Central Otago Power Board

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23221, 19 June 1937, Page 12

Central Otago Power Board

By a large majority, the proposal of the Central Otago Electric Power Board to raise a loan of £7OOO was carried yesterday, 271 votes being cast in favour of the loan and only 28 against. The purpose of the loan is to provide additional office and storage accommodation and to cover the expense of reticulating a larger area.

Infectious Disease in Otago Two cases of infantile paralysis were reported in the Otago district during the past week. One is in the Dunedin Hospital, and the other in the Crdmwell Hospital, and both are of a doubtful nature. During the same period, one case of pulmonary tuberculosis was notified in Otago and four in Southland, and two cases of scarlet fever and two of erysipelas were also notified in Otago.

Learned Something “ Mr Nash has learned since being in England that one doesn’t have to go to the South Pole to get frozen,” said Mr S G. Holland, M.P. for Christchurch North, in an address at Timaru on Thursday night.

Thefts of Sheep Four complaints have been received by the police in regard to the theft of sheep (the Timaru Herald states), and inquiries have led to the arrest of a juvenile at Glenavy. The boy is alleged to have stolen 25 lambs, and he will be asked to account lor his actions to a magistrate at an early date. Reports have been made to the police from outlying parts of South Canterbury regarding the disappearance of sheep, the numbers varying from 20 to 60. It is considered that more sheep have disappeared than have been reported, and farmers are advised to keep a close watch on flocks. The manner in which the sheep are being disposed of is being investigated by the police, and some progress is reported to have been made.

Chimney Fire* Two chimney fires engaged the attention of the City Fire Brigade yesterday. The first call was received at 6.54 a.m. from Waverley street, South Dunedin, and the second at 9.8 a.nj. from Rattray street.

New Building Proposed A proposal that new headquarters should be erected is to be placed before the members of the Automobile Association of Otago at a special meeting shortly. The supporters of the project favour the erection of a new building which will provide members with the advantages of more spacious club rooms than are at present available. If this view is supported by a majority of members, they will be asked to consider the suitability of a site at the corner of St. Andrew and Filleul streets which is now under offer to the association. At the same meeting members will be invited to discuss a proposal for the establishment of a driving school, the object of which would be to ensure that learner-drivers are given a thorough knowledge of the workings of a car and of the rules of the road.

Community Singing The weekly community sing was held in the Strand Theatre yesterday, when Mr H. P. Desmoulins once more led the choruses after an absence from the last few "sings” owing to indisposition. Mr Desmoulins expressed his sincere thanks to Mr J. Himburg, who had acted as conductor during his absence. The songs chosen for (he programme were all popular, and were sung with the customary enthusiasm of a community singing audience. The baritone. Mr J. Pringle, sang two special numbers, "The Changing of the Guard " and “ The Gay Highway,” both of which met with a good reception. Mr A. Pettitt continued in his role of pianist, and his efforts were much appreciated. The collection amounted to the creditable sum of £l7. Tramway Concession Ticket* A recommendation that in the meantime the present arrangements for the sale of tramway concession tickets should not be altered is made in the report of the Tramways Committee which is to be presented to the City Council on Monday night. Consideration has been given to a suggestion that the public should be provided with further facilities for the purchase of tramway concession tickets, the repor states, but, after fully investigating the matter, the committee is of the opinion that at the present juncture no departure should be made from the existing arrangements for the sale of such tickets. If, at a later date, it should be found that the department is in a financial position that would permit of the suggestion being given effect to, the matter can than bo reviewed.

Export of Scrap Metal The appearance in the Daily Times yesterday of a message indicating that the export of “ cast iron and scrap metal ” was forbidden as from that date except with the special consent of the Minister, occasioned considerable surprise and some perturbation as arrangements had already been made for the shipment of about 1300 tons by the Japanese steamer Keifuku Maru, which is at present loading at Dunedin. The matter was referred to the Customs Department, which advised that the intention was not to prevent the export of all scrap metal, but merely of scrap cast iron. The consignment which is to leave to-day by the Keifuku Maru is a large one, and consists principally of old dredge material obtained from various sources in Otago.

Leith Valley Road The City Council has 10 men engaged at present on the widening and improvement of the Leith Valley road from the city boundary to where the Leith crosses the road below Sullivan’s dam. Another 10 men are to be drafted to the work on Monday, and it is expected that they will be occupied for some time. The principal work being undertaken is the removal of seme of the sharp bends which at present make the road unsuitable for modern traffic, and when this is completed the conditions on this route should be very much improved. The work carries a full wage subsidy from the Employment Fund.

Obviously I “So far as this parallel business Is concerned —well, parallel is parallel when all is said and done," was the illuminating observation made by a defendant in the City Police Court yesterday, when asked how he came to park his motor truck on the wrong side of a roadway.

Solar Activity Observations of the sun made at the Dominion Observatory, Wellington, yesterday, show considerable sunspot activity. The groups reported last week are now In a more central position. One of these, in the southern hemisphere, extends over the remarkable length of 240,000 miles, or a distance of the moon from the earth.

Government Housing Dr M'Millan, M.P., informs us, on the authority of Mr J. A. Lee, Under-sec-retary for Housing, that tenders will be called within the next few days for the erection of nine houses on M’Shain’s site, Wakari. Our inquiries reveal the information that the land on which the houses are to be erected is situated at the corner of Doon avenue and Berwick street, and was purchased recently by the Government from Mrs M'Shain. Museum Humour

Some amusing illustrations of American and New Zealand attempts to make museum displays more attractive were given in the Commemoration Day address of Mr R. A. Falla, curator of the Canterbury Museum, at Canterbury University College. In the ordinary way, he said, a common barnacle would be described “Common Barnacle (Balanus tintinnabulum) but a label in the Buffalo Museum, United States, said: “Barnacle Bill—he travels cheaply, a tourist without ticket or passport, just hangs on to the bottom of a ship, rides safely around the world, and gets his food from the sea. If no ship is handy, he settles comfortably on a sea shell or a piece of coral.” It happened, curiously enough, that the common barnacle was quite independently singled out for similar labelling in a New Zealand museum, where, however, the official concerned seized on a ready-made and well-known verse description of Mr A. P. Herbert.

Chart of Gallipoli One of the most conspicuous features of the chartroom of the Admiralty survey ship Endeavour, which arrived at Auckland on Tuesday to begin a survey of the New Zealand coastline, is the replica of a chart of the Gallipoli Peninsula. The original chart was drawn by Captain H. P. Douglas, now Vice-admiral Sir Percy Douglas, often called " the last of the hydrographers,” a day before the famous landing by the New Zealand and Australian forces. The Endeavour saw considerable service in the Western Mediterranean during the Great War, and did much survey work during the Gallipoli campaign.

Advertising Debtors’ Names Unusual procedure was adopted by the Whangarei Hospital Board this week regarding the collection of outstanding fees, when it was decided that, at the discretion of the board, a list of all persons against whom judgment summonses have been obtained should be advertised from time to time. The position of a number of people in constant employment has for some considerable time been considered unsatisfactory by the board, and the decision is an effort to make those pay their hospital accounts who are in a position to do so.

Profit from Wild Pig* With the double purpose of reducing the wild-pig pest in Eastern Taranaki and of turning hunting expeditions to profit, the Government and a Wellington tannery firm are co-operating in a scheme for using pigskins. Arrangements have been made for settlers to consign 50 skins to the Welliington firm, which will process the skins and seek a market for them. The„ firm will submit a report on the results to the Lands and Survey Department, which, on that condition, will use a grant of £SO on its estimates for the promotion of the scheme. For years wild pigs have taken toll of new-born lambs on backblocks farms. They have been hunted only spasmodically by week-end expeditions. Many pigs have been slaughtered, but no use has been made of their skins and very little of the carcasses. Endeavours have been made by settlers to secure a bounty on pigs killed, and in conference with the Minister of Lands the present scheme was evolved as an alternative.

We have received £5 from Mr and Mrs C. A. Wilson for the King George V Memorial Fund and £5 from the same donors for the Plunket Society’s Building Fund. . .. The Railways Department advertises in this issue particulars of a special cheap day excursion, Dunedin to Invercargill, on June 27. Two fast trains will be run to Invercargill, returning the same day. Miss Salmond, principal of the Presbyterian Women s Training Institute, will give a lecture on “Women in the Church To-day ” in the Stuart Hall on Tuesday evening. The Dunedin Starr-Bowkett Building Society will hold its forty-first annual meeting on Wednesday night. The laying of the foundation stone of the new St. John Ambulance Association’s premises by the donor, Mr Samuel Saltzman, will take place to-day at 12.15 p.m. on the site of the proposed building in lower York place. The public is invited to attend. The United Starr-Bowkett Building Society, on July 22. will dispose of £2OOO byisale and ballot. A. Frank Anderson will visit Waipiala and Patearoa, Thursday June 17: Ranfurly, Friday, June 18; Omakau and Oturehua. Monday, June 21.—Advt. Barth Electric Ltd., 36 George st.— Special bargain Speedee electric enamel jugs, slightly chipped, for 16s Gd. Electrical appliances of every description. Rogers’ radio.—Advt. Eye Strain.—For eye comfort or better vision consult Sturmer and Watson, Ltd., opticians. 2 Octagon Dunedin.— Advt. , A E. J- Blakeley and W. E Bagley. dentists, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telejfraph Office). Telephone 12-359.—,