TOPICS OF THE TIMES

Southland Times, Issue 19654, 3 October 1922, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE TIMES

A visitor from Sydney who noticed in the newspapers lately the reference the Rev. Gray Dixon made, to the more attractive appearance of the Australian girls compared with their New Zealand sisters, states (says the Auckland Star) that the Dominion men are themselves to blame for the comparison being made because it is a fact that the lank, free-speaking Australian, who will hardly speak six words to one of his intimates without putting in a swear word or two, in too presence of his women folk is quite a different man. As an instance of this he said it was quite the rule in Australia that whenever a girl got into a lift all the men who happened to be there when she entered it immediately took off their hats and stood hat in hand till she got out at the floor at which she wished to alight. It was a slight act of courtesy to the gentler sex, and they fully appreciated it, for it was reflected in their general conduct. There was too much of an apparent equality amongst the sexes in New Zealand, but they could never get away from the fact as once stated by Mr Austen Chamberlain in the British House of Commons, “that man was man, and woman was woman, and no Act of Parliament would ever make them any different.” In some respects he thought that the New Zealand girls were out on their own because they were able to turn their hands to almost anything and especially was this true on some of the farms in the country he had visited. He thought the women who were pioneering with their young husbands in the backblocks of the country were very resourceful women, and had a culture of their own; but he was thinking more particularly of the city girls, who strove with the men for places on the tram-cars and gangways of the ferry-boats, who would gain in men’s estimation if they hesitated a little and allowed some gallant young men the chance of doing some of the elbowing for them. Men liked to put women on a pedestal, but ouly if it were done with the consent of both parties. One is always hearing about the pitiful state of education in Spain; of villager, without schools, and schools without masters or buildings, and of the high percentage of illiterates, writes a correspondent of the Morning Post. It should always be remembered that the illiterate peasant in Spain is not only gifted with much good sense, honest and hard-work-ing, but is a man of quick intelligence, ready speech, and an innate courtesy and dignity, bis memory stored with songs and proverbs, legends, and traditions. Remarking on this passage, the Morning Post, in a leading article said: “We used to boast of such peasants in our own conntry, but they are nowadays difficult to find. To enjoy their conversation and appreciate their wisdom we have to go to the pages of Scott and Hardy, and to understand their culture we have left to us only the precious heritage of their folksongs. . As a matter of fact, thinking men and women are seriously perturbed over our whole system of State education and the so-called ‘culture’ which we are inflicting on the simple innocents of our generation. And the unthinking portion of the population is also beginning to share in this perturbation. It is Ihe cost of elementary education which, in characteristic English fashion, is arousing misgivings. The taxpayer is beginning to understand that on the raucous tripper, the voracious reader of the vulgar ignominies of the Divorce Court, and the slatternly servant who despises her work, the State has spent a great deal for their ‘education,’ has erected for these prodigies expensive buildings, and has placed at their disposal well-paid teachers. To vast masses of our population a love of beauty, a sense of refinement are beyond comprehension; they gape at the one and guffaw at the other. Yet there was a time in England when the population as a whole must have had an amazing delicacy of mind. Democracy is failing us, and its price is at last awakening even its victims to a realisation of its failure. We calculate the cost and we dare not contemplate the results.” Kemal s m auoeuvres in the neutral zone at the Dardanelles are a reminder that, it was at Nagiira, above Chanak that the Turks first crossed the Straits in their invasion of Europe in 1357. Xerxes took his army over at the same spot in 480 8.C., and Alexander the Great hie in 334 B.C. The narrowest part of the Dardanelles ia at Chanak, where the Strait is 1475 yards wide, but Nagata is the second narrowest part with a width of 1585 yards. The total length of the Dardanelles is 374 miles, and the width averages from three-quarters of a mile to 4| miles. The depth of water is from 160 ft. to 295 ft., and the surface currents sometimes run as high as five miles an hour. The town of Gallipoli was taken by Suleiman, son of the Sultan Orkhan, in 1357, and was the first European town to fall into Turkish hands. The Bosphorus is twenty miles long and about two miles wide. It is not as deep on the whole as the Dardanelles, averaging only 89 feet, though its greatest depth is 395 feet. A surface stream, quickened by north-west winds, constantly flows through the Bosphorus from the Black Sea into the Sea of Marmora. This stream consists of the fresher water of the Black Sea, fed by its many long rivers, and constantly pours out tnrough. both straits into the Mediterranean, while the heavier salt water of the latter flows in below in a strong under-current in the opposite direction.

Those promoting the concert to be given by the inmates of the Borstal Institute are meeting with a generous response, and already the number of tickets sold guarantees the success of the venture,

The Wellington City Corporation’s bill for fuel last year amounted to £111,847. It is reportetd that there has been an exceptionally good lambing season in the Hawke's Bay district. At Takapau docking is in full operation. It is anticipated that the tourist season will be an exceptionally heavy one. Already a considerable number have arrived from overseas, and the bookings at Rotorua are increasing each successive week. “I do not think the Minister for Education will dare, during the present economic situation, to increase the primary school age to fifteen,” declared Mr A. E. Lawrence (Waitaki) at the conference of delegates to high school boards at Wellington last week. There is an indication that local farmers will receive a good price, for lamb this season (says toe Wanganui Herald). It is considered that the price will not be below 9d per lb., and possibly it may be above that figure. The reports of destitution among Maoris in the Wanganui district are borne out by the fact, that during the past few days several native women have been canvassing the suburban portions of the town with a tale of dire misfortune and begging for old clothes. The Magistrate, Mr G. Cruickshank, heard legal argument in the case Morton (Mr H. Macalister) v. Selby (Mr Haggitt) yesterday afternoon. The care was before the Court on Friday, and was a claim for damages arising out of a motor car and bicycle colliding. After hearing counsel the Magistrate reserved his decision. The entries received for the November and December examinations for Southland are as follows:—Junior National Scholarship 115, Intermediate 88. Senior National Scholarship 32. Invercargill and Gore are the examination centres. |The Otago University term examinations commences on October 9. “In New Zealand wc are proceeding contrary to the opinion of leading educationists of the world,” remarked the Minister for Education (the Hon. C. J. Farr! at last week’s conference of New Zealand High School Boards at Wellington. The present system of continuing primary education was physiologically and psychologically wrong. A Waimate Press Association telegram states that thieves entered the residence of Mr Charles Tomlin on Saturday night, £3 in notes, a gold watch, a gold nugget and a Post Office Savings Bank book containing £4, being taken. A burglary was attempted during the week-end also at a house near Butcher’s Lane, but the thieves were evidently scared off. The Railway Appeal Board, Messrs S. Page S.M., (chairman 1 . A. Torrance and L. C. Jolly, yesterday heard an appeal by an enginedriver against dismissal for drunkenness. The depositions taken at the inquiry were read, and after hearing argument upon the case, the Board dismissed the ap{>eal. Mr W. Winder appcare<l for the appellant and Mr J. Mason for the Department. Speaking at the meeting of ratepayers at New Plymouth, called to discuss the proposed poll for the Westown tramway extensions, the Mayor (Mr F. E. Wilson) said it was rather a remarkable thing that there was very much more wear and tear on the cars on the side facing the sea, which was also the more sunny side. It was necessary to alter this by turning the cars. The present bank overdraft rats of 7 per cent, was the cause of much complaint, said Mr H. F. O. Twigden, in the course of a lecture at Auckland, but in 1691 the rate of interest for Government securities was 8 per cent. That was the return for their money which forty enterprising gentlemen of Iho city of London got for raising £1.200,000 for the Government, and out of that loan arose the institution now known as the Bank of England. The weather was fine, but a little too bright for the opening of the fishing season on Sunday. Although a large number of the keener anglers went out. to try their luck a good many came back without any fish, but in some cases good bags were reported. A bag of 14 fish averaging six pounds was taken, on the minnow from the Mararoa white a jiarty of two, fishing in the Oreti, took 27 and 28 respectively on the fly. Another angler took 13 from the Oreti on rhe worm, but some parts of this same river were affected by snow water. The Makarewa was also very low and clear ami few of those, who tempted the trout in this stream, met with much success. In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday Edward Janies Maloney (Mr Reed) pleaded guilty to a charge of drunkenness and also to being au idle and disorderly person. In outlining the case, Senior-Sergeant Scandrett said that accused was arrested on the North Road. He was well known to the police, and had a long list of convictions. He was kegging in the Scenic Reserve, which was frequented by ladies and children, and accused was a menace as he had been previously convicted for being illegally on premises. Mr Reed said that the whole of accused’s trouble arose from drink. The Magistrate convicted the accused and ordered him to come up for sentence within the next twelve months. Accused would lie prohibited in Awarua and Wallace. The public health for the past year, as shown in the lowered death-rate, may on the whole be considered satisfactory, and especially so as regards the incidence of certain of the notifiable diseases (says the Inspector-General of Health. Dr T. H. A. Valentine, in his annual report). Since rhe Department wa> established in 1900 the crude death rate for the Dominion has fallen from 10.5 to 8.73 per thousand, while the standardised death-rate, recognised as the international index of mortality, fell to 10.93, the lowest for the hist decade, and also, it is believed, of any country in the world. Moreover the infant mortality rate has fallen from 74.9 in 1900 to 47.8 pathousand births, with a corresponding decrease over the same period for the chief centres. Speaking in the House of Representatives last, week Mr J. A. Young (Waikato) said the legal delays complained of throughout the country were the result of the judge; being overworked. The Minister of Justice, agreed that the judges were asked to work too Jong hours—the increase of business was such that it was of urgent , necessity for the Government to consider the apointment of another judge. He had some time ago increased fees owing to the rising costs which had faced the Justice Deparlniicnt, with the result that he had net made a profit of £60,009, but hud increased the takings to that extern, and felt, justified in asking the Prime Minister to increase the salaries of the judges and magistrates. If a new resident jad.seahip were created the centre selected would, on the present figures, be Hamilton. It might, be that before very long they would' find it necessary to appoint an extra judge. Some Mastertou pig-hunters had an exciting experience in the bush at the foot of the Tararua when out hunting during last, week-end, states the Wairarapa Age. The party were returning with a fine young sow which they had secured, when the dogs got on the scent of a big hoar, that did not “boil” until it reached the thick undergrowth, where it was impossible to shoot unless within a few yards. With infinite cunning the boar eluded its pursuers with short, desperate “breaks/’ but the dog? finally cornered it in a narrow gully. When capture seemed certain it cleared a track through the dogs, killing one outright and narrowly missing another, which escaped with a slight rip on the throat. The remaining dog evidently thanking discretion the better part of valour, did not follow the boar, which escaped. At this time of the year boars are particularly dangerous, and inexperienced hunters would be wise to avoid pighunting for the next two months,

Mrs H. Donaldson, Bluff, writes complain ing that a large prohibition poster erected by her husband on Saturday afternoon was pulled down and carried away during Saturday night.

The Southland Electric Power Board has received tenders from different parts of the world for the supply of various electrical equipment necessary to carry out the first section of the Monowai scheme, and these will come before the Board at an early date. When discussing the increase of railbits in the district, a resident of Castlecliff (Wanganui) stated that it is possible late at night to notice between 30 and 40 rabbits on the main road. Opossums were also beginning to put in an appearance in that locality, and recently the resident found one dead in his back yard, his dog having killed it overnight. The country around Tapanui is looking well, stated a visitor from that district yesterday. The State Nursery at Tapanui still continues planting out on a large scale, but is badly handicapped by the grass grubg, which destroy thousands of young trees every year. The plantations on Conical Hills are progressing, but planting lately has been done in the Greenvale district 'only. The pale buff coloured plumage of the bittern has become a very rare, sight even in the solitudes of the most remote swamp lands. But travellers by the train from Lumsden to Gore yesterday morning were surprised to see one of these native birds, believed now io be almost extinct, sitting upon the margin of a patch of swampy land beside the railway track between Rivcrsdalc and Mandeville. One of the travellers related that, he used frequently to see these birds as a boy, but had not seen one for over twenty years. A member of the Manawatu Publicity League stated at a meeting of the Manawatu A. and P. Association, when seeking the support of that body in advertising the Manawatu, that the town of San Diego, in California, in a similar campaign deemed it worth spending £2OO a family to encourage emigration to their town. The scheme met with instantaneous response and wide-reach-ing effects, for, as a result of the publicity advertising, 8000 families pledged themselves to take up residence in that town, while toe expense entailed was confined solely to the publicity costs amounting to a fraction over £l2 per family. Without doubt there was room tor a big increase in the population of Palmerston and district, and big results might easily be forthcoming were a scheme of a similar nature instituted. The trial trip of the locally-owned ketch, “Digger,” proved successful in every way and members of the party that spent the week-end on toe cruise in Foveaux Strait are enthusiastic about, the vessel’s capabilities. After arriving at Oban on Saturday afternoon the vessel spent the rest of the day in cruising round Paterson’s Inlet and on Sunday a trip was made to Port Adventure, where the party engaged in fishing. The vessel left the island at about 5 o’clock on Monday morning and was outside the Invercargill Heads before 9 o’clock, but the signal at the Pilot Station was againsttmaking toe entrance ami the vessel turned and put in at Bluff harbour, where I he visitors disembarked, subsequently taking train to Invercargill. The party that made the trip were as follows: Messrs J. E. Winsloe, A. Russell, B. H. Haigh, Stout, M. S. Ayling, S. B. Taylor (Government photographer), Hensley, F. G. Blake, A. Whitelaw, J. E. Taylor, Tapper (2), C. Conland, J. E. Bews and W. Bews. In addition there were four of a crew. Upon the opening day of the angling season Mr G. Cook, of Tuatapere, had the fortune to hook, and the skill to land, two fine specimens of the Atlantic salmon at the mouth of the Waiau River. He forwarded both the fish to the Southland Acclimatisation Society, and the members who attended the special meeting held last night were able to view the Ijeautiful fish. Although they were quite small as Atlantic salmon go, the largest of them was 2ft. 3} inches in length and 111 inches in girth, and weighed just five pounds. The long, dean, racy lines, and the beautiful blue and silvery markings of both fish were much admired, the difference between them and (rout was easily noticeable. As a member of the Society expressed it, the salmon as compared with the trout, was like a thoroughbred compared with a trotting horse. The smaller of the fikh turned the scale at 341bs. The Society, to whom Mr Cook made a gift of the fish, decided to send one to the Auckland and the other to the Wellington Acclimatisation Societies, a* many inquiries had been received from anglers of the North Island respect mg the Atlantic salmon. The meeting also decided, on the motion of Mr E. Russell, to send to the donor a tangible token of appreciation for the gift. Another angler Is reported to have caught, a slightly larger salmon at the Waiau’s mouth on the same day. 36 Baity of Lovely Carpets and Rugs now being opened. Come and select your fancy designs at H. & J. SMITH, Ltd.—(Advt). Kings, Princes. Emperors, Monarchs and entire nations wlio have faded away in the pages of life, even up to the present day millions have puzzled trying to find out “What no Man Knows.’ It may be worth your life's happiness, it may be worth nothing. Its the world’s greatest secret. Romeo gave his life to Juliet, to learn. To-night it. is promised that Clara Kim bell Young will reveal this all important asset to patrons of the Albion theatre.—(advt.) Urocertes are going down in price, under the conditions of the market and Mr J. S. Baxters, Invercargill. Your attention ia drawn to “Baxter's advertisement” iu this Issue. Small profits quick returns. — (Advt). Direct, from London—White "Etonia” Handkerchiefs, with all initials; also plain shades and coloured border “Etlrunia’’ Hanokerchiefs for the breast pocket in greut variety ol shades and designs, the latest ideas from Home. Gents’ f ancy Sockr, in new ringed stripes and latest tie designs. The fashionable goods make ideal presents. Me NEIL & CLARK, 94 Dee street.— (Advt.) Special Purchase.—l2s Ladies’ Sample Costumes, smart styles, well tailored, r<:.able materials, quick-selling prices 39/0 to 79/6. “ECONOMIC” Ladies' Outfitters, bU Dee street.— (Advt.) “Blythesome Spring dispels dull care.” —Hales. Spring, however, has capricious moods, and even in this season there lurks the risk of coughs and colds. At toe first sign of trouble take Baxter’s Lung Preserver. For over half-a-century, “Baxter’s” has been acclaimed by thousands as a genuine, reliable cough and cold remedy for both young and old. As a body-building, bloodcnriching touic. it has aho proved its sterling worth. 2e 6d large bottle at chemists and stores.—Advt. PLEASING SHOW. Our range of Ladies’ Costumes, Coats, Dresses, Blouses and Milliner}’ is unique in Beauty and Style. It Is the outcome of extensive experience and has been prepared expressly for the Coining Season. The discerning buyer will find it contains all that she is seeking in great values. Special line of Dainty Woven Silk Frocks from 59/6 to 310/-. Dainty Woven silk jumpers in all shades from 19/6 to 63/-. Dainty crepe de chine Houses for 22/6 to 63/-. Silks in all shades and styles from 15/6 to 29/6. See our specials in jazz, foulard and sponge frocks, from 17/6 to 55/-. Smart styles in costumes in serges and gaberdines from 45/- to 250/-. Smart coate in covert and velour cloths from 84/to 200/-. Ladies’ dainty trimmed hate in every conceivable shape 22/6 to 55/-. Smart silk hats 7/6 to 23/6. Henderson famous hate in smart styles 13/6, to 35/ Ready to-wears in all colours 9/6 to 35/ . Flowers and fruit trails in endless variety at H. & J. SMITH LTD., Progressive Drapers, Tay Street, Invercargill and Main Street, Gore. —(Advt).

The vital statistics for Mataura for tht quarter ended September 30 ar? as follows, th? figures for the same period of last yw being quoted in parenthesis: -Births 18 (20), deaths five (four), marriages one (five). In the report of the fire which occurred in Mrs P. Cairns’s shop on Saturday night it was stated that the fire originated in some rubbish placed under the shelves. Mr Cainw said yesterday that there was no rubbish under any of the shelves and none had been placed there. He could not account for ton outbreak, but it was certainly not due to any rubbish which had been left about the premises.

Some difficulty is being experienced by the Public Works Department in making up gangs for work on the West Coast road (States the Marlborough Express). Altogether aboiil 115 men have registered an unemployed in the district, and have offered to work on the road, but they apparently do not relish the idea of working on contract, even though the rates are the sainn as are always offered for public works jobs, and should prove very remunerative to good workers.

A local resident who has recently had occasion to motor from Waipahi to Tapanui over Conical Hills said yesterday that the road there, in places, afforded a goxl illustration of the damage done to county highways by heavy motor traffic. Thjn particular road, with a gravel and clay surface, he eaid, for perhaps two milen was terribly cut up by traction engine traffic during the past winter. He could well imagine the danger and discomfort incidental to travelling over such roads m bad weather, as this one was cut on the face of a hill, and the vehicle had to remain in the ruts. The Bluff Tennis Club held a very successful social and dance iu the Drill Hall on Friday evening. Mr Con. Clark officiated as M.C., and Mr C. Dixon and a friend provided the music. A bountiful supper was provided by the ladies, and aa the attendance was large, a very substantial credit balance has been transferred to the cluli’s fund. The club was also very fortunate in ite selection of a date for ita garden party, which was held on Saturday afternoon at “Morningside,” the residence of Mr Samuel Nichol. The weather waa ideal, and the large number of guests had a very enjoyable time. '1 he garden [Jot and orchard were in first-class order, and the greenhouses were a blaze of colour. In addition to the many rare Hooms and young plants that were being carefully matured, the visitors were pnvilegetl tn admire a magnificent collection of cinerarias, consisting of about seventy different varieties. A portion of toe afternoon was demoted to games, after which tea was served and musical items were rendered by Mesdames F. J. Tipping and F. W. H Bannerman, and Miss Metzger.