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Otago Witness, Issue 3995, 7 October 1930, Page 46

" This ceremony affords me an opportunity of bearing testimony to the great work the Presbyterian Church is carrying on in New Zealand,” said Mr W. I). Stewart in laying the foundation stone of the new Presbyterian Church and Sunday school hall at Silverstream, Wellington, the other day. “It is a record of which that church and its members might well be proud,” he added. “ I have a particular affection for the Presbyterian Church as the church of my forefathers, the church that formed the Otago settlement, and was mainly instrumental in building up for Dunedin high ideals of citizenship. My own native city of Dunedin was founded by the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and the influence of that church has not only had a far-reach ing and beneficent influence on the spiritual and educational growth of Otago, but through its Theological College it has radiated a Dominion-wide influence, based on high standards of education and the highest ideals of citizenship for its members. In the Wellington Presbytery alone there are no fewer than 12 ministers holding responsible charges in Wellington and suburbs who owe their training to Knox College.”

A description of an investigation carried out to determine the . possibility of destroying the Japanese monopoly in the production of camphor and camphor oil was given by Mr I. R. Sherwood, speaking on “ Camphor Trees in New Zealand,” before the Auckland Institute (states the N<yv Zealand Herald). Camphor was used, among other purposes, in the manufacture of celluloid and in pharmacy/ while camphor oil was a solvent for varnishes and yielded safrol, an ingredient of soap perfumes, the speaker explained. Attempts had been made from time to time to obtain a source of supply within the British Empire, but definitely successful results had not been secured. The most extensive investigations had been made in India, but even there the results showed that production on a commercial scale would not be economical.: The yield of materials, and even the substances present in the oil, varied in a most extraordinary manner, according to the climate of the country in which the trees were grown. Camphor trees grew well in New Zealand, but it was doubtful whether their cultivation would be economical. The yield of camphor was good, but the safrol: content of the oil was low.

It is many years since the memorial of Sir ' John M'Kenzie disappeared from view oh. the hilltop at Pukiviti.. Since then many : suggestions have: been made as to a suitable site for its re-erection. The Government has now decided that it shall be* placed bn Puketapu Hill,' the high cone-shaped hill 'on the right-hand side of Palmerston, going north. The memorial is to be "built of Leith blue stone and concrete, with iron, stairways inside to give access to the top, and large panels of polished. granite will be engraved with suitable inscriptions; The height will be 43 feet, and this will make the monument a more distinctive.. landmark than the old memorial. Messrs H. S. Bingham and Co., Ltd., Moray place, Dunedin, have secured the contract, which is for approximately £l5OO.

According to a statement issued by the Minister of Labour (Mr S. G. Smith) there was a decrease of 74 unemployed registered for the weed ended September 29 against the previous week. Monday’s total was 6025. Those with dependents and without dependents are: Auckland, 960 and 729 respectively; Wei. lington, 523 and 411; Christchurch, 663 and 427; Dunedin, 302 and 142; Invercargill, 116 arid 75.

-—A party of 40 people ate 2400 native oysters at Whitstable, England—6o each.