Baths for Clutha Valley

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24255, 25 March 1940, Page 6

Baths for Clutha Valley

Mr J. A. Roy, M.P., has received advice that the Minister of Education (Mr P. Fraser) has approved a grant towards the cost of constructing a swimming bath for the use of the children attending the Clutha Valley Consolidated School. “ Something I Can Do " Two members of the second echelon received a pleasant surprise the other day when dining in a Dunedin restaurant. The men were in uniform and were engaged in eating their meal when an elderly stranger, in civilian clothes, came to their table, and, picking up their check, walked away. A few moments, later he returned with the check, now marked “ paid,” and gave it back to them with the remark, “That’s, something Lean do, anyway.” The gesture, if not magnificent, was sufficient to prove to the men in uniform that they have the sympathy and support of those whose years will not permit them to share the work of active service. Phraseology Astray The wording of a clause In the Milk Committee’s report submitted to the Wellington City Council provoked a pertinent question from Cr P. M. Butler. The clause read: “That, approval be given to the purchase of a motor truck required to handle some hundreds of new customers recently taken over by the department.” Cr Butler’s question was whether the truck was a “Black Maria” or an ambulance. The point was fully appreciated by councillors. “Are they dissatisfied customers? ” queried Cr W. Duncan. What was wanted, it was stated, was another truck to handle the requirements of additional customers. Duck for Kapiti Island The question of liberating blue mountain duck and teal on Kapiti Island was before the last meeting of the council of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, when a letter from Dr W. R. B. Oliver was read. In it he expressed the opinion that the island was quite suitable for the purpose. Another letter stated that the Department of Internal Affairs was still considering the society’s request for the transference of these birds. Members said that they could see no reason why permission should be withheld, and the request to the department was reiterated that the Government should take over the whole of the island as a bird sanctuary. That part of the island which was not a sanctuary rather militated against, the success which would otherwise attend the liberation of duck and teal.

Costs Against Crown An item in the statement of accounts presented at the annual meeting of the Bureau of Importers in Auckland was £132 19s lOd, representing costs awarded against the Crown in the imports control test case, F. E. Jackson and 00., Ltd., s gainst the Collector of Customs. Judgment was for the plaintiff company. Disbursements and costs regarding the case were shown at £448 17s Bd, less costs awarded against the Crown, making a net total of £315 l_7s lOd. On the receipts side, donations to the test case costs amounted to £302 18s 6d. Too Many Papers in Libraries “I noticed an excessive number of papers in the libraries in small towns,” ss id Miss E. J. Cam ell, who recently arrived from England to take up the post of liaison officer between the Country Library Service and the New Zealand Library Association. Miss Carnell has just finished a month’s tour of the towns in the South Island (says the Christchurch Press). “Sometimes there were 30 papers in tiny little places, and, if one goes, there’s an uproar,” she said. “On the other hand, the children’s department, if there is one, is absolutely starved for books. In America the children’s department is regarded as the most important. Generally, the emphasis here seems to be on quantity, not quality.” New Zealand Quail not Extinct That the New Zealand quail is not yet extinct, as is generally supposed, was the opinion expressed by Mr D. J. Gibbs at the last meeting of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. He said that on a recent visit to Mayo Island he had seen numerous quail, which he was convinced were New Zealand and not Australian. As the island was 25 miles from the mainland, it was unlikely that the birds had flown across from it, and, as the island was a sanctuary, it was unlikely that anyone had taken the trouble to take the birds there. He added that until someone shot one (which was illegal) or until permission was given to trap one. the point as to whether the birds were of the New Zealand or Australian species could not be determined for certain. He personally was convinced that they were the supposedly extinct New Zealand species. Llama Born at Zoo A Llama calf has been born at the Auckland Zoo and is reported to be making good progress. During recent years the zoo has had considerable success in breeding these animals, and a number have been sold to overseas zoos. The Llama is a member of the camel family and is a native of South America. In Peru, especially, it is used as a beast of burden.

Origin of Lych-gate* Lych-gates are by no means unfamiliar structures in New Zealand, for many of them have been erected at the entrances to churchyards in various parts of the Dominion. Their origin in mediaeval England, which is less well known, was briefly explained by Archbishop Averill at a ceremony in St. Stephen’s Cemetery, Parnell. A lych-gate, he said, was intended as a shelter under which those who bore a body to burial might sit down and rest. He did not know whether. this was a reflection on the unpunctuality of the clergy in those times, but the fact remained.

A special holiday dance will be ' held to-night in the Early Settlers’ Hall. The programme will be equally divided between old time and modern dances. The music will be supplied by McCaw’s Band. Coffee for breakfast! Order from your grocer a tin of “Bourbon,” the coffee of quality! Instructions in every tin. Prepared by Durie’s. coffee specialists. 32 Octagon. Dunedin.—Advt For rings, watches, and jewellery, try Peter Dick, jewellers, 59 Princes street, Dunedin.—Advt.