The Arbitration Court

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22567, 10 May 1935, Page 8

The Arbitration Court

The Arbitration Court will sit in Dunedin on May 17 and September 6.

A Strange Bird

Members of the council of the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society were very interested in the description of a bird caught by Mr L. B. James while out duck shooting. Mr Jamea stated that the bird was not as big as a starling, about the same build as a Maori hen, and was brown on the back with dark markings on the feathers. It had a green beak and green legs, and a red eye with a black pupil. Mr James added that he had consulted books of reference, and had come to the conclusion that the bird was a swamp rail. These birds had been found in the Chatham Islands in 1871, but were extinct there 10 years later, and the only place where they were usually found wa s in the Auckland Islands. He proposed to liberate the bird in the next day or two.

Car Falls in Swamp A remarkable escape from injury was experienced by the occupants of a large sedan motor car which, following a collision with another car on the Great South road, Auckland, about four miles north of Rangiriri, ■ crashed through a wire fence and fell 50ft into a swamp. The car, which carried members of a dance orchestra, was proceeding from Huntly to Tuakau, and the other vehicle, iu which there were only two occupams, was travelling in the opposite direction. In the impact, the first car left the road, and, without turning, fell straight down the steep embankment, landing among the rushes and mud of a swamp. The second car had the right front wheel torn off. Passing motorists were amazed to see the\ occupants of the car scrambling through the swamp and on to the bank. It was, however, impossible to move the vehicle. . . ■ ? Radio Amateurs'Message

Singular among the congratulatory messages sent to his Majesty the King is one from the New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters. It is as follows: — "May it please your Majesty: We, the radio amateurs of New Zealand, as a group of your Majesty's most loyal subjects, humbly desire to be permitted to offer our felicitations on this most auspicious occasion. May we add our prayers for your continued sovereignty over this Dominion for many years to come." This message was given to the association's Empire link station/ (a station owned and operated by a member of the association frequently in touch with other parts of the Empire), at 2 p.m. on May 6, and it arrived in England at 8 a.nn English time. The message was d?spatched to New Zealand House for delivery to his Majesty by Sir James Parr. Honour for Maori

Among those to whom the King's silver jubilee medal has been awarded is Tarapipi Tamehana te Waharoa, of Morrin"ville, a notable Maori of high rank, who is a grandson of the great warrior Te Waharoa, of Matamata, a noted figure in the Maori tribal warfare nearly 100 years ago. Tarapipi is an elderly man who has been confined to his home at the Maori village near Morrinsville in recent years, owing to ill-health. He is a son of Te Waharoa's son, Tupu Taingakawa, and a nephew of the celebrated Maoii leader, Wiremu Tamehana (William Thompson), who has been termed "the king-maker" because his influence resulted in the Waikato chief, fe Wherowhero, being made the first Maori king in 1858.

Horticultural Show The Dune'din Horticultural Society's winter show, winch closed last night, was one of the most outstanding shows held in recent years. The entries were well ahead of last year's total, despite the fact that many of the well-known trade exhibitors of previous years did not compete. The quality in the novice and amateur sections was remarkably good, and the tables presented a highly attractive sight. Unfortunately, the attendance was not all that could have been desired, the rain during yesterday afternoon having an adverse effect. The premier chrysanthemum of the show—a " Hugh Mitchell '"—a photograph of which appeared in yesterday's issue, was exhibited by Mr T. Cook, of Timaru, and was greatly admired not only by the general public but by horticultural experts as well. Headlight Dangers

"As the years progsess. the difficulties and dangers of inefficient headlights appear to increase rather than diminish," stated the report of the Roads Committee presented to the last meeting of the executive of the Automobile Association (Wellington). "The committee makes this comment in ,view of recent observations by individual members and in view of reports by patrols on the headlight problem over the period of the Easter holidays. Glaring headlights and one light only in operation were very evident, and it is easy to conceive why accidents occur in night driving. The committee proposes to detail patrols for the adjustment of headlights during the next few weeks, but any adjustment carried out by patrols can only go a very short way towards alleviation of the position. The greatest amount of improvement can be carried out by motorists themselves in ensuring that theirheadlights are In all respects efficient, and the committee sincerely hopes that this appeal will have some beneficial effect generally."

Spread of Insects The necessity for exercising; the strictest biological control in New Zealand was emphasised by Mr J. Muggeridge, of the research laboratory of the Agricultural Department at Palmerston North, m an address to members, of the Wellington Rotary Club. He said that the transference of instct pests from one part of the world to another was not nearly so great in the days of sailing vessels. With much shorter journeys by steamer, the danger of introducing insects harmful to live stock or crops increased. Now that it was proposed to make 12-honr trips .from Australia by aeroplane they would have to be constantly on the watch. There was, for example, the roalarial insect- the* mosquito. If he onre got in they might not be able to control him biologically.

Depression on Island The economic interdependence of civilised communities practicallj-iill over the world and the reflection even in comparatively remote parts of conditions in the grrat industrial countries are emphasised by an account of distress in Norfolk Island iiv a letter from ill F. J. Tattle, formerly of Christehurch. Norfolk Island has its own unemployment problem, and one of the actions of Sir George Pearce, Australian Commonwealth Government Minister in charge of the territory, after his recent visit to the island, was to make available the sum of £2OOO for relief work. This, Mr Tattle states, will relieve for a while the poverty of many of the .people and enable them to buy necessaries from the stores. No Provision for Voting Patients in hospitals did not vote in Wednesday's elections, as no provision is made for them to do so. In reply to a question, the substitute returning officer at Christehurch (Mr Albert Freeman) said that no provision was made for sick people to exercise their franchise. Even if a sick person were transported to a booth by car and could not leave it,. he could not be given ballot papers. People in invalid chairs, however, could be dealt with. The position is that the law prescribes that ballot papers on no account must be taken outside the polling booths. Dilemma of Candidate The refusal of the Public Service Commissioner to allow Mr H. Tai Mitchell to take office if elected to the Rotoru* Borough Council caused surprise there. The ground of the commissioner's objection, as stated in a telegram to Mr Mitchell, was that he is a.civil servant and therefore ineligible. No objection appears to have been raised on a former occasion when Mr Mitchell was elected to the council and sat for a period of two years." Mr Mitchell was a member of the retiring council, having been appointed last November in the place of the late Mr George Steele. The disqualification of Air Mitchell (states a correspondent) has aroused a feeling of disappointment in many circles as he was regarded as being well able to represent both Maori and European interests. ■ • "As a Protest"

"When interviewed by the police the defendant said that motor cars had been travelling along the road at such a, rate that he had not been able to make any progress on 'his motor cycle. Therefore, as a protest, he threw a stone aj the complainant's car," said Sergeant .G. Bonisch in the Napier Magistrate's Court, in outlining the facts in connection with a charge of throwing a : stone ■to the danger of another person, preferred against Alexander Maxwell, of Koter maori, motor driver. Mr J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M.: "T can understand the feeling. We sometimes feel like throwing bombs at motor cyclists." The magistrate imposed a conviction and a fine of 10s and costs (10s). Display by Geyser* Without the slightest warning, four of the principal geysers at Whakarewarewa (Rotorua) burst into action on Saturday, Led by Pohutu, they, gave 10 displays during the way, each display. lasting abput 20 to 45 minutes. Columns of water were occasionally thrown up to a height of 80ft. The Waikiti and Waikorohihi geysers, accompanied by the Prince, of Wales Feather, played in unison,'',.'•-"-Ths rare and beautiful spectacle of a series of geysers in close, proximity playing together, the separate columns of water breaking into cascades of glittering spray and sending out clouds of steam, attracted a large number of visitors. Pohutu ? 9 exhibition is the fifth within the last six months following a period of two years and a-half of almost absolute quiescene. Within the last few days there has been an abnormal rise in the level of many of the boiling pools, due, it is thought, to the recent heavy rains. •.

A Famous Raspberry Mr Lloyd George has not only a •" new deal" to offer, his country, but also a raspberry. The fruit has the distinction of being named after him and, one never knows,, his political opponents may make capital out of its . official description. It is ' a leading commercial variety," of " extremely vigorous growth," " very large," of " good flavour," ripens early, berries are firm and travel welL It it "one of the be9t varieties for canning," but its growth is "inclined to be straggly." This Lloyd George raspberry, however, is commended by the Department of Agriculture of New Zealand (states the Evening Post) as a variety with "excellent prospects of proving successful" when grown in the warmer districts of the Dominion. In the United States, however, where, of course, Mr Roosevelt has a "new deal " of his owu, Lloyd George, as a raspberry, was "too soft, turned dark, Wag of low growth, and sprawling habit."

A thanksgiving service to commemorate the silver jubilee of the King will be held in the Town Hall, Green Island, on Sunday at 2.30 p.m. A procession headed by the Green Island Municipal Band will leave the Council Chambers at 2.15 p.m., and returned soldiers, school children, lodges, and all organisations of the district are asked to take part. The Rev. F. Ferry will give the address." ' 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. When you can't see—see Stunner.—W. V. Stunner. Optician, 2 Octagon, Dunedin. Consulting Opticians: W. V. Sturmer, F. 1.0.. N.Z.; A. R. Watson, F. 1.0.. 5.D.0.. N.Z.—Advt.

Who is Peter Dick? leading firm for optica] and jewellery service. Peter Dick, jewellers and opticians. 490- Moray place, Dunedin.—Advt.