Overseas Mails

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23108, 6 February 1937, Page 12

Overseas Mails

The air mails despatched from Dunedin via Auckland on January 11, and those from Dunedin per the City of Manchester on January 14 reached London on Wednesday last. • A Defendant’s Friendliness ' “ This man writes a friendly letter,” said Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., in the •City Police Court yesterday, as he smilingly perused a written explanation from a defendant in a motor case. The opening sentence of the letter read: “I regret my inability to appear before your good self this morning.” Masters of Time “ I read only the other day that while Europeans are the slaves of time, Maoris are its masters,” remarked Mr Justice Callan in the Supreme Court in Auckland when a Maori witness explained that an exchange of stock arranged some eight months ago had not yet been completed. His Honor added that anyone who had dealings: with # Maoris never wanted to be .‘n a hurry. Safety of New Zealand Beaches ’: The freedom of New Zealand beaches from sharks, in contrast with the danger that menaced bathers at Australian beaches, was commented, up,on by the Mayor of Auckland (Mr ErrieSt Ddvis), when welcoming the Australian surf life-saving team. He said that a few days previously a young woman had swum out to inspect his yacht when it was anchored about three-quarters of a mile off Milford Beach. A westerly wind was blowing, and she had cheerfully insisted that there was no' risk in making the swim back to the shore. He had mentioned the danger of sharks, but still she was unafraid, saying that no shark would touch, her. Members of the Australian team agreed with the Mayor’s suggestion that a feat similar to the young woman’s would not be attempted by anyone on a Sydney beach. One of them remarked that he would not take the risk, even in New Zealand.

Drinking Among Maori* "There is definitely a need for allround improvements in Maori living conditions in the South Island, but I would not say that present conditions were the result of drinking," was a statement made by Judge J. Harvey, of the South Island Native Land Court circuit in commenting, at Temuka, upon the reports of drinking among Maoris. "I think there is no doubt that Maoris are spending more money on drink that they did immediately before they started to get unemployment relief, yet some of the worst drinking bouts were after the big pay-outs of royalties in the olden days, and I would not say that there was more drinking now than 10 or 15 years ago," he, added. " I do not see enough of the South Island Maori life to say whether they are drinking much, but I do not think it has been the same as in the North Island, where there have been reports of men and women being found drunk—after spending their relief money—lying on the side of the road at 8 o'clock in the morning. The people in the south seem to be more Europeanised."

Earthquake Coincidence It was a rather remarkable coincidence that earthquakes should have been experienced on Wednesday, the sixth anniversary of the big Hawke's Bay upheaval. The shock, which was felt feebly in Wellington at 1.30 p.m., and more strongly in Blenheim, had its origin about 90 miles distant from Wellington, and was probably of shallow focus. A shock which is reported to have been felt in Hawke's Bay earlier in the day made no record on the seismographs at Kelburn,. and could have been of any great intensity.

History of Province* The opinion that the Labour Government would have to set up an editorial board of three to write the history of the provinces of New Zealand, which teemed with examples of human effort was expressed by Mr J. A. Lee, Parliamentary Under-secretary to the Prime Minister, at Runanga. The time had now arrived, Mr Lee said, and it would be a pity to, delay it much longer. In Westland, there were still some of those who could remember the early days. They would have to establish a board and pay the members of it well, he continued. It would be a big job, but they would have to have a record of the men and women who pioneered the country. He did not know of any worthier effort. They had to have that.cultural something as well as that materialistic something,.

Thirty-fifth Visit to Dominion New Zealand ranks high as a holiday and health resort in the opinion of Mr G. Chirnside, a retired grazier, of Lilydale, Victoria, who arrived at Auckland by the Wanganella from Sydney. Mr Chirnside said that this was his thirty-fifth trip across the Tasman, his first visit to the Dominion being made a considerable period before the Great' War. He was especially keen on the fishing the country provided, and had often visited Rotorua for health reasons. "New Zealand is a -wonderful country," Mr Chirnside said. Fall of Masonry

Fortunately, no one was in the immediate neighbourhood when a projecting portion of a factory building in High street, occupied by Messrs Ross and Glendining. fell to the pavement about 9 o'clock last night. The quantity of masonry which broke away was sufficiently heavy to displace for several feet the iron railing of a fire escape which it struck on the St. James Theatre, making the building tremble. As a precaution against further, falls, the area of, pavement, was roped off: ' '

Fire Calls The Port Chalmers Fire Brigade attended to a fire at a house on the Sawyers' Bay road yesterday, when some material between the outer and inner walls was set alight by a painter's'blbw-lamp. The damage was only slight. The building is owned and occupied by Mr T>. Howatson. The Green Island Fire Brigade was called out to Prosser street at 4.30 yesterday afternoon and suppressed a gorse fire.

• Attention is drawn to an advertisement in this issue regarding a sitting of the Arbitration Court in the matter of the furniture trade dispute. The Railways Department advertises in this issue particulars of excursion fares and train arrangements in connection with the Dunedin races- on February 11 and 13. Attention is drawn to the Railways Department's advertisement in this issue referring to the running of an excursion train to Catlins River branch on Sunday, February 14. Special cheap fares are being issued to stations where the greatest scenic attractions are. The weekly old-time dance will be commenced again next Saturday night in the Early Settlers Hall, which is being renovated and redecorated. The Revellers' Old-time Dance Band ot eight players will provide the music. A. Frank Anderson will visit Waipiata and Patearoa, Thursday, February 38: Ranfurly, Friday, 19th; Omakau and Oturehua, Monday, 22nd—Advt. Williamsons Lucky Marriage Kings are hand-forged into the latest shapes and beautifully finished, in 18ct gold Opposite The Savoy.-Advl C. W. Sundstrum, Dentist, Dunedin. will visit Omakau, Oturehua, Naseby, and Ranfurly on Tuesday, E'ebruary 16; Waipiata. Dunback, Palmerston, Waikouaiti, Wednesday, February 17For the latest electrical supplies ot every description, fishing tackle, and Rogers wireless sets visit Barth Electric, Ltd.. 36 George street Dunedin.Advt Eye Strain.-For eye comfort or netter vision consult Sturmer and Watson Ltd., opticians 2 Octagon Dunedin.A. E. J. Biakeley and W E Bagiey, dentists, Bank of Australasia, corner Of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office) Telephone 12-359-Advt.