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Otago Witness, Issue 4029, 2 June 1931, Page 3

The death of Mr Frederick James de Thierry on May 21 at his home, BurnIcy terrace, Auckland, will recall to old residents his grandfather, Baron de Thierry, who arrived in New Zealand in 1837 with the idea of founding a kingdom in the Hokianga district. The baron claimed to have secured titles to a large area of land in the north, but as the Maoris held opposite views on the matter the venture failed, though it is probable that this attempt at a French colonisation may have had something to do with the British protectorate being secured a little later by the Treaty of Waitangi. Baron de Thierry remained for some time in the Hokianga district, then went to live at Russell, and died in Auckland in 1864. Mr F. J. de Thierry, though inheriting claims to the title, preferred a retired life. He was greatly esteemed by’ a wide circle of- friends, spent all his life in the Auckland district, and went to live in the city with his family in 1914. A taxidermist, Mansell James Jones, or Rotorua, was prosecuted in the Magistrate’s Court on Monday by the Department of Internal Affairs for having in his possession the skin and feathers of a protected bird, a bittern. The defendant said he brought the bittern from Queensland under the authority, of a permit from the Queensland Government, and also under a permit from the Minister of Internal Affairs. This latter authority was lost, and the department could find no -trace of it. The defendant said he brought a collection of birds, including the bittern, for the Ilawera Acclimatisation Society’, but that the society’s funds did not permit of the purchase of the whole collection, and he accordingly had the bittern left on his hands ever since 1923. The magistrate, Mr S. L. Paterson, held that prohibited birds brought into New Zealand came within the New Zealand legislation, unless the holder of the birds obtained a permit from a lawful authority, which the court held to mean the Minister of Internal Affairs. As defendant was unable to produce a permit from the Minister, he was convicted and fined £2, and costs (£3 10s). “Tn these day’s of financial stringency, I venture to utter a word of warning regarding the practice of so-called economy,” said his Excellency the GovernorGeneral (Lord Bledisloe) when speaking at a luncheon tendered him by the British (United Kingdom) Manufacturers’ Association of New Zealand, Auckland branch. “False economy in bad times may prove to be commercial suicide,” his Excellency added. “ For instance, if it pays to advertise, it.certainly pays in this country to fertilise, and undue economy in this respect may intensify the losses of the primary producer. Similarly, it may be the truest economy to scrap old-fashioned and uneconomic plant or machinery in woollen or boot factories, freezing houses, or dairy factories, and substitute more up-to-date equipment. The same considerations apply to the use of red oxide or. other paints for the preservation of metal roofs and other structures against corrosion. I could multiply illustrations almost indefinitely.”

As a result of the increasing burden of taxation and the depressed state of commerce, a large forwarding and carrying company in Wellington is taking a number of its heavy motor lorries’off the road and replacing them bj’ horsedrawn vehicles. The tendency to return to horse-drawn vehicles, it is understood, has become-marked in England, where it is found that the older method is still effective where the distance does not exceed 12 miles. Commenting on the action a member of the firm told a Dominion reporter that it was another instance of the Government’s taxation policy defeating its own end. Five lorries would be taken off the road at the end of the month, which would mean that £375 less would be paid in license fees. In addition there Would be a reduced consumption of petrol. He also mentioned that following the doubling of the postage rates the firm had been giving letters to various members of the staff for delivery in the city whenever they had a slack moment, with the result that its postage bill was less now than it was before the charges were increased. Horses are being brought, in from the country forthwith, and will be used in drawing the lighter lorries.

The grouting of the country abutting the Arapuni dam is a fascinating process (states the New Zealand Herald). Holes are first driven to a depth of, say, 60ft, with casing for the first 10ft or 15ft. A hose is then screwed on to a casing attachment, and liquid cement is pumped in to fill any cracks it can find. Then the bore is deepened, and the process is repeated, and then, possibly, a third section is extended. Grouting will be carried out on the upstream side of the dam in the bed of the old river course, as well as on the cliff tops. The pressure gauge of the pump is most carefully watched. A pressure of 751 b may be reached, but not prolonged, for if it were exerted for any length of time in a long crack it might find running parallel to the gorge it would be sufficient to drop the cliff face into the bed. Another link with the early days of colonisation in Otago has been forwarded to the Early Settlers’ Association in the shape of a figurehead from the schooner James Paxton, which was purchased at Greenock in the year 1856 by Mr W. R. Menelaws and five others. The schooner, with a party of intending settlers and their families on board who also carried out the work of managing the vessel, sailed from Scotland in the same year, and reached Victoria after a voyage of five months. The James Paxton was then sold, her new owners employing her in the intercolonial and New Zealand coastal trade until she was wrecked at Taiaroa Heads in the year 1881. The wreckage was purchased by Mr Menelaws, who had meanwhile left Australia and come to New Zealand, arriving in Port Chalmers in 1862, and the figurehead was removed by him to his home there, where it was well known by many for practically 50 years, until, by request, it was handed over to the Port Chalmers Old Identities’ Association last August, being finally given into the keeping of the Early Settlers’ Association.

It would appear that the illustrated booklet dealing with the attractions of Dunedin from the point of view of the tourist and the lover of beauty, which, was issued some time ago under the auspices of several local bodies, has already travelled far and wide, and is fully serving the purpose for which it was intended. Various people and societies have adopted different means of distributing the pamphlet in such a manner as to excite the interest of people overseas, especially of those who might possibly be influenced by this subtle form of advertising to visit the Dominion. Not the least most successful of these is that practised by a wireless enthusiast in this city, who spends several hours each evening listening-in to the broadcasting stations of the United States. He endeavours to obtain as complete a record of the programme broacast as possible, and in order to verify his records sends a list of the items heard to the station from which they emanated for verification purposes. Along with these he encloses one of the booklets, and he states that in every case he receives a letter in return acknowledging the receipt of the brochure, while in some instances the stations concerned record that they have quoted lengthy extracts, and in other ways made reference to this city. As these talks are heard by millions of people, both in America and elsewhere, it will readily be admitted that the publicity which Dunedin thus receives is very considerable.

At a special meeting of the City Council last week it was decided tha’t the rates remain as at present for the coming year, and that there be a surcharge tax of 5 per cent, on the gas and electric accounts. The rates are as follows: —General rate 2s IJd, hospital rate 4|d, water rate 9d, drainage rate Is 2d; total, 4s sd.

Walter Tinsley, charged with the murder of Nana Chhiba at Hawera on January 31, has been remanded till June 4.

What must surely rank as the world’s record haul of ambergris was recalled by a Bluff resident, in speaking of a Norwegian skipper who was whaling south of New Zealand, his company’s factory ship, the Polynesia, being in Preservation Inlet. The season showed a handsome profit for the company, owing to one of the chasers (the Zealandia) cap turing a very sick whale which yielded the wonderful return of £260,000 for the ambergris it contained. This was in 1912.

If New Zealand citizens of all classes were to make up their minds doggedly and patriotically to purchase for their current needs, preferably goods made in New Zealand so far as these are available and suitable, and, failing these, goods made in Great Britain, or, in default of both, goods produced in other parts of the British Empire, they would enhance enormously their own and their country’s prosperity, and shorten by at least a year the present period of industrial depression and unemployment. This dictum (says our special correspondent) summed up an address delivered by the Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe) at a luncheon given in his honour by the Auckland branch of British (United Kingdom) Manufacturers’ Association of New Zealand yesterday.

“ You are judges of fact, I am not,” said Mr Justice Blair, summing up in a criminal case at the Supreme Court, New Plymouth, when directing jurymen in their duties. The jury had a far more important function in such eases than the judge, he said. The jury was in the position of being the sole judge of fact. It was "only the function of the judge to help them as far as he could, in focussing their attraction on parts of the' case which were material for them to consider. He was also to see that proceedings were conducted in a perfectly fair manner to the accused. As a final shot, his Honor told the jury that there was a higher court which could put him right if he erred in matters of law; but if the jury were wrong, they had to stay wrong; if they were right, they would stay right.: Although no finality has been reached the public works department has for some time had under consideration the recasting of the South Island main tf’unk railway scheme with a view to 4 making the northern terminus at Clifford' Bay, near Cape Campbel), instead of at Picton, as was originally suggested. The proposi tion has been investigated closely within recent months the object of the rearrangement being to cut down the travelling time between Christchurch and Wellington by several hours. Should the Government decide to recast its proposals it is certain that port facilities will have to be established at Clifford . Bay, which is not at present capable of handling traffic. For this reason soundings of the bay have been taken recently with the object of seeing whether it would be suitable as a port. So far nothing official has been stated concerning the prospects.

There is a possibility that, in the near future, an invitation will be sent, on behalf of religious bodies, to Miss Christa bel Pankhurst to visit Australia and New Zealand as a woman preacher (states the Christchurch Star). She is one of the daughters of the late Mrs Pankhurst, the militant English suffragette, and was associated with her mother and sisters in that memorable crusade. Since then she has become a notable preacher. A northern minister heard her preach last year at the English Wesleyan Church in Paris, and his impression was that she is a remarkably gifted preacher, with unusual eloquence. She told him that, if suitable opportunity offered, she would like to visit the Antipodes. One of her sisters is Airs T. Walsh, of Sydney.

Sir Thomas Sidey has offered to present a medal for the best paper on the advantages of “ summer-time.” ' The Standing Committee of the New Zealand Institute, reported to the annual meeting as follows:—“In April Dr Cockayne and Professor Kirk were asked to suggest a design for the proposed summer-time medal. They suggested that the obverse side should bear the donor in profile, and that on the reverse side the design should represent the sun’s rays from above, with the sun’s disc or portion of it, while below on each side should be representations of Ceres and Hygcia. These suggestions were approved by members of the Standing Committee and by Sir Thomas Sidey, and the medals will be ready in May. Sir Thomas Sidey, in fulfilment of his promise to present the medal, forwarded his cheque for £l2O to cover the cost of it.” It was contended by some of the governors that the calling of applications might deter the best, and perhaps the most competent, scientific men from participating. Finally it was decided to make an “ announcement ” about the Sidey Medal in the principal papers of the Dominion six months before the medal was awarded.

When proposing the toast of “ The British Empire ” at a meeting of the Empire Veterans’ Association at Wanganui on Saturday night, the Rev. H. W. Austin said that Mr Gandhi was not antiBritish and not anti-Empire, but felt that the British Government was wrong in the attitude it had taken up with regard to India. Mr Austin believed that Mr Gandhi was striving for the well-being and the right of the people of India as a people of the British Empire, and wanted to make India a stronger and better part of the Empire. Mr Gandhi had been educated in England much against his parents’ wishes, . and had passed his solicitor’s examinations and had been called to the Bar. After building up a large practice in South Africa he returned to India when the Government put a tax on Indians in the State. It was then that he instituted his passive resistance campaign, and went to gaol for not paying taxes. When the Soutn African war came, Mr Gandhi oragnised an ambulance corps of 1000 Indians to work for the British, and during the Great War he had served with the Ambulance Corps until he was invalided home to India.

Mr Justice Kennedy has granted probate in the estates of Elliston Scott Orbell, Dunedin (Mr J. S. Sinclair); Ann King, Green Island (Mr G. Gallaway); Margaret Agnes Collie, Mosgiel (Mr John Wilkinson); and Hugh Allan Binnie, Dunedin (Mr J. W. Thomson). Letters of administration have been granted in the estate of George Winfred Geddes, Owaka (Mr W. L. Moore).

At the special meeting of the City Council last week it was decided to make the honorarium of.the Mayor £5OO, less the amount involved by any reduction which may be decided upon by the Arbitration Court.

The differing functions of an annual exhibition of art, such as that organised by the Auckland Society of Arts, and those of a public art gallery, were discussed by the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, when he opened the jubilee exhibition of the society at Auckland. “ I notice that there lias been a controversy about the selection of pictures for the Mackelvie Trust,” said his Excellency. “This leads me to ask what may be deemed the objects of an exhibition such as this and of a permanent public art gallery. If one does not kow what one’s objective is it is difficult to kow how that objective is to be attained. Speaking as a man in the street on the subject of art. I should have thought the object of an annual exhibition such as this is to outline the progress' of art. It seems to me that you would be perfectly justified in not merely placing on your walls attractive works of art, but samples which showed evidences of genius in some direction.” However, when the filling of a public gallery was in hand there were other considerations, said his Excellency. A public gallery maintained by funds largely provided by the public should seek to promote within its four walls by tlie silent eloquence of its pictures an inspiration and 'a comfort for the ordinary citizen of refined tastes. It seemed to him that as tonic for even the physically indisposed a single picture might possess more invigorating properties than the physic of the greatest doctors.

The Labour Government in Victoria has recently set up a board of inquiry to determine in what directions the present heavy expenditure on education can be reduced to meet the need of judicious economy demanded by the serious position of the finances of the State.

When the attention of Archbishop O’Shea was drawn to the papal encyclical, his Grace said: “This encyclical is the outcome of the celebrations held in Rome during the present month to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s famous encyclical on the conditions of the working classes. Representatives of some 30 nations interested in social questions assembled to exchange their views on questions of the day in the light and teachings of Pope Leo in the now well known encyclical. It marked an occasion for the reaffirmation of the principles, explained in modern language, according to which the church holds that modern social problems should be solved. His Holiness, in the encyclical, defends the right of private ownership, and shows that Socialism is not according to the law of Nature, but at the same time, he strongly condemns a state of things that, to use the Pope’s own words, brings about ‘ that the hiring of labour and the conduct of trade are concentrated in the hands of comparatively few, so that a small number of very rich have been able to lay on the teeming masses of the labouring poor a yoke little better than that of slavery itself.’ While rejecting the remedy that the Socialists propose, the Pope points out that the true remedy is to be sought in the combined action of the Church, State, employer, and the working class. All these must co-operate according to Christian principles if the true remedy is to be found. If society is to be healed now, in no other way can it be healed save by a return to Christian life and Christian institutions.”

Although he landed his first fish in New Zealand by illegal means, Air G. F. Whiteside, who was.elected a life member of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society- said that he would not, even now, tell a number of anglers, whom he called fishermen, the methods of which he knew (states the Christchurch Star). Air Whiteside said that he had his first experience of fishing, oi’ rather poaching, in New Zealand in 1882. He had been brought up among poachers in the north of Ireland, and was well acquainted with their methods. He had taken out his first license in 1883, and had had one every year until last year, when his health had been too bad to permit it. Air Whiteside, who claimed to be the oldest angler, in experience, in New Zealand, said that he first fished in 1862 and fired his first gun in 1866. He, like all other anglers, lost the biggest fish he ever hooked, and, like all good shooters, he missed his first shot.

Thanks to the generous assistance of the Dunedin City Council and the Otago Harbour Board, the Otago Expansion League and the Chamber of Commerce have been able to secure a valuable and artistic picture folder of the city and its surroundings. These booklets have been distributed far and wide, and Aliss A Anderson, of Alacandrew Bay (an indefatigable disseminator of Otago’s claims), sent, amongst others, a copy to the Countess of Jersey. Her ladyship writes in reply: “Your delightful little publication describing Dunedin and its neighbourhood reached me safely, and having studied it myself, I took it to a school of which I am one of the managers, and the head teacher was much pleased, as the children receive many lessons concerning the Empire, and she says that the older ones are especially interested in reading a book of this kind and looking at the pictures. If I may say so—it does the Otago Expansion League credit. I have always thought New Zealand one of the most lovely countries I have ever seen. With all kind remembrances, believe me.—Yours sincerely (signed), M. E. Jersey.”

An erroneous impression with regard to letters posted to newspaper offices in answer to advertisements seems to be prevalent, several letters having been received unsealed, with the envelope flaps turned in, and bearing only Id postage. Replies to advertisements are letters in the ordinary sense, and should bear the usual letter postage 2d, otherwise they are surcharged for the deficiency in postage.

A farmer at Hillend has had reason to complain lately of sheep-worrying by dogs, no fewer than 100 of a flock of 520 hoggets having been killed in this manner, and more than half of the remainder having been seriously hurt. The dog, or dogs, which caused the trouble made a raid on the flock on Alonday night, when a great deal of havoc was wrought in a short time. It is some years since any serious complaint of this nature has been made in the district, and it is probable that owners of dogs have become some-, what lax in regard to tying up their animals at night. Tire farmer whose sheep were killed set up a watch on Tuesday night, with the result that a dog, which is described as appearing to have a strain'of Alsatian in its breed, was seen and shot, but it is not known whether this was the only offender, or if there are others. It would, however, be advisable for all dog owners to chain .up their animals at night in future.

“ The burning question to-day is town planning,” said the Alayor of Hastings, Air G. F. Roach, in addressing the Rotary Club in connection with the present movement in Hastings and Napier to adopt town planning schemes. The question of street widening had brought about a meeting of business men, said the Alayor, the largest meeting, he believed, that had ever been held in Hastings, and it was unanimously resolved to widen the main street. He strongly urged upon owners that if this opportunity were lost it would never recur. Agreement with the project should be as unanimous as possible, said Air Roach, and he was giving everyone a chance of informing him whether they were in agreement with it or not. The street widening scheme suggested, namely, five feet on each side, would have a distinct advantage. Before carrying out the scheme full details of the cost of compensation and extra widening of paths should be investigated. It would then still be open for them to drop the subject if the work were found to be too expensive.