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Otago Daily Times, Issue 19996, 13 January 1927, Page 8

In connection with the statement made concerning the berthing of the Norwegian whaling ship N. T. Nilsen Alonso at Kobert when di awing 34ft Sin aft, it is worthy of note that vessels drawing well over 30ft have entered Otago Harbour. It is quite pbssiblo that a vessel drawing 32ft could negotiate The channel from the harbour entrance to Port Chalmers on high water with afety. On several occasions steamers drawing from 27ft to 29ft have entered and loft the port. On December 22, 1920, the Commonwealth and Dominion Line steamer Port Caroline left Port Chalmers, bound for London, drawing 25ft. A statutory first offender, named Edward Roberts, was convicted and discharged for drunkenness at the City Police Court yesterday morning by Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M. A staff is at present engaged in the Town Hall compiling the district electors’ list for use at the local elections to be held in April next. It should be noted that all names received for enrolment after January 31 will have to be placed on the supplementary list. Those electors therefore who wish their names to appear on the main list should make application for enrolment before January 31. The Lyttelton waterside workers would not accept a call for labour (reports our special correspondent in Christchurch) to discharge the Waihora, which arrived at 3 p.m. yesterday afternoon. The Union Steam Ship Company’s foreman made a call for six gangs at 11 o’clock, but, although there were scores of men idle awaiting employment, they all turned a deaf ear on being informed that they were required to start at 3 p.m. No reason was given by the men for this action, but the supposition was that they required to he paid as from 1 p.m. There was a general reshuffling of values at Burnside yesterday. Lamb only remained unaltered in spite of a keen demand from local and foreign exporters as well as batchers! Sheep were generally die' " -r. Heavier stuff eased by Is 3d per head ,ul ewes were cheaper by about Is 6d per head. Fat pigs declined to the extent of about 10s per head. Light prime fat cattle showed the only increase in values on the day, being 15s per head dearer than at the previous sale. Nearly 2000 head of sheep were penned, the great majority of which were shorn. Medium quality mixed stuff made up a large proportion of the entry. Plain ewes were in good The sale opened lifelessly, and did not improve as the day progressed. At the close heavy sheep were Is 3d cheaper and ewes from Is to Is 6d down. Light prime wethers were unchanged. Extra prime heavy wethers made from 31s to 335; prime heavy, 26s to 275, and lighter 22 s to 24s 9d. Best ewes made up to 245, and others from 12s to 20s. Extra heavy wether mutton was worth 4-id per lb, prime sd, ewe 3id to 4Jd. A good number of well-grown lambs of fair to good quality were included In the 800 fat lambs penned. Values showed no change. Heavy lambs made from 26s to 28s 6d; light prime, 23s 9d to 255; medium, 20s to 22s 6d; and unfinished, 18s to 19s. The prices per lb were 7d for heavies and 8d to B|d for prime freezers Only 176 fat cattle were yarded, comprising mostly ordinary quality, with a pronounced sprinkling of mediocre cows and heifers. Heavy cattle were unchanged, but light prime advanced by about 15s per head. Prime heavy bullocks made from £l3 5s to £l4 ss, and light from £lO 10s to £ll ss. Heifers were worth up to £9, and good cows up to £lO 10s. Beef prices per 1001 b were as follows: —Prime ox, 325; plain, 30s; heifer, 32s 6d: cow and light heifer, 25s to 27s 6d. About 190 store cattle were forward, and met with a slow sale. Some three-year-old bullocks made from £8 5s to £9 10s, and for the rest last sale’s values remained. In all, over 200 pigs were entered, 134 fats and 74 stores. Fats met with a good inquiry at the outset, but the demand faded early and values were lower by about 10s, bringing the prices to the level of those obtaining las’month. ' I

An Invercargill resident, while motoring fiom Riverton to town yesterday morning (reports our special correspondent) encountered an unusual pedestrian in the person of a one-legged soldier walking on crutches. He had just, been discharged from the Riverton Hospital, and was walking to Ashburton, taking the chance of being assisted by motorists. Funds were low, and as his pension is not due until January 25 he had found it necessary to make this unusual walking tour.

Another old-time’ steamer which did useful service in the intercolonial and also the San Francisco and Vancouver mad services in the early part of the present century has come ixs the end of her career. This is the Union Company’s passenger steamer Moana. The vessel, showing every sign of her long period of neglect and idleness, will be brought alongside the Union Company’s wharf at Port Chalmers within a day or two and stripped of all her internal fittings. Hammers, chisels, and other implements will be wielded by men to whom the ship will be assigned. Care will be taken, however, to remove everything of a valuable nature without damage. The fittings, such as bunks, mattresses, brass and woodwork will subsequently be disposed of by auction or otherwise. The dismantling work may take a month or two to complete, but in time only the shell of the Moana will be ' left. What die ultimate fate of the old hull will be remains to be seen. Perhaps it will share the fate of the Monowai, Pateena, Te Anau, Takapuna, and other old-time Red Funnel steamers—namely, scuttling. The Moana was withdrawn from the intercolonial service some years ago, and occupied a lay-up berth at the Bowen pier, Port Chalmers, until towards the end of the year 1925, when she was removed to permanent moorings, together with the Mokoia, Paloona, Atua, Navua, and Tarawera, in the blind channel of the lower harbour. The Moana, when she was engaged in the San Francisco and also the Vancouvcr-Brisbane-Sydney service over 18 years ago, was recognised as a very comfortable and well-appointed ship. When engaged in the intercolonial trade in her palmy days her conspicuous hull and attractive lines were much admired each time she steamed out of Auckland Harbour, bound for Sydney. This was away back in the early part of the century. The Moana is n product of the famous shipbuilding firm, Messrs W. Denny and Bros., Dumbarton. She is a steel single screw vessel of 3915 tons gross, and was built in 1897 for the Union Steam Ship Company.

The health of the Maoris of New Zealand during the past year has been very good (reports our special correspondent in Auckland), the Native people having experienced no serious epidemics in that time, according to Dr P. H. Buok, director of Maori hygiene. Most of Dr Buck’s work is in the North Island, as in the South Island the Maoris, who number only about 2000, Jive under conditions practically identical with those of the Europeans.” “There has been a steady improvement of the living conditions of the Maoris in the various villages,” said Dr Buck, “and the health problems have been solving themselves to some degree bv the individualisation of the lands, the breaking up of the communal system, and the aggregation of the people all together in villages. The Maori Health Councils throughout the country have been doing a good deal of work, and in many districts, notably Tailranga, Arawa, and the King Country, these bodies have been instituting water supplies. The improvement in the Natives’ health in many villages have been due largely to the practical work of the district nurses. Over 20 nurses have been employed in the more populated districts. Working under the Department of Health they go round the villages and lecture to the mothers and others, instructing them in infant feeding, invalid cocking, care of the sick, etc. By exercising a careful watch over the villages as regards sickness, these nurses have also been able to nip in the bud epidemics in the nature of typhoid.”

Electric power from New Zealand’s plentiful water supply may be supplemented by steam from its thermal resources, if local enterprise finds it a profitable proposition, as has been found in other countries (says the Auckland Star). During the PanPacific Science Congress in Japan, Dr H. L. Day, of ‘Washing’gave a short description of the uses which volcanic steam is applied in Italy and in the United States. In Italy steam supplies have been tapped with iron pipes, and power to the amount of 60,000 horse-power is now obtained from them. In America, i similar supply was obtained six years ago, but has not yet been utilised, though arrangements have now been completed to employ the power for industrial purposes. In both these localities it is stated that the iron pipes are not corroded by the sulphurous gases associated with the steam. The pressure of the steam has remained almost constant for six years. If thp steam is allowed to escape freely, the pressure diminishes to a lower value, and after the escape is prevented the pressure rises again, but docs not attain its previous value for some days

A fairly large group of sunspots was noticed by some Auckland observers who secured a brief glimpse of the sun during the recent partial eclipse (reports the New Zealand Herald). This is an expected phenomenon, for the end of 1927 will mark the maximum of the 11-year sunspot cycle. The intensity spreads a year or so on either side of the highest point. The last sunspot minimum occurred about the middle of 1923. The spots increase rather more rapidly than they decrease, the maximum arriving about four years and a-half after the minimum. Sunspots are believed to be storpis in or upon the gaseous outer layers of the sun’s envelope. They are associated with electrical disturbances in the sun and their waxing and waning are accompanied terrestrially by changes in magnetic variation and in the occurrence of the aurora. Contrary to a very general belief, no definite connection has been established between sunspots and the weather.

The new law in regard to tha guardianship of infants came into operation this month (remarks the Auckland Stax). It is framed for the better protection of the rights of minors, and provides that, where questions relating to their custody, upbringing, and marriage are ooncemed, the welfare of the minor shall be the first and paramount consideration. Equal rights of guardianship axe vested in both father and mother, and either may appoint testamentary guardians. In regard to marriage, the consent of both father and mother is required if both are living together, that of the parent to whom the custody of the infant is committed if the parents are, divorced, or of both parents if the infant resides with each of them alternately. If one parent has been deserted, the consent of that parent to the child’s marriage is sufficient. Where one parent is dead, that of the surviving parent suffices, if there is no other legal guardian; if there is a guardian, the consent of both the surviving parent and the guardian has to be obtained. In the case of a child whose parents have not been legally married, the consent of the another or guardian must be obtained. In the event of a parent or guardian refusing consent to marriage, a minor may appeal to the Supreme Court for consent. That the cheapest meal to be obtained in any British country can be had in Auckland is vouched for by a gentleman recently returned from a world tour (states the Auckland Star). Beef and mutton are luxuries in London, however. While occupying a London flat, the visitor set out to buy the family joint. A piece of beef, a small roast of 41b, struck his eye. It cost him 7s 6d. He thereupon demanded a bill, telling the salesman he intended to have it framed on his return tc New Zealand. In Paris the price of flowers startled the visitors, in spite of the falling franc, but in the matter of clothing the tables were turned, for three fur coats were obtained for what one of them would cost on this side of the world. One of these coats was of Russian fur, and one marmot. Like shoes in Paris and London, furs were selling at bargain prices.

.After the severe hailstorm which occurred in Hastings a few weeks ago it was estimated that the damage to the orchards in the district would amount to at least £SC,OCO. In the opinion of the Hastings orchard instructor, Mr N. Adamson, however, this estimate was rather on the high side and he stated last week that the damage would probably run to something between £16.000 and £20,0C0. However, cue of the growers who was among those affected by the storm reaffirmed the opinion that the damage would run to at least £30,000. “In my orchard,” he said, “the position is really w u rse than what I thought it was. After the storm I had a pretty good thinning out, hut I left on the trees a lot of fruit which I thou; ht was not hit, or at least only very slightly marked. Now that the fruit has grown thos„ slight marks have enlarged and entirely spoilt the fruit. This season will be an easy one for me, for I have practically no fruit to attend to. I do not think the estimate of £30,000 damage will be far out.”

The evor-upward trend of building costs in Sydney is reflected in figures which show an increase in the average cost of a new home, or more than 88 per cent, comparing the expenditure on buildings in 1926 with that of 1914. What is the cost of a home in Sydney likely to be in, say, another 10 years (writes our correspondent) if the outlay to-day is 88 per cent, more than it was 12 years ago? It is no douht the heavy outlay which explains the fact that fewer buildings were erected in Sydney and its suburbs in 1926 than in the preceding year. The expenditure last year, however, compared with 1925, showed an increase of considerably more than £1,500,000. In the city itself new buildings involved an outlay of well on to £3,000,000 last year. “If local bodies could evolve a scheme by which one roll could be used for all elections it would save a considerable amount of money,” said Mr C. W. Hervey, returning officer for the Waimakanri River Trust election (reports the Lyt. .Iton Times). “There would need to be modification of the roll to suit individual requirements, and supplementary rolls might be necessary ; but in all other respects the rolls laboriously "compiled by each local body overlap. The trust’s election, including roll preparation, will cost about £ISOO. This will be a charge on the ratepayers. I believe that if all elections were held on the one day it would result in a financial saving. “All the damage done by insects in New Zealand is practically due to insects introduced accidentally,” is the statement affixed to a small glass case amongst fresh exhibits in Canterbury Museum (states the Lyttelton Times). “It is not possible to estimate the damage, but it must run into a very high figure,” it is further explained The earwig, the cockroach, the hopper, the woolly-aphis, the cottony cushion-scale, the botfly, the grain weevil, the seed moth, the potato moth the diamond cabbage moth, and the bluebottle are shown in the case to answer the indictment. Another case, dealing with a different aspect of insect life, has been prepared. It contains insects that provide food for trout. These include caddie flies, dragon flies, alder may flies, and stone flies. A large collection of pieces of timber, showing the methods and development of the ghost moth, in its stages before it becomes a perfect insect, are displayed in a case upsfairs. Arrangements have been made to place New Zealand insects in the museum in cabinets, in order that they may be readily available, but this will not be completed until specimens are received from the Cawthron Institute to fill in gaps. It will be remembered that the British Government exacted from the Egyptian Government a substantial indemnity for the fanatical murder of Sir Lee Stack. The manner in which that money is being applied for the welfare of the people of the Sudan is worthy of the best traditions of British beneficence to backward races. Dispensaries have been opened up all over the Sudan with money supplied from this indemnity, and now the Government is proposing to encourage mission schools as being the best means of combatting the grave menace of Mohammedanism among the pagan tribes. Agents of the Sudan United Mission in this part anticipate that the Government will offer to subsidise mission teachers with funds from the Egyptian indemnity. „ Dissatisfaction was expressed at yesterday’s meeting of the North, Canterbury branch of the Now Zealand Farmers’ Union (reports our special correspondent in Christchurch) that the duty to prevent the dumping of flour into th > Dominion had not been put into operation, and a resolution was carried strongly urging the imposition of the duty, and also expressing keen disappointment that the Minister had refused to consider the increase of the duty on imported flour. Copies of the resolution are being forwarded to the Minister of Customs and to the conference of growers to be held at Ashburton on Friday. The lease of the section of land in Lambton quay, owned by the Wellington City Council (reports our special correspondent) and occupied by Mr J. A. Doherty, tailor, and the Le Grove Typewriter Company (Ltd.) was sold by auction yesterday. The lease is for 21 years with the perpetual right of renewal and revaluation, and the owners’ upset price was £758. The bidding reached £l3lO when the section was knocked down to the firm of Messrs Thompson and East. This works out at a value of £650 per foot. The council stipulated that a building of the value of £24,000 must bo erected on the land. While there are still persons running ciossword puzzles, the public temperament in what may De termed an intriguing mental disease has fallen almost to normal (states the Evening Dost). The surest index to public interest in crossword puzzles is probaoly the public library, where at the height ot the epidemic aii Kinds of works of reference were in request tor the solving of problems in meanings and applications of words. hew inquiries have oeen received at the Wellington Library lately, though formerly there was a waiting queue before some well-known dictionaries. The general procedure was to look at !'io most compact work first, and then to browse with furrowed brow through more compendious dictionaries, the search sometimes ending without result in one very full dictionary, which devotes a page or so to the varied applications of the word "matter.” Of course, other books of reference were called into requisition, but the compact dictionary • was the first dive for the eager hands. It looks it. The back binding, by which it was pulled out of the sheft, is almost worn away, and the pages have all been evidently well thumbed. "I do not think the crossword puzzle had any real educative value,” said the chief librarian (Mr Baillie) to a reporter the other day, “because some of the applications of the words were not well chosen, and there were, moreover, ‘catches’ in some of the puzzles. Certainly, works of reference are more reverently handled by those who are in search of knowledge for its own sake than they were by people seeking to solve crossword puzzles. 1 put down ft great deal of the damage done to some books to the latter.” Politeness and pourparlers have lately become so established in the mutual relations of Capital and Labour that anything approaching brusquenoss causes an astonished gasp of comment (states the Auckland Star). It soems so averse to modern conciliatory methods to use blunt and downright language. Particularly is this so when the question of annual or statutory holidays is in the balance of argument, and usually the velvet glove of tact masks the iron band of necessity. One employer in Auckland, however, believes in saying what he means in his own way. Boldly inscribed on a placard'on a building in course of construction in on© of the principal thoroughfares was his announcement to the whole world in general, and to his staff in particular, of his intentions over the holidays: “This job will be closed down until January 17. No arguments needed J”