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Otago Witness, Issue 3867, 24 April 1928, Page 3

The Hokitika correspondent of the Christchurch Star reports that several stalking parties from Westland have returned from the southern area. The weather conditions were better than are usually experienced at this time of the year. Mr K Dalrymple secured a fair 13-pointcr, <l3 by 13, from Landsborough. Mr Forester and a friend secured a 15-pointer and an excellent 11-pointer on the Haast Pass block. Messrs Brown Bros, and Jones (Belfas' I wounded an excellent animal, but as it was dusk it was impossible to follow "t up. Two heavy royals were also wounded. Mr Wilson’s party has secured eight fair heads to date, and the best 15-pointer. which fell to the rifle of Mr Furkhart in the Barke Valley. A report came to hand that Colonel Strutt is in possession of one good head which he secured in the Landsborough Valley. Mr Kitto, jun., shot a very nice head of 13 points. Complaints are made that runholders made trips into the deer country ahead of stalkers, and the matter is being reported to the Acclimatisation Society. K

“ The people of Norfolk Island are all very friendly, and everyone speaks to everyone else, there being an entire absence of formality. Money is of no value and neither is time. The Islanders can grow everything they need without much trouble and a minimum of exertion provides them with more money than can be spent on the island, so they do not labour very hard. There are no telephones, no rates, no taxes and no excise duties, and, though life io a simple affair down there, the ways cf more worldly communities are in evidence,” stated Mr T. G. Grubb, of Stratford, to a Stratford Post reporter. At a ball held on the island during his visit Air Grubb found everyone in evening dress, tbe ladies being clad in the height of fashion. Music was provided by an orchestra of 14, which played splendidly, and the dances were of the very latest.

For some time past the Southland League has been active in the matter of providing a better steamer service on Lake To Anau, and in connection with this, the secretary of the league (Mr J. S. Dick) has received the following letter from the Minister-in-Charge of Tourist and Health Resorts, Mr W. Nosworthy (says the Soutnland Times) —“ I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter in reference to a new steamer for Lake Te Anau. In reply 1 have to inform you that I am getting a report from the Marine Department in regard to improving the speed and conditions of tbe present vessel, and if this >s not feasible, I intend considering the question of a new steamer, should there be money available for this. As you know, the department is -committed this year to a fairly heavy expense in regard to the new hostel at Milford Sound and other vital works at different tourist resorts.”

Ten bankruptcies, which were notified in the latest issue of the New Zealand Gazette, were equally divided between tho two islands.

Many and varied are the relics of chq past which are to be seen in the Otagq Early Settlors’ Association museum, and for the person who has the time and patience to delve quietly among the ex. hibits there, an interesting hour can do whiled away. Little noticed, but of great interest to those for whom old musical instruments have an appeal, are a piano,, a barrel organ and an old-fashioned “ musical box.” The piano has the distinction of being the first one ever made in Dunedin. It was manufactured by the late Mr Charles Begg, in 1861, and was exhibited at the Dunedin Exhibition in 1865. The tone is still sweet and true, and, as far as» condition goes, it might bo a new instrument. The barrel organ was brought to Dunedin in IE6I on the ship Dominion, by Dr Richardson. It was for use in the Episcopalian Church whose services were then held in the Supreme Court Building. The musical box, which is a really ingenious contrivance, plays tunes in a clear bell like tone which, would put many of the more modern mechanical instruments to shame. It was presented to the association by the family of the late Mr James Strain, of Dunedin. Sub-tropical crops and the advantage and disadvantages for growing them in North Auckland, were the subject of a lecture before the Auckland Agricultural Science Club, by Mr T. H. Paterson, senior instructor in agriculture in Auckland, who is leaving New Zealand to take up a position at the Hawkesbury Agricultural College in New South Wales. It was pointed out (says the Auckland Star) that there was reason foi investigation which should result in adding to the Dominion’s agriculture, a wide range of v.-luable and economically grown crops. Different crops were discussed and, the speaker said, many of these had been raised successfully in northern New Zealand on a larger or smaller scale.

The tenders. which were received at the last mooting of the Vincent County Council, for the erection of the Clutha, Hawea, and Lindis River bridges were considered and submitted to the Public XV oiks Department. No tender, however, has been accepted.

“ The past season has been one of the most succesful experienced in Otago for many years past, and the standard cf rowing has been very -high—in fact the standard was the' highest reached in these waters for a number of seasons.” This was the opinion expressed by a Dunedin oarsman to our representative on Thursday. He also said the en-

thusiasm which existed amongst club members was most noticeable, every club striving to improve its plant and encourage the younger members. The most pleasing feature was the manner in which the old time oarsmen had rallied round their chibs to assist in the coaching. The Porn Chalmers Rowing Club, with the very limited and youthful material at its disposal, had put up a remarkably fine performance during the season in winning all the Otago Rowing Association’s trophies with the exception of the Senior Cup. This trophy was won by the senior crew from the Queen’s Drive Boating Club. Th>s

crew was to be commended on the thorough manner in which it trained, and the keenness shown in the interest of the club. Unfortunately the Otago Rowing Chib had been deprived of the privilege of having the champion Otago crew competing for the association’s trophies. This had been brought about owing to J. Werges having ren.oved from Dunedin, and also owing to Messrs F. Brough and C. J. M‘Ara attending the championship regatta on the Wanganui River. Mr Brough showed a fine sporting spirit in rowing with scratch crews in all the senior events at the Queenstown regatta on Easter Saturday, and his example could well be followed by all oarsmen in Otago Harbour.

Apparently the fame of Mount Cook and the Southern Alps a s tourist resorts has spread further abroad than we in New Zealand realise. Sir James Parr, the High Commissioner for New Zealand in London, who recently spent a week in Switzerland, stated on his return that a Swiss guide who had been in the Dominion, and with whom he had been in conversation, remarked that the beauty and grandeur of the mountains of his native land could not compare with Mount Cook. That the New Zealand alps could hold their own in every way both for glorious scenery and as a field for sport with the Swiss Alps or the Canadian Rcckies. was also the opinion of Mr L. S.. Amery, Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, who, during his visit to the Dominion, spent 12 days in the Southern Alps. Neither Monte Rosa F rom Macuguaga nor Mount Robson from the Fraser Valley, stated Mr Amery, at the conclusion of his trip, surpassed the stupendous majesty of Mount Cook and Mount Tasman as seen from the Glacier ; Dome. For sport, Mr Amery considered there was an almost unlimited field, much of it still untouched, and for mountain expeditions, whether on rock, on snow or on ice, on foot or on skis, conditions were particularly favourable.

Material for a book on New Zealand s being taken back to the United States by Ur J. S. Kennard, a distinguished American writer, traveller, and explorer, who left for Vancouver by, the Aorangi. T>r Kennard, who has produced more than 20 publications in several languages, spent some time in the Dominion collecting material, and was greatly assisted by the. Government Publicity Department, lie met; a number of prominent men, including the Prime Minister. who was greatly interested in his mission. Dr Kennard has had a very interesting career, and has travelled extensively. The fascination of big game hunting has led him to the dark forests of Central Africa ; while a desire to trace the sources of the world’s "greatest rivers has taken him up ths Amazon forests, and to the heads o c the great rivers of India and China. Another of his many interests is Alpine climbing. In addition. Dr Kennard is a student of world politics And an advocate of world peace. Dr Kennard was accompanied by his wife, who js recognised as one of the most .skilled of American miniaturepainters. She is:a Virginian, and is a de scendaiit of Lord Baltimore. Her grandfather, although a Southerner, was a Union sympathiser and in officer of the 7th Regt ment of. New York in the stormy days of the Civil War. Her mother, Mary Daweon Young, is a. well-known writer of tales in the negro dialect. In si letter to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce Collins (secretary of the Department <>f Commerce) states ’.that the postponement of the visit to' the.Ncw -Zealand delegation to Niue and Samoa on the initial trip of the Maui "Pornare was duo to the unsettled conditions in Samoa. Ho adds that it is proposed' later to reorganise the trip M originally arranged.

A remarkable coincidence attended the ceremony of rekindling the Too H Lamp of Maintenance in St. Matthew’s Church in Auckland. The lights of the church, which were to be put out for 'three minutes while the lamp was being lit and dedicated by Archbishop Averill were extinguished at the right time by the convenient failure of the electric supply The cue had been given for the switch to be turned off when the power failed throughout the city area and the church was plunged into darkness. During the brief ceremony the verger s rushed in search of candles, but to their amazement the lights came on again .at the precise moment in the The coincidence was completely lost on the congregation, which saw nothing amiss. The lamp was first lighted by the Prince of Wales at a memorable service at tne Guildhall, London, last December. It was relit and dedicated by Bishop Averill to the memory of those members of the brotherhood who died in the war, and to the special memory of Lieutenant-Colonel G. A. King, D. 5.0., of the Canterbury Infantry Regiment, who was killed in action at Passchendaele : >i October, 1917. Mrs King and her daughte. were present during the service, and also members of the regiment of the deceased.

The temporary nature of the repairs ana improvements recently affected on the road from Milton to Henley is now beginning to show. For a few weeks motoris enjoyed a short respite from the monotonous succession of potholes, with the inevitable accompaniment of broken springs, b the road is now reverting to its former state. Some parts of it have already deteriorated io a state equal to, if not worse than, that of some weeks back. Even where the surface is as yet not very rough, heavy traffic, combined with more frequent rains, is taking its toll.

Mr. Ai B. D. Traill, a soldier-settler from the Chatham Islands, who has been spending a few days in Christchurch (says the Lyttelton Times) said that there had been some talk in the islands of getting a new vessel for the trade with New Zealand, and he hoped that it would soon be an accomplished fact. “On the island itself,’’ said Mr Traill, “ the lack of trans port facilities is our chief trouble. We nave no formed roads at all. Everyone there uses horses. We have no motor vehicles and only one buggy. The vehicle mainly used is a cross between a cart and a sledge. It has two small wheels about 18in in diameter at the rear, and in the front two runners.” As yet there was only one telephone on the island and that was privately owned. The residents were negotiating for a better service. It would save a tremendous amount of riding. A council had recently been formed, and i< was trying to levy taxes so as to provide roads and other things which were badly needed. “It will be very hard to collect them from the natives though,’’ said Mr Traill “ Even now they are quoting the Treaty of Waitangi to us.” Radio was becoming increasingly popular, he said. A number of people now owned sets. They get the New Zealand stations all righ r and one or two had reported getting America. They were troubled greatly with static, however. “ Apart from the spiritual, there is no question of more vital importance to the Maori people to-day than that of medical supervision ” declared the Rev, A F. Bennett, addressing the Maori gathering at Pakipaki, near Hastings. “We are a small people,” he wont on to say, “ surrounded by all sorts of epidemics, and we must look to the Health Dep» rtment f- r greater help and more practical assistance.” It was impossible for one man in charge of Maori hygiene to do more than scratch the surface, seeing that the Maori population was approximately 60,000. His suggestion was that there should be at 'east threo medical officers, one in each of the three Maori electorates, but the great obstacle to this would probably be finance. Contributing to the discussion, Sir Apirana Ngata said that the question was a difficult one “ The present position of the medical man is like the fifth wheel in a coach, and I do not hold out much hope of getting anything done when the outlook of the Health Department on Maori problems is such as it is at the present time.” In the latest bulletin issued by tre Native Bird _ Protection Socuty, the va.ue of native birds is stressed in a short paper contributed by Mr S. D. Potter, in which it is stated that some 70 per cent, of our bird life is not found anywhere else in the world. Once these birds are gone they are lust ro rover, as they cannot be retric- ed or imo»r<cd Flic writer refers to the fact that not so very long ago part of Southern Europe became almost birdless on account of nearly all the species, regardless of size or utility, being shot or trapped to provi ie a tasty mors'*! for the sensitive palates of human gour mands. As a result, crops, trees, and nearly every form of vegetation suffered, and were in danger of extermination through insect pests of all descriptions. So marked were the effects that the authorities who had permitted this w’anton slaughter became alarmed, and every effort is now being made to repopulate these areas with birds. A Dunedin subscriber sends us the following:—“ln a catalogue of books, etc, issued recently by Francis Edwards, Ltd . antiquarian booksellers, London, the following item appears, and if you have not already seen it I t-hoim’’' it might interest you-—‘Otago Daily Times, No. 581 October 28, 1863, folio (3pp., slightly damaged), Dunedin. . . . 15s. The lead ing article is a review of Edward Jernnig ham Wakefield’s pamphlet, “ -What • Will They Do in the General Assembly ?” Otago Witness (The), No. 110, June 25, 18o<. fol*o (4 pages, torn at folds), Dunedin .

15s. Contains the report of the' second annual meeting of the Otago Settlers’ Association.’” Our correspondent' adds. “Those who lived in the period wh'eh the Otago Daily Times was first published little thought if they collected a few, copies and kept them for half a century or more they might realise-15s apiece for them. ’ . Fifty one licenses for deer-stalking have been issued in Wanganui since the season opened at the beginning of this month. As yet no outstanding “ bags ” have been reported by sportsmen in the district although several 14-pointer heads have been taken up the Wanganui River. Owing, no doubt, to the •fact that pukeko, or swamp birds, have been protected for some years past, they have increased in number to a somewhat astonishing extent, and in parts have become a nuisance. In order to deplete their numbers a shooting season for these birds has been declared for one month from May 1. A section of the New Zealand Gazette devoted to the ‘ regulations dealing with the shooting of native and imported game, contains a claus'p. which defines the season for the taking of Californian quail as extending from-May 1 to June. 30 inclusive The Otago Acclimatisation Society, however applied to the Minister of Internal Affairs to have the dates altered so that the season should extend from June 1 to July 31, and a few days ago the secretary ■. t the society (Mr R. Hanning) received advice that the proposal ’ had been adopted and that an amending clause would be inserted in the Gazette, thus making the season for quail one month later than the date originally gazetted. Further information which should be interesting to sportsmen is to the effect that this year there will be a close season for Paradise duck. Summer time is favoured by the business men of Dunedin. At its meeting last week the Council of the Chamber of Commerce unanimously carried the following motion: “ The chamber has always supported this reform, and after four months' trial is more than ever convinced of its advantages.”

Coal and timber amounting to 2500

tons were railed through the Otira tunnel from the West Coast on Wednesday in 10 full It constituted a day’s record since the opening of the tunnel

At the meeting of the University Council on Tuesday a letter was received from the Australasian Society for the Advancementof Science acknowledging receipt of a communication conveying a request that the use of tho word “ Australasian ” be discontinued. The writer stated that the association would not meet until May, 1930. and that nothing could be done in regard to the request till then. Members of the council noted with some amusement the fact that tho name of the association was printocTin large type at the head of the letter,' while the words “Australian and New Zealand ” appeared in much smaller type underneath. The dangers of isolation on some of toe mutton bird islands was illustrated when one of the birders met with an accident, fortunately of no great consequence. A young man named Taylor, aged about 20, whose home is at Tuatapere, gashed his leg badly with an axe when he was chopping wood on Stage Island For four days and four nights smoke signals were sent up in vain, and for that period no boats were in the vicinity. Lasr Saturday the ketch Rakiura (Captain Cross) was cruising near Long Island when the attention of the crew was drawn to a column of smoke on the land. On invest! gating. Captain Cross w-as directed to Stage Island, where he picked up the tin fortunate man, proceeding immediately to Bluff. The mainland was reached about 4 o’clock on Sunday morning and- after attention from Dr Torrance, ■ the suffer;*) was conveyed to the Southland. Hospital This example (says the Southland Timesshows the, perils of those who meet with accidents- on these isolated islands. Week? could elapse aftei a mishap before the outside world could be communicated witn. and this enforced delay might easily prove fatal. . ;

The door of the Boy Scout movement is closed' definitely against conscientious objectors ‘to military training. Intimation of this fact has been conveyed by Major W. E. S. Furby, general secretary of the New Zealand section of the organisation, to Mr F. K. Hunt, the Auckland magistrate, who recently suggested that an appellant against military service on religious grounds should -join the. .Boy Scouts Writing to a friend in Auckland the secretary asks him to note . that he has written to Mr Hunt stating, “ We will not have the Scout mov.ement turned into a dump for disloyalists. Scout. law No. 2 is, ‘ A Scout is loyal to the King, his country, his officers, his parents and hit employers, and to those under him,’ while the Scout promise contains the obligation 'to do my duty to God and '■ the King. In these circumstances any of the appel lants against military training on religious grounds are not considered desirables in our movement, which even although a nonmilitary one, will not be used to become a haven for those whose peculiar beliefs are. not those of young men who could oe set up as examples for youths to follow.”

The Westland Power Board turned on the electric power on Wednesday for the first time, and had a successful trial run at Messrs Malfroy and Cn.’s mill at .Three Mile. The power is being obtained from the old Kumara water race.

New Zealand mails which were despatched from • Auckland-by the Niagara on March 13 for the United Kingdom arrived in London on April 13.

At last week’s meeting of the executive of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association the Secretary (Mr J. M. White) reported that the Rev. V. G. Bryan King had forwarded a cheque for £l5. and asked if the association would act as trustee for the fund which was being collected for the purpose of erecting headstones on graves not deemed to be war graves *n the soldiers’ plot at the Anderson’s Bay Cemetery. A reply haff been sent to Mr King in which it had been stated that the executive would undertake to act as trustee to the fund. In the cemetery in question there were a certain number of graves not deemed to be war graves. In some eases soldiers were buried there because they had had no relatives in Dunedin to attend to the funeral arrangements, and in others because it was consideiej that as death was due to war service the Defence Department would eventually provide headstones. In 1924 the Dunedin Association had obtained a promise of a grant from local sources, but thg Minister of Defence did not approve of the funds being used for that purpose. Most of the graves in the soldiers’ plot at Anderson’s Bay had now had headstones erected, and those without stones spoilt the effect of the whole plot. The association had hoped in the future to take some action to raise funds itself and therefore gladly co-operated in the manner requested by Mr King.—The secretary’s action was approved.

Men who have recently returnel from Stewart Island state that some of the beaches round Paterson Inlet are strewn with, dead penguins of the small species known commonly as rock hoppers. This wholesale destruction is attributed to the effects of, the escaped whale oil from the C. A. Larsen, which renders the watertight feathers . round the throats of the birds penetrable by the cold water, thus freezing them to death. It is a common enough thing for such oil to destroy fish, but whether .this is the case in the Inlet is not yet known as there has been little fishing carried on. there during the fine weather,.,., When the C, A. Larsen was situated near Bravo it is reported that all the mussels on the rocks were killed. is exceedingly fortunate that the of the oil was confined practically to tUo Inlet, as some express the fear that tho mutton bird industry would have suffered extensively had the complete cargo of the C. A. Larsen been lost and spread around the isliSid. 11 ' Dr R. J. Tillyard, the newly-appointed Commonwealth, Entomologist left Sydney on the Tahiti for the United States and Europe. The purpose of his visit is to select staffs for insect pests and noxious weeds research ‘ work in Australia, and to establish two sub-branches for tho work in England, and one in France. Dr Tillyard’s absence will probably not exceed six months, and by the time of his return laboratories and other buildings required for his work at Canberra will have been erected. Dr Tillyard's appointment by the Ministry; : was aif attempt to control the blowfly pest in sheep in Australia by scientific means, * and also to minimise the depredations of buffalo flies, thrips, lucerne fleas, grass grubs, codlin mpthg and aphides of various kinds. His work, is divided: roughly into two classes— the control of insect pests by their natural enemies, and the destruction Pf noxious weeds,

Recently the 'Auckland Advertising Club converted, a conference to consider the publication of a booklet to advertise Auck land. _ .Miss Melville, who represented the City' Council at the conference, expressed the opinion that the council should contribute £5OO towards the cost. The matter has since been considered by the Finance Conunittee, and on its recommendation the council has decided that a sum, not exceding £5OO, be placed on the current’estimates for the purpose. About .50 men are engaged on the work of erecting the steel towers which are to carry the power lines south from Waikaremoana to Hawke’s Bay. The towers are erected piecemeal, with the exception of the topmost section, which is put to gether on the ground and then lifted into position. A quaint feature of the work is. the curiosity shown by swarms of magpies, which cluster round the men at times with every appearance of deep concern »n the progress of the job. Doubtless thev arc attracted by the brightness of the tools used by the men, and by the sparkle ot polished porcelain in the insulators. Mr Justice Sim . has granted probate in the estate of the late Walter Edward Lane, late of Dunedin, company manager (Mr Monro).

That a man had worked for a farmer for five or six years, had allowed hi s wages to accumulate to £449, and then lost that amount by the farmer being declared bankrupt, was a statement by the Maintenance Officer in the Magistrate’s Court in Christ church last week. The man who suffered the loss was defendant in a mainten anee case, and the maintenance officer stated that he did not think there would be any dividend from the bankruptcy. The •ase was dismissed.

A party of three Milton residents who visited Bull Creek, Akatore district, last week ..(says our correspondent) reports that crayfish :ahd mullet were unusually plenti- . ful. Within two hours over 400 crayfish -y"' were caught in the pools, and tiring of this pastime the members of the party netted 40 dozen mullet within a short time.

Affairs in connection with the Waitan’ Public Hall do not seem to be progressing too favourably, as at a meeting of the shareholders held last month it was decided to put the hall up for public auction It is understood that the proceeds will be distributed pro rata amongst the shareholders.

A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that the total live births registered for the urban areas in March numbered 1138, compared with 1052 in February, an increase of 86. The deaths in March were 483, a figure exactly the same as that for the previous month. Of the total deaths males contributed 273, and females 215. Fifty-eight of the deaths were of children undei' five years of age, being 11.89 per cent, of the whole number... Thirty-five of these were under one year"" of age.

An excellent map of early New Zealand, containing many of the old placenames, several of which have now been forgotten, is in the possession of Mr G. C. Thomson, of Thomsons, Limited, Dun edin, who intends, on some future occasion, to present it to the Early Settlers 3 Museum. It is in an excellent state of preservation, and in the left top corner is the title ■’ Map of the Colony of New Zealand. From Official Documents. By Jonn Arrowsmith.” The districts and divi sions are represented in colours, and the islands are titled by the original names of New Ulster, New Munster and New Leinster, or Stewart Island. Every place of habitation and transport route is marked clearly, and the map should prove of great value for future historical reference.

A message from Auckland states that adjustments have been agreed to by the insurance companies concerned in the recent fire on the premises of Milne and Choyce, Limited. The value of the goods, fittings, etc., damaged by fire, smoke, and water is assessed at £5OOO.

An interesting exhibit is to be seen tn the office of the Southland Power Board. It appears (says the Southland Times) that, on a certain day in March, an 11,00" volt line came to the ground beyond Waikawa The wire fell on very sandy sd'il. and at once proceeded to establish its position The flow of current from the wire to the earth generated heat, which quickly turned the sand into a molten mass. This process went on along a length of about 6ft, until finally the wire for that distance was totally surrounded by molten silica, which, being an insulator, kept the wife alive, but gradually insulated it from the ground, until finally no current flowed. The si lie <

then cooled off, and hardened into a snake- \ like stone stick 6ft in length, in places jfchollow, ’ where the wire had lain. Perhaps best description would be : a petrified

The record established by the Carnegie Library in the year 1926-27 has been eclipsed during the, 12 months ended March 31, 1928. Although definite figures are not yet - available, it is known that a record amount, of business has been done in every department. -The need for an extension 'of the library accommodation, particularly the lending department, has been recog nised, and although only tentative con sidoration . has been .given to the matter, it will be one for discussion in the near future.

In accordance with a suggestion from the National Hospital Day Advisory Committee, the chairman and the secretary of the Otago Hospital Board, with the-medical superintendent ■of Dunedin Hospital have been authorised by the Hospital Committee qf the board'.to inake the necessary arrange ments ' for celebrating the day ■ befittingly. The comrnitbefe has also approved'of- a sug- ■ gestion by the'medical superintendent that a. church service ’be held on ! May '6, : and 'has agreed that the senior girls* of : the ’ secondary schools be invited to 'Visit' the Dunedin Hospital on May 5,-'and after ■wards be entertained at afterboon' tea 'at the Nurse’# Home.

On- the ground that he ! . was not " prepared to act on the evidence he had before him, Mr F. K. Hunt, 8.M.,-in the Auckland Police Court on Wednesday refused th© applications lodged by four university students for exemption from military training (says our special correspondent). The applicants were Allen M. Richards (aged 21), William E. Byrt (aged 19), Alexander Miller (aged 19), and Leonard G., Usher (aged 21). Richards, Byrt and Miller were stated to be students for the Presbyterian ministry, and Usher was a teacher, a member, of the Methodist Church, and a licensed preacher. In'giving his decision, the Magistrate said that if the applicants did not go to drill they would be fined. The complaint of fruit retailers in Wellington that an Auckland .lemon had not been seen in ‘ Wellington for months, appears to be borne but by the experience of one of the largest fruit-buyers in Dunedin,’ who informed our representative on Wednesday that he had recently tried all over the Dominion to buy 100 cases of New Zealand lemons, and was unable to buy a single case.

The silting of the Grey River bar blocking shipping at Greymouth has proved to be a boon to the railways. On Wed-, nesday 3000 tons of.. coal and timber, necessitating nine trains, were hauled through the Otira tunnel. Had the bar been workable a great deal of this would have been carried by sea. Yesterday s total; makes a record for ordinary traffic on the line, although greater tonnages have had to be shifted on one or two occasions when the line has been blocked for several days on account of washouts Tho usual weekly total hauled through the tunnel is between 7000 and 9000 tons. Thus yesterday’s load represents a load that usually takes two days to handle.

The story of how the finding of gold nuggets in Gabriel’s Gully in the earlv days of gold-digging in New Zealand, paved the way for the founding of the Canton Villages Mission in China. was related by the Rev. A. L. Miller, who is on furlough from the mission field, at the Edendale Presbyterian Church in Auckland. Mr Miller said the Gabriel’s Gully field attracted men from every corner of the globe, and the Presbyterian Church appointed the Rev. Alexander Don to com mcnce a mission among the Chinese dig gers at Roxburgh. When the Rev. G. H. M'Neur was about to depart for the Chinese mission field the Chinese diggers in New Zealand sent presents of gold by him to their parents in the homeland of China. To that fact could be attributed the* success of Mr M'Neur’s entry into the country.

Mystery but no suspicion surrounds the discovery near Awapuni-of the sksleton of a man (says a Press Association telegram from Palmerston North). The bones are bare of flesh, and in the opinion of a medical man, have lain there for 10 years or more. Two pipes—one a Challenger, made in France, with the tip worn or filed off —were lying alongside the body'. Identification is probable through the teeth, four in the upper jaw being artificial The bridge extends from the upper left central to the upper right cavine abutment, the teeth being of gold and the dummies of porcelain. Tho height of the man was approximately sft 6in, and he had been of slim build, his age being 25 years or more.

After spending several days on the site of the Hobsonville air base Major T. M Wilkes (director of air services) and Captain L. M. Isitt returned to Auckland yesterday (says our special correspondent Plans of the layout of the proposed aerodrome are being prepared jjy the Public Works Department. “ The matter is now progressing, and although nothing may be known publicly for about a month, once a start is made things will certainly move,” said Major Wilkes. Some time ago a Whangarei lawyer read an advertisement in which an English firm of solicitors asked for information about a certain man. He recalled that two years before he had given two days’ work to a man of the same name, but he did not know where the man had gone. During a motor tour in the north recently (reports our special correspondent in Auckland) he and his wife recognised the man breaking stones on the road; ■ and ascertained from him that the English advertisers were his family’s solicitors'- in Manchester, which he had left 40 years ago owing to a disagreement. He had not communicated with his family since. The Whangarei solicitor was instructed to take up the matter. It is said that ,the roadman is a member of a well-known English family, and that he will soon be able to live on a .scale different from that he has enjoyed in the past years. An investigation of the financial require ments of’ the Auckland University College is to be made by the Professorial Board. This decision (says the Auckland Star) was reached T>y the College Council at its meeting ’last week, when the Professorial Board submitted the following resolution:—That the financial requirement’s of the Auckland University College be considered by a special committee, and this investigate the needs of tlie various departments, and draw up a statement which will cover the requirements for the next 20 years.” The President (Mr George Fowlds) said that the community had never done a great deal in the way of making contributions to the D Diversity, although the City Council and the Savings Bank and a few other large’ contributors raised about £25,000 for the building programme He thought that the approach of their jubilee period in five years’ time would be a suitable occasion for an organised appeal to- the peoplo of Auckland to provide funds for specific de ■velopment; y, The president; and Professor Segar were appointed th©, college representatives at a conference of the,, four, colleges regarding the money’ that' is being made available by "the 'Carnegie Corpora tio'n for ’the' advancement ‘ and extension >f educational facilities in thb ’British dominions.