The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1907. LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 3 October 1907, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1907. LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

'Die whitebait season lias begun, but the delicacy is at prohibitive prices — about 3s a quart. If there were only a little enterprise, instead of the fishermen being "born tired," and content to import, they would exploit the Motneka and Waimea rivers and catch more than enough for local requirements early in the season and be able to sell at reasonable and yet remunerative rates. The object "of this paragraph, however, is not to enter into industrial problems but to ask if there is any law to prevent the sale of short - weight whitebait. If the baker seil a loaf of bread an ounce ni:-:ler weight, he is soon enough pn.. -rented ; vet it is a common and open practice of white-bait-sellers to make one tin into two by adding water. By this means, not only is the spring luxury o f p o op!e of meliorate means wrongfully decreased in quantity, while the price is rais-.-d by unfair means: but the quality of the delicacy is ruined. The tnstVlessness, of which complaint is frequeutlv made, is due to the custom of "giving the whitebait a drink. "of fresh water mostly— a, "benevolent" action which has its own row.ii-d in increasing the profits of the vendor almost SO per c^nt. When a purchaser finds his whitebait offered to him inclined to be opaque, with dead-looking eyes, he may be sure that water has been added to make bulk, and if the fish be tasteless, he will know why. Whiteboat cooked as taken from the net, and whitebait after being watered, are as different as chalk from cheese. The attention of the Inspector of Weights and Measures is called to this practice of watering whitebait, and it is hoped that some vigilance will be exercised in ensuring for the P 'v i? .. ? uantitv »>id quality for which they believe they pay. A meeting of the Nelson Volunteer Fire Brigade will be held in the Station House to-morrow evening. Mr and Mrs William Taylor of Washington Valley, who recently returned to Nelson after a visit to the Old Country had a most enjoyable trip. 1 hey left Nelson last March, and pron x°r n? me '" the lonic - Mr and Mrs D M. Chapman, late of St. Vincentstreet, being fellow-passengers. The voyage was a rough one the weather being bad almost throughout the journey. Arriving in London, but a tew hours were spent before a deparluro was made for Kent, Mrs Taylor s birthplace, and where many of her relatives now live. Out of the 13 weeks spent in England, four were passed in Kent, all the places of interest being visited, including Dover and Walmer Castles. Mr Taylor was much interested in the hop gardens in the county, and went through several of them. He was struck with the cleanliness of the fields, and the high state, of culture. It was noted that in a very few gardens only wire and string were used, the old-fashioned poles still being adhered to. Scrim was run round the gardens to keep the wind off the vines. Air Taylor was astonished at the extent of the strawberry industry in Kent. It seemed to him that hundreds of tons of this fruit were sent away every day. 'i'ho price at which strawberries could be bought was Is a gallon. Returning to London the Nelsonians made good in of their time, and all places of in terjst were visited — St. Paul's Cath? dial, The Tower of London, the Crystal Palace, the "Zoo," etc. Epsom was vi sited on Derby Da.y, and the scene war one about which Air Taylor grows very enthusiastic. During their stay Mr and Mrs Taylor also visited Essex and Sussex, and although the weather for the first eight or nine weeks was almost continuously wet, they did a lot of travelling. The return passage was made in the Corinthic, and on arrival at Wellington Mr and Mrs Taylor took a run up the Wairarapa, spending a few days there before coming on to Nelson. One thing that struck Mr Taylor forcibly was the lack of knowledge of conditions outside his own surroundings in the British working man. He considers that individual for individual the "colonial" worker is far ahead of his British confrere in gneral intelligence and independence. A sum of £2 6s was received by the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board last evening, from Mrs Mytton, being the amount realised from the sale of the ribbon which was stretched across the Baton Bridge, recently opened. The Board passed a resolution of acknowledgment. The Board also acknowledged the receipt of £8, proceeds of a concert given by the railway employees at Kiwi. Air Hollet stated that the men on the railway works did a great deal for the Board, recognising that it was doing good work. He knew that several of the hands made a practice of putting aside a small amount weekly to be ultimately devoted as a contribution towards the Board's work. Mr Cullen, Collector of Customs at sr elson, has recoived the appended wire f-cm the head office at Wellington :— "The master of the s.s. Taieri yesterday reported on arrival at Greymouth having passed an 18ft. white painted boat, half-way hetween Stephen's Island and Farewell Spit." Messrs "Bisley Bros, and Co. will hold a clearing sale on Wednesday, 16th inst., at 10.30 a.m., on account of Mr Wm. Best, Wairoa Gorge, who has disposed of his property.

A meeting of the Committee and subscribers to the Ambulance Carriage Fund will be held at the Municipal Chambers at 8 o'clock this evening, when important business will be considered. A largely attended united '.Ueeting was held in the Uichlnond Baptist Chapel on Wednesday evening, when Mr George Wilson delivered a very earnest address on "Progress in the Christian Life." It has been decided to hold further meetings in the same place this and to-morrow evenings, and also 611 Sunday morning. Tho aeries will close with a special united meeting in the Methodist Church on Sunday evening at 8 o'clock. The ministers and officers of the churches extend a hearty welcome to all, and they trust that these meetings will be largely attended. A meeting was held in the Y.M.C.Ai Rooms last evening to form a Swimming and Polo Club. Mr H. Anstice was elected Hon. Secretary, with the following Committee: Messrs E. G. Wood, D. McLean, H. Pettit, V. Webley, and H. R. Jones. A number of names were handed in as members, and when the club is started there should bo a large membership. The subscription fee of 2s '4akg.was agreed to, and it is proposed tSPßave Wednesday and Saturday afternoon polo teams, and also senior and junior competitions. Swimming sports will be held during the season. Intending members are requested to hand in their names to the Secretary or members of the Committee. The following players will represent the Tailors in a cribbage match against the Old Navals at the Nelson Rifles' Room this evening at 7 o'clock sharp: — C. Lamb, P. Snow, G. Dee, W. Dee, T. Harford, A. Daly, B. Crisp, Stevens, Chnppell. J. Milner. The N.N. and N.R. will be represented by : — R. Watson, G. Dayman, Stiles, Liddell, Morrison, Krahagen, J. Sherwood senr., J Sherwood junr., Carter, and Conroy. To-morrow evening, prior to the meeting of the City Council, the Mayor will present ex-Captain Wimsett, of the. Nelson Fire Brigade, with a gold watch, which has been subscribed for by citizens and the various Fire Insurance Companies in recognition of 40 years' continuous active service as a member of the Nelson Volunteer Fire Brigade. The Garrison Band will turn out for the occasion, and head the Brigade on its march from the Central Fire Station to tho Council Chamber, where the presentation will be made. It is said that the objects of the tariff proposals are to encourage British trade, adjust anomalies, and assist the workers of the Dominion, but it is held that tho latter have not received the consideration deserved, nnd the only solace for them (in the Nelson district), is the fact that Lock, the Universal Provider, Cheapest House Furnisher, and Leading Auctioneer, still sells on easy terms every description of furniture etc., to comfort and beautify their homes. Mr Lock holds an immenso stock, and can equip a cottage or a mansion. Before spring cleaning the kdies of Nelson should visit this emporium and inspect the latest in curtains, linos, quilts. sheetings, carpets, rugs, etc ; also go-carts, prams, pianos .organs, ranges, and the marvellous Atlas sewing machines — sold only by Lock.*