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Southland Times, Issue 19279, 25 June 1924, Page 4

The Dominion Meteorologist states that present indications are for west to southwest winds strong to a gale. The weather will be cold and squally with heavy showers. The barometer is unsteady.

Advice was received by the Postmaster at 10 aan. yesterday that the Oreti river at Lumsden was very high and was still rising.

A Christchurch Press Association telegram states that Mrs Edith Stanley, of Templeton, was found drowned in a water race. The coroner returned a verdict of suicide while in a depressed mental state.

“A world-wide conference of Chambers of Commerce is to take place in London next year,” said Mr A. le Hoyles at the quarterly luncheon of the Chamber of Commerce held yesterday, “and Invercargill is to have its own special representative there in the person erf Mr J. W. Smith.”

A man named William Lyons was arrested yesterday morning by Detective Newman on a charge of committing an indecent act in a vacant section at South Invercargill on June 23. Lyons appeared before Mr J. R. Haigh at the Police Court in the afternoon and was remanded until July 2. Bail was allowed in one surety by self of £5O, and one surety of £5O. a

An inquest into the death of James Morton Niven, who was found dead in his home at Birchwood on Monday, will be held at Nightcaps to-day. Niven is reported to have shot himself with a 22 calibre pea rifle after retiring to bed about noon. He was a married man, but at the time of the occurrence his wife was in Invercargill. The deceased was the mail contractor between Birchwood and Nightcaps. The contract has been temporarily taken over by Mr C. H. Robertson.

The following clauses appeared in the report* of the Town Engineer submitted to last night's meeting of the Town Council:— “Further trials of the Boving pump in No. 4 bore at the Waterworks have failed to get satisfactory running. Messrs Johnston and Sons now state that they have done everything possible to make the pump work properly. ... A portion of the lining of the adit between No. 1 and No. 2 bores has been renewed as the timber had rotted. This work disclosed a considerable cavity in the locality of a trial bore which was sunk some years ago and afterwards redrawn.”

Owing to the unusual amount of activity in the building trade in Invercargill at present, there is an acute shortage of carpenters, although builders are offering high rates of pay. It is reported that the erection of quite a number of new buildings is being delayed owing to the lack of carpenters. The shortage Is likely to become even more pronounced when the work of erecting the Exhibition buildings in Dunedin is taken in hand, as it is expected that a number of local carpenters will offer their services in that direction.

The Wharfinger reported to the Town Council last evening that during the month of May ten vessels had arrived at the Invercargill Jetty. The imports for that period totalled 367 tons of merchandise and 95,000 superficial feet of timber, and the exports 71 tons of merchandise and 4800 super feet of timber. The Wharfinger further advised that owing to the stormy weather the Oreti had had to discharge one cargo at the Bluff, while no timber had been received from Stewart Island during the month.

A motion by Mr M. J. Gresson for a nonsuit or for a new trial in the “Danthonia case,” arising out of damage caused by grass fires, it had been agreed should be referred to the Full Court, but Mr Gresson announced yesterday, says a Christchurch Press Association wire, that it was not intended to proceed with the motion. Judgment will be entered for plaintiffs for the amount of the Jury’s verdict. A. M. MacFarlane, who claimed £4OOO damages, was awarded £5OO, and R. K. McAndless, who claimed £1913 10/-, was awarded £526. The defendant, Norman Rutherford, of Mendip Hills, will pay the costs, which will be very

“Can you keep a child for 5/- a week?” asked the Bench of defendant in an Oamaru maintenance case. “Well, we can try,” was the answer, “and I think it can be done.” “Well,* if you can do it you’re a marvel,” replied the Bench.

At the Napier Supreme Court the other day a discussion arose between counsel as to the meaning of the word “expert.” His Honour suggested that he might help by informing the disputants that he had recently seen a definition of the word “expert” and it meant a man who knew nothing else.

The other day a rara avis, a yellow crested penguin, was driven on to the beach at Sumner, and although it apparently had been engaged in a long fight with the big waves it was not in a weak condition. The bird was picked up by some boys and it is their intention to retain it as a pet. It seemed quite unafraid in the company of human beings.

The secretary of the Southland Electric Power Board wrote- to the Town Council yesterday asking the Council to fix a dale for the re-opening of negotiations with the Special Electricity Committee in regard to matters which had previously been discussed by the parties concerned. The Council at its meeting last evening decided to refer the letter to the Committee that has the matter in hand.

An Invercargill resident who has just returned from a business visit to Queenstown and Arrowtown, states that there has been a fairly heavy fall of snow in the Lakes District, and all the mountains are wearing a mantle of snow, presenting a beautiful picture. The Arrowtown road in places is in a shocking state, due to snow, frosts, and the carting of grain to Frankton wharf, and motoring, especially at night, presents some exciting moments.

The revenue earned by the Invercargill Tramways during the month of May shpwed an increase of £266 10/5 as compared with the returns for the corresponding month last year, this increase being attributed to the fact that the Winter Carnival and Show was in progress from May 20 to May 24. The number of extra passengers carried for the whole month totalled 27,876, the figures for the month being 333,842 as against 305,966 last year.

A brisk demand for second-hand furniture and household effects apparently exists at Greymouth at the present time, judging from the experience of one resident (remarks the Star). It was intended to advertise the goods for sale, but this was found unnecessary. The news of the, family’s impending departure quickly spread, and everything in the house for sale was disposed of before there was time to advertise.

“It is a law which, I may say without fear of contradiction, is broken ten times for every time it is observed/’ remarked counsel in the Blenheim Magistrate’s Court the other day, apropos the Statute which requires that all traffic should stop

before crossing a railway line. "Ten times ten, of ten times a hundred would be nearer the mark,” amended the Magistrate (Mr T. E. Maunsell). “Have you ever seen this law observed?”

The Eltham gasworks showroom was recently visited by a burly representative of the Maori race, who was courteously shown round by the manager. On a gas stove

being lit and the modus operandi explained, Hen are was overcome wit h delight, exclaiming: “By gorry, he te ferral to cook te kail 1 take one; I live te ten miles out.” “But where are you going to get the gas?” naturally inquired the manager. “Oh, te gas! Never mind the gas; te cooker I want!”

“The waterfront to-day Is clearer of the derelict types that are usually to be found about a port than before in the history of Auckland,” stated Mr J. Trevethick, speaking the other evening at the annual meeting of the Auckland Sailors’ Home. Mr Trevethick said this happy state of affairs was due to the efforts of the water police working in conjunction with the Home. Berths were found for the better class of men while the hopeless classes were dealt with in the Police Court.

An incident, which occurred during the recent railway strike, was recalled yesterday when Frank A. Cheyne, a railway ’porter, appeared before Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M., at a sitting of the Police Court, charged with letting the water out of the south tank at the Winton Station. The engine on the down train from Kingston generally takes in water at this tank, but on the occasion in question it had sufficient water to carry it on to Invercargill; otherwise it would have had to back to the tank on the north side of the station. After hearing the evidence the Magistrate entered a conviction and fined Cheyne £5.

The work of putting down the permanent way on the Ohai Railway Board’s line from Wairio to Ohai is now practically completed, and within the next day or two it is anticipated that the mining companies at Ohai which have purchased screening machinery and plant for erection on the railway line there will be able to take delivery of their material. It is anticipated that by the time the companies have their respective plants and sidings erected, permission will have been obtained from the authorities for the opening of the line for traffic, which will greatly facilitate the handling of the gradually increasing output from the several mines in the district.

There was a stir of excitement at Lans downe the other evening when it became known that a patient attired in his pyjamas had escaped from the hospital aiic'l was roaming around the suburb (states the Wairarapa Age). The first knowledge of anything unusual was the sight of the patient making up Totara Street with a nurse in pursuit. The aid of a passer-by was enlisted, and the escapee safely returned to custody at the home. No sooner had this been done, however, than the patient made his second attempt, and despite the fleetness of four nurses, made good his escape, being at large till the arm of the law was requisitioned and the erestless one returned to a comfortable bed.

The architect for the erection of the Feldwick Memorial Gates at Victoria Park (Mr E. R. Wilson) reported to the Town Council last evening that, it was proposed to inscribe one of the piers as follows :- “Erected by the Municipality of Invercar gill to the Memory of John Feldwick; born 1846, died 1913; as an expression of gratitude for his munificent endowment of this Park.” Mr Wilson further recommended that the other pier should bear the following inscription:—“Victoria Park, gazetted a public reserve, 22nd June, 1869; conveyance from Crown to Mayor, Councillors and Burgesses of Invercargill effected 25th January, 1882.” It was proposed that both the inscriptions should be incised in polished Bluff granite.- The Council decided to refer the architect’s recommendation to the Reserves Committed for consideration.

Cheap living—Members of Parliament have said that the credit system keeps up the cost of living; Moral—Buy your gro ceries from Baxter, whose motto is Small Profits and Quick returns. (advt.) Having liad thirty years’ experience In the buying and selling of Diamonds, we are in a position to offer you the best value in Invercargill. All gems sold by us are without blemish, of fine brilliancy and latest style cutting. Our stock of gem rings are well worth inspection. T. M. Rankin, Watchmaker, Jeweller and Op tician, Tay street. lAdvt.. A great offer of London Model Mjllinery, comprising 30 Hats are offered among Thomson and Beattie’s Stock-taking clearances. These Hats are in smart styles and colourings and offer you the opportunity of getting a good hat at a very moderate price, (advt.) FOOTBALL CLUB COACHES Sam Abrims, the popular Petone Coach, endorses “Dorrie” Leslie’s high opinion of Q-tol for abrasions, and Fluemol for the

Apparently oura is an ungrateful community (remaps the Oamaru Hail). The secretary of the Oamaru Hospital Trustees reported to his Board that out of some 200 out-patients who had been treated at the hospital during the past year only one man had offered to pay anything for hi# treatment.

Inquiry from the Railway and Postal Departments yesterday elicited the information that no advice had been received that the rains of the past few days have had any serious effect on the transport of mails or goods. The various rivers throughout th* province, though, are running somewhat above normal, but as yet have not seriously interfered with traffic or caused unduf damage to property. Considerable difficulty was by vehicular traffic, particularly the milk floats, in negotiating the Ashburton bridge early on a recent morning. Light rain fell during the night and this remained on the asphalt dressing the bridge only to become frozen soon after. Consequently when traffic commenced in the morning the bridge surface was more or less iced over. More than one milkman had to take his horse out of the cart, lead it over the bridge as near the edge as possible, where the surface was freer of ice, and himself drag the cart across.

Invercargill people are reputed to be slow to move—not that they do not appreciate the best in the realm of entertainment—but that they take little on trust. The merit® of Professor Newlands are sufficient to warrant a packed house on Friday next. The

•professor is no itinerant entertainer, but a platform genius. Mr Stanley Warwick, of Wellington, writes:—“lt would be a thousand pities if Invercargill missed Professor Newlands. Mr D. J. Wesney, who has just returned from the North says: ‘Wellington is agog with Newlands, opinion there i® that no artist of equal ability has ever set foot in New Zealand; business men were so impressed as to make a request for a special address from Professor Newlands on ‘First Principles of Platform Speech.” Be sure of your seat. Book at the Bristol. Theatre, Friday, Victoria Hall Saturday. Prices 3/-, 2/-, 1/-, plus tax. (advt.)