Overseas Mail

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22630, 23 July 1935, Page 8

Overseas Mail

The Waitaki, due at Bluff this morning from Melbourne, has 34 bags o Australian mail and four parcel receptacles for Dunedin. The mail is due at the local office this evening.

Public Health Returns Two cases of typhoid fever and a case of diphtheria were discharged from the Public Hospital during the week ended at noon yesterday, a case of erysipelas and two patients suffering from scarlet .fever remaining. Two -cases of scarlet fever remain in the Logan Park Hospital.

Fire Brigade Calls At 12,50 a.m. yesterday the 'City Fire Brigade received a call to St. George s Restaurant, 151 George street. The kitchen ..was gutted by fire, but despite the fact that the flames had. a strong hold, the brigade made a good save. The cause of the outbreak is unknown. The building is insured with the Standard and Sun offices. At 8.7 a.m. a call was received to a chimney fire in Council street. St. Hilda, and at 12.30 a hedge fire in Wairoa street, Roslyn, was the cause of the brigade being summoned. Later in the afternoon two calls were received. One proved to be a malicious false alarm from Hazel avenue, Caversham, and in the other case, a chimney fire in Helena street, at 6.49, was responsible.

Stolen Motor Car Recovered The Austin Seven motor car belonging to Mb T. W. Grirasdale, which was stolen from Edina street on Sunday afternoon, was recovered by the police yesterday evening in Castle street, near the Gardens. The car was not damaged, apart from the fact that the ignition had been forced on, apparently with a fils, and it appeared as if the car had been driven at least 40 miles. The radiator had boiled dry and the battery had rfln flat. Juror Fined

When the names of jurors were being called in the Supreme Court yesterday, John William Herman Clarke failed to respond, and a fine of £5 was imposed for his non-appearance. , At a later stage Clarke appeared in court. He told Mr Justice Kennedy that he was a land agent, and that a woman client, who had desired to repudiate a deal, ; had taken up his attention to such an extent that his duty to attend the court had escaped his mind. His Honor described the excuse as insufficient, but reduced the fine to £2.

Monowai’s Island Cruise The Monowai was favoured with fine weather when she called at Niuafoou to land the “ tin can ” mail. The passengers had a delightful day at Levuka. The vessel arrived at Suva at 7 a.m. on Saturday, and arrangements included a motor drive to Rewa Lami and Tamavua Heights, Fijian football, the natives playing in bare feet. The day’s festivities culminated with an island night’s entertainment and a ball at the Grand Pacific Hotel. The Monowai left Suva early on Sunday morning, and is due at Auckland to-morrow morning.

Chambers of Commerce Praised A tribute to the work of the chambers of commerce in New Zealand was paid by Sir James Grose, general manager of the National Bank of New Zealand, speaking last night at the annual meeting of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce. “ I have always been impressed with the vitality of the chambers of commerce," said Sir James, “ and with the interest and enthusiasm of members. Problems of trade and industry have been probably more numerous and more difficult during the past six years than at any previous stage of our country’s history, but there is no doubt that the Dominion as a whole has reaped great benefits from the careful study of current problems by the chambers of commerce and from the constructive and helpful policies they have adopted.in dealing with those problems,” Intelligence Testa Some interesting discoveries from intelligence tests were quoted by the Rev. G. M. M'Kenzie, headmaster of the Cathedral Grammar School, Christchurch, in describing the new type of report adopted by the school. One boy, he said, had a lower intelligence quotient than it was felt he should have, and the state of his health was suspected as the reason. On the school’s recommendation to his pareiits the boy received dental attention. The following test his intelligence quotient showed a considerable increase, co above 100. Other boys, said Mr M'Kenzie, whose work compared well with the average, were surprised to find their teachers knew they had not been working to the extent of their capabilities, as revealed by the intelligence test.

Normandie’s Maiden Voyage Commenting on criticisms in the press concerning the maiden voyage of the Normandie, the Syren and Shipping Illustrated says: "It is true that a, certain amount of vibration, especially in the after-part, was noticeable. This was perhaps in excess of what might have been expected, and seemed to be due in part to the propellers and also to the design of the terraced decks aft. Such faults, however, have been found in many other new ships, especially when, as in the case of the Normandie, they have been of revolutionary design, but they have always been rectified after a trip.tr two. We recall an almost identical experience with the Lusitania. On her trials she vibrated considerably, but the matter was soon put right.”

“ Embarrassment of Riches ” In its selection of candidates for country electorates, the National Political Federation, which represents an unw'ritten unity of the Reform and United Parties, is experiencing something like “an embarrassment of riches.” There is no dearth of candidates. Indeed, here and there (the Dominion says) the supply represents a problem of ■ selection. This phase of party popularity is very marked in respect of the Otaki seat, for which already there are no fewer than four Nationalist standard-bearers. An effort is to be made to simplify the embarrassing situation. The four prospective candidates, Mr G. A. Monk; Mr A. B. Sievwright, Mr Will Appleton, and Mr Dunbar Sloane, have, it is repotted officially, agreed to submit their names to the Selection Committee. It is not giving away secrets to say that, if anything like a similar keenness were shown by supporters of- the National Party to contest city seats, and particularly those which have come to lie regarded as Labour strongholds, there would be joy in the camp of the National Political Federation. At present there admittedly is a strange shyness among potential candidates to tackle a fight in these electorate?. The question is being asked: Has the spirit of the Reform and United Parties of other days wilted? There is much scope for the right type of contestant to show the mettle that gives countries firm government. While it is easy enough to contest seat's which are regarded as comparatively safe, veteran supporters of the Coalition in Parliament urge that what is wanted most this year is a baud of able men, with aggressive courage, to assail the most difficult electorates.

Littlebourne House

Among the documents forwarded by the city solicitors for execution at last night’s meeting of the Dunedin City Council wag the deed of trust of Littlebourne House, which formally conveys possession of this well-known residence to the Mayor, councillors, and citizens of Dunedin. Littlebourne House, the gift to Dunedin of the trustees of the estate of the late Sir John Roberts, is at present in the process of conversion into a vice-regal residence.

Ice Sports at Naseby Advice was received last night that the ice is now in perfect copdition at Naseby, and the “ bonspiel" will be commenced this morning and continued tomorrow. An ice carnival will be Held at Oturehua on Thursday. .

Kingston-Queenstown Road The two gangs working on the King-ston-Queenstown road are now separated by less than a mile. It is possible (says the Southland Times) that by Christmas the road may be negotiable by motorists who proceed at .their own risk, though it will be many months later before construction work is completed.

Brevity and Clarity An illustration of the short and effective sentence was given by Mr Justice Callan at a sitting of an assessment court in Auckland on Friday. .“I came to the conclusion,” said a witness, “ that the amount of deterioration and degree obsolescence can be replaced,” “ That,” said his Honor, “seems to me a way of saying it is not too far gone.”

“ A Question of Insanity ” An applicant for exemption from jury service (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington) told the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) that he honestly considered all crime a question of insanity and should be treated as such. Sir Michael Myers granted exemption, saying that the, applicant under the law as it stood was unfit to sit as a juryman, adding “ I would keep you here a whole week even though you were challenged on every occasion,' only that it would mean expense to the country, and I don’t see why the country’ should submit to that.”

Labour Day Confusion Some calendars give the date of Labour Day as Monday, October 21, while ro others it is Monday, October 28. This lack of uniformity 'has caused some confusion. Actually, Labour Day this year is October 28, having been fixed by Act of Parliament in 1910 as the fourth Monday in October. Labour organisations publicly celebrate Labour Day in every industrial country in the world, the most usual date being May 1. In Britain the celebration takes place on the first Sunday after May Day, and in the United States and Canada Labour Day is observed in September. Changing Youth

' “ The change in the attitude of youth is most' marked,” said Mr A. J. M'Eldowney during an address to the Social Discussion Group in Christchurch on Sunday night. “In the early postwar years youth talked a great deal about sqlf-expression and self-detenpin-ism, but all resulted in nothing but talk. It did not lead itself, got tired of a tepid freedom amidst chronic and almost universal unemployment, and when men like Mussolini and Hitler arose with a con-' crete and definite programme it followed almost blindly. All the great leaders of to-day have the ability to appreciate youth and its potentialities, and it is interesting to see the emphases placed upon the importance of youth, whether in the Communistic system or the dictatorships of the world.”

Disposal of £IOOO Bequest The matter of the disposal of a bequest by Mr James Powell, a Westport man, who 15 years ago died leaving £IOOO to the Westport Sailors’ Rest, was discussed by the Auckland Sailors’ Home Council at its last monthly meeting. The president, Mf W. M. Jackson, said the rest had been totally destroyed by fire soon after the benefactor’s death, and nothing had been done to have it rebuilt owing to Westport’s declining shipping trade. Recently, however, the Westport Plunket Society had taken action to have the fund, which has grown with interest, diverted to the purpose of establishing a women’s rest room. “Sailors are the moving population of the world,” said Mr C. J. Carrington, M.L.C., “ and so our work is world-wide, in a sense. Therefore I think it is a duty for this council to put in a claim for the fund on behalf of sailors generally.” ..It was decided that the council should be represented by counsel when the Supreme Court considers the matter at Westport in September, in order to ensure that the money is devoted to the interests of seafaring men, for whom it was originally intended.

Donald Stuart, Limited, Slate Merchants, Experts in Asphaltic and Bituminous Applications, including Rock Asphaltes, Sheet Asphaltes, Bituminous Felts, Bitumins, Bitumen Paint, Bitumen Compounds, Cork Insulation. 82 Bond street.I—Advt. 1 —Advt.

To be well. See well. See Sturmer,— W. V. Sturmer, 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.

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.