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Otago Daily Times, Issue 19474, 8 May 1925, Page 6

Representatives appointed in connection with the display ot Otago’s primary products at the Exhibition- met tlio executive of Lho Otago A. anti P. Society yesterday morning, and it was decided, subject to the approval of exhibitors, that all entries for grain, seeds, and wool competing at the Winter Show should bo taken delivery of and retained as the nucleus of Otago’s exhibits for that section at the Exhibition. The meeting was unanimous in connection with this proposal, and the only regret expressed was that the suggosttion had not been arranged at an earlier date to give exhibitors more time to select and prepare their exhibits. At the meeting of the No. 17 District Highways Council yesterday a circular was received from the Main Highways Board asking that a schedule should be prepared showing tlio positions of all railway level crossings on main highways throughout the district. Owing to the dangerous nature of some of the crossings' the letter stated that it was advisable to havo them eliminated by detours or bridges. The Chairman (Mr E. F. Evans) skid ho thought this work would bo spread out over a number of years, and the worst crossings would be eliminated first and other bad crossings attended to later. Mr W. Blackie moved, and Mr R. G. Cotton seconded, “That the Public Works Department bo asked to prepare the suggested schedule of dangerous railway crossings.” The motion was carried. The Minister of Health (Sir Maui Pomaro) slates that a complete reorganisation is going on in the mental hospitals system. He anticipates (says a Press Association telegram) that the scheme will involve a complete change of policy in regard to the treatment of many classes of mentally afflicted patients and long-awaited improvements in tlio classification. “Hie reform has to come from within,” states the Minister, “and will bo of a most comprehensive and drastic character. We have been at it for several months and I have visited all the mental hospitals with Sir Truby King in the course of planning the reforms.” That poaching is ever an attraction to some misguided people is borne out by tiho Otago Acclimatisation Society’s annual report, which shows that that practice was the biggest blight on the work ol acclimatisation. Tlio society had been put to groat expense in trying to chock poaching. There had been several convictions during the past year, but notwithstanding all the efforts of the rangers there was every reason to believe that poaching was common in Otago. The council recognised that poachers are undoing a great deal of the good work that it is carrying on, and is determined to do its utmost to bring them to book. The Exhibition directors are maldng every endeavour to see that the police force in Dunedin is strengthened adequately during the Exhibition period, and at the present moment arrangements are being made in Wellington with this in view. It is suggested that representatives of tbo Australian police and detective forces should lie brought to Dunedin as they should prove invaluable in identifying undesirable visitors from their own cities. The Otago Acclimatisation Society’s annual report stales that efforts were made to stock up some of the fishing waters in the immediate vicinity of Dunedin. Tomahawk Lagoon had had particular attention. 10,520 young brown trout, miming from fingorlings up to seven-inch fish, having boon netted in the Silverstream and transferred to Tomahawk Lagoon, and 2000 brown trout yearlings bred at Clinton had also been put into this water, and 186 fish, after having been stripped in the Lclfh, had been transferred to Tomahawk. Owing to the cessation of sluicing in the Waipori district the Waipori River was gradually clearing, and was fast getting into a condition when it could be restocked. A beginning had been made by transferring 3760 young fish from Silverstream, and an allocation of fry which would shortly be liberated had also been made to those waters. The society felt that the Waipori River should havo special stocking, as this stream should afford fine snort for angling. It ran throegh a most beautiful wooded gorge, and should in time develop into a splendid lly stream. Messrs J. Tait and A. Cable, J.P.’s, prosided at a sitting of tlio Port Chalmers Court yesterday. On a charge of stealing several* articles, including a clock and a pair of boots from the cabin of a Norwegian whaler, on which they were employed, Thomas Gilbert Perry was fined £3~ and George Lawrence Kidman and Charles George Lewis £2 each. The presiding justices pointed out that these fines wore light, but no such leniency would bo shown again. It was reprehensible thai Stealing should lake place on foreign vessels which wore being induced to take ad- j vantage of local ship repairing facilities.

A meeting of members of the United Starr-Bowk'ett Building Society was field last evening to dispose of £SO0 —the first ballot in the. new No. 9 Group. Mr E. A. Rosevear, chairman of directors, who presided, stated that £12,500 had been disposed of during the last four months and that money had been used to purchase properties, erect buildings, and pay off existing mortgages. The ballot resulted in Cluster No. 62 being drawn, held by one shareholder.

That the Otago Acclimatisation Society is carrying out its duties in connection with restocking rivers and streams is borne out by the annual report which states that last year about 1,500,090 eggs were laid down in the association’* hatcheries at Clinton and Pembroke. Of these 732,000' brown trout eyed eggs, and 288,000 rainbow egg’s were sold, and 377,000 fry distributed. The other liberations were:—Yearlings—Rainbow 4000, Scotch Bum 8000, brown trout 28,500. Two-year-olds—Brown trout 5350., The balance—namely, 30,000 brown, 8000 Scotch Burn, 10,000 rainbow yearlings, ana a number of other fish are available for restocking the hatchery or liberation. The quantities of both eyed eggs for sale and fry for liberation were very much short of requirements. There was *nn unusual demand for eyed ova last year. Owing to various causes, mainly floods, some of the kindred societies ‘in the north had very poor results from their stripping operations, and to fill their wants offered the association large orders for eyed eggs. Unfortunately, the association was unable to fill all of these, as the stocking of the Otago waters called for its first consideration. The council has been developing certain plans for the work in connection with the handling of ova which it is hoped will result in an increase next season in the number of fry distribution in the district and the quantity of eggs for sale. The jamboree of Boy Scouts from all over New Zealand, Australia, and the South Seas, during the forthcoming Exhi bition, the first ever held in Now Zealand, will afford the public an opportunity of seeing what the Boy Scout movement really does in the training of our boys to become good and Useful citizens. To provide funds to enable (he Jamboree Committee to carry out this gathering and make it a success the Troop Committees of the local troops will hold a street sale and collection todays. Stalls will be placed at prominent parts of the city, and flowers, cakes, produce, etc., will bo on sale, and it is confidently hoped that the appeal will meet with a liberal response. The aims and objects of the Boy Scout movement are the development in the boy of courtesy, honesty, and usefulness, and the work done is purely voluntary on the part ,of the scoutmasters. It is in the knowledge of the worthiness of the cause that the appeal is made. In'connection with the controversy which has arisen concerning the right of the New Zealand Rugby Union to register the stiver fern leaf ns its own emblem. A legal opinion on the subject states that no protection can be afforded by legislation to crests, badges, or colours in use by clubs, schools, etc. The opinion is also expressed (says a Press Association message from Wellington that, whereas the new badge might be registered at a patent office as a design and nothing more, in this case it has been in use too long, and the statute does not give it shelter. A Press Association message from Wellington states that the Government had intended to open up some 130,000 acres in the Urewera Country, but, finding the land unsuitable for settlement, it will probably be made a forest reserve instead. That there are factories and factories was shown at last night’s meeting of, the Exhibition directors when discussion centred round a “Fun or Joy Factory,” which will be one of the centres of attraction in the amusement zone. Peculiar things happen in this “factory.” The patron enters by way of a shuffling bridge, passes along a dark passage way, stops on to sinking bolsters, automatically sets a foghorn screaming, and a blower working, scrambles along a shuffling platform the handrails on each side of which are at intervals charged with electricity, and then finds himself in a gallery of “funny things,” including numerous distorted mirrors. Two steep chutes, each 18 or 20 feet high, help the explorer on his way —a devious way with bumps and rises ending in a spill among soft mattresses. An area of open floor is provided, and at points chairs are thoughtfully set for the weary wayfarer who, upon sitting down, finds that they commence to revolve. After a low more adventures of this nature he finds himself once more inhaling the fresh air, and marvelling that ho should come out in full possession of all his faculties. An unusually large number of shops and offices in Auckland and the surrounding suburban areas are tenantless at present, and there appears to be quite a slump in these properties (says our own correspondent). Mr 11. E Vaile, who is in close touch with the property market, gave it os his opinion that the empty shops were purely a temporary phase caused largely as a result of the effect on trade of the Hoalte Deartmont’s restrictions during the infantile paralysis epidemic, “The retailers felt these restrictions more severely than most people realised,” he said. That there had boon a certain amount of overbuilding of shop property Mr Vaile conceded, but ho considered that the overbuilding of offices was more serious, and would probably result in a superfluity of business chambers for some little Time to come. The City Fire Brigade was called out in response to a malicious false alarm from a box at the corner of Outten street and Macandrew road at 3 p.m. yesterday. Reference was made at last night’s meeting of the Exhibition directors to the Women’s Section, Mr Speight remarking that the Ladies’ Committee was most enthusiastic. The board expressed its willing noss to give its whole-hearted support to tliis section, and the general opinion was that they could leave it to the women to make a success of it. On the motion ot Mr Speight, seconded by Mr Arthur Barnett, it was agreed that the secretary’s salary and a further £SOO be guaranteed, and that 4000 square feet of space bo allotted to women’s exhibits. The fifty-ninth annual report of the Otago Acclimatisation Society states that the number of angling licenses of all kiiwi that had been sold during the year was larger than - last year. The total for last year was 2281, and a yoaT ago the number was 1982. The council derived much encouragement in its work from this increase It was gratifying to feel that a greater, number was finding pleasure from the re suits of acclimatisation. The following licenses were issued during the year,' the previous year’s figures being given in parenthesis:—Men’s whole season licenses 1564 (1223); men’s half season licenses (184); boys’ licenses 602 (469); and ladies’ licenses 132 (106). Some interesting discoveries have been made in the remarkably fine limestone cave which was recently opened at Te Palm by a resident of Pirongia (says the Hamilton correspondent of the New Zealand Herald). In an old quarry at the mouth of the cave an almost complete skeleton of a largo moa was unearthed Parts of the skeleton were in perfect order, while others were scattered as if they had at some time been disturbed. The bones included the upper and lower main bones of both logs, a complete series of bones foi one foot, severed ribs, end smaller bones Tho bonus of tho neck and the major part of the skull were missing. Underneath the moa bones were a number of smaller bird's bones, about the size of those of a kiwi. The bones, which were found in a mixture of clay and limestone,' are in places coated with lime deposit, and in some instances several of them are cemented together in grotesque angles. The land in tho vicinity appears lo bo rich in fossils, as a barbed dart such as is found in the tail of the stingray was also discovered, embedded in a piece of limestone, found near the place where the skeleton was unearthed. Traces of fish-bones and shells have also been found in the limestone in the vicinity. .The weekly mooting of the directors of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition Company was held last night, and was attended by Messrs C. Speight (in the chair), A. Barnett, PI. F. Sincock, T. Somerville, W. R. Hayward, and H. L. Tapley. Tho various committee reports were read and adopted. The secretary reported that at a meeting of the Executive Committee a sketch plan of tho motor parking area and filling station had been submitted by Mr Stodman and approved. The committee's action was confirmed.

A Press Association message from Wellington states that the bankruptcies for 1924 numbered 670, a decrease of four compared with 1923, and 24 compared with 1922. The debts proved wore £705,995 and the asset* realised £118,640. Among the bankrupts were 175 farmers, 81 labourers, 21 agents, 22 builders, 22 storekeepers, 17 contractors, 6 hotelkeepers, and 18 butchers. A gathering of Bay of Islands Natives at Waimate North resolved that Ripi Wihongi contest the Northern seat at the General Election as a Labour Candidate (states the New Zealand Herald). The resolutions dealing with Native affairs carried at the annual conference of the Labour Party were read and approved. There waa hesitation on the part of some of the Natives to identify themselves with the Labour Party, as they claimed that the Ngapuhi followed great chiefs only, and that the great political chiefs were either in the Liberal or Reform Parties. This objection was over-ruled by other speakers, who contended that justice has not been meted out to Maoris by either the Reform or Liberal Parties, and that the. Labour Party would see the ancient wrongs of their race righted. Ripi Wihongi is of high rank, being a descendant of the great Ngapuhi chief, Hongi Ika, the Napoleon of New Zealand. There was a clean sheet at the City Police Court yesterday morning.

The Railway Department announces earlier running of the usual 12.10 p-iiy, Dunedin-Port Chalmers and 1.15 p.m. Pod Chalraers-Dunedin\trajns. The weekly progressive euchre tournament will be held in the South Dunedin Town Hall to-night and to-morrow (Saturday) night. An excellent collection of prizes, including a number of specials, will bo given. To-night will be the first night of an aggregate for three Friday nightj for a prize valued at £3 3s. The Medical Faculty recommends Strachan’s Oat Malt Stout for invalids. Its recuperative qualities are unexcelled, and a. glass of Strachan’s before retiring is a great sleep inducer. —Advt. A. E. J. Blakeley; dentist, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray street! inert Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859. Save Your Eyes.—Consult Peter O. Dick, D.8.0.A., F. 1.0., London, consulting and oculists’ optician.—“ Peter Dick,” Jewellers and opticians, Moray place, Dunedin.— Advt.