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Evening Star, Issue 20133, 25 March 1929, Page 8

The choir and the congregation of tlio Presbyterian Church at Port Chalmers will henceforth rejoice in the possession of a very fine new organ, it is made by tlio linn, who has contracted for the organ for the new Town Tlall in the Octagon. The Port Chalmers organ has been presented to the church by Mrs J. Milj/as a memorial to her late husband, who was a member of the church for over fifty years. The organ (which is of the two-manual and pedal type) was formally handed over yesterday afternoon, when, a dedication service was conducted by the Rev. J. W. M'Kenzie, 13. A. Ur V. E. Galway played a short recital, and Mr M‘Kcnzi© said ho would again give a recital after the instrument had been tuned up to produce to capacity.

The passenger express from the West Coast collided with a goods train standing on the main line at Kirweo station on Saturday afternoon. Three carriages, a van, and five or six wagons were damaged, but not derailed, and no one was injured, although the passengers were (lung from their seats. The damaged engine was able to haul the train on to Christchurch, where it arrived an hour and a-quarter late. Railway officers are unable to state the cause of the accident, but it is thought that the signals were at fault. The damaged rolling stock was left at Kirwee, and the passengers transferred to other carriages. An inquiry into the cause of the accident is being held.— Press Association.

Practically every one of the chief departments of State is affected by important appointments which are imminent by Mr P. D. N. Verschaffelt (writes our correspondent). The announcement of the new Surveyor-gene-ral is expected this week. After that will come 1 appointments of the new Secretary of Health, to succeed Mr 15. Killick; the new secretary of the Mental Defectives Board; the new Assist-ant-director of Agriculture to succeed Mr F. S. Pope; and possibly the new assistant to the General Manager of Railways, ■ succeeding Mr J. S. Hunter. Whether this ofiice will be continued under its present name is yet undecided. In addition, there are to be filled the two posts of advisory accountants to the Department of Industries and Commerce, vacated by Mr H. Schmitt, who is to be employers’ representative on the Arbitration Court, and Mr G, W. Clinkard, the new sec-, retary to the Samoan Administration.

Disagreement which exists within the United Party on the subject of continuance of the wheat duties will reach a head when Sir Joseph Ward returns to Wellington (writes our correspondent). It is known that Sir Joseph’s statement in the South that the duties will be continued for another year does not rcllect the opinion of the whole of his Cabinet, and when the Prime Minister returns a clash on the subject is inevitable. Discontinuance of the wheat duties and consequent cheapening of the cost of a 41b loaf by 2d was one of the election pledges which were given in the North Island, and much importance is attached to it. The concern which is felt is increased by the realisation that if the duties are continued until after next season’s crop is sold it will be almost two years before they arc lifted. An alternative, which is likely to be proposed, is that the Government should guarantee to the growers a return similar to that which they received last season., Possibly the average price for some years past will also receive consideration as the amount of the guarantee.

A proclamation in an Extraordinary Gazette issued this morning announces the further proroguing of Parliament till June G next.—Proas Association. To get a solid basis on the boulders an excavation 14ft Gin deep has had to bo made as the beginning ol the stops that are to load from the surfing pavilion to the beach at St. Clair. _ This big hole is sheath idled. The job is being carried out by the city engineer's staff. The steps, which arc to have a spread of 15ft, will be carried up to the level of whore the esplanade is to bo when extended, and GFt above that level. The bottom step will he above high tide mark. An electrically-driven digger lifted out the. sand, and with it has formed a pretty high mound.

Placed in a conspicuous place on the fence of one of the badly-damaged cottages in Harbour terrace is the billowing notice:—Citizens, from the hills and elsewhere, wake up! This is your concern as well as ours. This is a blot on our fine city. Wo want a remedy. Get busy. We want a now council and Harbour Board. Our council and Harbour Board are to bo complimented on their engineering successes! Your money is involved. A new Harbour Board.” The Hon. T. M. Wilford has received the report of the Commission in the Elsie Wa’ker inquiry, but states that it will not be available for publication till after Easter.—Press Association.

Following the deputation to the Minister or Railways at Cromwell on Saturday, an interesting statement was heard regarding an irrigation scheme for Cromwell flat and 11 ip-pom-ale, and it came from a reliable quarter. It was that the plans were well advanced for harnessing the Roaring Meg Creek for hydro-electric power, with a pipe line down the creek to the power station near the junction with the Kawarau River. The fall was given at I,oooft, and the possible power as 12,000 h.p. "With this is was stated that several thousand acres in tho vicinity of the town could he served. Mr Eurkert’s name has been associated with some such scheme.—Cromwell correspondent. Tho medical superintendent of tho Wellington Hospital Board is submitting to that body a proposal in connection with tho diagnosis and treatment of cancer, or suspected cancer, cases on lines in operation in the leading general and cancel- hospitals and institutes of Britain, America, Franco, and elsewhere. A person with any suspicious symptoms would have the benefit of tho opinion of a special medical committee at the hospital, both as to diagnosis and course of treatment. —Press Association.

'Die discovery was made by Mr R. Everett, orchard instructor at Thames, that the loquat trees >n the Bay of Plenty district were affected by fireblight. This is tbs first indication in New Zealand that the disease attacks loquat trees, of which there arc a large number in the Auckland province.— Brets Association telegram. Fifteen members of the Byrd Antarctic Expedition left Dunedin on Saturday for Wellington, where they will catch the Tahiti for San Francisco. The work- of unloading the Eleanor Boling at Dunedin is still proceeding, and it is hoped to have the vessel’s holds empty by Wednesday, when she will go to Port Chalmers to tie up over the winter.

The Ff.M.S. Dunedin’s next port of call will bo Lyttelton, and she is to sail for' the north to-morrow afternoon. '

The mysterious glare reported to have been seen at sea in the vicinity of Kapiti Island last week is now stated to have been caused by the burning of some rubbish on the island.—Wellington Press Association telegram. A resident of Leith Valley (Mr GeolF Clarke) lost the bridge across the Leith to his house during the Hood, and the Woodhaugh Boy Scouts, present holders of the Pioneer Cup for bridgebuilding, set to work to build a bridge, under the leadership of Scouter Hallis. The timber used was gathered from the bush, and roped together, except the decking, which was nailed on. The bridge, which was built in seven hours, has a span of 50ft.

Artificial Eyes. W V. Slurmer, G.A.0.C., D. 5.0.1., specialises the fitting artificial eyes, also their comfortable adjustoicnt; f Arlvt. ] Particulars arc advertised by the Land and Income Tax Department of the necessity for filling up land returns and of the penalty to be incurred for a breach of this duty. Maunders Lenten cantata, ' Olivet to Calvary,’ will be rendered in St. Paul's Cathedral to-morrow night (Tuesday), at 8 o'clock. This beautiful and popular work was last sung by the Cathedral Choir in 1921, so that it will come quite fresh again to a Dunedin audience. A liberal offering is requested for the choir fund. Cr C. H. Hayward is standing for mayor. Policy and addressing the citizens at a later date.—[Advt] , Particulars are advertised of a special meeting to be held in the George Street School Hajj to-morrow night to discuss mattrs in connection with the recent flood.