Ferry Steamer Late

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22903, 10 June 1936, Page 8

Ferry Steamer Late

Owing to the iuterisland ferry steamer Mamma berthing at Lyttelton an hour later than usual yesterday morning, a large portion of a heavy English mail could not be transferred in time to connect with the express. A special goods train was, therefore, run to bring the remaining mailbags south, and arrived in Dunedin at 10.40 p.m. Wills Proved

Mr Justice Kennedy has granted probate in the following estates: —John Harris, of Saddle Hill, retired miner; William Jarvie Barclay, of Oamaru, retired merchant; Alfred Edward Knowles, of Dunedin, service station manager. Letters of administration have been granted in the estate of Ellen Ireland, ol Oamaru, spinster.

Fertility of Clyde Hill Evidence of the productive capacity of Clyde Hill is furnished in a crop of potatoes recently dug in that district by Mr J. H. Goodall. Samples of the tubers, which are of the Irish Shamrock variety, a comparatively new introduction to the Dominion, were brought to the office of the Daily Times yesterday and were shown to be hard, clean, and of line texture. The number of small potatoes in the crop is stated to be an insignificant proportion of the whole, and the total yield is reported to average 18 tons to the acre.

Smooth Highways “According to a test made recently, the highways of Otago present a smoother surface than that of Crawford street,” said Mr F. J. Williams at the monthly meeting of the Automobile Association (Otago) last night. "We have always endeavoured to foster the interests of all concerned iu this respect, and it is pleasing lo know how successful our efforts have been.” Piri Piri Saw-fly Liberated

Liberation of the piri piri saw-fly has just been made by Dr Miller, of the Cawthron institute, and Mr Muggridgc, Gov eminent entomologist at Massey College. An observation colony has been established at Mr T. Currie’s property at Kai Iwi. Mr Currie is chairman of the Wanganui Provincial Farmers’ Union. Other colonies have been liberated in the Mangamalm, Matahiwi, Karioi, and Paraparn road districts. Further colonies will be established in a few weeks’ time as the insects are available. Dr Miller is very sanguine of good results. It is estimated that the annual loss to farmers in the Dominion through piri piri is £250,000. Titania’s Palace In order to give the public more opportunities of viewing Titania’s Palace, the artistic miniature which is at present on exhibition in the millinery salon of Messrs Arthur Barnett. Ltd., there will be special extended sessions to-night and to-morrow evening, these being the only extra hours that will he observed beloro the exhibition is brought to a close next Tuesday. The interest that has been taken in this wonderful gdn of delicate craftsmanship has been phenomenal, and there are many who have paid two or three visits so that they might appreciate more fully the many beautiful treasures contained within the walls of the palace. Numbers of school children from south of Balchitha, and also some from Palmerston, will be shown over the exhibition on Friday. The palace is being shown under the auspices of the Rotary movement for the purpose of augmenting the funds of the Crippled Children’s Society.

Eglinton-Milford Road

Work on the Kglinton-Milford road wa§ proceeding very satisfactorily, Mr T. G. C. Hill, membership organiser for the Automobile Association (Southland), said in his report to the association on Monday night. Dir Hill also mentioned that the motorists in that locality thought a considerable amount of sign-posting would be necessary on the road before the next tourist season. The tourist traffic, even at the present time, was surprisingly heavy.

An Interesting Find While searching for gold in a crock at Queenstown minors discovered a gold ring, marked as clearly as though it had just been brought from a jeweller’s shop. The ring, which was hexagonal in shape and about three-eighths of an inch wide, had “in memory of,’’•in black capitals on the outside and on the inside “ Captain Robert Keene, obit. August 28, 1843.” Richard Seddon’s Death To-day is the thirtieth anniversary of the death of Richard John Seddou. He died on June 10, 1900, in his sixty-first year, his death taking place on board the Oswestry Grange while lie was returning to New Zealand from a visit to Australia.

City Police Court At a sitting of the City. Police Court yesterday morning, before Mr J. R. Bartholomew. S.M., Harold Avery Clayton, alias M'Kibbern, alias Rex, alias M'Leod, alias Whitham. alias Lowe, alias H. Clayton JJalziel. was charged with having, at Christchurch, on December 16, 1935, obtained from Claud Howarth Withill the sum of £3 by means of a valueless cheque, drawn on the Bank of New Zealand, Christchurch, and signed H. Clayton Dalziel. He\ was further charged with obtaining from the Import Company, Balcli/tha, on December 23, clothing to the value of £l2 2s 9d and £4 17s 3d in cash by means of a valueless cheque for £l7, drawn on the Bank of New Zealand, Gore. On the application of Chief Detective Young, who said that there were other matters to be investigated, the accused was remanded to appear on Juno 17.

Safety of Joseph Conrad Fears for the safety of the full-rigged ship Joseph Conrad were emphatically discounted by an Auckland resident, who is acquainted with the chief officer, Mr G. Chapman, and. also knows the conditions likely to be encountered ,by the vessel on the way to Tahiti. “ There is only one chance in a hundred of. the ship having foundered,” he said, “ This is the best time in the year for sailing in the Pacific—the dangerous period is from December to March.” He expressed the opinion that Mr Allan J. Villiers had taken the Joseph Conrad through Cook Strait in order that she might be sighted. The further the vessel stood to the southward the better chance there .would be of laying a course and gaining the advantage of the winds from the south-east. It was possible that the Joseph Conrad might visit Sunday Island if adverse winds caused her. to be in the vicinity, as Mr Chapman had obtained particulars of the landings at the Kermadccs while in Auckland. . Stamp Machine for St. Clair

In accordance with the promise mada by the Postmaster-genera] (Air F. Jones), a stamp-vending machine has been installed outside the post office at St. Clair, and is proving of great convenience to residents who, desiriiig to post letters at night;when the office, is closed, have no stamps at the time. Local residents, most of whom, have had experience of unsuccessful quests for stamps' at nighttime, are confident that the patronage accorded the machine will warrant its retention.

An Historic Gift The M‘Nab collection in the Dunedin Fre e Public Library was yesterday enriched by the gift of the quadrant used by. Captain Janies, Cook on the Endeavour during his explorations in the South Pacific. The gift was made to the library by Professor James Park, emeritus professor of mining in the University of Otago, who purchased it from Captain James Patterson, of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The latter’s grandfather was an A.B. on the Endeavour. The quadrant is provided with an ebony frame and the graduated circle is engraved in ivory. The instrument is now appropriately housed in. close company with so many records relating td Cook which Dr M‘Nab collected in various parts of the world.

Hostels Round Lake Wakatipu? Inquiries have been made during the last year about the, possibility of establishing a chain of hostels found Lake Wakatipu, according to the fourth annual report of the Canterbury Regional Council of the Youth Hostel Association of New Zealand. 'The establishment of the hostels had been partly arranged; for. says the report, but a letter to the Otago Tramping Club asking that body to make the final arrangements had brought no result.

Dangerous Surfaces “ Hard-surfaced roads are not alway* an advantage,” said the chairman (Mr P. J.* Williams) at the monthly meeting of the Automobile Association (Otago), last night. He went on to say that on sealed roads speeds were greater, and in winter, especially in shady places, these roads were nothing short of dangerous. It had been found Inst winter on the Port Chalmers road that conditions easily became hazardous, and bn oue occasion, before sand could be put on the road, several accidents bail occurred. “ That,” he concluded, "is- the trouble they are going to have in Central Otago if they go in for sealed roads.” A Pure White Hare

Writing to us from Gimmerburn, Mr J. A. Miller says:—“ Whilst hut shooting on Sunday I had the unusual experience of seeing and shooting a pure white hare. This animal was of the usual size, was in good, healthy condition, and had not a hair of another colour on it. The eyes, also, which, with the ordinary hare, are brown, were of a pink-white colour. The hare was not shot in snow country or at a high altitude but on a paddock very much below the usual snow level. It made a very pretty and outstanding sight when first seen running over the paddock.” Sound Shell for Timaru.

In a report of a recent meeting of the Timaru Borough Council, held to consider the estimates for 193(5-37, : which was presented to the ordinary meeting of the council on Monday night, the following appeared:—“ Caroline Bay Association and sound shell: Messrs Aitken and Lomas, the president and past-president of the Caroline Bay Association, waited upon the committee and stated that the association proposed to erect a sound shell only on the bay this year, towards the cost of which they had £SOO, and asked whether the council would provide £2OO from the Rhodes bequest. Resolved, that if the proposal he agreed to. the approval of the trustees to the Rhodes bequest be sought.” The recommendation was agreed to.