A Friendly Sparrow

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23686, 19 December 1938, Page 8

A Friendly Sparrow

Coming from nowhere, a friendly spcrrow has taken up its home at the Otago Bowling Club's greem It made its appearance on the green a day or two alter the storm of last Saturday fortnight, and has now the hearts of all the members by its absolute confidence and trust in their goodwill. It flies on to their shoulders and their hands and rests there, arid during the progress of the games members and strangers alike are favoured with its friendly attentions. The sparrow has one special friend in a little girl who is also well-known to club members. Her parents live close to the green, and their residence has a small tree near the door. As night draws on the sparrow flies to this tree and waits for the girl, who takes it into the house and releases it next morning. Any sign of the presence of a cat in the vicinity of the green is now viewed with concern by members of the club. Overseas Mail

The Wanganella and Awatea left Sydney for Wellington and Auckland respectively and are carrying a total of 105 bags of Australian mail and the London air mail of December 3. The mails should be to hand on Wednesday night. The Maunganui carries the Empire mails of November 29 and December 1, and these will reach Dunedin to-day. 'i : •

Slight Damage By Firm Slight' damage, was dbrie.;' to' 'the boiler room at the premises.ijf, Messrs Hogg and Co., Ltd., Roberts street, when fire broke out shortly..afiier 2 o'clock on Saturday morning.' , The cause of the outbreak is not known. Treat for Orphanage Children

Children of the various. orphanages in Dunedin are to be given a-special Christmas treat on Thursday morning, when, by permission of the Amalgamated Theatres, Ltd., in conjunction with Mr W. W ; Duff, general manager of R.K.O. Radio Pictures, they are to be guests at a special screening at the Octagon Theatre of Walt Disney's film, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" Mr Errol Fuller, head office representative in Dunedin for Amalgamated Theatres, has the arrangements for the children's treat well in hand, and it is stated that several local firms will be co-operating in providing the youthful guests with a full measure of hospitality. By the arrangement, the Dunedin children will be the first in New Zealand to see this film.

Ringed Carrot Greenstone rings have frequently been sold at auction, no doubt, but seldom thrown in with a parcel of carrots. At a Wellington vegetable market recently two parcels of carrots were sold to a Khandallah greengrocer. On examining his purchase and knocking off a clod of earth on one of the roots, a greenstone ring was found threaded on it. The root bulged above and below the ring, securely holding it. The district in which the carrots were grown has not yet been ascertained definitely, but it is thought likely that they came from the Manawatu. The rirfg is being retained at the auction rooms. Maori Princes Honoured

A graceful tribute was paid to the Maori leader, Princess Te Puea, at the official opening of the rest room and clinic for Maoris at Pukekohe last week. A European girl of about 15 stepped forward and handed a bouquet to Mrs Nepia, who presented it to the Maori princess as a token of esteem from the European and Maori residents of the Pukekohe district. Later, on behalf of the Rest Room Committee, the Deputy Mayor (Mr G. T. Parvin) handed Princess Te Puea an envelope containing a cheque as a donation to be used for any purpose she thought fit in her social work among the Maoris.

Dragged Into River A fortunate escape from drowning was experienced by Mr K. Waterman, a farm hand, when he was driving a pair of horses with the morning's milk to the casein precipitating station at Mangatawhiri, states a Pukekohe correspondent. While crossing the stream the wagon stuck in a bank of loose shingle. The horses endeavoured to free the vehicle, but the harness gave way, and Mr Waterman, who was holding tightly to the reins, was dragged into the stream. Fortunately Mr Waterman was able to retain his grasp on the reins and the team dragged him to the opposite bank. The ford provides the only outlet for several settlers in the upper portion of the Mangatawhiri Valley. " Wonder Berry "

Similar to the loganberry and the blackberry, the new American Boysen berry has been successfully grown in New Zealand this season. The first chips of this new fruit, which will be known in New Zealand as the " wonder berry," appeared in Auckland shops last week. The fruit is similar to the loganberry, but larger, and has a delicate flavour reminiscent of all its parent stocks, the raspberry, the loganberry and the blackberry. It is dark red juicy, and has few seeds. The first grower of the berry was Mr Rudolf Boysen, a Californian, who, about four years ago, crossed the three berries from which it was derived. He saved only two or three of the plants and had them growing, neglected, on the edge of his citrus orchard.

City Police Court In the City Police Court on Saturday, Murray Donald Stevenson, Charles David Crichton, and Thomas Edward Smith, who were represented by Mr O. G. Stevens, appeared before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., charged with being found without lawful excuse on the enclosed premises of Thompson's Crystal Products, Ltd., but in circumstances that did not disclose the commission or intent to commit a crime. Detective Seargeant Taylor, applying for a remand, said that the accused had been seen leaving the premises, which had recently been burned out, with three bags containing bottles of condiment in their possession. The accused were remanded until Friday next, bail being allowed in their own recognisances of £25, conditional on their reporting daily to the police.

Large Sunfish The first sunfish caught in the Bay of Islands was brought in by Mr W. R. Macpherson in his private launch Movaire. Mr Macpherson has jus't arrived at Russell for a six months' visit from Portsmouth, England. The fish weighed 8031 b. Mr Macpherson went out for a day's fishing at Cape Brett. The sunfish was seen basking on the water and, as it followed the launch, a deep-sea fishing line was thrown out and the fish was caught. The launch took three hours and a-half to tow the fish in. The journey ordinarily takes two hours. The Church School in New Zealand "Our State education system in New Zealand is very good, excellent, but it lacks adequate religious instruction," said Mr C. Foster Browne, the retiring headmaster of the Cathedral Grammar School, at the break-up on Friday evening (says the Christchurch Press). "If there is any, it is rather vajue and flat," he said. "The church school, then, stands~as a protest. But a protest must be made well. The present chaos in Europe is the result of people seeking false gods who are served by false prophets. It could not happen here. But it would be better if we could have a church school in every parish," he said.. .■■*'. ;-

Many Illnesset "I cannot in my experience remember a school year when there has been so much general sickness on the part of pupils," remarked the "headmaster, Mr C. M. Littlejohn, in the annual report which he presented at the Auckland Grammar School prize-giving.last week (says the Star). "The attendance of boys during the year has been very seriously interfered with ovying to an unusually prolonged epidemic-of measles, which affected. this school throughout the three, terms, but. which was particularly felt, in the second term.vwhen all forms were, seriously depleted," he stated. "This has, had a noticeable effect on the general standard of work, as many boys Buffered from complications attendant upon this epidemic, and In both types of measles were contracted."

"Right-hand Knoweth Not —" The attitude of the authorities towards bookmaking was the subject of scathing comment by the Rev. J. W. Smith, when the Auckland Presbytery discussed gambling last week. "Every now and then, as a sop to public opinion, the right hand of.the Government reaches out and grabs a bookmaker; then the left hand stretches out from the Income Tax Department and demands taxes." he declared. "And, of course, the right hand has not the slightest idea what the left hand is doing. We know that the State is not directly concerned with the morals of the people—it is hot concerned with sin, but with crime. Its duty is to see that the correct relationship between citizens is maintained." .. Mr : Smith added that it was common knowledge that people cpuld ask.for and receive in country post offices, the addresses to which money might be sent for Australian sweepstakes.

Education for Business "It has been said that the secondary education is not the type of education # the business man thinks should '; bs given," said Mr W.. A. Armour, headmaster of Wellington College, at the prize-giving ceremony last week."" " I have always found it difficult to define ■the business man,' but I suppose he is anyone engaged In business." Mr Armour said that there were about 15,000 boys in the secondary schools 10,000 of whom were taking the ordinary general secondary course. It was said that the education was not practical enough, but he pointed out that in the smaller centres the courses were more diversified, and in Wellington there was the Technical College, in addition to Wellington College. Mr Armour suggested that the • Chamber of Commerce might arrange a conference at which the question might be discussed as to the type of education the business man thought should be given. ■...'•'

Refugee Students A suggestion that four or five refugee students from Europe should be brought out to New Zealand and allowed to take an agricultural, engineering, or some similar course at the university colleges, was brought before the Victoria University College Council at its meeting last week. The idea originated with the Students' Association, members of which are prepared to maintain the refugee students while studying. The council was asked last night whether it was prepared to' give sympathetic consideration to the proposal, were it carried into effect, in the way of remitting fees, etc. Members unanimously endorsed the Suggestion as a practical method of giving expression to sympathy, and assured the Students' Association that if a definite scheme was brought forward it would receive the council's support. Education in Art

"At times the technical processes involved in the execution of work tends to hide the personal bias the student may possess," said Mr R. Wallw,ork, director of the Canterbury University College School of Art, at the annual prize-giving on Friday evening. " But I want students to realise that it is the technique of their various crafts that can definitely be taught, and their task as students may be viewed as a preparation for their own life work. We do endeavour to encourage personal expression along safe lines, but students need to realise that their.work with us should in the main be'viewed as a preparation for their own life calling."

Attention is drawn to an advertisement in this issue requesting Roslyn and Kaikorai residents to attend a meeting to-night to protest against buses taking the place of trams, ;;v The Patients and Prisoners' Aid Society is making its annual appeal for sufficient funds to provide Christmas cheer for the patients at the Wakan Hospital, Pleasant Valley Sanatorium, the inmates at the Seacliff Mental Hospital Orokonui Home, and for prisoners and their dependents. The office address is. 21 Crawford street, Dunedin. The drawing of the "It's on the Cards" art union is to take place at tha Masonic Hall, The Terrace, Wellington, to-day, commencing at 9 a.m. A E' J Blakeley and W B. tJagiey, dentists. Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets. Teleohone 12-359.-Advt , For rings watches, and jewellery; try Petei Dick, jewellers and opticians. o» Princes street Dunedin—Advt