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Otago Daily Times, Issue 19998, 15 January 1927, Page 10

Immediate steps have been taken by the Union Steam Ship Company to maintain the New Zealand-Melbourne passenger service without any interruption in spite of the detention of the Maheno at Wellington owing to a dispute with the crew. Instructions were received from the Union Company’s' head office in Wellington on Thursday evening to recommission the Moeraki without delay. This vessel has been laid up at Port Chalmers for several months. Yesterday morning a large number of dock workers was sent aboard, and the paint brush was applied to hull and fittings throughout the day. Other squads were busy below decks overhauling internal fittings. A trail of smoke from the ship’s funnel indicated that steam was again being raised, while other squads paid their attention to overhauling and renewing ropes and other deck gear. The Moeraki will be ready for sea on Tuesday. She will sail from Port Chalmers on Tuesday evening direct for Melbourne, and travellers who had booked passage by the Maheno will, therefore, be able to proceed to Melbourne after a delay of only four days, the Maheno being originally timed to sail from Dunedin yesterday afternoon. Due at Melbourne on January 23, the Moeraki is scheduled to leave that port on January 26 for Bluff and Dunedin'. Arriving hero on February 1, she will sail the following day for Lyttelton, Wellington, and Melbourne. A number of officers and engineers arrived_ in Dunedin yesterday afternoon from Wellington to join the Moeraki, and a crew will sign articles about Tuesday. Messrs T. F. Hall (secretary of the South Island Bands’ Association) and A. M. Payne (Begg and Co., Christchurch) visited Temuka on Thursday at the invitation of the Temuka Business Men’s Association, and, after inspecting the domain, expressed ths opinion ihat the B Grade Band contest, to bo held at Temuka from December 27 to December 30 of this year was going to be a great success, O bey were very much surprised with the domain and its beautiful surroundings, which, they said, would bo an ideal place for the contest, especially the quick step contest. In giving details of the management of a contest to the organisers, Mr Hall stated that the permit had been granted in good spirit because it was not often a town the size of Temuka had sufficient enterprise to go in for a contest. It spoke wonders for the energy put forth already by the promoters that the amount guaranteed was one-sixth more than the total expenditure required. The syllabus and prize money are practically on a par with those of the B Grade contests at the Exhibition and Wellington contests, the prize money being ns follows: First prize—first test £2O, second test £2O, winner of aggregate £100; second prize—first tost £lO, second test £lO, winner of aggregate £SO: third prize-first test £5, second test £5, winner of aggregate £25; fourth prize—first test £2 10s, second test, £2 10s, winner of aggregate £10; quick step contest —first, £3O, second £ls, third £lO, and fourth £5. making a total of £320. in addition\fo which arc 15 gold and 15 silver medals for the solo and quartet competitions. Several gold and silver medals have already been presented, and it is anticipated that no difficulty will be experienced in bringing the guarantee up to £IOOO, which would mean a good advertisement for running a £6OO contest.. Tn connection with the regulations laid down hv (ho Police Offences Amendment Act, 1926, the Commissioner of Police. Mr W. B. MTlveney, explains flic provisions as follows: —‘‘All that the Police Offences I Act. 1925. does Is to re-enact the provisions of the former Acts. There is one addition, that a person arrested under (ho provisions of the now Act, and having money which is expected to have been dishonestlly obtained, may be called upon to establish to the satisfaction of the court that he came by that moni’v honestly. The amendment is intended to meet the case of pickpockets. The law authorising (he police to arrest in cases of suspected vagrancy, etc., without a warrant has been in exist-

A moa found ea the osttUrli of Palmerston North last sight (*ey* a Pres* Association message) h now in hospital. He has lot his memory. A medal in hi* possession i* inscribed “A. Grant." Hi* description is at follow* i —Dark, aged from 30 to 35'years, height 6ft 6in, respectably dressed in a blue suit, grev cap, and dark overcoat; The Buiok touring car belonging to Mr G. C. Roger, which was stolen from thg parking area in Moray place on Thursday night, was recovered near Lookout Point early yesterday morning. It is many years now since the trimlybuilt Rotamahana sailed on the New Zealand coats, where she was recognised at about the fastest steamer then owned by the Union Steam Ship Company. She wa* transferred from the New Zealand service to Tasmania, where she added further to the laurels she had gained in New Zealand asa record-breaker. For several years now the vessel has been laid up in Melbourne, and recent advices stats that she was sold by,the company for breaking-up, and that in the work of destruction the new owner made a lucky discovery. It appears that in the bottom of the hull there had been placed some 200 tons of lead, presumably for ballast, and that it had been put there sj long ago that its presence had been forgotten. The discovery by the ship breaker of this lead, with the other parts for which he was able to find a ready market, is said to have enabled him to make a cool £IO,OOO in his transaction. A well-known Dunedin citizen who made a trip from To Anau to Glade House during the holidays severely criticises the Tourist Department for its lack of service at the House —a lock which, he says, wa* the subject of general adverse comment. On his arrival at the jetty he walked with others to .Glade House to have lunch, but there was a long delay before he obtained any, as there wa* only one waitress to attend to the wants of some 30 to +0 tourists. The Dunedin tourist had to wait just on an hour before he was served, and he had to hurry his son off to the steamer to ask the captain to await hie arrival, as he was returning to Te Anau. He also states that the meat he was gives was tainted, and that the manager agreed that it was not what it should be. The manager said that the meat had to be brought a long way, and that he had no cold storage at the house to keep it is good order. Lastly, the Dunedin tourist < complained that there was no proper method of letting those passengers who desired te return to Te Anau know the time of the sailing of the steamers. This complaint was referred to the local tourist manage*. “It must bo recognised,” he said, “that the v;hole trip should be taken in a picnio spirit. The meat is practically all tinned, and there must, once in a while, be an exception as far as the quality goes, even in the best circumstances. Staff trouble* arc always prevalent at any hotel away from the main centre, and in this particular case the cook had to be brought back to town urgently, in which case one of the two waitresses would possibly have to take th* cook’s place in the kitchen. In normal circumstances the staff is quite sufficient, but this season has been abnormal, and no doubt next season the department will bo cognisant of all th© facts, and naak© vision accordingly. I might say that tho complaint in regard to the steamer* » trivial, bocaus© a tourist has only to quire from Mr Chcritoa. or anyone for that matter, to find out when the boat leave*. During the Christmas holiday* a edin resident essayed the task of walking from Roxburgh to Alexandra, ana although he did not succeed in completing the whole walk ha covered a fair distance, and incidentally made an interesting discovery. In exploring an old, unoccupied Chinaman’s hut he discovered a packet of slip* cf paper, inscribed with Chinese character*, and tied with a small piece of flax. Of course the markings on the paper* were literally Chinese to the Dunedin tourist, and also Chinese to everyone from whom he sought information as to their significance. The common explanation was that they were pak-a-poo tickets. While at Ophir the Dunedin resident remarked on the pleasant surroundings of a residence there, and on inquiring who lived in the house was informed it was the _RoV. A. Don, the well-known Chinese missionary, who is living in retirement from the madding crowd, so to speak. The information gave the holder of the ticket* ao inspiration, and he was quickly introducing himself to Mr Don and requesting hi* assistance. It then turned out that each ticket carried a Chinaman’s name, and that they were visiting cards to commemorate the Chinese New Year. Mr Don gave a short account of the life of each of th* Chinamen named, telling where they had come from, where they had worked, where they had died, and where, if they were still alive, they now resided. To show how small the world is Mr Don remarked that when on a visit to China he called on the sister of one of the Chinamen named, who was living in Central giving her information regarding . hef brother. The various committees of the City Council will commence their activities for the new year next week. The W orks Committee will meet on Monday, and the sittings of the other committees will follow. The first meeting of the council for the year 1927 will be held on 'Wednesday* January 26. The Rotorua, which left the Bluff ye*i terday carried from that port a large consignment of butter and cheese. _ The shipment, which is bound for the Oid Country, was consigned by the South Xsiand Dairy Association, and consists of 3000 boxe* of butter and 16,500 cases of cheese. The two charges of perjury preferred against George Macartney were mentioned in the City Police Court yesterday, and were further adjourned to January 21. That periodical inspections be made the fire equipment of the public institutions, such as hotels and boarding houses and that a charge he levied for the services rendered and the material used was s suggestion made to the Wellington Fire Board yesterday. It was decided (reports our special correspondent) that the superintendent be authorised to make investigation* and report to the boards as to the proposed system of charges to bo levied 1# view of the varying nature of the equipments. Can a “non-poisonous” weed-killer kifl stock as well as weeds? The death d over 50 sheep and cattle in a certain dietrict caused the Victorian Department of Agriculture to suspect a weed-killing spray. Two sacks of plants which had been poisoned by the weed-killer were forwarded to the stock branch for investigation. The director of veterinary research at Glenfield (Dr R. H, Seddon) reported that an attempt had been made to get a sheep to take the weeds after they had been chaffed, but it had refused. A yearling calf had then been fed on the plant, but in three days it ale only about three-quarters of a pound. Tills, however, had been sufficient to cause death, the animal showing lesions of acute haemorrhagic gastro-enteritis. Dr Seddon added" that as he understood the basis of the weed-killer was arsenic he had forwarded the stomach of the calf to th* chemists’ branch of the department for analysis. The other evening a resident of the avenue, opposite the Wanganui Methodist Church, was an interested spectator of a smart bit of work by two youths (states the Herald). A motor car was seen to enter the church grounds, and, prior to the occupants entering the place of worship, one of them lifted the bonnet, and presumably put the engine out of action. Immediately the motorists disappeared the two youths crossed the road and made their way to the car. One of them lifted th* bonnet and put the gear in order again. They then both jumped into the car and went for a joy ride, returning before the rightful owners reappeared and drove home in blissful ignorance of the use made of their property while they were in church. The delegates to the Bakers’ and Pa-hv-cooks’ conference on Monday evening (>r-vs the Evening Post), wore thrown into uproarious laughter by a solemn announcement o f the secretary at the conclusion of the r('dress. In announcing the annual dinner, the socetnry said: “On your notices it states; ‘Wives included.’ This should he, •Wive? excluded.’ ” The general laughter which followed this dramatic announcement was just dying down, when a small voice from within the crowd of delegates, asked feebly: “How are we to get out?” A little later delegates were being invited to a IV otor trip, when it was stated that the excursion was being conducted on the “one man. one wife” wnfama

A lAsguised female voice was heard by « youiag brido the other afternoon when ehe Answered the telephone (says the Auckland Star). Bhe might expect a “surprise” party that evening. The husband was promptly rung up at hi* office, and told to cancel a theatre engagement, make certain liquid purchases before 6 o’clock, and to see that he was early for dinner. The bride spent a frenzied hour among suburban nhopa, making special preparations for the expected gueata. Dinner over, the couple waited long and patiently for the merrymakers, and at 11 o’clock went to bed more than a little peeved. Last night they dined in town, and went to call on friend*. When they returned home half an hour before midnight they found their abode occupied by jazzing friends, the whole place filled with music and laughter, and the spirit of carnival. To their amazement, their ultra-modern friends regarded the late home-coming as of the slightest consequence, explaining that they were' quite capable of entertaining themselves 1 With a mountain of dirty dishes before her in the morning, the brido made a fervent New Year resolve to shut all fanlights whenever she went out in future. In his review to be presented at the conference of executive officers of power boards at Palmertson North on February o, Mr Charles Campbell (chairman of the Secretaries’ Committee of the Electric Power Board Association of New Zealand) makes some interesting statements concerning the electric power boards operating in New Zealand (states the Southland News). He says; “Before beginning the work of the conference 1 desire to draw attention to the magnitude of the Electri, ower Board utilities which we represent here to-day and in the administration of which we have the honour to hold such an important place. Up to March 31 last no less a sum than £8,745,755 had been raised for the construction of power board schemes. The annual interest bill amounts to £503,999 and the annual sinking fund to £116.845. The administrative staffs number 302 persons and the salaries paid for a year amount to £73,455. Other employees number 5“t4, and the wages bill for a year is tfilSS.fiSl During last year the sum of £309,825 was expended on temporary and casual labour, the number of such employees actually in the employ of the boards at March 31. 1926, being 1357. The revenue from the ■ale of power during the last financial year reached £869,774, and from other sources £i23,057; the grand total being £922,831. A review of the expenditure side shows that on operating expenses £356,f 17 was spent, on other working expenses £105,635, and on capital charges, etc., £382,275; a total of £824,825 ” According to Invercargill motorists who recently journeyed through by oar to Dunedin iroports our special correspondent in Invercargill) the main road is in a very bad condition from Pukerau northwards, and is so pitted with pot-holes that the trip is anything but a pleasant and comfortable one. In order to escape a good deal of the discomfort the party concerned, on the return trip to Invercargill, made a deviation at Milton, and set out for the south through Lawrence, Rae’s Junction, and Tapanui. After travelling ovei the toads connecting these places the motorists congratulated themselves on their decision, because they found the roads in capital condition, and this made motoring a real pleasure. The journey, though longer cy 15 to 20 miles than by the main road, proved a welcome change, and also afforded the travellers some interesting glimpses of the excellent countrv along the route compared with the somewhat dull outlook obtainable on the principal highway. A flood story is told of an experience of a Gisborne racehorse owner who has just returned from a visit to Auckland (states the Poverty Bay Herald). While in the northern city he went one evening to a benefit dance for the deaf and dumb, although not himself a dancing enthusiast. Observing a lady silting by herself he took pity on her, and by means of various signs intimated that he wished to dance with her. The dance was finished in silence, but later in the evening the Gisborne man noticed that the lady wqs still sitting out, and after repeating the signs he again partnered her on the floor. When the band struck up the supper waltz he saw that she was without a partner, and, going over, pointed to his month and repeated the dance signs once more. The lady acquiesced, but as the couple were dancing a young man approached them and said to the lady, “I say, Flo, this is our dance., isn’t it?” “Yes,” replied the sportsman's “deaf and dumb” partner, “but I had to dance with this poor deaf and dumb individual.” “They should call it “Wait-a-month” not “Wait-a-mo,” declared an Australian business man now touring New Zealand when speaking to a Taranaki Herald reporter of bis visit to the Waitomo Caves. The accommodation was so uncomfortable that he telegraphed the agency which had arranged his tour that " it were all going to be like this be would not bother to see the rest of New Zealand. The agency sent n soothing reply, and, after coming on to New Plymouth, staying at one of the loading hotels there, and seeing some of the sights of North Taranaki, the Australian came to the conclusion that, after all, his money and his time were not illspent in seeing New Zealand. It should be explained that the accommodation at Waitomo which caused the dissatisfaction is of a temporary nature, and is being used only while the Government is thinking about enlarging the hostel, which for some years has been much too small to meet the needs of the tourist traffic. The complaint of the Australian was that he had npt been told what to expect and, in any case, was paying for first-class accommodation for his wife and himself. He said that what they wore given proved to be very •econd-claes; in fact, he called it a stable. Motorists are generally noted for the feeling of comradeship that/ exists between them, and rheir ever ready willingness to assist fellow motorists in trouble, but a recent incident shows there are a few who ar-» heedless of fellow motorists in difficulty. A motorist proceeding south the other day decided to go through the stream near Hampden. Unfortunately the car got •tuck in mid-stream, with the result that ho hod to carry his wife and child out to the bank. A motorist from Temuka arrived some time later, and, with his assistance the oar was soon back on dry ground. The obliging motorist asked how long his unfortunate brother had been there, and was surprised to hear that he had been in the stream for some considerable time, and that quite a number of motorists had passed during that time without stopping to offer a helping hand. Mr C. H. Peagmm, of Mace’s road, Bromley, claims to. have long ago broken the shearing record of Mr Phil Larraman, of 52 years shearing (states the Lyttelton Time*). Mr Poagram, now turned 80. has shorn for 57 years. Arriving by the Gananoque in 1860, Mr Peagram’s (first earing season was 1867, on Racecourse Hill, then owned by Rhodes and Wilkin, and managed by Davison, and on Double •trill, owned by Palmer. With the exception of two seasons in the North Island, when he started shearing as early as September, and came back to Canterbury to shear in the same seasons, Mr Peagram has done all his shearing in Canterbury. When a young man he used to shear 6000 or 70*00 sheep in a season. Now heavy sheep tell on him in pulling them out of the pen, but once he gets them upended on the board he is as right as ever. Mr Poagram shore this season at Lankside, when he reached a tally of 84 sheep, and he hopes to be shearing again next season. He is exclusively a blade shearer. “On many of the afternoons there were garden parties, three of which were held in the grounds of royal palaces,” states Dr P. Marshall, who represented the Government at the recent Pan-Pacific Science Congress in Japan (report? the Evening Post). “At other times the parties were held in some of the finest ornamental gardens in Japan, notably those of Baron Shidehura and of Baron Fugita. Here we wore able to enjoy to the full the masterful aptitude of the Japanese for the adaptation of natural advantages and of skilful tree planting and of the wonderful control of tree growth and the arrangement of still and running water to produce garden, and scenic effects of surpassing interest and of enchanting hennty. The wonderful attractiveness of these is f.irthei enhanced by the arched stone bridges and ornamental lanterns cunningly ensconed at those points where they add the greatest charm to their beautiful surroundings.”

A lively 10 minute* was spent by a oonetabl® stationed at Eltham the other evening (states an exchange), when he surprised a midnight visitor to the premise* of Mr C. 8. Knight, a draper, of Kaponga. The constable had reason to suspect that burglarious attempts on one of the shops would be made some time during the holiday season, and had kept a careful watch each evening. On the night in question hi* attention was attracted by a noise at the rear of Mr Knight’s shop. It was only 11.45 p.m., and the constable did not think a serious attempt would be made so early. , He was therefore hardly prepared for the shadowy dash made beneath the building by the would-be burglar, but joined in the hunt with a vigour that surprised the escapee. In the gloom of the house piles and amid the strategic advantages of the water drains, the person managed to effect an escape after twice being nearly caught. If “straphanging” in trams and buses continues, abnounal arms and a race of Tarzans may be evolved (remarks the Auckland Star). Men of science declare that a creature cannot survive unless it adapts .itself to changing conditions. Travelling during rush hours compels those who are lucky enough to obtain seats to arrange their feet in Charlie Chaplin stylo. The effort, though painful, is better than having them trodden upon. The greatest change in modern life is forcing upon people the increased capacity for taking sudden jumps. Motor traffic in Queen street, particularly, compels flying leaps for safety. ft is a case of jump—or hospital. it will be a case of the best jumper ring—be quick or be dead. One wa\ .i of the prevailing rush-hour difficulty is to live across the harbour, where, on the ferry boats, an abundance of seats are provided, and no straps dangle from the roof. I'ho Rev. ii. E. JJelJhouse will conduct botu services in irimty xUetuodist Ulmicli, Stuart street, to-iuorrow, preucniiig in tne morning on "Hie Hopefulness ol Jesus Christ,’ and in the evening on "The Christ wno Entreats,” Notices ol the following Sunday services will be found in our advertising columns: —Anglican : St. Paul's, All Saints’ Eresuytenan: hirst, Knox, Caversham, Maori Hill, Kaikorai, Morning ton, South Dunedin, 'St. Stephen's. Congregational : Moray Place, United (King street). Methodist: Central Mission, Trinity. Dundas Street, Cargill Road. Salvation Army: Dowling street. xo-uiorro 1 .. evening, m tue Market Reserve, a wireless set and loud speaker will deliver a service irom the Central Mission Hall. This will be lollowed by the St. Kilda Band s ooncen from its rotunda. The Rev. D. Gardner Miller, of Trinity Church, Christchurch, will take the services to-morrow at -the Moray Place Congregational, Church. Miss Alice Wilkinson will sing “Load, Kindly Light” (Liddle). Special interest is attached to the services in the Salvation Army Citadel, Dowling street, to-morrow. Commissioner James Hay, 0.8. E., leader of the Salvation Army in New Zealand, will be in command, and blight meetings are confidently expected. In the afternoon the commissioner will deliver an address, “The Rise of the Salvation Army.” Over this gathering the Mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley. M.P.) will preside. and prominent citizens will be associated with him on the platform. Sir Charles Statham will also speak. Supporting the commissioner in all the services will bo Brigadier Fred Saunders, principal of the Salvation Arm’ Training College in Wellington, who is makine his initial visit to Dunedin; also Adjutant Esther Hay, daughter of the commissioner, who is also educational officer with the Training College, and who has been described as “a sweet singer in Israel. ’ The United Starr-Bowkett Building Society invites memoership in the new No. lb group, and advertises ±I2OOO for appropriation next month. The subscription is Is per share per week. The Rev. W. L. Marsh. M.A., will conduct the services at Knox Church. The subjects announced are: 11 a.m., “Walking With God.” 5.30 p.m.: “Making the Lame to Walk.” Mr F. Williams, a native of this city, who has devoted his life to working among the “down and outs” in Auckland, will conduct both services in the Octagon Hall to-morrow morning and evening. Mr Williams has had a wonderful and most interesting experience, and his story should be well worth hearing. In our report of the ruiipeka County Council’s jubilee celebration at Lawrence, Mr F. Oudaille was referred to as being 100 years old. Mr Oudaille’s ago is 9i years. A lantern lecture, entitled “Home Life in Japan,” will be delivered by Mrs Hilda Wood in the Theosophical Hall, Dowling street. To-morrow evening Professor Wood Gate of India) will lecture on “The Unseen World and the Life After Death,” also in the Theosophical Hall. A dance will be held in the Trades Hall to-night. For wireless crystal sets the famous Neutron Crystal surpasses all others.— Obtainable at Barth Electrical Supplies (Limited), electric contractors, suppliers, and Wireless Specialists.—Advt. It does make a difference where you take your prescription. Sprosen’s (Ltd.), chemists. Octagon, use specially imported drugs, and have special dispensers. Try them and you will be convinced, and your doctor satisfied. —Advt. “No-rubbing Laundry Help,” Dunedin housewives, and New Zealand grocers constitute a trio of unsurpassed quality, so “on with the dance, let joy be unconfined.” —Advt. Eczema, varicose ulcers, and all skin irritation sucessfully treated by Hoffman’s special remedy. Full particulars from Hoffman’s Pharmacy, 17 Princes street (next Begg’s).—Advt. A. E J Blakeley and W E. Bagley, dentists, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Bllee I Telephnn* 1859 Advt Eyes are precious. At first sign of weakness gr to the qualified and experienced (20 years ) optometrist, W. V Sturmer, D. 5.0.1., G.A.0.C., Octagon, Dunedin. Most up-to-date equipment, including test electrically-lit testing charts installed. —Advt. Make no mistake. For honest value in jewellery, watches, and optica' goods, “Peter Dick,” the most reliable watchmakers, jewellers, and optometrists, 400 Moray place (opp. City Hotel). —Advt.