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Evening Star, Issue 20051, 17 December 1928, Page 6

The Hon. G. J. Smith, chairman of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College, confessed when opening the new bath at the Boys’ High School on Saturday that he did not know what the correct procedure was in opening a swimming pool. He had an idea, however, that the proper ceremony was to plunge into the water. As the water had not been warmed, however, he defaulted in this respect, and fined himself £5 5s for the school sports fund instead .—Christchurch correspondent. A Daunevirko Press Association telegram states that an investigation of tho pre-election allegation concerning tho safety of Arapuui dam is to bo undertaken. Tho Minister of Public Works, who, if ho considers it warranted, will have a Royal Commission set up.

The City Brigade was called out at 7.10 this morning to extinguish an outbreak in the five-roomed residence of Air H. H. Growden, in Picardy street, Mornington. The fire, which originated from a painter’s blow lamp, was attended to without delay, but the house was damaged to the extent of about £ls. The building is insured for £450 in the State Office, and the furniture is covered by a policy of £l6O in the South British Office. The Dunedin Jockey Club has engaged the Orphan Boys’ Brass Band for the Christina slide races_ at VVingatui. This new band, consisting of twenty lads belonging to the Waverley Orphanage, will thus • make its first public appearance. Intending racegoers will bo pleased to learn that tho Wingatui lawns are looking very nice. It will help the club in its management if motorists will bear in mind that an alteration has been made in the parking arrangements in the members’ enclosure. Cars will now go in the opposite way and park head on, without turning, as directed by the club’s officials.

The Love Construction Company has a separate contract for all tho pits and floors and machine foundations at the Hillside railway workshops, this embodying over £20,000 worth of work, which will use more than 1,000 cubic yards of concrete. The first building tackled was that wherein tho electric cranes are housed. The power house is also done. Following round as the buildings are completed, the Love Construction Company is now engaged on tho building that fronts King Edward street, and the floors and pits in tho double building at the west end of the block are being pushed on with the idea of being finished before Christmas, so as to enable the rail-layers to make a start. The rate of progress in this double building is 80 cubic yards of concrete per day. Mr Robert Love is in charge of this job. The cement is all from the Milbnrn works. No difficulty has been exeprienced from water in making these Hillside foundations, the greatest depth of the excavating being Bft. h The postal authorities advise that the Maunganui left Sydney on Friday last for Wellington with 161 bags of Australian and English mail for Dunedin. Tho letter portion should come to hand on Wednesday, and the balance on the following day. Thirteen small shopkeepers applied to Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court this morning for exemption from the ordinary dosing hours _of shop. Abraham Brown, Christina Cornish, Margaret Lambeth Applcgarth, and Jessie Templeton, who stocked confectionery and tobacco, were granted exemption provided their tobacco and smokers’ requisites were kept under lock and key during tobacconists’ closed hours. In* tho cases of Jessie Stewart, Jane Ann Hanning, H. M. E. Robinson, William Ritchie, Rita Dupre, George Alexander Munro, Geoffrey Vale Humphries, and Norman Donald Murie, who sold fancy goods, exemption was granted in the terms already laid down by the Arbitration Court namely, that they must close at 7 o’clock on four nights a week, 9 o’clock on Friday, and 1 o’clock on Saturday. In cases where tobacco was sold it must be placed under lock and key during tobacconists’ closed hours. William Cuthhert Jenkins, who sold fruit, vegetables, and confectionery and a small line of groceries, was granted exemption, but was warned that he must close at 1 o’clock on Saturday. The Minister of Public Works proposes to investigate ’ the possibility of engaging unemployed in cleaning some of the pumice lands with a view to it being cut up later for settlement (says a Dannevirke Press Association telegiam). The railway traffic at tho Dunedin station is increasing day by day, and will probably reach its holiday height by the end of the week. Bookings are heavy. As from to-day the 8.4 U and 11.34 trains for the north and the 8.35 and 4.45 for the south are to run daily until February 9, and on the 22nd, 24th, and 26th inst, also on January 2 and 5 there will bo a relief train to Christchurch, leaving at 9.5. This morning both the Christchurch trains wore well patronised but not crowded. Returning to Dunedin on Saturday night as the Minister of Railways and of Customs, the mayor (Hon. W. B. Taverner) was the recipient of bongratulations from his numerous friends. This morning he was in attendance at the Town Hall, and had a particularly busy time attending to the many callers who wished to see him on a variety of matters. Mr Taverner is in excellent health to undertake his new duties.

The establishment of permanent Ministerial offices in Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin is being considered by the Government (telegraphs our Auckland correspondent), although no official statement on the subject is yet available. So . far as Auckland is concerned there is a Ministerial suite in the General Post Office, but this is not used apart from the occasion of visits by Ministers. It is believed to be the intention under the proposed scheme to arrange for one or other of the two Auckland city Ministers (Mr Stallworthy and Mr Donald) to have quarters there, and if neither is in the city, to arrange for the office to bo open for dealing with matters of local concern. An official announcement is due shortly. ' It is reckoned that the stonework of the Dunedin Town Hall will be finished about the end 1 of February, and the roof on in March, The Love Construction Company has met with no hindrance on this hi<j contract in the coming to hand of _ material from abroad or in the dominion

From tho captain and crew of the s.s. Eleanor Boling, on'her way back from the ico, tho mayor (Hon. W. B. Taverner) has received a radio message expressing their thanks for assistance and courtesy received while in Dunedin.

Tho Dunedin Horticultural Society’s rose show last week, though very fine as a display, did not meet with the response from the public that might have been expected. The* finance pans out discouragingly. The gate receipts came to only £6 Os Cd, and the charge for prize alone, to say nothing of working expenses, totalled about £3O. What is the matter? Tho society has considered various ways of popularising this show. Perhaps the date is unsuitable. January is now suggested, but if the show were fixed for that month, to bring in the carnations, the best of the roses would be over. Two R.HiS. silver medals were awarded by the committee, to Mr F. 6. Duncan for ferns, and to Mr R. Nichol for roses.

The Samoan bananas brought on the last trip of the Maui Pomare for the Dunedin fruit brokers were found to be in first-class condition, and were all taken by tho retailers at the fixed price of 21s per case.

Otago Hospital Board’s Christmas Cheer Fund benefits by tho following additions: —J. Brown, sen.. Methven’s, £1; R. Watt, carrier, N.E. Valley, 2s

Touring parties require field glasses. The Octagon optician, Mr W. Y. Stunner, invites inspection of the “ Little Gem,” £4 10s; worth £l2 10s.—[Advt.l Go to Todds "White House,” George street, tho dollies’ hospital and children’s real toy shop, for all Christmas gifts.— [Advt.]