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Otago Witness, Issue 3889, 25 September 1928, Page 47

The main business before the House of Representatives this week (says our parliamentary reporter) will be-the discussion of the Public Works Statement and Estimates. This being election year members will no doubt have a good deal to say about roads and railways, bridges, and public buildings. When these matters are disposed of members will be anxious to make a bee-line for the hustings. It is expected that the session will end on or about October 5. Yesterday was Dominion Day, and was observed as a bank holiday, but not as a general holiday. It commemorates the Issue of the proclamation in 1907 in which it was stated that his Majesty the King was graciously pleased to change the style and designation of the “Colony” of New Zealand to that of the “ Dominion.” This marked an upward step in the rank which New Zealand held amongst the members of the British Empire. From the early days of settlement until 1841 New Zealand was a mere dependency of New South Wales, being created a separate colony by Royal Charter dated November 16, 1840. The change, however, did not take effect until Mav, 3, 1841.

At the Hanover Street Baptist Church on Sunday evening, the Rev. W. T. Whitley, who is paying a short visit to Dunedin, addressed a large congregation, taking as his subject “ Glimpses at a King's Soul.” His discourse took the form a character sketch. The hymn study given by the choir was “ Saviour, Breathe An Evening Blessing,” and the anthem was “ Abide With Me.” Dr Whitley, who is a very eminent ecclesiastical historian, was one of the 7500 delegates to the World’s Baptist Congress, which was held last year in Toronto. He has been delivering a course of "lectures to the students of the Baptist College at Auckland. To-night he will lecture on John Bunyan. On Sunday evening the sun passed the equator and entered the southern skies. Eighteen bankruptcies were notified in the latest issue of the New Zealand Gazette. Twelve 8f the number were in the North Island. An adjourned meeting of creditors in the estate of David MTntosh, of Lawrence, bootmaker, was held by the official assignee in bankruptcy (Mr W. D. Wallace) on Friday afternoon, three creditors attending. The previous meeting had been adjourned to give bankrupt an opportunity of raising £l7O for the purpose of paying his creditors 10s in the £. At the meeting it was stated that bankrupt was unable to get this money, and it was agreed that the creditors would accept 6s 8d in the £ if £ll6 could be raised. As it was understood the money would be forthcoming, the creditors decided to accept the 6s Bd, the assignee mentioning that the estate, if sold, would not realise the sum necessary to pay this. The trustees of the Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen's Blind Soldiers and Sailors’ Fund have received a cheque for £223 10s, being 20 per cent, of £lll7 13s 7d, the sum raised by the Otago Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen’s Association by their “ Big Day ” effort. The proceeds were allocated as follows: —Salvation Army, £670 13s 7d; Citizens’ Relief Committee, £223 10s; Commercial Travellers and Warelmusemen’s Blind Soldiers and Sailors’ Fund, £223 10s; total, £lll7 13s 7d.

A coincidence in connection with the arrival of the steamer Port Napier at Port Chalmers on Friday is that the vessel occupied the same berth as when under the name of Hawke’s Bay, she embarked part of the Main Body of the N.Z.E.F. shortly after the outbreak of war. The sister transport on that historic occasion was the Ruapehu, and the late Colonel Arthur Bauchop was in charge of the Otago men. Captain Liston, who shortly afterwards left the service, was master of the Hawke’s Bay, the Ruapehu being then commanded by the late Captain Clifford.