moonlight. The brown owl, Mr Howes said, is undoubtedly the farmers’ friend, ridding the grounds of many pests.

Mortgagors’ Liabilities The Mortgagors’ Liabilities Adjustment Commission is at present holding a short sitting in Dunedin. Vital Statisticii

The number of births recorded by the registrar at Dunedin for the month of October totalled 115, as against 111 for the same month of last year. The deaths numbered 81 (67 last year) and the marriages 61 (55),

Fire in Bakehouse The City Fire Brigade was called out about / 4 o’clock yesterday morning t<> a bakehouse at 35 Frederick street, where fire had broken out. Slight damage was done to one wall and the. ceiling, but the cause of 5 the outbreak could not be ascertained. The occupier of the building is Mr Sandom. Sympathy with Fruitgrowers --

The Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association at its meeting last night expressed sympathy with the fruitgrowers in Central Otago who recently suffered severe loss in their fruit' farms through frost. The president (Mr James Hogg) said these primary producers had been .hard hit. The association recognised the value to the port of the export trade of the fruitgrowing industry, and it was proper that they should show their sympathy, not only in words but in a practical way, with the growers in their heavy losses. The motion was carried unanimously,

Man Attacked by Bees Whilst attending to his work as caretaker of the water race at Springfield, A. Jones was savagely attacked by bees yesterday morning. He was badly stung about the head, and finding no way of escape, jumped into the water race. He was swept off his feet, and with difficulty reached the bank. He was taken home in an exhausted condition. .

Sir Alfred Bankart’s Will

A message from Auckland states that the will of Sir Alfred Bankart, lodged for probate, is sworh at under £75,000. Provision ig made for setting aside £SOOO for charities on ti e death of Lady Bankart.

Angling in Otago A Roxburgh correspondent states that the Bdst 'results of local fishing for the past week pjere obtained by .Mr Is’. Raper, who secured six rainbow weighing from 141 b to 21b for one night’s fishing. Father SaXton secured three fish, the heaviest of which was 41b, whilst several other fishermen have had baskets of from one to three up to 2ilb.'- Very few have been caught under 11b in weight. , Mr Raper’s fish vere taken with the creeper, but all the rest were caught on the fiy. A large fish was caught and when, opened up was found to contain two young ducks, A resident of Cromwell reports that there have been a few good fish taken at Cromwell and Lowburn.- A correspondent at Puerua states that the Puerua has given some nice baskets so far this season, one angler frequently getting the limit. Manufacturers’ Association

A special meeting of members of the Dunedin Marufacturers’ Association was held last night in the University Club rooms to discuss arrangements for the forthcoming conference of manufacturers to be held in Wellington on November 14, 15, and 1(5.’ The chair was occupied by Mr Jamea Hogg, president. Before entering on the main business, the chairman made a few remarks on the Aus-tralia-New Zealand treaty. There were, he said, very few items affecting manufacturers which had been altered. In some cases advances had Been made which would be to the advantage of manufacturers. It was clear, he thought, that the Government wag alive to the need of protecting industry against competition close to our door, which competition had not always teen on an equitable basis. The chairman’s remarks met with the approval :of the meeting. Messrs’ G; W. Reid, J. G. Jeffery, W. Eindley, and the chairman then took, up matters which tire to come before the conference, and other' members expressed their views. This portion of the business was taken in committee. It wag intimated that extensive preparations are in hand to make the conference in Wellington as large as possible in order to demonstrate to members of Parliament and to the public the combined strength of manufacturing interests and their claims to fair and reasonable consideration as a vital factor in the economic life of the Dominion. “ House-squatting ” Alleged

An unusual case was heard In the Hamilton Court last week, when application was made by a firm of, house agents against a woman for possession of a house occupied by the defendant and her husband at Claudelands. It wag alleged that the defendant had obtained use of the house by a trick. Ostensibly with the object of inspecting the place, the husband had secured the key from the agents, and had taken possession, refusing to leave when asked. Finally it was arranged that the “ squatters ” could stay on at a weekly rental of £l. They had fallen into arrears with the rent, and action was taken against the wife, as it was understood her husband was anundischarged bankrupt. The defendant did not appear, but the husband represented her and challenged the authority of the agents to represent the owner in an action for possession, but Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., decided against him.. .... Tho magistrate made an order for possession, giving judgment against the defendant for £4 rent, with costs.

Scrap Metal for Japan The fifth vessel to convey scrap metal this year from New Zealand to Japan, the Nankwa Maru, is at present loading at Wanganui. She will complete loading at Napier, Port Chalmers, and Wellington, taking about 5500 tons, and leaving for Japan towards the end of November. A sixth shipment has also been arranged. The Japanese steamer Meiko Maru left Manila on October 6 for Bunbury, where she will load jarrah for Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Dunedin. She will then load about . 5500 tons of scrap metal, probably at Dunedin, Lyttelton, Wellington, and Auckland. Previous shipments this year have been made by the Shinnob Maru, Ryoka Maru, Helmspey, and Asama Maru; the total quantity lifted so far being about 27.500 tons. The two further shipments will bring this, total to about 38,500 tous. Although the price of the metal has not been levealed, it is understood to be in the vicinity of £1 5s a ton in New' Zealand currency. Port charges, loading, and incidental expenses are probably about 6s 6d a ton, a total of £12,300. In addition io purchasing scrap metal. Japan has recently bought a large number of old ships in New Zealand and other parts of the Empire, presumbly for the purpose of breaking them up and converting the metal to more profitable uses.

Faster Cargo Boats Larger and faster cargo boats were forecast by Mr A. C. Hardy in a paper read at the Shipping, Engineering, and Machinery Exhibition. “ The pre-slump idea was that, if a cargo vessel of tramp type could make approximately 10 knots on a high coal consumption she was a . perfectly efficient trading weapon,” .he said. “This is no longer true. The tramp of the future may well be a fairly high-speed motor vessel, built and, planned, internationally with a speed of 12 knots or over, and of a size and type which in pre-slump days would have been dignified. by the name of a cargo liner.” There ; was a distinct tendency to regard with :■- less sentiment than before the masses of old ships which continued to litter ’the world’s harbours.' Economy ships had brought about their obsolescence because of the low fuel consumption of an infinitely greater speed than was possible a few years ago. They would result in the world’s goods being carried in a smaller number of faster vessels of high efficiency. The number of ships per given route must, inevitably diminish. World shipbuilding would decrease in quantity while increa»> ing in quality.

Explosion of Gas Oven An unusual accident occurred at St. Kilds yesterday morning when a gas oven exploded owing to a leakage of gas, and completely wrecked the stove, with the result that Mrs Margaret Thomas, who resides at 38 Moreau street, was taken to the Hospital suffering from * fracture of the left leg and shock. From in- , quiries made it has been ascertained that a fowl was being cooked in the oven which evidently became filled with gas from a leaking tap. Without any warning the gas which had escaped exploded with a detonation that shook the adjoining houses, portions of the stove being thrown about the kitchenette in which it was installed. Golf Course Record Showing form similar to that which has won her such distinction in New Zealand and Australian golf, Miss Oliver Kay, playing in a flag match on the St. Clair Clubs links yesterday, added further to her laurels by breaking her own course record of 70 by handing in a card of 69. Having completed the 18 holes in record ' figures. Miss Kay carried the flag well up the nineteenth fairway with her last stroke. Her card read:—Out: 5; 3,6, 6, 4,3, 4,4, 3—38. In: 4,3, 5,3, 4. 3, 3,3, 3—31. An Illogical Objection After- spending a week-end on a farm in the country, a resident of the city returned to Dunedin on Monday wondering whether the objections put forward by the farming community against, the extension of the period of daylight saving are based on altogether sound logic. During his visit he became involved with the head of the house in several heated debates on the subject of daylight saving, but no argument he could advance carried the slightest weight with his host, whose principal contention was that the extra hour compelled the folk in the country to rise too early. Desiring to get hack to town about mid-day, he looked at the homestead clock to find that he could just manage it comfortably if he left immediately, and he mentioned this to his friend. "Oh,” was the airy reply, “ there’s no need to hurry; we always keep that clock an hour fast —it’s fine for getting up in the morning.” Fast Trip from Bluff A fast trip from Bluff to Dunedin was made yesterday -by the Union Company’s cargo steamer Waimarino. The vessel cleared jkluff at midnight on Monday, and made the run from wharf to wharf, a distance of 150 miles, in 10J hours. The Waimarino, which is one of the Union Company’s modern type of cargo carriers, is noted lor her good turn of speed, and she hag frequently,made fast runs between ports while engaged in the Dunedin-East Coast-Auckland service. On the trip from Bluff yesterday she logged more than 14 knots, which was excellent when it is taken into consideration that the Waimarino has not been dry-docked for nearly two years. On the trip from Bluff she steamed ‘against the tide for eight hours and had to contend with a heavy beam sea from Dog Island to The Brothers’ Point. Following out all navigation rules, the Waimarino was slowed down when she passed the dredge Otakou at the Heads, and again when abreast of the wharves at Port Chalmers, and also when passing the tug Dunedin off Ravenshourne, These delays may seem of little consequence to the layman,'but minutes were deducted from the Waimarino’s time for the trip. / The Waimarino is a day late in her schedule running tbig trip, due to being delayed. by bad weather coming south, but it is the first occasion on which she has been late for two years. The Waipiata also has a reputation for making fast trips between ports, and it will thus be seen that an excellent service is maintained by the Union Company between Auckland, east coast ports, Dunedin, and Bluff. Duties of Drivers Observations on the duties of drivers of, motor cars and riders of bicycles were made by Mr -, Justice Blair at the Supreme Court in Wellington during the hearing of "a claim arising out of a collision between a motor car and a bicycle. His Honor said that it was the duty of those V in charge of vehicles to take reasonable care, and observe the by-laws when using the roads. There were times when drivers were entitled to be on the wrong side of the road, but' normally they should drive as near as possible to the proper side of the road. The white line on many corners was not put there for the purpose of assisting the inside driver to keep out to the centre line, but to keep the outside driver from cutting in. An important , question involved in the case was whether a cyclist was negligent ifhe came round a cornet seven feet from the kerb. His Honor said that supposing the corner * was marked with a white line the cyclist •was not entitled to ride as close to that line as he wished. His duty was-to take t the corner so as to use up as little of the road as possible. i Scope for Publicity That a little publicity in Japan might be very beneficial to the New Zealand tourist traffic was a statement made by ■ Mr C. Okamoto, a representative of a Japanese rubber manufacturing firm, in an interview with a representative of the Christchurch Press on Monday. He said that Japan had' a fairly- large travelling population, but although a great number visited Australia they seldom extended their travels to New Zealand. There was practically no New Zealand publicity in his country, and he found great difficulty in procuring a New Zealand guide boob i from the tourist bureaux. Wild Pig* Attack Lambs It is stated that wild pigs are creating havoc among this season’s lambs in the ' country at the back of Clinton. In the course of conversation with a' Daily Times reporter yesterday, Or A. T. Harris, a member of the Clutha County Council, stated that it was estimated that on some runs eight and nine lambs a night were being killed by wild boars. On one run 50 lambs had been killed, while in a corner of another practically every lamb born had been taken. Some idea of the size of the killers may be gaihed from the fact that one which was shot recently was 7ft in length from snout to tail, and another a foot shorter. The blood-stained tusks of one of these measured fully four inches in length. When it is stated that recently 19 boars and 10 sows had been shot in thia area some idea may be gained of the menace which the wild pigs represented to far■'mers: Poison is said to be of little, avail as a means of destruction, and the runholders are forced to rely on their rifles, some of them remaining on the hills all niaht in order to get a shot at the marauders in the early dawn. One particularly savage boar when attacked - charged a mounted man, but his rush down ‘ hill caused the horse to swerve and the boar passed right across the front of the saddle, to be quickly despatched with a ' well-aimed bullet. City Police Court There was no business to come before the City Police Court yesterday morning.

Particulars of a special day excursion from Dunedin to Invercargill on Sunday is advertised in this issue. Williamsons are the ring-making experts You will find a nice selection, and quality is guaranteed. Their charges are always fair—3l Princes street—Advt. A E J. 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. W. 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.