Overseas Mails

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22741, 29 November 1935, Page 8

Overseas Mails

The Niagara and Golden Coast, which reached Auckland last night from Vancouver and San Pedro respectively, bring between them 131 bags of English and American mail for Dunedin, which should reach the local office on Saturday afternoon. The Marama left Melbourne on Wednesday for Bluff with 13 bags of Australian mail and two parcel receptacles for Dunedin. The mail is due on Monday. The Maungarui, which is due to arrive at Wellington from San Francisco on December 9, has 80 bags of English and American mail and nine parcel receptacles for Dunedin, which should reach the local office on the succeeding day. The mail which left Wellington on October 30 by the Maungauui via San Francisco arrived in London on Wednesday last. Air Mail Reaches London A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that the air mail despatcned from New Zealand on November 8 arrived in London on November 26. Automatic False Alarm The City Fire Brigade answered an automatic false alarm from the Otago Daily Times building at 1.35 p.m. yesterday. Christmastide " Thrills " Mr Charles Grater has handed to the Presbyterian Social Service Association a substantial cheque from Mr John Edmond, of Melbourne, with which to purchase Christmastide " thrills " for the children of the Glendining group of cottages. Italy and Britain Obvious antagonism to British tourists on the Struthnaver was noted at the Italian ports which the vessel visited during her Mediterranean cruise in September. However, an officer of the ship, who has many acquaintances there, found that the hand of friendship was extended to him as usual. "If our country goes to war with your country, you and 1 are not at war." was the manner in which his friends summed the position up. Pioneers' Hall

A special meeting of the committee of the Otago Early Settlers' Association was held yesterday morning, when tenders for alterations to the Pioneers' Hall were considered. It was resolved that the tender of Messrs Loan and Watson be accepted. The work will be put in hand immediately, and alterations are to be completed before March 23 next. The hall, when enlarged, will provide adequate accommodation for all those who wisli to attend the celebrations on the occasion of the eighty-eighth anniversary of the province of Otago.

Magistrate's Court In the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, judgment for the plaintiffs was given in the following cases:—Matheson and Roberts, Ltd., v. A. W. Hamilton (Pahiatua), claim £4 Is 2d, for goods supplied, with costs (£1 9s 6d); J. Walls v. G. Lockhart, claim £B, for money owing, with costs (£1 12s 6d). Holiday Tram Services So as to cope with the extra volume of traffic during the holiday season, the Raihvaye Department has arranged to run two expresses daily to and from Christchurch and to and from Invercargill, from December 19 to February 3. The Sunday long-distance services will remain unaltered, but provision has been made in the holiday time table for relief trains to run during the Christmas and New Year periods.

Charge of Theft A charge of stealing a camera, valued at £ls, the property of David James M'Chun, was preferred against William Patrick Foley in the City Police Court yesterday. Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., was on the Bench, and the accused was represented by Mr C. J. L. White. Mr White asked for. a remand until Monday, and this was granted, bail being allowed in the accused's own recognisance of £25, a condition being made that he should report daily to the police and should abstain from liauor in the meantime.

A Disputed Will The final stages of hearing of the case in which Sylvia Godfrey sought the granting of letters of administration in the estate of John M'Nickle, a retired farmer, who died in October, 1934, at the age of 94, were reached in the Supreme Court yesterday, when Mr Justice Kennedy was engaged in hearing legal argument by the various counsel. Messrs J. S. Sinclair and R. D. Jamieson appeared for the plaintiff (Miss Godfrey), and the defendants were represented as follows: —James'M'Nickle and Annie M'Nickle, of Ireland* and Mary Wassell (Mr A. N. Haggitt), Verna G. Livingston (Mr C. L. Calvert), Eva M'Nickle (Mr F. B. Adams), Robert Livingston, Alma Clara Livingston, Elizabeth Scott, and George Livingston (Mr F. C. •Dawson). Mr Dawson also appeared for the trustees, Alfred Miller and Donald Hutclieon. After counsel had addressed the court, his Honor intimated that he would take time to consider his decision. Art Exhibition

The Otago Art Society's annual exhibition, which is open at present at the Pioneers' Hall, is attracting a great deal of public interest, and attendances so far have been very satisfactory. The exhibition, which is fully as comprehensive as any which has preceded it, comprises several branches 61 art, though oils, of course, predominate. Some of the best work of artists in all parts of the Dominion is to be seen, and the standard generally is very high. The water-colour section includes several studies of considerable interest, and a display of Japanese colour prints, lent by Captain A. G. Humphreys-Davies, adds a distinctly novel note. The exhibition will be open until next Thursday.

Efficient Radio Service The value of radio broadcasting for the quick dissemination of news throughout; the country was demonstrated on -Wednesday night, when the facilities provided by Station 4YA enabled the results of the general election to be announced to the huge <jrowds outside the Daily Times office by a much speedier method than could have been done through any other channel. The station staff had installed efficient receiving units, which not only allowed the very latest returns to be announced through the amplifiers on High street, but enabled a record of the returns to be kept and the latest figure* posted on the board. The service rendered by the station officials, was deeply appreciated by the Daily Times staff as well as by the general public. Unui.ua! Accident

The crash of splintered glass falling round the head of the surprised "motorman arid passengers of a- tram bound for St. Kilda last evening was a somewhat forcible reminder that the Oval 'was being passed. Seemingly from out of the blue a cricket ball landed on the bitumen, bounced through the fast-moving tram by way of the glass panel immediately behind the motorman's head, and thence to the other side of the roadway. The explanation was a lusty hit by. a batsman engaged in net practice at the edge of the playing ground, but it was some seconds before the passengers of the tram realised the cause of the mishap. The ball must have missed the head of an occupant of the front seat by inches, and he had a fortunate escape from flying glasss. •

Of More Importance As a climax to a somewhat dull, all-day hearing of a civil action in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, a ray of humour was introduced by the presiding magistrate, Mr J. R. Bartholomew. A female' witness, giving evidence as to the sale of a house to" another woman for the sum of £2IOO, stated that no agreement had been made in writing to buy the property, nor had any deposit been paid, whereupon the magistrate remarked that it would have been a different and important matter if the transaction had concerned the purchase of a hat. Counsellor both parties smilingly agreed

Monarchy in Greece The Greek people as a whole were very glad to have the monarchy back, said Mr J. Andonaras, a Greek, when he returned to Wellington after a visit to Greece. They had left the country before tEe plebiscite, but there was no doubt of what people desired. Greece was confident, that the return of King George II would bring about an improvement in the state of the country. Mr Andonaras said he had been away from Greece for 15 years before this visit. He had found his country greatly changed, greatly improved. Wages were low, but living was cheap. The English pound was worth about 520 drachmas, which went very much further than a pound did in New Zealand. Most of the people owned the freehold of their houses and were prosperous and industrious. Athens was an up-to-date city of about 1,500,000 people. Greeks were also interested in New Zealand, about which they were well informed. On his arrival at Athens, Mr Andonaras had been interviewed with great interest by newspaper representatives. Few New Zealand goods were sold in Athens, although there was a certain amount of trade with Australia.

Death of Baby Hippopotamus After surviving for two weeks, the fifth hippopotamus born at the Auckland Zoological Park has died. The cause of death is not known, but it is suspected that an accident may have befallen the young animal, although the recent changeable weather is advanced as an alternative reason. A post mortem is being held. The New Zealand Herald states that Bella, the large female hippopotamus at the zoo, gave birth to her first offspring seven years ago. However, the firsc infant was killed by Chucka, his father. The second offspring was Pondo, a handsome animal now at the Perth Zoo. Pondo's successor died of neglect, but yet another baby hippopotamus, named Maori, was born on New Year's Day, 1932, and later went to the Adelaide Zoo.

To see or not to see —The question is who to see? See Sturmer and Watson, Opticians, 2 Octagon, Dunedin.--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. Who is Peter Dick? The leading firm ior optical and jewellery service. Petec Dick, jewellers and opticians, 490 Mot ay place, Dunedin.—Advt.