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Evening Star, Issue 21745, 13 June 1934, Page 8

To the height of the second floor, the floor on which the smaller electric crane stands, the steel framework of the Dunedin Post Office between Princes .and Bond streets is now well advanced. By an eye estimate the stanchions and girders in position constitute about twothirds of the structure to that level. The rivettiug makes a loud clatter, but it is intermittent, each spasm of short duration, and the noise is neither alarming, as from a locomotive, nor nervewrackiiig, as from the scream of a tramcar on a curve.

White pine is often spoken ill of as the wood that breeds the borer. A Dunedin builder has a word or two in answer to the general disparagement. He says that when the old Presbyterian Church in the Kaikorai Valley was reconditioned, some years ago, all the interior fittings were pulled out, and though the building had stood for a generation there was not a borer mark in any of the white pine. Being interested in the subject, as all builders must be, he made inquiries as to the cause of this exceptional freedom, and was told that the heart of white pine grown on the hills, not in swampy land, is as likely to withstand the borer as any other of the native timbers. If that theory can be confirmed there may be a better use for white pine than to make boxes of.

Progress in the town of Cromwell may be marked (writes our - correspondent) by the fact that within the past six months no fewer than nine building permits for new residences have been issued. Quite a number of miners, newcomers to the town, have erected canvas tents on wooden frames, and an enterprising publican recently followed this example by erecting three such tents in a section adjoining his hotel, but exception to the erection of tents in the main street was taken by some of the councillors at the last meeting of the council, and the town clerk was instructed to have a word with the offender.

' The postal authorities advise that the Storanger, from San Pedro, duo at Wellington on July 2, has 471 bags of English and American mail for New Zealand. The Dunedin portion should be to hand on July 4.

The Mosgiel Presbyterian Choir held a final rehearsal last night of the cantata, ‘ The Rolling Seasons,’ which is to be presented on Thursday evening. The performance throughout was good, the principal parts being sustained by Miss P. Melrose (soprano). Miss B. Rawlinson (contralto), Mr R, Dunbar (tenor), and Mr N. F. Sansora .bass). Mr Skinner (conductor) carried his choir through some difficult music. With the final touches at the rehearsal, a finished production should be staged on Thursday evening. In addition to the cantata, vocal and musical numbers will be given by local and visiting iTrtists.

Influenza, fortunately in a mild form, is fairly prevalent in Auckland and many business staffs are temporarily depleted (says a Press Association telegram) .

The postal authorities advise that the Waikouaiti left Sydney for Bluff yesterday with twelve bags of Australian mail and five parcel receptacles for Dunedin. The mail should be to hand on Monday morning.

Basing the claim on the fact that there is all-round reduction in commodity prices, the New Zealand Importers’ Federation is requesting fhe Imperial Shipphlg.Committee to make a reduction in freights from the United Kingdom to New Zealand. The federation believes that the increased i. irts will offset the reduction in freights, and suggests that shiping companies; working costs are reducible by reducing the number of loading porta on the New Zealand coast.

Probably it will not require the reproduction of figures from the city engineer’s water storage chart to convince citizens that there is no immediate prospect of a drought. However, it may be of interest to some people to learn that the total volume of watei in the city reservoirs to-day is 133,000, 000 gallons, which is not very far short of the capacity storage of 148,000,000 gallons. On the same day last year there were 136,000,000 gallons available, and in 1932 the reservoirs at this period were practically full. Within recent years the driest winter season was that of 1930, when, on June 13, the volume available was down to 72,500,000 gallons.

The Otago Acclimatisation Society is now planning its seasonal job of stripping trout ova. There was a run of the fish in the Leith last month, but the eggs were not in the required condition. There is, of course, plenty of time to get what is wanted. The inquiry into the aeroplane crash near the Mangere aerodrome on June 4 has been completed by the committee ot the Auckland Aero Club. A Moth machine, while being flown solo, was wrecked after spinning from about 2,500 ft, and the pilot had a miraculous escape from serious injury. The finding of the committee is that the machine itself was in perfect flying condition, and that the cause of the accident was a mistake on the part of the pilot. Allegations that opossum trappers were adopting cruel methods of killing trapped opossums were made at a meeting last evening of the committee of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Wellington. Miss M. Paul said that since trappers had been forbidden by the Acclimatisation Society to dispose of animals by shooting them they had been spearing them. It was a cruel method- “ Opossums should be stunned and then stuck and bled,” said Mr J. H Howell, ‘‘but the trouble is that the trappers are not taking the time to do this.” The committee decided to communicate with the Acclimatisation Society on the question. Frosty weather makes asphalt roads slippery and extremely dangerous, especially in hilly districts. Last Sunday two motor accidents on the North road, near Brown House, were attributed to this cause. The icy surface ot the paved highways makes driving difficult for motorists, since braking is almost an impossibility—a foolhardy act, because a car invariably side-skids. Sand is liberally spread by the works department within the city boundaries, but the North road for a mile or more beyond the city limit is particularly awkward to negotiate in the winter, owing to no skidding preventative being provided However, if the request from Inst night’s meeting of the Motor Club is acceded to by the Public Works Department, precautionary measures mav soon be taken for the safety of ttts section of the road.

Buying has been brisk in the Southland cheese market during the past six weeks, and it is estimated that in that Eeriod about 1,300 tons have changed ands, of which one firm has purchased approximately 900 tons. With the price at £SO a ton the sales represent a total of £65,000. There remain now only two or three factories with produce that has not yet -been sold.— ‘ Southland News.’

A picture of J. L. Hay, national president of the Young Men’s Christian Association, as one who might bo included in the list of undesirables whose presence is forbidden on racecourses, created amusement in the Magistrate’s Court, Christchurch, yesterday. Hay was concerned in the case against Hays Ltd., of which he is managing director, for alleged breach of the Gaming Act by conducting a letter-writing competition with a motor car as prize. Mr Thomas, appearing for the firm, referred to the consequences if a conviction were entered, remarking jocularly: “ There is one serious aspect. It would be a terrible thing to find the national president of the Y.M.C.A. stopped in future from going on a racecourse.” Mr Mosley, S.M.: It might trouble you or me, Mr Thomas, but I don’t think it would trouble him.—Press Association.

The paragraph in yesterday’s issue about the Balclutha Post Office did not make it quite clear that the change constitutes Balclutha a savings biink ledger office. The increased facilities for savings bank business are to be provided from June 16, and it behoves the depositors at Balclutha to get in early and arrange for the transfer of their balances as early as possible. Tho rigours of the Dunedin winter have not deterred four or five men, including a well-known solicitor, from continuing their morning dip in the surf at St. Clair. Starting several months before Christmas last, they have not missed a morning, even during the recent period of cold and frost, and are splashing in the water at a time when most people are still enjoying the warmth of their beds. The Mortgagors’ Liabilities Adjustment Commission will sit at Balclutha on June 18, 19, and 20, and at Dunedin on June 21 and 22. The members of the commission are Messrs F. Waite (chairman), C. R. Sheat, and E. H. Murney. Of late the business of the Otago Land Board has been so voluminous that members have met a day in advance of that appointed for the monthly meetings. The practice has continued all this year. This month as it happens the order paper was not so lengthy as usual, and ns the meeting began yesterday it seemed likely that it would finish late this afternoon. All the members were present. Apart from the doings in committee the matters dealt with were of a routine character. At a meeting held of tho first committee of the new Albany Street Intermediate School tho following appointments were made;—Chairman, Mr E. W, G. H. Watts; secretary, Mr J. Stuart Wallace; treasurer, Mr A. Middleton ; committee—Dr C. H. • Tait, Messrs A. Cook, S. Owen, W. G. F. Perry, M. Campbell, and A. Pearson. On Monday morning, at the invitation of the principal, Mr W. A. Sproat, the committee met the teachers and inspected the school. Before the magistrate, Mr Young, to-day George Bilton Speak, aged twenty-eight, of Nelson, and Arthur Augustus Newth, aged twenty-five, both labourers, were charged that on June 12, with intent to defraud the revenue of the Customs Department, they were found in possession of 601 b of tobacco on which no duty had been paid. The Collector of Customs said a search of the accused’s house disclosed 1201 b of New Zealand leaf, and appliances for making it into prepared tobacco. The accused were remanded till Friday, bail being allowed.—Christchurch Press Association.

Burglars overnight broke into the store of Messrs Murray, Roberts, and Co., at Gisborne, and stole over TOO watches from a showcase. Other showcases containing silver plate and valuable stock were not touched, and no attempt was made to open the cash drawers in the office. There was nothing to indicate how an entry was effected, but a padlock on the inside of a large gate was broken to afford a means of exit.—Press Association.

Reference to baptism by a justice of the peace in the back country of North Canterbury was made in the report of the Public Questions Committee received at this morning’s meeting of the Christchurch Presbytery. Tho report stated it had been declared thatyprovision existed for baptisms by justices of tho peace where no minister was available. Inquiries had been made from the clerk of the Assembly, who had replied that, as far as he could ascertain, no legal provision of the sort existed.— Press Association.

Save your eyes. Be wise and consult W. V. Stunner, optician, 2 Octagon, thus conserving good vision for old age.—f Advt. | The annual meeting of the School Committees’ Association of Otago will be held in the Education Board room to-morrow night. The annual ball of the Otago University Law Students’ Association is to be held in the Town Hall Concert Chamber to-mor-row. In past years, this has always been a successful function, but this year’s ball promises to be even better than those of former years. Among the many attractions will bo a special presentation of an adagio dance by Mr Cecil Cockburn and Miss Vivienne Lamb, who are well known in Dunedin.