LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 23 August 1927, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Apropos of the recent attempt by outside unions to force up the price of admission charged for Secldon Shield games in Nelson, a. country resident wrote to 'lie President, of the Nelson Rugby Union commending Nelson's action. The writer staled that, be has a family of six, and to attend a. match in Nelson (he has missed no important ones so far) costs £1 19s. He would reconsider attending the matches if the price of admission was increased. A. most valuable old grandfather s clock is included in the stuck of Win. Moves, who recently retired from business. This line old relic is a perfectly accurate timekeeper, and stands fullv 61, feet high. The hour, minute, and second hands have cacti their separate orbit, and its duplicate probably could not he found in the whole of Australasia to-dav. This clock is fully 100 years old, and it arrived in Nelson somewhere about Hie year 1850—an interesting link with the earliest days of the settlement. It will lie disposed of by lender, which is called for in this issue.*

.Members and subscribers of the Siller Art Society are notified in this issue of a meeting on Friday afternoon.

Up to the present fho Nelson Rugby Union has paid the City Council LI2O ]3s lOd in rent for Trafalgar Park.

In concluding an address before tlie Blanket Society in Dunedin Sir Truby King said: “1 believe that the providing ol' mothers and nurses with the Karitune foods will bo one of the factors tending to further lower infant mortality. Wo in New Zealand are already below what was said to he the irreducible minimum of 4 per cent. My own opinion is that in the future the irreducible minimum in New Zealand will not he above 2 per cent.”

Tl was reported to the Marlborough Automobile Association at last week’s meeting that the final cylinder for the Wash bridge on the new West ('oast, road is now being sunk, so that the completion of tlie structure and the opening up of direct, communication with the West Coast is now in sight.

In the Christchurch Botanic Gardens and Hngloy Park there are 828 oaks of British varieties and 89 Turkish, tho last-named apparently being immune from golden scale.

The secretary of the Rugby Union, at the Management Committee meeting last night, disclosed that the profit from tlie “Football Skill Competition” held in connection with the last, Seddon Shield match was £27 17s lOd, plus a contribution by Mr T. Newman of 225, the amount of his prize in the competition. This now swells the Park lighting fund, which is being buTlt up T>v the combined sports bodies, to £53. Tho committee passed a vote of thanks to Mr Lock for the great deal of work he has undertaken to carry out tlm competition. With a view to testing the vitality of the earwig, a resident of the Upper Clutha, near Pembroke, recently carried out a tost, with remarkable results (says the Cromwell “Argus”). On Ist March lie placed two full-grown earwigs in a tobacco tin, with only a small hole in (lie top for air. He lias guarded the tin carefully ever since and occasionally examined the prisoners. Just a week ago lie opened tho tin in Hie presence of some visitors and the two earwigs were as lively and frisky as ever. They had been absolutely without food for just on five months, but evidently with little effect on their vitality.

In the opinion of Mr S. Hurst Seagar, C. 8.E., an authority on town planning, hoardings are a civic disfigurement of an appalling magnitude, which in the case of Wanganui should lie tackled immediately by tlie City Council (says the “Chronicle”). The Council themselves were ‘sinners” in this respect, as they had a municipal hoarding destroying tho beautiful view of the side of dock’s Gardens as seen from the grounds in front of the Art Gallery. He thought the Council should give notice to all those who v wero at present disfiguring the city with hoardings, that their licenses would not be renewed and in'l2 months' time all such blemishes would have to be removed. Mr Hurst Seagar said it might be said that business was business and the hoardings helped them to develop their industries, but he pointed out that hoardings were not only very disfiguring but they wero not useful. To all rightminded persons they were repellent rather than attractive and would lead them to refuse to purchase the wares which worn advertised, rather than buy. In many cities in England and on the Continent, advertising by placards was absolutely forbidden, with the result that the towns were beautiful, restful places which wero prosperous on account of their attractions. “I have always had the greatest admiration for Wanganui,” said Mr Hurst Seagar in conclusion, “and I hope it will take the lead in this respect and make the city still more beautiful than it is at present.

Tt was reported to tlie Canterbury Education Board last week by Mr J. G. Gow that there are thirty-one classes of children in the Canterbury educational district, with a total of more than sixty children each. He said that more classes should be provided, more positions being found in that way for unemployed teachers. It, had been, stated that in New Zealand there were 900 classes with more than sixty children in each. The number of largo classes in New Zealand had been cited as a reason for employing surplus teachers coming from (lie Training Colleges. Mi W. 11. Winsor said if the cost was £SOO a room, the cost of providing extra accommodation to divide the 900 classes in New Zealand would be £450,000. In tlie Canterbury district the cost would he £15,500. The position was further discussed, but, no motion was passed. The. property known as “The Camp” and also as Larnach’s Castle, consisting of about- 35 acres, was offered for sale by the Public Works Department in. Dunedin last week. The reserve was £2912 10s. Although there was a- fair attendance, no bid was made, and the property was passed in. Larnach’s Castle was the historic 1 residence of the late Hon. W. J. M. Larnach. It is a massive .structure, built of stone, and surrounded by plantations and bush on the Otago Peninsula. Some years ago the property was acquired by the Government as an institution for mental patients, but it has not been used for that purpose for some years, and has been occupied only by a caretaker. Mr Larnach built the castle in 1873. It is said that the property cost him £120.000 in all, but there was then a park of 850 acres.

Mr S. llur.sL Songar has congratulated Wellington on liaving been the first city in the Dominion to appoint a town planner. “1 do not know Mr H. F. Butcher," said Mr Hurst Sea gar, to a “Chronicle" reporter, “but I know that lie must be eminently suited for tiie position with the knowledge required to possess his qualifications.” A town planning officer was absolutely necessary, fie said, because a city engineer had too much to do with his other duties toi attend to this aspect of the city’s welfare. American cities all had town planners and he hoped other cities in the Dominion would not be slow fo follow the example set by the capital. 9 a.m. Thursday at "The Auckland’’. Faille silk ribbons —up to 4 inch—l£d yard. Children’s sox—all sizes—6d pair. Closed to-morrow preparing for sale.* Fuji Silk Bloomers, women’s and O.S. well cut garments, at 5s .lid, 7s Gd to 9s lid, at McKay’s.* 9 a.m. Thursday at "The Auckland. ’’ Striped tin. towels fid. Heavy tent duck 1/6 yard. 70 inch heavy unbleached sheeting 1/11 yard. Closed tomorrow preparing for sale.* Band shirts! Special clearance of our own make, not job stocks. Usually 7s lid to 13s Gd, special offer 6s 6<l. Trathon’s.*

Thursday at 9 a.m., big celebration starts at “The Auckland.” Women's coloured rubber rain coats—new lizard designs—l3/6. Smart black and white check skirts, 6/11.*

“The Auckland’’ will he closed all day to-morrow, preparing for the big celebration at 9 a.m. Thursday. Glorious 36 inch plain and floral taffeta silks, 4/6 yard.*

Unique Shirt. Offer! Admitted .to he the best, value offered in New Zealand. Smart band shirts, all sizes, to deal', 6s 6d. Tra then's.* Thursday at 9 a.m.. the big celebration starts at “The Auckland." 1000 British llomoeliord gramophone records, wonderful selection, 2/6 each, 3 for 6/6.'*

It, is ncA yof, clear whether the in teresting movement to form and establish a national party of Unionists is a reprisal or a revolt, comments the Auckland “Hun.” Dispassionate observers will agree unhesitatingly that there is in the Auckland manifesto about it enough political malevolence against tins ■Reform Government, as to justify either interpretation or, better still and probable nearer the mark, a combination of both moods and motived. ... It is too early yet to give serious heed to the platform and policy of the new Conservatives. Stripped of its split infinitives and superfluity of adjectives, there is not much that is original or remedial at its core.' It suggests that the Unionists are merely the same old Reform Conservatives with a sandpapered programme. Unless and until the movement is headed by a strong leader and backed by men of substance and high political merit, it will not command an army with blue banners flying. A Christchurch timber merchant, on examining a shipment of Oregon doors imported from America, and landed last week, found the cases riddled with borer. Interviewed by a “Times” reporter, the merchant stated that this was the first occasion on which his firm had noticed the borer in imported timber. An inspection of the cases revealed the mi - mistakeable work of this dangerous pest. Every case was riddled with borer hides a!)ou|. the size of a threepenny hit. Although the doors were untouched, lie* manager staled that it would only he a matter of time before the soft Oregon timber would be affected. As the American Oregon is slightly cheaper than New Zealand red pine, there was a keen demand by the. public for the imported timber. A Christchurch builder who was present stated that at the request of a man for whom lie was building a house, lie had used a good deal of American Oregon. After a few years, the wood became riddled with borer. “A most disquieting feature is the danger of this borer getting into the standing forests in New Zealand, and I think it only right that the public should awaken to the danger of using this imported timber and that action lie taken to have it excluded from New Zealand,” stated the merchant.

When the last loan was raised by fhe Grey (Electric. Rower Hoard for the completion of the reticulation scheme, ratepayers were promised that before any further additions were made to the present steam plant at the Dobson pow-er-house, investigation, would be made of all the available hydro sources in the district. The board has reached a point where it has to consider providing more current for consumers, and in keeping with its promise to ratepayers, has, as a preliminary step to developing the required current, had investigation of hydro schemes in the district made by Messrs Viekerman and Lancaster, consulting engineers of Wellington. Their report was presented at the board’s meeting last week. After considering the virtues of the different sources and making a comparison with the present steam plant, the engineers favour the harnessing of Crooked River. A special meeting of the board will bo held tomorrow to reach a decision. “The Assessment Court is a most objectionable tribunal,” said Mr JusticeReed during the hearing of a case at the Supreme Court at Wanganui. “Its constitution is bad,” continued his Honour. “The inclusion of the Magistrate is all right,, but one member is appointed by the Valuer-General, and the other by the local body, so that the persons interested have no representation at all. The whole inclination of the Court would be to put the valuations up as high as possible. I bad a case before me in Auckland where the Assessment Court over-rode the decision of the Magistrate and valued mudflats at £15,000 which were not worth 15,000 pence. Fortunately it came before me in such a manner that I W'as able to deal with it.”'-

Appreciative reference was made at the meeting of the Hampden Street School committee to the success of the Hampden Company of Girl Guides in winning the Moneriel'f Shield, which is awarded each year to the best company of Girl Guides. It is worthy of' note that the Jellicoe Shield for the best team of four guides in New Zealand is at present held by a Nelson team com. posed of two members of the Hampden company and one each from All Saints and the L’oi-t companies. It is reported from Grey month that the West Coast hush is rapidly losing its native birds through their wholesale destruction by weasels, and unless the imported posts are exterminated, there is a grave, possibility of the bush being soon robbed of one of its chief attractions. Up to less than a decade ago the bush, even near main centres of population, resounded with the song of native birds, but nowadays one lias to get- well off the. beaten track before the liquid notes'of the tui are heard. Native parakeets, bob robins, and bell birds have been completely wiped out, and even the tom tits and fantails are becoming very scarce.

Evidence at the Harbour Commission in Napier included the viewpoint of fruitgrowers. Mr A. R. Robertson said that the question might be asked whether Hawkes Bay was suitable for the growing of fruit for export. Their present method of transport to the port of shipment, continued Mr Robertson, was by rail to Wellington. But there were serious objections to that, particularly the time between the picking and the ultimate storage on the boat in /refrigerator space. During the season (here, was a continual shortage of suitable, waggons, and the latest information they had from railway headquarters was that the Department could not see, its way to provide sufficient fruit waggons, as the trade was only a seasonable one. Railage costs to Wellington at 9d per ease, on the present export basis of 100,000 cases, equalled £3750 as the direct loss to the fruitgrower. Cool storage in Wellington at 6d per ease meant a loss to the district and the fruit-grower of £2500, or a tolal of £65,000 on 100,000 cases, without taking into consideration the ioss incurred through poor and delayed transit to the present point of shipment.

9 a.m. Thursday the big celebration starts at “The Auckland.” 6 (only) women’s jersey silk frocks 5/11. Delightful crepe do ohene and silk maintain frocks 29/6. Closed all day to-morrow.* Suit and shirt scatter, 9 a.m. Thursday at “The Anqjdand."' 100 men’s hign grade tweed and worsted suits, 45/-. 49/0. 69/6. Men’s stylish “Summit brand” shirts with collar to match—• 5/11.”

"The Auckland” will he closed all day to-in or row, preparing for the huge celebration sale at 9 a.m. Thursday, when beautiful silks and satins—plain colours, striped arid figured effects—will fly out at I'6 yard.*

Fuji Silk Princess Underskirts, lace and hemstitched finish, 16s Gd to 24s 6d, at McKay’s.* 2.6 each, 3 for 6/6. Ihmiochord Bri tisli gramophone records--wonderful variety—9 a.m. Thursday at "The Auckland."*'

New Fuji Underwear just arrived. Fuji Silk Nightdresses, lace trimmed or hand embroidered, 21s to 35s at McKay’s.* 9 a.m. Thursday at ‘‘The Auckland” —■ Beautiful bordered crepe do dienes 6/11 yard. Floral and bordered voiles 6/6, 9/6, 10 ’6 frock length—-over 200 lengths and no two alike.*

The total proceeds of the pareritHY and sports’ day arranged for Thursday afternoon next at• Trafalgar Rack art to be given to the unemployed funds of this city, instead of for school funds as previously arranged. All the town schools, including the Convent, are combining for the purpose, and entries for the basketball and football tournaments, senior and junior, have also been received from Tuhnrm, Stoke and Richmond. Jri addition there will be an exhibition of fancy marching in costume by Hampden street, pupils, and massed physical drill by 350 Auckland Point children, and a serins of dancing steps and Morris dances bv over 300 children from the Central School. The sports should meet with strong support. The Marlborough Automobile Association’s membership totals 346. ‘A moment of economic depression immediately it shows its head, our experience through the years tells us, automatically compels eyes to direct themselves towards the salaries of Rublie servants as a possible avenue of pruning expenditure without the groups concerned considering the justice or reason of such a course,” says the annual report of the New Zealand Public Service Association. “The 1921 depression descended upon New Zealand like an avalanche, the political powers were caught in the slide, and the Public Service suffered —to u large extent, unjustly —but that is an old sore. To-day, the depression that exists has come upon mj gradually, Ministers have had an opportunity of thought, and perhaps of investigation, and as a result, we do not think that any body of sane men can seriously consider, taking into consideration the facts, the question of attacking our salaries. Let us state plainly that, though the service finds itself retarded in its action by the present economic conditions, the living costs justify nothing less than the return of our two salary cuts; and the battle for our rights must he continued with unabated vigour.”

“The Japanese are not directly concerned about exclusion from Australia and New Zealand. What is occupying their attention is their exclusion from America,” said Mr W. 11. Cocker, one of the four New Zealand delegates to the recent Conference of Pacific Relations at Honolulu, in the course of an address to the League of Nations Society at. Auckland He added that the dignity of Japan had been seriously hurt by America's attitude. There was scarcely an American at the conference who did not agree that the method of exclusion had been unfortunate, and was likely to cause unnecessary friction. The method adopted by .the United States practically amounted to “slamming tne door ip Japan’s face.”

The Town Clerk’s staff had a busy time yesterday receiving rates, many people taking advantage of the 2$ per cent discount allowed up to yesterday. The amount received during the last few days is not yet available, but it runs into a considerable sum.

The re-shaping of the Wairau electorate has cast on its Member the responsibility of having to represent the whole of a province (says the “Express”). The Commissioners have produced a peculiarly ill-assorted and unwieldy constituency. However, the position can be retrieved in two ways — by one or more appointments providing for the representation of Marlborough in the Legislative Council, and through better arrangements in connection with the functioning of Government departments, more particularly the Public Works Department. Two very salient considerations in the new circumstances are the fact that this is the only province in New Zealand without direct re-, presentation in the Upper House and the fact that this community has suffered much inconvenience and disability because its affairs, so far as the State is concerned, are largely governed from Nelson. With Kaikoura added to the electorate, this situation is so much the worse. The case for the due concentration of departmental functions is generally strengthened. It is to be hoped that the responsible i authorities will promptly accord this measure of justice to a community that has been much disturbed by the Electoral Boundaries Commission. ' Another obvious requirement (adds our contemporary) is the changing of the name of the electorate from “Wairau” to “Marlborough.” The present, name is a glaring misnomer. “I say with authority that business is on the mend.” This optimistic note was struck at tho annual meeting of the Real Estate Institute of Auckland last week, by the president (Mr P. J. Crump), in referring to the stale of the real estate market. “A lot of us are inclined to go along with a long face, but I think that if one goes thoroughly into the financial statement—so far as exports of the country arc concerned—he will realise that it is not quite necessary,” added Mr Crump with conviction. “The general opinion of the executive and myself is that there is now a trend towards better business and better prospects. Farms are being bought by men who 'know what they are getting, and being sold by men who are reasonable. If you study present conditions and are prepared as sound businessmen to work with studied optimism, you will help yourselves and things in general.” There was a tendency for some men, explained Mr Crump, to sit back and say there was “nothing doing,” but it they got out they would find there was something doing in the direction of legitimate business. “I say on the authority of some- of the largest firms in iho city that business is on the mend,” he concluded.

For some years a few residents of Tauranga have interested themselves in the growing of tobacco and the curing of the leaf. It may now lie claimed that the experimental stage of growing has been successfully passed. To judge by samples of the rnanu'.l'actmreil article shown at last week’s meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, i(. will compare favourably with other New Zealandgrown or imported tobaccos. Tie experiments have been made with various kinds of leaf. A letter has been received from the Department of Agriculture by the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce. in answer to an inquiry, which shows that the department is fully alive to the possibilities of this industry. The chamber intends to submit samples of leai grown in this district for inspection by the department.

A scries of lectures on the prevention of waste by fire is being given to the school children, of Hamilton by Mr A. Craig, the superintendent of the Hamilton I'ire Brigade. The greatest percenla.ge of outbreaks of lire, said Mi Craig in one lecture, was attributed to preventable causes, where the exercise of a little care would have obviated the occurrences. Most of the fires which were due to carelessness arose from leaving electric irons switched on, from airing clothes in front of fires, from naked candles which came in contact with blinds, from smoking in bedrooms and from lighted matches being thrown down. Practically every fire which occurred in a dwelling-house was due to carelessness or neglect. The fire losses in New Zealand mi a per eapita basis were, said Mr Craig, the highest in the world, and were four times those of England. America was practically on ilio same level as New Zealand, and in some of the States a- week was set aside each year to educate the public and •school children in methods of lire prevention.