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Otago Witness, Issue 3898, 27 November 1928, Page 3

A man who figured in one of the ro.mantic incidents of the war, Captain William V. BurJje, died on Tuesday at Ponsonby, aged 69 (says the Auckland correspondent of the Lyttelton Times). Captain Burke was master of the scow Moa, which was captured by Count Felix von Luckner and a party of Germans who escaped from the internment camp at Motuihi on December 13, 1917. This was the outstanding event in Captain Burke’s seafaring career of over half a century., The Moa, owned by the Leyland, O’Brien Timber Company, was returning to Auckland from Omakoroa. near Tauranga. She was off Mercury Bay at 8 o’clock on a Sunday morning, two days after yon Luckner had escaped from Motuihi in a stolen launch, the Pearl. Captain Burke noticed a launch flj-ing the New Zealand flag approaching and a man on it was signalling the scow to stop. Captain Burke stopped his vessel and the launch came alongside. In a flash armed men boarded the Moa, the German flag replaced the New Zealand ensign at the mast of the launch, and the crew of the scow were informed that they were prisoners of war of the Kaiser. Then Captain Burke and his men were ordered to work the scow with the help of the Germans, and they headed for the Kermadecs. There the Moa was overtaken A' 1 ? cable steamer Iris and the deed of hign adventure ended with the recapture of the Germans. During his few days as a prisoner of .war, Captain Burke was not ill-treated by von Luckner. He entertained a considerable amount of respect for the German, whose daring exploits in the Sccadler, and his audacious escape from Motuihi have, in the clearer light of peace, won considerable admiration. After his final release from captivity at the end of the war, von Luckner sent Captain Burke a photograph of'iiiinself. IV riling on October 19, our London correspondent mentions that at a meeting of directors of the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, Ltd., held in Edinburgh on October 16, it was resolved to recommend, subject to audit, payment of the following final dividends for the year to March 31, 1928:—0n the A preference stock, 2 per cent.; on the ordinary stock, 4 per cent, (making 8 per cent, for the year); both under deduction of income tax. It is reported that £43 changed hands in a very few minutes on the night of election day (says the Taranaki News) as the result of an argument between two" keen supporters of opposite sides in the Egmont electorate. Each of two residents of a country centre, while awaiting the returns, were both confident the district would give better support to his candidate, so a wager was made of £1 for each vote of the majority. A couple of minutes later the return was hoisted, and as that centre showed a minority for Reform of 43 votes, the supporter had to hand over a cheque for £43. Definite advice has not yet been received as to whether J. Weismuller, the American and world’s champion swimmer, will appear in Dunedin on one or two occasions, but the Otago Swimming Centre has been asked by the New Zealand Council if it would be prepared to accept one night in the event of two not being available. The president of the centre (Mr J. L. M'lndoc) announced last night that after conferring with members of the centre an endeavour would be made to have a two nights’ carnival, but should that be impossible one night would be accepted. A striking evidence of the favourable development of Czecho-Slovak industries has been furnished by the outstanding success of the autumn session of the Prague Sample Fair. Not only did the number of exhibitors rise by 20 per cent, compared with the autumn fair last year, but the business results obtained by the exhibiting industries were very satisfactory in all sections except perhaps a certain department of the textile trade, which reported a certain falling off in cotton and linen. The international character .of the fair was emphasised by the fact that buyers from 43 different countries were present, the total number of visitors being 560,000,

Reference to the assistance given by the new tariff to New Zealand industries and the preference to those of Great Britain is made in the annual report of the Wellington Manufacturers’ Association. “ Last year,” states the report, “ mention was made of the fact that we were ■waiting with interest the recommendations of the Tariff Commission as a number of industries which are of great importance to the welfare of the Dominion were requiring assistance in the direction of being placed on- a parity with other countries. Our hopes in some measure were disappointed as the relief and assistance given by some new tariffs to New Zealand industries fell short by a considerable margin of what was hoped for, whilst valuable increased preference was granted to Great Britain. This is borne out by the fact that British manufacturers consider that the preference given to them is of benefit to the extent of a further one and a-half to two million pounds’ worth of trade with New Zealand per annum. The Government has been approached on several occasions with a request to appoint a Tariff Board, but always the reply has been that the matter would receive careful consideration.”

The syndicate promoted by Mr R. L. Wigley, of Timaru, to exploit a franchise from the Tongariro National Park Board for the erection of an hotel at National Park has now completed its arrangements, having signed a lease with the board and entered into a contract -with a large firm of contractors in Auckland for the erection of the building from plans drawn up by Mr Herbert Hall, of Timaru. It is understood (says the Timaru Herald) that the undertaking involves a sum of £BO,OOO, and that -work has already commenced, on the site. The National Park is in a mountainous region in the centre of the North Island, accessible by motor car in one day either from Auckland or Wellington, or half a day from the coastal towns, and in 20 minutes’ motoring from the Main Trunk line. The hotel is to be erected at an altitude of 3700 feet above sea level, and should give cool mountain air in the summer and alpine sports in the winter. There are to be 90 bedrooms in the main building, 45 bathrooms, a dance floor, a kinema, and a garage all inside the building. There is also to be a cafeteria for picnickers, while for the present holiday season a series of lodges with accommodation for 50 is ■to be completed. The main building is expected to he ready in about 11 months, for the Christihas holiday season next year.

The annual report of the Wellington Manufacturers’ Association states that a definite agreement has been arrived at With the Wellington Winter Show Association by which flsoo is to be paid by the Manufacturers’ Association to the Wellington Show Association towards the laying out of the grounds and erection of buildings for the Winter Show. A further £l5OO becomes due and payable after the Show Association has expended £7500 from its own funds, the two sums of £l5OO each to form part of the capital of the Show Association and to be free of interest.

Cardinal Cerretti was present at the laying of the foundation stone of the new wing of the Mater Miseracordia Hospital in Auckland last week, and blessed the new project which will cost £40,000. It was announced that Bishop Cleary had given £5OO, Bishop Liston £lOO, and Bishop Brodie, of Christchurch, £5O to the building fund, and that an expatient had presented an X-ray outfit valued at £lOOO. A collection at the gathering realised £2584 for the building fund.

It was reported at the meeting of the University Council yesterday afternoon that the sale of picture post cards, depicting various exhibits at the Museum, during the past three years, had shown a' profit of £3B. These postcards are offered for sale at the Museum, and the money will be devoted to the Museum funds.

A framed portrait of considerable historic value, in that it depicts the quarterdeck of the gift dreadnought H.M.S. New Zealand, has been presented to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve by Sir James Allen. On the quarterdeck is a large group of famous personalities, including his Majesty the King, Mr Winston Churchill, Earl Jellicoe, Prince Louis of Battenberg (then Erst Sea Lord), Admiral Sir Hugh Evan Thomas (who commanded the fifth battle squadron at Jutland), Sir James Allen, Sir Joseph Ward, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, and Admiral Halsey (A.D.C. to the Prince of Wales during his tour through the Dominion), as well, as a large number of officers of all ranks. On the superstructure above the group can be seen the names Tasman and Cook, with the respective dates 1642 and 1769, commemorating their discoveries of New Zealand, while between them stands a large heraldic shield bearing the date 1840, the year of New Zealand’s recognition as a Crown colony.

When the charge of attempted suicide against T. H. L. Hitchings was called before the magistrate (Mr J. Miller) at Danneyirke on Tuesday, it was stated by the police that the accused had been committed to a mental hospital, and Sergeant Martin asked that the charg6-.be withdrawn. Hitchings is the man who a few days ago, at his home at Dannevirke, early in the morning, allegedly presented a loaded gun at Police Sergeant Martin when he went to the house in response to an urgent summons owing to the accused’s peculiar conduct. The request for withdrawal of the charge was granted. An interesting case is reported in the north of children having four great grandmothers and two great grandfathers living, as well as grandfathers and grandmothers (reports our special correspondent in Palmerston North). The children are Raymond, Monica, and Audrey Jepson, of Bunnythorpe. The ages of the four great grandmothers total. 314 years, and the great grandfathers 166 years. The great grandmothers are Mrs W. Bayliss, 81 years, Palmerston North; Mrs E. J. Martin, 78 years, Foxton; Mrs E. Cleveley, 75 years, Bunnythorpe; Mrs J. Jepson, 80 years, Bunnythorpe. The great grandfathers are Mr E. J. Martin, 88 years, Foxton; Mr E. Cleveley, 78 years, Bunnythorpe. .

Those who vistied the Eleanor Bolling at the Victoria wharf wondered why the newspapers spell “ Bolling ” with two “ I’s ” when the name on the ship has only one “ 1.” The explanation is that when the vessel was being refitted the painters inadvertently left out one of the “ I’s.” Eleanor Bolling is the name of Commander Byrd’s mother. The first fruits of the recently-passed University Amendment Act were reaped by the Victoria College Council, when a letter was received from the Director of of Education, stating that in accordance with the provisions of the Act, the annual statutory grant from the Consolidated Fund to the college had been increased from £6600 to £7750, as from April 1, 1928. “ This increase in the statutory grant,” explained the director, “ is given with the view of enabling the college to add to the staff of assistants to the professors, and also provides for an increased annual expenditure on the college library so as to bring it up to about £l5OO. No doubt the increased tuition fees which are estimated to produce £l5OO will assist your council in attaining these aims. It is desired that no portion of the additional grant shall be used for increasing the salaries of the professors, until adequate assistance has been provided for them in order to reduce the sizes of classes where necessary, and render instruction more efficient.” Some discussion took place upon this portion of the letter, and those present endeavoured in vain to solve the problem. “If the department had no right to ‘direct,’ why should it ‘desire’?” It was decided to write to the Director of Education and ask the meaning of the latter part of the letter.

The steamship Tawera, which has been carrying the. tourist and general traffic on Lake Te Anau, is a steamship no longer, having been converted into an oilburner. In this capacity she has been transferred to the Tourist Department by Messrs Stevenson and Cook, and is now in commission again. The work was carried out on the lake and was completed in contract time.

The market for city property in Christchurch has shown signs of quickening during the past few weeks. Another sale to be recorded is that of property in Armagh street, with a frontage of 67 feet, at £2OO a foot. Property in Armagh street has shown a big rise in value, for four years ago property was offered at £4O a foot, and was difficult to dispose of. A young man named Arthur Tomlinson, aged 20 years, pleaded guilty at the City Police Court .yesterday to the theft of £3 in money from John Cedric Clark. Chief Detective Cameron said that the accused, who had been sharing a room with Clark in Maclaggan street, took £3 out of the latter’s wallet on Saturday night. He spent £2 on clothing, and the balance on a trip down the harbour with some of his mates on the following day. According to the accused’s statement his home life was anything but happy, and he was very hard up when he committed the theft. With the exception of a breach of the Defence Act, he had not been before the court previously. The magistrate (Mr J. R. Bartholomew) said he would like to know more of the accused’s circumstances, and remanded him until Saturday pending a report from the probation officer.

The Otago Power Board, at its meeting on Tuesday, decided to proceed with ing yesterday, decided to proceed with the Maniototo electric power scheme. The sum of £7882 10s per annum has been guaranteed by 392 consumers. Two -representatives of the district will take their seats, on the board when the scheme comes into operation.

The fact that accidents were costing the Palmerston North Hospital £l2OO a year. was revealed in a report to the board, when the secretary stated that in the last three months 29 cases had been admitted at a cost of approximately £lO each. The chairman, Sir James Wilson, remarked that at the best the board could not expect to recover more than £6OO of the £l2OO. A new Act, he said, was providing for third party insurance, and it was suggested that the next conference of hospital boards should be asked to request that hospital fee should be the first charge uppn the insurance. Mr J. A, Nash, M.PJ, pointed out that the insurance would cover only the driver and not the passenger, though the Act might be enlarged a little later. The board adopted the chairman’s suggestion..

An interesting entry in the list of new ships in the latest supplement to Lloyd’s Register, is that of the New Zealand Shipping Company’s Rangitiki, the first of three high-powered motor passenger liners which are being built by Messrs John Brown and Co., Ltd., Clydebank, for the company’s direct service between Britain and the Dominion. In Lloyd’s Register the following particulars of the Rangitiki are given:—Tonnage, gross register 18,000 tons, net register 11,000 tons; length (between perpendiculars), 530 feet; beam, 70 feet; depth (from main deck), 43.3 feet; forecastle deck, 81 feet in length; poop and bridge deck, 371 feet in length. The propelling machinery consists of two sets of high-powered two-stroke-cycle, single acting five-cylin-der Diesel engines. The diameter of each cylinder is 35£ inches, and the piston stroke 63 inches. The Rangitiki will leave Southampton on February 15 on her maiden voyage to New Zealand. She is due at Wellington on March 23, and will leave the Dominion on her return to England on April 27.

On behalf of the Misses M'Hardy, a donation of £560 has been received by the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board towards the building of an ante-natal clinic at the Hastings Memorial Hospital (says the Hawke’s Bay Herald). Application is to be made to the Government for a subsidy on that sum, and when that is received the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board has decided to proceed with the building of the clinic, the cost of which is estimated at about £lOOO. The thanks and appreciation of the board were expressed to the Misses M'Hardy for their handsome donation, and it was intimated that the building would be known as the M'Hardy Ante-Natal Clinic.

The Norfolk Island correspondent of the New Zealand Herald states that the New Zealand Government steamer Maui Pomare is doing excellent work, but her passenger accommodation is altogether inadequate for the demands made upon For a long time now her berthing list has been booked up for months ahead, and dozens of would-be passengers have been shut out for want of accommodation. She arrived at the island on November 13 ■rf’ith 44 passengers and a heavy consignment of freight. She was quite unable, however, to. take all the passengers desirous of returning to New Zealand, and a selection was made by ballot, first preference being given to those recommended by the medical officer. Those not fortunate in the ballot will have to take ' their chance in the December and January boats, ■whose berthing lists are already overcrowded. A larger and faster steamer, doing the 600-mile run in. say, 48 to 50 hours, could, during the holiday season, fill her berthing list every fortnight or three weeks. So far as the city drapers, clothiers, and boot retailers are concerned the late night in Christmas week will be on Monday, December 24 (Christmas Eve), and in the following week on New Year’s Eve. On both nights, the shops will remain open until 10 o’clock. As the Shops and Offices Act does not allow of more than ' one late night in the week, all shops must close at 5.30 p.m. on December 28 and January 4, but they will, however, remain open as usual until 9.30 on the evening of Friday, December 21. The grocers will keep their shops open until 10 o’clock on Christmas Eve, but will close them at 5.30 on New Year’s Eve, and hold their late night on the following Friday.