Untitled

Otago Witness, Issue 3613, 12 June 1923, Page 3

Prospecting goes on apace on the West Coast (says the Greymouth Star), as the creed is firmly held by some of the more optimistic that as much gold remains to be found as has been already gained. It is reported from Reefton that gold-bearing stone has been found on the Alfred River, Maruia, at wliat is known as Bromley’s Flat. The stone has been assayed, and goes 19dwt to the ton. So far three leases have been pegged out, and applied for, and another two will be taken out soon. It is understood that an Auckland syndicate is interested in the leases. The locality was for years prospected by two very old residents —Messrs Fraser and Pell, who took a considerable quantity of alluvial gold from the district, but they did not locate any payable quartz.

In the course of some humorous remarks made at the South African Veterans' reunion last week, the lion. W. Downie Stewart said that during the la,te war much was heard of the Cockney humour, but very little of the humour of the New Zoaland soldiers. The New Zealanders possessed a keen sense of humour as was evidenced by the following story. On one occasion in the front lino it was noticed that the shells of our own guns were falling short, causing casualties in the front line. One of the men, asked Mr Stewart if they were our own shells which were falling short, and Mr Stewart, who was telephoning the effect of the fire to the artillery officers, said that that was so. “Well, I thought that would bo the way with those women making shells in England. They are filling the shells with faco powder instead of wilh gunpowder.”

A sensational experience was that of a couple of men employed at Warren and Feeney's sawmill at Blue Spur, near Hokitika, last Saturday morning (relates the Guardian). They were engaged with a couple of horses in conveying a steel rope, 20 chains in length, up the hill to the bush winch, the horses dragging the rope with chains, when lightning struck the steel rope. At the time one of the men was releasing the ropo from an obstacle on the track, and he was thrown into the scrub in a dared state, while a second flash then struck the rope, causing the horses to boll; streaming up the track. They were not slopped till they reached the bush, where, as soon as a bushman released them from the chains, they again took to their heela and disappeared into the scrub. The accident occurred at 9 a.m., and the mill management decided to cease work for tha rest of the day.

The building of hundreds of five-roomed concrete cottages (freehold) for £923 each was a proposal contained in the housing scheme for Auckland embodied in a report by the Mayor (Mr J. H. Gunson), which was laid before the City Council. tla proposed that the council undertake forthwith the erection of houses in batches of not loss than 50 consecutively until the requirements were met, of the following accommodation : Three bedrooms, a living room, bathroom, large kitchen (including pantry), etc., washhouse, with copper, an area of about 1024 square feet. The city engineer reported that ho had prepared designs and estimates for building in permanent material a number of five-rooined cottages at a minimum cost. The figure by constructing, say, lots of not less than 50 buildings of this class of cottage would not exceed £7lO. Discussion of the scheme was deferred.

It is reported that there is some dispute in the Post and Telegraph Department respecting payment of women offi- '

cers. It is alleged that the salaries of women holding senior and responsible positions are being whittled down and the scale increases provided for them has been almost universally stopped.

The most notable feature in connection with the marriage of Lady Northcliffe to Sir Robert Hudson (says the London correspondent of the Melbourne Age) was tha fact that the Daily Mail, which had been controlled by the late Lord Northcliffe sinca its foundation, ignored the event. This could not have been because the paper regarded the marriago of the widow of its late proprietor as a matter that would not interest, the general public, for every other paper in London announced the marriage, and the direct rivals of the Daily Mail, such as the Daily Express, Daily Chronicle, and Daily News, starred it, and reproduced photographs of the bride and bridegroom. The fact of the matter is that the relatives of the late Lord Northcliffe were very much annoyed at his widow marrying again. And their annoyance was increased by the fact that she had been a widow considerably less than a year. These things explain why Lord Northciiffe’s brother, Lord Rothermore, who is now in charge of the Daily Mail, kept from the readers of the paper the fact that Lady Northcliffe had married again. Nor was the fact that the bridegroom had been for 27 years very closely identified with tho Liberal Party as its chief! agent likely to make him acceptable to tha late Lord Northciiffe’s relatives, for tha Daily Mail, though nominally independen# in its politics, never leans to the side of Liberalism. The marriage lias naturally caused speculation as to what amount of the fortune left by Lord Northcliffe to his widow will he diverted to other resources by her second marriage. In one of the two wills left by Lord Northcliffe there was a clause cutting down the amount in the event of hia widow’s marriage, but it is said that the terms of the settlement of tho dispute between Lady Northcliffo (who was the chief beneficiary and sole executrix of the will made by Lord Northcliffe when ho was on his deathbed) and the executors of tho former will, which was eventually proved, practically rendered Uiis clause void-

A Press Association message from Wellington says the last tun Del at the Mangahao works was pierced early on Saturday, 2nd inst., and the work has now extended for two and a-half miles. About 70 chains have already been lined behind the boring. That the wholesale destruction of native birds is going on in some districts was made plain by Mr F. Dyer at the annual meeting of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society (states the Post). He quoted tits case of a Maori who had told him wh Ai he was camping up north that “there w

plenty pigeons there.” The Native add* that his tribe had shot 1700 pigeons, and was preserving them for use at a feast at tho unveiling of a monument to some Maori chieftain. Mr Dyer said to the Native: “I suppose you know that it is illegal to shoot, native pigeons,” and the reply came, “Oh, we don’t take any notice of that. Plenty pigeons here.’ Messrs Love Bros., of Port Chalmers, have successfully completed their contract for the construction of 51 houses, refreshment room buildings, etc., at Otira and Arthur’s Pass. This contract wa3 a considerable undertaking, and associated with many difficulties, but no serious hitch or delay took place, and the Public Works and Kailway Departments, for whom the work was done, have expressed satisfaction with the way in which the contract has

been carried out. It is interesting to note that these buildings, for the accommodation of the staff of the Otira railway, have been designed to eliminate the complaints about housing which have been often heard since the tunnelling scheme was started about 17 years ago. The construction gangs are about to give place to the permanent operating staff, and the new houses should provide a reasonable degree of comfort, for they are fitted with hot water, electric light, and drainage to sewer. Messrs Love Bros, have on- hand at present a further contract with tho Railway Department for the erection of 13 similar houses at Springfield.

An arrest of a young man, aged about 30, took place at Waimotu on Sunday, 3rd inst, about 4 p.m. Constable WooclI«v, of Hampden, had had reported the theft of some £4O 7s lid and a suit of clothes from a hut on Mr Andrew’s farm, and his investigations led him to arrest the accused. The accused occupied the same hut as the complainant, and it is alleged that ho removed the money and clothes on Saturday, the articles being found under a straw stack on the farm. He was brought before Mr R. Wilson, J.P., at Hampden the next morning and was remanded to appear at Oamaru, when a further charge of stealing £ll was preferred against him.

A large crowd assembled in the main street on Tuesday afternoon to witness the procession of over 100 pipers and dancers associated with the championships at present in progress in Dunedin. The parade was headed by a Ripe Band, Mr John Ogg acting as marshal. A school fife and drum band also participated.

A Press Association wire from Auckland says that 19 of the Makura’s passengers are still detained in quarantine. A girl has developed suspicious symptoms of alastrim, and the others remain pending developments.

An Auckland Press Association message states that an investiture was held at Government House last week, .and recipients, their relatives, and friends, and other guests were subsequently entertained by their Excellencies at a reception. The recipients were —Knight Bachelor, Sir George Elliot, 0.8. E., Auckland; 0.8. E (civil division), Mr P. E. Sn'ttie, Papatoetce : Albert Medal, Mr Charles Chapman, Rotorua; Colonial Auxiliary Forces (officers’ decoration), Lieutenant-colonel J. Hardi-o Neil, D. 5.0., Auckland; Captain E. E. Willoughby, Auckland.

An Auckland Press Association te’egram says the annual convention of the Auckland Prohibition Council resolved that a

strong demand be made upon the Prime Minister and Parliament for the placing of only two issues, for and against prohibition, on the ballot paper at the licensing poll.

A Press Association wire from Wellington says that by -arrangement with the Crown the bail granted Mrs Cooper, whose husband is under sentence of death for murder, has been extended to July 31, on which date th. 6 next sittings of the Supreme Court open.

At a meeting of the Westland sub-pro-vincial conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union it was unanimously resolved to support the principles of the proposed Agricultural Banking Bill and to do everything possible to help to place the Bill on the Statutes of the dominion.

Tire Flight Hon. Mr Massey, Prime Minister arrived in Dunedin from Christchurch by the express train on Wednesday afternoon. He was received at the railway station by the Mayor of Dunedin (Mr H. L. Tapley), city councillors, and a large concourse of people, and accorded a cordial welcome. The Prime Minister thanked the people for their warm reception. The Prime Minister stated last week, at tho dinner at which he was entertained in the Tudor Hall, that he will take over the control of the Public Trust Office in the reconstruction of the Government that is now being- effected, that Mr Downie Stewart will have the administration of the Deportment of Industries and Commerce, and that there will be a new appointment to the office of Minister of Railways. Other allotments would be gazetted in a few days.

A Christchurch Press Association wire says that the North Canterbury Farmers' Union carried the following remit without dissent: “That as the proposed Dairy Control Bill is in the best interests of the dairy industry this conference supports it.” The remit was then qualified by a resolution : “That the method of representation on the council be by election by the dairy farmers in a manner similar to that adopted for the election of members of the Meat Producers’ Council.”

At the smoke concert held by the South Island Dairy Association last week, the chairman (Mr H. J. Middleton) presented gold medals to the best butter-maker and the best cheese-maker i« the South Island for the past season. The winners were Messrs Rush (Waitaki) and Milne (Waianiwa) respectively. Mr Middleton explained that the trophies had to be won three times, not necessarily in succession, to enable the winners to secure the shield offered for competition. Mr Milne had won the medal for cheese twice —(applause)—and Mr Rush had secured a win for the first time. Mr Rush had won with an average grading of 94.37, which was far and away above the precentage obtained previously in the competition. Mr Milne had won with an average of 93.203 per cent. —a very creditable performance. Mr Middleton said he was convinced that the presentation of these medals was an excellent idea, as it gave the manufacturers every incentive to do their best, thus stimulating competition. Without the assistance of these men they would not make very much progress in the industry. What is probably the most costly cricket ball in the world is in the possession of a wealthy tradesman in Melbourne. It is mounted on ebony and shielded by a glass case, and its value is placed at £2O, although five times that amount would not buy it. Its owner left England 30 years ago, arrived in Australia with £5 arid the cricket ball, which had been presented to him by the members of a cricket club to which he had belonged. In the middle of the ball £2O was placed. The recipient of the gift promised that he would not open the ball until he was reduced to his last penny. On his arrival in Melbourne he obtained work, and from that day to this he has neverbeen forced to rob the ball of its treasure.

A six-roomed house at Balclutha, belonging 'to Mr Andrew Wood, bandmaster of the Balclutha Brass Band, was practically destroyed by fire on Tuesday evening. The house is situated in Douglas street, near to the railway station, and the outbreak occurred between 7 and 8 p.m. Mrs Wood was in Dunedin at the time and Mr Wood had left after tea to go down town, so that there was no one in the house when the fire occurred, and the cause is not ascertainable. Some of those who had been attracted to the fire had rescued some band instruments which were the property of Mr Wood, and also a few articles of household furniture. The brigade ultimately succeeded in subduing the fire after everything had been destroyed but the outer walls. Insurances were : On the house, £450; on furniture and effects, £100; both in the State Fire Office.

A fine of 40s and costs was imposed on Josephine Davidson for using her house as a private maternity hospital without it being licensed (says a Press Association wire from Christchurch). Ihe prosecution asked for a severe penalty, as the defendant, although unexceptionable in other respects, had more than once taken more cases than were permitted by the regulation. The defence was that tho C&scs were urgent.

The Prime Minister (Mr Massey) spent a busy day on Thursday. In the morning he received a deputation in connection with the required dental school and deputations from the Plunket Society, social bodies, and representatives of racing clubs, besides conducting a good deal of private and Government business. In the afternoon he visited the Taieri Plain and was later present at the Winter Show, where he was received by the president (Mr Andrew) and the executive of the Otago A. and P. Society, and expressed himself as delighted with the exhibition. He subsequently paid a visit to the Piping- and Dancing competitions and •was enthusiastically received. In the evening he attended the annual meeting of the Manufacturers’ Association.

The need for the conservation of flaxbearing area in Auckland province is to be urged upon the Government by the New Zealand and Northern Flax Millers’ Association (says an Auckland Press Associa-

I tion message). At tho meeting of the N‘s them Association it was decided that, with the support of the New Zealand Association, to place the matter of conserving flax areas instead of cutting Them up for settlement purposes before the Government prior to the opening of Parliament. In support of the proposal, figures were quoted to show that flaxmilling was 100 per cent, more payable than dairying, while the number of men employed on a given area was stated as five for fiaxmiliing to one for dairying. Another argument was the need for maintaining the high reputation of New Zealand fibre. Our Queenstown correspondent wires that with regard to ihe Kawarau dam site application, counsel for applicant applied for an extension of time within which application may be heal'd. Three months’ extension was granted. It is understood that a Government commission is to be set up to inquire into the whole position. A Wellington Press Association message says that goed progress has been made up to a point in connection with the proposal to form a federation composed of all the unions engaged in the building industry. The idea has been approved in Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago, but Auckland has so far not come into line.