NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24699, 30 August 1941, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

AS a result of the issuing of a permit •**■' to the value of £75,800 to erect a brick and concrete building for New Zealand Breweries, Ltd., the building figures for Dunedin for August show a substantial increase over those for the corresponding month of last year. Up to 4 p.m. yesterday 61 permits were issued of. a total value of £91,889, as against 60 permits of a value of £35,536 in August, 1940. During the past four weeks eight permits were issued for new dwellings ranging in value from £llOO to £23,000, two of the permits being for Government houses.

Y.M.C.A. Street Appeal In spite of the inclement weather yesterday, the street appeal for the funds of the YiM.C.A. resulted in £2OO 15s being collected. This amount was approximately £3O above the sum collected last year. „ Interest-free Loans

The latest/list of interest-free loans and donations to the War, Expenses Fund acknowledged by the Minister of Finance, Mr W. Nash, bring the total to date to £2,716,237. The loans acknowledged yesterday (states a Press Association message from Wellington) include sums of £SOO from Dr F. S. Batchelor, of Dunedin, Mr G, H. Ormond Wilson, of Bulls, and Mr Thomaf G. Philpot, sen., of Wanganui. Vital Statistic*

A slight increase In the number of deaths and a fairly substantial decrease in marriages are shown in the vital statistics for Dunedin for the month of August, compared with the figures for the corresponding month of last year. The number of births for the months under comparison shows little variation. During the past month 157 births were registered, compared with 154 to August, 1940. Deaths totalled 99, as against 80, and marriages 70, compared with 95. ' South Island* Travel

At the request of the South Islands Travel Association an Advisory Committee has been set up in Dunedin, states the report of the Finance Committee/to be submitted to'the meeting ofr the' City Council on Monday night. It comprises representatives of the City Council, Otago Harbour Board, Automobile Association (Otago), Otago Travel Club, and Chamber of Commerce, with Mr H. C, Carter as secretary. Cr M. C. Henderson has been appointed to represent the council.

Granting of Probation , Quoting from-a report of the Prisons Board oh the granting of probation, Mr Justice Blair said in the Supreme Court at Wellington that out of 1070 persons admitted to probation last year only il per cent, failed to observe the probationary conditions. That gave judges a bit of comfort, as they met a lot of criticism about the granting of probation. The stated that carefully-planned crimes did not deserve the generous impulses of the law. "A lot of people think the law doesn't have generous impulses, but we do," commented his Honor.

Caledonian Ground "It is unthinkable that the ground should be let go for building lots," said Mr W. A. Jenkins at a meeting of the executive of the Otago Provincial Council of Sport oh Thursday night, when the fate of the'; Caledonian Ground was being discussed. Mr Jenkins stressed the importance of the ground being retained for recreational purposes. A motion was carried that the: City Council be .written to, stating that it was noted the Caledonian Society proposed disposing of the ground to the City Council, and urging the latter to do its utmost to retain it as a sports, area for the city. ,*- ," " ". •-j Churchill Gift Book '

A cable message this week referred to a book written by Mr Winston Churchill's ancestor, Sir Winston Churchill; a copy of which has been presented for auction in New, Zealand for the National Patriotic Fund. Dr G. Scholefield, parliamentary librarian, has supplied the following note on the boofc-ilts full title is " Divi Britannici, being a remark upon the Lives of All the Kings of this Isle from the Year of the World 2855 to the Year of our Lord 1160." - It contains many copperplates of the arms of the Kings of England which have been handcoloured. Odd copies have appeared on the London market from time to time at prices ranging up tp £l6 10s.

Mussel Bay Reserve The question of adding to the Mussel Bay recreation reserve is to be considered at a special meeting of the Port Chalmers Borough Council on Monday.. A. week ago it was decided fo abandon the proposal to utilise the council's portion of, the Mussel Bay reclarhation area for the purposes of a State housing scheme, and the Intention now is to discuss the "advisability of purchasing from..the Otago Harbour Board a strip of land, 45 feet wide, adjoining the council's present property. This additional area, comprising something like two-thirds of an acre, would, it is stated, provide room for various, improvements from the point of view of using the reserve as a recreation area.

Municipal Organ Recital The city organist, Dr V. H. Galway, will present a programme of interesting organ musiq at his after-church recital in the Town Hall to-morrow night. Special mention may be made of Bach's brilliant Fantasia and Fugue in G minor and also of Guilmant's famous Sonata in D minor, which .the organist is performing for the first time in its entirety at these recitals. Other pieces of interest to be performed are: Overture to "Athaliah" (Handel), "Ave Maria " (Arcadelt), and Epithalamiurn (Salome). A Berceuse by Arensky is to be played for the first time at these recitals. Dr Galway will be assisted py Mr Lex McDonald, who will sing: '"Arm, Arm, Ye Brave" (from the "Judas Maccabeus"), "O,.Could I But Express in Song" (Malashkin), and " Drink to Me Only," arranged by Quilter. There-will be no charge for admission.

Benefit to Trams It is an ill wind that blows nobody any good, and, although the petrol restrictions have caused some limitation of travelling, the City Transport Department is one interest that is benefiting to some extent from them. There was little improvement in traffic figures for the first fortnight of this month, the transport manager (Mr ! W. H. Mackenzie)! said yesterday, but the increase in the past two weeks was pronounced. In consequence, the number of passengers using trams and buses this month was much greater than that in July, at the end of which month the further petrol restrictions came into operation. There were, of course, various factors to be taken into consideration in accounting for fluctuaations in transport figures, but it was apparent that the limitation on the use of motor vehicles was responsible for a marked additional demand on trams and buses.

Particulars are advertised of the picture to be screened at Outram to-night. A relief express will leave Christchurch for Dunedin at 9.10 a.m. and a mail train will leave Dunedin for Christchurch at 8.45 ajn. to-morrow. A. Frank Anderson, dental surgeon, visits Middlemarch, Waipiata and Patearoa, Thursday, August 21; Ranfurly, August 22 and September 5; Oturehua. September B.—Advt. 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.