NELSON NEWS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 20, 24 January 1924, Page 2

NELSON NEWS

(BT lEUOBAPB.—SPECIAL TO THI POST.)

NELSON, 23rd January. Owing to various and repeated acts of vandalism in the city reserves and other parts of the town, the City Council, acting on a committee's recommendation, has resolved that the Polide Department bo approached with a view to obtaining the services of one or two female detectives from Wellington for the purpose of putting a stop to acts of vandalism and the depositing of rubbish in unauthorised places and other similar unlawful acts.

The reservoir reserve is one of the most picturesque spots in Nelson, and it is to this locality that most o£ J^lson's distinguished visitors are taken by the Mayor. Permission to gain access to the reserve can be granted at the .discretion o! the council officials; but the gate is always kept locked, the keys being kept by the. caretaker and at the municipal chambers. The question of making the area more accessbile to the public came up for discussion at .the council meeting on Friday. It was stated that trees had been partially destroyed lately by some people who had visited the place, arid councillors were of opinion that owing to the danger of fire and the possibility of there being further destruction of trees and Ehrubs, it was not safe to allow general access. The engineer said_ it was generally understood that the caretaker could use lib discretion in allowing people into the reserve. It would be dangerous to allow free use of it to the public. The Mayor agreed, and gave instances of damage to trees. A motion that a notice board be erected at the gate that Hie key could be obtained from the caretaker was lost.

The City Electrical Engineer ,{Mr. C. A. Henderson) reported tHat the applications for connections with the electric light service continued to steadily increase, the total number now being 532. The units generated per day remain at about 700 on the average, but he expected the units generated to rise considerably as new motors had arrived, and would further augment the load. Satisfaction was expressed at the nature of the report. time ago a Commission dealt with the question of the maintenance of the Rocks road, and the finding was that the Nelson City Council, the Taiju-' nanui Town Board, the Waimea County Council, the Richmond and Motueka Borough Councils should all contribute to its maintenance, and,that the maintenance should be undertaken, by the City Council. Richmond and Motueka, however, objected to being contributors. A conference of the local bodies, at which the first three mentioned .were represented, was. held later, when the unanimous opinion was that the road should be-tar-sealed; but until the matter of the Richmond and Motueka objections were settled, only ordinary maintenance could be undertaken. At the last meeting of the City Council the Mayor referred to the state of the Rocks road, and suggested that the local bodies concerned be asked to: contribute to the cost of tar-sealing it. A motion -to this was unanimously carried. Permits for five dwellings, at a cost 'of £4504, and" permits for repairs, additions, and other buildings, making a total of £6019, were issued by the City Engineer for the fortnight. The announcement that the rate of freight on apples to South. America has been reduced from 4s 6d to 3s. 6d is most satisfactory to growers. This reduction makefc the rate 6d lower than the freight. to England. The present order' for' South America is for 50,000 cases, a large proportion- of which^Will be filled by Nelson. The purchasers are Messrs. J. J. Hoare, ah English firm in business in Monte Video. The "f.o.b. ocean steamer equivalents oh the revised freight basis will be: Dunns and Stumers 9s 6d,. Jonathans and other reds 10s 6d, Delicious 12s 3d. An effort is being made in England to induce shipowners to reduce the freight to Britain. If successful, the outlook for the growers will be much more cheerful than for some time past. .: While commenting appreciatively on the Hokitika Exhibition, which he had recently visited, Councillor Watson, at th,o last council meeting, regretted that Nelson had not made a better showing there. Referring to some photographs sent down by the Cawthron Institute, he said they were placed on a wall behind empty benches, and were difficult to get at. The only cards seen plainly were those giving the sunshine and rain records of Nelson. In comparing the rainfall records of Hokitika with Nelson he noted that "we were well down, and Hokitika was sky-high." The biennial moveable conference of the Manchester Unity Order of Oddfellows will hold their next meeting in Nelson in April next. The General Committee appointed by the Nelson District Conference to make the necessary arrangements met on Saturday evening, Bro. M'Conchie, D.G.M., presiding. The programme for the conference, which is expected to last five days, was drawn up. P.D.G.M. Bro. W. Liddle was appointed organiser, and a number of sub-commit-tees were set up to arrange for the reception of delegates, entertainments, etc.

The Workers' Co-operative Society held their fourth annual picnic and sports at Hanby Park on Saturday. The weather was good, and there was a very large attendance. A good sports ■programme, including games and competitions, was provided, and numerous events for the children were being organised by Mr. G. P. Russell. Hot water, tea, sugar, and milk were provided free for nicnickers. The Regimental Band supplied good music. Altogether a most enjoyable time was spent.