Constitution of Broadcasting Board

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22504, 23 February 1935, Page 12

Constitution of Broadcasting Board

The legislation due for introduction next week (says our parliamentary, reporter) includes a Bill altering the constitution of the Broadcasting Board. I* is proposed to model the hoard mote on the lines of the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Broken Glass on Road >' A dastardly act was reported to the Waikouaiti County Council yesterday by the traffic inspector (Mr P. Laughton), who stated that during the month a report had been received that there, were a number of broken bottles on the main highway between the Waitaki bridge and Hilderthorpe, and upon investigation it was found that nine bottles had been deliberately thrown on the road, broken glass being scattered over a distance of approximately two miles. The inspector reported that it was impossible to remove all the glass, but all that was visible was removed. The danger of such an action cannot be unduly stressed, and offences of this nature are difficult to drive home to the guilty parties. ,

Municipal Organ Recital The city organist, Dr V.,E. Galway, will give an after-church recital in the Town Hall to-morrow evening, when the programme will consist of such interesting items as Prelude in G (James Lyon), Gluck’s Gavotte in A major, Finale from the P minor Sonata (Rheinberger), Andante from the String Quartet (Tsohaikovsky), Mendelssohn’s “ Allegro Molto.’* Overture to “ Egmont ” (Beethoven), “ Elizabeth’s Prayer ” from “ Tarmhauser ” (Wagner), and “Hungarian March” (Berlioz). The supporting artists will be Miss Nellie Pickett, who will play Saint-Saens’s "Toccata,” Mis* Dora Drake, who will sing "Non so piu,” from “Figaro” (Mozart), and Mr Murray Hood, “ The Diver ” (M'Millan).

Leith Improvements Pursuant to instructions from the council, the Works Committee of the City Council has given consideration to the matter of improvements to the Leith Stream mentioned by a deputation of relief workers. In view of the fact that definite proposals have not yet been finalised regarding the portion of the Leith Stream to which the council is giving consideration, and also that the current financial year is drawing to a close, the matter has been recorded for consideration with the allocations for the incoming financial year.

School Libraries The books for the city school libraries for 1935 have now been despatched to the schools. A total of 4017 books has been sent, which it is estimated will' supply 3200 school children. It has been found possible to include both the Arthur Street and George Street schools in the scheme for the current year. That brings the number of schools supplied to 18, which embraces the whole of the State primary schools in the city.' The Milford Road “The men on the Milford road are now working at a point just beyond the 55-mile peg, and the Public Works engineer hopes to see the road completed as far as Monkey Creek by the end of this summer,” the secretary of the Southland League (Mr J. S. Dick) informed the executive on Thursday night. “Until Monkey Creek is reached there will be little fresh to see, as the men are busy hewing through the bush just now,” he added. The local tourist officer (Mr J. S. Scott) mentioned that the added publicity given to the Eglinton undertaking had resulted in a greatly increased number of people—many being Southlander* —doing the Milford Track walk thi* year.

Justifiable False Alarm A justifiable false alarm at Ward street occupied the attention of the City Fire Brigade last night, the call being received; at 10.28. Egiinton Valley Excursion The railway bus which left Dunedin at 7.45 a.m. yesterday for the Egiinton Valley carried 12 passengers. The bus was due to arrive at Lake Te Anau at 6 o’clock last night, and is scheduled to arrive back at Dunedin at 7.30 p.m. on Monday.

New Zealand Airmen The high reputation gained abroad by New Zealand airmen initially trained in the Dominion, which was mentioned recently by the Minister of Defence (Mr J. G. Cobbe) is' exemplified in the following paragraph in a report made by a wing-commander in the Royal Air Force on one of his officers applying for a commission:—“This officer was the typical characteristics of his fellow, countrymen— New Zealanders. He is always prepared to assist others, and work for the gcod bf the squadron as a whole.” Huge Sunflower Plant Several remarkable examples of prolific growth in sunflowers have been reported recently, in each case large numbers ot blooms being recorded. Until yesterday the best specimen mentioned was a plant at Roxburgh, which was stated to have reached a height of Bft lOin, but this is easily eclipsed by a plant at Mosgiel, which has reached a height bf 12ft fiin. While the Roxburgh specimen was carrying 69 blooms, however, this one makes no claim to distinction in that direction, the owner stating that the plant is still growing and is now forming its first flower.

Youthful Innocence A teacher in a country school not far from Invercargill was explaining to the class the difference between prices ruling in New Zealand and those abroad. “ For instance,” he said,whisky is about 5s a bottle .in Scotland. Now, does anyone know the price in New Zealand? ” A hand went up and a shrill voice said: “ Please, sir; charges 15s a bottle.” It is understood (says the Southland Times) that the local policeman took advantage of this information and that a prosecution for’ sly-grog selling is pending. • v■ • - • • • ’ Power ’ Factor ‘

Some years ago, in order to improve the power factor of the load on the corporation transmission lines it was found necessary to requite that all new con- . sumers who wished to obtain “ special ” rates for power supply should take steps td keOp their power factor at full load up to at least 85-per cent., and existing consumers who wished to increase their load should take similar steps. In view of the fact that in agreements between the Government and supply authorities for . bulk supply a similar condition is iu- * eluded, but providing for a 90 per cent, power factor, it is considered essential that the department’s requirements in the matter should be brought into line-with • those of the Government and the power factor increased to 90 per cent. Instructions have been issued to the Electric Power and Lighting Department accordingly, on the understanding that the new arrangement will apply to new consumers, and to “special, fate” consumers who desire to increase their installation. Municipal Conference , The agenda paper for the twenty-fifth conference of the Municipal Association of" New Zealand, to be held in Christchurch next month, contains 71 remits, and it is expected, that the supplementary order paper will contain at least another 20. One of the seaside boroughs in the North Island will propose, a remit that the Government be approached with a view, to obtaining an amendment of the labour laws to allow greater elasticity . of Hours of trading at beaches and hpli- • day resorts.' 'Another ’ Ideal- body ■ will , r -move that the strongest ■ possible. represaltations be made to the Government with'a view -to the • enactment of legislation to : provide for the Strict*'control of 'v l Alsatian dogs or to forbid' their existence in;-New Zealand altogether. -Most of'the other proposals. deal with questions of general'local body administration. The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.) will ..preside at the con- : ference. ■ , .■ :

Seventeen Days from London An Empire air mail arrived at Auckland from Sydney by the Monowai on Tuesday morning, the total time taken from London being 17 days. This is the shortest period in which a mail has reached Auckland' from England since the commencement of the service. The - mail left London on- February 2 and reached Sydney last Friday in time to be placed on the Monowai before she sailed. It was announced. recently that by the use of fast aeroplanes between Darwin and- Brisbane the time table originally planned, would be adhered to, so that the •mail would reach: Sydney regularly at 6 a.m. on • Fridays, to connect with the steamers for New .Zealand, which usually leave on Friday afternoons. Hitherto the mail has frequently reached Sydney on Saturdays, and has remained there for several days awaiting a .steamer for New Zealand, thus taking 22 or 23 days from London to arrive in the Dominion. This moat recent mail .is apparently the first \ to arrive under the improved schedule.