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Evening Star, Issue 19786, 9 February 1928, Page 6

The City Council last night granted permission, on the recommendation of the General Committee, to the St. Clair Improvement Society to exclude vehicular traffic from the esplanade during the carnival to bo held on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (February 1(3, 17, and 18), and also granted permission to take up a collection on the esplanade. Cr Hayward, in moving the adoption of the report of the committee, said it was only right, ’in view of the objects of the society, that tho council should assist in every way possible. The money raised would be spent on improvements to the beach. The society was also granted permission for the exclusive use for the carnival of the tramway pavilion, band stand, and grounds, and of the area on the esplanade recently bought from Motions.

There was a clean sheet at the Police Court this morning.

The City Council last night decided to accept the offer of Messrs N. and K S. Paterson to sell 19.76 poles ot land required for the purpose ot widening Maryllill terrace, Mornington, to 40ft, and also for cutting off the corner of Maryhill terrace and English avenue.

Many persons will remember Mr J. V. Wilson, M.A., of Auckland, who after the war went to Cambridge, and now is on the secretariat of the League of Nations in Geneva. He is among the younger men who act as personal assistants to Sir Eric Drummond, hence he is in the inner ring of affairs at Geneva, and conies in contact with the “ Big Five ” and other statesmen of Europe. A year or two ago ho was one of a Commission from the League of Nations to the Pan-Pacific Peace Conference in Japan. On the return journey the Commission travelled by special train through China, Siberia, and Russia. Notwithstanding the guaranteed “safe passage” and the protecting word “ international ” painted in huge letters on the carriages, the train was bombed by the soldiers of one of China’s war lords—fortunately, however, without doing serious harm. Mr Wilson spent some time in Russia, cither then or later. Ho is on furlough just now, and has been spending some weeks with his mother in Christchurch, but accepted the invitation of tlio_ New Zealand League of Nations Union to lecture in some of the centres in the dominion. Ho will arrive in Dunedin on Monday next, and will be entertained at the University Club in the evening.

No indication was given by Cr Begg (chairman of the Water Committee) when ho reviewed the water supply system at the meeting of the City Council last night as to when the council was likely to receive the report of the city engineer on the question of the best means of enlarging the city’s supply. He did state, however, that data which the engineer was collecting would assist greatly in the preparation of his report. Cr Douglas said he hoped that a scheme would very soon be put before the council. He pointed out that the last engineer had collected much data and prepared a scheme, but it had been turned down by the citizens. Cr Douglas at the meeting of the City Council last night made reference to the question of irrigation in.. Central Otago, and expressed the opinion that the council should support the Otago Expansion League and other bodies who are interesting themselves in bringing about an investigation into the matter. Ho moved a resolution to this effect, and this was seconded by Cr Campbell and carried.

Tlio next conference of Hie Church of England’s Men’s Society will he held at Wellington in April, immediately before the meeting of the General Synod. There will ho at least one meeting open to the public, which will be addressed by a visiting bishop.— Press Association.

Uookmaking methods wore discussed by Mr Justice Blair during the hearing of a bolting charge in the Supremo Court, Auckland, yesterday. “Perhaps most of you know what a ' double ’ means,” he said to the jury. “It means taking the responsibility of trying to pick two winners, and if either does not win yon lose your money.” At another stage the judge said most of tho jurymen were probably aware that a bookmaker to bo successful must have a fair-sized “ book.” He must have enough “mugs” to balance the pay-out to successful bettors.—Auckland correspondent.

Tho fat cattle scut forward for sale at Burnside yesterday brought a marked increase in price. Tho sale opened at about 80s per head in advance of last week’s rates, and it was not until the last lots were being sold that tho margin fell to about 20s per head. Prime bullocks brought up to £l7 17s (id, and extra prime cows were in fair demand at £l2. Prime ox beef made 35s per 1001 b, prime heifers 32s (id, and cows and light heifers 22s (id to 255. “ If Prohibition comes into lorce at tho next election, how will it affect the unemployment situation?” This is the substance of a question put to Mr C. 11. Edmonds, tho general secretary of the New Zealand Alliance, after Ins address last evening on politics and licensing. Mr Edmonds replied that there would be some 5,000 employees atlectcd should Prohibition be carried, and during the six mouths which would elapse between the carrying of the measure and its enforcement there should bo no difficulty about placing 5,000 workers throughout tho whole of the dominion. The position would soon adjust itself. Waitresses, kitchenmaids, etc., woidd not bo directly concerned.

Added to the many complaints of rifling and stealing clothes at St. Clair beach is one of women undressing in the ladies' latrines. They insert the penny for admittance to these conveniences and undress and leave their clothes lying about inside. This is a very seltish and preposterous practice which should bo stopped immediately. The New Zealand radway officials are never stuck for a solution to any difficulty which assails them. Last Monday a mixed train laden with sheep, fruit, not to mention passengers, was proceeding rather laboriously from Lawrence to Milton, when at last it came to a full stop on the Hound Hill. The engine, apparently, had done its best and had failed. However, trains generally get somewhere, and in this particular case the objective was attained after the passengers had been requested to got out and walk up the hill which had proved such an obstacle. The City Fire Brigade was summoned on no less than three occasions yesterday. The first call was an automatic false alarm at the tram sheds at Lot! p.m., which was followed by another false alarm at the warehouse of Messrs Sargood, Son, and Eweii at 5.25 p.m. The third call was received at 11.58 last night to a hedge fire in Playfair street, Cavcrshani.

Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P., replying ta questions put to-day by a ‘ Star ’ representative, says that the Summertime Bill will certainly be introduced to tiro next session of Parliament. The inconvenience it has actually caused is nothing like what was anticipated, and its advantages have fully come up to expectations. One year’s trial may bo hardly sufficient to justify the demand that the reform be made permanent, but assuredly the results have not weakened the arguments for its continuance at present, nor have they disclosed any evidence for its rejection. There may, perhaps, be a question as to the date of terminating for the year the operation of the statute. We have not yet reached the stage at which a decision on that point can be finally arrived at. The date of commencing in November has worked all right. I am more than ever satisfied as to the advantages of the hour’s change! The Dunedin portion of the mails which left Melbourne yesterday by the Manuka for Bluff consists of twentyfour bags, nine hampers, and seventyseven bags from beyond Australia. Just as the northern express was about to move off this morning Mr W. Forgan Smith, Deputy Premier of Queensland, said: “This is a housing country of yours, and my only regret is that I could not stay longer in Otago. If I come again to New Zealand I shall try to so arrange affairs as to arrive first in the South and see more of the places that 1 have been only able to glance at. I have enjoyed every minute of my stay in New Zealand, thanks largely to unbounded hospitality _ shown by State and local authorities, and also to the courtesy of your people generally, and I wish to sincerely thank the Mayor of Dunedin and all others who have helped to jmake otir. .visit jjleasurabk.^

The Otago Land Board resumed its monthly meeting at an hour’s sitting this morning, and completed its ordinary business. The most important matter was as to the question of the subdivision of a small grazing run of 4,049 acres in the Nentborn and Strath Taicri survey districts, held on lease by Dugakl Matheson. The Commissioner (Mr Galbraith) explained that this lease would expire in two years’ time, and that the appraiser in submitting his valuation reported that there was an agitation among some of the small landholders in the distinct to . we the run cut up, so that they might have an opportunity to increase their holdings. The law provided that in the event of subdivision the lessee mid the right of selection of one subdivision, and was entitled to receive the value (if any) of the right ofrenewal which he would nave enjoyed in respect of the whole run if the law had not been altered in 1912. The law did not indicate the source from which the compensation should come, and it appeared to him (the Commissioner) that the amount of compensation involved might be too great to justify any experiment in subdivision. The board resolved to offer Mr Matheson a renewal of his lease at £lB5 10s per year.

An outbreak,of lire occurred at 12.40 a.m. at the Kia Ora Tea Rooms, the damage to the building being estimated at £l6O. The insurance was £2,000 on the property, which is owned by Mrs Cusscn. The contents and the kitchen, which were completely gutted, were r.ot insured. The brigade effected a remarkable save.—• Hamilton Press Association.

In yesterday’s issue of this paper it was reported that Mr 11. S. Galbraith (commissioner) and Mr C. J. ludcr were appointed by the Land Board to make' inquiries as to the Naseby commonage and report to the board. Mr Isaac Parfit, one of the Naseby men who appeared before the board yesterday, said that the commonage measured 6,534 acres, and was too big for the committee to fence or to control. He was with those of the local residents who wished to have a portion cut up and divided amongst the people. The Borough Council could run it better than the Land Board. Mr Robert Tait, the other member of the deputation, said that ho was one of those who wished to get a slice if the land was cut up. It was related in the course of the discussion that some of the residents desired a subdivision and others did not. The committee that was appointed years ago to hold the commonage on a grazing license consisted of Messrs George Brown, Alexander Graham, Harry Woods, Alexander Barrett, Arthur Blanchard, John Bremner, George Erevan, Isaac Partit, and Francis Field. The Commissioner remarked that the people had no power to net as they did in dismissing that committee and electing a now one.

An excellent save was effected by the brigade' in a two-storied wooden building in Hastings street late last night. The brigade quenched the blaze in excellent lime, so that only tho rear portion was seriously affected. The building was jointly occupied by Mr Ecu Evans (photographer), Tung Leo (laundry keeper), and the Savoy Cafe. Some occupiers were rescued by tho brigade from the front verandah. The building, which was owned by tho White Swan Brewery Company, was insured in the Pbamix Office for £3OO. —Napier Press Association telegram. Henry Osman, aged 45, pleaded guilty to bigamy in the Auckland Police Court and was committed to the Supremo Court for sentence. In January, 1914, lie married Margaret Jones Graham at Auckland, and in October last, being still married, wont through tho form of marriage with Ivy Lillian Pates at Papakura.—Press Association telegram. At Mataroa (eight miles north of Taihape) this morning tho railway station and Lamb’s grocery simp wore burnt to tho ground. The latter and his family lost everything, and had to escape in their night attire. The station hooks and documents were saved. —Press Association telegram. In remanding Walter Hedley Huthnance, aged twenty, on two charges of theft from the Bank of New Zealand,. Wellington, involving a sum of £95, Mr Page, S.M., after hearing tho chief detective, refused suppression of accused’s name The chief detective said it was alleged that Huthnance, while engaged as a teller’s clerk, removed the cancelling marks from two cheques and had them cashed. When interviewed by the police he refunded £75, and said he had returned the other twenty by leaving £5 notes in various places round the bank, hut it was alleged that this was not true.—Wellington Press Association telegram. At the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court Edward Helrasley Dawson for tho theft of a motor cycle was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment. The senior-sergeant said that accused had just served six months for the theft of the same bicycle earlier. The Magistrate (Mr Mosley) said that it was impossible to allow probation. The public mijst be protected from such thefts.—Press Association telegram.

Port Chalmers.—l. Watson's summer clearing sale general drapery, furnishings, clothing, boots, and shoes now proceeding.— [Advt.l For spectacles that soothe the eyes consult W. V. Stunner, D. 5.0.1., G.A.0.C., 2 Octagon. Our business exclusively optical.—[Advt.] Williamson's, the quality jewellers, for diamond rings. Thirty years’ practical experience is at your service. Next Bristol Piano Co.—[Advt.] Miss Wallace's popular dance will be resumed in (he Overseas Hall 10-nighl. The hall has been tastefully decorated, and the music will be provided by Arthur Gordon's Dance Band. Tho Pacific Starr-Bowkett Building Society on Tuesday, February 21, will dispose of £SOO in No. 2 group free ballot, £I,OOO in No. 3 group sale, £I,OOO No. 4- group sale, £I,OOO No. 5 group free ballot; also the first free ballot in No. 6 group.