Untitled

Otago Witness, Issue 3829, 2 August 1927, Page 3

“I am reminded of a story of Charles Lamb,” said Mr Justice Herdman in tho Supreme Court at Auckland on Thursday when summing up in a ease in which a man was charged with being unlawfully in. a house at Mount Roskill by night. It had been pleaded on behalf of the accused (telegraphs our o-irn correspondent) that ho had entered the house as he was cold ami hungry. “Lamb had found a burglar in his pantry,” said his Honor, “and that intruder had also said he was cold and hungry.” Lamb thereupon applied his foot to a certain part of the intruder’s anatomy, saying, ‘Well, here's a leg of lamb.’ ” Legal papers in an action of unusual interest have just been filed in Wellington. These are for the Supreme Court to require the Post and Telegraph Appeal Board to hear the appeal of a Post Office Savings Bank officer who was disciplined in connection with the I’aume case last year. The officer in question was fined ami punished for negligence in rendering possible tho frauds whereby Sidney Erne Bauine and an accomplice obtained a substantial sum of money from the Savings Bank, the theft being traced to them by accident. The grounds of the action are that the fault is that of others, or of the system, one cheque which was paid in by Baume s accomplice, Smith, being accepted undated. The case will be heard at an early date.

Tne amendment to the Divorce Act providing for a decree after three years’ mutual separation was criticised by Canon Grant Cowen at the annual meeting of tho Auckland Diocesan Mothers’ Union. Canon Grant- Cowen said that he had ascertained from lawyers in Auckland that divorces had increased 50 per cent, since the passing of the clause. Young people now married with the idea that if things were not, satisfactory they could in time gain their fieedom. I his attitude toward marriage was undermining the social fabric. Yoang people in the first years of their married life often found it difficult to settle into their new environment, and when_ quarrel's arose, instead of making the best of things, they drifted apart, and after the necessary separation availed themselves of lhe divorce law, which was abhorrent to the doctrine of the Church

A guilty conscience must have moved the operator in charge of the lantern at Dr Benham's lecture on evolution in Dunedin on Thursday evening to conceal the fact that on his way to the meeting he had broken one of the slides to be used in tho address, and it was unfortunate that it should be the very first. Dr Benham’s idea had been to contrast the manly grace and elegance of Adonis with the uncouth repulsiveness of the gorilla. He signalled the operator to commence, and, trusting implicitly in his assistant s reliability, he proceeded to enlarge on the godlike comeliness of Adonis. “Look at this lovely creature,” ho said. “Behold his erect posture, his noble forehead. his straight nose, and all those attributes which poets and the Victorian women novelists refer to as godlike.” Uncontrolled laughter stopped him, and in consternation he glanced at the screen to find the vision of an abhorrent gorilla confronting him instead of the picture of tho handsome young Greek. Then it all camo out. The reproduction of Adonis had been dropped in the muddy rain-soaked street and ruined.

Satisfaction was expressed by Mr George Fowlds, chairman of the Council of tho New Zealand College of Agriculture, when he was acquainted with the contents of thj Bill relating to it. He remarked that they were as expected. Time, be said, would settle the balance between the two colleges. There was nothing to prevent Ins council making the college at Palmerston North a Dominion institution. “The only difference the legislation makes,” said Mr Fowlds, “is that we can now proceed definitely with the business of making a full agricultural college. In past years we were restricted by the Government's! pledge to dairy' science and research, but the arrangement made wilk free us to prosecute a complete programme. As to the status of the two colleges, the work they do will be the final test of their relative positions.” Regarding the purchase of the M'Hardy property, Mr Fowlds thought that it should be made clear that the purchase was being made by the Palmerston Borough, subject to the college being given full status.

Some of the sportsmen of Christchurch (says the Lyttelton Tinies) have forwarded an autographed bat and ball to Messrs AV. Cunningham and AV. E. Merritt respectively, accompanied in each case' by a cheque which was made up by means of a small charge made to each man placing his name on the. article. The senders forwarded the ball to Merritt with the hope that it would reach him about, the time that he completed his 100 wickets for the tour;

Physicians and surgeons fearful of the present tendency of specialisation in medicine with its consequent reduction of the number of general practitioners, need not worry unduly, according to Dr Charles 11. Mayo, the famous Minnesota surgeon, who believes that the condition will tend to Tight itself. This will come about, Dr Mayo holds, partly through the improvement of medical teaching methods and tho graduation of younger men, and party through a law of cycles of progress which has operated in medical history. “Medical men,” he said, “have in the last 30 years gained more knowledge of disease, its cause, prevention, and treatment than in the 2000 years preceding. That is the reason we have so much specialisation. There is so much to learn. Progress in medicine, as in other fields, moves in cycles. At intervals of every 200 years or so specialisation comes to the fore and general practice and the genera] practitioner go into the background. We are now in the midst of such a period. There is a danger, perhaps, that we shall get too many specialists and two few men trained in the real, the general care of the sick, but when that time comes there will be a reversal of the cycle, the general practitioner will come into his own again, and the specialist will become a technician. The general practitioner will care for the sick, will make the diagnosis, and call in the specialist only as he

needs a technician, cither for operations or for work in a special limited field. You know medicine has so many fields that we do need specialists. Why, in dentistry alone —a field limited to care of the mouth—there are four types of work, the filling of teeth, the making of plates, the extraction of teeth, and the treatment, of infections.’’

The'Women's Branch of the Farmers’ Union was represented in a deputation to the Prime Minister (Mr Coates) on Thursday, requesting free railway passes to the union’s nurse and house- 1 keeper and free carriage for books circulated by the union’s library. Mr Coates assured the deputation of the Government's sympathy with the backblocks settler, but pointed out that the granting of the request might lead to hundreds of such requests. Without definitely giving free passes ho thought the matter might be fixed up so that they got them at very little cost.

There is at the present time in the Waimate Public Hospital a little child with both feet, amputated, owing to frost-bite. A heavy fall of snow was experienced in the Waimate district about a month ago, and while the snow was on the ground the infant daughter of Mr and Mrs R. Turnbull, of Redcliff, became accustomed to walk on the snow, without any shoes or stockings on. Eventually the feet became quite dead. The child wa? taken into the Waimate Hospital, where the doctors found that it would he necessary to amputate, the operation being performed on July 7 22. The young patient is now making a satisfactory recovery from the operation.

The industrial dispute between the Otago and Southland dairy factory managers and tho South Island Dairy Association, which was to have been heard in Invercargill on Wednesday, before the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr W. W. Dagger), was adjourned until August 16, as notice of the case had not been filed in accordance with the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. The dispute between the dairy assistants and the Dairy Association was also adjourned until August 17 for the same reason.

Mr D. Ewart, Parctai, one of the men working with the young man named Robert Duncan O’Hara when the latter was drowned by falling off a groyne on July 20, writes to say that the report of the fatality gave the impression that deceased had been very reckless and had lost his life in consequence. Mr D. M’Farlane, who was in charge of the job,. states that it was by a pure accident when engaged on his work that O’Hara lost his, life. The

deceased was a good, steady worker. The folly of children interfering with electric power mains in any way was stressed by members of the Napier- Borough Council the other evening, when it was decided to get in touch with the schoolmasters of Napier and ask them to bring the position before the notice of the children (states the Hawke's Bay Herald). “If the children fly kites with a wet string and it comes in contact with the wires that will l-.e the end of them,” remarked Cr J. C. Bryaiyt.

Information has been received in Auckland that Mr Zane Grey and party arc planning another fishing trip to New Zealand towards the end of the present year when it is intended to exploit a much wider area. On the occasion of the last, trip reports were received of big fish in the neighbourhood of the North Cape and the Three Kings, a locality that has as yet not been explored by deep-sea anglers. During the’ past few months the Zane Grey party has been investigating the prospects of deep-sea fishing among the South Pacific islands, although a great deal of success has net been met with.

A neat piece of financing was brought to the notice of a Taraliaki Herald representative recently. A farmer who had interest payments to meet in two places in the course of the few’ following days was in the position of not being able to meet his obligations without recourse to an overdraft at his bank, to obtain which there would apparently have been no difficulty, as the amount was quite small and the time for which the accommodation would have been required was short To avoid paying interest on a small amount_for six days he offered the solicitors concerned in one case, in payment of an amount of £5, a post-dated cheque for £B, and collected the £5 change. In effect he raised a loan of that amount for six days from the solicitors, without interest, instead of by overdraft from the ’Bank,

A position that- in other circumstances might cause serious financial embarrassment to many people has arisen in Ashburton, as the door of the safe recently installed in the new National Bank premises in Tancred street has been locked, and re fuses to be unlocked. This is the result, apparently, of the desire of the makers that the plates, or leaves, of the combination should remain clear of rust during the sea voyage to New Zealand. They covered the leaves with vaseline, and this has made them adhere so that when the knob of the combination is turned, the leaves turn also, or “free-wheel,” as it has been termed. When the safe was first unpacked, the door was opened after an hours work, but when it was closed again it stayed shut. An expert is being brought from Wellington to deal with the door, and if he fails to open it an attack will be made on the 2jft reinforced concrete walls in order to get at the leaves from the inside of the door.

Probate has been granted by Mr Justice Sim in the estates of the undermentioned persons: —John Cooke, late of Dunedin, master printer (Mr B. S. Irwin) ; David Duncan, late of Dunedin, city valuer (Mr S. C. Hercus); Agnus Shaw, late of Dunedin, labourer (Mr H. Baron); Elizabeth Weir, late of Dunedin, spinster (Mr Brugh); Mary Henderson, late of Dunedin, widow (Mr Stephens) ; Barbara M’Leod, late of Dunedin, widow (Mr Gallaway) ; Thomas Andrew, late of Roxburgh, retired blacksmith (Mr Stephens) ; Ann Watson,- late of Green Island, widow (Mr Finch); and Jessie Andrewina Ilewitson Rankinc, late of Dunedin, married woman (Mr Hamilton). Letters of administration have been granted in the estates of Edith Laura Helena Burrow, late of St. Clair, spinster (Mr Allan); Joseph Bartley, late of Oamaru, stonemason (Mr W. G. Grave); and Eric Garchow, late of Dunedin, seaman (Mr Brugh). An officer of tho Public Works Department from Wellington visited the BalcluthaTuapeka Mouth road, and it is understood that as a result of his inspection (writes our correspondent) the rate of expenditure going on is .to be curtailed somewhat. It is said that the method of road-making followed has been very expensive, and that if maintained the road will cost £lOO,OOO before it reaches Tuapeka Mouth. At tho Clutba County Council meeting on Tuesday it was stated that up to the end of last year no less than £26 000 had been spent on the road, and probably an even greater sum in the period that has elapsed since then. The reply to this kind of criticism, of course, is that the road was promised by Mr Coates when Minister of Public Works in lieu of a railway, and that even if it does cost a cool £lOO,OOO it is still much cheaper than a railway would have been.

The City Council decided last week to instruct its requisitioning officer to purchase British tyres whenever such a course was possible

A telegram from Wellington states that word has been received from London that a tender for the casting of the 49 bells for the Wellington war carillon has been accepted. An interesting observation was made in the Auckland Supreme Court last Friday by Mr Justice Herdman during the making of fixtures, in view of the fact that it had been suggested in Parliament recently that the jury system was almost abolished from civi] cases. The case was set down by the petitioner in a divorce case before the judge alone, and Mr J. J. Sullivan, appearing on the other side, pointed out that it was similar to a case in which, in 1925, the judges of the Supreme Court made a rule that a jury was essential. That rule I had been approved by the Executive Council, and, therefore, he applied for a jury. Mr Campbell, opposing counsel, said the case bad been set down originally before a judge alone, and later a defence had been filed by Mr Sullivan’s client. He quoted authorities to show that a jury could not now be obtained. The judge drew attention to the fact that the authorities were English, and in New Zealand they had regulations, made in 1925 in the Supreme Court, virtually ordering a jury in cases of the kind before the court. If an application for a jury had been made to him in the. present case, he certainly would have granted it. Mr Campbell was not prepared to argue the matter further, and the case was set down for hearing by a jury. Although the recent, explosions in coal at Auckland and Wellington have been attributed to detonators, it is the contention of a Christchurch mining expert that they may have been caused by- pieces of a certain glacial stone, which occasionally is found in coal. This stone explodes when subjected to heat, often with violent force. “Fortunately, this stone is not met with frequently,” he told a Christchurch Sun reporter, “and during many years of association with the mining industry I have heard of very few such explosions.” When his attention was drawn to the finding of an unexploded detonator in a truck of coal in the Christchurch railway yards he said that such a find was a rare occurrence as every precaution was taken at the mines in the use of detonators and explosives. Blasting explosives, he said, were electrically fired, the “shot-firer” being held responsible for all detonators and explosives used, the number of which he had to account to the proper quarter. I A plea for greater preference to British manufacturers in the New Zealand market was made at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Land Settlement and Develop ment League in Auckland. It was suggested that this should be given in order to ensure a more certain market in Great Britain for perishable foodstuffs An interesting comment, on this proposal was made by the president, Sir Andrew Russell. “Just as to-day,” ho said, “there is no thought of a tariff between the North and South Islands of New Zealand, so in >i few years there may be no thought of one between New Zealand' and Australia. In my opinion we should eventually have free trade within the Empire.” This view found a good measure of endorsement from the body of the audience.

The object of the law prohibiting the use of a power boat or launch in the taking or killing of native game was somewhat obscure and he could not quite see its intention, said Mr Wyvern Vyilson. S.M.i in the Magistrate’s Court at Huntly recently. Tonga Mahuta was charged wth using a power boat in killing black swan on I.ake Waikarc, and with obstructing the ranger. After hearing the evidence the magistrate, dismissed the charge of obstruction, and on the charge of using a power boat, he fined Mahuta £1 and £2 15s costs. The Magistrate said the ranger himself admitted shooting from a power boat—i.e., a boat fitted with an outboard motor, and it appeared to him that even if a person cruised about in a power boat, without a gun, a breach -of the regulations had been committed.

Children of the present day arc perhaps more knowing than those of a few years ago, but they can still appreciate the makebelieve of Christmas time, and the phantom Santa Claus is still a figure dear to youthful hearts. That fact has been recognised by the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association, which proposes to provide a treat during the coming Yuletide season for children of returned soldiers in hospitals and sanatoria and also for the children of deceased returned men. The arrangement is that a fete Is to be held in First Church grounds where to be a Christmas tree laden with toys and a Santa Claus to distribute them. Means of securing funds to enable the scheme to reach fruition are at present being considered.

The idea is general that spring begins in August, but this opinion is not held at the Christchurch Magnetic Observatory. Average readings show’ that the temperature of May is four degrees warmer than that of June, and it is considered that the Christchurch winter starts in June. The mean temperature for June is 43.6 degrees, which makes the month the second coldest in the year. The coldest is July with a mean temperature.of 42.7 degrees, and August third coldest with 44.3 degrees. The temperature lifts appreciably in September, being degrees warmer than in August. September marks the beginning of spring from a meteorological aspect.

The Wellington City and Suburban Highways Board on Wednesday again dismissed the proposal that motorists in the Welling- ? ton area should be called upon to pay an increased Hutt road fee to enable the board to raise a further loan of £LOO.OGO, making £300,000 in all. After a considerable discussion (reports our special correspondent) it was resolved that the proposals to widen the Hutt road surface and to recondition the cycle track from Thorndon to Petone works, estimated to cost £30,000, should be deleted from the programme of works. A resolution was passed to the effect that the board should proceed with its Bill in respect * of the £100,600 loan, and should seek the necessary legislation to enable it to increase the fees payable by owners of cars by 10s, and motor cycles by 3s 4d. The vote of motorists which was to have been promoted by the board, will not be proceeded with. ...