Bequest to Charity

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22136, 14 December 1933, Page 8

Bequest to Charity

Under the will of Mr Thomas Seccombe, who died at Papatoetoe on November 4 at the age of 87, fIOOO is bequeathed (says a Press Association telegram from Auckland) to the Rev. Jasper Calder, of Auckland, Anglican city missioned, to be utilised by him for such charitable or mission purposes as he may deem fit. Mr Seccombe also directed that all his live stock,should be given to Mr Calder to be retained or sold for the benefit of the Auckland City Mission or needy persons. . Undesirable Films

Strong comment on films witnessed by school children was made to the principal of the Hamilton High School (Mr Wilson) at the break-up yesterday morning (says a Press Association telegram), The teaching profession was greatly concerned with the prevalence of films undesirable for children, said Mr Wilson. The objection was not so much to films inciting crime, which were comparatively rare, but to- films giving false values of life, which tended to undo much of the work of the schools in inculcating the general principles of conduct and behaviour. Burnside Stock Sales

A large proportion of cows and light bullocks was found in the yarding of 264 head of fat cattle which was offered at the Burnside sales yesterday. The offering included a smaller number than usual of prime heavy and good quality medium weight cattle. The sale opened with prices 10s per head lower for light and unfinished cattle, but there was no drop in values for prime heavies. Values improved slightly about halfway through the sale, and owing to the earlier passing prices improved to the extent of 10s per head. Extra prime heavy bullocks sold to £l2 7s 6d, prime medium to heavy £8 to £lO 10s, light £6 10s to £7. Good quality cows and heifers sold to £6, others from £3 to £4. The rates per 1001 b were:—Ox beef 20s to 235, heifers 18s 6d to 20s, cows 15s to 16s. The largest enfry for some considerable time was offered in the store cattle section. The sale commenced with a line of West Coast cattle. The steers in this consignment sold from £4 10s to £5 14s, and the heifers from £3 9s to £4 15s. Competition was keen throughout for all classes, with the exception of vealers, which, on account of an over-supply,- were sold at reduced values. There was a dull sale in the dairy section. The entry was of indifferent quality, and buyers only purchased sparingly. In a yarding of 1500 sheep ewes were in over-supply. Some very nice quality shorn wethers were offered, and this class sold throughout at full late rates. The market opened firm at last week’s average, but after two races had been sold the demand fell away for ewes of all descriptions, and values dropped 3s per head. Prime heavy shorn wethers sold to 29s 3d, medium 23s to 265, light 19s to 225; best young woolly ewes to 345, medium 25s to 28s, light 18s to 235; best shorn ewes to 23s 6d, medium 17s_to 20s, light 12s to 15s. In the lamb section 570 head of excellent quality were offered. In spite of competition from the local freezing works, the first few races were sold at slightly lower values than last week. Butchers, however, displayed more interest before the close, when full late rates were obtained. The average price per lb was barely up to' export schedule. Extra prime lambs sold to 235, prime 20s to 225, light and medium 17s to 19s. In the fat pig section more than 200 were penned, and a very slack sale resulted. Porkers predominated, and values in this class eased considerably. Vendors, however, accepted the reduced prices, and practically the whole entry was cleared. Store pigs met with , weak competition, and prices showed a reduction of fully 2s for all classes.

Snake in Banana Shipment Excitement reigned in a city fruit warehouse yesterday morning (says a Press Association telegram from Auckland) when a brown Fijian tree snake 20 inches long was discovered among a banana shipment which was being unpacked. One workman who wag more daring than the others picked it up with sticks and dropped it into a tin. Later one of the museum staff arrived and chloroformed the snake and took it to the museum.

Aerial Ambulance The Vacuum Oil Company, Ltd., has received advice that the Wellington Aero Club’s Waco biplane, which has been specially fitted as an aerial ambulance, was put into commission for the first time yesterday. The machine left the Hawera aerodrome at 10.47 a.m., carrying an elderly patient, Mrs Whillam, of Oamaru, together with a nurse, and the destination (Oamaru) was reached at 3.7 p.m., the time taken on the journey being 4hr 20min. Fire Police Appointed A total of 24 fire police, to assist in controlling the crowds which collect at large fires, have been sworn in by the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board. “ Fire police are hardly necessary after 11 p.m.,” said Superintendent W. L, Wilson. It was at fires which occurred in the early part of the evening that the greatest difficulty from large crowds was' experienced.

Community Singing The last of the series of community sings in aid of the Central Mission fund for providing for holidays for 200 children at Company’s Bay will be held in the Octagon Hall to-morrow, when all the favourite choruses will be conducted by the Rev. Leslie B. Neale and Mr W. R. Sinclair, with accompaniments by Mr A. Pettitt. In the way of special attractions Miss Tui Salt will present “ Danny Boy,” for the singing of which a listenerin at Roraahapa has remitted £1 in advance, and another listener-in has promised ss. Miss Alva Myers will sing solos, cornet.solos will be contributed by Mr C. Unwin, and Uncle Ben of 4ZO will be present with his accordeon. Funds are still urgently required, and listeners-in who have appreciated these “ sings ” are urged to show their practical sympathy.

Band Contest Entries A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that excellent entries have been received for the New Zealand champion band contest, which is to be held there from February 19 to 24. Compared with the 1932 contest, there will be 10 additional bands competing, seven of which will be A Grade bands. There will also be 321 soloists, compared with 255 in 1932 —an increase of 66. Livestock from Canada Four animals were brought from Canada by the Union Company's steamer Waikawa, which arrived at Dunedin yesterday from Pacific Coast ports, via Auckland, Wellington, and Lyttelton. The animals were shipped at Vancouver, and included two small buffaloes,, one Canadian Tamwprth boar and one Polled Hereford bull. The boar is from one of the Canadian Government experimental farms, and, after the usual period of quarantine at Auckland it will be taken to Mr S. Austin Carr’s farm at Hoe-o-tainui, Morrinsville. The two buffaloes are for the Tahongo Zoological Park, Sydney. They are confined in narrow boxes because of their wild nature. By contrast the bull is very docile.

World’s Shearing Record Percy de Malmanche broke the world’s machine shearing record at Pihama (says a Press Association telegram from New Plymouth), his total being 412 breeding Romney ewes for 10 hours’ work, The previous record, established several years ago, was 406. Killer Whales

Four killer whales, two of which appeared to be calves and two fully grown, were seen off Takapuna Beach shortly before mid-day yesterday., They swam the length of the Leach about 300 yards from the shore. Killer whales are apparently fairly plentiful in the Hauraki Gulf this season (says our special correspondent in Auckland), as several have been reported recently in the harbour waters. They are in the habit of swimming close to the shore in search of stingrays, but they did not appear to be pursuing any quarry when seen yesterday. City Fire Brigade When a small quantity of benzine caught fire at the Wunda Wurka Company’s premises in Filleul street yesterday afternoon, the City Fire Brigade was called out at 1.40. The flames were brought under control before any damage was done.

Royal Air Force Recruits Three New Zealanders are leaving for England on the Rotorua oh Friday (says a Press Association telegram) to take up positions in the Royal Air Force. John Darling Haling, a pupil of Christ’s College, is going to take up a cadetship at the R A.F. College, Cranwell, with the intention of gaining a permanent commission. The other two youths, Innes A. Shaw and Melville H. S. Innes-Jones, both of Hamilton, are leaving to take up aircraft apprenticeships in the Air Force. ’ • .■' . i Wool for United Kingdom

Several large overseas vessels will load wool from the Dunedin sale this month and early in January for the United Kingdom. Messrs H. L. Tapley and Co., Ltd., advise that the Port Denison, of the Commonwealth and Dominion Line, is due at Port Chalmers about December 30 from northern ports. She will load a large consignment of wool, and will sail finally from this port about January 4 for London. The steamer:, Benreoch, which is under charter to the Scales Company, of Wellington, has been fixed to load wool at Port Chalmers about December 31. This vessel will also make Otago her final port, and will sail about January 4 for Dunkirk and London. The Blue Star Line steamer Sultan Star Will load wool about the end of -December for London, and the Canadian Highlander, a unit of the Canadian National Steamships, will also be in port at the end of December. This vessel, after discharging cargo from Canada, will serve the December wool sale, and will sail finally from Dunedin about January 5 for New York, Boston, and Halifax. Diet and Teeth

With a view' to improving the teeth of the boys attending the Southwell School, Hamilton, a special diet was provided during this year, and highly satisfactory results were , obtained. An Auckland dentist examined the teeth of the boys at the beginning of the year, and divided the boys into classes. Fortysix per cent, of the boys had first-class teeth and gums at the beginning of the year, while an examination conducted this month showed*’that the percentage had increased to 80. Milk was supplied as' the principal beverage, and wholemeal bread was substituted for white bread. A larger ration of vegetables was supplied, and to those who needed it a concentrate of cod liver oil was given. Apart from the improved condition of the teeth, there was a distinct increase in the weights and the chest measurements of the boys, and an improvement in their general health. The experiment proved the value of plain, wholesome food, and regular meals, and the influence teeth have on the general health.

Sales Tax Payments Objection to the payment of sales tax on rowing goods imported from Australia was expressed by Mr L. Byers at the meeting of the Canterbury Rowing Association on Tiiesday evening. A club had imported oars and sculls to the value of £46, he said, and had been required to pay £2 19s lOd as sales tax. Following upon representations that had been made some years ago the duty had been remitted. but the remission of sales tax had never been considered. He expressed the opinion that sales tax should not be charged against rowing goods, as they were not for sale, and moved that the matter should be referred to the New Zealand Rowing Association with a view to having a request made to the proper authdrities for remission of sales tax on imported rowing goods, and tax already paid rebated. - Mr R. E. Nightingale seconded the motion, and it was carried.

Once in a Lifetime The members of a private lawn tennis club at Royal Oak, Auckland, will vouch for this “ strange-as-it-seems ” incident, which occurred on afternoon. While lobbing back a slow service, the striker was astounded to see the ball stop in mid-air and shoot out of court. Simultaneously a sparrow dropped to the ground and lay there without a flutter. An eager examination revealed that the bird’s neck was broken. As one of ■ the women members was heard to remark, it must have been the unluckiest sparrow in Christendom, for, having run the gauntlet of hawks, tomcats, and small boys with catapults, it finally suffered the death reserved for one sparrow in 10,000,000, being struck to earth with a tennis ball. It is almost the sort of thing, the Auckland Star remarks, that Ambrose Bierce might have built into a story.

Blue Star Line

The first unit of the Blue Star Line of New Zealand, Ltd., which will visit the , port of Otago, has reached Dominion | waters. She is the Sultan Star, which arrived at Napier on Tuesday in ballast from London. Messrs H. L. Tapley and Co., Ltd., who have been appointed’agent* and stevedores in Dunedin and Port Chalmers for the Blue Star Line, advise that the Sultan Star will arrive: at Port Chalmers on December 28 or 29. She will load butter, cheese, and refrigerated cargo, and will also serve the Dunedin wool sale on December 20. The Sultan Star will leave Port Chalmers about Janu* ary 4 for ■ Auckland, and will sail finally from that port for London. The vessel has excellent accommodation, and will carry a limited..number of passengers. A School Museum A somewhat unusual request has been received by the Canterbury Education Board in a letter - from the pupils of the Barker School, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America, asking for assistance in the establishment of a school museum. The request will probably be passed on to a district high school. The letter received stated that the pupil# of the Barker School were anxious to place in their museum exhibits from schools in all parts of the world. Suitable exhibits would be pictures, samples of manufactured products, costumes, or any other article depicting life in the country of origin.

All members of the Otago District, M.U.1.0.0.F., are invited to attend the opening ceremony of the Loyal Princess Elizabeth Louise Lodge at Balclutha on Saturday. .v ! When in doubt about your roof ring Donald Stuart, Ltd., and put off roofing worries for years.—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. Take Fishing Tackle on your holidays. Sale now on.—Barth Electrical Supplies, Ltd.,.36 George street, Dunedin.—Advt'. Save your eyes. Be wise, and consult W. V. Sturmer, optician (2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old age. — Advt.