Untitled

Otago Witness, Issue 3672, 29 July 1924, Page 3

The Rev. D. K. Fisher, of Lumsden, on his visit., to Scotland, had an interesting’ experience while visiting- the U.F. Church of Longlorgan, one of the oldest in the country (says the Southland Times). Here, among the congregation, he found a gentleman of over 90 years of age, a Quaker, keenly interested in New Zealand and in anyone who hails from “God’s Own Country.” He and his wife, now deceased, were New Zealand pioneers, and amongst the early settlers of the city of Auckland of those days—l3s9. This veteran, Mr George Hardie by name, passed over into Mr Fisher’s keeping a tattered, but cherished document, bearing the date 1856, for him to put to some service if he, Mr Fisher, could do so in New Zealand. The slip of crumpled paper carries this titles “Land Order for Forty Acres, under the Auckland Waste Land Act, 1858.” This Government warrant, as it might be termed, declares Mr Kardie entitled to select 40 acres of general country land in the province of Auckland. Lt is signed by James J. Myers, emigration agent for the province of Auckland, and is dated Southampton, December 31, 1858. For this paper Mr Fisher promised to find a worthy place among the antiquities in one of the museums of New Zealand. The reason why this document was still in hand is that Mr and Mrs Hardie never moved up country from Auckland to claim their 40 acres, but instead sailed soon after for Sydney. Information which has been supplied to us makes it not at all surprising that the disease of measles should be, as it is said to be, “exceedingly prevalent” in Wellington, or that it should have made its appearance in Dunedin. The steamer Athenio arrived in Wellington on Monday, June 9, with about 100 children among the passengers in the third class. Of these children about 25 had had measles during the voyage. One family, consisting of father, mother, and three children, stayed in Wellington with friends who had children on the day after the arrival of the steamer. They reached Dunedin two days later—on the Thursday. The children of a Dunedin household saw them for a few minutes on the Saturday. By the next Monday the children off the ship had developed measles. A fortnight later one of the children of the Dunedin household had contracted measles; a fortnight later another of them was “down” with the disease; now, a week later still, a third has also developed measles; —this, in spite of every precaution and isolation. Had it not been that the children of this household were kept from school, even when apparently quite well, because the circumstances were known, measles would be more prevalent in Dunedin than they are. To this one immigrant’s family, who could ill afford the trouble and expense of illness on their arrival in this country, no blame can be attached, as the ship’s doctor distinctly told them the children were “lucky to have escaped the measles.” There were about 70 other children to spread this illness from that ship; no quarantine was enforced after landing, and apparently no precautions were suggested, nor does it seem that advice was given not to mix with other children for a short time. The result is that a very unpleasant illness is rampant among children at the worst and coldest time of the year. Our informant expresses the opinion that for the Department of Health to give us good advice now is tantamount to locking the stable door after the steed is stolen.

The death of Mr W. S. Davidson, general manager of the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, has revived the question as to who merits the credit for the inauguration of the frozen meat trade. The record* show that Mr Thomas Brydone (manager in New Zealand of the company of whioh Mr Davidson was the general manager), in association with Messrs Murray, Roberts and Co. and Mr James Shand were the originators of the industry, while the National Mortgage and Agency Co., as agents for the pioneer meat ship Dunedin, were responsible for the arrangements under which the first shipment of frozen mutton Was despatched to England. Dr Charles H. Mayo, the noted American surgeon, made the following statement recently in the course of an interview at New Yorks “New Zealand has the finest race of men in the world to-day, physically and mentally. They have been drawn mainly from British stock and the immigration system is highly selective. The New Zealanders live out of doors io a great extent and their lives have few artificial elements. They are strong and healthy, clean of mind and body, and far outrank their progenitors in the British Isles."

The following statement has been issued y Cr J. S. Douglas (chairman of the Tramways Committee) in connection with the inquiry held by the tramway manager (Mr W. H. Mackenzie) into the circumstances of the derailment of the Maori Hill car at the City road curve on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 16. The report is as follows:—In view of the fact that statements had been made by a newspaper and elsewhere that students had interfered with the trolley pole, it was thought advisable that four students should be asked to attend the inquiry. .From the statements made by the students, and also by the witnesses called on behalf of the motorman, no support was obtained for the allegation that the students had interfered with the equipment. A letter had been written to Mr E. E. Hall, president of the Students’ Association, by the manager, to the effect that the evidence given by the four students was entirely satisfactory, and completely refuted the misleading statements that had been made. Their evidence was corroborated by many of the witnesses who were called on behalf of the motorman, who were in a position to see what had happened, as they were on the rear bumper of the >*ar, right alongside the trolley pole rope. If the trolley pole had been interfered with, or had come off accidentally, the working of the brakes would not have been interfered with in the least, as the magnetic brake acred independently of the overhead wire, and obtained its energy from the motors revolving. When the magnetic brake was applied the power had to be shut off. In the face of these facts there was no basis for the fear that had been expressed that a car was rendered unsafe when the pole came off. The accident was caused by the fact that the car was travelling too fast when approaehiing the curve, and consequently could not negotiate it. The speed as laid down in the regulations had been exceeded, and the motorman, in consequence, lias been disrated from motorman to conductor. Saturday was the fiftieth anniversary of the arrival at Port Chalmers of the ship Mairi Bhau which, then on her maiden voyage, brought to Otago from Glasgow 463 free and nominated immigrants together with some saloon passengers. On the same day there arrived at Port Chalmers t.he well-known ship Peter Denny, ■with 365 immigrants from London.

The Financial Statement discloses that during the year 29,560 acres of Native land were purchased for the Crown, at a cost of £206,385. The gross area of Native land acquired by Crown purchase since 1910 was 1,328,283 acres, for which £3,218,576 was paid. Comprised in the figures was the land purchased for European lessees, which included interests in the various Native townships, the purchase money of which was being recouped by the tenants. This accounted for a higher average cost than usual. The receipts by the Native Land Courts and Maori Land Boards for fees and commission totalled £16,009, as against £13,913 for the previous year. Under the heading “Revaluation of Soldier Farms” in last week’s Financial Statement, Mr Massey said that in conformity with the legislation passed last session authorising the revaluation of soididr farms, a Dominion Revaluation of soldier farms, a Dominion Revaluation Board was appointed, and 23 District Revaluation Committees set up. The duty of the committees was to inspect and value the farms in their respective districts and submit their reports to the central board. 'in field work in some of the smaller districts had been finished, but it would be some time yet before the whole of the necessary inspections and valuations in the larger districts would be finally completed. The board and the committee were impressed with the urgent nature of this important work, and everything possible was being done to expedite the early completion. Recommendations were coming to hand, and in many cases mortgages already had been substantially reduced both as regards capital and interest liabilities, and substantial relief had also been afforded in Ihe case of arrears. If. was the policy of (be Government to give industrious men every possible chance, and there were already indications of a great improvement in soldiers’ settlements. “Many people take a delight in tracing their ancestry,” said Mrs Beyea during her lecture in Burns Hall on the 21st, “but I, being Scottish by birth, have never bothered. In any ease it would he risky for any Scotchman to look back for 1 ancestors, as he would probably find that most, of thorn were hanged for sheep-steal-ing.”—(La ugh ter.)

In the course of his Financial Statement the Minister of Finance (Mr Massey), in dealing with the trade of Western Samoa, said that the trade of the territory again suffered severely owing to the continuance of low prices and little demand for tropical products in the world’s markets. One satisfactory feature, however, had been that, notwithstanding this depression, the export of copra during the period was the highest for many years past. It was almost double that of 1920, the total trade ngures for which year constituted a record for Western Samoa. Since the beginning of the year prices had steadily risen, and were now satisfactory. In the circumstances the revenue of the territory, though well maintained, fell short of the expenditure, which had been much increased on account of extended and improved medical and educational services. An additional grant of £6OOO was being provided to meet the deficit of 1923-24. The Administration had decided to offer the Crown estates in sections by public tender, and it was anticipated that offers would be received for the greater part of the cultivated lands. The faculty of observation was the subject of a brief but pointed homily delivered by Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. “Sitting here day after day, listening to evidence, I have been particularly impressed with the lack of the power of observation displayed in many instances,” ho said. “Unless there is something striking to call attention to an incident, it. escapes the memory entirely. Observation is a faculty that is not cultivated at all.” Under the will of the late Mr Reginald MacKinnon, retired runliolder, the following bequests are made (says an Invercargill Press Association telegram):—To St. John Anglican Church (Invercargill), £6000; All Saint’s Anglican Church, £500; Riverton Anglican Church, £SOO. Of tbe residue, one-quarter goes respectively to St. John’s Church, to provide music in up-country churches, and to charitable aid and agricultural interests, with a stipulation that no portion shall be devoted to the interests of horse-racing or kindred sports. Bequests are also left to private friends. During her remarks on “Citizenship” r Burns Hall on the 21st Mrs Beyea mentioned that not many old ladies were se nowadays. “When lam walking behind a woman I cannot tell whether she is 16 or 60,” she said. “It i 3 also possible now to buy eyelashes by the yard, snip them into piece,s, and paste them on. They can be any colour too. Somebody told me once,” she continued, “that there was no difference between the modern flapper and the Easter egg, for they were both hand painted on the outside and hard boiled inside.”— (Laughter.) The speaker added that she could picture quite a. number of girls in the audience saying, “Now, isn’t she the old wowser,” but she had learnt by experience that if a red nose were subjected to white powder a lavender effect w r as produced. The question of British preference came before the Council of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce on the 21st raised by a letter from the Wellington Chamber. The Wellington Chamber has been giving attention to the Prime Minister’s suggestion that fbe percentage of British labour and material in imported goods should be increased above the present requirement of 25 per cent, if such goods were to claim the advantage of the lower duty under our preferential tariff. The Wellington Chamber adopted the follow'ing resolution: “That this Chamber heartily supports the suggestion of the Prime Minister to the effect that. 50 per cent, instead of 25 per cent, of imported goods shall consist of British labour and, or, material before such goods shall have the advantage of the preferential tariff.” The Chairman, Mr F. M. Shortt, said this matter had been under consideration bv the Chamber for some time past. Mr W. Gow voiced the opinion that 25 per cent, was an absurdly small percentage to claim the preference. He thought they should agree to 50 per cent, at least. Several members said that Mr Massey had mentioned 75 per cent, in this connection. Mr J. B. Waters said that something must have occurred at the last Imperial Conference to make colonial statesmen change their minds on this matter. The Oho 5 man asked whether they should endorse the Wellington resolution or ask for 75 per cent, to be British. On the motion of Mr T. Somerville it was decided to frame a remit congratulating the Prime Minister on his pronouncement and urging that the matter be very closely gone into as they felt that the 50 per cent, was not sufficient in the case of certain industries. An indication was given by Mr Massey, when replying to a deputation on Thursday that the Government will very soon have to commence the completion of the Parliamentary Building. He said that the old Government House, which was now part of Parliament Building, was no creditto Parliament, the country, or to Wellington. The new wing should be completed without delay. The present wooden building was not a fit place to entertain distinguished visitors. The completion of Parliament Building had been allowed to stand over; but he did not think it could be delayed much longer. Reeentlv the secretary of the Dunedin Returned" Soldiers’ Association (Mr A. C. La.ing) wrote to the Minister in Charge of State Advances pointing out that numbers of applicants for advances to erect houses had been compelled, owing to the delay in granting loans, to proceed with the erection of their houses, and had been compelled to arrange private finance pending the granting of the loan. The suggestion was made that if the erection of a dwelling was completed within a reasonable time prior to the application being considered it should be treated as an application to erect. The Minister (Mr Massey) now advises that where the dwelling has only recently been erected it will be regarded by t.he Advances Board as an gligible security for a loan.

The rainfall registered at. Trotter’s Creek for the past few days (writes our correspondent) was 80 points. A meteor of great brilliancy passed through the northern sky about 9.30 on Wednesday evening, and was followed after about three minutes by the sound of a distant rumbling explosion.