Untitled

Otago Witness, Issue 3610, 22 May 1923, Page 40

The Sydney Sun’s special representative has been informed that the Duke of York is likely to bo appointed Governor-General of New Zealand on the expiration of Lord Jellieoe’s term. It is pointed out that New Zealand is the best dominion for a novice to gain experience, because it has no possibility of constitutional complications, which is not. the case in dominions composed of federated self-governing States. Among the subjects dealt with at one of the numerous educational conferences last week was the system of teaching mathematics (says a Press Association message from Wellington). Mr Newton, director of the Wanganui Technical College, read a paper strongly condemning it, contending that the application of mathematics to science should replace much of the useless lumber of the present syllabus. He spoke of some of the text books used as monstrosities, and his views met with support, so that a committee was appointed to report at the next conference. The matriculation system also again met with condemnation. Mr Wild, of Feilding, asked if nothing could be done to get rid of this bugbear. It was impossible at present to educate children owing to the fetish of matriculation. Could nothing be done to get rid of this old man of the sea, or had they to submit to him riding them to death? No resolution however, was passed. Some of the holly hedges at the south end of the city have been seriously affected by the recent floods. In several cases the leaves are dropping off, and the branches are becoming quite bare. It is said that the water has caused root sickness in the trees, and it remains to be seen whether they have been killed outright. Mr S. Cousins, the well-known Dunedin horticulturist, says that the holly trees in Invercargill have been dying out during the past two years, but in this ease flood waters have not been the oause., The Invercargill trees have been effected in an entirely different way. In pursuance of the policy of the Agricultural Department in opening farm schools in various centres of the dominion, it is the intention of the local Department of Agriculture to hold a short course of instruction to farmers on subjects of interest from May £9 to June 4 —the week preceding the Winter Show. The school will be organised in Dunedin and the lectures will be delivered in the Technical College, the evening ones, to which the public are specially invited, being given in the Burt Hall. The department is making every provision to obtain from different parts of the dominion experts on various subjects of agricultural science, and among those who have promised to lecture are Dr A. H. Cockayne (Government Biologist), Mr James Begg, Mr R. B. Tennent (Instructor in Agriculture), Dr Barnett, and Mr W. D. Snowball. Dr Cockayne will lecture on “Crop Rotation,” and his public address at. night will he on “Feeding of Dairy Cows.” Mr Tennent will deliver two lectures also, entitled “Manures and Manuring” and “Irrigation in Central Otago,” the latter being illustrated by kinoma films. Mr Begg will lecture on “Farm Finance,” and Dr Barnett and Mr Snowball on “Hydatid Diseases.” In addition to the lectures there will be several practical demonstrations and visits of inspection to one or two nearby farms, the Botanic Gardens, and Kempthorne Prosser’s manure works, Burnside. The course will close with a smoke concert, in Kroon's Hall, Moray place.

Esina Drury, a young man convicted of indecent acts towards young girls, was sentenced to reformative detention for a period not exceeding five years (says a Press Association message from Christchurch). Mr Justice Adams overruled a suggestion that Drury be taken by the Salvation Army, lie stated that in the interests of the public he could not place him under the charge of persons not clothed with legal authority. Some shield must be placed between the prisoner and the public

A Press Association message from Auckland says the allegation that drugs count be obtained by inmates of the inebriate home at Rota Roa Island was withdrawn last week by the man, who appeared in court to plead guilty to a charge of escaping from the island. Barker, who was described as a drunkard and a drug addict, retracted all his allegations, which lie now admitted had no foundation. “What’s that gilded Kiwi on the main truck for?” a reporter asked the chief officer (Mr A. MT.achlan) of the big liner Rotorua, at Port Chalmers last week. Mr M ! Lachlan replied that the gilded Kiwi topped the main mast because the Rotorua was the largest oil-fuel passenger steamer trading to New Zealand. In days gone by gilded emblems of various import graced the main truck of steamers occasionally. Perhaps the best known emblem of this kind in New Zealand waters was when the Rotomahama carried a gilded greyhound at her main truck, blazoning the claim to premier speediness. The Rotorua is a big liner and in addition to carrying 80 first-class passengers and nearly 400 third class, she has 358,729 cubio feet o-f insulated hold space for frozen meat, and 249,164 cubic feet of hold space for other cargo. Prior to her present initial trip under the colours of the Now Zealand Shipping Company, the- Rotorua. was the Federal liner Shropshire, and Captain J. B. L. Hunter, a popular Federal master, is in command. This is also the big steamer’s first trip as an oil fuel burner—24 furnaces to her six boilers. Her average speed for. the trip was 14.04 knots, and it would have been nearer lb knots but for rough weather experienced when approaching New Zealand. However she steamed through it very comfortably, and the passengers were not concerned about fractions of speed knots. A syndicate is being formed under the style of Marine Treasures Limited (says the Melbourne Argus), with the object of recovering a large shipment of gold that is believed was lost in the ship General Grant, wrecked on the iron-bound coast of Auckland Island, New Zealand, while bound for London, during May, 1£66. Of her full complement 68 persons perished, while the survivors, numbering only 10, were marooned, and suffered great hardship, on the island for 18 months before being rescued. It was only as a result of this tragedy that the New Zealand Government established several provision depots on the island. When, some considerable time later, the ship Derry Castle was lost there, her survivors found considerable relief at one of these depots. It is proposed to despatch the expedition in June or July. Strange stories often drift up from Woolloomooloo, which, by prescriptive right, is the haunt of some of Sydney’s most, doubtful characters (writes our Sydney correspondent). The polite have just “released” a new story which treats of one of the most extraordinary mutual protection societies in the world. No doubt if it were registered it would carry the title “Criminals’ Insurance and Benefit Society.” It is a co-operative organisation conducted by the bad men of the “Loo,” who pool funds which are to be used to bail its members out of the cells, and to financially assist their dependents should they overstep the bail mark. The knowledge of the existence of this strange society came to the police by the constant recurrence of bail money from one source for rruite a number of different men. It is believed that the membership is confined to the specially qualified bad characters of the “Loo,” and that each member pays a certain percentage of his earnings, or booty, into a common pool under the charge of one man. The pool can only be drawn upon by the consent of a committee. It is altogether a clever idea, and helps the olass concerned by lending a certain amount, of license to their depredations. The police recognise that in some respects the scheme is quite legitimate, but they are also aware that it does harm in that it stimulates crime. Consequently they are paying a good deal of attention to the matter, but so far have not been able to ascertain whether the society has gone, to the length of arranging accident insurance to provide against failure to “pull off a job ” An authentic disclosure of fhe recent trading losses of the Commonwealth Government line of steamers is expected to be made at an early date (states the Melbourne Age). The balance sheet for the year ended June 30, 1922, will bo published as soon as pos sible after Cabinet has considered the future policy with regard to the line, in the light of information now being prepared by the general manager (Mr Larkin) for submission to the Prime Minister. It is significant that according to a published intimation by cable the similar shipping enterprise conducted by the Canadian Government made a trading loss of £2.000,000 in the last financial year. If commonwealth taxpayers who have provided the money and guarantees for this impulsive enterprise escape with half such a trading loss on fhe last financial year they might derive some consolation from the mate disastrous experience of Canada. Nearly two years have passed from the date up to which balance sheets of (ho line have been published, and an enormous sum of money, estimated at several millions, will have to be written down owing to depreciation of capital value. Upon this and other heads detailed information and calculations are being made by the genera! manager, who is not. in a position publicly to discuss the affairs of the line A welcome caller at the Presbyterian Social Service Association’s office on Friday was a lady who, declining to give her name, handed over £6O. £3O from herself and the like amount from a friend —to help the association’s work amongst the children.

An extraordinary accident occurred on tne West Coast of the South Island recently. Mrs A. Ritchie was walking in her garden when suddenly the ground gave way beneath her. She clung to the surface, however, and her cries soon brought assistance. When she was rescued it was discovered that an old digger’s shaft, which had apparently been covered over with timber and earth, had been sunk in tile garden many years ago. No one knew of the shaft, and the possibilities of a serious drowning accident were hidden under a well-kept lawn. The depth of the shaft can only he estimated, as a pole, 16ft long, could not. reach the bottom of the water, which was about five feet from the surface. The running of all local trains over the railways has gone back to normal, with the exception of the Outram branch. Although Dr Maekeddie appears to have been impressed with the disinterestedness and devotion to science of Dr Spahlinger, a Sw.ss.savant, who claims to have discovered a cure for consumption, experience of the commonwealth health authorities suggests that, the eminent discoverer, or someone acting on his behalf, is not entirely destitute of business acumen (says the Melbourne Age). The commonwealth some time ago asked Dr Spahlinger for particulars of his serum. The latter sent a number of reports, in which remarkable cures were represented, and Dr Spahlinger offered the Commonwealth Government Australian rights to the discovery for a cash-down payment of £30.000, with in addition a royalty over all serum used. These claims from a worker in science, dedicating Ills talents to the relief of suffering humanity, were not considered excessively modest, especially in view of the circumstance that none of the scrum accompanied the offer. The commonwealth authorities then asked for samples which could be tested on infected* guinea pigs, but the eminent Swiss replied in effect that the serum had already been conclusively tested, and the negotiations were thenceforth broken oil'. Until more definite evidence is available that Dr Spahlinger’a remedy is effective, the commonwealth health authorities are indisposed to reeommefid such a heavy expenditure as is demanded on behalf of the discoverer. A Press Association message from Auckland says the Makura’s passengers were vaccinated and landed at Quarantine Station, Motuihi. The vessel and cargo were fumigated, and the mails, including the Australian, were brought to Auckland on Friday night. The Mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley) president of 'he Overseas Club, has received intimation from the Rt. lion. Sir Joseph Ward that he will deliver an Imperial address at the Overseas Club’s patriotic demonstration on Empire night, May 24. The Dunedin branch of the R.S.A. recently telegraphed the Prime Minister urging that immediate publication be given to the report of the War Pensions Commission which sat in November of last year. The secretary (Mr A. C. Laing) is now advised by the Minister of Defence (Sir R. Heaton Rhodes) that after careful consideration it has been decided that the report will not be made publio until it is laid on the table of the House. The Superintendent of Police has received advice that Herbert George Gilchrist, 17 years of age, left his narents’ house at Oturehua at noon on Friday to go rabbit-shooting,, and his dead body was found in the evening, with a bullet wound in the right side. It is supposed that he accidentally shot himself. Sir Francis Bell’s house at Lowry Bay was entered on Monday and jewellery and money to the value of £BO stolen from Miss Bell’s room (says a Wellington Press ssociation message). A man who was arrested in Masterton on other charges is alleged to have been in possession of similar jewels. He will appear before the court at Wellington this week. An Auckland Press Association message states that the Makura’s passengers have been ordered to remain in quarantine until June 4. This period will be completed with the voyage to Sydney. The vessel will fly the quarantine flag until she is cleared at that port. The Makura will be allowed to proceed to Sydney after the transhipment of her cargo. Taranaki has the reputation—and a deserved one, too —of possessing the best roads in New Zealand (states a local exchange). They are macadamised roads with what is commonly called a tar sealing, though the word “tar” is made to cover several preparations. The best streets in New Zealand cities are of macadam covered with an asphaltic cushion. Experience has taught that these roads and streets, though more costly to construct than ordinary macadam, are more economical in practice and more satisfactory in every respect, on 6 very great point in their favour, especially in city streets, being that they are comparatively dustless. In and around Auckland concrete appears to lie held in high favour, possibly because the cement is a local production and there is abundance of good aggregate. At a conference of Auckland suburban local bodies the other day it was stated by one speaker that concrete is the only material that will stand modern motor traffic. Such a statement betrays a want of knowledge which, if acted upon, may prove costly. The executive of the Auckland Industrial Association on Wednesday received a letter from the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association asking whether it would be prepared to allow Dunedin a free hand in deciding the scope of the Exhibition to be held there in 1925-26, and whether the support of manufacturers would still be forthcoming if an international venture were decided upon. Tt was decided to reply that the scope of the Exhibition was one for the decision of the citizens of Dunedin. If the Exhibition were made international the matter would lie considered by the Industrial Corporation. In any circumstances, however, members of the Auckland Association would do all in their power to aid the success of the Exhibition.

| Emily Woods, charged with obtaining j £SB from the Pensions Department by false representation, was ordered to refund the amount and come up for sentence when called upon (says a Press Association message from Invercargill). She obtained a [ pension in >esptct of her son. who was j dead, and represented herself as without means, whereas she owned property. I* ifteen bankruptcies were notified in the New Zealand Gazette last week, seven of them 'being in the North Island. Dr 11. E- S. St ] ven, the principal medical officer at the Government Hospital, Port gives an account in the “Lancet” of a perfectly white negro whom he treated. His father and mother are typical black Sudanese,” writes Dr Stiven. “No relatives of his mother were abnormally coloured, and his father, by another wife, had all black children. ITis eyes are hazel brown, hair on head and body fair flaxen colour, and his skin perfectly white all over the body, but. of a curious thick texture. He had a sister and a brother, both dead, who were white like himself.”