NELSON NEWS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 123, 26 May 1928, Page 7

NELSON NEWS

(From Our Own Correspondent.) NELSON, 25th May. The handling of coal at the powerhouse has been considerably facilitated by the installation of a portable coal and ash elevator worked by a 3 h.p. electric motor. Some time ago the City Council obtained prices for, mechanical elevators, but as they were all very high authority was given for the power-house staff to make an elevator. This lias been- satisfactorily done, and the machine is now in operation, and can elevate to a height of .10ft all the coal that three men can- shovel into it. This means a large saving of time and labour, as 14 tons o£ coal are used daily. By making the elevator it-, self the City Council has saved approximately: £240. For the first time this winter the hills round Nelson had a coating of snow, and the day has been bitterly cold, although dry. It is rarely that the cold winter weather is so long delayed. Usually Mount Arthur and the Western Ranges are well covered with snow from the first1 week in May. At the annual meeting of the Nelson Permanent Building Society, held last evening, it was disclosed that the money handled by the society during the past year amounted to £219,405. Before the business of the evening was proceeded with the chairman (Mr. S. F. Bolton) made feeling reference to the late secretary (Mr. J. M. Kout), and a motion of sympathy with Mrs. Kout was passed. Four permits for. trapping opossums have been issued by. the City Council, the total return from which amounts to £38 10s. - • The death took place yesterday at the Nelson Hospital of Mr. William Benney after a long and painful illness. Mr. Benney was a member of the crew of H.M.A.S. Sydney when she destroyed the Emden. After the carrying of the Tahuna Sands loan the Tahuna Sands Association has wasted no time in making arrangements to enable the erection of dressing sheds to be proceeded with in the near future. A well-attended meeting of the executive last evening authorised the "secretary to procure plans from Wellington for the sheds, and it was decided to get the neces-j sary authority from the Local Govern-' ment Loans Board to proceed with work on the children's playground and sports area. An intsresting and well-attended lecture on forestry was delivered by Mr. Maxwell at the Nelson Institute last evening. Mr. Maxwell dealt in a very able way with subjects such as the importance of "Location," the ''Real Art of Forestry," the "Mistake of Pure Planting," "Fire Danger," etc., and finally anawered several questions. Professor Easterfield, in proposing a very hearty vote of thanks, said that it was one of the most interesting chats he had ever listened to. Mr. F. I. Ledger, who arranged for the lee-' ture, was in the chair. „ ■ Mr. Hawke, who has been clerical supervisor at the Nelson Post _ Office for the past five years, has been shifted to Thames on promotion. The local staff took farewell of him this afternoon, and the Chief Postmaster (Mr. G. W. Hazelton), on behalf- of the whole staff, presented him with a clock as a token of the regard in which he was held. Mr. Leeds, assistant City Engineer, has arived in Nelson, and taken up his duties. Dr. T. G. Gray, Inspector-General of Mental Hospitals, is at present visiting Nelson.