NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26241, 27 August 1946, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Attractions Extolled

Valuable publicity for New Zealand’s attractions is given in the July issue of the Rotarian, which is published in Chicago and circulates among many thousands of Rotary Club members in the United States and in other countries. Five pages of the issue are devoted to New Zealand, and the material comprises a “ fun ” map and photographs illustrating such phases of the Dominion’s life as production, sport, and tourist attractions. ”If you were a salesman dealing in planets and wanted to sell the earth to some Martian visitor,” the Rotarian states, “you would do well to carry New Zealand in your sample case, for on the three islands which comprise this small British Dominion is a little of just about everything on the globe.” The Rotarian reveals, incidentally, that New Zealand has a greater percentage of Rotariaris among its population than the United States or any other country participating in the movement.

Infectious Diseases For the week ended yesterday the Department of Health in Dunedin was notified of one case of tuberculosis and one of scarlet fever.

Tram and Bus Fares Advice that an increase in fares for the cable car and bus services has been approved by the Price Tribunal, W'as received yesterday by the chairman of the City Council Transport Committee, Cr McCrae. The increases, which will take effect from to-day, are on the same basis as those recently approved for the city tramway .service.

Motor Registration Branch The motor registration section of the Chief Post Office, which has been located in the Money Order Office for a number of years, will be transferred to-day to Room 321 in the oil fuel branch of the Post Office. The records and details of motor registration and tyres will be kept in the one branch, and motorists will be able to transact their business in one visit.

Rhodes Scholars

No nominations have yet been made by the University of Otago for 1947 Rhodes Scholarships. The date for receiving applications was originally August 15, but an extension of one month was made. It is probable that applications will be dealt with by a special committee of the Professorial Board towards the end of next month and that the names of the Otago nominees will be available shortly afterwards.

Free Tramway Passes The St. Kilda Borough Council, at its meeting last night, received a request from the Dunedin City Council that, as 10 returned servicemen living in the borough were enjoying free tramway passes, the Borough Council should make a contribution of £5 per pass towards the cost of their transport. Several members of the council expressed the opinion that the request was a paltry one, and it was decided not to make a grant.

Dental Conference The annual conference of the New Zealand Dental Association, which will be attended by members of the profession from all over the Dominion, will be opened in Dunedin to-day. The formal opening will be carried out this morning by the Chancellor of the University of Otago, the Very Rev. D. C. Herron, supported by the Mayor, Mr Cameron, and the presidential address will be delivered by Dr C. H. Tait. The annual meeting of the association will be held on Friday. Delay in Berthing

The Shaw Savill and Albion steamer Mahana, from London, was delayed for about half an hour in the channel approaching Port Chalmers yesterday morning. Passing the beacon off Rocky Point, the vessel dropped her anchor against a flood tide, and due evidently to some mechanical fault in the drum a considerable amount of chain slipped out, and a delay was caused while it was recovered. In the meantime the tug held the ship against the tide. She finally berthed at 8 o’clock.

Children’s Health Camp The present party of 56 children who have spent three months in the King George V Memorial Health Camp at Roxburgh will be discharged on September 6. Reports show that the children have made good progress during their stay, and that there has been a considerable improvement, in their health. The next party of 56 children will enter the camp on September 9. They will be drawn from Southland, North Otago, and Otago, and will spend three months in the camp.

Radio Telephone Service . Figures relating to the demand for the radio telephone service since its reinstatement last year were given by the Director-general of the Post and Telegraph Department, Mr H. M. Patrick, in an interview with a Daily Times reporter yesterday. Calls had increased .considerably, he said, and communication with Australia, and the United States, and to a lesser degree the United Kingdom, was now comparatively commonplace. For the nine months ended June 30, the number of calls made were as follows:—Australia 3185. United Kingdom 236. United States of America 1867.

Highway Improvement Although' little major work is ai present being carried out on the main north highway, several improvements of a minor nature are being effected. A dangerous bend by the Waitati School is being improved and the bank is being cut away to give motorists greater visibility. The large willow beside the elbow bend a short distance up the hill has been cut down—a beautiful tree that has long been a familiar and attractive landmark for all travellers on the highway. The surface of the road is for the most part good at present, but there is need for the elimination, as soon as possible, of several one-way bridges. Overseas Mail

Heavy mails from overseas and from the North Island reached Dunedin at the week-end. and there was considerable activity in the mail room of the Chief Post Office yesterday. The overseas mail consisted of 254 bags of letters and 40 parcel receptacles. These were made up as follows: From Australia, by the Orari, 11 mail bags and 1 parcel bag; United Kingdom, by the Rimutaka, a further 156 mail bags and 19 parcel bags; and by the Mapparowhungo, 35 mail bags and 2 parcel bags; United States of America, by the Marine Falcon, 52 mail bags and 18 parcel bags. Favoured Dunedin

Writing from Auckland to a friend in her home town of Dunedin on August 20 a young married woman has this to say about the gas and electric power shortage in Auckland: “ Most of the restaurants have just given up the struggle and are serving cold meats. We have been having a lot of fun between the gas and the electricity. We have had a power cut from 4.30 to 5 every day for weeks now. I was caught at the hairdressers and had to spend a half-hour in the dark, just sitting, because the driers were off. Shops like Woolworths just exist — candles along the counters. Folks with electric stoves must find themselves in a jam. We do have gas for an hour at mealtimes, but in between there is just a peep."