New naval commodore chosen

The choice of a successor to Commodore A.F. Beal CMG as Commodore, 2nd Class, for duty as First Naval Member of the Royal New Zealand Naval Board and as Commodore in command of the Royal New Zealand Naval Station, has fallen upon Captain George T.C.P. Swabey DSO, who is at present the Captain of the Royal Naval College at Greenwich. He will hoist his broad pennant in the cruiser Dunedin about August 25 next. The new commodore was born on January 22, 1881, and entered the Royal Navy on January 15. 1895. He obtained captain’s rank in June, 1918. He served in Gallipoli from December 1914, as Naval Observation Officer and in charge of naval guns on shore. He was Assistant Director of Naval Ordinance from May, 1921, to October. 1923. His appointment as Captain of the Royal Naval College at Greenwich was made in September, 1924 and will remain until relieved to sail for New Zealand. Captain Swabey is married, and has one son.

Dream of a Haast link

The opening of a road connecting Otago with South Westland, via the Haast Pass has been aptly named Macandrew’s Dream, as it was the hope of that well-known pioneer to link up the two provinces by this route, as far back as the days of the great gold mining discoveries in both districts. The project is being strongly advocated by those living in the adjacent district, and a petition to Parliament is being prepared, asking for the inclusion of a grant for the purpose to be included among those allocated for roads and bridges.

Document for children’s rights

A document which has evoked widespread interest is a Declaration of the Rights of the Child by the Council of the League of Nations. This important deliverance, coming from so influential a body, has been aptly designated ‘‘the Children’s Charter.’’ It sets forth, in a series of five paragraphs, what the Council, after deliberation, believes to be the rightful inheritance of every child born into the world, whatever may be its country or class or colour.

Fixed component gets loose

A stator, part of a 1000 kilowatt generator, which was being transported from Waipori to Dunedin on a 12-horse lorry on Wednesday, now lies submerged in the Waipori River. The generator was sold some time ago by the City Council to the New Zealand Government for use at the Waikaremoana hydro-electric development works, and was divided into sections for transportation to Waikokopu. One section was taken to Dunedin on Tuesday, but the lorry had gone only a quarter of a mile on Wednesday when a portion of the Gorge road gave way under the wheels. The lorry slipped about 50 feet down the bank. The stator, however, broke away from the lorry and fell into the river. As the river is high at present the work of recovering the machinery cannot be commenced immediately, and in any case the work of salvage can only be done when the power house is not working at full pressure. Slings will be paced under the stator tomorrow, and it will be lifted during the week. It is not expected that the damage will be extensive. The stator originally cost about £1000.

School holidays begin

Dunedin and suburban schools closed down yesterday afternoon for the winter term holidays. They will resume on Tuesday, June 15. Country school committees have the privilege of fixing the vacation to suit their particular districts, some waiting until the really bad weather commences. A large number, however, observe the dates specified for city and suburban schools.

Money left to Bishop

The sum of £300 has been left to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Dunedin under the will of the late Mr John Collins to be used for religious and educational purposes at the bishop’s discretion. — ODT, 29.5.1926