Begg gift for new observatory
The chairman of the astronomical branch of the Otago Institute (Mr R. Gilkison) had evident pleasure in announcing good news to a meeting of the branch at the Museum last night. He told the members that the branch had made a marked advance during the past month, and explained that their secretary (Mr J.C. Begg) had made them the gift of a reflecting telescope of 10 or 12 inches, subject to suitable housing for it being provided. They were greatly indebted to Mr Begg for this generous and valuable offer, and inspired by it they had waited on the general council of the Institute to appeal for assistance in establishing the necessary building.
The sum of £200 had been voted by the council, and this, with certain sums available from other sources, brought the whole question within the sphere of practical polities. The committee was taking steps to have an observatory erected as soon as possible, and the next matter would be to decide about plans. They had already fixed on a site on the Town Belt, and he hoped that before long now the branch would once more have a habitation where they could do practical study of the heavens.
Novel hiding-place
Many novel ideas have been acted upon in regard to the hiding of money for safekeeping, but perhaps none so unique as that adopted by a farmer not many miles from Auckland (states the Auckland Star). This person had a tidy pile of notes and, dubious about leaving it in the house during his absence from home, elected to place it in a beehive. He had a shrewd idea that the improvised safe would never be expected to hold such valuable contents, and further, that a stranger approaching the hive would meet with a bad time; hence his selection of the busy little workers to safeguard his wad. A person who was present when the money was extracted by the owner was much struck with the whole scheme.
League of Nations in action
London: The general assembly of the League of Nations has opened. Forty- eight nations were represented, compared with 41 at the first assembly. The special correspondent of the Daily News at Geneva says: "The real contrast between this and last year's league meetings consists of the mental atmosphere. Then everything was uncertain and experimental, with all the apprehension and excitement of novelty. Today the machinery is in full working order. Disputes are being settled, an
International Court has been established, typhus has been fought, and treaties are being registered and published. Briefly, all covenants and intentions are being carried out."
— ODT, 7.9.1921.