Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 21742, 9 June 1934, Page 14

An. epidemic of petty thieving, evidently the work of a gang operating on an organised scale, has resulted in many suburban residents losing property during the past two weeks. On Wednesday night a clothes-line at a house in Alfred street, Musselburgh, was stripped of various men's garments and also sheets and towels, while a nearby house was entered the same evening and a purse stolen. Householders , are warned to guard against profitable visitations from such ittarauders by removing clothes on lines afc night, and making sure that their premises are securely locked. Of the 119 babies bom at the Batchelor Hospital so far this year there have been 73 boys and 46 girlA Mr F. G. Gumming, of Maori Hill, reports that he has been very kindly raoeived by the people in connection with his appeal for the installation of “talkies ” at the Seacliff Mental Hospital. To date £165 has been received, the amount required being £265. Donations no matter how; small will' be gratefully received.

We regret that inadvertently it was reported yesterday that at the meeting of tho Chalmers Licensing Committee an unfavourable report was received from the police on tiro conduct of the Provincial Hotel, Port Chalmers. The reference should have been to the George Hotel. Tho reports on all tho other hotels, including the Provincial, were satisfactory. The ‘ Sports Special,’ with all the available local and dominion sporting news and a profusion of illustrations, will be sold on the streets to-night.

At the monthly meeting of tho Wakari School Committee the head master, Mr J. C. Smith, reported the attendance as excellent, and that the football and basketball teams were performing very well. The grounds were in firstclass order, and a new heating stove had been installed in the hall (now used as a class room), effecting a great improvement on the smaller stoves. Negotiations for procuring ground next to the school were being completed, and this should be a decided asset to the school. It was resolved that the protest by the residents of Wakari against the carrying of further high-tension wires through the district be endorsed and a letter to that effect be sent to the member for the district. Cabled advice of interest to the artist fraternity in Dunedin is that the painting, ‘ Eventide,’ submitted by Old English Supplies (N.Z.), which was awarded first place in the still-life section at the recent Wellington art exhibition, has gained second place in the same section at the Australian fine arts exhibition connected with the centenary celebrations this year.' The study was painted in Dunedin by an English artist, and depicts the grave of the late ’ Julius M r Gimpsey in the Oamaru Cemetery. Mr M'Gimpscy was a very prominent resident in Oamaru and surrounding districts, and had his grave built to his own design in black granite some years preceding his death. The painting throws into relief the grave itself by indirect light, while the surroundings emphasise, the effect of twilight, with dim shadows and dark outlines. The study will be on display here next year.

The postal authorities advise that the Maunganui left Sydney on Thursday for Wellington with thirteen bags of Australian mail and thirteen parcel receptacles for Dunedin. The mail is due at the local office on Tuesday afternoon.

Arising from the judge’s intimation at Hamilton that a Crown-witness had been approached by a certain person and asked to modify his evidence at tho second trial of J. A. Asher, hotelkeeper, of Tokaanu, charged with false pretences, Eric Troutbeck Hutton, of Tokaanu, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court .at Hamilton to-day before justices of the peace and was remanded. Bail of £IOO was fixed,- Hutton was charged with that on June 6 he wilfully attempted to defeat the course of justice by asking a witness for the Crown to alter his evidence to assist Asher’s case.

Everybody says that last night was the coldest in Dunedin so far this winter. The thermometer the belief; it pointed to 38deg at midnight. Further evidence was shown by the heavy coating of snow on Flagstaff this morning. The low temperature is not unseasonable. We are at the dead of winter, only a fortnight from the shortest day. What is uncommon and intensely disagreeable is the continuous misty weather. June is sometimes bright and exhilarating. This year it is bringing the moisture that usually comes in July and August. The soil has not been as dry as gardeners like since February. Reporters sometimes meet with adventures that they do not record. One such was experienced years ago by Mr D. Cameron, who has just retired after lengthy service. He was appointed to the job of going outside Otago_ Heads when a naval squadron of which the New Zealand was a unit visited this port. This big ship had to be boarded by the official welcoming party. She was straining at her anchor in a heavy ground swell. The launch had to watch for chances to get alongside, and the visitors jumped into the arms of men on the foot of the lowered gangway. All did the leap safely except Mr Cameron, He unluckily slipped and fell overboard, dropped out of sight, and had to be fished up from the submerged rungs which he had fortunately gripped. His one and only concern on being clad in an officer’s suit was to get about his work and swear his fellow reporters to say nothing about it—a promise that was kept till now. There was a clean. sheet at (be Police Court this morning.

The Catholic Presbytery at Northeast valley that Bishop Brodie (of Christchurch) is to solemnly bless and declare open to-morrow afternoon is of distinctive type in the main road. The design was by Mr J. Woods, who well thought out the special requirements of a presbytery, and the contractors, Loan and Watson, have completed what the clergy and congregation consider an excellent piece of work. A large gathering is expected. The building is in bricK. Access is obtained by double glass doors. The main hall is panelled in oak and rimu. All inside mouldings and finishings are of figured rimu. The doors are of figured Oregon with leaded glass in the top panels and antique furniture fittings. A sun porch from the sitting room is true to its name, as it gets the maximum amount of sun, while the sliding sashes allow the necessary ventilation. The study room has a cosy appearance. A cloak room and soundproof telephone room add to the many up-to-date conveniences. The kitchen contains eve/ry possible convenience for labour-saving.

The annual conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association will be held at Wellington on June 26 and 27. The Dunedin Association will be represented by Messrs A. S. .Falconer, H. L. Paterson, and O. L. Ferens (secretary).

Six accidents are known to have occurred during the past fortnight on the main road that crosses Mount Cargill—traffic accidents attributable .to the fogs . that hover over the high ground—and in one or two cases cars have run. over the bank. \\ hilst in Wellington a day or two ago Mr A. E. Ansell, M.P, for Chalmers, interviewed the Main Highways Board and suggested that in certain awkward places on the road, particularly near the water trough on the Waitati side of the hill a white line should ho painted as a guide to wheeled traffic, and he understands that the suggestion is to be acted upon.

The city organist (Dr V. E. Galway) will give a recital in the Town Hall on Wednesday afternoon next at 3 o’clock. An interesting and varied programme has been arranged, including such works as ‘ Theme and Variations ’ (Hiles), ‘The Holy Boy’ (a carol of the Nativity) (Ireland), Andante, from Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, ‘Allegro Moderate’ (Borowski), Bach’s Fugue in E flat, Melodie in E major (Rachmaninoff), Toccata in G (Dubois), Schubert’s ‘ Ave Maria,’ and a Paraphrase .on a Handeliau air by Guilmant. There will be no charge for admission. ■ \

Two of the boys from Otago who have. been at Flock House under the scheme for the training in farming of the sons of deceased and returned soldiers will return to Dunedin next week on completion of their course. One boy will be placed immediately in work, and so great is the demand for these boys that a job will bo found for the other without any difficulty. Three more boys will leave for Flock House next month, and the provincial committee of the scheme will consider other applications at its next meeting. This morning another change took place in the polling in connection with the queen competition which is the feature of the St. Kilda Beach Improvement Carnival. The position of the flags now shows that the Surf Queen (Miss Hour) is leading, with the Tramway Queen (Miss Agnew). the Municipal Queen (Miss Quirk), and the Sports Queen (Miss Barton) in close attendance. The secretary (Mr O. L. Ferens) of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association reports that .the total Poppy Day receipts for Otago have reached 4s lOd, additional returns being a guinea from an anonymous donor and 8s from the Owaka Association to complete its returns. There are still two small returns to come. The £2,002 4s lOd from Otago is very satisfactory when compared with £1,350 collected in Christchurch and £1,276 15s in Auckland. - The Otago total is the highest since 1930, when £2,600 was collected.

Save your eyes. Be wise and consult W. V. Sturmer, optician, 2 Octagon, thus conserving good' vision for old age.—|Advt.l On the 19th of this month the Maui Pomare will leave Wellington on her second trip to Western Samoa. To those in need of a sunny holiday amidst delightful surroundings, this excursion should appeal. Particulars are published in this issue. Support a worthy cause and have a chance to win Charity Ball ticket; dance, Dunedin South Town Hall, Wednesday next; good music.