NEWS IN BRIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23341, 5 November 1937, Page 16

NEWS IN BRIEF

The continued dry spell is beginning to have it's effect on industry on tne West Coast. Gold mining in the form of dredging and sluicing, and the sawmilling industry are feeling the effects of water shortage. As a result of the weak current in the Grey River, shoaling has occurred on the Grey bar, and a continuation of the conditions will necessitate the larger vessels restricting their loadings to some extent. The depth at high water on the bar last week was 19ft Bin. the lowest for some time. Tank supplies of water in various parts of the district also require replenishing. , ;., Grandism (3337) With every bottle you buy for Christmas from the Grand you will make a gift that will be appreciated out of all proportion to the cost... The total number of staff employed in the railway service at March 31, 1937, including those on works chargeable to capital, was 20,729, as compared with 17,903 for the previous year. The average number actually " at'. workthroughout The year was 19,115, as compared with 17,073 the previous year. Of the average number of staff at work during the year, 13,267 were permanent and 5848 were casual employees. The average number of men engaged Ton works chargeable to capital was 1366, as compared with 1348 during the previous year. ". , , We make and repair metal articles ol every description, also set and sharpen lawn mowers, shears, saws, scissors, etc.—Dickinson's, Ltd., 441 Princes street, Dunedin... » - '. Shareholders at the annual meeting of the Christchurch Building Society last week were amused by a reference to an early slump contained in -the annual report adopted by the shareholders 50 years ago (says the Press). The annual report, which was signed by Mr M. Sandstein (the chairman), said: " Owing to the continued commercial depression the transactions of the society have been materially curtailed. Still, your committee is able to declare a dividend at the rate of 8 per cent., which must, under all the circumstances, be considered very satisfactory." The total assets in the balance sheet of 50 years ago were shown at £41,000. The total to-day is £298,000. Come and see our show to-night, we are open till 9 o'clock Friday nights.— Scoullar and Chisholm. Limited— A striking instance of the result of failure to use -water wisely to prevent sand formations from being affected by the wind was given by Mr F. M. Hansen, of Wellington, at the engineers conference held at Palmerston North. At the Rongotai aerodrome, at Wellington, he said, a sudden overnight wind had carried away 5000 yards of sand.v "I have an interesting excuse. A starling had taken possession of my letter box. For several days I received no letters then the postman and I discovered letters in the water table up the road," said Professor J. S. Tehnant, at the annual meeting of the Nelson Philosophical Society, in explaining why he had not attended the previous meeting of the committee. Special Showing or new Spring Goods in all departments. Buy now while the,selection is big and the price small. See Windows and interior display. Your inspection invited at Mosgiel's Draper.—A. F. Cheyne and C 0.... During his recent visit to Australia, where he conducted pianoforte examinations, Mr Gordon Short, of Wellington, found keen interest'being taken in music, this being stimulated tremendously by radio talks and performances. " I found a wonderful interest in music everywhere I went in New South Wales," said Mr Short. "Not only are the students keen, but the public is music-conscious and takes a very intelligent interest in music. Not only was this apparent in connection with my work, but all over the country they hold these eisteddfods, or competitions, which are conducted in an atmosphere of enthusiasm." . We note the following new goods this week at Gray's Big Store: Cotton - prints, Lystav (crease resisting), imitation linens in cotton and silk, boiling crepe de chine. Milton ladies can buy well at this store... A woman, clad only in her night attire, ran screaming into Russell, street, Waipukurau,' one night last week. Rousing the neighbours, ?he breathlessly told them that a man was climbing in at a window of her house. A message was then sent to the police, who were promptly on the scene. The man, who was the worse for liquor, was still on the premises. He stated that he mistook the place for a boarding house, and, petting no response when he knocked at the door, he opened a window. There were two women in the house at the time; one went screaming for help,. while the other, in accepted "movie" styae, threw her *>ur<-e into the long grass outside her bedroom window.

Have you seen our " three-in-one" bins, for sugar, flour, and bread? Painted to suit the colour scheme of your kitchen or pantry. Moderately priced.—Dickinson's. Ltd.. 441 Princes street, Dunedin...

A party of visitors to Akaroa who were out fishing in the harbour about noon one day last week were greatly surprised when they sighted a whale, which they estimated to be between 30 to 40 feet long, close by. The whale was again sighted later in the afternoon by the owner of a launch which was cruising towards the heads. It is thought that this whale is probably the same one which was seen off the mouth of the Opihi River at the beginning of the week. From November 29 to December 4 there»will be held at Wellington an important meteorological conference at which the weather services in the south-west Pacific, especially for aviation, will be discussed. The agreement for the establishment of a transpacific service by Pan-American Airways and the prospect of the early inauguration of the transtasman air service make it necessary that steps should be taken to develop meteorological services in the south Pacific area. For drinks of acknowledged superiority you should try Crossan's "Waterloo, Caversham. State requirements, prompt delivery guaranteed. .. " One of our objects in visiting New Zealand is to secure first-hand knowledge of what the dairy farmers think of the guaranteed price system." remarked Mr R. L. Fitzgerald, a member of the party of farmers from New Scuth Wales' who spent one day last week in Palmerston North. Mr Fitzgerald said that so far, having seen only the Carterton Show and visited Palmerston North, where they spent the day at Massey College, the visitors had not had much opportunity of forming contacts with farmers to ascertain their views. However, he had.met one man in the Wairarapa who was considerably interested—Mr B. Roberts, the member of Parliament for Wairarapa. " He said it was working well.' added Mr Fitzgerald, "but he was quite fair about it and told me he was a member of the Government. I would not like to speak of the matter' further. He was very fair with me." Coffee Mills! We have imported a few small coffee grinders suitable for household use.—A. Durie and Co., coffee specialists. 32 Octagon. Dunedin.. . . ~....,'

The informality of the first contract for the construction of a track through the Cannibal Gorge and oyer the Lewis Pass was cited for the amusement of contractors by the Minister of Public Works (Mr R. Semple) at the-official opening of the Lewis Pass road last week. This contract, made by the Reefton County Council many years ago. contained a clause to this effect: ' If there is anything which is not In the specifications but ought to be, the contractor shall do the job that ought to be specified without any extra cost whatever." Mr Semple asked how modern contractors would like to face a contract like that. In addition., to this, the contractor was paid in promissory notes. Have you tried Hitchon's Pork Saveloys, Pork Sausages, or Oxford Sausage (cooked)? If your grocer can't supply, ring our Dunedin branch, 12-344. Milton phone 22...