LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 19 June 1926, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

It was mentioned incidentally at tlio City Council last evening tluit Nelson hn<l been very fortunate so far as the working of the electric light was concerned. Personal experience of some of uie Councillors showed that in other cities the light failed at times. It was just as well, remarked Or Gibbs, that Nelson people should know this. In Pal a via, Illinois (TLS.A.) a church sends out taxi-cabs cruising over the cit.V to give free rides to anv who Jive some distance out and want to come (O' : he service. It has been pointed out thnt this is in a section where sonic years ago the famous Cartwright’s fire and brimstone sermons brought great throngs from miles around hv font, ox team, and otherwise. -Arising out of a letter from the Nelson Automobile Association, the City Council last evening, on the motion of Harley, decide! as an experiment, to nainl white lines at the intersection of Trafalgar and llardv Streets as a guide tu vehicular traffic. Atiintion is drawn to an announcement appearing elsewhere, by the Commissioner of Crown Lands re the sale of orchard in the Afotitekn survey district. The Commissioner of Crown bands invites tenders in this issue for the purchase of a farm at Croixolles. Our sales increase in popularity, why, liicause our ■iistomers have proved that, reduction'- are irennino. Trathen's winter sale. Tuesday.* I’.argnins in every dcpni-f'ent at AhKav's on Tuesday.* Kinras’ Motors are advertising a revised service for the coming season. ’Their l.iid-dav car and also weekly lorry service will prove a great benefit both to the local residents and tourists, giving ns it does a surer means of transport between these places.*

Tim Mayor (Mr W. Lock) said lie had stated at the lasi meeting of the Council when moving his motion regarding a town hall, that the Wanganui Council hmdc £ISOO last year on its theatre. As a matter of fact the profit was £IOOO.

Energy is nut one of the qualities in which the pakeha lius had ' cause to admit the superiority of the Maori, but the director of forestry, Mr L. .Macintosh Ellis, u(linns that he has discovered one channel where the native' can show his white neighbour some points in hard toil. 'The Maori is infinitely better than the European at forestry work,” said Mr Ellis in an address at Auckland, ' and tloes twice, an much hvfurk. ‘I think that is because the Maori has an inr’mctive love of forestry work—it has been bred in him for generations. Why, even the women enter into the work with a will!” Mr Ellis also had a good word for the Maori’s love of bird and animal ilfe, which was so necessary for the conservation of the forest. “You have unique bird-life in .this country,” said Mr Ellis, ‘and it is a shame to see the way it is treated. But it is not the Maori who is destroying the pigeons and tiio tuis.” Yesterday’s sitting of the House cf Representatives was brief, the principal business being recording tributes to dt> ceased legislators. These were Hie Hons, llislop, Geddes, Campbell, McGibbon, late M.L.C.’s, and A. Gra)iam, John Graham, Goldie, and Napier, past members of the House. As a mark of respect to their memory the House adjourned at 3.57 until 2.30 on Tuesday. Mr If. Alniore. M.P., has given notice of flic following questions: “To ask the Minister in Charge of the Pension Department, whether it is the intention of tlie Government to so amend the Pensions Act this session That the amount of savings which may be held by a pensioner without affecting the pension wil be increased?” "To ask the Prime Minister, whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce a ttiglit-10-work Rill this session?”

‘There' is a tendency on the part of motorists to make an inordinate use of their ear horns when passing slock on the roads,” was.the substance of a complain! received by the Wanganui Automobile Association, (says the Herald. Drovers resented this and would not lake pains to clear the road. On the other hand ij motorists would approach quietly they would be shown every courtesy. The letter stated that the incessant tooting of horns made sheep stupid and they could not be managed without a great ileal of trouble. A joy-rider in Gisborne, who proved considerate to tho owner of the car which lie borrowed, thereby landed himself in the hands of the police a few days ago (says the Times). It appears that a young Maori, wishing to enjoy the pleasures of motoring, but having no car, borrowed one that was parked in Peel Street, without, the permission of the owner. After running round in it a little, and, incidentally damaging the ear to some extent, he returned to leave it at the place whence lie had obtained it. .Much to his surprise, however, he found a policeman awaiting him. The owner, during the absence of the car, had, it seems, informed the police of fiTs loss. Quaint and picturesque marriage customs were observed recently at Holy Island, off the Northumberland coast. When tlie young couple left the church the bride was helped to jump over the “petting-stone” by the two oldest fishermen. ' On arrival at the churchyard gate they found it lied up, and it iiad to be cut loose by the same two old men. On arrival at the bride’s house three guns blazed off two rounds apiece, and the plate on which the wedding cake was cut was thrown into the air. If the plate does not break it means had luck.

Although quite sensitive the canary bird’s ears, located just back of and a little below the eyes, appear to be only a small opening into the head. The ear is not hard to find when it is known where to look for it, but it is not apparent to the novice. It has always been a scientific mystery that birds have such acute hearing when they have such small assistance from Nature in the way of ears to “scoop” up sounds. Uriel College, at Oxford, is preparing to celebrate its six hundredth anniversary, and the usual crop of amusing stories connected -with its various officials has sprung up. One concerns Dr. Hawkins, a famous provost, wiio had the faculty of always finding something to criticise in every undergraduate with whom lie came in contact. One of hia habits was constantly to keep close at hand the record of chapel attendances. One day Edward King, afterward Bishop of Lincoln, was before him. Hawkins looked in his book, and said: “I observe, Mr King; that you have never missed a single chapel, morning or evening; during the whole term.” It occurred to King that the provost was really going to praise him. “1 must warn you,” continued Hawkins, “that even too regular attendance at chapel may degenerate into mere formalism.” The -German railway administration has just introduced an innovatoin at its principal stations which should prove useful. It is the so-called meeting or location register, a hook in which travellers may enter any information they wish to convey to their friends—as, for instance, where they are. staying, etc. A special arrangement has been made for leaving messages-which are only to he read by those for whom they are meant. Large signs, an arrow in a circle, will be put up showing where these register books are to he found.

A mouse behind one of the main cubicles at 'the New Plymouth power house was responsible for the interruption of the supply on a recent morning. It was an hour before the burntcut switchboard was repaired. A similar incident occurred at the Auckland power station about four years ago. A roeenl visitor to Door says that AVillinm of Hohonzollern is a distinct asset to that part of Holland. It he lias ceased to he Kaiser he has become an entertainment. Tourists from all parts of the world drive the Id miles from Utrecht, which has thought it worth while to run a half-hourly ’lms service, to see his charming place of exile. The Government of Quebec has invented a new way of helping the hospitals. Everyone who oats a meal at a restaurant cosling more than 4-'- is to he taxed .if the Government Bill passes 5 per cent, of what he pays for it. anti the money is to go to hospital funds. ’Thus people who have too- much to eat will help to pay for the cure of people who may heroine ill through hav. ing too little to eat ! Ladies’ Wool Cardigans 39/6 for 10/6. McKay’s Sale Tuesday.* , At McKay’s, Tuesday, at- 9 a.m., the Bis Sale.* Come ! Como early ! ! Come often !! ! to Trathen's big winter drapery sale c.c-mincncing on Tuesday next.* Ladies' Wool .Tumners 29 6 for 7'6. McKay's Sale Tuesday 9 a.m.* Watch for it 1 Trathen’s big sale ciroil ir to be distributed with The Mail on Monday night. Sale starts Tuesday.* AlcKay’s Big Sale starts Tuesday at 9 n.rn.”

By 1950 London will ho a city of 11,000,000. The population to-day is 7,500,000. Many of tlie sounds of the present age will be heard 10,000 years from now. Professor William Doegaii, State librarian of Berlin, has compiled a collection of 2,500 sounds of the present uge on records made of brass, and will file them away for posterity. He took records of the sounds of war during the world war, street sounds in the large cities, language sounds of 250 different tribes in Asia and Europe, and, of course, all metropolitan speaking and singing sounds. Among other novelties recorded is the Mohammedan muezzin’s call to prayer. At some pithead baths in Germany the minoowners have devised methods of recovering the coaldust from the men’s bodies and turning it to financial advantage. The waste water is carried off into ponds where the tiny particles of coal are allowed to settle at the bottom. Periodically the water is drained off, and the sediment removed and manufactured into patent fuel.

The United States Weather Bureau has given a new word, "smog,” to the American language. It is used to describe a combination of sinoke and fog which occurs chiefly over cities of the Central States, Smog prevails when smoke and fog unito at the same density, the smoke particles crystallising in a chill air, and being carried along in a fog blanket. Tt is told of President C'oolidgo that ns a hoy liis father took him to the ia.ilroad station while shipping a calf to Boston. “Calvin," said his father, “this calf is going to Boston. Some day yen may go to Boston, hut this calf, will get there first.” Since that day “Calvin” lias travelled far beyond the point which his father, perhaps, had set ns n goal for his son's ambitions. The C'liiltern Hills distriet of Buckinghamshire (England) furnishes a notable example of longevity, the family being that of the late Mr lug. a farm labourer. He lived in a small cottage, and died at the ago of 04 years. The ages of tlie sons and daughters. all living to-dav. are: —Henry. 08 years; Caleb. 0-1 years; George, 88 years; Fred, 80 years; Helen, B.‘! years; John, 80 years; and Edwinfi 7"> years. Tlie fact that in 102;"> in England waste tinfoil, usually regarded as worthless, realised £1228/10/2, is re\ealed in the annual financial statement of the tinfoil (hospital) fund of the Ancient Order of Druids. Tlie tinfoil received by the committee of control during the year totalled more than lOOOcvvt., and realised on its sale an average of 25/- a cwt.

Scotland has hut one lake—Lake Menteith. All other inland stretches of water are'lochs. The Soviet authorities have decided to organise an expedition for a systematic search for tlie treasures of Alexander the Great and Tamerlane. The expedition will explore tumuli in Turkestan which are alleged to contain not only treasures which Alexander hid dtirng his great campaign, but also fabulous wealth in gold and precious stones which Tamerlane extracted from conquered monarchs. “You shall tell the truth and the whole truth. The saucer is cracked, and if you lie your soul shall be cracked like the saucer.” This was the form of oath administered (o four Cliirie.se at Manchester Assizes in.a case requiring their testimony. As the oath was administered to each a saucer was broken on the floor of the witness-box. The two most widely used materials for buttons are nuts and milk. The Corozo nut is the favourite missile of the monkeys in certain riverside regions of Central and South America, and its kernel of vegetable ivory can be turned upon a lathe, cut to any shape, and dyed to almost any colour. Its usefulness to the modern button-maker is only equalled by that of sour milk. Miik from which all the cream has been separated is soured either naturally or by means of rennet or some acid, and converted into erinoid or galalith. from which immense numbers of fancy buttons are made. “Deer are an absolute menace.” said iho Director of Forestry (Mr L. Mackintosh Ellis) during an address on National Forestry at Auckland, when a slide was screened showing New Zealand forest stripped of its undergrowth. “One of the most serious problems is tlie protection of the indigenous forest," he added. “The deer clear out all the ground cover, and do so much damage that I believe in a few years they will he declared vermin and he shot at sight like rabbits.” He said that tlie deer also destroyed the farmers’ root erojis. He had seen a dog tied up in the middle of a paddock of roots, but the deer came to the end of the rope and gambolled round the dog. Mr Ellis said that, on the other hand, opossums did little or no damage in the New Zealand forests, and their skins made a valuable industry.

A clause is to he inserted in the Disposal Bill Ibis session cancelling the reservation over the old gaol reserve in the City of Nelson, viz Sections 746, 747. and part of VlB, containing an area of 2 acres 25 perches. Air H Atmore, ALIb, has 'received a copy of the clause and has signified agreement tberewitl . It refers to the old site of the Girls' School, Toi Toi Valley, trailsfeired some years ago to the Prisons Department in connection with the exchange of tlie old gaol site in Shelbournc Street for the ne-v girls’ school. Air S. CoJledge, the English dancing master, now residing in Nelson, has commenced a weekly dancing class at the Velma Hall every Monday at 8 p.m. It may interest all dancers that not only does he teach modern ballroom dancing, but also has a large number of old-fashioned figure dances which he intends to demonstrate, and also teacii if approved of by the dancers of Nelson. Air S. Co-Hedge and partner are also open to engagements as adjudicators, exhibition and demonstrators of modern ballroom dancing as danced in London and on the Continent.