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Evening Star, Issue 19793, 17 February 1928, Page 4

Recent gifts to the Dunedin Public Library include a handsome donation of books which have been received from the estate of the late Miss Mitchell, Dunedin. The donation contains over sixty-five volumes, many of them in handsome bindings by the late firm of Fergusson and Mitchell, Ltd., and includes a set of Dunedin ‘Punch’ and other items for the New Zealand section. A special letter of thanks has been conveyed to Cr F. Mitchell and Mr C. F. Mitchell for the valuable gift. The secretary of the Dunedin Choral Society states that his committee is arranging for a special rendering of ‘EHiah ’ early this year. Tuesday, March 6, has been arranged for the annual meeting of the society, and the first practice will follow that meeting. Members are invited to bring their own music.

The Works Committee of the City Council recommciyls that authority be given for the purchase of a strip of land containing .18 poles for the sum of £SO from Mrs Helen Battersby, fronting her property on the St. Clair Esplanade, for the purpose of widening it. and that the fencing in front be readjusted, and the boundary fence be erected without cost to the vendor. The committee also recommends that authority be given for the purchase of a small piece of land containing .6 pol for the sum of £lO from Mrs K. M'Donnell, fronting her property at the corner of Pitcairn street and Kenmure road, for the purpose of widening such streets.

Yesterday afternoon a deputation consisting of several persons whose fathers were killed in the Kaitangata mine disaster forty-nine years ago waited on the Minister of Mines to ask that the sum still standing to the credit of the relief fund bo distributed amongst the surviving descendants. The Hon. G. J. Anderson replied, in effect, tlmt £15,000 or £16,000 was subscribed by the public, and that by the careful management of the trustees over £28,000 was made available and had been distributed, whilst £IO,OOO of accrued income yet remained. Hundreds of others had lost their fathers when just as young. There was recently brought to his notice the case of two miners who, he believed, should receive some benefit from the fund, and who came within the scope of the resolutions passed by the subscribers. He intended to 'grant them some relief if investigations showed that the circumstances justified such a course. He would strongly oppose any proposal to distribute the balance of the fund in the manner suggested by the deputation.

“ Owing to the fact that the total funds available for maintenance expenditure are not sufficient to allow of the number of men now being employed to bo retained thereon, and to avoid discharging them, authority has been given for forty-five men to be transferred to works of street paving included in the 10 per cent, supplementary works loan,” reports the Works Committee of the City Council.

The thorough search for Mrs Elizabeth May Robinson, wife of Mr Adam Robinson, who had been missing from her homo since Wednesday night, was successful at 5.15 _p.m. yesterday, the missing woman being found in a gully less than 100 yards from her front gate, ft is stated that loss of memory was the cause of Mrs Robinson’s temporary disappearance. Apparently she had wandered a short distance from her home and entered the deep gully at the foot of M'Nee street, where she evidently remained throughout the night. She was noticed there in the early morning, hut as it was not known that a woman was missing the matter was not reported. In the afternoon, however, she was observed seated on the ground in the gully, and Constable .Brown proceeded to the spot and took her to her home. The police were assisted in their search by boys of the High Street School and by Brigadier Burton, of the Salvation Army. The Water Committee of the City Council recommends the extension of the Gin, main along Wicklifie street , on the harbor reclaimed land, for a distance of seven chains at an estimated cost of £2OO.

A secret ballot held yesterday by the Auckland Glassworks’ employees to decide whether the refusal of tho Australian Glass Company to accede to the demand of the' lower-paid workers for a wages increase resulted in 13 for_ a strike and 31 against.—Press Association telegram.

The Electric Power and Lighting Committee recommends acceptance of tho tender of Messrs Parkinson (New Zealand), Ltd., Wellington, for one B.iom-Wadc D 23 vertical pattern totally enclosed air compressor, driven through patent Improved typo gearing bv standard protective type electric motor, the whole being mounted on substantial combination bedplate, complete with all necessary adjustments, including an air receiver 3ft diameter by 6ft long, delivery to be made within a period of twelve weeks from receipt of order.

There is another flutter in broadcasting circles caused by the impending resignations of Messrs J. Orbell and Trevor Stringer, engineer in charge and station director respectively of IYA. Auckland correspondent.

Evidently the 14th Battery, N.Z.F.A., which is at present in camp at Matarac, is not having all that c6uld be hoped for in the way of fine weather. It was reported that shortly after midnight last night a strong north-west gale commenced to blow, and this morning the Y.M.C.A. marquee and several other tents had been •blown down. It will take a hard day’s work to put the camp to rights again.

When asked if he wished to make any comment on tho fact that he had forfeited his seat on the Christchurch Fire Board on account of having missed two meetings of the board without having obtained leave of absence, the Mayor of Christchurch (the Rev. J. K. Archer) stated that he had no desire at tho present juncture to enter into a general discussion of the matter. “ I very deeply regret, however,” he added, “ that a member of the Fire Board should have thought it necessary to refer to my attendance at the Governor-General’s garden party. In the first place that function was held in the afternoon, and had no possible connection with the meeting of tho Fire Board, and in tho second place the mayoress and myself attended in our official capacity as representatives of the city, though we were also very pleased to accept the personal invitation of their Excellencies. That this matter should have been brought into the discussion shows exceedingly bad taste, if not something worse. As far as Wednesday evening was concerned, I was in my official capacity present at a meeting of the Empire Industries Association, and I considered that the occasion was of quite sufficient importance to keep me from the Fire Board, only I inadvertently omitted to send an apology. At the time of the previous meeting of the Fire Board I was absent from Christchurch on my holiday.” The mayor declined to say whether he was willing to be reappointed to the board by the City Council.

Fishermen of tho Waikouaiti district would like to have the mouth of the river made available for their use. The Hon. G. J. Anderson inspected the locality this morning, so as to be able to judge for himself as to any scheme that may be devised.

Acceptance is recommended by the Electric Power and Light Committee of the tender of the British ThomsonHouston Company, Ltd., England, for the supply and delivery of switch gear for the new generating plant for No. 1 station at Waipori. The price does not include the plant required for the remote control of the station as originally anticipated. It is considered advisable that this part of the plant be not installed during the time the construction works on the dam are being carried on. The plant has been approved by the department’s agents in London, and has also been inspected and approved at the company’s works by Mr T. Edgar, assistant city electrical engineer.

The amount taken at the first night of the carnival at St. Clair last night was slightly over £450, which may be regarded as very satisfactory. It was a matter of general comment that more money could have been taken had there been more badges and more sellers; but it must bo conceded in fairness to the promoters of the carnival that no one expected such a large attendance, which was estimated at about 14,000. It is evident that Dunedin people are not averse to helping to improve the attractions of the city if they are given a lead. If the weather remains fine for to-night and for to-morrow afternoon and night it is anticipated that, after expenses have been met, the St. Clair Improvement Society will have a sum of about £I,OOO to spend on the beach. The tramways manager, in response to the request of the Mayor of St. Kilda, is putting on a bus service from Tahuna Park to St. Clair Esplanade.

Prior to the taking over of the control of the Lawyer Head area by the Domain Board this year many loads of sand and clay were removed without authority, but it is reported that this practice has now stopped. The board intends to make a track to the higher levels, from wheih a magnificent view is obtained, and later it proposes to make a horseshoe drive right round the point. A subscriber signing himself “ Public Service” asks: “How many appointments are made usually in the Public Service per year from the Public Service entrance examinations, and what position on the list iron Id a boy ha ve to attain in order to be within the scope of the number appointed? Would a boy on the 300 mark stand a chance?” The number appointed by the Public Service Commissioner depends upon the number of vacancies, which may be few or many. A boy who comes through fairly near tho top, say with over 1,200 marks out of the possible 2,000, may reasonably exjiect to hear from the Commissioner within three or four months. To pass the entrance examination it is necessary to get 800 marks. A boy on the 300 mark has-not passed.

The Victorian bonders who witnessed the bowl testing demonstration by Mr Arthur Scott _on the Dunedin green yesterday admitted that they were much impressed with the efficiency of the system, and some went so far as to declare that it is much preferable to the table test system common in Australia. Under the will of the late Mr S. J. D. Gopd, of Rangioru, the sum of £IO,OOO is left to religious bodies. The sum will be held in trust, and the income divided into fourteen equal parts. Three parts are to be paid to the South Sea Evangelical Mission for mission work in the Solomon Islands, and the remaining eleven parts to stewards, in trust for New Zealand.—Christchurch Association message.

for spectacles that soothe the eyes consult W. V. Stunner, D. 5.0.1., G.AiO.C., 2 Octagon. Our business .8 exclusively optical.—T Ad vt.]

Port Chalmers.—l. Watson’s summer clearing sale general drapery, furnishings, clothing, boots, and shoos now proceeding.— [Advt.] Spates for lies, Dort, Ford, Essex Cars and Trucks at Webling’s Garage, experts all repairs, 77 Castle street. Buses for Hire. — ’Phones 11-231, 20-919,-[Advt.] The Wembley Clubs weekly dance will be held to-morrow night in the Early Settlors’ and Pioneer Halls. Arthur Gordon’s Dance Band and Will Smith’s Kapai Orchestra will provide the music for the old and the new dances.