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Otago Witness, Issue 3889, 25 September 1928, Page 3

Mr A. Warbrick, chief Government guide at Rotorua, has just completed arrangements to take Lady Alice Fergusson and a party through the Urevvera country early next month. Her Excellency will leave Rotorua on October 2 for Ruatahuna, where she proposes to spend two or three days before going on to Lake Waikaremoana. Cars will convey the party a portion of the journey, and horses will be utilised beyond Ruatahuna. The trip is expected to extend over 10 days, Many years ago her Excellency’s father, Lord Glasgow, attempted this journey, but was unable to get beyond Ruatahuna. Lady Alice Fergusson hopes to complete it, and with a little good fortune in the weather should - liave a very interesting trip.

Whether or not heather is likely to be a menace in the Tongariro National Park is a subject of frequent controversy. In the annual report of the National Park Board it is stated that the Heather Committee (Messrs W. H. Field, M.P., E. Phillips Turner, and B. C. Aston) have, in company, again visited the park for the purpose ’of continuing their observations on the growth of imported heathers within the park boundaries. Their investigations elicited no new facts, and it is anticipated that observations will require to be continued over several seasons before any definite evidence is available as to the growth 'of heather under different conditions,

After having been closed for about 25 years, the Lee Stream School has been reopened. The new teacher is Miss Imrie. A dance was held to celebrate the reopening. In the Gazette issued last week appears a notice stating that the close season for seals of three years will be further extended for a period of three years from November 27, 1928. Having offered a double chart to Detective Sergeant Young in a billiard saloon, Norman William Robinson found himself in the Magistrate’s Court at Christchurch. He was charged that on September 14 he published a double chart for betting on the New Zealand Trotting Cup and the New Zealand Cup. The accused pleaded guilty, and was fined £4 and costs. A fine collection of photographs of cricket in New Zealand was formed by F. C. Raphael, an ardent enthusiast of the game, who for many years was lion, secretary of the New Zealand Cricket Council. The collection has now been acquired by the Canterbury Cricket Association. An opportunity will be given the New Zealand Cricket Council to obtain those photographs which are of special interest to it. There are also a few Rugby football pictures and the Canterbury Rugby Union will be given a chance to acquire these. A request from Miss K. Paul that the honorary medical staff at the Auckland Hospital should be allowed to test medicines manufactured by herself for the cure of tuberculosis, was considered by the Auckland Hospital Board on Tuesday," and it was unanimously resolved to place the matter in the hands of the honorary medical staff. In her letter to the board, Miss Paul said she had carried out successful tests with the medicine, and ia one case a young man had been free from the disease for five years and had been able to go about his work. She was prepared to divulge the ingredients to a confidential meeting of medical men, andif it was used for treatment, would supply the medicine free of charge. Mr W. Wallace, chairman of the board, said the letter was an unusual one. They had received offers of a similar nature before, but to date no one had been prepared to divulge the nature of the preparation.

The general manager of the New Zealand Railways, Mr H. H. Sterling, and the Dominion superintendent of the New Zealand Shipping Company, Mr J. H. C. Bond, both responded to the toast of “ Land and Ocean Transport ” at a recent gathering of commercial travellers in Wellington. Mr Sterling stated that in the past two years no passengers had lost their lives travelling on New Zealand railways, and in speaking of ocean travel Mr Bond said that the New Zealand Shipping Company, from 1873 to the present day, 1928, had never lost the life at sea of any passenger they had carried. The Rev. B. Dudley writes as follows to the Lyttelton Times:—“lt may be of interest to many of your readers to know that the sun is in an exceptionally disturbed condition. There are several very large spot groups; one of these, which has just disappeared round the western edge of (the sun, carried thither by the solar rotation, and which I measured instrumentally on Wednesday, is from 110,000 to 115,000 miles long, and about 80,000 miles wide. Another, which was brought round on the eastern edge on Wednesday, is of similar dimensions, though not quite so wide. Numerous other large spots are dotted here and there over the solar surface. The tendency of spot groups to break out at the opposite ends of a solar diameter is illustrated in the present instance. As is well known to astronomers, the sun is now at a maximum of disturbance, in accordance with the recognised cycle of activity. This will soon pass, and the luminary will begin its descent to the next minimum, which is due in about five of six years from now.”

A buyer of opossum skins at Wagga> New South Wales, was fined heavily recently for having had 104 skins in hia possession. James Duncan, who was charged with having the skins in hia possession, said that they were the same skins that had been returned to him last year by the police after a similar charge had been dismissed. The police ennmerated many differences in the quality of the pelts and the method of preserving. The skins were kept in an old tin trunk, and the defendant, who evidently thought the bluff would carry, made no attempt to evade the police search. The magistrate imposed a fine of £2 per head, totalling £2OB, with costs, and said that the incentive to kill the animals was supplied, by buyers, who made ths profitable.

The Mayor (Mr W. B. Taverner) was appointed by the City Council last week to represent it at a meeting under the auspices of the League of Nations Union, to arrange for a civic gathering on Armistice Day. It was remarked by a councillor that an outside body had no right to arrange for a civic reception. Such a duty was the prerogative of the Mayor. Attention was called at last week’s meeting of the City Council to a statement made in the City Police Court this week by a solicitor that a number of local men had been put off the work at Waipori to make room for immigrants. Cr Shacklock, chairman of the Electric Power and Lighting Committee, gave the statement an emphatic denial. The statement, he added, was absolutely wrong, and it was .to be regretted that a solicitor should make such a remark without inquiring about it in the proper quarter. The man concerned was employed at Waipori at one time, and when his services were dispensed with it was probable they were not required any longer. As a matter of fact, the council had instructed the heads of departments to give preference of em-‘ ployment to married men who were residents of the city. He had never heard “ new arrivals ” mentioned. “ There are at the present time in the various State departments about 4000 clerical officers on the maximum salary for their grade, of £295,” states the Public Service Journal. “Quite a large percentage of these officers are capable, if they had the opportunity, of filling more responsible positions, but how seldom indeed do they have the opportunity—the vacancies are few in comparison to their numbers. Many of them have passed the necessary departmental, professional, or technical examinations necessary to qualify them for promotion, but except in the case of a fortunate few, this proof of their capacity and fitness-for more responsible; positions and work is unavailing, and they perforce have to mark time until they become discouraged and lose heart. This is one of the tragedies of the public service, and one for which it is difficult to suggest any adequate remedy.” i The Competition of Industrial Designs held under the auspices of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts and Commerce at the Imperial Institute, South Kensington, from August 4 to September 1, included such sections as architectural decorations, textiles,' furniture, book decoration, pottery and glass, and also a considerable number of miscellaneous classes complyipg with the special interests of individual firms. Entries were invited from all parts of the Empire. In all 3120 designs were sent in by 1024 candidates. It is of interest to learn that Mr T. H. Jenkin, A.R.C.A., of this city, has received the agreeable notification that a prize has been awarded a design submitted by him for the well-known.pub-lishing firm, Messrs Hodder and Stoughton. . ■ >

A difference of opinion on prohibition •was expressed at the annual meeting of the Council of Christian Congregations in Auckland. In the course of his retiring address, the president (Mr F. N. Andrews) said that the council should adopt .an uncompromising attitude in its efforts to eliminate the drink traffic. The Rev. Gordon Bell remarked that the evil .to be fought was not liquor but the intemperance of men and women in its use. He was convinced that prohibition was not the only remedy for the evil, and the time would come when Christian congregations would recognise the fact. The Rev. J. J. North challenged Mr Bell’s statement, and upon this Mr Bell asked: “Is it absolutely necessary that a member of this council shall support the view that the abolition of this supposed evil traffic is the only cure for intemperance?” The president: "I think not.” Mr Bell: “Because, if that is the question, my only alternative is to withdraw from the council.”

The Tramways Committee reported at the meeting of the City Council last week that for some considerable time it had been in communication with the Takapuna Tramway Company with a view to acquiring some of its rolling stock. The company had now definitely offered to sell to the council car No. 11 for £250 and cars No. 12, 13, and 14 for £4OO each (bodies only), the prices being f.o.b. Auckland. The committee was of the opinion that the opportunity to purchase this plant at such a low figure should not be lost, and accordingly recommended that the company’s offer be accepted. The three last-mentioned ears were built in 1924 and No. 11 in 1915. The f.o.b. price in Auckland was £1450, whereas the original cost of each body was £l5OO. Including freight and the cost of alterations asked for by the Public Works Department, the four bodies should not cost more than £2OOO. The cars in question would seat 48 passengers and would assist the service considerably by replacing the smaller 26-seater cars. The recommendation was adopted. A return presented in the House of Representatives on Wednesday showed that the total amount outstanding in respect of advances in the fruit preserving industry account on March 31 last was £42,183. Those who have made default are the Marlborough Fruit Packing and Preserving Company, Blenheim, £1608; the Nelson Co-operative Fruit Company, £1006; *Apsey and Co., Hastings, £560; Tasman Fruit Packing Company, Ltd., Tasman North, £302. In a reserved judgment on Wednesday (says a message from Auckland) Mr Justice Reed held that on the sale of a property through the registrar of the Supreme Court an auctioneer was entitled to charge commission on the gross value of the property, and not only on the equity of redemption.

The Spectator (London) for March 17, 1928, carries' an article by W. Beach Thomas which tells of the interest being shown in Scotland in saving the lapwing’s (or plover’s) eggs. The protective societies of Scotland are said to have a larger membership than at any time in their history. The idea of conservation seems to have invaded county councils, police circles, educational authorities, and the schools. Pairs of plovers are more common than usual this year in the home counties, where they have had to learn to beware of the roller which the farmer uses over the young corn. Mr Thomas says that he has seen so many nests in the last few years in the valleys and meadows, and so few in the tilths, that he is inclined to believe that the birds themselves have discovered where safety lies. By the will of the late Count Francis Vigyazo, the last male of his house, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences has become one of the richest learned bodies in the world. The legacy includes 58,000 acres of- land, several fine residences in Budapest, a number of country residences, and art collections,' including valuable pictures and old watches and jewellery, which alone are valued at about £loo,OOo'. The total value of the enormous bequest cannot yet be precisely estimated, but it is believed that it will be in no way inferior to that of the Nobel Foundation (nearly £2,000,000), and may even exceed it. The academy is to use 40 per cent; of the income for Hungarian national objects and 32 per cent, for literary purposes connected with the history of the testator’s family. For the rest the income is to be utilised “in a Hungarian and Christian spirit.” It is interesting to note that the Hungarian Academy owed its foundation 100 years ago to the liberality of another Hungarian aristocrat, Count Stephen Szechenyi; the great states-, man oft the ninteeenth century. Since then the academy' had amassed a considerable fortune, which, however, was almost totally lost during the inflation period. This new legacy will put it on its feet again and give it renewed life..

The Canterbury College School of Forestry, at its Hanmer forestry camp, spent a day testing an interesting invention by Mr Camille Malfroy, formerly a student at the school, now an inspector of the State Forest Service in Wellington. The appliance looks like a Shorthandled, three-pronged rake. The handle is a hollow magazine carrying seed. By i otating the end of the handle, seeds are deposited in ground prepared by the rake. With the appliance, students at the camp planted a hillside area. The result of the trial will be watched with interest. Three weeks were spent at the camp, working on a programme and carrying out several, projects, including a survey of the planted area and measurement of sample plots. The old prison camp, three miles from the township, used as headquarters, was found to be very comfortable for the work.

The abundance of seals round the West Coast Sounds and on the islands south of New Zealand has led many southern fishermen to express the opinion that the sealing season should be opened again. After every trip round the coast fishermen are able to report that seals arc plentiful, while .shepherds who recently returned from Campbell Island stated that' the bays and headlands there were thick with them. A petition was sent to the Minister of Marine a year or two ago, but no move was made by the Government to declare an open season.

It is the opinion of the Council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce that in the case of any future commission set up in connection with periodical Customs tariff revisions the personnel should be widened to include business men or others of high standing outside the Government services; and, further, that the proceedings should be held in public and should be open to the press. A resolution to this effect was carried at the last meeting of the council. If was stated that the chamber had inquired into the workings of permanent tariff boards abroad and was not sufficiently impressed with the advantages of such machinery to recommend the adoption of' this principle in New Zealand. The sword owned by Major von Tempsky, who was killed at the fight of Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu, Taranaki, 60 years ago. was, according to Mr A. R. Langley, of Raglan, lying among a collection of military junk in the Government stores, Wellington, for many years. Mr Langley said he purchased the sword, with other military accoutrements, from the Government 31 years ago, and held it for sqle in his shop in Raglan (states the New Zealand Herald). About nine months ago he sold the weapon to a casual purchaser for £2. Mr Langley says he does not know who the purchaser was and has no knowledge of where thejsword is at present. Von Tempsky was in charge of a company of Forest Rangers which was attached to the Ist Waikato Regiment in 1.b63, and while in the Waikato he took part in several skirmishes with the Maoris.

The latest evidence of the want of knowledge concerning New Zealand comes from Scotland. At an elaborate and stately luncheon given to the New Zealand bowlers by the Edinburgh Corporation, the chief toast was proposed by Sir Alexander Stevenson, the Lord Provost of that learned city, “ the modem Athens of culture and high, scholarship.” With glowing pride he dwelt on the fact that Scotsmen had done so much in New Zealand to build up its trade, commerce, and industries, and they could not forget that Dunedin, its chief commercial city, was founded by members of the Free Church of Scotland. New Zealanders are not likely to forget how Dunedin was founded (comments the Auckland Star), but it is news to hear that Dunedin is the' chief commercial city in the Dominion, for most people know that it is a moderate third to Auckland and Wellington. But this is not all. He actually assured them that the Town Council “ had a warm corner in their hearts for -representatives from their island continent in the Pacific.” Probably the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, in common with millions of other people at the other end of the world, will learn for the first time this week, through the postponed flight of the Southern Cross,- that over 1000 miles of stormy ocean roll between New Zealand and the island continent in the Pacific with which so many people seem to think this Dominion .is identical.. . SquadronLeader Kingsford-Smith and his party have given a useful lesson in geography to the world.

It is encouraging to learn that New Zealand is represented at the Exhibition of Industrial Designs held by the Royal Society of Arts at the Imperial Institute, South Kensington. Two or three designs for posters were submitted from the Art Department of the Dunedin Technical College, one of which, the work of Mr Robert Fraser, jun., was accepted for exhibition and commended. The display of work will be shown throughout England, and exhibitors are given an opportunity of obtaining positions with progressive firms at Home. The work of the younger generation of artists in our midst might well receive from Dominion firms more attention and encouragement from a similar point of view.

Mr-John Fuller, of Sydney, who has on various occasions shown how entirely lie” is in sympathy with the White New Zealand League, has again proved-his generous enthusiasm by forwarding to the secretary of the league, Mr G. T. Parvin, a cheque for £5O, for the furtherance of the league’s objective. In a Covering letter, Mr Fuller states that if the Government of New Zealand insisted, on allowing Asiatics to enter the Dominion, - then it-should have the best type and not the worst type, .which ..was landing in New Zealand at present;

By the will of Mr Fred Barnett, whose death took place in Australia last week, St. Paul’s Cathedral will benefit to the extent of £250, the Salvation Army Corps in this city by £l5O, and the Dunedin Hospital by £lOO. Mr Barnett was born in Dunedin, and it is 40 years since he went away. A Bluff fisherman who returned recently from a trip to the West Coast Sounds informed a Southland Times reporter that he had seen two waipiti down on the beach at Chalky Sound. This leads to the expectation of a successful hunting season for those who are fortunate enough to secure licenses from the Southland Acclimatisation Society. Nathaniel Julius Copeland, otherwise known as “ Argus,” and his father. Charles Louis Copeland, were charged at the Whangarei Court on Tuesday last that they did undertake to tell fortune and pretend by their skill to discover in what manner goods supposed to have been stolen might be found.- The accused pleaded not guilty and elected to be dealt with summarily. The prosecution arose in connection with performances at Whangarei on July 21. The police and others testified that “ Argus ” gave the addresses of missing friends, and also the initials and surnames in some instances of persons who allegedly stole articles and cashed dishonoured cheques, etc. The magistrate (Mr Luxford) in his judgment said that the only factor preventing the infliction of a term of imprisonment was the partial admission of the accused before the actual demonstration that they were not altogether what they professed to be. Each of the accused was convicted and fined £5 on each of four charges, and costs. Notice of appeal was given.

The American Trade Commissioner (Mr Julian R. Foster) on Wednesday received the following cable message from the United States Department of Commerce regarding business conditions in the United States during August (says our special correspondent in Wellington):—“ Business and industry generally have had an upward trend in August. The steel mills throughout the .country are operating at 83 per cent, of their maximum capacity. The automobile* industry continues at a high rate of activity. Railway earnings are much Construction contracts decreased slightly. There was a record volume of Stock Exchange transactions. Brokers’ loans have renewed their upward swing, and money rates are higher.”

An anonymous offer of £lO for a prize to the city school which catches the heaviest weight of flies has been made through the Otago Education Board. The matter was considered at the meeting of the board on Wednesday, the chairman (Mr J. Wallace) stating that a similar competition had been held in America, where some of the schools had gathered enormous weights of flies. “In one school,” said the secretary, “ half a. ton was brought in by the pupils.” Before accepting the offer, the board decided to ask the headmasters whether they were prepared to co-operate. A telegram from Auckland states that the City Coucil’s proposals to borrow £22,500 for the erection of swimming baths at Point Chevalier and £7500 for filtration and sterilisation plants at other baths were both defeated at a poll on Wednesday. The voting on the first issue was 975 for and 3793 against, and on the second issue 2366 for and 2470 against. According to a statement made by a complainant in a maintenance case in. the Wellington Magistrate’s Court, she is in the happy position of having her furniture insured for a lot more' than it is worth. She told the defendant’s counsel that the furniture, which was unencumbered, was insured for £3OO. “ So, therefore, if you sold it you would get something like £3OO for it? asked counsel. “ No, certainly not,” replied the complainant. Counsel: “ Then, it must be insured fetr more than it is worth?” “I should say it is,” answered the complainant. “At any rate I bought it second-hand.” A Press Association cablegram last week from Sydney stated that in the Legislature Mr T. R. Bavin’s attention had been drawn to a statement that a man convicted in Wellington of an abominable offence had his sentence suspended to enable him to go to Sydney. The Minister of Justice (Mr F. J. Rolleston)on Wednesday (says a telegram from Wellington) said that Mr Bavin had cabled him in regard to the matter, andas a result of inquiries he had cabled to Mr Bavin setting out the facts. * There was no stipulation that the man concerned should go to Sydney. He was born in Sydney, where he had relatives whom he was supporting. This fact had been confirmed by the Sydney police. That being so, New South Wales could not refuse to accept him back on account of the con« viction against him in New Zealand.

The Auckland Hospital Board has decided to apply to the Local Government Loans Board for permission to borrow £40,000 for building purposes. Of this sum it is proposed to expend £35,000 on the erection of a new infectious diseases block at the hospital, while the remaining £5OOO will be devoted to the building and equipping of a laundry at the infirmary. In a football match early this season James Turpin, of the Linwood Club, suffered a vertebral dislocation in the neck and was for a time very seriously ill Several remarkable operations were performed in order to reduce the disloca tion, and to the gratification of all concerned success was achieved’. On Saturday Turpin was allowed to leave the hospital. He is still wearing artificial supports for his head, and will remain under special care for some time, but there is good ground to believe that complete restoration to normal health is not far distant. The case has already at-tre'-t'-d notice in medical journals in other countries.

...e she has been divorced before, said Mr 'Justice Reed in the Supreme Court at Auckland, when examining the papers of a wife who was petitioning for divorce. “ Has - anyone reached the third stage here? The papers do not show.” Counsel said his client had been divorced but once, adding, “ She is only a second, offender.” “ I wonder if they will get into the American figures here in divorce,” remarked his Honor. A little later he commented on the fact that anolh--'r wife seeking divorce had also

been previously divorced, and the point « was further emphasised when it appeared that a woman who claimed damages for breach of prnmis° of marriage was divorced.

Owing to the freight war between the New Zealand Shipping Company and the Canadian National Steamships, no fewer than four steamers are en route from Montreal to New Zealand with general merchandise carried at cheap rates —£1 a ton. The Canadian Conqueror is bringing cargo -for discharge at Wellington, Lyttelton, Timaru, Dunedin, and Bluff; the Canadian Winner for Auckland and Wellington;. and the Canadian Explorer for Auckland and Australia. These three vessels are Canadian Government steamers. The New Zealand Shipping Company’s chartered steamer Baron Inchcape is the fourth vessel, and is bringing cargo for Auckland, Wellington. Lyttelton, {find Dunedin. Two other steamers, the Canadian Highlander.'' for the Canadian National Steamships, and the Wirral. for the New Zealand Shipping Company, are also scheduled to load cargo at Montreal for New Zealand at the same rate of freight. The Canadian Highlander is to sail for Auckland, Wellington. Lyttelton. and Dunedin on September 25, and "r-.l for the same ports on September 30. ‘

- \ ice-consul for Brazil has been notified by the Minister of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce in Rio de Janeiro, that the importation into that country of eucalyptus seed and cuttings, from New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa, is now prohibited. The tobacco industry is progressing very favourably in Brazil, and it holds the third place among the countries producing tobacco. From January to March this year value of that exported was £187,000, as against £168,000 during the corresponding period last year. It has been found in some countries .that the leaf of the tobacco plant is seriously affected where the eucalyptus grows, and it is apparent that the Government of Brazil is not desirous of taking any risks in that direction.

Great interest has been aroused at Home by the news that the whole of the private collection of letters and papers of the late Sir Edmund Gosse, the famous author and critic, has been bought by Sir Edward A. Brotherton, of Kirkham Hall, Malton, Yorks. The transaction followed negotiations between the Gosse family and Sir Edward’s librarian, Air J. A. Symington. The price is stated to be a considerable one. Among the conditions of sale is one that nothing will be published for a certain number of years owing to reference to living people. The papers probably include unpublished writings by Hardy, Kipling, Swinburne, and Meredith, all of whom were friends of Sir Edmund Gosse.