Overseas Mails

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23828, 7 June 1939, Page 10

Overseas Mails

The Wanganella left Sydney for Wellington on Saturday with 26 bags of Australian and Empire mails for Dunedin. The mails should reach the local Post Office to-morrow evening.

Fire Brigade Calls Chimney fires at Stanley street and Stuart street at 6 p.m. and 6.42 p.m. respectively called out the City Fire Brigade yesterday.

Ragwort in the City "Ragwort is not confined to the country," said Cr W. Moore at yesterday's meeting of the Bruce County Council when the control of the weed was being discussed. " I saw a particularly healthy plant growing in the gutter in Manse street when I was in Dunedin the other day. Perhaps the townsfolk thought it was a prize cineraria," he added. Public Health Returns

One case of typhoid fever remained in the Dunedin Public Hospital at the conclusion of the week which ended at mid-day on Monday. During the period one case of erysipelas was admitted, one was discharged and two still remain in the institution. There were no cases at the Logan Park Hospital.

A Beagle Hunt The first beagle hunt ever staged in South Canterbury took place on Monday, and proved most successful, in spite of the fact that there was an abundance of hares, resulting in the hounds repeatedly being confused by fresh scents. The event was the outcome of arrangements made by the Timaru Harrier Club with Mr J. W. McKergour, master of the Maranui Foot Beagles. The pack is the only one of its kind in the Dominion, and after the success of Monday's run further fixtures are likely to take place. About 21 harriers, representing various clubs, attended the meet, while members of the South Canterbury Hunt were also present in strong numbers. For most of them it was a new experience, and while they had to carry themselves instead of. relying on their steeds as usual, they were never far from the hounds. American Dust Storms " It is commonly said that there are are only 47 States in the Union now, for Oklahoma, which is in the centre of the ' dust bowl,' has moved to California," said Mr E. J. Thomas, of San Frsncisco, who arrived at Auckland with his family in the 44ft yacht Silver Spray from Russell, after a trip from America. Mr Thomas said the refugee camps in California suggested that there had been a war in progress. Farmers and their families had been forced to leave their holdings because the dust storms had made them worthless. Some of them had been able to raise only enough money for their fares.

" Men of Discretion " "I often thank God the reporters are men of discretion, knowing what to leave in and what to cut out," said Mr S. P. Taylor, when proposing a toast to the press at a farmers' function in Ashburton. "If they weren't, the newspapers would make very interesting reading after some of our meetings," he added, amid laughter.

Council's Housing Scheme The latest position regarding the City Council's housing scheme was explained at last night's meeting by the acting chairman of the Finance Committee (Cr. Smith) in reply to questions by Cr. Connolly. Of the £300,000 borrowed in connection with the scheme, he said, over £290,000 had been actually alloted, and the remaining £9OOO had been allocated, so that the whole £300,000 had been disposed of. The question of a further loan was, of course, one for the whole council. A further tender, that of D. A. Swann, at a price of £1054, was accepted at the meeting.

One Spark "A spark the size of a pin's head can cause intense radio interference in all parts of the borough," said Mr L. Birch, radio inspector at New Plymouth for the Post and Telegraph Department, announcing the successful conclusion of a fortnight's search for a major disturbance which was reducing radio listeners to a frenzy. Borough Council employees and Mr Birch have been out day and night on occasions in the last two weeks endeavouring to trace the source of the trouble. The hunt came to an end with attention to a street lamp holder in Queen street, near the Post Office, and since then New Plymouth has had peaceful radio reception. Intoxicated Driver*

Commendation of the Minister of Transport (Mr R. Semple) in his efforts to rid New Zealand of the drunken driver is recorded in the latest issue of the Methodist Times. The article says that the statement made by the Minister that in six years 1200 persbns had been killed on the roads was alirming. Only a week previously he had stated that in 42 days 42 persons had met their deaths in motor accidents. The writer recalls that last year Mr Semple said that 130 convictions against intoxicated drivers had been registered, and £II,OOO had been collected from offending motorists. The Methodist Times expresses satisfaction that judges and magistrates are falling into line with the Minister in the administration of the law, and cites a statement by Mr J. H. Luxford, S.M., in which he says " a slightly intoxicated driver is the greatest evil of the present time."

Towards Cleaner Streets The decision of the Works Committee of the City Council to install 17 more rubbish receptacles between Frederick street and the Octagon was commended by Cr E. J. Smith when the report of the committee was under consideration at last night's meeting of the council. The council was trying to clean up the streets, he said, and with that end in view had recently passed a by-law making it an offence to cast cigarette packets, and similar rubbish oh the streets. The provision of jadditional facilities would help the people to observe the bylaw, arid he thought the citizens of Dunedin were sufficiently publicspirited not to require prosecutions, as had happened in Sydney, to urge them to, keep their streets clean. School teachers might be able to help by impressing on their pupils the necessity to refrain from throwing litter on the streets. The money for the additional receptacles would be well spent. .;

A Peacemaker Scorned " Where Mr Chamberlain has failed, how can Mr Savage hope to succeed?" was a question asked at the.monthly meeting of the Bruce County Council yesterday that summed up the feeling of councillors towards the Prime Minister's appeal for a world peace conference. ,The matter arose when a letter was received from the secretary of the National Peace Council of New Zealand asking the council to support the Prime Minister's appeal for a world conference on economic and other questions affecting the peace of the world. Cr J. Clark was the first speaker to throw cold water on the proposal, and he did so in no uncertain terms. "How could such a conference be arranged?" he asked. "And what good would it be? Mr Chamberlain tried his best,in the interests of peace and Herr Hitler has broken all his promises. Another peace conference would be useless, for you cannot trust Herr Hitler to keep any pledge." Cr A. Renton said that the League of Nations had failed, and he could not see how Mr Savage could succeed. The chairman (Cr. D. McGregor) also ridiculed Mr Savage's attempt to bring peace to the world and said that the appeal savoured of political propaganda. "He has quite enough to do looking after his own business," he added, "without worrying about overseas troubles," And so . none of the encouragement sought for the Prime Minister's appeal was forthcoming. Traffic Inspector's Powers An action by a traffic inspector was the unusual cause of a team from the Milton Women's Hockey Club defaulting its match against a. Lawrence eleven last Saturday. The team was being driven to Lawrence in two private cars and the first carload was safely on its way when the inspector arrived in Milton. He was evidently informed of the manner in which the team was travelling to Lawrence for he went straight over to the driver of the. second car and refused to allow him to proceed on his journey. The driver was a minister of the church, and, as he had received nothing towards travelling expenses, he was at a loss to see why he should not take his passengers to their destination. It is understood that the traffic inspector later followed the other car and informed the occupants that he had refused their team mates permission to travel by private car. Officials of the club are indignant that the inspector could interfere in the matter and they question his authority to dictate to a. private car-owner whom he may take as passengers in his car. The inspector's ruling is one of considerable interest to sports bodies throughout the Dominion.

Pay Duplicate Books The opinion that the "pay duplicate " section of the public library was overdone was expressed by Cr. McCrae at last night's meeting of the City Council. He considered that there were far too many books in the collection, to the detriment of those in the free section. In the report presented by the librarian on the subject, Cr McCrae said, it was stated that when the pay duplicate section was commenced books in that section were to be represented in the free section. That might have been so, but he had many times seen books in the pay duplicate collection and had failed to find them in the free part of the library. After all the Library was a free one, and while he recognised the value of the pay duplicate section, he thought it was being done to death. Cr. McCrae also said he considered that the system of payment of one penny on Sundays and holidays when the library was closed was wrong. Cr. Gibson agreed with Cr. McCrae's remarks, and Cr. Smith, who, in the absence of the chairman of the committee moved the adoption of the report, said he would refer the complaint to the committee.

Restraint on Farm Mortgagees? " Is there any possibility of restraint being placed upon mortgagees until the finding is announced of the Royal Commission which is to investigate the meat and wool industry? " was a question asked by Mr C." R. Sheat,of Milton, in a discussion at the conference pf the Otago branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union yesterday on the position of the farmer in relation to the rest of the community. The president of the New Zealand Union (Mr W. W. Mulholland) said that the' whole; subject was under consideration by'the Government. Nothing of that nature could be done until Parliament • met; but he could say that by that time the whole position wculd have received very serious consideration. Return from Sunday Island

Mr V. J. Clinch, who has been radio operator with the New Zealand Government's survey party on Sunday Island for nearly two years, returned to Lyttelton on Monday by the Maui Pymare, and is going on to-Welling-ton. Mr Clinch says that he enjoyed life on the island, where the six men are well housed. Plenty of fruit is available, and the men maintain their own vegetable garden, besides which the Maui Pomare makes periodical visits with stores. -':•■'

Hire-purchase Insurance .; . The loss suffered by a citizen on »n electric range purchased at the municipal showroom under hire-purchase agreement was referred to by Cr. Connolly at last night's meeting of the City Council. The reason for the loss, he explained, was that the man's house was destroyed by fire and with it an electric range. The following day he received a letter from the town clerk that the range was not covered by insurance and that he owed-the sum of £43 on it. Cr. Connolly considered that all goods taken from the showroom on hire-purchase' agreement should be insured by the council. The acting chairman of the Electric Power and Lighting Committee (Cr Henderson) said that the question was already under consideration by the committee. A lantern lecture on Abyssinia will be given in the United Congregational Church, Albany street, tc-night by Miss Templeton (of the Sudan Interior Mission), who was at one time matron of the leper hospital at Addis Ababa. For rings, watches and jewellery., try Peter Dick, jewellers and opticians; st» Princes street. Dunedin.—Advt /