City Property Changes Hands

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23220, 18 June 1937, Page 8

City Property Changes Hands

An ' interesting transaction with respect to city property that has just been completed concerns the wellknown premises of the Leviathan Hotel in Lower High street, which have been sold to a local syndicate. The price at which the property changed hands is understood to have been £17,500. The new owners propose to carry on the establishment as a private hotel and intend spending a. sum of £4OOO on renovations and remodelling. Mrs A. Connor, the present occupier of the premises, was the vendor. Included in the purchasing syndicate are Messrs J. Jackson Purdie and J. J. Mariow.

Incoming Mail The Rotorua, with six bags of English mail and 222 parcel receptacles for New Zealand, is ducat Wellington on Sunday. The Dunedin portion should be to hand on. Tuesday evening.

Missing Girl Not Traced Despite the pursuit of extensive ino.uiries by the police, no trace has yet been found of Olga Valerie Bentley, the 20-year-old girl who has been missing since June 4. The girl left home in the morning to go to work, and since then nothing is known of her movements. 'Cinematograph Regulations

A Press Association message from Wellington states that the Kinematograph Films (issue of exhibitor's licence) Regulations were issued with the Gazette last night.

Chinese Art Exhibition The loan exhibition of Chinese art, which is at present on view in the Otago Museum, provides lovers of antique art with an unparalleled opportunity to familiarise themselves with the work of early Chinese craftsmen. Many of the articles in the exhibition have been secured on loan from some of the foremost English collectors by Captain G. HumphreysDavies, the curator of the exhibition, and embody several priceless gems thousands of years old. The exhibition will remain open until July 7. Rare Fish Caught A specimen of elephant fish (callorhynchus antarcticus), the first ever caught in these waters, was among the recent catch of the trawler Hurunui. The fish, which is a good specimen, is about two feet long, and has a curiously marked head and a fine tail. It is at present on view, with several other unusual specimens, including a Typhlanarke Aysonis, in the window of a iishmonger in Princes street.

Protection of GodwiU An assurance that proposals to include the godwit on the list of absolutely protected birds would receive full consideration was given by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr W E. Parry) in reply to representations made by the Auckland provincial conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. Mr Parry (says a Press Association telegram) recalled that previous representations had been made by him on the subject, and he had decided that the season this year <=hould be reduced from two months to two weeks. He fully realised the remarkable life history of these birds and believed that their long migratory nights made them well worthy of protection.

Cockle Catches Mous« A mouse or a rat trap is the usual method of imprisoning rodents that make raids on the family pantry, but a few days ago a cockle did its work as a watchman effectively in the pantry of a residence in, Ormond road, Gisborne. It was found by the housewife that one of some cockles on a plate awaiting the morning meal bad clamped on to the tail of a mouse. Though pinioned, the mouse had takeri refuge in a hole giving access to the pantry. It had. found it impossible to drag the shellfish through the opening. When an attempt was made to restore Ihe cockle to the plate it was a greatly surprised housewife who discovered the securely-attached mouse. Destruction of Keas

Keas have been more plentiful in the Ashburton River gorge this year than for some years, states a runholder in that district, who has been killing the birds. A recent search resulted in 36 keas being killed. There has this year been more activity in the destruction of keas in the Ran'gitata, Ashburton, and Rakaia River gorges than for many years. Since last November, the Ashburton County Council has paid 3s 6d each for 210 beaks.

Radio-equipped Trucks Transport arrangements of the Auckland Electric Power Board may be materially improved this year by the introduction of radio control of the board's trucks. In a report to the board at its annual meeting the general manager (Mr R. H. Bartley) stated that the board had called for tenders, closing early next month, for plant to give a two-way radio communication between a central point and the board's trucks. This plant, he said, should be the means of saving many idle miles of transport and should enable the board's motor vehicles to handle much more work in a given time and at a given cost.

New Cook Strait Cable Bad visibility on Wednesday delayed the final act in the laying of the new telephone cable from Blind River, near Scddon, to Wellington. The cable si earner Recorder arrived off the mouth of Blind River early in the day, but had to stand off about three-quarters of a mile to await a suitable opportunity to lay the shore end of the cable. Steady south-east rain formed a heavy mist, which obscured the marked beacons for the steamer; and a heavy surf pounding the shore prevented the launch which was standing by to assist with the work from going out to meet the steamer. For some distance out to sea a rope is buoyed, ready to be attached to the cable which will be floated to the shore on a number of large benzine drums. On shore a caterpillar tractor and a large motor lorry, equipped with hauling gear, are standing in readiness to pick up the cable and haul the end to the repeater station a few hundred yards from the water on a slight rise. A trench from the water to the station is already open to receive the cable, and this willl be filled in immediately it is in position, as exposure to the air for any time causes rapid deterioration.

Shortage of Accommodation An acute shortage of first-class office accommodation and also of floor space suitable for use by manufacturers, warehousemen, and garage proprietors exists in Auckland at present. There is, according to leading agents, an exceptional demand for such accommodation and (says our special correspondent) inquiries are being received in increasing numbers. One agent said he considered that the position was likely to remain acute for some time to come. He explained that it would not be relieved until more buildings were erected, and as these took time to build there was every indication of the shortage continuing ior months.

Office Juniors Scare* > • i I The Vocational Guidance Association reported yesterday that it had on its books nine positions for boys and girls as office juniors, and that at present few boys and girls of suitable education and acceptable age were offering for this type of work. It had been found, it was stated, that youths of 18 years with the necessary qualifications were not wanted in offices mainly because of the high starting wage to be paid, namely, 32s 6d a week, and their early arrival at the age when they had to be paid the basic wage. Except in the case of shop work for girls, little difficulty was being experienced just now in finding employment for both girls and boys, so long as they did not carry an excessive handicap of previous working time.

We have received £5 from Mis Leslie Wilson and £3 3 3 from the. Rev. Canon Statham as donations to the Plunket Society's Building Fund. Eye Strain.—For eye cornton or better vision consult Sturmer and Watson, Ltd.. opticians. 2 Octagon Dunedin.— Advt.

A. E. J. Blakeiey and W K Bagley, dentists. Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 12-358 Advt.

Those who are requiring an Engagement Ring will do well to inspect our stock. Peter Dick, jewellers and opticians. 488 Moray place. Dunedin.— Advt. ;•