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Evening Star, Issue 19802, 28 February 1928, Page 4

After an absence of one year and nine months, spent mostly at the R.A.F, base at Calshot, in the South of England, Captain L. M. Isi it, of tho New Zealand Air Force, returned to Auckland by the Niagara. Ho will proceed at once to Wellington to make his official report. The purpose of his visit to England was to make a special study of developments in regard to flying boats and seaplanes, with a view to tho development of a base at Hobsonvillo, Auckland. It is understood that Captain Jsit.t may eventually be stationed at Auckland. Information has been received that one of the deciding experiments on the chemical substance for sheep branding which was discovered by a local chcmis' has proved highly successful. In tiiis case the test was carried out last season in a practical manner at an inland station. Responsible societies in Bradford, New Zealand, and Australia have been in close touch for many months, and it is interesting to note that this local discovery was the subject for discussion at the recent international wool conference in Germany. Tho solution of this problem of damage to wool through tho use of nnscourable branding agents is of the utmost importance to tbo industry, tho lore, to New Zealand alone being estimated at many thousands of pounds annually. In these days of industrial and scientific research it is gratifying to know that the dominion is able to investigate her own needs. Dunedin Corporation buses have rim to Mount Cook, but prior to the 16th' of this month they had never made a trip to Christchurch. A word or two as to the experience jnay bo interesting. Two of the Rco buses, the vehicles used lor observation tours, were sot apart to convey the Tramways Band to the competitions at Christchurch. Driven by Mr W. Stevens and Mr J. Seears, they loft Dunedin at 7.30 a.m. on tho 16th, and after stops at two places reached Christchurch at 6.45 p.m., tho actual travelling time being nine hours and aquarter. There wore fifty in the party, Mr A. Kcekio (president of the band) as manager. The road, after passing tho asphalted portion, was not all all good this side of Oamaru. From there onwards the going was all that could be desired. Tho return journey was commenced at 8.15 a.m. on Sunday, and Dunedin was reached leisurely at 8.30 p.m., tho travelling time ten hours. The buses took all tho variations of tho road both ways without the least mechanical mishap, not even a puncture, and all tho passengers voted the novel trip a very pleasant experience. Mr W. If. Mackenzie, the Tramways manager, is naturally gratified at such an excellent result. In Christchurch the party was quartered nt Forester’s Hotel. Though the band played well, it was not so successful ns expected, nevertheless it captured tho Boosey Cup. A visit to the Sockburn Aerodrome was ono of the joys of the stay in Christchurch. Mr _E. Anderson (inspector) and Mr A. Winslade (euphonium player) had the pleasure of a quarter of an hour’s tour of tho air over the city. The Government publicity officer, Mr A. H. Messenger, went to Stewart Island to secure films of the Sanders Cup race, and whilst there the incidents of the stranding of the whaler provided a further subject. Mr 0. J. Morton accompanied him. Both officers passed through Dunedin this morning on their way to Wellington.

At a special meeting of the Otago Harbor Board, held yesterday afternoon, it was decided, in view of the possible docking of the C. A, Larsen at Port Chalmers, to execute preliminary work in order to lengthen the dock by twenty-five feet so as to enable the vessel to be docked. This preliminary work consists of excavating at the shore end. Mr Wilkie (the engineer) sot a party of, men to the job this morning.

Coming hack last night to Dunedin, after a motor car journey of 1,047 miles on the east and west coasts of the South Island, Mr H. C. Campbell reports that the only bit of bad road he found was tho stretch from Waitati to Palmerston. Moat of the roads in the Bleuhcim-Nelson district are excellent on top, hut too narrow, and with awkward bends. The main roads further south are as a matter of width and shape safer for motor driving. In a statistical report on the agricultural and pastoral production of tho dominion for last year it is stated that information regarding areas lop-dressed, together with tho kinds and quantities of fertiliser applied to land so treated, was collected for the Statistics Office for the first time. The summarised figures show that 1,521,259 acres were top-dressed, the total quantity of fertiliser used amounting to 4,383,002 cwt, or 219,150 tons. Superphosphate was by far the most commonly used fertiliser, accounting as it does for 54 per cent, of tho'total quantity of top-dres-sing applied. It is instructive to note also the comparatively small amount of top-dressing effected in the South Island as compared with the North, the areas being: North Island, 1,286,038 acres; South Island, 234,321 acres. The collection of particulars relative to irrigated land was introduced by the Statistics Office during the past year. Tho total area irrigated during the year was 57,033 acres, as compared with 48,082 acres in the previous year. The nature of tho principal areas irrigated was: Pasture, 49,942 acres; green fodder and root crops, 2,273 acres; lucerne, 2,165 acres; orchards, 2,027 acres. Train travelling by night in the dominion and in South Africa was compared, to the disadvantage of the former, in a letter referring to tho shortage of sleeping berths on the Main Trunk lino sent to tho Hallway Department recently by the New Zealand Tourist League. It was pointed out, reports the New Zealand ‘ Herald/ that, although South African railways are of the same gauge as our own, sterilised bedding for both first and second-class departments, witli berths, could be hired for 3s on a continuous journey of perhaps two nights on the train. In Now Zealand, on tho contrary, night travellers had either to put up with existing conditions or pay 12s fid or £l. Brigadier-general H. F. BatemanChnnipain, secretary of flic British Red Cross, arrived at Wellington by the Mnunganni this morning on a rapid tour’of Now Zealand. He is spending a day or two in each centre, leaving finally on March 23. Interviewed, ho said he was not here to lay down any hard and fast rules for the dominion societies, but rather to see what Now Zealand was doing, and to encourage good work. He came to learn as well as to instruct.—Press Association.

Tiie City Fire Brigade received a call at II last uiglit to a fire in a building situated at G 9 Bradshaw street, South Dunedin. The building, which was used for a store and stable, and owned by the Gain Forwarding Company, suffered damage to the extent of £9O. There was also slight damage done to some luggage which had been stored there overnight. The building was insured in the Victoria Office for £IOO.

There was a short sitting of the Police Court this morning when William Keenan, charged with having been found drunk last night in Rattray street, was fined 10s, in default twenty-four-hours imprisonment. Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., was on the bench. There wore no passengers in a Railway Department bus which collided with a tramear in Thorndon Quay this morning. The wind screen and the front of the bus were badly damaged and the woodwork on tho left side was torn away. Tho driver, Alfred G. Cottrell, suffered from bruises. The bus engine was not working well and Cottrell had to use the choke, and while he was leaning over the mishap occurred.—Wellington Press Association telegram. Two days’ romping over Otago exhausted the south-west wind that cooled everything and everybody on Sunday and Monday, and this morning, after a calm, thews was a gentle air from tho north-east, ■ Autumn is now fairly set in, usually a pleasant season.

Fish have been plentiful during tho past month on the grounds that supply tho Dunedin market, tho - catches of blue cod and groper very consistent, particularly at' Mooraki, which is as good a station as ever, one man alone having fifteen boats. What the fishermen Jo not like is a heavy north-east wind. Fortunately, the breezes from that quarter have of late been not at all rough. If the present weather conditions hold it is expected that tho first of tho Fovcaux Strait oysters of the season will reach Dunedin on Friday night this week. At Wellington, Ernest William Armstrong, an insurance agent, aged forty-seven, was fined £2O and his license suspended for six months for being drunk in charge of a ear.—Press Association.

For spectacles that soothe the eyes consult W. V. Stunner, D.S.O.L, G.A.0.C., 2 Octagon. Our business .s exclusively optical. [Advt.]

Williamson’s, the quality jewellers, for diamond rings. Thirty years’ practical experience is at your service. Next Bristol Piano Co.—[Advt.] The Pacific Starr-Bowkett Building Society will dispose of £I,OOO free ballot in No, 6 group on Tuesday, April 17.

The Hon. Downic Stewart will address the electors of Dunedin West in the Early Settlors’ Hall to-morrow ninht.