LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 6 February 1928, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Mr H. Atmore, M.P., has received the following reply to his request from the Postmaster-General:—"ln reference to your letter of 12th ultimo on the subject of delivery of telegrams at Tasman, I beg to inform vou that instructions have been issued for telegrams for residents of Tasman who are subscribers to the Motneka telephone exchange to be telephoned free of charge from lasman."

Yet another mean theft is reported. Whilst swimming in Dennes' bathing pool yesterday afternoon, five young ladies had their belongings stolen. In each case everything was taken except their dresses, and ihese the victims wore over their bathing costumes. Piain set in at Lake. Rotoiti at 7 o'clock on Saturday evening and continued steadily until midnight. The downpour was sufficiently heavy to extinguish many of the. bush fires* ia that district. Others were left smouldering. At present there is a great influx of visitors at the Lake. Most of the available accommodation is fully taken up.

It is rumoured (says the "Taranaki Herald") that a tradesman took advantage of the "Rose Marie" booking queues to deliver some of his overdue accounts.

Owners of dogs are. advised by Mr Seed, Inspector of the Societv for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, to he particularly careful during the prolonged hot weather to keep tho animals in as cool a place as possible with a plentiful supply of clean water which has not been exposed to the sun. Apart from the humane point of view, there is the factor of clanger through dogs losing their reason under such trying conditions. Ordinary house dogs (which usually do not lead very energetic lives) should be exercised in the morning and evenings only.

Among first class bowlers, the hard rubber howl is rapidly ousting its more venerable compatriot of wood. This was particularly noticeable, at the great bowlinar carnival recently held in Australia, when over a thousand bowlers from ail prfrls of the Australian States and New Zealand competed for the Australian Championship. The winner, F. Dobbie (Vic), used rubber howls; as did also J. 11. Sheedy, winner of the "consolation singles."

Further evidence in support of the complaint that the South lsland'is not "boomed" so much as a tourist resort as is the North Island is contained in. a significant sentence in a letter from a Sydney correspondent to a Nelson friend. Referring to a visit to New Zealand the writer says: "The tour was arranged by your agents here. They will net touch the South Island."

Most of the. carriages used on the express trains in the .South Island now have, emergency brakes fitted so that, in case of accident, the train can bo stopped by passengers (states the "Lyttelton Times"). A decision to do this ■work was nriived at some time ago ami instructions were issued to fit 150 carriages in the. South Island with the apparatus. The, principal trains have been done, and at belli Hillside and Addington shops the gear is being fitted to the. cars which are used to supplement the expresses at holiday rushes. The emergency brake control'is to be found inside the doors of the carriages. Enclosed in a small red box is a knob, (he turning of which will bring the train to a prompt stop. "Although it will not stop the train as quickly as the emergency brake that the driver controls, it will pull il up in a very short space," said Mr L. W. Robertson, Locomotive Engineer for the South Island, on Thursday morning. He added that the effect was the same as if one of the connecting brake, hoses was to snap. With these fitted, passengers will be able to stop the train in the event of the. derailment of a carriage. Early last year, such an event occurred on the main south line, and before the train could be pulled up, one of the passengers had to climb along the tender to warn the driver.

In tho last 5 test matches .played between England and-Australia, in. 10 innings each, England made an aggregate of 4027 runs, and Australia made 4003 runs, an average of over 400 runs per inningfi, a, difference of only 24 runs in England's favour in the total aggregates.

A serious shortage in Auckland's milk supply is threatened unless a break occurs shortly in tho exceptionally dry weather now being experienced throughout tho province. The position is rapidly becoming acute, and there is every possibility that the retail price of milk will shortly bo further increased to per quart. Supplies sent to distributing firms for dairy farmers are dwindling daily, and it is feared, if conditions do not materially, improve within the next few weeks) stringent measures will have to be taken toward regulating retail soles. One leading firm of retailers, with many branches, will be forced to limit its sale of cream during the present week, and it is certain many household demands will have, to be curtailed. The number of full-blooded aborigines in Australia did not decrease last year, according to an official return. The number approximately was 59,945, as compared with 59,296 in 1926; but in 1925 the number was 62,394. The figures relating to half-castes point to a steady increase in their number, averaging about 1000 a year. Last year the number of half-castes counted in the census was 13,468. In 1926 there were 15,102, and in 19.25 13,393. It is stated that last year's census was a great advance toward ascertaining the extent to which tho aboriginal population has entered into the economic life. of Australia.. Although no. information'was furnished "ori that 1 "point by New South Wales the figures reveal that about 10,000 full-blooded natives are in European employ for the whole of Australia, and upwards of 4000 half-castes. In Queensland there was a marked tendency to gather the aborigines into Go : vernmerit and mission stations, and only about 14 per cent, were leading nomadic lives.

Barking dogs, located to the westward of the wards of the Nelson Public Hospital, are a constant source of great discomfort and disquiet to the patients. Sleep sometimes at night is altogether out of the question. If the owners of these canine pests cannot administer a suitable .and effective "soother," perhaps they will be able to remove them elsewhere. The near neighbourhood of a large hospital is no place to keep barking dogs—howling and yelping throughout tho entire night.

A correspondent writes: That pastime of a warped mind, mud-fighting, has broken out afresh in our much frequented bathing resorts in the Maitai Valley, and the strange practice unaccountably liked by a certain section of our youth is greatly to be deprecated. The game consists of one participant seeing how thoroughly he can plaster the other chap with riverbank mud in as short a time, as possible. During the process the whole bathing hole becomes discoloured by the large quantities of mud thrown in making the water disagreeable and "soupy. While the game is in progress swimmers are forced to occupy the portion of the hole farthest away from the mudlarks, and when a large crowd is present great inconvenience is caused by the restrictions. Swimmers in the water, out of the water, and even dressed people across the stream suffer indiscriminately until the fracas is abruptly ended by a member being injured, usually in the eye, by a lump of mud. Then the party sobers up and half a dozen amateur surgeons get busy and do their best to repair the damage done. What spent there can be in this practice the average individual fails to see, and can only conclude that "actions showeth the man."

Considerable diversity of opinion exists respecting the depreciations of eels upon trout. Several reports have been received of trout weighing up to a pound and a half being found in eels that have been captured. Quite recently a farmer found a dead eel. in his river with a half-swallowed trout in its mouth (states the "Taranaki News"). Anglers also take trout which bear scars on the underside of the body that correspond with the shape of an eel's mouth and teeth. A few days ago a Taranaki angler caught' a two-pound trout that had apparently been savagely attacked by an eel. Deep rips in the flesh just above the t#mit's tail showed that the fish had escaped after a hard struggle. Another angler recently saw an actual tussle between a trout and an eel. The latter was about five, pounds in weight and the trout a three-pounder. The eel had seized its prey from underneath and was shaking it like a terrier shakes a rat. The trout fought gamely for freedom, but the eel continued to worry and eventually pushed the trout out on to the bank, where it soon succumbed. The victor retained its hold and would probably have attempted to devour the trout, although the latter was much too large to be swallowed whole, had not the watching angler been able to creep up close to the contestants, and with his gaff secured the eel, which he quickly dispatched.

For the eighth time in recent years, a New Zealander is included among the candidates in the final test for the "Rome architectural scholarship (says the '•NewZealand Herald"). The successful competitor is Mr Sidney Chaplin, aged 24, formerly of Hastings. Born in Hastings, and educated at the local high school, Mr Chaplin entered the office of Messrs Masscy, Hyland, and Phillips at the age of 17, to* commence his archi- 1 tectural studies. He later moved to Auckland and took lectures in architecture at Auckland University College, working meanwhile in the offices of Mr Massey, Messrs Glimmer and Ford, and Messrs Wilson and Moodie for some three and a half years. Then he worked his passage to England on the steamer Waimana during the shipping strike of 1925. Since his arrival in London he has served in the offices of Messrs Foster and Armstrong as an architect's assistant and also under Sir John Burnett. The examination for the Rome scholarship is held every year and is open to all architectural students in the Empire below ihe age of 30. The winner is awarded a scholarship, wffio.h carries with it £250 a year tor three years, during which time, he lives in Rome and studies Italian architecture. The first seven candidates in the, preliminary examinations are selected to compete in the final test. Last year, both first and second prizes were won by New Zealanders, and students from the Dominion have filled the second place on several previous occasions.

The fishing attractions of the Sounds have taken on a new aspect, according to Mr S. W. Moult, of Titahi Bay, who has recently, returned from a month's cruising across Cook Strait in his launch Miss Titahi (states "The Post".) About a fortnight ago, says Mr Moult, an lift makn shark was captured in Endeavour Inlet. Queen Charlotte Sound, V Mr W. Hilton, of Endeavour House, who was fishing from the launch. Arii exciting struggle of one and a half hours ensued before the shark was landed and towed triumphantly to the shore. Such was its weight that' six men were required to hoist it Up to the tat" 1 where it. was photoigiviphed. Mr Moult also saw many black taniwha sharks in the Sounds, and he was told that one of them had charged a man in a dinghy, armed only with a gaff. The man, so the story went, thrust the gaff into the shark's side, and so prevented it from overturning the boat.

All previous records of attendance were beaten on Saturday at the Nelson city baths. The sum of £5 17s 6d was taken in pennies and threepences—chiefly in pennies. Again yesterday the baths were well patronised both in the morning and also during the afternoon.

Burglars who entered the shop of W. Hill, tobacconist and hairdresser, in Tory street, Wellington, displayed remarkable daring, according to the story of a young man who was in the vicinity. Hia uncle's car was parlccd in an alleyway at the renr of the shop, and he was waiting outside the shop, when two men engaged him in conversation. He heard the rattle of tools from the back of the shop but did not think anything was nmiss. Next morning the tools were found to be missing, and when the owner returned to the. shop he discovered them at the back door, which had been forced open. Tobacco, machine razors, and money to the total value of about £lO are slated to have been taken. —Press Association.

The opinion that New Zealanders who were in Great Britain at the time war broke out and joined the Imperial Army should be permitted to apply for New Zealand pensions was expressed at a meeting of the Waikato .Returned Soldiers' Association on Tuesday evening (states the "New Zealand Herald"). It was poijjted out that these men .were often debarred from transferring to the New Zealand Forces. Two cases were cited in which men were debarred from receiving pensions because they had not applied within seven years of the date of their discharge. It was decided to send a remit forward that the association considered that this law caused undue and unnecessary hardship. A new scheme is being instituted by the Education Department for training specialised teachers, and arrangements are now being made for the commencement of the first course, in physical training. It is intended to give a year's instruction to twelve selected third-year Training College students, the course being conducted by Dr. J. Renfrew White, at Dunedin. It is proposed later on to establish special courses of instruction in drawing and singing. Third year students who undergo specialised training are to be giyen a slight increase in their allowance, so that when they take up appointments in school they may not suffer loss of salary in consequence of their devoting an "extra year to specialised training j one year's increment will be added to the commencing salary paid for Grade I positions.

In spite of the many attempts by the! struggling farmer, the gum lands of the North Auckland district have proved unsuitable for general agricultural purposes. Cropping is not a paying proposition in those parts. There is one exception, however—tobacco thrives well in.these latitudes and splendid types of leaf have been produced on soils that not long ago were covered with ti-tree and fern. A small portion of these waste lands if planted in tobacco would be sufficient to transform this poverty-stricken district into regions of affluence and wealth; £SO net is the average yield of a tobacco crop per acre and often more. Few people realise the immense possibilities of the tobacco industry, but anyone wanting information on the subject is referred to the ready manufactured article, "Riverhead Gold" mildest of all-, "Toasted Navy Cut" (Bulldog), of medium strength; and "Cut Plug No. 10" (Bullhead), full strength. Do not for. get that all three brands are "toasted" and therefore more wholesome than the average class of goods from overseas, often so harmful on the score of excess nicotine.*

The poslnl authorities advise that mails which left Wellington on 3rd January, via San Francisco, arrived in London on 3rd February.

Captain Stewart, of the Fire Brigade, acknowledges receipt of a donation of £3 3s towards the recreation fund from Messrs A. G. Betts and Son, in appreciation of the firemen's services at the fire in Hardy street. Charles Grainger, aged 19, of Murchison, was admitted to the Public Hospital, Nelson, on Saturday night suffering from a broken arm. l'he injury was caused, through a fall from a horse on Thursdav last.

Hugh M. Speed, the well-known owner of the racehorse Civility, came before Mr Barton, S.M., at Wanganui for sentence on' a charge of having used obscene language at 4 a.m. to a constable on Tiiupo Quay on Friday. Defendant had had "a night out," and with another man he had motored to the Quay for more liquor. The constable called his attention to the fact that the car's engine had been left running, and asked who was in charge of the car. Speed then used filthy language. The magistrate told Speed that he had gone oimgerously near to being dealt with in connection with the motor car. On the charge of having used obscene language he would be ordered to come up for sentence within a year. If he failed to be of good behaviour he could expect imprisonment, without the. option of a fine. "There, is no scarcity in hides," emphatically stated a Wellington boot and shoe dealer, Mr G. Ardrey, when referring to the coming increase in the price, of footwear. "The cry about the shortage of hides is the old bogey, so as to be able to make an advance of from 5 to 10 per cent, on leather. There is no justification for the advance and "hides are going to America and Great Britain as freely as ever. "Supposing hides go up to-day by 10 per cent. Twelve months must, elapse before the increase should be, passed on to the working man in the shape of increased cost for his boots. There is no solid ground for advancing prices to such an extent, but when America raises the cry there are some who are only too glad to join the rush for higher prices. From the time hides are sold until they are received by the public, in. shoes the period is about twelve, months"

Alfred Gould announces details of ar. auction sale to be held in Halifax street, The Wood, on account of Mrs Crequer, to-morrow, at 1.30 p.m. Also particulars of an auction sale to be held at Mayroyd private hospital next Thursday.