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Otago Witness, Issue 3713, 12 May 1925, Page 4

Representatives appointed in connection With tho display of Otago’s primary products at the Exhibition met the executive of the O. A. and P. Society on Thursday morning, and it was decided, subject to Ihe approval of exhibitors, that all entries for grain, seeds, and wool competing at the Winter Show should bo taken delivery of and retained as the nucleus of Otago’s exhibits fir that section at the Exhibition. The was unanimous In connection with this proposal, and the only regret expressed was that the suggestion had not been arranged at an earlier date to give exhibitors more time to select md prepare their exhibits.

The Miniver of Health (Sir Maui Pomare) states that a complete reorganisation is going on in the mental hospitals system. lie anticipates that the scheme will involve a complete ohange of policy in regard to the treatment of many classes of mentally afflicted patients and long-awaited improvements in the classification. “The reform has to come from within,” states the Minister, "and will bo of a most comprehensive and drastic character. We have been at it for several months and I have visited all the mental hospitals with Sir Truby King in the course of planning the reforms.”

The Exhibition directors have approved of a suggestion submitted by the Horticultural Committee that a special treeplanting day should be held, and it has now been decided that the ceremony should tal.o place on Saturday next on Logan Park, and that the directors and their wives, tho members of tho Works and Horticultural Committees and their wives and the chairmen of ull tho other committees and their wives bo present.

In the course of his address to the Bruce County Council on Tuesday in connection with the Otago court at tho New Zealand and South Stas Exhibition, Mr W. B. Steel (provincial organiser) said that the Ashburton County had contributed £6OO, and tho South Canterbury (including limaru) £22(X) towards the cost of the Canterbury court. This showed that the other provinces intended to make the most of their courts, and it behoved the various local bodies in Otago to see that this province was worthily represented. The Senate of the University of New Zealand will meet in Christchurch on Friday.

At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the New Zealand Boy Scouts’ Association in Christchurch, the Chief Commissioner reported that he had received requests from the Dunedin Exhibition Jamboree Committee for recommendations for the appointment of a camp chief and a quartermaster, and he had recommended Commissioner J. D. Campbell, of Rarotonga, and Mr J. Slipper, of Palmerston North, for these appointments. Communications had been received from Australia, making inquiries regarding the visit of an Australian Scout troop to New Zealand next summer. As a result of negotiations by dominion headquarters o.ie Minister of Internal Affairs had written stating that Cabinet was prepared to grant free railway passes to 40 Australian Boy Scouts visiting the jamboree during the Dunedin Exhibition, and a 50 per cent, reduction in fares to over that number under the age of 16 years. “This is an unfortunate case in, which the defendant has been forced to steal by straitened circumstances,” said Chief-detec-tive Kemp, when a young married woman whose name was suppressed, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon at the Magistrate’s Court at Wellington by Mr C. R. OrrWalker, S.M. The chief-detective, in outlining the charge to which the defendant pleaded guilty, said that she had frequently visited a friend’s house and the latter had told her that if she were not in at any time she was to make a cup of tea for herself. The accused was shown where the key was kept. She had visited the friend’s house and had stolen the money which had been recovered. At first she stated that she had seen a man lurking about tho premises when she visited there, hut afterwards had made a clean breast of the matter.

At last night’s meeting of the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association Mr Forsyth Johnston, who occupied the chair, mentioned that the office of the Department of Industries and Commerce was to be reopened in Dunedin, and Mr J. W. Collins (secretary of the department) would be down shortly to make the necessary arrangements. It was to bo hoped, Mr Johnston added, that the office would be kept open not only for the duration of the Exhibition, but permanently. Their contention was that as other centres had offices Dunedin was justly entitled to one.

So mcuh interest has been aroused in the supposed spirit photograph (states our Wanganui correspondent) that the photographer who enlarged the particular photo, on which the image appears, made a special investigation at the Wanganui Hospital, and as a result, found out that when the camera was snapped another boy wearing a shirt with long sleeves, with pyjama trousers at the waist line, was standing at the back, thus accounting for the shadowy form. This clears up the mystery.

Messrs D. M. Johnston and Sons have offered the Otago A. and P. Society a silver cup, valued at £lO 10s, for the exhibitor gaining most points in the sheep section at the Winter Show. The cup is to he won twice in succession or three times altogether before becoming the property of the exhibitor.

“Hasten slowly” is the advice of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce on the subject of control of exports of dairy produce. The annual report of the chamber states that “the operations of the Dairy Control Board have been followed by dairy producers and merchants throughout the world with the greatest interest.” A delegation that went abroad to thoroughly investigate the matter of production and chiefly that of markeling returned to New Zealand and presented a report recommending absolute control of dairy produce. “The opinion of the chambers of commerce throughout Now Zealand is that the board has not acted wisely in rushing so quickly into taking such drastic steps in the marketing of tho dairy produce of New Zealand. The board, however, has decided to carry on in the face of these protests, and is taking necessary measures to bring in “absolute control” as from August, 1926. The opinion generally of commercial interests is that the board would have been well advised to “make haste slowly.” At the meeting of the No. 17 District Highways Council on Thursday a circular was received from the Main Highways Board asking that a schedule should ,be prepared showing the positions of all railway lovel crossings on main highways throughout the distriot. Owing to tho dangerous naturo of some of the crossings the letter stated that it was advisable to have them eliminated by detours or bridges. Tho Chairman (Mr E. F. Evans) said he thought this work would bo spread out over a number of years, and the worst crossings would be eliminated first and other bad crossings attended to later. Mr W. Black ie moved, and Mr R. G. Cotton seconded, ‘That the Public Works Department b© asked to prepare the suggested schedule of dangerous railway crossings.” Ihe motion was carried.

That poaching is ever an attraction t-r some misguided people is borne out by the Otago Acclimatisation Society’s annual report, which shows that that practice was the biggest blight on the work ol acclimatisation. The society had been put to great expense in trying to check poaching. There had been seyeral convictions during the past year, but notwithstanding all the efforts of the rangers there was every reason to believe that poaching was common in Otago. The council recognised that poachers are undoing a great deal of tho good work that it is carrying on, and is determined to do its utmost to bring them to book.

The Exhibition directors are making every endeavour to see that the police force in Dunedin is strengthened adequately during the Exhibition period, and at the present moment arrangements are being made in Wellington with this in view. It is suggested that representatives of the Australian police and detective forces should bo brought to Dunedin as they shoi’iprove invaluable in identifying undesirable visitors from their own cities. That the Otago Acclimatisation Society is carrying out its duties in connection with restocking rivers and streams is borne out by tho annual report which states that last year about 1,500,000 eggs were laid down in the association’s hatcheries at Clinton and Pembroke. Of these 732,000 brown trout eyed eggs, and 288,000 rainbow eggs wero sold, and 377,000 fry distributed. The other liberations wereYearlings—Rainbow 4000, Scotch Bum 8000, brown trout 28,500. Two-year-olds-Brown trout 5358 The balance —namely, 30.C00 brown, 8000 Scotch Burn, 10,000 rainbow yearlings, and a number of other fish are available for restocking the hatchery or liberation. The quantities wero very much short of requirements. There was an unusual demand for eyed ova last year. Owing to various causes, mainly Hoods, somo of the kindred societies in tho north had very poor results from their stripping operations, and to fill their wants offered the a.ssoeiatiou large orders for eyed eggs. Lnfortunately, the association was unable to fill all of these, os tho stocking of tho Otago waters oollod for its first consideration. The council has been developing cortain plans for tho work in connection with the hand ling of ova which it is hoped will result in an increase next season in the number of fry distribution in tho district and tho quantity of eggs for sale.

That there are factories and factories was shown at the last meeting of the Exhibition directors when discussion centred round a “Fijn or Joy Factory,” which will be one of the centres of attraction in the amusement zone. Peculiar things happen in this “factory.” The patron enters by way of a shuffling bridge, passes along a dark passage way, steps on to sinking bolsters, automatically sets a foghorn screaming, and a blower working, scrambles along a shuffling platform the handrails on each side of which are at intervals charged with electricity, and then finds himself in a gallery of “funny things,” including numerous distorted mirrors. Two steep chutes, each 18 or 20 feet high, help the explorer on hi* way—a devious way with bumps and rises ending in a spill among soft mattresses. An area of open floor is provided, ami at points chairs are thoughtfully set for tho weary wayfarer who, upon sitting down, finds that they commence to revolve. After a few more adventures of this nature he finds himself once more inhaling the fresh air, and marvelling that he should come out in full possession of all his faculties.

Reference was made at the last meeting of the Exhibition directors to the Women’s Section, Mr Speight remarking that tho Ladies’ Committee was most enthusiastic. The board expressed its willing ness to give its whole-hearted support to this section, and tho general opinion was that they could leave it to the women to make a success of it. On the motion of Mr Speight, seconded by Mr Arthur Barnett it was agreed that tho secretary’s salary and a further £SOO be guaranteed, and that, 4000 square feet of space bo allotted to women’s exhibits.

The fifty-ninth annual report of tho Otago Acclimatisation Society states that tho number of angling licenses of all kinds that had been sold during the year was larger than last year. Tho total for last year was 2281, and a year ago tho number was 1982. The council derived much encouragement in its work from this increase It was gratifying to feel that a greater number was finding pleasure from the re* suits of acclimatisation. Tho following licensos wero issued during the year, thi previous year's figures being given in paronthosisi —Moil’s whole season licenses 1364 (1223); men’s hulf season licenses 183 (184); bovs’ licenses 602 (469); and UdiW licenses 132 (106).