Untitled

Otago Witness, Issue 3757, 16 March 1926, Page 52

At Thursday’s conference of master bakers and pastrycooks, Mr H. P. Burton (Auckland) said that bakers should demand that the millers of the Dominion produce a better quality of flour. They should ask D3itributors (Ltd.) to appoint chemists to tc t all flour, which, if not up to a certain standard, would be condemned. If such a move wore taken, the bakers would be ensured of a high quality flour. Some of the bread sold in New Zealand was of scandalous quality, and he wondered bow it could be sold. He did not say that this was due to any one condition, but he considered that it was largely due to the quality of the flour. He was prepared to place his proposal before Distributors (Ltd.), which had stated on a previous occasion that the millers would not agree to it. Mr W. R. Andrews (Wellington) said that the association should approach the Government and stress the necessity for the appointment of analytical chemists to see that the needs of the bakers conformed with the law. They should know what was in their bread. At present the millers said: “There is the flour; go on with it,” but with the chemists they would sav: “There is the flour and the test.” The association decided that a conference on the question be arranged with Distributors (Ltd.). A Wellington message reports that during the month of February, 1926, the total births registered for the urban areas of the Dominion amounted to 991, as against 1180 in January, a decrease of 189. The deaths in February were 430, a decrease of 18 comparod with the previous month. Of the total deaths males contributed 288 and females 202. Sixty-two of the deaths were of children under five years of age, being 14.49 per cent, .of the whole number. Forty of these were under one year of age.

There was a decided variation in the atmospheric conditions on Friday in Dune«’:n. The barometer was “on the jump” throughout t o day, the reading at 8 a.m. being 29.59. and at noon 29.56. The conditions thereafter became very warm, and the barometer rofie very rapidly. The reading at 5 p.m. was 29.70. Later in the afternoon dense clouds banked up from the south-west, and light rain fell for about half an hour. The thermometer reading was 45 degrees (minimum and 70 degree (maximum). Friday was the second hottest day since March 1. On March 7 the thermometer reading was 49 degrees (minimum) and 72 degrees (maximum).

The Otago Hospital Board has decided to engage an electrician with experience of high tension and high frequency currents, these being used in connection with X-ray work, for the Dunedin Hospital staff. Previously the board employed a wireman, hut the new position will be higher in status and salary. Mr L .F. Ayson (inspector of fisheries), who returned to Wellington on Friday, states that quinnat salmon are running freely in i’l the rivers from the Clutha to Waiau. Large numbers have been taken in the Rangitata, Rakan. and Waimakariri, ranging from 121 b to 231 b. The fish are in splendid condition. Seme good catches were made by net, and it requires strong nets as the large fish break through. The season promises to be an exceptionally good one. Atlantic salmon ’ ave been giving good sport in Lake Te Anau and the Upokororu River. They range from 101 bto 131 b. The Canadian experts are delighted with our rivers, and assured Mr Ayson that New Zealand is the onh country which has succeeded in acclimatising quinnat, and that New Zealand fish are as rich in oil as the Canadian. A Christchurch message states that meetings of Distributors (Ltd.) will be held in Dunedin this week, when it is expected that wheat and flour prices will be reviewed.

There is room for a deal of argument about the origin of the name “bernicle goose,” two of which birds have been brought to Wellington for the Zoo by the Ulimaroa, but it is probable that the argument would be fruitless. At any rate, finality has never been reached by those who talk and write with scientific style and authority. The spelling may also be questioned, bernicle, bernacle, barnacle; it' is largely a matter of taste, and of leaning to one side or other of argument a 3 to the origin of the name. There used to be a peculiar old legend that this species of goose was developed from sea barnacles, and possibly it is. But whether the goose got its name from the shellfish or the shellfish was named after the bird (which some think was called bernicle because of some fancied relationship with Ireland (Hibernica), is as difficult of decision as whether the hen came first or the egg. The Encyclopaedia Britannica, to be on side with everyone, fays that bernicle, bernacle, and barnacle are all pronounced plain barnacle. To the bird it is probably immaterial.

Mr William Wallace, chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, who is also president of the Hospital Boards’ Association, when he presided at the recent conference held in Dunedin told the delegates that it was his first visit to- Dunedin, and he had been told before he came down that it would be Ivioable for him to wear kds while he was in the southern capital (says the Auckland Star). So far he had not provided him6elf with , this very necessary article of apparel. Just before the conference closed a deputation waited on Mr Wallace and presented him with a neatly-got-up box, which, when opened, disclosed a kilt to which was attached a note : “To plain Bill Wallace, from some of his southern well-wishers.” It was explained that such an important occasion as the first visit of a William Wallace to Dunedin could not go unheeded, and that it was thought the proper thing to do was to clothe him in the national garb of all those who bore such an historica name.l Mr Wall ce said much touched by the generosity of the gift and the spirit in which it was given. Although a few Celts on the board urged him to year the dress Mr Wallace said that while he valued their opinion on most matters he was not going to let them lead him away from the paths of rectitude. While in the south (says the Lyttelton Times), Mr W. J. Walter, chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, did a :;ood deal of motoring. He was impressed by the fine streets which Dunedin possessed. This \ s due to the new method of street formation by the use of bitumen. In Rattray street, for instance, the maintenance used to cost £IOOO a year, but since the use of bitumen the cost was not more than £SO per annum. This was but one example of the enormous saving which could be effected by the use of this material. The tramway authorities were making a splendid harvest through the Exhibition. Overcrowding was a most noticeable feature to the visitors, and on one car in which Mr Walter travelled there was seating accommodation for 32, but there were quite 40 people standing. The cars never seemed to bo full, and the motto seemed to be that there was always room for another. Members of the Public Service Association and the Poet and Telegraph Officers’ Association are pressing for a restoration of the salary “cuts” made in 1921-22, but a deputation from both these bodies was informed by tho Prime Mirieter that he could not hold out any hope of immediately restoring or increasing the pay of public servants. Until the end of the financial year, when the Government would know what its finances were like, there was no hope at all of giving effect to their request. The Government, he said, would go into the whole question for tho year 1926-27, and would be glad probably to discuss the matter at different times with the associations, so that thev might know as much about it as he did, and say what they wanted to about it. They were anxious to try and bring about co-operation between the Government and the Civil Service, and felt that discussion had been open, frank, and free. It was hoped to give satisfaction, but he knew how impossible it was to please everybody.

Mr ,1 W. Kinniburgh, of Auckland, who will attend the Commercial Travellers, and Warehousemen's Conference to-morrow, arrived here on Saturday. Notwithstanding nil the glowing reports he had heard, Mr Kinniburgh was greatly surprised at the extent of the Exhibition and the huge crowd which attended on Saturday evening.

The people of Kaitangata have for a long time suffered a disability in the matter of mail deliveries, but from yesterday this drawback was rectified, when a service twice daily with Dunedin was inaugurated.

Nineteen bankruptcies were notified in last, weeit’s issue of the New Zealand Gazette. Thirteen of the number were in tho North Island.

At a meeting, held last week, of tl executive of the Massey Memorial Scholarship Committee, the secretary submitted a return showing that the total so far in sight towards the establishment of a perpetual fund for agricultural scholarships, as Franklin’s memorial to the late Prime Minister was £355 Members agreed that while t!' was somewhat disappointing, success should be assured if the campaign for funds were prosecuted enthusiastically under good organisation. It was decided that members of the executive should endeavour to visit each district and have local committees formed to carry out the canvassing. It was also agreed to approach the Franklin Countv Council and other local bodies to enlist their active support.

Gaily dressed with bunting, the fine new launch Rakanui, which has been built in Auckland for Captain W. R. Patterson, of VVhangarei, made her trial trip on the harbour one afternoon last week (says the Auckland Star). The Rakanui, which is 50ffe overall, wth a breadth of 12ft 9in, is considered one of the finest launches in New Zealand. She is of 24 tons gross, and is fitted with a 230 horse-power Widdop crude oil engine which will give her a cruising speed of about eight knots. She is from the shipbuilding yards of Messrs Bailey and Lowe. Captain Patterson intends using his new launch in the passenger service and towing work at the northern port. Early this week the Rakanui will leave Whangarei on a trip round New’ Zealand. Like the Ruamano, W’hich recently returned from the “all round” trip, the Rakanui will visit Stewart Island. She will carry a crew of seven, and is expected to accomplish the voyage in about six weeks

Amongst the recommendations to come before the -ospital Board at its next meeting will be one from the Finance Committee to the eCect that the present agreement with the South Otago Board wih respect to the treatment of patients from its district in the Ctago Board’s institutions be terminated on March 31, and that the South Otago Board be placed on the same footing as other boards. The committee also recommends that no chronic T.B. cases from South Otago be accepted. The South Otago Board has up to the present been paying £125~ for the care and treatment of its patients in Otago institutions. Under the new arrangement it will be required to pay £4 4s a week for each patient.