LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 11 October 1926, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

On the ground of unnecessary hardship an application bv M. R. Best for exemption from drill was granted by Mr T. F. Maniisell. S.M.. at Ihe t'oiirt to dav.

The liberation of the parasite of the pear midge in Nelson orchards is an event of importance to pear growers who had become somewhat alarmed at ihe depredations of the pest. '1 he disiiivery and acclimatisation of the parasite mean much to this portion of the fruit industry. Mr U. Miller, Government Entomologist, who liberated the parasites on Friday, was accompanied to the respective orchards by the three instructof the province, Messrs Thorp, Goodwin and Stratford.

A concert will be held in Church of Christ school room on Wednesday, October 1311 1 at 7.5 p.m. Proceeds are in aid of the Girls’ Club work. A good progiammo has been arranged and there will be In'liemade sweets for sale. Emms’ Motors arc advertising a revised service for the coming season. Their mid-day ear and also weekly orvy service will prove a. great benefit beta to the local residents and tourists, gtv ing ns it. does a surer means of transport between these places *

To-day the anniversary 'of the. proclamation of 'he Chinese Republic is being celebrated.

It- has been announced that the National Provident Fund and Friendly Societies’ Office shall he placed under the direct control of the Treasury. Mr R. E. Hayes, 1.5.0., has been appointed Superintendent- of the National Provident- Fund, at the same time retaining his position as Secretary to the treasury.

Two motor cyclists were charged at the Magistrates Court to-day with driving their machines at night without silencers being attached. John Harris, who did riot appear, was fined £1 and costs; and Leslie Belworthy. who pleaded not guilty, was fined a similar amount. Both informations were brought by the traffic inspector (C. E. Parkinson).

“A very weighty objection raised against (lie trawlers and Danish seiners in the Hauraki Gulf,” said Mr A. E. Hefford. Government- Fisheries Expert, addressing the Philosophical Institute, at- Christchurch, “is that this sort of fishing gear destroys the spawning beds of the sehnapper. Bloodcurdling visions of millions of sehnapper eggs and fry crushed on the bottom under the trawl of the- Danish sein have been conjured up. Exactly the same sort of arguments were'raised against the trawlers in the North Sen more than half a century ago. They were generally accepted.'and in some quarters caused serious perturbation, until in 1867 a Norwegian professor of biology discovered that the egg of the cod. instead of being stuck on the. hot tom (as with fresh water fishes) actually floated in the water. This is the case with almost- all food fishes.'’

A fine of £3, with costs, was imposed ai the Magistrate's Court to day on W. H. Rue for being found on licensed premises after legal hours. Mr T. 1C .Maunsoll was on the Bench.

Last, year about this season it was reported in the City Council that there were "millions of "frogs” in the King's Acre. Judging by the strength of their united chorus now raised nightly it is evident, says a correspondent, that their numbers can not have appreciably diminished. In the. same neighbourhood a. most excellent- loud-speaker wireless is to be heard in Ihe brief interludes betwixt, the choruses.

The Captain r/f the Nelson Volunteer Fire Brigade wishes to acknowledge the receipt of a cheque for £2 2s from the Nelson Diocesan Trust Board for services rendered at the recent fire ufc Bishop dale.

At a meeting of the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury last week the Hutton Memorial Medal was presented to Dr. Charles Chilton by Mr B. C. -Aston. president of the New Zealand Institute. The Hutton Medal was instituted in 1909, and has been presented five times previously Mr Aston referred particularly to Dr. Chilton s long and distinguished connect til in with the New Zealand Institute, which lie had served faithfully and well. The speaker referred also to Dr. Chilton’s brilliant earner in the world of letters, states tie "Piess” In acknowledging the medal. Dr. Chilton said ho was one of Captain Hutton’s first students in New Zealand. Captain Hutton was distinguished in geology, in botany, and in zoology, arid it was to him the speaker owed liis first interest in zoology.

A report which the organiser (Mr P. R. Climie) presented to the executive of the Canterbury Progress League at its meeting last week was held back from publication owing to its terms and general character. Members referred to the report as “cynical,” "abusive,” ' one-sided.” and "hardly tactful. ’ A letter was received from the ATarlborough Progress League, asking the league to support a request for a Royal Commission to inquire into the- possibility of joining Wliaranui and Parnassus by rail. The organiser said u good deal of support was forthcoming for a proposal that the railheads should he connected by an up-to-date motor service, reports ll'm "Press.” He submitted a report- on the whole question of the East Coast railway, commenting on the report of Messrs Fay and C-’asey, the Government's expert advisers. Mr C. P. Agar said the Government would regaid the report as somewhat abusive. It. should not he published until it was considered by the executive; otherwise it would go out as the league’s opinion. Mr A. F. Carey said it was not the way to get- things done, to abuse the other side. Perhaps a little more sweetness should have been infused into it. "The report should not. be published until the matter is re considered in the light, of the. Railway Statement.” said the chairman. His suggestion war, adopted, and it was decided, with one dissentient, to withhold the report from publication.

Judgment for the full amount claimed, with costs, was given in the following undefended civil actions at the Magistrate’s Court to-day: \V. Eden v. \Y. Jordan and C. F. A. Homan, £4 10s, costs £2 6s 6d; Commissioner of Taxes v. .1. L. D’Arcy Irvine, £6/6/1. costs 7/-; Richards and Peart v. A. Evans. £1 9s, costs 11/-; G. Page and Sons v. A. \V. Jensen, £l3 0s 6d, costs £3 4s 6d ; IL M. Hall v. Wm. IT. Moxey, £l7, costs £3 13; A. E. Tasker v. R, .1. Ache,son. £34 15s, costs £4 Is 6d. In a defended action L. G. Whiting (Air \\ . O. Harley) v. W. Linton (Mr Fell) claim for £lO 'for alleged defamatory statement. plaintift was non-suited. with costs.

Thirteen grouse have arrived for liberation in the Touguriro National Park. They were hand-reared under the personal supervision of Duly Liverpool and are the gift, of Lady Liverpool to the Prime Minister, Mr Coates, states the "New Zealand Herald.” Only one bird died on the voyage, and thirteen arrived at the park in excellent condition. Mr J. Cullen, honorary warden of the park, lias taken charge of the birds, and is vtrv hopeful that they will acclimatise well. They will he kept in captivity for a few days until they become accustomed to their new surroundings. The gates will then he left open at night-, and tiie birds will he able to escape at will.

A jumble sale in connection with the Cathedral Children's Missionary Guild is to be held in the Sunday schoolroom, Nile street next Saturday afternoon, when n good collection of miscellaneous articles will lie offered to the public.

Alfred Guild announces an auction sale for In morriiw of surplus furniture for Mrs T, D. Cox, Ngatitama street.

Whv is smoking so often attended with results that cause medical men to order their patients to either discontinue the habit, or greatly modify it. It is simply because the percentage of nicotine in’most imported tobaccos is so j,jir|| and it is the nicotine in excess that renders smoking injurious. Now, our New Zealand grown tobaccos eontain so small a percentage of nicotine that it is practically a negligible quantify. and besides, they are subjected to a new toasting process. Toasting develops the llavoiir, removes all deleterious properties and makes the tobacco climate proof. Toasted tobacco is recommended to those who study their health and appreciate a pure tobacco. If you like a full body try Cut Plug No. 10.' the Bullhead label, or the .somewhat- milder Toasted Navy Cut (Bulldog). There is another brand, Riverhead Gold, which excels all others in mildness and aroma. They may he smoked with impunity and cost 25 per cent, less than the foreign lines.*

“The noise could be heard Tram the top end of Colli ngwoed Street to New Street,” stated the traffic inspector at the Magistrate's Court to-day when giving evidence against a motor cyclist for driving his machine without a silencer.

At the inquest held on Saturday afternoon concerning the death of Miss Avis A. Field, schoolmistress at Upper Takaka, a verdict was returned that deceased’s committed suicide while in a state of temporary insanity.

Structurally as well as socially the big I.)uned,in exhibition is now “over.’’ litt crowning architectural glory, the dome of the Festival ilall, was toppled over by an explosion. The purchasers, Messrs Scott and Cooper, found that to bring down the dome piecemeal would be an expensive, tedious and somewhat, risky undertaking, involving the erection of scaffolding and the use of a lot of gear, .so after removing some of the supports, a stick of gelignite was put into each of those, left, and a fuse connection sufficed to dislodge the whole dome. It detached itself bodily and shattered on what were the paths and lawns of the grand court.

A point was raised as to the responsibility of a. solicitor regarding the fees owing by hi.s client to the court in the Christchurch Supremo Court- last week, in a case heard before Mr Justice Adams. JI is Honour held'that a solicitor for the party owing fees was responsible for their payment. The amount involved was a limit ,I'tj.

During the planting season just finished, one firm planted 46.000 acres near Putarurn. Two firms, who have employed 600 men for the last seven months, have just paid off 300 of them, thus swelling the numbers of the unemployed. Much loading is necessary in and around the Tirau district, and* the suggestion has been made that such work could absorb manv.

Provision was made on the Estimates last session for an increase in the strength of the Police Force by tlie appointment of 25 additional constables. 'J'he Commissioner of Police (Mr W. li. MTI vencyj informed a “Post’' reporter that the increase authorised would be given effect to during the year, and men would be available for duty as rapidly as they could be trained. Mr MTlvonev also stated that the Auckland City Council wa s considering the resumption of traffic control by its own officials at seven different points in.the city, and if that were done it would release 14 police officers for ordinary police duties. He did not know yet what the. Wellington City Council proposed to do in the same direction, hut- if jt tool; over its own traffic control it would mean that other -constables would be available for the ordinary work of the Police 'Department.

According to Mr W. McArley, general secretary of the Engine Drivers, Firemen, and Cleaners’ Association, his organisation expects to have further conferences wth the Hail way administration on the subject of the locomotive men’s claims. Replying to the statement made by the Acting-Minister ot Railways (the Hon. F. J. Kolleston), Mr McArley stated that there was no suggestion on the part of his association that conferences had been dispensed with. The association understood that, in anv event further conferences would be‘held. “My statement,’ said Mr McArley, “siinplv set out the men's grievances. It is to be noticed that the Minister in his reply did not indicate that the wages claims would be further considered. Prior to his departure for the. Imperial Conference, Mr Coates said that the granting of the claims would involve about £170.000, and closed the door by announcing that' these could not- be grant oil in view of the prices of the country's primary products. He made no suggestion, however, as to whether the granting- of a less amount would be considered.”

Hip subject of retirements of officers of (.lie Public Service was again raised by tbo Public Service Association with the Prime Minister shortly before he inft for the Imperial Conference. Having pre\ iotislv secured a working arrangemerit with the Public Service Commissioner in regard to tbo retirement- of officers with lorty years' service, as they attain the age of 60 years, the association protested against, the retention of any officers who were 65 years of In his reply to tho. association, the Prime Minister states that, he has made further inquiries into the matter, and finds that tin* general practice followed is that ali officers on reaching 65 years of ago are compulsorily retired, “there are, however, a few exceptions,” lie. said, “but I am of opinion that no exception can be taken to the officers at present being retained on reaching 65 vears of age.”