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Otago Witness, Issue 3624, 28 August 1923, Page 40

There has been a gratifying response to the opportunity given to people in the country to join the Dunedin Naturalists’ Club. Fresh applications for membership are still coming in. Some interesting facts have been reported by some of those joining. For example, Mr Dewar (of Nevis) reports that there is a moa cave in his district, and that he has assembled a skeleton of a Dmornis Sfcruthioides from bones collected by himself and his scliolars.

The members of the Commercial Travellers’ and Warehousemen’s Association have long held a reputation for good work for worthy causes, and again last night they demonstrated their willingness to assist the needy by selling 1000 “surprise packets,” which had been held over from the recent “Bag Day” effort. The “commercials,” dressed as pierrots, had a lorry at the corner of Prince 3 and Dowling streets, and the bags found very ready purchasers at sixpence each. Considering the bargains which were secured by the “lucky ones,” when the packets were sold at one shilling each, many purchasers had reason to be more than satisfied with their “sixpennyworth.” The proceeds, which amounted to £24 10s. will go to assist the poor and needy of the city.

The Amusements Tax Amendment Act exempting from taxation charges of Is and under for admission to entertainments and other forms of amusement, came into operation on Wednesday.

The Auckland Labour Representation Committee passed the following resolution (says a Press Association message): “That in view of the Prime Minister’s refusal to allow Labour delegates to attend the Geneva Conference, the executive requests the Parliamentary Labour Party to block any further legislation unless this part of the Peace Treaty is given effect to.”

In the City Council Chambers on September 19 the Mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley) will present to Leslie Richmond Henderson, who is 16 years of age, the certificate of the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand. It will be remembered that on January 6, at the Woodhaugh Gardens’ swimming pool, a cry went up that a child (a boy, two years of age, named Donald White) was drowning. Henderson, who was going through the Gardens at the time, rushed up and saw the child disappearing below the surface of the discoloured water, which was 6ft to 7ft deep, with an undertow. Without hesitation, he dived in and brought the child to safety and a lady and friends took charge of the child. After the rescue Henderson walked away, and considerable difficulty was experienced in ascertaining his identity. About 12 months prior to this gallant act. ha was also instrumental in saving another boy, of about 11 years cf ago, from drowning at the same spot. On this occasion, however, the rescue was not brought under the society’s notice, and consequently no action was taken by it. The South Canterbury War Memorial Committee considered tenders for the erection of a monument at Timaru (states a Press Association message). Three tenders were received, all of which were from the North Island. On the advice of the architect, Messrs Parkinson and Company’s (Auckland) tender of £4500 was accepted. The funds in hand total £4600. It is hoped to have the monument ready for next Anzac Day.

Mr J. G. Martin, at a meeting in the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, advanced another reason for the settlement of the Ruhr question (says a Press Association telegram), when he stated that the collapse in the dairy produce market was directly due to the French occupation, which had resulted in the chaotic exchange conditions, and Denmark had been forced to dump her butter and cheese on to the United Kingdom, the only country where there was a free market, thus causing a glut. A party of Dunedin visitors which has just returned from Mt. Cook states that the time spent amongst the snow and mountains was most delightful. At the Hermitage sports of all kinds were in full swing. Skiing was the main attraction outside, the snow being in excellent form daily for this sport. The spectacle of 40 young people equipped in breeches, jerseys, and puttees ski-ing and the participation in their jollity when they tumbled were most exhilarating. Toboganning, snowballing, and snowwalks, also occupied the tim e of visitors out of doors, the depth of snow —fully IZin deep round the Hermitage—preventing climbing of any consequence being attempted. Time passed rapidly inside with jazzing and games of all kinds in the large lounge room, which is also equipped with a fine billiard table. Every room was comfortably heated with radiators, and the journey even from Timaru was very pleasant as the glassed-in cars supplied by the Mt. Cook Company are warm and cosy. The guests at the Hermitage numbered about 70, from various parts of New Zealand and outside. The time spent there was simply one whirl of gaiety and sport. The resort is a great asset to New Zealand, and, in the opinion of English tourists, compares more than favourably with any similar winter resort in the world.

In connection with the William Harrop bequest a clause in the “Washing-up” Bill is provided to enable the M.U.1.0.0.F. to establish two scholarships of £l2 10s each, in lieu of one scholarship of £25. A new clause in the Bill provides for the vesting in Otago University as a site for the Dental School, portion of the Beverly trust estate.

During the Paparoa’s voyage from London a remarkable accident befel Miss F. Swain, a registered nurse, late of East Ham (says a Press Association message from Auckland). While bending over a child lying in a berth Miss Swain looked up suddenly, and by some mischance a porthole glass, encased in a brass hoop, fell on her head with some force. It is stated that although the accident happened only a fortnight ago no bruise was visible on the injured woman’s head, yet she has lost the sight of both eyes, and has been very distressed. The case is one for a medical specialist. . A rather remarkable coincidence occurred in one of the city Presbyterian churches on Sunday. Hie pulpit in the morning and evening was occupied by two different preachers, and for a lesson each choose the same chapter (I Corinthians, Ist chapter). Then for a text to preach from each selected tiie 18th verse of the chapter. Those who attended each service heard the subject treated from two totally different standpoints.

Mr Justice Reed in the Supreme Court, sentencing George Beaumont to five years on each of seven charges of indecent assault on girls, said the greatest protection should be given to young girls’ modesty (says a Press Association message from Christchurch). Beaumont had broken that modesty in several girls, and it was impossible to say what results would follow unless they forget it. The punishment was for two purposes. One was as a deterrent to the offender; the other was to warn others. George Judge received two years for indecent exposure’at Ashburton, the judge stating that he imposed the maximum in the hope of protecting the public from the mania of sexual perverts. It is proposed to present to the first Arohbishop of New Zealand (Archbishop Julius, of Christchurch) a primatical cross for his own and his successors’ use. A design has been prepared by Mr F. G. Gurnsey, of Christchurch, and the cross will as far as possible be made of New Zealand materials. It will be made of silver, with embellishments of gold on enamel, and the staff will be of New Zealand woods, with greenstone presented by Maoris. The names of successive archbishops will be inscribed on the staff. It is desired that the cross should be the gift of the church people of the whole dominion and donations towards the estimated cost of £250 are now being received in the various centres.

Mr Justice Frazer, during the hearing of an appeal concerning the payment of wages on Anzac Day, said that industrial confusion was too high a price to pay for sentiment (says a Press Association message from Christchurch). This, however, was only his opinion, as the law of the land decreed otherwise. Hourly workers lost a day's wages on Anzac Day, but weekly workers suffered no deduction. The position would not be improved until Anzac Day was observed on the nearest Sunday. In connection with the recent Otago Boys’ High School Diamond Jubilee celebrations, Mr Vv. J. Morrell. rector of the school, has received the following letter from Major-general Sir Alfred Robin, who writes on behalf of himself and Sir Francis Bell: '' VV e desire to express our appreciation of the privilege accorded to us when informally inspecting the school cadets. Both Sir Francis and myself, early in the first and second decades respectively, having served in the then cadets, could not but help associating memories of that old-time company, one of the earliest formed in the colony of New Zealand. We felt proud that from a small beginning has developed the present excellent battalion doing duty on the occasion of the diamond jubilee of our old school. The steadiness and seriousness of the fine, strong-limbed, clean lads reflects great credit on the school, their officers, instructors, and themselves forming, as they now do, a real and important training unit of the defence forces of the Umpire, and helpers in upholding peace in the future.”

The wool shed recently destroyed by fire at Bluff is to tee superseded by an up-to-date structure costing over £IO,OOO. Messrs Love Bros., of Port Chalmers, are the successful tenderers for the new store, which is to be completed by the end of the year.

An historical gathering took place at Otira on Thursday, the occasion being the sale of the coaching stock and plant of the late Hugh Cassidy, whose face was so familiar for many years t© trans-Alpine travellers. It was historical (says the Christchurch Press) because it constituted the sole of the plant treed in the last important coach service in the dominion run by Cobb and Company’s coaches. The lots offered comprised two four-passenger open drags, three three-decker 17-passenger coaches, two 14-passenger coaches, one open 15-passenger drag, two open mail wagons, and one coach, together with 26 coach horses, leaders and polers, 20 sets of harness, and sundries. There was a large attendance, the greater part of the population of Otira who had no pressing duties to attend to being present, included among them were many people who were drawn to the sale from a desire to see what was to become of the vehicles oil which they had ridden so often and which they had grown accustomed to see and hear rattling past six times a week. Among the onlookers were some drivers, whose thoughts as they saw the coaches and horses disposed of must have been interesting.

In three hours on Thursday morning some sidelights into unhappy marriages were gained at th Auckland Supreme Court, when 32 people petitioned either for a dissolution of their unions or to pave the way for such a dissolution. Since last civil session three months ago, over 60 petitions have been filed, and though some of them have already been disposed of, the bulk were adjudicated upon by Mr Justice Herdman on Thursday. These were all undefended petitions, and when facts wer e made plain it did not take the judge long to decide upon them. In a few oases the hearing was adjourned for further - evidence, and where it was not otherwise stated a decree nisi was made in every instance. The adage that “it is an ill-wind that blows nobody any good” is a feature of these proceedings. for, apart from future happiness that it is anticipated will result from the severing of connubial knots, the legal fraternity and the Justice Department reap quite a little harvest. Counsels’ fees for the cases to be heard this session will run into at least. £I6OO, while the court expenses increase the sum paid to about £2OOO. Domestic troubles seasoned with a dash of love were principally responsible for the sudden elopement of a youth and a girl of 16 summers from the latter’s home in Tauranga on a certain Tuesday evening (says the Waihi Telegraph). Mounted on a motor-cycle and the girl beside him in a side-car, the young man left Tauranga at 7.30 p.m. for Waihi. Owing to the shocking state of the road, the machine stuc 1 fast between Tauranga and Katikati, and the couple perforce spent the long night on the road. They reached Waihi about 8 o’clock on Wednesday night in a wretched and tired condition. The intervention of the police the following morning brought the romance to an 'abrupt ending, and the pair were safely put aboard a service car bound for Tauranga.