PASSING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3885, 28 August 1928, Page 3

PASSING NOTES.

'(From Saturday’s Otago Daily Times.) In church or out—and we have the alternative —our devoutest prayers must go with the Kellogg Pact. A pact is no more than an agreement, and an agreement is an agreement as long as the parties agree.—no longer. A law to be effective mtu_ have force at its back, what the lawyers call a “ sanction,” — penalties to follow upon breach. Penalties for breach of the Kellogg Pact?—one would be glad to know what they are. With a genuine desire for “peace in cur time” the signatories betray a divided mind. America signs, and’enlarges her navy, Mr Wilbur, a colleague of Mr Kellogg’s, remarking, “ If you want peace, prepare for war.” Germany signs, and is building four cruisers. What need has Germany for cruisers when she is without overseas possessions? France signs, and is maintaining on German soil an army sixty thousand strong, with British and Belgian regiments to back them up. Soviet Russia does not sign, but is making actual war right and left,

in Manchuria, in India, in Britain itself. There are other weapons of war than fleets and armies. Reduction of fleets and armies is good as a policy of thrift, saving money, staving off bankruptcy. But disarmament will not end war. The nations may still fight if so minded, —with bows and arrows in default of deadlier weapons, or even with sticks and stones. The essential is that the nations one and all should seek peace and ensue it, continuing instant in prayer, the ancient prayer, “ From envy, hatred, malice and all uncharitableness, Good Lord deliver us' ”* So far away as Winnipeg have electioneering agents intercepted Sir Joseph Ward on his travels, offering him a political career, a renewal in fact. Will he, won’t he, could he, shouldn’t he, come to the rescue of the perishing United Party, countable on his fingers as he sits beside them in the House, himself the residuary legatee of New Zealand Liberalism, the one and only, single, sole, and olitary? But this ‘solation may end. Fifty nebulous candidates of | the United Party are to materialise in Wellington on Sir Joseph’s arrival, greet him as leader, and under his direction prepare to oppose in fifty constituencies the patriot candidate and allow the public enemy to slip in between them. Who is the public enemy? The Socialt, though he is not keen on parading that name, still less the appellation confiscationist; —his aim “ the socialising of production, distribution, and exchange,” a well-worn formula, a periphrasis for the confiscation of private property. But Sir Joseph is quite well aware that there are in New Zealand two political parties only, and two political ideals—Socialist and antiSocialist. No difficulty in saying where Sir Joseph stands. He has as little liking for confiscation as the Taieri farmer or the George Street shopkeeper. Even the faint and failing United Party is on the right side. Will he listen to their Uvitation? Wary after long experience, not to say wily, he answers that he “ will consider ” thereanent. I said in this column long ago and now repeat that in Mr Coates’s pla :e Z should offer Sir Joseph Ward straight out a seat in the Cabinet. With or without a portfolio.

“ Growing shrill,” a chapter-heading in Carlyle’s vivid portrayal of the French Revolutionary Assembly and its fervours, might be prefixed to our Parliamentary reports from Wellington. Tired of themselves and of each other, preoccupied by thoughts of their chances in the November elections, with nothing of legislative interest in front but the longdelayed Licensing Bill, the Government phalanx, strong in numbers, composes itself to slumber during the night watches of a late sitting. But the other side plays the hooligan, riot and revel the native note. In committee, when any one may speak as often as he likes, there are facilities for vituperation through all the moods and tenses. “ A sleeping Tory is a less calamity than a waking Tory,” they say. Hoop-la! The Minister for such and such a department is “ the dullest, . dreariest, the stodgiest, and the most unimaginative and pessimistic Minister this country has ever had.” Growing shrill! Talk of the chances of some of these hon. members in the next General Election! The extraordinary thing is that they had any chance in the last. A reflection of a kind in which Alexander Pope has anticipated me: Pretty ! In amber to observe the forms Of hairs, or straws, or dirt, or grubs, or worms. The things, we know, are neither rich nor rare. But wonder how the devil they got there.

On all hands, as we have seen, we are exhorted to prayer for national objects; but what are we to say to this:— Jockeys and stable lads of Newmarket were championed at the Ely Diocesan Conference at Cambridge by the Rev. J. H. Davies, vicar of Westley Waterless, near Newmarket. He. said he was chaplain to the King’s horses and the King’s stablemen and he held services in the little chapel at Egerton House, the residence of Princess Mary and Viscount Lascelles. “ Before the Guineas,” said Mr Davies. “ I asked God's blessing on the stables during the week, and whether in answer to my supplication or by chance one of the horses won. The next Sunday I had an early celebration of Holy Communion and there were present 39 persons, including the trainer of the horse and all the men in the stables.” If this example should be followed in Dunedin we may have prayers in the churches for fine weather at Wingatui and good dividends on the totalisator. An Australian jockey is in trouble for calling in the aid of electricity —three electric batteries secreted under his saddle—if we can believe it; which contrivance when in operation would “ drive a horse frantic,” it is affirmed. There is a better way than this, the way of “ the chaplain to the King’s horses.”

“Cheerful Yesterdays,” an ingenuous and pathetic autobiography by the late Mr Justice Alpers, will have a wide range of New Zealand readers. The Alpers family, including a boy of eight or nine years, emigrants from Denmark, landed in New Zealand without an English word amongst them. The I'anish boy’s progress from the primary school to the judicial bench makes a lively story; but the sequel is pathetic. A few months after attaining the distinction of a judgeship the writer “ knew himself afflicted with the cruellest of all scourges—cancer.” He says, “ My’ book, if it is published at all, will, I fear, be posthumous. From the first page to the last every word of it has been dictated to or revised by my’ wife.” Many of its pages are brightened by humorous stories of the bar, the Courts, and political life as he saw it. Take an example or two: — In the House of Representatives a member whose devotion to “ this ’ere splendid system of National Education ” was, as he frankly admitted, the outcome of his own lack of “ schooling.” said, rising to address the chair, Sir, I have a school in my eye ” ‘‘ No,” came the prompt interjection of Dr Fitchett—‘'only a pupil.” When Sir Julius Vogel, the Hebrew financier, who inaugurated what was known as the “ Public Works Policy,” returned from London after the successful flotation of one of his big loans, he was welcomed with great jubilation by the citizens of Wellington and honoured by them with a torchlight procession through the town. A political opponent—Mr W. 'B. D. Mantell, M.L.C.—being met in ■ a by-street by a friend who -asked why he was not at the procession, promptly retorted, “ Le Jew ne vaut pas la chandelle.” It would be a sin to translate. Brevity is the soul of wit. The pun—the a-b ab of wit—is still a pun though you call it a paranomasia, its learned name, and the nearer it comes to pun perfection the more irritating it is. Take a verse from poor Tom Hood, who made many puns— His death, which happened in his berth, At forty-odd befell; They went and told the sexton, and The sexton tolled the bell. After which you are ready to say with Dr Johnson that tjie man who makes a pun would pick a pocket. You meet with punning where least you would

expect it—e.g.—“Thou art Peter, and upon this petra will I found my church”; —and St. Paul is unmistakably punning when he wishes for the preachers of circumcision that they might be cut off altogether. Then listen to Mr Stanley Baldwin at a social function to celebrate the completing of the great Oxford Dictionary. Here let me say parenthetically that amongst after-dinner speakers Mr Stanley Baldwin is one of the best, especially on literary subjects. I have every respect for you in this above all, that in your sacred pages, from the first to the last, is found no pun such as may be found - in all of the earlier editions of the great Liddell sand Scott. Incidentally ~ should like to ask the ViceChancellor of Oxford University or Dr Milford, whom I see here, who was responsible for excising that pun which satisfied generations, and is to be found in every edition of Liddell and Scott up to. 1 think, about the sixth or seventh. Who made the pun? Was it Liddell or was it Scott? And was it Scott or was it Liddell who was responsible for the excision? If that question can be answered tonight then indeed our dinner will go down in the history of scholarsnip for years to come. — (Laughter.)

What was the pun that intruded itself into the “ sacred pages ” of a Greek Lexicon? Mr Baldwin did not say, and no English paper, it would seem, has rushed in to supply the omission. It remains for me, here at the Antipodes, to explain. Dealing with the word sukophan+es (Eng. sycophant), “a common informer, false accuser, backbiter, slanderer,” L. and S. were puzzled by the elemen'; sukon, a fig. What had figs to do with false accusations? At last they say, “ According to certain ancient authors the word was derived from sukon, a fig, and phaino, to show, meaning ‘ one who informed against persons exporting figs from Attica ’ or ‘ plundering sacred fig-trees ’; but probably this explanation is a mere figment.” About figs, observe, and “ a mere figment.” Of course the pun was unintended, clearly an accident But none the less did it serve as a jest in Oxford common rooms, and for many a year the ears of Dr Liddell, Master of Balliol and Dr Scott, Dean of Christchurch, were made to tingle.

Multum in parvo,—a miscellany of correspondents with a word for each. First, a dispute over cards. This column professes no jurisdiction in card games. Disputes for settlement must be carried to some other tribunal. ' Next: “Is it a "scientific fact that a reflection on the lawn from the dining room fire means the approach of bad weather?” It means mere foolishness. The dining room fire may be reflected on or from the dining room window. The lawn outside and the weather good or bad have nothing to do with it. Next: “What can be said about the six hundred million sterling we are to pay to America as a war debt for munitions supplied to our Allies?” Nothing to purpose can be said, except that Uncle Sam is Uncle Shylock, and ti rogue to boot. There are long-standing debts owing to Britain for money lent to individual States in the Union, but there is no mention of paying them, rich and prosperous though America is. Next: “What are we to think of the rage for sport affecting young and old? Even the churches are in it. I have just read two sermons on the merits of cricket and the way it should be played. Fancy that.” The rage for sport, if rage it may be called, means that life in New Zealand is lived under easy conditions, and that we have, or think we have, money to burn. Which may be a fateful delusion. Finally, a correspondent who thinks this column should be enriched by the remark of a little girl from the backblocks who at a dinner in town saw for the first time fingerbowls and cutlery placed on the table for dessert: “ A basin of water, and only a knife and fork to eat it with.” Civis.

At a meeting of the Provincial Executive of the Otago Society of Mental Hygiene, a letter was read from Dr A. R. Falconer, a member of the Organising Committee of the International Congress of National Councils of Mental Hygiene. In this it was stated that at the present time as many as 20 nations had national councils of mental hygiene, and that in six others a movement was on foot to bring about the formation of such national councils. The constitution of these councils must be such that their scientific aim would never be jeopardised, otherwise recognition by the International Congress would be withheld. The opinion was expressed that it was obviously of the greatest importance that New Zealand should get into line with other nations in this matter, so that it could be represented at the First International Congress to be held in 1930.

The fact that honesty is by no means a lost virtue was forcibly brought to the notice of the secretary of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association on Thursday, when he was handed the sum of £4OO, the property of a deceased returned soldier, which was previously unknown to be in existence. The ex-soldier, who had had no near relatives in Dunedin, had been in lodgings in this city, and when he had died as the result of war injuries was buried at the Anderson’s Bay Cemetery. The usual procedure in like eases has been for the secretary of the R.S.A. to hand over the deceased’s estate to the Public Trustee for administration, but in this case the matter was held over on account of information having been received to the effect that the deceased had no property other than a tin case, which had been handed over to his relatives. Permission was, therefore, given the lady of the house at which the ex-soldier had been boarding to burn all his old clothes, and on going through the clothing the lady discovered £4OO, £lOO of which was in notes. She immediately took the money to Mr White, who handed it over to the Publio Trustee for safe keeping.

The manager of the Government sawmill and housing factory at Frankton stated on Thursday (says a telegram from Hamilton) that both concerns will be closed down before the end of next month, and operations will be recommenced at Mamaku. It was stated clearly that there would be no unemployment as the result of the. winding up. There are about 90 employees involved, and those who will not be transferred to Mamaku will be absorbed by other Government departments. One of the remits to be discussed at the annual conference of acclimatisation societies is that there should be a general close season for opossums every three years. The remit was briefly discussed at a meeting of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society. The secretary said that he gathered from trappers that the number of skins this year would be quite up to last year’s total, and the fur on the animals was better than has ever been seen. Several trappers had expressed the opinion that a close season once every four or five years would be advantageous to trappers and to the animals alike. The society’s delegates were given a free hand in respect of the remit.

“ It seems to me as a visitor that your university system should be on a federal basis for the present, but that the four university colleges in New Zealand should always keep the idea of independence aS their ultimate aim, so soon as they are mature enough to have it.” This is the view of Professor R. S. Conway, of the University of Manchester, on the muchdebated question whether the four Dominion university colleges should remain as parts of the University of New Zealand or be granted separate charters and. independence. The University Commission of a year or so ago advocated federalism, and this has been adopted for the present. Professor Conway, interviewed by a representative of the Christchurch Press, said that he had seen much of the federal university system in the University of Wales, where he was a professor for many years. But he was a staunch advocate of independence, so soon as the time was ripe for it, but not before. The University of Wales was the best-knowii type of a federal university, and had served as the basis of the commission’s recommendations to New Zealand. However, in Wales they were even now granting the colleges separate charters, and so independence. This was because it was held that they had reached maturity, and were fit to stand on their own. He did not think the New Zealand colleges had reached that stage as yet-

Bequests to Auckland institutions amounting to £2400 have been made under the will of Alexander Bell, a pioneer' farmer of the Rang’itikei and Waikato districts, who died at his home, Remucra, on July 24. Details of the bequests are as follow:—Evelyn Firth Home, £500; Somervell Presbyterian Church, £500; Auckland Hospital, £500; Jubilee Institute for the Blind, £500; Leslie Orphanage, £300; Sisters of the Poor, £lOO. Leslie O'ds, the son of Mr E. H. Olds, who at one time was custodian of the Dunedin baths, and who went to America about two years ago, has added yet another triumph to his long list of swimming successes in the United States. That his form is improving is borne out by his latest feat.. The San Diego Athletic Club sent a team of seven swimmers to take part in the annual Silver Gate Channel swim at San Francisco, the representatives being of all ages from the early teens to full manhood. The winner of the long and arduous five-mile race was the youngest menjber of the team— Leslie Olds. This information is contained in a clipping from the Los Angeles Sun, which includes a .photograph of the contestants, whose size and age afford a striking comparison with those of the youthful winner of the valuable trophy that goes to the first swimmer across the channel. / ; : .’.V.-' ' The Alanawatri Racing Club intends to erept a memorial to the -men and officers of the medical .corps who trained on the racecourse at Awapuni, and who gave their lives in the Great War. The memorial will take the form of a large concrete, water tank, . and-will be the shape of an ambulance red cross with a cairn built in. the centre. . A telegram from Pahiatua states that a meeting convened by the Chamber of - Comerce, over which the Mayor; presided,' resolved, to approve of .the -local; ,Daylight Saving Bill, and suggested that’ a clause' should be inserted 'giving the local authority power to exempt any particular days from the operation of the "Act. j The Railways Department had previously squght 4nfoftnqtion< as to the local attitude.

An important reference to the new railway workshops’ reorganisation undertaking was made by the Prime Minister in the House of Representatives nist week. “We think our estimates are going to work out right, and that we shall save approximately £250,000 a year, after paying interest on capital cost, as a result of the project,” he said. “ Where is there a wastage of borrowed money there? T want some member to come out into the open and say where it is. The reconstruction of our shops waS long overdue, and it is in the interests of the workers and of the rail system that it should be carried through.” Mr Coates said that machinery would take the place of many men, but it was hoped to arrange the change without any great disability to the men.

Through the courtesy of the committee controlling the Twenty-ninth International Eucharistic Congress, ' the New South Wales Broadcasting Company, Ltd., has been able to arrange for the Papal Legate, his Eminence Cardinal Corretti, to broadcast a message immdiately upon his arrival in Sydney, - His Eminence will speak from the home of Mrs F. B. Freehill, Buckhurst avenue, Point Piper, at 8 p.m., on the night of August 30, and arrangements are now being completed by which the interstate and New Zealand stations may relay the transmission. The transmission should be herd in New Zaland at 9.30 p.m.

Our parliamentary correspondent telegraphs stating, that Maria Callaghan, widow, of Green Island, has petitioned Parliament for a compassionate allowance owing to loss on a farm which her late husband sold to a returned soldier. She states that they got the'farm ; of 130 acres for £30,00. They put £lOOO cash into it, leaving £2OOO. on mortgage... After nine years they sold it to the soldier for £4030. Department, fofind £2500 of this ori -first mortgage, petitioner’s husband a second mortgage for the balance-;; of the purchase riipney, £l5OO. *The ’sum of £312 was received in cash which;was all they got back but of the £lOOO they. pVt into the farm; originally. The returned soldier was unable to carry on anjl left' .the, farm in -January, 1922, after heirig bn *it for 18 rrionthaj

An interesting discussion took place at last week’s meeting of the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association on a proposal that the association should co-operate with the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society in the erection of permanent show and exhibition buildings at Tahuna Park. The executive of the association was authorised to continue its negotiations in connection with the project.

An indication that in the not far distant future New Zealand would be able to build her electric locomotives was given by the Prime Minister in the House of Representatives last week (reports our special correspondent). “It is not true,” said the Prime Minister, “ that we are importing six locomotives into the country. Mr Veitch (the member for Wanganui) has been misinformed on that score. We are importing three Garratt engines.” Air Veitch: “I accept that statement.” The Prime Minister: “It is possible it will be the last electric locomotives we shall have to import. We believe that in future we shall be able to build them here. We may have to import some of the material. We have tried to arrange for the manufacture of everything possible in the country. That is the general policy we want to make for.” —(“Hear! hear!”) Live bird shooting as a pastime, does not meet with the approval of societies formed for the protection of animals, and during past years every effort has been made to have the practice abolished. In some quarters, however, live bird shooting as a form of sport is still carried out. At Tuesday’s meeting of the Otago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, it was reported that a local gun club had recently held a shoot in which live birds were used. This statement brought forth very strong protests from several members of the committee. Sir George Fenwick said he very much regretted to learn that such a practice was still in vogue, and expressed the opinion that the society should do everything in its power to put a stop to such a cruel form of sport. Live bird shooting as a sport had been abolished in the Old Country, and it was distressing to learn that it was still carried on in the Dominion. After several members of the committee had expressed similar views, a resolution was carried to the effect that the society learned with deep regret that a local gun club had held live bird shooting matclies recently, and it was decided that a copy of the resolution be forwarded to the club. A letter from the trustees of the estate of Alexander Bell notifying a bequest of £5OO was received at the meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board. The chairman said the sum would carry a £1 for £1 subsidy from the Government. ' A telegram from Greymouth states that Robert Sheriff Black was fined £2 and costs for purchasing opossum skins in the Grey district without a license. The old ferry steamer Britannia, which had a long career on the Auckland Harbour, has been sold for £3. The Britannia will be converted into a houseboat, with 20 flats and a dance floor on the upper deck. The Port Chalmers Council last week unanimously resolved to ask Air J. Al. Dickson. ALP., to snnport the Sipnvnr Time Empowering Bill when it came before Parliament. A decision to proceed at once with the construction of a hangar upon the club’s aerodrome at Ihumata was made at a meeting of the Auckland Aero Club last night (says our special correspondent). Plans for the building were prepared recently, but a start has not been made earlier because of a doubt which existed regarding the arrival of the ’planes which I the Government is importing for the club. A letter was read from the Director of Air Services (Alajor T. Al. Wilkes) stating that the machines were expected to arrive early in October. Alajor K. Caldwell, the club captain, who presided, expressed the indebtedness of members to Alajor Wilkes for his co-operation and interest in the club’s welfare, as shown by the practical suggestions which he had made in the planning of the hangar. The membership of the club now stands at over 180, and the lectures on aeronautics are being very well attended. Word has been received by the New Zealand branch of the British Aledical Association (says the Evening Post) that Dr W. Sampson Handley, the well-known London surgeon, will shbrtly visit the Dominion, and will attend the next annual conference of the medical profession, ; which will be held in Wellington. Cancer is one of the subjects for discussion, a ' subject on which Dr Handley is a recogi nised authority. Air Victor Bonney’s 1 recent visit has been helpful in drawing 1 more closely together the profession at Home and overseas, and it is not im- ‘ probable (states the New Zealand Aledi- ’ cal Journal), that Sir Berkeley Aloynhan, : another of the leading surgeons of Britain, will also shortly visit New Zealand. ' Dr W. Sampson Handley is professor of surgery and pathology, Royal College of Surgeons of England, and is surgeon of ‘ the Aliddlesex Hospital. He is the > author of Cancer of the Breast,” “ Sur--1 gery of the Lymphatic System,” and other 3 works. He represented Great Britain 3 last year at the International Conference 3 on Cancer Control.

Information as to the cost of a travelling dental clinic for rural areas operated by the Education Department of Queensland is to be obtained by the Auckland Education Board. The chairman (Air A. Burns) said recently that the board had for a long time endeavoured to induce the Health Department to provide a clinic in the country districts. Hitherto the department had objected on the score of expense and had. stated it was not satisfactory, but further information would probably be welcomed.

“ Some day a patient will die with pneumonia after measles, and if that case has been refused admission to hospital I am ' sure we would find it hard , to justify our position. I am certain the board will not ask me to bear the responsibility if such a position arises.” In these words the medical superintendent of the Wanganui Hospital, Dr Nelson, last week drew the attention -of the board to the danger existing in the hospital owing to the lack of proper accommodation for infectious cases. “ The position at present is that we can admit scarlet fever and diphtheria cases only,”. Dr Nelson said. “ Diptheria is nursed in an ordinary ward. The risk of putting these cases in the children’s ward is much too great and they are usually nursed in the men’s and women’s medical wards. We have absolutely no provision for measles, arid though the disease is not notifiable serious complications sometimes arise when it is almost imperative to send them to hospital. In such cases L always refuse admission for the sake of our sick patients, and from fear of infection being conveyed to the staff.” The Mayor, Mr W. J. Rogers, said that on visiting the hospital this week he found several cots in one ward marked, “ infectious—do not touch.” The board has been aware of the lack of accommodation, but it has done nothing to remedy the position, because of the expense. Now, however, it has authorised a committee to report tri the next meeting on the establishment of ah infectious diseases block.

Feeling the need for a change, the Alayor of Wellington (Air G. A. Troup) took a 10-days’ rest from his onerous duties, and, visited the Hermitage at Alount Cook. Air Troup, who has now returned to Wellington, said that the first week of his stay at the Hermitage was marked by very fine and most stimulating weather. The sun shone from cloudless skies,, and there was always the impressive vista of the lordly peak and the lesser kings of the mountain group, presenting kings of the mountain group, presenting a;■ wonderful sight. As far as visitors Were concerned, the winter season had been a very successful one, but the winter , had: been one of the mildest on record, and when Air Troup was there there was no snow round the Hermitage, nor had there been for some time, consequently those who visited the place for the winter sports, such as ski-ihg and toboganning, had to venture afield to the various huts some distance away from the Hermitage. - At the meeting of the City Council last week a special order authorising the raising of a special loan of £225,000 for the purposes of the “Waipori Falls Electrical Power Act, 1904,” was. confirmed. It was also decided that for the purpose xof providing for the interest -and sinking fund arid repayment of tfid loan the Dunedin City Council will make a levy of a special rate of 3}d in the £ upon the rateable value (on the basis of the annual value) i of all rateable property in the city of Dunedin, and that such special rate shall be an annual recurring rate, during the currency of the loan.'

A visitor to New Zealand at present is Mr D. Green, of Java, who returned to Tiinaru on Monday week from Mount Cook (says the Herald). For the past gix and a-half years Mr Green has been connected with a large firm of exporters in Java, and at present is on furlough in New Zealand. Mr Green sai l he thought New Zealand a wonderfiillv organised country for its size, and that travelling facilities at the tourist's disposal were extremely convenient. What impressed him most, however, was the delightful freshness of the New Zealand atmosphere. Java, explained Mr Green, was a long chain of volcanoes surrounded by a large coastal plain, and one lived in an atmosphere of steam all the year round. The temperature in an office in Java was usually about 90 degrees, so _that it was a very pleasant change to enjoy the clear, invigorating, atmosphere of New Zealand. In Java every square inch of ground that could possibly be cultivated was always thick with vegetation, which varied according to the seasons. The only uncultivated argas were those in the high mountain districts. Mr Green said that the drive down from Mount Cook puts him in mind of the Javanese roads, which were very similar to those of this country. Mount Cook, in Mr Green’s estimation, was the most beautiful spot he had ever visited, and it was primarily to visit this scenic resort that he had made the trip to New Zealand. At about this time of the year, the heat was very trying to Europeans in Java, and it was necessary for health’s sake to go away to a cooler climate, and in this respect New Zealand was very popular. ' Interviewed on Wednesday by Dunedin citizens regarding the progress of the pew post office buildings at Dunedin (says our special correspondent in Wellington), Mr W. Downie Stewart stated: “All plans for these buildings (except those of the foundations) are complete, but it is imperative that full tests of the foundations should be made before any contract for the foundations is let. These tests are in progress, and frequent are being made. The tests disclose certain difficulties which can be overcome, but until the tests are complete it is not possible to decide what method will be adopted. I am advised that no delay is taking place, and all I reasonable progress has been and will be made. I understand that rumours are > current in Dunedin that the matter is being purposely delayed, but this is not so, and the position is as 1 have stated.” Members of the Wellington Early Settlers" Association have been urged to write their reminiscenes (says the Evening Post). One of them, in so doing, has brought to light a copy book written by a boy at Wanganui Grammar School . in 1863, a feature of the writing being the long strokes and the peculiar formation of the letter “ t.” The same early colonist mentions that the first florins were brought to Wanganui by soldiers from India, but shopkeepers fought shy of them, and an enterprising jeweller made them up into watch chain ornaments, for five shillings. A school master of those days is also mentioned who, on the eve of his marriage, thought discretion to be the better part of valour, and disappeared. There being no telegraphs at that period, it was some time before he was traced. But eventually he was found and summoned for £4O for wedding breakfast expenses. But he made it up with the girl, was given £2OO by the man who summoned him (the bride's father), had 10 children, and died at the ripe age of 78. In continuation of the programme of entertainment for the visiting high school football teams, which are taking part in the secondary schools’ tournament at present being held at Dunedin, a party of about 200 schoolboys and friends were motored to the Taieri PLiins on Wednesaf ter noon, and were entertained to afternoon tea by Mr and Mrs J. W. Blair at “ Abbotsford,” Outram. On the arrival of the party Mr Blair, who is an ex-pupil of the Otago High School, extended a hearty welcome to the visitors, and congratulated the boys on the fine exhibition of football which they had given. After refreshments had been disposed of a tour of inspection round the farm was . carried out, and before the party left on the return journey the president of the Otago Boys’ High School Old Boys’ Association (Mr D. J. Calder) proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr and Mrs ’Blair for their hospitality. Mr W. J Morrell, rector of the Otago Boys’ High School, supported Mr Calder, and expressed the appreciation of the party for the kindness shown by the host and hostess. Hakas were then given by the various teams, and the cars set out on their homeward journey. An outbreak of fire, caused by an electric iron being left" switched on, occurred in a five-roomed dwelling at 35 Normanby street. Musselburgh, in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The South Dunedin Fire Brigade was summoney at 1.30, and the outbreak was soon under control. About £8 worth of damage was done. The house, which is occupied by Mr Henderson, is insured in the Standard office for £750, the contents being covered in the London and Lancashire office, "or £3OO. The location of the graves of the men of the 40th Regiment who fell in the disastrous attack on Puketakauere pa, near Waitara, on June 27, 1860, is likely to provide considerable difficulty, as there is a strong belief that the bodies were removed from the scene of the attack and buried elsewhere. As an alternative to locating and marking the graves of the individual men who fell, it is suggested that the Government be asked to erect a memorial on the spot to commemorate the" bravery of those who died. A possible difficulty in the way, however, is that, before undertaking such work, the Government, ; it is thought, will require the title to the small plot on which -the memorial would be erected, and also public access to %e •memorial from the road. The matter is being investigated by the New Plymouth Rotary Club.

Hi.s Honor Mr Justice Ostler has ■:r titled probate in the estates ut the i<; owing deceased persons:—Harriet Webtor, of Dunedin (Mr W. F. Forrester) John Francis O'Connell, of North Taiei :Mr Gallaway) : John Brabyn, of Dun idin (Mr F. B. Adams); George Henin Morgan, of Weston (Mr J. H. Main) . lima Rosetta Taplin, of Pukeuri (Mi W. G. Grave) ; Jane Hornby, of Dun edin (Mr F. B. Adams); Christopher Gardner, of Dunedin (Mr. A. I. W Wood) ; George Dick, of Dunedin (Mr Stephens) ; Jeanie M‘Lean Cranefield, oi Uothesay (Messrs Wilkinson and Rolfe) . :nd Ophelia Faulkner, of Dunedin (Mi R. R. Aspinall). His Honor has also granted letters of administration in the rstate of David Lillie M’Laren, of Milton (Mr G. H. Thomson). Whether the Acclimatisation Society's; ranger is properly accredited under a warrant on which he has acted for the past 14 years, appears, from an argument •aised by Mr W. G. Hay at the City Police Court last week, to be a moot point. When the ranger, Frederick Walter Pellett, appeared to give evidence in the case in which J. K. Mooney and Co., Ltd., were charged with being illegally in possession of opossum skins, and the manager, George Stewart, with failing to produce the skins on the demand of the ranger, Mr Hay, who appeared for the defence, asked to see the ranger’s warrant. “ This, I submit,” said Mr Hay on examining it, “ is not a proper warrant,” and went on to point out that whereas, under the Animals Protection Act, a ranger was appointed for a certain district, the-witness’s warrant gave no indication as to the district he was empowered to act in. Thus, Mr Hay contended, Pellett, under the Act. was not a ranger. The magistrate, Mr H. W. Bundle, noted Mr Hay’s point, and on the application of Mr G. T. Baylee, who represented the society, he granted an adjournment until August 29 to allow counsel to look into the matter.

The well-known pleasure launch Aotea, which has been sold by Mr J. T. Paul to the Lake Wanaka Ferry Service, Ltd., was lifted from the steamer basin at Dunedin last week and placed on a 40ft truck. The launch was conveyed to Cromwell by rail and then overland b,y motor transit to Lake Wanaka, where she will become one of the company’s fleet. Since she was built some four years ago the Aotea has visited Timaru, West Coast Sounds, and Stewart Island. She was one of the largest and best appointed pleasure boats in Otago Harbour. Prior to her departure for Lake Wanaka several alterations were made to Aotea in conformity with the requirements of the Marine Department. The engine room was made fireproof, and ventilators were, fitted to the bilges, while •the boat was also fitted with a steering wheel. This work was carried out by Messrs Miller and Tunnage, of Port Chalmers.

In announcing at the Teachers’ Training College, .Kelburn, the result of the debating competition between the Wellington and Auckland Training Colleges, Dr G. H. Scholefield congratulated the speakers on the high standard of English which had been used in the debate. I am not one of those who believe that English is badly spoken in New Zealand,” said Dr Scholefield. “I think that the English language is much better spoken by the people as a whole in New Zealand than in any other country I know. Amongst educated people there is no accent worth worrying about, and there are no local dialects. The teachers of New Zealand, who have almost all been educated in the Dominion, deserve great credit for the part they have taken in keeping the language pure. “ There are two dangers facing the purity of the English language in New Zealand. The first of these is a tendency to pronounce words too literally, to make the sound agree meticulously with the spelling. That is not a characteristic of the English language, but it is a fafilt for which there is some excuse. The only cure is to hear English spoken in England or by people educated in England. The other danger is the aggressive invasion of Americanisms, chiefly through the medium of the pictures. By this insidious means many young people are encouraged to ape. not the language of the educated Americans, which is quite unobjectionable and cannot be distinguished from English, but that of the Bowery and the negroes. It is a tendency which it •will require all the influence of the teachers of New Zealand to counteract.”

In reminiscent mood, an Auckland business man, who was at one time in the New Zealand Detective Force, told a story of a clever criminal who showed extraordinary astuteness and had a merry time in New Zealand (says the Auckland Star). He worked-alone, and on original lines. On Saturdays, for choice, he broke into business premises and confined his attention to cheque books and unpaid accounts. If a cheque book were discovered, the process was to remove cleanly several cheques as well as the butts, from the book. The next thing was to get hold of a couple of unpaid accounts. Careful not to disturb anything else, the visitor would then make himself scarce. A cheque would-be forged for double the amount of one of the unpaid accounts, and then both cheque and account would be taken to.the creditor firm. The result was usually a receipt, and another cheque for the balance, a perfectly good one, which could be cashed without trouble. It was a swindle which gave the operator a. big start before the police could get on his track. In some cases the owners of the stolen cheques werp.unaware of Uie.frautl until they were askeef to look carefully at the running numbers of their cheque books.

In a letter to the Postmaster-general protesting against the cash on delivery parcels system operating between the united Kingdom and New Zealand, the Wellington Chamber of Commerce supports the objections urged by various retail organisations throughout the Dominion. The Wellington Chamber oi Commerce points out that in seeking to increase this business in New Zealand iome of the warehouses in Great Brimin especially emphasise such points as that goods will be supplied direct by post to any part of the world at prices exactly tv? same as those charged to customers tn England; also that carriage, packing, and insurance of the parcel will be paid, and the parcel delivered, not at the nearest port, but to the customer’s own address. It is further emphasised to those from whom this business is canvassed by circular that there are no agents or branch houses in New Zealand or elsewhere, and this lack of a stake or vested interest in the Dominion is a point that local traders have always pressed upon the Government when making representations in this matter.

The Maori pa at Awapuni was the -cene of a representative gathering of Natives on Sunday week, when a hui was held to indicate the burying of the hatchet of inter-tribal jealousy and the cementing of new friendships brought about by the common sacrifice in the Great War. The function was the immediate outcome of the visit of the Northern Maori football team. Representatives from five different sections of the North Island were present. After a church service, addresses of welcome were delivered by Sir Apirana Ngata and other Ngatiporou chiefs, references being made to bygone days when the Ngapuhi tribes had raided the East Coast. The loss of the Prince of Wales trophy in the Rugby match was regarded as an advantage, for it would afford the East Coast tribes an incentive to visit the northern district next year, and it was hoped that friendly contests for the cup would finally complete the unification of the Native race. It was mentioned that the friends of Sir James Carroll had pledged themselves to raise £3OOO for. a memorial. Their late chief had requested the Government for a subsidy, and the Prime Minister had intimated that he would give the matter consideration.

With a plant purchased from the Wembley 7 Exhibition, a company has been experimenting with the manufacture of newsprint in Tasmania. Mr R. H. Parton, who arrived at Auckland from Sydney by 7 the Marama, said that the paper is being manufactured from Tasmanian hardwoods, and good paper was being turned out. There was no indication of the cost, but he considered that if the company could manufacture the paper at a reasonable rate it would develop into a profiable industry. A South Island syndicate proposes to manufacture woodpulp and paper. Mr A. R. Richter, a chemical engineer and president of the Canadian Stetbins Engineering and Manufacturing Company, arrived by the Niagara, under engagement to the Westland Wood-pulp and Paper Syndicate. He will go into the question of manufacturing newsprint for the company.

“ But what about the maintenance of the child? This is pretty casual,” remarked Mr Justice Blair at the close of an undefended divorce petition in the Auckland Supreme Court. The petitioner and his counsel, who appeared to have thought the case closed, seemed taken by surprise. Counsel remarked that the respondent, who had the child in her care, was at liberty to apply 7 for maintenance. “I am not going to have this easy way in which people think thev can deal with children,” replied the judge. The petitioner, in reply 7 to a question, said he was prepared to pay 15s a week for the support of the child. Mr Justice Blair, after pointing out that the child seemed to have been forgotten until he mentioned it, said he would not make a decree until provision for the child’s maintenance had been arranged.

During a divorce petition in the Supreme Court at Wanganui yesterday (says our special correspondent) a question arose as to who should have the house. The petitioner considered that he could make better use of it by letting the rooms than could his “ better half,” with whom he was just about to reach the parting of the ways. The wife desired to continue in occupation, but the husband contended that, she drove custom away, as he, too, had been driven out. His Honor granted the use of the house to the husband, and fixed the alimony for the wife at £1 6s a week.

That it should be compulsory 7 for all school teachers to have university 7 degrees was urged by Professor R. S. Conway 7 , of Manchester University, at the luncheon tendered to him by members of the Canterbury College Board of Governors. “In some things this Dominion has led the world,” said the professor. “It was the first to give suffrage to women. Why do you not insist that, no one who has not a university degree shall teach in your schools. A great, rich Dominion like this has no right to send its children to be taught by 7 half-educated people.” ■

In addition to the Auckland Acclimatisation Society 7 taking action to stop trolling for trout in Lake Arapuni, an effort is to be made at the annual conference of acclimatisation societies.' to Set legislation to prevent power-driven oats using the Tongariro River, which flows into Lake Taupo (states the Star). Fed from the snowfields on Ruapehuj the Tongariro is one of the best trout streams m the Dominion, and the locality where it debouches into the lake has long been one of the favourite spots for anglers. ‘