City Police Court

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22285, 11 June 1934, Page 6

City Police Court

There was no business to occupy the attention of the City Police Court on Saturday morning.

A Chimney Fire < . The City Fire Brigade turned out at 8.37 pan. yesterday to a house in Arawa street, and extinguished a chimney fire before any damage was done.

Newspaper’s Birthday The Timaru Herald will to-day attain its seventieth birthday (says a Press Association telegram), and in commemoration of the occasion a special 40-page number will be issued. The paper has grown up with the town, and the history of the Herald is synonymous with the history of the district. Praise for the Dominion

“I have been five times round the world and three times to New Zealand before, and I think that New Zealand is the country which appeals to me most, said Mr S. H. Bush, a London business man who arrived at Wellington last week by the Huddart, Parker liner Wanganella. «it jg a country which should appeal to all travellers, although it is a long distance from Home. Anyway, with tue coming of the aeroplane that is a vantage which is rapidly being lessened.

Excursion to Invercargill The continued popularity of the Sunday excursions to Invercargill was exemplified by the fact that over 300 people travelled by the two trains which left Dunedin yesterday morning. The day was beautifully fine and the excursionists spent the day visiting friends in the southern city under very pleasant conditions. The excursion was run to perfect schedule, and everything for the comfort and convenience of the passengers was done by the Railways Department's officials who supervised the trip.

Fifty Minor Injuries Over 50 people required attention by the first aid field division of the Hawera Red Cross Society at the hockey tournament at Hawera on Monday last. I m most serious injury (states the Taranaki News) wag received by a spectator, Bourke, Inaha, who was struck on the face by a ball. After receiving attention at the Red Cross tent she was taken to hospital, as it was thought that her jaw was broken. She was later able to return to her home. A knee injury received by Miss Seegar, Whangamomona, required medical attention. -v. Scown, Eltham, was struck on the nose by a ball and received the attention ol a doctor. A severely gashed foot was received by a small boy when he was wading in the lake at the park. The other injuries were minor cuts, bruises, and sprains.

Maori Speakers’ Humour The Maori speakers at a recent dinner at Wairoa to Messrs Swift’s representative (says the Auckland Star) were in a very humorous vein. One of them, Mr Hata Tipoki, who is managing a Native trust sheep farm, said: “ I believe eels bring 2s 6d a pound in the Old Country. Why not stop raising sheep, and go in for producing the tuna? ” Rounds of laughter greeted the sally. Another Native, a well-known humorist, Mr Rata Te Rito, remarked: “My people in tbs early days did not worry about producing sheep or cattle, or having freezing worse. What they did like was a good fat pakcb.i like that, one over there,” pointing to a local resident of considerable proportions. The pakeha surprise was voiced by Mr, J. 0. Hansen, who said it was remarkable to him to observe the fellow-feeling that existed in New Zealand between the pakeha (European) and the Maori. In America they had their Indians, but these were rarely found at a social gathering, and it was unique to see the Natives so well represented and so welcome as they had been. He was sure this was for the betterment of the whole Dominion, and the reception they received was quite justified'.

Value of Homework > Defending the ,system of home lesson# •within reasonable limits (says the Auckland Star), the headmaster of the Northcote District High School, .Mr W. J. Wernham, explained to members of the committee the value of it. Homework was not given for the purpose of results, but to develop assets of character that were to be of benefit to.the pupil.•. The object of homework was to inculcate in the child a spirit of industry, earnestness and initiative. When a pupil got interested in his work, it became a' labour of love, and he was anxious to do a bit more. Some children suffered more by being out at. night than by the imposition of home study. If the school, was to be a preparation for life, the one thing the pupil had to learn to do was to work. Advice to Boys Sound advice to boys to take advantage of every opportunity and not to lead a life of indecision was given by the Eev. T. Fielded Taylor when speaking at the annual reunion of the Stop. Out Club in Wellington last week. If they were content to sit back and not strive to batter themselves, lie said, they would fall out of the ranks of the self-supporters into the ranks of the kept, and this would hurt their pride. There was no such thing as luck. He got “ fed up” with the number of men of 50 who were in the ranks of the kept. “I am master, of my own destiny, and if I am not, then I might as well have been a cow, for then, at least, I would have been able to give a. quart of milk a day,” said Mr Taylor.

Weitaki Bridge Repairs The secretary of the Otago Motor Club (Mr W. Sutton) advises that the Waitaki River, bridge, which i 8 at present being repaired, will be closed continuously between 12.30 and 3 p.m. to-day and tomorrow, being opened -at half-hourly intervals between 9 . a.m. and noon. .Mr Sutton made a tour of southern districts yesterday, and states that although almost general snow was experienced on Saturday the roads have not bean materially affected. The Motor Club has been advised by Mr T. M. Ball, district engineer of the Public Works Department, that as soon, as the weather, conditions are suitable the work will be put ip.-haud of painting a complete white line in the centre of the road over Mount . Cargill, from the Brown House to, the, water trough. ■ .) ' ■ Maori Farmer*

Nearly 1000 cows are being milked ,by the Maori farmers on the Native settlement lands at Mohaka, and satisfactory progress is being reported, according to the Napier Telegraph. There, are about 25 Maori settlers there at present. With butter-fat at its present price, it- >s doubtful whether further cows will he added to the herds, and probably other means, of using the. land not yet taken up by dairy herds will be .found. The dairy carryings, coupled with, the amount of phosphate dressing carried out oh this country, have had a marked effect, already in consolidating and building up the fertility of the light pumice country in this area; but in future seasons, with the fertility of the area further, advanced," the claims of lamb fattening off top-dressed pastures will certainly merit -consideration.

Honesty in Construction Honest work in building construction is of more importance than by-law regulation, suggested Cr W. H. Bennett, himself a builder of many years’ experience, during a discussion when a deputation waited upon the By-laws Committee of: the Wellington City Council, last week in connection with the stringent new requirements as to brickwork. “ it matter much if a wall is 11, 15, or 22 inches thick? ”he said. “I s it not a question of workmanship rather than of by-laws? Was it not found that the damage at Napier was largely due to faulty workmanship, rather than to, material ? ’ > T Chat was .undoubtedly so,, said Mr J., R. Todd, superintendent o.f,:.the Amalgamated Brick and Pine Company. In many cases the mortar in buildings which : failed wa* found to have no adhesive strength whatever. Lime and sand only were used, and it could be crumbled into dust; one might as well. have used clay as a tie. In answer to a remark from Cr P. Fraser, M.P., Mr Todd said that such work was not necessarily dishonest, hut had been permitted because ‘when some of tiie older buildings were erected there had been no thought of providing against earthquake. Mr Todd said.'that he had been connected with the brick industry for 30 years and had seen work that would withstand any earthquake shock. Tests made at Wellington had suprised everyone, for bricks were actually broken before the ties failed.

Broadcasting Parliament Some day, said Mr M. J. Savage, Leader of the Opposition, at New Plymouth on Wednesday- night last,_ there would be broadcasting from Parliament in session (reports the Taranaki Daily News). Then the public would know just what was said and done .there. At present the public knew only what the newspapers thought the public ought to know. Broadcasting was a wonderful service, and its usefulness had only jiist begun. ft was muzzled to some extent, but some day the muzzle would, come off and the people would know' the truth. In saying what he had said with regard to newspaper reports,, continued Mr Savage, he did not desire to, be personal. He had received good and: even generous treatment from ■ the , press, of . the Dominion. Nevertheless, certains; things were allowed to go out and others were not, and it was better that the truth should be known, for the' truth would never hurt anyone. * Agricultural Education

Under 20 per cent, of the boys tax# up farming on leaving the school, accord* ing to a statement made ?at the meeting of, the Northcote District High School Committee (says the Auckland. Star). In view of the nature of the surrounding country, and that Birkdale, Gleufteld, ■ and Albany particularly were dependent -on orchards and products of'the soil, this was considered a low proportion. The feeling of the committee was strongly in favour of an “agricultural bias ” in the tuition given at the school, though it was pointed out that chemistry,. which whs the basis of agricultural science, received prominence in the present syllabus.- A letter is to be sent to the Auckland Education Board recommending that an agricultural course be added to the syllabin of the school. The chairman. Air 11, Shaw, said if that were established, it would probably be an incentive to parent* to keep their boys longer at.school. Pound Note* in Washing

A request that three battered and'torn fl notes should be exchanged for new ones, made by a man in an Auckland city bank on Tuesday; brought to light nn incident of forgetfulness and an anxious search for a week’s housekeeping allowance. A husband who had to work late oil pay-day found his wife in bed when ne arrived home, but as •he was obliged to leave early next morning for the country, he gave her the housekeeping money in ease it should bo overlooked in the'hurry of his departure. ■ His wife placed the three notes in the pillow-slip for the night. On his return from the country the following evening the husband' found his wife very distressed, as she had been without money all day. He asked what she had done with, the £3 and was told that she thought he must have taken it. A hurried search was made, and when : the money was not forthcoming burglars were suspected. Later, however, the wife mentioned that she ,had done the washing that day and the husband remembered the chosen for the money. The wet pillow-slips, still hanging ,on the clothes line, were examined and in one the remains of the three notes were discovered. Although they had been boiled, mangled, blued, rinsed, and hung put to dry, they were still recognisable and a satisfactory exchange was made at'.th# biink. ’ "■■■' ' 1 v " ’

Lonely Niuafou Recent reference to Niuafou Island, that lonely speck of land, in the Pacific, ■was the subject of comment in Auckland by. Captain W. Ross, who traded there for many years, and on one occasion lived on the island for a month. He said that the mail service to Niuafou was inaugurated by the Union Company 40 years ago, and it was wrong to say that natives had been taken from there 30 years ago • and sold into slavery. That had never, occurred at Niuafou. Seventynine years, ago a Peruvian slaver visited the Tongan group and took natives away from Philstart Island. Later the King of Tonga took the remaining natives off that island, and-left it ■ uninhabited. A canoe load of natives waa also taken from Niue Island.

Politics Crowd Out Theatre In a letter to the hon. secretary of the British Drama League (Miss Elizabeth Blake) 'Mr G. B. Shaw has conveyed his respects to the movement and his apologies for being unable to take a direct part in its activities during bis stay in New Zealand. “ May 1 take this opportunity to say how sorry I am that I-was unable to see anything of the theatre, or. of my theatrical friends during my short stay in New Zealand? It was politics, politics all the time. I should'Very'willingly have met the B.D.L, if ■ the - others had left me time. Please make it. understood that my attitude was and is entirely friendly. I couldn’t answer 'letters; they came in bushels, by every pbst.” '

In is Lager Beer Case? Authorities were quoted frequently by counsel • arguing a legal issue in the Supreme Court in-Wellington last week, before the - Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers), in a manner inevitably wearying to laymen, but for a few moments a merry mood brightened the proceedings. Counsel quoted an Auckland case. “Waa not that the lager beer case?” inquired the Chief Justice seeking to refresh his memory. “It was an Auckland case, but not lager beer, I think,” replied counsel. “I thought it was lager beer,” said h;s Honor. ‘‘Ordinary 7 per cent beer, I thought,” replied counsel. ‘‘ Mr would, know; be was in it;” said the Chief Justice,".turning to opposing counsel who, incidentally, was at one , time interested in the cause of Prohibition. “No,” replied opposing counsel, with a smile and a' blush. “ I wasn't in it, sir. It was lager beer, though,” he added wryly.

“ Modern Grandmother’s ” Plan Mr* Kitty O’Sullivan, of Auckland (the “modern- grandmother,” who came into prominence some time •’ ago by walking ' from, Spirits Bay to Bluff in 57 days), how proposes to go. over the same route again, this time on a bicycle. Her object is to lay a “silver trail” for the children of New Zealand, and to raise fund* in as many centres as possible to provide milk, food and clothing for those requiring help, hits O’Sullivan said that she planned to lecture or entertain in the various centres she visited, and. to raise in each a local fund, which • would be administered by the responsible local authority. Speaking to an Auckland Star reporter of the proposed tour, she said that she knew all the routes and had no misgivings, except for the 30 miles’; stretch between Spirits Bay and Te Kao. While walking between those places on her last tour she met many wild cattle, and although they did not molest her, she was glad when she had left them behind. After her last New Zealand tour, Mrs O’Sullivan walked from Melbourne, to Sydney, taking 18$ days on the journey..

You should take advantage of the special discounts at Williamsons, the jewellers. Clean, up-to-date goods to select from—3l Princes street. —Advt. A. E. J. Blakeley and W. B. Bagley, dentists. Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets, next Tele graph Office). Telephone 12-359.—Advt. Save your eyes Be wise, and consult W. V.- Sturmer, optician (2 Octagon) thus conserving good vision for old a«e.Aclvt ' -V- ■■

Those who are requiring an, engagement ring will do well to inspect our ‘iingsisPeter Dipk, ring specialist, 490 Moray place, Dunedin.—Advt.