NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Witness, Issue 3619, 24 July 1923, Page 29

NEWS IN BRIEF.

A commodious soldiers’ social hall was successfully opened at Hokitika on the 17th, being the first portion cf a fine building to be erected. The decision of the Industrial Association of Otago to make the forthcoming Industrial Exhibition in that city of an international instead of an Imperial character was strongly commented on at a meeting of the Canterbury Industrial Association. It was decided to sent! a letter of protest to the various dominion associations and also to the Prime Minister and the Hon. W. Downie Stewart. The Otago University Council has decided to resume control of its reserves again. An extension of the lease of Lamb Hill, Otago Central for a further period of 14 years at the expiry in 1928. has been granted by the Otago University Council to Messrs Murray, Roberts and Co. The Moutere Hills Fruitgrowers’ Union, Nelson, passed a resolution congratulating Otago fruitgrowers o-.i the good prices they obtained for their supplies on the London market and sent a wire to that effect to Mill. Turner. Mr Veitcb, the district telephone engineer, reports that he is at last receiving good supplies of telephone material, a great deal of which is being used in country districts. It is hoped withm the next twelve months to open at least a dozen more exchanges, mostly in Centra! Otago. Unanimously the Otago Uuiversily Council, at its meeting last week, passed a motion respectfully requesting the Rev. Dr A. Cameron to withdraw his resignation as Chance!i ;. and allow the Council to grant him leave cf absence during his absence from the Dominion. AH the members expressed high appreciation of Dr Cameron’s great, work for the University as Chancellor, his high ideals and wide and progressive views on education. His-resignation was regarded with dismay by the people at large. In reply to a deputation from the Astronomical Society of New Zealand. which waited on him to urge that steps should be taken to accept the offer of Yale University to establish a large telescope in the Southern hemisphere, all that the Government being asked to do to give a £ for £ subsidy to money raised to erect suitable buildings. the Rt. Hon. Mr Massey said the proposition appealed to him. and while he would not at present commit the Government, he thought the offer should be accepted. The American authorities would supply two observers, one of these probablv beiii'.' a New Zealander. The cost of buddings would probably be about £9CCO. half of which it was thought would be raised by subscriptions. It was thought Otago Central might be selected as the site of the observatory.