NELSON NEWS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 124, 22 November 1926, Page 6

NELSON NEWS

(From Our Own Correspondent.) " NELSON, 19th November

Recently the Government, was asked to extend the Nelson River limits jn order to enable small coasting craft to trade over a wider area. Captain -Whiteford, of the Marine Department, visited Nelson to inquire into and report on the matter. The Minister of Marine lias now communicated with" the Hon. W. AY. Snodgrass, M.L.C., stating that Captain White Cord's. report has" been received and, given careful, consideration, but tb.it i% is »ot deoned advisable to extend the limits, because it that is done any trading launch, no matter how unsuitable, would claim to ply within them or alternatively sonic launches would have to be barred altogether, and thus the extension would act adversely. To meet the needs o£ the .settlers atfeeted, however, it has been decided by the Minister to grant special permission for the Nita and the Maritana to play with cargo : only as far as Collingwoqd, subject to certain specified conditions/ The anniversary services in connection with St. John's (Methodist) Sunday School were held on Sunday last, the morning and evening services bejug conducted by the minister of the church, the Rev. P. N. KmVht, and the afternoon service by the Ke\\ H. J. Ralph (Congregational). The special features of all the services were the hymns sung by the scholars under the conductorship of llr. F. W. Mitchell. The celebration was continued on Monday evening, when the church was crowded. The annual report read by the secretary stated that the roll showed a total of 292 scholars, with an average attendance of 223. There are also 57 on the cradle roll, and teachers and officers number 25. The financial statement showed, a credit balance of £2 Os sd. The Rev. Mr. Knight, in the course of an interesting address, said' that great credit should be given to the teachers. He specially mentioned the superintendent, Mr. . .Nightingale. Mr. Nightingale congratulated the children on the' work they had done, and thanked Mr. Mitchell, the conductor, and Miss Noale, the organist, all the officers of the church, and the teachers for their Untiring efforts. Prizes were presented to a large number of scholars. In'addition to the hymns sung by the school ehoir,a solo by Mervyn Marks and a duet by Freda and Laura Gubb were items deserving of mention. The Collingwood County Council is unable to send a delegate to the conference to be held regarding. the proposed Power Board. - The chief of the Motueka Caledonian. Society (Mr. C.' B. Morris) has informed the society of his intention to present a.silver cup for the highest aggregate in the junior Highland dancing' eventß at the society's sports meeting on New Year's Day. The cup is to be called the "Morris Cup," and ia to become the property of the winner if won twice in succession or three times at intervals. Mr. Morris also stated that Mr. T. S. Hughes had., donated a gold medal for the winner of the Morris Cup at the next meeting. .•■■■' „

The Hon. K. -S. Williams (Minister of Public Works) who has been inspecting the-flood damage on the West Coast and at Murchison, arrived in Nelson on Wednesday afternoon, and' was welcomed by the Mayor (Mr. W. Lock); and Mr. H. Atmore, M.-P.,1 at the Muncipal Chambers, where there was a large and representative gathering. The Minister, expressing thanks for the cordial reception given him, explained that he had been unable to give longer notice of his visit, but hoped to come again and get first-hand information regarding Nelson's requirements. Soyeral deputations were then introduced by Mr. Atmore. Mr. T. A. H. Field, on behalf of Marlborough residents, urged the need for completing a road through the Eonga Valley to the Croixelles. Mr. F. G. Gibbs (president of the Chamber of Commerce),. Mr. W. J. MofFatt (president of the-:;,Nolsoij Provincial Progress League), and Major; Talbot, on behalf of the fruit growers, urged the speeding-up of the work o£ completing the Nelson: West Coast railway. Dr. Gibbs (president of the Nelson Automobile Association) stressed the necessity for improving the Nelson-Blen-heim road. A telegram from Mr. R. Furness (president of the Marlborouga Automobile Association) was read by Dr. Gibbs, supporting I'tlieV request. Dr. Gibbs' also 'asked the Minister to spend the £2000 on the Estimates for the Roundeil-Lake Rqtoiti road, .which was at present in very bad order. -'Mr. Bowater, on behalf of the timber industry, supported the request for improvements to the Nelson-Blenheim road. Messrs. E. H. Thompson and Jarrett asked for immediate expenditure of the grant on the Roundell-Tophouse road. Mr. H. Everett;; chairman of the Motueka Harbour Board^ and Major Talbot made representations regarding the bad icondition of the Motueka Bridge, urging that the Main Highways Board should increase its subsidy to the extent of £3 for £1. A similar request was made by Mr. P. Best, chairman of the Waimea County Council, to enable the council to reconstruct the Wairoa Bridge at Briglitwater. Mr. Burt, on behalf of settlers in the Lake district, asked for improvements on the Hope Junction road,: and for the Tahuanui Town Board Messrs.-,Greenslade and Eadford requested the Minister's assistance with the Highways Board for..a free grant to reconstruct a portion of the sea wall near that township. The Minister said that, regarding the railway, he realised the importance to the district of the completion of the line. He understood; a portion belpw Murchison was now being surveyed. He would go very carefully into the request, and hoped at some future date to inspect the district. Regarding the roads and bridges requests, he said he had no direct control or authority over. the Main Highways Board as to what it should do, but hoped to discuss the matter with the chairman of the board on some co-operative basis. He would go ; carefully into the matters brought before him with Mr. C. J. M'Kenzie, Acting-Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department. Other matters he would discuss with Mr. May, the District Engineer, i' He said he would like his next visit to be in the middle of the fruit season in order to see for himself the extent of- the industry. Mr. J. W. Hardley, president of the Dominion Bowling Association, visited Nelson this week. He visited the Nelson and Maitai Club.s, the Oawthron Institute, and the new hospital. There was a great rally of bowlers at the Nelson Club's room to meet Mr. Hardley at a social, gathering.. The annual flower show of Hoi-'- Trinity Church was lield at the Public Hall, Richmond, on Wednesday. There was an excellent display of cut blooms and plants. The rooms of the recently-f rmed Women's Club in Trafalgar street were opened on AVednesday afternoon. The club has 230 members. The president, Mrs. S. A. Gibbs, after declaring the club open, gave an account of the work done by the committees since the inaugural meeting in August. She thanked all who had assisted in the establishment of the club. Tea was served, and an enjoyable afternoon was spent by all. The decorations and furnishings of the club are adniirable. The visit of H.M.S. Dunedin to Nelson has to be postponed owing to there being no berthag'e. Commodore Swabey regrets any inconvenience that may have been caused by the change of programme. The committee of the Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club met last evening. The possibility of the' cancellation of the warship's vi^it was mentioned. However, the sports meeting when organised provided for such an eventuality, and the A. and P. Association has been notified that the events scheduled will be held on People's Day. The annual meeting of shareholders in the Nelson Freezing Company was held on Thursday.' The chairman, Mr. Gcon;>: Maeinahori, in the course of his' remark.-; j'Baid'he was pleased to be able to report that apples and pears stored for local consumption had kept very well, flesh collapse being quite negligible.