The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 1927. THE LIBRARY LOAN

Southland Times, Issue 20082, 20 January 1927, Page 4

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 1927. THE LIBRARY LOAN

This month the ratepayers will be asked to vote on several loan proposals put before them by the Invercargill Borough Council and amongst these there will be at least one which we think will not provoke criticism from any quarter, not even from the stalwarts whose inclinations are to oppose every scheme involving a loan. No one is likely to vote against the proposal to build a new Public Library to replace the Athenaeum which has done service for so many years, but which is now so hopelessly overcrowded that it is hampering the operations of the most successful of the town’s publicly-owned institutions. The Invercargill Public Library is handsomely endowed and since it was taken over by the municipality it has paid the corporation in rates more than it has received from the general account so that actually it has not cost the ratepayers a penny. Visitors to Invercargill, comparing the library with similar institutions in much larger communities, have remarked on the extraordinarily high place Invercargill holds in this connection, and the steady growth of the library is the surest indication of the esteem m which it is held locally. Through the systematic expansion of its reference department. it is able to give a free service to the students of the community and the free reading room is rated as second to none in the Dominion. The popularity of the library, however, has been the cause of the overcrowding which is now restricting its operations, threatening to shut off the supply of new books because there is no room for them on the shelves, and a steady flow of new books represents the life’s blood of a successful institution of this kind. Some time ago the corporation, looking ahead, acquired a site for a new building and plans have been drawn for a new library which will serve the needs of the town for a decade at least and will provide for extensions at a very low cost-. As only a part of the full scheme is to be gone on with at present there will be no danger of anything in the nature of patchwork construction since the completed design is already in the hands of the Council. The financial aspects of the proposal will assuredly count at this stage in the town’s development, but on this score the ratepayers have no cause for nervousness. Thanks to the forethought of the previous generations in fixing the site of the present library the institution will be able to draw enhanced revenue from that building when it is vacated by the library and the estimates, conservatively drawn, show that the new building can be erected without any call on the ratepayers. It is a fact that in other centres public libraries are relieved of rates, or are supported by special library rates; but Invercargill, in addition to drawing rates from its library over a number of years, has been blessed with an institution which has paid its own way. It is now so thoroughly established that the corporation is able to estimate its annual revenue and expenditure with certainty and there is, therefore, no reason for doubting the accuracy of the figures compiled in connection with the loan proposals. If the library were a privately-owned concern the scheme based’on the loan proposals would have been undertaken several years ago with the utmost confidence and it may be said confidently that the appeal to the ratepayers borders on a formality, since the need for the new building is so obvious anH*the financial end of the proposition is so satisfactory. We think we are right in saying that even if the expansion proposals involved a small contribution from the general fund for a year or two the ratepayers would not hesitate to endorse the proposal.

because it is so absolutely necessary for the future efficiency of this magnificent branch of the corporation's activities. That plea need not be put forward. The Public Library has paid for itself throughout its career and the town actually is indebted to it for a splendid service which can be made even better as a result of these extensions. The only risk in connection with the loan proposals is that ratepayers will feel so assured of their adoption that they will neglect to vote on the polling day. A handsome endorsement of these proposals will be the surest indication of the public’s high opinion of the library and of those who have contributed to its success before and since its acquisition by the town. Tho Public Library deserves well of the citizens of Invercargill, and they can vote for this loan with confidence that the expenditure proposed is absolutely necessary and that the reliable estimates indicate that the work will be carried out without necessitating any increase in the rates.

Advertisements regarding Tenders and Motor Cars and Cycles appear on Page 6 of this issue. >

The Government meteorologist (Mr D. C. Bates) last \night issued the following forecast: —Present indications are for strong and squally north-westerly to south-westerly winds. Weather unsettled and cloudy with rain probable generally. Barometer unsteady and falling but rising again shortly.

James Inderman Matthews, taxi driver, was committed for trial on a charge of driving recklessly on January 9, causing the death of a married woman. Ivy Louisa Boon, aged 31, states a Christchurch Press Association message.

A schnapper weighing 191 b was caught at New Brighton the other day by a fisherman on the pier, and the landing of the big fish occasioned a great deal of interest lo those in the vicinity, states the Christchurch Press. The fish is easily a record of its kind to be captured at the seaside resort.

Owing to the lack of demand, the white pine mills in the Hokitika district are taking a longer holiday than usual, says the Westport Times. There is a rather better demand for rimu, which enables some of the mills to resume with a restricted output, but white pine prospects are not regarded as hopeful at present.

In trying to avoid knocking down two small boys who were crossing the North Road near Lowe street yesterday, a motor truck driven by Mr R. Hislop overturned. Five men were travelling on the truck out but fortunately were not seriously injured. Only the driver’s prompt action prevented one of the boys being run over.

Mr Arthur Farrant, an employee of tho Kawarau G.M. Co. at the dam, sustained a nasty injury last Thursday. His left foot was caught by the crank of an engine and very badly bruised. The injury was attended to by Dr Anderson at the Lake County Hospital, and Farrant was then conveyed to his home in Queenstown, where he is progressing favourably.

A Dunedin man who is closely in touch with the fruit-growing business recently

visited Australia to have a look around the orchards, and he says that thrips and other pests have this season played havoc with the stone and pip crops, wherefore it is anticipated that the whole of the crop in Tasmania (the State that alone is not troubled with the scourge) will be absorbed by the States on the mainland.

Over 300 officers and men of the local territorials left by special train for Lumsden yesterday afternoon. At the various stations en route further territorials joined the train, and by the time all are under canvas at Castle Rock the number will be in the vicinity of 700. The trainees are .drawn from all parts of Southland, and an intensive course of instruction has been drawn up. The camp ends next Wednesday.

Newspapers go far afield and find readers in most unexpected quarters. Local ad-

vertisers have frequently shown the management of the Southland Times letters from abroad which have turned up in their mail, greatly to their surprise. The latest instance brought under notice is a letter from Carlisle, Great Britain, received by Messrs W. Todd and Co., Ltd., Invercargill, asking for quotations, with guaranteed analysis, purity and germination, of Timothy, Dogstail and Ryegrass advertised by the local firm in the Southland Times. It is a fair cry from Invercargill to Carlisle, bu"t advertisements in the Southland Times have occasionally brought replies from places much more remote and much less in contact with Britain’s oversea dominions. In some cases the correspondence thus originated has resulted in the establishment of a permanent business connection, and if, in this case, a regular buyer is found in Carlisle for Southland grass seeds so much the better.

“I am now the ‘Father of Parliament,’ ” announced Mr T. M. Wilford, M.P., speaking at a social gathering at the Lower Hutt last week (states the Evening Post). “I attach exceptional importance to the fact that I am now the oldest sitting member of the House of Representatives. That’s why I wanted to win this seat last election. That’s what I wanted. I have never said it before. It’s the one thing I wanted to say—T have been longer in Parliament for my constituency than any other man in the House.’ I am not the Leader of the Party. Mr Forbes, of Hurunui, is. lam plain T. M. Wilford, member for Hutt—and ‘Father of Parliament.’ I think an awful lot of that. I think it is a fine title.” Mr Wilford added that although he had made a good recovery in health he intended to take the advice of his medical advisers and take things easy for a while so that the good accomplished would not be undone. Vigorous efforts in the field of politics should not be expected for some little time. He intended to “go slow” for a while.

Strong views in regard to cruelty in sport are held by Mr Gouverneur Morris, the American writer (says the Auckland Star), who is at present having a holiday in New Zealand. At one time Mr Morris was an enthusiastic deer stalker, and he secured some fine heads, but of recent years he has hunted the stag with the camera instead of the rifle. “In a well-stocked country,” he says, “it is not difficult to get within range, and a person possessed of good health and steady nerves, and armed with the modern high-velocity rifle, has little difficulty in hitting his stag. Unfortunately, the animal too often is merely wounded, and drags itself away to die in misery. I can assure you it requires a great deal more skill and patience to get within “camera range,” and a good snapshot makes a worthy souvenir of the day’s sport.” Mr Morris, who has just returned from a trip to the Bay of Islands, expresses himself strongly as to the cruelty involved in big-game fishing. He suggests that it might be possible to liberate the fish at the end of the battle for supremacy in which the angler has triumphed.

The Auckland Harbour Board has decided to demolish the sheerlegs from the Calliope Dock, which have been a landmark on the Waitemata for the past 20 years (states the New Zealand Herald). The machinery has already been sold for a little over £4OO, and the work of dismantling the remainder of the equipment will be carried out at the convenience of the board. When the removal of the sheerlegs was first suggested, one of the reasons given was that they would be a menace in case of war, as they indicated the position of the Admiralty oil tanks, and could be seen from Tiritiri. “The sheerlegs have been a white elephant with us,” stated Mr H. R. Mackenzie, chairman of the board. “They cost the board about £34,000, and to-day the saleable portion will realise only about £lOOO. The Admiralty has now agreed to the demolition of the sheerlegs, as it is realised it would pay better to make use of the services of the floating crane, Mahua. During the past 20 years the sheerlegs have been used only about three times, so that to all intents and purposes they are useless.”

About 30 territorials left Bluff by train yesterday morning to attend the camp at Castle Ribck. f

According to a return furnished to the Minister of Internal Affairs, poultry was less plentiful in New Zealand in 1926 than in 1921. The latest census shows a decrease over all classes of 209,864.—-Press Association.

The monthly return of registered motor vehicles in the Dominion shows that a steady increase is being maintained. In November the registrations amounted to 152,573, and at the end of December last the total had grown to 155,325. —Press Association.

It is generally believed that the quinnat (salmon do not make their appearance in the Rangitata until February, but this year the first run of salmon was noticed in the river on January 2, and since then a few more salmon have been noticed, says the Ashburton Guardian.

A valuable gift of between 500 and 600 volumes, chiefly reference, has been made to the Dominion Observatory through the good offices of Dr. Comrie, an ex-Auckland student, now deputy superintendent of the British Almanack Office, London, reports a Wellington Press Association message.

Stone fruit is suffering severely as a result of the prolonged spell of wet weather, and dry rot has accounted for a large percentage of the apricot crops, says the Poverty Bay Herald. Nectarines are also splitting badly. Though black spot is making its appearance in a number of orchards, the apple crops promise to be prolific, and a large quantity should be exported again this year.

A novel method of carrying the baby was seen in a closed car which a party of touring motorists drove into Wanganui recently, states the Herald. Suspended from the ceiling of the car was a canvas cradle, dangling over the knees of the passengers in the rear seat. In this comfortable hammock the infant accompanying the party swayed happily, untroubled by bad road surfaces or the sudden jerks of the car on corners.

That there is still a fair amount of unemployment in Wanganui is indicated by the calls made on the local offices of the Labour Department, says the Chronicle. One or two local industrial concerns have lately put off men, owing to the completion of big contracts, and the City Council has just about come to the end of its relief works. The constant bad weather has had a good deal to do with the present position, and the result is that many are still subsisting on only casual jobs.

A youth named Charles Fleming, a restdent of Milton, had the misfortune to meet with an accident at the military camp at Castle Rock yesterday. Details to hand are meagre, but it appears that, while engaged in routine camp duties, Fleming experienced a fall which resulted in his sustaining injuries to his head. He was brought to Invercagrill on the excursion train from Kingston last evening, and was subsequently admitted to the Southland Hospital. Inquiries elicited the information that his injuries were not of a serious nature, and that he was progressing favourably.

The pea crop throughout the Nelson district has been exceptionally heavy this year, due to the splendid growing season (says the Evening Mail). Eight railway trucks of peas arrived in Nelson from the country districts, principally from Hope, Brightwater, Foxhill, and Wai-iti. The season is now at the peak, but from the commencement the yield has been particularly heavy. One factory has been dealing with from 6000 to 7000 pecks a day for some time, and the heavy part of the season will extend for about three weeks yet. These peas are grown by contract and the exceptionally favourable season will mean much larger returns for the growers.

Our Bluff correspondent states that the s.s. Theresa Ward was a full ship for her usual trip to Stewart Island yesterday, having on board some 80 teachers and their friends attending the Summer School. The weather became threatening at the time for starting, a southerly gale coming up with heavy rain and displacing the favourable wind which had been blowing. On this several passengers came ashore, preferring not to face the bad weather. The steamer had a rough passage over to Halfmoon Bay, and as the conditions were likely to be rather worse against the ebb tide on the return journey it was decided to wait until this morning, when the steamer will leave at 5 a.m. and be over in time to catch the 8 a.m. train from Bluff to Invercargill. It is remarkable that when the last Summer School was held at Halfmoon Bay two years ago the weather was of the same character.

When asking for Dewar’s Whisky don’t forget to say “Dewar’s Imperial.”—(Advt.)

See railway advertisement this issue re holiday excursion fares Forbury Trotting Meeting, Dunedin.—Advt. New Zealand is producing a race of great thinkers, thanks to the “Thinker” School Writing Tablet. Price 6d, all stationers. (advt.)

Hear that Hitchon’s Bacon bubble, Smell that fragrant wholesome treat, Nothing gives so little trouble, Nothing nearly half so sweet. —Advt. A suit to your measure in a material of your own choice for £3 17/6. It is no wonder that Thomson & Beattie, Ltd. have broken all previous suit records with this superlative line. Numerous repeat orders are already coming in which testifies to their excellent value.—Advt.

Ever fresh, ever nice, ever refreshing—the beverage' that ever gives satisfaction— Baxter’s Choice Rava Tea. Flavour, liquor, quality delicious. Only 2/10 per lb., 2d. less in 5-lb. packets., 3d. less in 10-lb. packets.—Advt. We can see nothing incongruous in housewives enjoying a little fun or singing “Home Sweet Home” while “NO-RUBBING LAUNDRY HELP” is doing the w'" ’ ' washing. “So say all of us.”—lnvr’ Grocers. — (advt.) . Here are new and readable 3/6 novels: “Bcvil Granville’s Handicap” (Joseph Hocking), never before published; “Ruben and Ivy Sen” (Louise Jordan Miln), a sequel to “Mr and Mrs Sen”; “Keith’s Dark Tower” (Eleanor H. Porter), author of “Pollyana”; “Three Just Men” (Edgar Wallace) ; "The Blithe Sheriff” (F. R. Buckley), quite new; “William the Conqueror” (Richmal Crompton) ; “The Studdingly Stables Mystery” (Ben Strong), obtainable from the N.Z. Book Depot, Esk street. —(Advt.) With “BIG TREE” MOTOR SPIRIT in the tank, a flood of power answers the slightest touch of the accelerator—try it!— (Advt.)

For this week the Albion Salon are making further reductions in frocks, coats, costumes, etc. Now is the time to buy your requirements. Voile frocks from 8/6, zephyr frocks from 9/6. All better frocks and garments marked at less than cost price. Pay a visit to-day. You will be delighted with the asortment and values. Note adress, Albion Salon, first floor, Albion Buildings, Dee Street. ’Phone 1710. (advt.) In selecting Diamond Jewellery the purchaser’s protection is the jeweller. Rankin’s enviable reputation is founded on years of honest trading. Diamonds sold by us are first quality stones, bought direct, and our stock leaves nothing to be desired for style and price. Select your Diamond Jewellery in the privacy of our Ring Parlour. —T. M. RANKIN, Jeweller, Tay Street. —Advt. “A dem’d, damp, moist, unpleasant body!” —Dickens, in “Nicholas Nickleby.” Everybody knows what an unpleasant thing a cold is. If you use Baxter’s Lung Preserver frequently, you need not worry about coughs and colds or sore throats. This fine old tested remedy soothes chests and throats, cuts phlegm, and is also an invaluable tonic. Famous for over a half-a century. Obtainable at all chemists and stores. Generous-sized bottle 2s 6d.—Advt.