LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 11 August 1928, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Mayor (Mr W. ,T. Moffatt) referring to correspondence (mostly anonymous) appearing in the press regarding charges for electricity, said the writers failed, to recognise the fact that it was at the instigation of the Local Government Loans Board that the Council had financed the scheme iii the way it had done. The Electrical Engineer had prepared figures showing that in a’ number of places, the charges were as high, and in some instances higher, than those charged in Nelson.

The Anchor Shipping and Foundry Company announce that owirig to urgent repairs being required to one of her propellers the departure of the S.S. J*jkau for Wellington (previously advertised for 11 o'clock to-night) has been postponed until 7 p.m. to-mofrow. Intending passengers are requested to note this alteration. ' ,

The natives 1 of the Solomon Islands are gradually becoming more peaceful and industrious, according to the Rev. V. Binet, Methodist missionary, who was a passenger from Sydney by the Ulimaroa (states the “New Zealand Herald”). Mr Binet has worked in tho Solomons for eleven years, and, accompanied by his wife, will spend a holiday in Auckland. Mr Binet said he could remember the time when it was'extremely dangerous to visit many places in the Solomons, but to-day one could wander about the group with, comparative satfety. Reporting to the City Council last evening'the electrical engineer .stated that during July 108,124 units were sold, against 85,148. units for the corresponding month of last year, an increase of 22,970. The revenue for the past month amounted to £2423 6s 3d, against £2145 fls 6d, an increase of £277,16s 9d. < «

A message to the Sydney “Sun” on 30th July stated'“The New Zealand boxer Tom Heeney has been advised by cablegram that liis father is ill. Consequently Tom and his brothers will return to New Zealand within two weeks. In his 15 months in the United States the New Zealander, in ten contests, has earned about £51,000, of which he has saved nearly half, after paying his managers and trainers. Of the cheque from, Mr Tex Rickard for. £21,150 for his fight- with Tunney, £llsO represents Tom’s share in the moving pictures after the deduction, of Federal and State taxes. The cut over his Ifeft eye is healing, but the eye is bloodshot. Tom is consulting an oculist.”

“I am more than ever convinced that the Dominion is destined to become one of the world’s greatest tourist centres,” said Mr A. 11. Messenger, head of the Government Publicity Department, in a letter read at the luncheon of the Auckland Advertising Club this week (reports the “Herald”). Mr Messenger, speaking of his observations on his recent visit to Australia, said the lack of interest displayed by Australians toward the Dominion was largely accounted for by the wealth of local attractions possessed by the Commonwealth. Then again, they were essentially lovers of the sun, and were, reluctant to cross the 'Tasman in winter months, especially since the voyage had gained a reputation, not quite deserved, for stormy conditions. The appeal of Mount Cook had to combat the attractions of Mount Kosciusko and other Australian alpine resorts, but publicity work had' aroused keen interest in New Zealand in New South Wales and Victor ia. Australians were wide awake to the value of their internal tourist traffic and excellent street displays in the cities made a powerful appeal. Air Messenger added that nevertheless he was confident cf the great tourist future ahead of the Dominion, and advances were being made in interesting our nearest overseas neighbours in what there was to see in New Zealand.

During July the building permits issued by the City Engineer included 9 new dwellings, (£8047), and 1 new business premise ( £400). Repairs to dwellings ( £1008) and business premises (£17)15) brought the total amount to £11,570.

The demand for • coke "daring July was fairly heavy, nearly, 4000 bags being disposed of by the City Council. The new crusher has been .working for about ten days, and 176 sacks of this were included in the sales.

The opinion that the main reason for: the unsatisfactory position 'of the Do-’ minion’s fish export industry was a lack! of proper shipping facilities was expressed bv Mr 1). Minnock in an address 1 to the' Otago .Fishmongers’ Association (says the Dunedin “Star”). “Now Zealand Ims an abundant supply of fish, but it lacks organisation, partly owing to its geographical position, its unsatisfactory shipping, and out of date methods of-railway transit and handling,” declared Mr Minnock. “The. public have to pay for the wasteful, methods in conducting the industry, and a lesson could, and should be, learned from the older countries, where the fishing industry ; s a national asset, such as Great Britain, Norway, Canada, and the United States of America. Only then, and not till then, will the people of this Dominion reap the wealth of the sea.” Desponding to the toast of the Post-master-General and" the P. and T. Department nt the smoke concert of the P. and T. Employees’ Association in Wellington, the Hon. K. S. Williams paid a graceful tribute to the prominent and intimate part played in the daily lives of the community by every member of the postal service (reports “The Post”). Speaking not as PostmasterGeneral, nor yet as a member of the Cabinet, he wished, be said, at the first gathering of officers of the Department ho had ever attended, to thank them as a back country farmer for their ready efforts to 'make, the lives of the backcountry people bearable. In the case of illness, or at any time when there was need of assistance in the home, the postal people were the first to ring up and ask if there was anything that could be done to help. It was that kindly consideration and eagerness to please which made the work of the Depart-, ment, from the highest to the lowest in it, appreciated throughout the whole of the country. Frequently they were called upon to do anything and everything, and because they did it well, they had an exceedingly high name all through New Zealand.

An outspoken reference to the necessity for the amalgamation of the Picton and Wairnii Hospital Districts was made by the Director-General of Health (Dr. 'j’.‘ H. A. Valintine) at Rai Valley this week (reports the “Express”) when he opened the district nurse’s cottage. Ho indicated that this amalgamation was the most pressing and- justifiable one .in the Dominion and, if it could not be-effected, hopes of bringing about fusions in the cases of other hospital districts might as well be abandoned.' “One thing is spoiling our hospital system,” lie said, “and that is the number of hospital districts. There are 44 in this little country, and.it means we have to spend too much money. It is quite right that in the country places there should be receiving homes or hospitals, but to have hospitals in country districts under the control, of one man—the only man they can get—where operations are done is ' absolutely wrong. Generally speaking the work in our hospitals is admirable but we must be careful about the work in some of the remote districts where the doctor has not the advantages of conferences and consultations with other members of his profession:. Believe me, it is a. very serious thing. There are a number of splendid doctors who are doing good work by themselves, but even if you have men of the calibre of Sir James Paget you can’t do your duty single-handed in the’case of severe operations. : . i With regard to Picton itself,”, added Dr. Valintine, “there is no suggestion That the Picton Hospital should be elosdd. Far ffoin it, They will always want a hospital there, but if'they work in conjunction with Blenheim it'will be very much better for all concerned.”

A steady increase in the export of New Zealand beef to America has taken place since the United .States placed an embargo on importations •'from the Argentine. (The action of the, United States towards the Argentine is‘due to the fact that some time ago foot and mouth disease was known to exist in South America:. The trade has now reached very substantial and the business done by Auckland exporting bouses last season was only limited by the extent of supplies available. 'Most of the beef for'the United States was shipped to New York, and the prices were fully up to advanced London parity. It is confidently anticipated that the American demand will be .sustained, as Canada is unable to meet its neighbour’s requirements, and is, in fact, also importing quantities of frozen beef from New Zealand. An expansion of New Zealand’s trade with America in frozen mutton and lamb has also taken place, and there are indications the American demand will continue to be a factor in the market.

“It is an appalling fact that in England, Scotland and-Ireland more money is spent annually on golf balls than all the churches together contribute to foreign missions,” said the Rev. A. M. Aspland at a mission meeting in. the Parnell Presbyterian Church this week. Ho lioped the position was better in New Zealand, but he did not know. He expressed the conviction that permanent good would be achieved if half the ministers in a. land like this were sent out to needy mission fields and were supported there by their people.

“Those who took shares in' New Zealand Cricket, Limited, and made possible the first New Zealand cricket tour of •England, are-beginning to ask about the refund that was said to be due,” said Mr E. E. Nalder, chairman, of the management committee of the Auckland Cricket Association, which met this week. “The tour is now history, the manager has returned: and subscribers are still left- to wait.” There was considerable discussion on the question, members staling that it was not so much the return of money that was being awaited, as the publication of the figures for the lour. It was decided to write to j,hc New Zealand Cricket- Council ,on the matter. . I

A Mastorton correspondent states: — The Otago Rugby Union’s attack on the Wairarapa Union for not having sent its full team south after winning the Ranfurlv Shield from Christchurch makes amusing reading when one recalls the fact- that on a certain occasion in pre-war days Otago sent a team (not full strength) on a tour of the North Island and reinforced it by “star” players when Otago played Wellington for the. Ranfurlv Shield at Wellington. Otago on that tour played Wairarapa without those “star” players.

The monthly meeting of (lie Waimea branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union will he hold in the club room, Bright water, on Tuesday evening next .

Ten bankruptcies are notified: in the current issue ot “The New Zealand Gazette.”

A concert will be given at the Maj'sden Church Hall on Wednesday next at 8 p.m., when a varied musical programme, consisting of piano, violin and vocal solos, vocal duets and trios, mandoline cluot and orchestral items: also a farce called “The Bathroom Door” will be given. This little play was performed on hoard the Repulse during her voyage from South America to England in October, 1925, when the Prince of Wales took the part of the young lady .

With an Otago representative Rugby team playing in N*lsj>h to-day, it is interesting to recall the team which met Otago in Nelson in 1887, 41 years ago, which was the last {time an Otago team visited Nelson. The following players represented Nelson in ’B7—C. Ball, G. Barnett, H. Glasgow, T. Glasgow, 1 • G. Gibbs, Jos. -.Lipscoir.be, H. Worton, 0. Nesbitt, G. R. Simpson, E. Sherwood,11. Stallard, R. W: Stiles, J. W. Webster, W. Wilby, J. Withers. .

Wednesday last was the twentieth anniversary of the completion of the first through train journey over the Main Trunk lino in the .North Island. The rails from the northern and southern ends of . the route were joined on 3rd August, 1908, at Manganui-c-te-ao, and four days later the first through train, consisting of 12. vehicles, left Wellington with a party-of Ministers, M.P.’s and others. The occasion coincided with the visit of the American Fleet, which arrived in the Wniteinata Harbour on 9th August.' The pioneer Main Trunk train commenced its journey at 10 p.in. on 7th August, and reached Auckland the following evening. It was nob until 14th February, 1909, that the regular service between Auckland and Wellington was inaugurated. “The telephone carries .'the orders and the motor delivers the , goods, but it is the advertisement which tells of what we are doing and what we have to sell,” said Mr George Finn, president of the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association, in the course of an address to the local Advertising Club. Mr Finn went fur, flier, and declared an axiom which has long been known in thd commercial world, namely, that advertising is just as necessary to business as the telephone or the motor.

John W. Daly, a recent arrival in; New Zealand from the Old Country, was before the Magistrate’s Court to-day on two charges of obtaining £2 and £3 from William P. Baker by false pretences. Accused pleaded guilty iandAyas; placed ou probation for three months and ordered to make restitution .of the money. Messrs W- Rout and L. J. 'Frank were the presiding Justices. 1 , , When moving in'to her berth at the Central wharf at Auckland the steamer Ihiimata (Captain G. Ostenfeld) collided With the western corner of King’s wharf. Her stnj'n was badly buckled about 10 feet above the-water line, and the adjacent plates were deeply . dented. — Press Association.

Marked progress is being made with the erection .«of the. New Majestic Theatre, in Trafalgar street, where a large staff of tradesmen is now employed.

Forty-three basketball players arrived from 'Blenheim yesterday), afternoon. These are- connected with the' Convent schools, and were playing the local teams this, afternoon. They return to their home town to-morrow afternoon.

Some discussion .ensued at the City Council meeting last evening concerning the upkeep of cemeteries now closed. The matter was introduced by a letter asking for permission to clear apd plant a portion of the -' Collingwpod street cemetery, and by another one protesting against p. ny such work being done. The Mayor, speaking generally,, said a good deal jof vandalism was going on in the Old Cemetery.. Councillor Smith said it was the duty of the Council to take care of the reserves, and suggested that Poppy Day funds be, used for the purpose. The Council should hot allow any individual the private occupation of cemetery reserves. Councillor Gibbs agreed, adding that the Council should not part, with any of its rights to private individuals'. It was decided that the Council visit the cemeteries anil see what could be done, to put the grounds in order. ■ '■ ; , .’ •‘ ■

The Nelson Academy of Music will held its term concert at the Marsdei? Church House on Monday next. The juniors’'recital will be at 7.30 p.m., and the intermediate and seniors’ concert at 8 p.m. The director (Mr H. S. Claughten) invites parents and friends to attend, also the general public. Admission is free. • ■ , ' • j.l

The valuable collection of books and works of art donated to the Cawthron Institute and acknowledged by the chairman of ;the Trust Board in his remarks at the School of Music on Wednesday evening, were in the name of Mrs Marsden, not Miss Marsden, as 'inadvertently printed.

Alfred Gould announces ’the following auction sales:—Friday „next at 1 p.m., .144 Upper Collingwood, street, furniture and effects in the estate of The late A. E.‘ A. Best; Monday, 20th inst., at 1 p.m., at Wakefield, furniture and effects on account of Mrs Eban who is leaving the district.