TOPICS OF THE TIMES

Southland Times, Issue 21263, 9 December 1930, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE TIMES

“If you want the young to follow, you must lead. I object to the practice of modern times of lumping young people together in one category and saying that they are all pleasure-seekers or rebels, or without common sense,” said Dr Cyril Norwood, headmaster of Harrow, in an address at a meeting of the Modern Churchmen s Union in London. “I entirely decline to take a pessimistic view. It is the failures and the tragedies which confront our attention and we do not realize that the great mass of the young are really trying quietly to get on with their work. We hold up our hands about the evil influence of the picture houses and the incessantly growing number of amusements, which lead to idleness and a waste of time, and we do not notice that the schools, universities, and evening classes and many other things, which involve sacrifice, were never so full nor successful as they are to-day. The result of modern innovations -seems to have been to produce a young generation which is never happy unless it is going fast or making a noise, and preferably doing both. It is more exciting, but it tends to be shallower. But though there are elements which are bad and even threatening, there are also elements which are good, and the stock is sound.”

“Tile successful man of affairs who is conscious of his debt to a public school and university training invariably endorses the system which helped him toward achievement,’’ Mr Harold Bellman wrote recently “He may not easily imagine that any good can come out of the Nazareth of a council school, but doubtless his view would not be accepted without qualification by the unsuccessful ex-public schoolboy and graduate, from whom little or nothing is heard. The successful man w’ho has been denied the privileges of higher education is equally convinced of the merits of his own system, or lack of system. Self-developed—and possibly apply to himself the objectionable tag of ‘self-made’—he has allowed his mind, as George Moore puts it, ‘to grow and ripen under the sun and wind of modern life, in contra-distinction to the university man who is fed upon the dust of the ages.’ Not infrequently he regards the public school and the university as a background for the dilettante and a sports field for the ‘blue,’ but his sophistry would be less noticeable if his argument were rooted a little deeper in facts. His success has come in spite of the fact that he missed a higher education rather than because he escaped it. I am convinced that industry to-day needs men of both types in its executive positions.”

“In some very select quarters it would seem to-day that to be representational in art is to be infamous. Hence has broken out a distemper in art which may be not unfittingly characterized as the cult of the uncouth,” said Sir George Brown, president of the Royal Scottish Academy, at the opening of the Liverpool autumn exhibition. “A dwarf, a hunchback, tipplers, oi mendicants are uncouth subjects, yet Velasquez, Rembrandt and various minor masters have rendered these so charmingly as to give us delight in beholding them. How very different is the sensation produced when we behold the beautiful works of nature or of man despoiled of all graciousness and so misrepresented by distortion of vision and by consicous, wilful, bad drawing and painting as to become mere parodies of the original. A’et they tell me, some of these distortionists and parodists, that they are harking back to the primitives. Alas! hpw little they understand the dear, delightful, simple-hearted but intensely earnest and sincere primitives who belie them so . . . It may be accepted as an axiom in life that nothing is worthy of the serious consideration of other men that has not received the serious consideration of its author and this truth perhaps has special significance in creative art. If there be any, therefore, who vainly imagine that an abiding work of art can be produced with the tongue in the cheek they are grievously mistaken. Whatever may be their transient gain in the present they stand convicted by the evidence of the past and will be condemned by the verdict or the future.”

Last evening the Government Meteorolofist issued the following forecast: A depression is located over eastern Australia and a moderate anti-cyclone covers the Tasman Sea. Winds moderate to strong and southerly. Winds decreasing gradually and later veering to north in and south of Cook Strait. Seas smooth to moderate generally. Tasman Sea light to moderate southerly winds later tending northerly in the eastern Tasman. Seas smooth to moderate. Weather for the most part fair to fine, but some isolated showers mainly in the far north and later on the west coast of the South Island. Temperatures cold to-night, but milder to-morrow.

A tribute to the new Auckland railway station was paid by ,Mr Ashcroft Edwards, president in New Zealand of the United Kingdom Manufacturers’ Association, when he addressed a meeting of business men in Auckland (says the New Zealand Herald). “I ■say without hesitation that your new station is the .equal in appointments—although not, of course, in size—of any railway station in the world,” he said.

“Great Britain, despite all the difficulties she has had to face, is making a good recovery from the stagnation which existed a year or two ago,” declared Mr Frank MacFarlane, late chief engineer at the Calliope dock, Auckland, on his return from a world tour. He added that he had only one thing to tell people who asked how the Old Country was getting on, and that was that it was a long way from being “down and out.” Great Britain would yet make a great recovery from all her economic troubles caused by the war. Britain was such a sane country that she could not but recover.

“We all hear the songs of the birds, but half the time we aren’t conscious of them,” said Mr Johannes C. Andersoh when lecturing to the Society for Empire Culture on “New Zealand Birds and Their Songs” .at Christchurch. “This was brought home to me once when I was paying a visit in Wellington. I told the owner of the place that she had a grey warbler in the garden. ‘No,’ she said, ‘l’ve never seen the bird.’ Thereupon I whistled the grey warbler’s song to her, and a week later, when I saw her again, she said, ‘lf I could catch that bird I’d wring its neck.’ She’d been hearing nothing else but the grey warbler’s song all the week.”

Invercargill’s first miniature golf course will be opened to-day. The third floor of Newburgh’s building has been transformed into an artistic and attractive eighteen hole course. Judging from the enthusiasm displayed in other centres the course should not lack patrons.

A Gisborne Press Association ' message states that the Amalgamated Freezing Company commenced operations yesterday under the name of the Gisborne Refrigerating Company., Heavy killings till Christmas are expected. Mr A. B. Williams is chairman of the new company.

A Press Association message from Gisborne states that an overturned boat was found on Sunday at a creek entrance four miles south of the Wiapiro Bay township. It is feared three natives —Hamana Walker Whare, Koko and Manahcra Paurakau, who were fishing, have been drowned. A search was being made yesterday.

At a short sitting of the Police Court yesterday before Messrs AV. T. Gilbert and A. Noble, Justices of the Peace, a young man named Raymond James Fitzgerald (Mr John Tait) was charged with the theft of cigarettes and chocolates at Invercargill on December 5. On the application of the police a remand to December 12 was granted.

A Press Association message from Nelson states that when the case of Lizzie Harper v. Percy Scott Haycock, being a claim for damages for alleged breach of promise of marriage, was called at the Supreme Court to-day it was mentioned that a settlement had been arrived at and that defendant had agreed that judgment be entered for £5OO with costs. Judgment was entered up in terms of the settlement.

At a sitting of the Gore Police Court yesterday afternoon, Mr H. J. Dixon, S.M., presiding, a man, whose name was suppressed, was charged with obtaining the sum of £2B 10/- from Godfrey Hall, of Horora'ta, by falsely representing that he had a thoroughbred English stallion named Balaton, standing the season at Milton. The accused, who pleaded not guilty, was remanded to appear- at Dunedin on December 15. Bail was fixed at £lOO and one surety of £lOO.

“I see no reason why the country should look after these men,” said Mr A. M. Mowlem, S.M., at the Hastings Court when dealing with a statutory first offender on a charge of drunkenness. “They get drunk and then expect the police to take care of them and feed them. Why the country should have to do that for nothing 1 do not know.” The defendant, instead of being convicted and discharged, as is usual, was fined 5/-, the amount he had in his possession when arrested.

The last meeting for the year of the Pride of the South Juvenile Lodge No. 7, United Ancient Order of Druids, was held on Friday. A.D. Bro. D. Morrison presided over an attendance of 50 juvenile members. Visitors included the Grand Secretary Bro. W. B. Steele (Dunedin) and members of Acorn and Oak of Waikiwi Lodges. Included in the correspondence was a letter from the Juvenile Council, Dunedin, stating that Pride of the South was now 21 points ahead in the shooting conipetiton for Otago and Southland. One new candidate was initiated into the lodge and three more proposed for the next meeting. This lodge has done remarkably well in membership, having been in existence only nine months and doubled its members in that time. Bro. Steele was warmly greeted when he rose to address the members on the progress of the juvenile movement in Otago and Southland. The lodge closed and a social evening was spent in entertaining the visitors and parents. The following were winners of the competitions: Bros. Rewcastle, McColl, Penny, Breayley and Sammons, Bro. D. Morrison won the Acorn Lodge silver cup in the shooting competition. Superintendent Bro. J. D. Gregg, on behalf of the executive, presented the secretary, Bro. D. Harris, with a fountain pen in recognition of the good work he had done during the past nine months. G.S. Bro. Steele and P.D.P. Bro. G. McDermott Senr., replied on behalf of the visitors and parents. The following enjoyable'items were contributed: Neil Bros, (orchestra), Bros. W. Frampton (song), Young (recitation), Sherlock (song), Faircloth (song) and Scott (recitation). P.G.P. Bro. A. Slierbourne carried out the duties of pianist during the evening.

Every show brings forth something sensational in the way of engineering improvement. This year the most interesting exhibit is made by Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd. on their motor stand. The Commander Eight Studebaker with free wheeling gears has proved the sensation of the year in the motqr industry. These cars show a saving of from 12 to 20 per cent, on running costs, they are silenced to a super degree and give added comfort to the traveller. If you are interested in motor cars, visit this stand.— Advt.

ABRAHAM WACHNER, Dalgety’s Building, Don street, opens up a most glorious range of valuable mantles and furs. Also N.Z. and English footwear including Bostock, Bective and Crockett and Jones exclusive shoes for ladies and gentlemen. Wc wish to thank our numerous clients for their substantial patronage during 1930 and wish them the season’s greetings. ABRAHAM WACHNER, Dalgety’s Buildings, Don street.—Advt.

■ Startling value! Children’s Coats and Children’s Rayon, Voile, Crepe-de-chene and Fugi Frocks at half-marked price for show week at Miss Noble’s, The Baby Shop, Dee street.—Advt.

“Consumers of Dewar’s Whisky are never disappointed with the quality.”—Advt.

Christmas cards and 1931 Gift Calendars Hire now fully displayed. Autograph and art designs Christmas and New Year cards in assorted boxes 1/-, 1/3, 1/6, 2/-, 2/3 to 3/6. Single cards 3d to 1/-. Calendars in a wonderful assortment of beautiful designs, sepia tones, reproductions, quaint, comic and mottoed 6d to 4/6. The “Home Hints” is a good one for mother. Hyndman's, Dec street.—Advt.

CAMERAS. Finest selection of models from best makers. Seo our stock at BROWN, The Chemist. Best value in cameras ever offered. GEO 11. BROWN, Chemist, 125 Dee street.—Advt.

A BROWNIE is the simplest camera in the world to get good pictures with. Large selection at lowest prices. BROWN, The Chemist. GEO. H. BROWN, Chemist, 125 Dee street. —Advt.

THE IDEAL CHRISTMAS GIFT A CAMERA.

Other gifts are acceptable, but few bring such lasting joys as a camera with its unlimited possibilities. STEWART’S have a magnificent selection of all the latest cameras from which you can choose. Come in and inspect them. STEWART'S PHARMACY, Corner Dee and Don Streets.—Advt.

Ladies’ chiffon summer weight felts at Thomson and Beattie are priced ever so low. We offer the following shades: Mushroom Pink, Powder Blue, Sand, Opal, Pink and Putty. Medium sized brim, daintily bound with lin binding in self colour and bow at side. Worth 17/6 each. An attractive bargain for this week of Expansion Sale at 12/6 each.—Advt.

BROWN’S' PHARMACY makes al! prints on VELOX because VELOX gives the best prints from your films. GEO. H. BROWN, Chemist, 125 Dee street. —Advt.

“ ’Tis a comfort in grief.”—Selous.

The most depressing and annoying ills are undoubthedly coughs and colds. For such griefs, however, Baxter’s Lung Preserver is a wonderful comfort—soothes and relieves from the very first dose. Also tones up the whole system against further trouble. Get your “Baxter’s” to-day! A new screw cap preserves the contents. Obtainable all chemists and stores. Medium size, 2/6; large, economical family size, 4/6; bachelor’s size, 1/6.—Advt.

A supplement to the Gazette issued yes* terday announces alterations to the scalo of charges upon the New Zealand Railways and deals particularly with the carriage of goods, timber, coal, fruit cases and shocks for manufacture and also the classification of goods, live stock and. other matters.

At the Gore Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, Mr H. J. Dixon, S.M., presiding, judgment by default was given for plaintiffs ( in the following claims: McKenzie and Ferguson v. Randall Freeman (Akaroa) for £l4 8/-, with cost £2 14/-; George Groves v. John Kerse (St. Kilda) lor £l, with costs 15/-.

A Press Association message from Te Aroha states that an inquest into the deatn of Pearl Edith Fletcher, aged 19, a single woman, belonging to Morrinsville, was held yesterday. The evidence of the father showed that the girl left home for Te Aroha on Saturday evening and later was taken to hospital seriously ill. She admitted taking poison, but gave no reason and died on Sunday. The inquest was adjourned.

Big game fish have already been seen in the fishing waters (states a Russell correspondent). Mr H. Vipond, while fishing from the launch Ozone, off Piercy Island, saw a thresher shark and a whale engaged in combat. The thresher’s tail must have been 10 feet across, said Mr Vipond, and it was the biggest specimen he had seen. The thresher gave a great exhibition, attacking the whale about 10 times. The Water all about was a mass of foam.

Numbers of men and boys, armed with long poles, capped with fine meshed nets provide conclusive evidence of the presence of whitebait off Northcote wharf, Auckland (says the Star). Fish has been very plentiful off the wharf lately, and amateur fishermen have garnered fine harvests. From early morning till late at night, according to the tide, the netters are there, and when the tide dips out under the wharf they take their harvest.

The Gore District Angling Society held a further fishing competition during the week-end, when a novice test, (for nonprize winners)'was held, fishing commencing at daylight. Entrants had the option of any river or stream in Eastern Southland, the lure being bare fly or artificial minnow. Of the three entrants, two weighed in, the best bag being returned by Mr J. Wingham with 15 fish weighing 91b. Mr G. Clifford secured five nice fish weighing 411 b.

After having finished first in two Oyster Derbys, Thompson, who has occupied a shop on the corner of Tay and Nith street in the past, has again taken the lead with a new, up-to-date shop in Kelvin street. The shop will be open to-day and old and new customers arc invited to call and inspect. Cleanliness and cheerful service, which have characterized Thompson’s Irish Supply in the past, will be even more to the fore in the future. —Advt.

The questions why 52 per cent, of the English car sales this year in New Zealand are Austin, why 10 per cent, of the total English and American cars sold are Austin, why for the first nine months of this year Austin sales have increased 29 per cent, over the same mouths last year in spite of a general fall of 30 ]>cr cent, in car sales .' See the Baby Austin Seven ChAssis and the 16 h.p. six cylinder Saloon and Coupe which tell you why, at the Summer Show Wednesday, December 10. I’. H. Vickery, Ltd., Dee street. —Advt.

See our display of Handkerchiefs. Notice the lower prices. Everyone is talking about our values. Wicks’ Hose and Vest Shop, Dec street. —Advt.

Hand Bags.—Buy your Hand Bag from a specialist. Wc offer a selection of 350 latest bags to choose from at prices ranging from 2/9 to 49/6. Wc arc featuring the New Brown and Navy Tonings. For Christmas novelties —shop at Chas. Lewiss. • Advt.

CAMERAS from 7/6 to £3O at BROWN’S, The Chemist. Finest range ever shown in Southland. GEO., H. BROWNj Chemist, 125 Dec street.—Advt.

A new novel makes an ideal Christmas present for a man or woman. Some of the latest- Edgar Wallace’s new thriller, “The Lady of Ascot,” Ethel M. Dell’s, “Storm Drift,” Harold Bell Wright’s “Exit”, Sanzara’s “Lost Child”, Florence Riddell’s “Valiev of Suspicion”, Galsworthy s great novel, “On Forsyte ’Change” and lastly Priestley’s wonderful novel, “The Good Companions. ’ With the exception of this last which ts 10/6 the selling of each price is 6/- each. N.Z. BOOK DEPOT LTD., ESK STREET, the Ideal Shop for the Ideal Gift BOOK/. —Advt.