LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 8 November 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The British motor-car manufacturer* declared at a luncheon at the R.itza Hotel that unless they had the assistance of c. tax on foreign -motor-cars the- industry was doomed.

The Government training ship Amckura is to leave Wellington in about •afortnight on her spring- cruise in' Ccok Strait" -to set the new recruits used to their "sea~legs." The vessel will subsequently proceed on her periodical visit to the outlying island igroups in search of castaways and to examine the provision depots.

A Parliamentary return states that the number of births in the Dominion during 1911 were 26,354. The percentage of children under one year of age vaccinated was 1.6, and the number of exemptions granted was 6754.

This year hai been an exceptionally good one for local whitebait fishers (says the Westport "News.") and has put a lot of money in circulation in the town, helping to relieve the ifinancial depression many business people and others complained of. Some of the men have lbs-en earning at the rate of from. £lO no £l2 a week, and expect to do as good or better for some little time yet. The river in a good whitebait season is a veritable gold mine

Lctyj Roberts, when Commander-in-Chief, was once present at the Bisley rifle competition. He was watching the firin.rr, and noticed two, or three mistakes on the part of the markers. So he went to the telephone on., the firing line and rang up the officer in charge at the butts. "The marking is very bad," said Lord Roberts. "It's the 'best you'll get," retorted the officer. "Do you know who 1 am.?" sternly demanded Lord Roberts. "No. I don't." "I an: Lord Roberts." "Well, I'm Lord Wolseley."

Visiting Opticians.—Oooto and Sandstein, Ophthalmic Opticians, 348 Lambton Quay (opp. Bank of N.Z.) Wellington. Ernest M. Sandstein, D.8.0.A\, F.S.M.C. (London); H. H. Coote, late of H. A. Barraclough, Sydney. Holding English Certificates by examination, and having 18 years practical experience. Note: Visits will be made to Nelson every quarter Dates will be advertised later.*

A prohibition order by consent was is sued by Mi-.- J: &.- Evans, S.M., this morning against a irarried man.

The 'usual fortnightly meeting of the Nelson City Council will bo held th.s evening.

We have received from Jackson and Co., Ltd., the new novel "John Rawny by Exerson Hough, author of "The Purchase Price." 'ihis is described as the novel of the hour, and in the- opinion ot Hon. A. Dix, Governor of" New i'ork, is "a remarkably strong story."

The following steamers will be within wireless range to-night:—Victoria, Wimn.era, Moeraki, Manuka, Tahiti, Moaua.

At a. special meeting of the Wain.ea County Council yesterday, bylaws regulating the conduct of billiard .rooms in the county were passed. These, include the payment of a license fee of one guinea per annum. The by-laws come into force on the Ist January next.

Pleading guilty to a, charge of being found drunk in Waimea-street yesterday, an elderly man, who arrived from the Wairarapa .a few days ago, was convict ed and discharged when brought before Mr. J. 8. Evans, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court this morning. The police stated that accused "generally looksd us up a.bout once a year.' In answer to the Magistrate the delinquent stated he was going to Marlborough ; and received the advice to get away as soon as possible.

A London cable message states that the Hon. Thos. Mackenzie, High Corrmissioner, fare welled Lord ,and Lady Liverpool, who sailed for New Zealand in .the Malwa.

The total mmrber of bales of hemp gradvd during October was 8871 as cum pared with 7349 for the corresponding month of last year, an increase of 1522 bales. For the 12 months ending 31st October. 1912, the number of bales graded was '93,041, as compared with 95,906.

It is not likely that the Mediterranean fruit ilv,. which now has Hawaii in Us clutch, "will get into New Zealand. The precautions are too many. Under regulations dated 1908, we are protected against the introduction of the Mediterranean- fly. This insect has Ttanaged to get into Australia, .hut beyond some outbreaks in Auckland four or five years ago, which were promptly stamped out, Jiew Zealand has been free, from' +ho pest. Fruit arriving in the Dominion •has to be covered by a certificate stating that there is no fruit fly within, a mfle radius, and furthermore, tihe fruit is exanrined upon arrival here. Aga:n, the orchards in Australia have- to secure .a -clearance certificate from inspectors. New Zealand never imports any fndt from Hawaii. We used to get some, x rom Tonga and Fiji, but as those places cannot comply with the certificates required ; by us, their fruit trade with this country is practically 'blocked. At the Cook Islands the New Zealand Govem;m!erit's inspector there- attends to- the fruit, so there is practically no danger of the fly getting into this country.

A bottle containing a message wavS picked up at Waihere Bay, Pitt Island (one of the Chatham Islands), on 25 lb. September, "1912. The message was as follows:—"This*bottle was thrown overboard from s.s. Kemuera on her maiden voyage to New Zealand in lat. 49deg. 41niin. S. and long. 129deg. 26min. E., tm 3rd November, 1911/' The finder was requested to forward qressage to a Wellington' resident,' with particulars as to where and when found. The 'bottle rame •ashore on a sandy beach—aibout the only'one—on the west side of Pitt Island, all the rest of. the coastline being very rocky. After a voyage of 325 days this luttie drifted ashore at Waihere Bay, lat. 44deg. 17min. S. and long. 176 dc b '. 12min. W., a distance of 2250 miles, an average of a.bout seven, miles £>er day. The spot on tiho ocean where the bottle was thrown overboard :s about the same longitude as the boundary" line; between iSouth Australia and West Australia, out nearly 1100 miles to the south of the Australian coast, and, therefore, the'bottle passed New Zealand on its voyage to Pitt Island:

The annual report of the Chief Health Officer states that the names 'of 74 nndwives- were, added to the register last year, 55 having 'been trained in the Dominion. There is now some hope, the report continues, of meeting the needs of the Dominion in 'this particular branch of work, especially as during the ensuing .year three additional training schools for anidwives may be provided. The total number of midwives now on the register is "1097, of whom 415 are fully' trained and 632 untrained. On, March*3l, 1907. the number was 891, of which 102 were trained and 789 untrained. The St. Helens Hospitals continue to, do good work, and the demands on these institutions ar-e increasing every year. The actual cost to the State of these four maternity homes was £IB2O, excluding capital expenditure.

A well-known Dunedin man, who has just returned from a visit to the Otago Central district, informed a. me.m'ber of the staff of the "Otago Daily Times" on Saturday that a rather serious outbreak of disease has occurred among the peach trees in the Roxburgh orchards, those at Dumbarton-probably being.the most affected. The trees soon succumb to the disease, and the writer stated that unless something can be done to check its ravages the outlook for the orchardists is not too 'bright. Expert advice has been.called in to try to ascertain what is the cause of the outbreak, but without success, and last week parts of trees which .have been affected" together with the soil in .which they were grown, were sent to' Wellington to see if the Government experts there can particularise ths? insect or fungus which is causing the trouble. The visitor continued that some of the -Roxburgh fruitgrowers are showing commendable enterprise, and have been using a motor waggon- for the , .<>st two or three days to carry their fruit from Roxburgh to the Edievale railway station. The waggon has so far proved a success, a nd it may ultimately be found that th 3 introduction of this means of locomotion is to - solve the problem of cheap transport of the fruit, from Roxburgh. It is interesting to note that tlie final consignment of apples' for the Season was sent from Roxburgh last Tbursdav.

There'll be a big crowd in our showroom to.-morrow ! We'll sell Ladies' Smart Linen Costumes (coat and skirt), in white, champagne, grey, saxe, brown, moss, sky. and navy, for 7s lid, 12s 6d', and 17s 6d each. —Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co.*

A'ti article on Pelorus Jack, and_ his photograph, appeared in a' recent issue of the London "Daily 'Chronicle." Bargains in Smart Robes for To-mor-row only ! Ladies' Beautifully Embroidered White Muslin One-piece Robes for 7s lid, 12s 6d, and' 17s 6d each.—Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co.*

The problem of displaying an entire shipment of new goods in bulk in a- window is one that "has been puzzling the minds of shop keepers all over the Dominion. Messrs Johanstin and Co. clam:' to have solved this problem, and will give an illustration in a novel and' amusing manner in their window in Ha.rdystreet on Saturday night.* Ready-to-wear Dress Bargains for Sturdav ! Ladies' Stylish Linen Onepiece Robes for 7s lid, 12s 6d, and 17s 6d each. —Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co.*

The annual meeting of the Nelsoni Lawn Tennis Club will be held at Stallard's room on Monday evening next.-

The Chief Pest Office advises that Gtenhope is now a telephone bureau office. '

The nickel-steel storage battery, on which Mr. Edison has been. ,at • work for ten years, is completed at last (says a cable message to the Australian pa,pers.) It is described as a perfect invention, and the general belief is that it is; destined to revolutionise certain phases; of transportation. The battery, in .the-' production) of which the famous inventor spent no less than. £600,000, is now being operated successfully on special' trans mi lining between New York and Ling Beach. In the trials a s far as they have gone everything has worked most snroothly.

Mr. Robert McMillan,' .vvieu. addressing the Country Press Asspciation's gathering at Sydney last Week, told of a. .man who described a band programme. He said the band played "Roil© Britannia-" to please the Englishmen.- present; "The. "Marseillaise" wasifor the French-' men: "The •Campbells are- •Coming'" for the Scotchiren; and' "The' Wearing of the Green" for the Irishmen. '-'Then," he said, "they played 'For those iif \ Peril on the Sea/', and that-was .'one for. the Germans."

I lie Southland County Council has for many years paid the chairman an honorarium of £IOO. per annum,-besides the usual expenses of a member, bul.it seems that in future Jtbe remuneration will have to cease, as the auditor is disinclined to pass the .amount; in. fact has "tagged" the Council's balance-sheet, which means that he considers the expenditure illegal. It is understood that at several meetings.of the Finance Committee the matter has been '■ disenssed, and- the opinion expressed that nothing has occurred since the practice was\ihinitiated of giving the chairman an horr-p----rarium to warrant its discontinuance. What the outcome will be is only a matter for speculation (say 6' the "News") but it appears that the auditor is insistent in the attitude he has assumed, .arid the Council is as strongly convinced that the chairman is -entitled to some 1 remuneration.'

It is expected in -Auckland that fruit will be veiry .plentiful this y-earj a* the conditions so far have .been very favourable. Strawberries, as already stated,, are arriving in that city in increasing quantities, and, provided the weather keeps (fine, there' -should .be consignments on sale next week. On- Monday strawberries sold -wholesale, at 'from lOgrf to Is per box. Plums are setting well on tlie trees, and in about ■& month's-.•tiiiio should 'bs ready for the market: Peaches are not expected to be so plentiful as last year, but judging from (presents.appearances, there should be a splendid'supply of other fruit.' '..'■-■"

Amateur oricket and pour-is, shillings' and pence, axe not; as a rule, allied closely", and a casual spectator at the Bur- - wocd v. North Sydney match a few days ago, would have had; good reason, (remarks the "Sydney Daily Telegraph") tobelieve the bookiraking. element were present in force. " H. G. Pratten was batting, and, as soon as his individual score exceeded 50, spectators commenced to value his score at the rats of a shilling: a run. When he, hit a four he was called "an. ungrateful son,", and by some 'an avaricious .batsman." All-this s&emed bewildering .until it was explained ftbafc Pratfcsn's father, who, by. the bye; is» 1 president of, the Chamber of Manufactures, had promised his son a. new >pat' if he. scored. 50, and a shilling a ruiifor every run he n'ade over. Pratten scored 93, so is became entitled, to a new but and 435. He was asked by "wags*'' to <rive them his old bat, and how much ho had paid to "square" the bowlers. Pratten .smiled serenely through it itfll, and had the pleasure of making his highest .score in senior cricket.

After scoring numerous successes irr the Bnllarat Band Contest last week (says the "Svdne.y Morning Herald" o£ Oct. 30th), the ' visit of ".the ' Manly Band: Victoria, terminated on Saturday in singular misfortune. On Friday, Mr. CV Skhmer, solo euphonium, received a telegram /that his father had on«t with: a serious .accident, .and that he was fin a critical condition. The same day Mr. 'E» Haywood, solo soprano, deceived'.;a. wire stating that his fiancee, who had gone oyer to Victoria to jcih him, had died in Melbourne. On 'Saturday night, when the Manly -Baud' was playing/"Samson and Delilah," it®, last test piece—the band which had .preceded them .began .to play in another pai;b of the ground "Nearer, My God, to Thee." TlTe effect of this was electrical, and the members of the Manly Band suddenly-ceased playing. The hymn tune completely unnerved'them, and the cbntest.was over so fax as Manly. ; was concerned.

. , Some amusing stories of his experiences in the Australian backblocks w<jre ; related by' Bishop Dong, at a Greeting of the Bush Brotherhood in' Sydney last week. On one journey he met a woman. . .who had been; waiting 10 years to have . her children baptised. She was a'Roman Catholic and her . 'husband a Primitive Methodist, so they had agreed to have the children ibaptised According to the rites of the English' Church, by way of a compromise. In one devoid even of the 'usually an service ini a billiard-room held .representatives of the Greek!Orthpdox Church, the Church of .England. Y - Presbyterians, Methodists, a Salvationist f. :_■ and'a Luthei'an. When, after much c'if- ■■' Acuity, they agreed that they could oil sing "Abide with Me," a" painful effect was produced, by the Methodists singing it to one tune, the Salvationist to a second, and the Bishop and the rest of the congregation to a third. "However,'" the Bishop triumphantly remarked,' "I think the Church of England fairly came out on too."

In view of the controversy over the question whether opossums 'should be .protected or .not. the following" paragraph from .a Sydney exchange is interesting :—As opossirrrs have net increased to -the .desired extent during the last tli'ree years' protection) 'from, (shooters and trappers in the Stats, it has been decided by the Cabinet of NeW South Wales to declare another close 'term'for three years from December' 31st next. If anvone handles opossum skins now he -will he called upon to nro.ve whero he got them from. It will ~be a. good thinjr for the country if tho anhrals in<crenso in numbers. they do no appreciable harm to our flora, and as thevare a. valuable asset, on account", of 'their beautiful skins, the countrv should benefit from the extension of the protection to them. Nelson residents tell, and with good cause, a very different tale. ~ ■

To-morrow will be Bargain DaV in oiir showroom! Ladies' Smart.Tweed' and Cloth Costumes (summer weight), Ros T lyn and Kaiapoi makes, for 255, 40s, 50s, and 60s each.—Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co.* ;

'Mr F. N. Jones has invented a special set of leg irons and manacles, and has issued a challenge to handcuff nianipulators to escape 6"ut v of the arrangement. Keble, the handcuflast, has accepted l the challenge, and will endeavour to free himself from the. formidable array of chains and -locks at the Versatile Villagers' concert on the 13th inst. The patent handcuff king demolisher is now on view at Jones' Postcard Emporium.*

"The opening of the Brook Lawn. Ten"nis Club will take place to-morrow afternoon.

There seems to be a strong probability of the German Australian Line coming to JSew Zealand, says the "Post." Her«r Boeger, a director of the company, is in Jfew Zealand making certain inquiries, but nothing definite has been arranged. Herr Plate, representing the North German Lloyds, is also travelling through the Doirmion, although it is understood that his company -some months ago came to a definite decision not to include New Zealand in its -services in consequence of the -maritime legislation of this country. The North German Lloyd and the Genran-Australian Line are keen competitors foi- Australian freights.

Though fully 5000 immigrants have reached New Zealand from England during the past three mouths, there has been 3ittle or no difficulty about their absorption into 'the working population of the Dominion. Reports received by the Labour Department frerr its agents throughout the country indicate that -work has beer, found for almost every applicant. and that the demand for workers is V'kelv to increase as tho season advances, says the "N.Z. Times."